Borj

Borj is a term meaning "tower" in Persian and Arabic. In Persian, the word is برج (borj); in Arabic, burj (برج) shares the same meaning. The term is used to denote tall structures such as towers, fortifications, minarets, or citadels, and it also appears in place names and architectural designations. The etymology traces to Semitic roots related to height and rising, with Persian usage borrowed from Arabic. In modern transliteration, the form is commonly rendered as Borj or Burj in English, depending on language conventions.

Notable examples of the term in use include Burj Khalifa, the skyscraper in Dubai, and Burj Al Arab, a luxury hotel in Dubai. In Iran, Milad Tower in Tehran is referred to in Persian as Borj-e Milad, reflecting the same root. The word also appears in a wide range of toponyms across the Persian-speaking world and the Arab world, often marking sites associated with towers, fortifications, or elevated landmarks.

Today, Borj continues to appear in architectural discourse and signage to indicate a tower or high structure, preserving its historical association with defensive, ceremonial, or observational functions while adapting to contemporary landmarks and urban imagery. Variants in spelling—such as Burj or Borg—reflect regional orthographic differences, but the core meaning remains consistent across contexts.