shams

Shams is a word that appears in English with both noun and verb uses. As a noun, it denotes something that is not what it appears to be—a fake, imitation, or pretence. The plural form shams is used when referring to multiple such items. As a verb, to sham means to pretend or feign. In common usage, sham is often contrasted with scam, where a scam implies deliberate deceit for financial gain, while a sham may simply be false or insincere without a specific fraudulent objective.

In everyday language, shams can describe a wide range of things, from counterfeit goods and fraudulent claims to insincere performances or false appearances. The term is common in consumer discussions, media reporting, and legal or social contexts where authenticity is in question.

Shams also function as a proper name in many Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures. In Persian, shams means sun, a meaning that has given rise to the use of Shams as a given name. Historical and contemporary figures with the name include Shams-e Tabrizi (Shams of Tabriz), a 13th-century Persian mystic who inspired the poet Rumi, and Shams Charania, an American sports journalist. Beyond individuals, Shams appears in place names and family names across Arabic- and Persian-speaking regions.