kadim

Kadim is a word used in several languages to denote antiquity or long-standing tradition. In Arabic, the native form is qadīm (قديم), meaning ancient or old, and it appears in classical and modern contexts to describe ancient civilizations, old texts, or inherited traditions. In Turkish and other languages influenced by Arabic, kadim is a common adjective borrowed from Arabic and is used to describe things of the distant past or to emphasize age and continuity.

Etymology and usage vary by language. The Arabic term qadīm is built from a root associated with time and frontness, contributing the sense of something that has existed from the past. In Turkish, kadim retains the same general meaning and can appear in literary or formal expression, as well as in compound forms that highlight heritage or tradition. In Urdu and other South Asian languages, kadim is used in literary contexts to denote antiquity, often with a classical or historical nuance.

As a given name, Kadim is used in Arabic-speaking and Turkish communities. Notable bearers include Kadim Al Sahir, an Iraqi singer whose career spans several decades and who is widely recognized in the Arab world for his contributions to contemporary Arabic music. The name Kadim thus functions both as an ordinary descriptive term for antiquity and as a personal name in several cultural contexts.