'Burj' is synonymous with Dubai's skyscrapers — though there is more behind its towering fame.
'Burj' is synonymous with Dubai's skyscrapers — though there is more behind its towering fame.
'Burj' is synonymous with Dubai's skyscrapers — though there is more behind its towering fame.
'Burj' is synonymous with Dubai's skyscrapers — though there is more behind its towering fame.

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'Burj': the Arabic word for tower looks beyond skyscrapers for answers in the stars

The term has soared to international fame thanks to Dubai's lofty landmarks Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab

Razmig Bedirian
Razmig Bedirian

September 30, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

"Burj" can refer to skyscrapers and lofty feats of human engineering as much as it can infer from the stars why we are who we are.

The Arabic word for "tower" has become part of the international lexicon, in large part due to Dubai naming its two most characteristic skyscrapers Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab.

A traditional wind tower is called barjeel. A watchtower is burj muraqaba.

Burj Khalifa's international popularity has brought the Arabic for tower into the global lexicon. Photo: Bloomberg
Burj Khalifa's international popularity has brought the Arabic for tower into the global lexicon. Photo: Bloomberg

The Eiffel Tower, in Arabic, is Burj Eiffel. Tokyo Tower, well, Burj Tokyo. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is Burj Piza al Mael.

The word also looks upwards as it seeks answers in the stars or horoscopes.

Burj refers to an individual astrological sign. The plural for burj, whether referring to towers or horoscopes, is abraj.

In Western astrology, there are 12 abraj, segmented among four elements or al anaaser al arbaa.

Al abraj al nariyya, the fire signs, include Aries, al haml; Leo, al assad; Sagittarius, al qoos.

Al abraj al maaiyya, the water signs, include Cancer, al saratan; Scorpio, al aqrab; and Pisces, al hoot.

Al abraj al turabiyya, the earth signs, include Taurus, al thor; Virgo, al adhra; Capricorn, al jidi.

Finally, al abraj al hawaaiyya, the air signs, are Gemini, al gowza; Libra, al mizan; and Aquarius, al dalu.

Horoscopes have made appearances in popular Arabic songs. In Amr Diab’s 2020 hit Ya Ajmal al Ouyoun, he sings of being in love with burj al hoot.

Emirati singer Fayez Al Saeed’s 2016 song Borj Al Ghazal invents in the form of a gazelle a new horoscope that would be fitting for his sweetheart.

The song seemingly riffs from Chinese horoscopes, al abraj al siniyya, which are also depicted as animals.

These include al faer, the rat; al thor, the ox; al nimr, the tiger; al arnab; the rabbit; al tinnin, the dragon; al afea, the snake; al hisaan, horse; al kharoof, sheep; al qird, the monkey; al deek, the rooster; al kalb, the dog; and al khanzeer, the pig.

