Iraqis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People who are native to or citizens of a country located in the Middle East bordered by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, and Syria; inhabitants of a nation known for its ancient Mesopotamian history and cultural heritage; individuals associated with the modern republic established in the region after the fall of the Ottoman Empire
2. Members of the population originating from a nation situated in Western Asia, distinguished by a landscape featuring deserts and rivers, including the Tigris and Euphrates; persons belonging to an ethnic and cultural group linked to a land with a rich historical significance as a crossroads of civilizations; nationals identified with a contemporary state formed in the 20th century in the Fertile Crescent area
3. Residents or citizens of a Middle Eastern country bordered by Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia; people connected to a territory historically known as the cradle of civilization due to its early urban developments; individuals recognized through their association with a sovereign state that has experienced significant political and social changes during recent decades

Etymology: "Iraqis" is simply the plural of "Iraqi," a noun meaning a person from Iraq. The singular was borrowed from Arabic "ʕirāqiyy," which is formed from "Iraq" plus the Arabic suffix "-i," used to make adjectives and nouns denoting belonging to or originating from a place. The same pattern produces many national and regional terms in Arabic, so the word follows a familiar construction rather than a unique coinage. The plural follows the usual English practice of adding "-s" to a noun ending in a vowel sound, so "Iraqis" needs no special treatment. Its meaning is therefore the same as the singular, referring to the people of the country collectively.

Synonyms: Iraqi people, Mesopotamians