Ajam facts for kids

Ajam (عجم) is an Arabic word. It means someone who does not speak Arabic. Long ago, people believed the word came from "Jam," who was thought to be a powerful king or prophet.

The word "Ajam" was first used for many different groups of people. This included Persians, Pakistanis, Greeks, Ethiopians, and even the Nabataeans. These were all people the Arabs met and interacted with.

How the Word "Ajam" Was Used

During the early times of the Caliphates (Islamic empires), "Ajam" sometimes meant "outsider" or "foreigner." In some cases, it was used to make people seem less important. In the Middle East, it was often used to describe the Persians.

"Ajam" in Turkish Language

In the Turkish language, the meaning of "Ajam" changed over time. It is not used to describe people from a specific country anymore. Instead, the word ajemi (which is acemi in modern Turkish) means "clumsy," "not skilled," or "a beginner." This shows how words can change their meaning as they are used by different cultures.

Khaleej ajam

This carpet from Iraq shows the Persian Gulf.

Images for kids

• 

  Keshvare ajam meant "the country of the Ajam (Iranians)" in a letter from the Ottoman Empire to Iranian emperor Mohammad Shah Qajar in 1839.

• 

  Persian painting showing Jamshid before Zahhak.