Iraq

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɪˈɹɑːk/, /ɪˈɹak/
• AU IPA: /ɪˈɹak/
• US IPA: /ɪˈɹæk/, /ɪˈɹɑːk/, /aɪˈɹæk/
• Rhymes: -ɑːk
• Rhymes: -æk

Alternative forms

• Irak

Origin

Possibly from Sumerian “Uruk” or “Warka” (Biblical “Erech”) region in the south of ancient Iraq. Medieval Arabic uses ‘Iraq’ as a geographical term for the area in the south and center of the modern Iraq. Some Arabic sources say that Iraq comes from عريق (, "deep-rooted"), from عرق (, "root"), while others say it is from Middle Persian's erāq ("lowlands"), due to historic rule from Iraq's plateau-situated neighbor, Persia.

Full definition of Iraq

Proper noun

1. Country in Mesopotamia that borders on Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. Official name: Republic of Iraq.

Derived terms

• Iraqi

Anagrams

• riq'a