jabal

Jabal is the Arabic term (جَبَل) for a mountain or large hill. It is a masculine noun rooted in J-B-L, conveying the image of raised land. In geographic naming, the word is frequently used with the definite article or as part of compound names to indicate a mountainous feature. Transliteration varies, with Jabal common in Modern Standard Arabic and Jebel widely used in North Africa and in English-language maps.

Across the Arab world, Jabal appears in numerous toponyms throughout North Africa and the Middle East. The form often signals proximity to a mountain or elevated terrain, and the term can occur as an independent element or combined with other geographical descriptors to designate districts, towns, or valleys associated with a mountain.

Notable examples include Jebel Jais (often spelled Jebel Jais), the highest peak in the United Arab Emirates, located in Ras Al Khaimah as part of the Hajar Mountains. Another example is Jebel al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province, a prominent mountain that has drawn attention in various contexts. These names illustrate how Jabal functions as a building block in toponyms to convey terrain and landscape.

In broader use, Jabal serves as the Arabic counterpart to “mount” in toponymy, and it frequently appears in conjunction with descriptive terms to identify mountains, ranges, or hillside areas across Arabic-speaking regions.