hammam

American  

[huh-mahm] / həˈmɑm /

noun

1. (in Islamic countries) a communal bathhouse, usually with separate baths for men and women.

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hammam British  

/ hʌmˈɑːm /

noun

1. a bathing establishment, such as a Turkish bath

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Etymology

Origin of hammam

(< Turkish haman ) < Arabic ḥammām

Example Sentences

The treatment takes place on a heated marble table inside the hammam and begins with a thorough cleansing before moving into an invigorating exfoliating scrub.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

The closures affect the roughly 200,000 people directly or indirectly employed in the hammam sector, which accounts for roughly 2% of the country’s total water consumption, according to Morocco’s national statistics agency.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2024

In the Middle East and northern Africa, bathing in the steam of a hammam is a form of religious purification, one often practiced before prayer.

From New York Times • Jul. 6, 2021

From street vendors to magicians, barbers to dancers, hammam scrubbers to imams, each expressed dignity in the face of hardship and a unique way of resisting and overcoming their daily stresses.

From The Guardian • Jun. 12, 2020

Moving back and forth, the priests looked like men at a hammam.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides