Iraq Slang, Jargon, and New Words from Double-Tongued Dictionary

Associated with or special to Iraq or Iraqian people, places, or things. You can also see entries assigned to this category.

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al mudbakh n. The real action was taking place in al mudbakh—the kitchen—a euphemism for the elite group of perhaps 12 party leaders and aides who huddled behind doors that were closed even to the members of the committee drafting the constitution. [Arabic Iraq Politics] [full cite] (Sep. 3, 2005)

al-tali n. Kidnap is now so common new words have been added to Iraqi thieves’ slang. A kidnap victim is called al-tali or the sheep. [Arabic Iraq Crime & Prisons] [full cite] (Jun. 23, 2004)

alibaba n. Others who interrogate a suspect are sometimes at a loss for questions, asking simply, “Are you alibaba?” the commonly used term for the enemy. [Arabic Iraq Military] [full cite] (Jul. 29, 2005)

angel n. Nomenclature has changed. In the beginning of the current Marine deployment that began in late March, members of the unit referred to HR (human remains) and KIAs (Killed in Action) as they examined bodies in five work areas and made detailed drawings of the wounds. “Somebody, I don’t know who, said let’s call them “angels,” and it just fit,” Patterson said. “That’s what we’re comfortable with: They’re our angels, going home.” [English Iraq United States Military] [full cite] (Dec. 27, 2004)

AQIz n. Top U.S. commanders are closely watching the moves of al-Qaida in Iraq, puzzling about what seems to be a counterproductive strategy of massive bombings. Spectacular attacks across the country are deepening the rifts within the Sunni population that AQIz—as it is known in U.S. military parlance—depends on for both active and passive support. [English Iraq Military Acronym] [full cite] (Jun. 27, 2007)

Baghdad boils n. Sergeant Zachary Tyler brought back more than memories when he returned home after a year in Iraq recently. The Richmond man is suffering from leishmaniasis…, a skin disease soldiers call …quote …“Baghdad Boils.” [English Iraq Health] [full cite] (May. 9, 2005)

big voice n. When there is an attack, a siren goes off that sounds like the air raid sirens in the movies. Then, there a speaker system we call “Big Voice” that directs everyone to “take cover.” [English Iraq Military] [full cite] (Mar. 15, 2005)

box n. Capt. Corbett Bufton had figured it was going to be just another hot day in the desert. The Charleston-based airman’s C-17 was scheduled to make four stops around Iraq—“the box,” as they call it—to fly in cargo for the troops. [English Iraq Military Slang] [full cite] (Jul. 17, 2007)

capsuling n. “Capsuling” (or cabsala as they call it in Arabic) is a drug habit that has spread in Iraq over the last few years, only now it has become an epidemic addiction that the Al Mahdi Army thrives on. [Iraq Drugs] [full cite] (Aug. 27, 2004)

condolence payment n. The amount of cash the U.S. military has paid to families of Iraqi civilians killed or maimed in operations involving American troops skyrocketed from just under $5 million in 2004 to almost $20 million last year, according to Pentagon financial data. The dramatic spike came in what’s known as condolence payments, which are distributed to Iraqi families whose members were caught in U.S. crossfire or killed or injured during U.S. ground and air assaults. [English Iraq Military Money & Finance] [full cite] (Jun. 8, 2006)

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