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hammam

hammam

1 8.4
A traditional public steam bath in the Middle East and North Africa
  • noun
  • /hɑːˈmɑːm/
translation icon : hammam
  • Fortunately, the hammam was dimly lit.
  • hammam bath
  • traditional Turkish hammam
  • women's hammam

Examples

  • They all laughed and left the hammam fresh and with rosy cheeks.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • This morning she is going to the hammam to join her friends; the bath is far from her house, so she gets up with the cock's crow.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Welcome to the Hammam Experience!

  • Well, I am off to the hammam.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Must the peace of the hammam be disturbed?

  • When the hammam is open for women, they hang a towel from the minaret.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • It's a men-only hammam.

  • When they arrived, she invited them all to the hammam, or bathhouse, for hot baths, massages, and perfume treatments.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Then, like the parcels of cake and bowls of yellow quinces, they bundled me up and held both my hands as we walked to the women's hammam.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • After enjoying a refreshing steam, they relaxed in the hammam, letting the heat soothe their muscles.

Synonyms

bathhouse
vshammam
24 3.0

A public building where people wash and change clothes, often by a beach or pool

is a culturally specific public steam bathing practice in North African and Middle Eastern areas
steam bath
vshammam
4 3.2

A hot room filled with steam where you sit to relax and ease muscle pain

is a communal practice specific to Middle Eastern and North African regions
Turkish bath
vshammam
2 4.1

A hot steamy room where people relax, wash, and get a massage

is rooted in Middle Eastern and North African bathing traditions
vapor bath
vshammam
  • US
5.1

A hot room filled with steam for cleaning and relaxing the body

is the regional communal steam ritual tied to specific cultures
banya
vshammam
9.9

A traditional Russian steam bath where people go to wash, warm up, and relax

is the Middle Eastern and North African style of public steam bathing
bania
vshammam
9.9

A steam bath building where people sit in hot steam to wash and relax

is a traditional regional communal washing ritual from Middle Eastern areas
sweat house
vshammam
  • UK
7.4

A small hut used for steam baths to clean the body and spirit

is a larger, public communal steam tradition in Middle Eastern cultures

How Hot

sauna
52 2.1
steam room
12 3.7
hammam
1 8.4
hot tub
94 1.0
bath
591 1.0

Surface Forms

hammam singular
hammams plural

Etymology

Hammam comes from Arabic ḥammām, which means 'bath' or 'steam bath' and is the same word used in Turkish and French. So a hammam today is a public place to wash, steam, and relax.