Dhu

Dhu is a transliteration of the Arabic word ذُو, a prefix used in Arabic to mean “possessor of” or “holder of.” It functions as a linguistic marker that forms part of proper names and titles, indicating that the person or thing named possesses the following attribute. In transliteration, the form is often written as Dhū with a long u, or as Dhul when it precedes a definite noun such as al-Hijjah or al-Qarnayn. Both Dhū and Dhul appear in English renderings depending on orthographic conventions.

In usage, Dhu is not a standalone name but a component of a larger name or epithet. It appears in classical and religious texts to describe notable attributes or possessions of individuals or entities. The construction is typically an idafah (a possessive or genitive relationship) where the possessed noun follows the prefix and may be preceded by the definite article in the following noun.

Common examples include Dhū al-Hijjah, meaning “the possessor of the hijjah” and referring to the month of December in the Islamic calendar’s naming tradition, often rendered as Dhul-Hijjah in English-language texts. Dhūl-Qarnayn, translated as “the One with the Horns,” is a figure mentioned in the Qur’an. Other examples include Dhūl-Fiqar (the owner of the sword Fiqar) and various place names or titles in Islamic history that use the same prefix.

The prefix remains a linguistic and historical feature of Arabic onomastics and is encountered in religious, literary, and historical contexts. Its use reflects a naming convention rather than a standalone concept.