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noun

casbah

KAZ-bah

Casbah (noun) means the old fortified quarter of a North African or Middle Eastern city, or the citadel at its heart. Example: “They wandered through the narrow alleys of the casbah, past spice stalls and hidden courtyards.”

noun
1
The old fortified quarter of a North African or Middle Eastern city, or the citadel at its heart.
"They wandered through the narrow alleys of the casbah, past spice stalls and hidden courtyards."
"The old casbah of Algiers is a UNESCO World Heritage site."
2
Informally, someone's home or flat.
"Come on up to my casbah for coffee."

How to use casbah

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe historic walled district of a North African city, or, loosely, a person's pad.

Common pairings
the old casbah rock the casbah

Word forms

casbahs plural

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Test yourself on “casbah” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They wandered through the narrow alleys of the _____, past spice stalls and hidden courtyards.

Etymology

From Arabic qasaba, referring to a fortress or citadel at the centre of an old town.

Origin: Arabic

kasbah

Frequently asked questions

What does “casbah” mean?

The word “casbah” means the old fortified quarter of a North African or Middle Eastern city, or the citadel at its heart. In plain terms, the historic walled district of a North African city, or, loosely, a person's pad.

How do you pronounce “casbah”?

“Casbah” is pronounced KAZ-bah (/ˈkæz.bɑ/ in IPA).

How do you use “casbah” in a sentence?

Here is “casbah” used in a sentence: “They wandered through the narrow alleys of the casbah, past spice stalls and hidden courtyards.”

What part of speech is “casbah”?

“Casbah” is a noun.

Where does the word “casbah” come from?

The word “casbah” comes from Arabic. From Arabic qasaba, referring to a fortress or citadel at the centre of an old town.

How many meanings does “casbah” have?

“Casbah” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the old fortified quarter of a North African or Middle Eastern city, or the citadel at its heart.

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