What does djellaba mean?
A djellaba is a long, loose-fitting robe with a distinctive pointed hood and a vertical slit at the front, worn as everyday dress by both men and women across North Africa, most iconically in Morocco. Made in fabrics ranging from lightweight cotton for hot climates to heavy wool for mountain winters, it serves as protection from sun, wind, and cold while remaining modest and practical. In English, 'djellaba' appears chiefly in travel writing, fashion journalism, and discussions of traditional dress, with spellings varying between 'jellaba', 'jellab', and 'djellab'. The garment carries strong cultural resonance: it signals regional identity and heritage rather than ceremony alone, and its hooded silhouette has become a visual shorthand for Morocco in photography and film. For English speakers, the word is useful precisely when describing this specific garment, since near-neighbours like the kaftan lack the defining hood.
nounA long, loose-fitting robe with a pointed hood and a front slit, traditionally worn by men and women in North Africa, especially Morocco.
- A long loose hooded robe with a front slit worn in North Africa by both men and women.
"He pulled the hood of his djellaba up against the desert wind."
"She bought a handwoven djellaba striped in indigo and white at the Marrakesh souk."
"The guide, wrapped in a grey wool djellaba against the mountain chill, led them along the pass."
The standard English plural adds -s; the invariant plural 'djellaba' also occurs in writing about North African dress.
"The market stalls were hung with djellabas in every shade of indigo and cream."
That pointy hood on Moroccan robes isn't just stylish — it's been shielding wearers from sun and sand for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of djellaba
The word entered English in the 19th century from Arabic jallābiyya, the name of this traditional robe, likely transmitted through French colonial contact with North Africa. The Arabic term itself has an ancient lineage, with related garments described across the Middle East and North Africa for centuries. Its variants in English spelling reflect different routes of borrowing from colloquial Arabic dialects.
Related word forms
How djellaba is actually used
The word is a fairly formal loanword in English, used mainly in travel writing, fashion, and ethnographic contexts. Spellings vary, including 'jelab', 'jellaba', and 'djellaba'; the plural may be 'djellabas' or occasionally left unchanged. The garment itself differs by region and sex in cut, fabric, and colour.
Easily confused with djellaba
A kaftan is a similar loose garment of Middle Eastern origin but typically lacks the pointed hood that characterizes a djellaba.