Hob is the Arabic word for love, but can be used in many contexts
Hob is the Arabic word for love, but can be used in many contexts
The Arabic word helu translates, in English, to sweet
The Arabic word helu translates, in English, to sweet
Nashef is the Arabic word for dry, but has many connotations, depending on the context in which you use it
Nashef is the Arabic word for dry, but has many connotations, depending on the context in which you use it
The Arabic word hurriyeh translates to freedom in English
The Arabic word hurriyeh translates to freedom in English
The Arabic word tayeb can mean delicious or good, depending on the context
The Arabic word tayeb can mean delicious or good, depending on the context
The Arabic word mustaqbal is best expressed as future in English
The Arabic word mustaqbal is best expressed as future in English
Waqaa, the Arabic word for fall, can signify a loss of power, stature, health or grace
Waqaa, the Arabic word for fall, can signify a loss of power, stature, health or grace
Hudood means borders in English
Hudood means borders in English
The Arabic word rooh translates to spirit or soul in English
The Arabic word rooh translates to spirit or soul in English
The Arabic word ain means eye in English
The Arabic word ain means eye in English
Waraq, the Arabic word of the week means paper in English
Waraq, the Arabic word of the week means paper in English
Bahr, the Arabic for sea, has a poetic lilt
Bahr, the Arabic for sea, has a poetic lilt
Kareem means generous in English
Kareem means generous in English
Bab means door in English
Bab means door in English
Eid means holiday or festival
Eid means holiday or festival
Najm means star for the night sky and cosmos, but also has plenty of other meanings, including ambition or fame
Najm means star for the night sky and cosmos, but also has plenty of other meanings, including ambition or fame
Alwan, the Arabic word for colours, has many shades of meaning
Alwan, the Arabic word for colours, has many shades of meaning
Akel can refer to home-cooked meals, embezzlement, fire and rust
Akel can refer to home-cooked meals, embezzlement, fire and rust
Jamal is the Arabic word for beauty, be it literal or figurative
Jamal is the Arabic word for beauty, be it literal or figurative
Herfe translates to profession or craft
Herfe translates to profession or craft
Tabiaa translates to nature and can frame landscapes and portraits
Tabiaa translates to nature and can frame landscapes and portraits
Sehha is the Arabic word for health
Sehha is the Arabic word for health
Ijaza is Arabic for holiday and shines in summer but is not stress-free
Ijaza is Arabic for holiday and shines in summer but is not stress-free
Aamal is the Arabic word for work
Aamal is the Arabic word for work
Al dahr translates to time
Al dahr translates to time
Qalb is a word for heart, with poetic roots
Qalb is a word for heart, with poetic roots
Lugha in Arabic translates to language in English
Lugha in Arabic translates to language in English
Insaan means human being
Insaan means human being
Na'eeman is an idiomatic expression used when someone has had a shower or bath, a haircut or had their beard trimmed
Na'eeman is an idiomatic expression used when someone has had a shower or bath, a haircut or had their beard trimmed
The Arabic word for life touches on eternity, death and accomplishment
The Arabic word for life touches on eternity, death and accomplishment
Qamar is the Arabic for moon
Qamar is the Arabic for moon
The Arabic word for strength or power is quwwa
The Arabic word for strength or power is quwwa
Burj is Arabic for tower
Burj is Arabic for tower
The Arabic word for sun is shams
The Arabic word for sun is shams
Sabr in English can translate to patience
Sabr in English can translate to patience
Hayba is the Arabic word for prestige
Hayba is the Arabic word for prestige
The Arabic term al shay'e translates as 'the thing' in English
The Arabic term al shay'e translates as 'the thing' in English
The Arabic word for road is tareeq
The Arabic word for road is tareeq
The Arabic word for read has mystical and scholarly connotations
The Arabic word for read has mystical and scholarly connotations
Istikan is the Arabic word for a type of tea cup
Istikan is the Arabic word for a type of tea cup
The Arabic word hanan means affection in English
The Arabic word hanan means affection in English
The Arabic word atlal means ruins in English
The Arabic word atlal means ruins in English
Kura is the Arabic word for ball, in all its forms
Kura is the Arabic word for ball, in all its forms
Janaah in Arabic means wing in English
Janaah in Arabic means wing in English
The Arabic word sana translates to year in English
The Arabic word sana translates to year in English
Qasida is the Arabic for poem, not poetry
Qasida is the Arabic for poem, not poetry
Ameer, the Arabic word for prince, which influenced another English title
Ameer, the Arabic word for prince, which influenced another English title
Nakhla translates to palm tree in English
Nakhla translates to palm tree in English
Al samt is the Arabic for silence
Al samt is the Arabic for silence
Kalimaat translates to words in English
Kalimaat translates to words in English
Markaz is Arabic for centre
Markaz is Arabic for centre
Beshara is the Arabic word for good news
Beshara is the Arabic word for good news
Bayt is the Arabic for house or home
Bayt is the Arabic for house or home
Fann is the Arabic word for art, and can be either a verb or an adjective
Fann is the Arabic word for art, and can be either a verb or an adjective
Isim, which means name, is made up of three letters, alif, seen and meem
Isim, which means name, is made up of three letters, alif, seen and meem
Dunya is the Arabic word for world
Dunya is the Arabic word for world
Nazaafah translates to cleanliness in English
Nazaafah translates to cleanliness in English
Many traditions revolve around drinking coffee, including weddings, funerals and business meetings
Many traditions revolve around drinking coffee, including weddings, funerals and business meetings
Fajr is the Arabic word for dawn
Fajr is the Arabic word for dawn
Maghrib is the Arabic word for sunset
Maghrib is the Arabic word for sunset
The Arabic language is filled with idioms, quotes and colloquial quips involving the mirror
The Arabic language is filled with idioms, quotes and colloquial quips involving the mirror
Raei is the Arabic word for opinion
Raei is the Arabic word for opinion
Wa'ed is a multifaceted word for 'promise', as well as a female name
Wa'ed is a multifaceted word for 'promise', as well as a female name
Qussa is the Arabic word for story
Qussa is the Arabic word for story
Sadaaka is the Arabic word for friendship
Sadaaka is the Arabic word for friendship
Akhbaar is the Arabic word for news
Akhbaar is the Arabic word for news
Rasem is made up of the three Arabic letters Rah, Seen and Meem. While it can simply mean a drawing or a sketch it’s also a malleable word whose definition can change depending on context and dialect – particularly between colloquial and classical Arabic.
Rasem is made up of the three Arabic letters Rah, Seen and Meem. While it can simply mean a drawing or a sketch it’s also a malleable word whose definition can change depending on context and dialect – particularly between colloquial and classical Arabic.
As well as finishing a task, khatem denotes a deeper sense of finality
As well as finishing a task, khatem denotes a deeper sense of finality
Commonly translated to blessed, mubarak is used as a popular greeting on auspicious days
Commonly translated to blessed, mubarak is used as a popular greeting on auspicious days
The Arabic word for lighthouse is also a term that has become closely associated with Islam
The Arabic word for lighthouse is also a term that has become closely associated with Islam
Siyaam, the Arabic word for fasting is also connected to silence
Siyaam, the Arabic word for fasting is also connected to silence
Tawbah, the Arabic word for repentance, is also connected to Ramadan
Tawbah, the Arabic word for repentance, is also connected to Ramadan
Safar, the Arabic Word for travel can also refer to sunny days, a brighter-blazing fire or exile. The National
Safar, the Arabic Word for travel can also refer to sunny days, a brighter-blazing fire or exile. The National
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