Baghdads

Baghdads is a plural form that may refer to residents of Baghdad, the capital and largest city of Iraq, or to things associated with the city. In formal usage, the demonym Baghdadi (plural Baghdadis) is more common. The term Baghdads is encountered in descriptive or historical writing and in some sociolinguistic contexts.

Baghdad sits in central Iraq along the Tigris River. It is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country and serves as the capital of Baghdad Governorate. Estimates of the metropolitan population place it in the multi‑million range, with figures commonly cited around 8 to 10 million.

The dominant language is Iraqi Arabic, with minority languages including Kurdish and other regional tongues. The population is predominantly Muslim (both Sunni and Shia), with Christian, Yazidi, and other minority communities also present.

Baghdad was founded in the 8th century as the Abbasid capital and rapidly developed into a major center of learning and trade, home to the House of Wisdom and other scholarly institutions. Its modern history includes rapid growth, late-20th‑century modernization, and significant conflict during the 2003 invasion and the 2014–2017 Islamic State period, followed by reconstruction.

Cultural institutions in Baghdad include the University of Baghdad and Al-Mustansiriya University, as well as museums, historic mosques, and market districts. The city is known for its diverse cuisine, music, and architectural heritage, reflecting centuries of cultural exchange in the Iraqi heartland.