iraqi

IPA/ɪˈrɑː.ki/
KK[ˌɪrˈæki]IPA/ɪˈræk.i/

iraqi — adjective

  • iraqipositive
  • more iraqicomparative
  • most iraqisuperlative

1. coming from or connected with the Middle Eastern country of Iraq, including its

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

coming from or connected with the Middle Eastern country of Iraq, including its inhabitants, culture, language, and traditions

Example

The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, lies on both sides of the Tigris River.

Noor's grandmother taught her how to cook several traditional Iraqi dishes.

modifies nouns for cultural items: Iraqi dishes, Iraqi music, Iraqi art

Common collocations
  • Iraqi government
  • Iraqi people
  • Iraqi culture
  • Iraqi cuisine
  • Iraqi army
  • Iraqi flag
  • Iraqi oil
  • Iraqi border

Grammar Patterns

Iraqi + noun

Usage Note

Always used directly before a noun — describing where something or someone comes from. Do not add an article when used attributively (✗ 'an Iraqi flag' is correct; this is the normal pattern). Do not confuse with the noun form 'Iraqi' (a person).

Common Mistakes

She is an Iraqi teacher' (ambiguous — means teacher of Iraqi nationality, which is correct, but some learners confuse this with the noun form).
She is an Iraqi teacher.
When used before a noun, 'Iraqi' is always an adjective; the noun form stands alone: 'She is an Iraqi.'

iraqi — noun

Word family

  • Iraq
    proper nounA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms refer to someone connected to Iraq, but they differ in register and context. 'Iraqi' is the everyday word used in casual conversation and general writing — it is the shortest and most natural choice. 'Iraqi citizen' is more formal and legal; it appears in documents related to passports, voting, or legal rights. 'Iraqi national' is similarly formal and often appears in bureaucratic contexts such as visa applications or immigration forms. 'Person from Iraq' is a descriptive phrase instead of a single word; speakers use it when they want to describe someone's origins without using a demonym, or when the nationality is less relevant than the person's background. For example: 'She is an Iraqi' (simple) versus 'She is an Iraqi citizen' (legal context) versus 'She is an Iraqi national traveling on a student visa' (immigration context) versus 'She is a person from Iraq who moved here for work' (descriptive).

Iraqi ↗Iraqi citizenIraqi nationalperson from Iraq

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • typically Iraqi
  • traditionally Iraqi

Phrases

  • Iraqi-born
  • Iraqi-owned
  • Iraqi-style

Etymology

SumerianArabicEnglish

The word 'Iraqi' comes from 'Iraq,' the name of the country in the Middle East, combined with the suffix '-i,' which is borrowed from the Arabic nisba suffix (ي-) meaning 'relating to' or 'from.' The name 'Iraq' itself may trace back to the ancient Sumerian city of Uruk (modern-day Warka in southern Iraq), one of the world's oldest known cities. English adopted 'Iraqi' directly from Arabic in the 19th and 20th centuries as the country became more prominent in international affairs.

First known use

1777

1777, in the meaning defined above