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jinni

jinni

1 9.9
A spirit in Islamic stories that can appear as a person or animal and affect people
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɪni/
  • Literature
translation icon : genio
  • In Arabian folklore, a jinni is often depicted as having the ability to grant wishes to those who summon them.

Islam says there are spirits on earth with us, not ghosts of dead people, but spirits called jinn in Arabic.

Examples

  • In the midst of ruins and devastation, she tells us that Palestinian women threw off the veil and managed to come out of the bottle, just like the jinni in the 1001 Nights, after years of imprisonment (Tuqan 138).

    Academic text (2003)
  • In Arabia in those days, however, visitations by angels and other spirits (jinn, the plural of jinni) were quite common.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Poets were said to get their inspiration from their personal jinni.

    Academic text (2002)
  • You'd get easier time finding a jinni.

  • The fortunate few cross Allah's Frying Pot, then must pray they do not bear witness to the jinni of the West.

  • Islam says there are spirits on earth with us, not ghosts of dead people, but spirits called jinn in Arabic.

  • The Arabs have jinni's.

  • Among Muslim Arab peoples, al-junin (being possessed by the jinni or spirit) is comparable to the Northern notion of mental illness and may be conveyed in everyday life (Al-Issa, 2000).

    Academic text (2003)
  • The tale described how the jinni emerged from the lamp and transformed the young man's life forever.

  • According to the Quran, a jinni is a spirit created from smokeless fire, distinct from angels and humans.

Synonyms

genie
vsjinni
  • Literature
163 4.6

A spirit in stories that appears from a lamp and makes wishes come true

is the religious spirit in Islamic belief, not the fictional wish granter
djinn
vsjinni
  • Literature
18 9.9

An invisible spirit in Muslim belief that can appear as people or animals and affect humans

is the same being but highlighted in the Quran as influencing people
jinn
vsjinni
  • Literature
8 9.9

A spirit from Arabic and Muslim stories that can have magical powers

focuses on appearing as humans or animals and influencing people
djinni
vsjinni
  • Literature
1 9.9

A spirit in Islamic stories that is invisible and can appear as a human or animal

is the same spirit but specifically mentioned in the Quran
jann
vsjinni
  • Literature
1 9.9

A spirit from Arabic stories that can appear and disappear

is the general spirit class rather than a specific subtype
djinny
vsjinni
  • Literature
9.9

An invisible spirit people believe can appear as a person or animal and cause strange events

is the same spirit but described in the Quran as influencing people
jinnee
vsjinni
  • Literature
9.9

An invisible spirit from Islamic stories that sometimes affects people

is the Quranic spirit that can appear as people or animals and influence them

Surface Forms

jinni singular
jinnis plural

Etymology

Jinni comes from the Arabic word jinn, which means 'hidden' or 'to hide'. Think of a jinni as a 'hidden' spirit that can appear in human or animal form and affect people, and you may know the same idea as a genie from stories like Aladdin.