hookah

American  

[hook-uh] / ˈhʊk ə /

Or hooka

noun

1. a tobacco pipe of Near Eastern origin with a long, flexible tube by which the smoke is drawn through a jar of water and thus cooled.

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hookah British  

/ ˈhʊkə /

noun

1. Also called: hubble-bubble.   kalian.   narghile.   water pipe.  an oriental pipe for smoking marijuana, tobacco, etc, consisting of one or more long flexible stems connected to a container of water or other liquid through which smoke is drawn and cooled

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Etymology

Origin of hookah

First recorded in 1755–65, hookah is from the Arabic word ḥuqqah box, vase, pipe for smoking

Example Sentences

“I like Americans, they are so beautiful,” said Aman Gautam, a 23-year-old hookah parlor owner who patiently queued.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

What’s next, Doncic was a fat, lazy, beer-drinking, hookah smoker feasting on a 77-ounce New York strip steak with a side of the Slovenian specialty of sliced potatoes layered with cheese and heavy cream?

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2025

Local media said it happened as patrons queued to enter a hookah and cigar lounge.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2024

Officers entered the front door of the hookah bar, and Nelson fled out the back, where several other officers and a police dog were waiting.

From Seattle Times • May 16, 2023

They sat on low-seated woven stools, a brass hookah between them.

From "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed

Related Words

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