The Queer Arab Glossary

by Marwan Kaabour (Editor), Haitham Haddad (Illustrator)

When conventional language does not equip us with the tools to speak about ourselves, we create our own. Slang expresses words and feelings that break down boundaries. It is a form of protest and fills in the gaps.

The Queer Arab Glossary is the first published collection of Arabic LGBTQ+ slang. This bold guide captures the lexicon of the queer Arab community in all its differences, quirks and felicities. Featuring fascinating facts and anecdotes, it contains more than 300 terms in both English and Arabic, ranging from the humorous to the harrowing, serious to tongue-in-cheek, pejorative to endearing. Here, leading queer Arab artists, academics, activists and writers offer insightful essays situating this groundbreaking glossary in a modern social and political context.

With beautiful, witty illustrations, The Queer Arab Glossary is a powerful response to pervasive myths and stereotypes around sexuality and an invitation to take a journey into queerness throughout the Arab world.

Contributors include Saqer Almarri, Nisrine Chaer, Sophie Chamas, Rana Issa, Adam HajYahia, Mejdulene Bernard Shomali, Hamed Sinno and Abdellah Taïa.

The Queer Arab Glossary was made possible with the generous support of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture – AFAC, Mophradat, Bashar Assaf and Mohammed Fakhro.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction, LGBT, Language, Linguistics, Feminism, History

160 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2024

Reviews

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...debunks the ludicrous myth, adopted by misinformed Westerners with underlying Islamophobic sentiments, that the people of this region are inherently homophobic and backwards, unable to make space for or to embrace queer people."

[Hadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important book to the region, thoroughly researched and the drawings are beautifully rendered. Read, read, read!

[Kate Frankien]

The idea is great!
Yes it’s great but it is really safe to be openly queer in Middle East?
Will this book reveal the hidden life of queer ppl inside? How dangerous and risky for them to be disclosed?
The law criminalises homosexuality in Lebanon and the countries the book mentioned. Will that help the queer ppl there or this book is just to give success to the editor as he lives safely in London as q queer person?

- misinformation and lazy explain without any depth or added information to the vocabulary for example “idlib the city in Syria “ men regardless the identity their sex or gender have sex with me because of the extremely conservative environment and sex before is forbidden or almost impossible so many men have sex with men who offer their bodies to them. The book explained it in just saying “Idlib has many homosexual men” really? What is your source?

This a small example of all footnotes the book offers. Really disappointed in the content. Don’t believe in the noise on social media how shallow.

Still hope for more queer books from the Arab world.

[manar, etc. · Rating 5 out of 5]

read it on kindle, finished, immediately bought a used copy because i needed to hold it — means even more knowing it’s warmed another queer arab’s hands before mine so there !

[Liam Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multitudes of splendor, and hope

[cel · Rating 5 out of 5]

este libro se ha convertido en una de las cosas más preciadas que tengo

me ha gustado muchísimo (yo casi nunca pongo nota a nada pero la ocasión lo merece), especialmente el texto de Adam HajYahia y otros textos del final porque el glosario incluye palabras árabes que en su mayoría se refieren a cisgays, como dice el texto de Rana Issa:

"Fariyaqiyyah: Surely! If we glance at this book that contains our current speech, we'd immediately notice the difference between the number of terms that express the sexual identity of men as compared with the terms that express the sexual identity of women. This difference is vast even in the gay lexicon, not to mention the entire language." (p. 138)

al principio pensé que el glosario era más gay que queer pero viendo que se reconoce la poca cantidad de términos LBTIQ+ con respecto a términos gays, retiro mi crítica, marco todos los conceptos bonitos del glosario que aluden a la comunidad, el cuidado y el respeto dentro de círculos queer y me quedo con la reflexión de Mejdulene Bernard Shomali que atribuye acertadamente esta ausencia al lenguaje y no al propio glosario:

"Absences in our language, seemingly arbitrary, are not simply reflections of the world, but avenues for constructing and maintaining social norms. The absence of language around women and feminine forms of queerness signifies that femininity is (falsely) perceived as a natural performance for women while masculinity is a transgression." (p. 142-143)

[Laetitia Mourad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve seen some negative reviews that worry it might expose queer people to danger or claim it’s pinkwashing... But honestly, these reviews miss what this book is really about.

