ajab

Ajab is a term used in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu to denote wonder, marvel, or astonishment. In Arabic, the noun عجِب (ujub) conveys a marvel or extraordinary thing; in Persian and Urdu, the word is commonly transliterated as ajab, ajeeb, or ajaab. The related plural عَجائب (ajaib) denotes wonders or marvels. In Urdu and Persian, ajab functions both as a noun (the sense of astonishment or marvel) and as an adjective meaning marvelous or strange.

The term is widely used in literature and everyday speech to express surprise or admiration, and it appears in numerous idioms and expressions that speak to the extraordinary or inexplicable. It also features in religious and mystical writings when describing miracles or phenomena beyond ordinary experience.

In South Asia, transliterations such as ajab, ajeeb, and ajaab reflect pronunciation differences, while in Arabic contexts the root remains ujub. The word’s cross-linguistic presence highlights a shared semantic field around marvel and oddity, bridging classical poetic usage with modern conversation. It can also appear in book titles, folklore, and media to evoke a sense of wonder.