It celebrates the rich queer culture in the Arab world. It’s the first collection of its kind, featuring over 300 slang Arabic LGBTQ+ terms from different dialects and essays from queer Arab artists, activists, and academics. The stories and terms are already part of the queer scene, documenting them just helps people understand and appreciate our culture more. So maybe leave the drama for your mama and focus on the book’s real value :)

And as for the pinkwashing accusations, they’re off the mark. Queer Glossary is a genuine celebration, not a distraction from the issues. It’s a powerful tool that we’ll keep referring to. Plus, I love playing this fun game with friends where we open a random page, and whatever we get defines who we are - lol

I highly recommend this book to everyone. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to truly understand and support queer communities and get an insight into queer Arab experiences.

[Aelya Salman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm unsure why some commenters, Arab or otherwise, are treating this book as though it uniquely provides ammunition for homophobes in the Arab world. The implication seems to be that, before this book, there was no awareness of queerness or the many social cues, codes, and unofficial literatures that queer communities have long relied on. Such an assumption overlooks the fact that these exist—and have always existed. While it’s true that some individuals may remain distant from this knowledge, that’s no different from queer culture anywhere. Even in my progressive and open American city, there are straight people who would either react with confusion or outright hostility when confronted with queer culture or language. Homophobia doesn’t rely on a book like this to thrive; it exists independently and finds its own justifications.

The book itself is pretty good. As a beginner(ish) to Arabic but no stranger to the Arab world, I learned a lot. Above all, it was fun and informative and it's obvious a great deal of sensitivity went into its construction.

[Mirna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just saw similar comments of mine. I'm happy that people are thinking in a critical way.

I got this book from Aljanoun Khan in Berlin and I absolutely regret it,
it is not a buch to have or to keep on your shelf. ughhhhh.

I'm Arab and queer! I'm afraid that this book will put the lives of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East at risk!
Are you real second generation of Arab families in Europe? Celebrating this book that indulges in pinkwashing. Transgender people are getting killed in our countries
Fantastic the edito and the writers of the book live in exile and have European amd American passports, hello why do'nt go and write about your life living with white people and leave queer ppl in Arab countries to deal with it. This book just reminds me of Arab politicians who want to fix the problems of Middle East, really scary.

[Peter S Critic · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure about this book! I'm afraid that the secret police in non-democratic countries will use it to hunt gay men. The reality for queer people in the Middle East including Palestine is awful regarding LGBTQIA+ life, and this book can easily be used against queer communities in the Arab world. Now, there is no privacy to protect them anymore. I have lived in Beirut, Doha, and Cairo, and I know the horror that queer people face there.

However, I see the editor and contributors talk about pinkwashing, and I think this book is a form of pinkwashing too. Queer people in the Arab world need a serious action from the world mainly the politicians there. Their lives are in danger and at risk of death. This glossary exposes their privacy irresponsibly.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibile, non c’é veramente nient’altro da dire, non c’è altro modo per descrivere la resilienza infinita delle persone queer in tutto il mondo, è incredibile.


“More than following an obsession, I am in a process of identification. I am on the same path as Berlanti Abdelhamid. Like her, I pretend to submit to this cruel world. Like her, I will have to think about revenge. To think about my revenge, and how to enact it.

[…]

No matter what happens, they will not succeed in bringing me down, destroying me, killing me.

I grew up. I survived. Alone. Do you hear? I survived on my own. That’s a miracle right there.”

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books this year! It brings together many different queer cultures in the Arab world and the language thst is used within the communities throughout the region. The glossary includes the meanings of the words and the origin, giving insight to how the language evolved and adapted. The illustrations are incredible and beautiful, bringing to life some of the most interesting words and phrases.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is intrigued by language and the evolution of words especially within the queer communities, regardless if they are queer or not!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

*The Queer Arab Glossary* is an essential and groundbreaking resource for anyone navigating the intersection of queerness and Arab identity. As an Arab queer man, I found it incredibly empowering—finally, there's a vocabulary that truly reflects our experiences, struggles, and most importantly the beauty of our identities. This glossary does more than define terms; it validates our existence and bridges the gap between our culture and queerness. It's a must-read for anyone who identifies as queer and Arab, as well as those who seek to support and understand us.

[Karen Rós]

I would have liked usage examples for the vocabulary in the glossary half of the book and not just descriptions of how the words are used. otherwise informative, but from a linguistic point of view I was missing 2-3 example sentences per word demonstrating the usage and grammar and sociolinguistic context.

essay half was interesting, with essays ranging from academic to pop (including one that was set up like a conversation or script), but all reflecting on language.

[Bashar Assaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is impeccably curated from start to finish. The content is rich and insightful, the illustrations are stunning, and the essays are beautifully written.

It’s a bit annoying to see some reviews from white Queer individuals trying to dictate what’s considered dangerous or not for us within the region. It would be more constructive if those outside the immediate experience stepped back from making judgments about its relevance or safety.

Do yourself a favor and get this book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic read that totally busts the myth that queer culture doesn’t exist in Arab countries. It’s full of real stories and terms that highlight the vibrant, diverse queer life in the Arab world.

This book is great because it gives a voice to people who are often ignored, making it both eye-opening and uplifting. It also opposes and exposes the lies of counties that try to suppress queer Arab cultures through Islamophobic tropes

[Paola Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the one thing the negative reviewers miss is that this book was not produced to validate the existence of queer people in MENA. Nor was it made to validate their ways of navigating their spaces and existence. You, the western (esp WHITE) reader, need to take the position of the outsider, the one who can only look and not judge. It is not your place to be critical, it is not your role to impose your opinion. In the words of Kendrick Lamar “sit down and be humble”

[Silvermoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and essential read for any reader with an interest in lgbtiq or the Middle East. There’s a lot of history and analogies to regions we in the west have never heard of. If I had to make a small complaint, several of the definitions repeat themselves such as various names for bottoms or younger men. But it’s a small complaint and I’m looking forward to this book expanding hopefully in the future!

[Connor Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

While making a glossary of slang is never easy, let alone with the fast changing nature of queer slang, this book is something i have always wanted. So very few books exsits with lgbtq+ arabs and arabic culture, most are incredibly rare and hard to find infomation online about.
This book also organises the different dialects/regions very nice, with gorgeous illustrations on queer life littering the pages throughout the book.

[Dalia Al-Dujaili · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. A thoughtful, carefully considered work with vital insights and a stunning piece of art work in its own right. I will recommend this book to everyone I know, it should be on everyone’s coffee table and bookshelves - thank you Marwan and co for making such a wonderful piece of work that will be used as the basis of so much queer Arab cultural material for years to come.

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am doing my PhD on voluntary childlessness under occupation in Palestine. This book has been crucial in my learning. Can’t recommend highly enough and I hope the auther publishes something new soon!

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fave translation choice in Rana Issa's "Dance of Gossip," trans. Ziad Dallal: "Mention the pussy and you'll hear the purr."

I'm so impressed by this entire undertaking. And the illustrations? Oof. this book is a work of art.

[Karim Reviews]

such an important book, thank you Marwan 🤍

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant work!

[Philippe M · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential book!

[Geo Tabet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrust into a necessary reflection into the self, the surrounding, and the self in relation to the surrounding. Beautiful. Concise. Necessary.

[HO · Rating 5 out of 5]

The glossary is a gem. Didn’t care for some of the essays at the end.

[Shams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una gran obra de lexicografía para comprender el vocabulario queer del mundo árabe. Los ensayos que acompañan la obra también son imprescindibles. Saqi Books mejora en cada nueva publicación.

[Emma 💌 Haddad · Rating 4 out of 5]

pour les illustrations (surtout le 69)

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t string two Arabic sentences together, but I appreciate the beauty of the language and have been dreaming of learning it one day. That is of course a near unattainable fantasy for a full-time employed white woman, but I choose to challenge myself. Speaking of challenge: This book constitutes an - and I can't stress this enough - enormous effort by the author and all contributors to collect queer vocabulary from all Arab dialects - and I think beginning with the dialects of the Levante carries a message of its own.

As cruel and crude as the often homophobic terms may be, it’s interesting to see what kind of prejudice has coloured the perception of LGBTQ+ identities in MENA, but also which of them have been reclaimed and in what context. Looking at the often centuries-old terminology, the fact that queer people have always existed and will keep existing is only further proven. Us Europeans tend to think that we invented non-cishet life, but looking back in time, it becomes quite apparent that we are not the white saviours of diverse lifestyle that we like to fashion ourselves to be.

Anyway, what an amazing book.

***I received a digital copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.***