Mecca as a Common Noun Is Now Often Avoided
Mecca is a city in Saudi Arabia and Islam's holiest site. Its use as a general word for any destination has become contentious.
Mecca is the city in Saudi Arabia that is Islam's holiest site, and by extension any place that attracts people with a shared interest. The lower-case use — a mecca for cyclists, a shopping mecca — has become contested: many Muslims regard it as trivialising a sacred place, and several style guides now advise against it. Writers increasingly choose *magnet*, *hub* or *destination*. The city's Arabic name is *Makkah*, and Saudi Arabia has promoted that spelling since the 1980s.
- Islam's holiest city. *The pilgrimage to Mecca.*
- A place of attraction. *A mecca for surfers.*
- Makkah — the preferred spelling. *Makkah.*
- Hajj — the pilgrimage. *Performing the hajj.*
- Kaaba — the shrine at its centre. *The Kaaba.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Proper noun | Mecca | The city. |
| Common noun | mecca | A mecca for. |
| Arabic | Makkah | Makkah. |
| Related | hajj | The hajj. |
| Related | Kaaba | The Kaaba. |
- Millions travel to Mecca each year.Pilgrimage.
- Style guides now advise against the common noun.Usage.
- Makkah is the preferred transliteration.Spelling.
Alternatives to the common noun
- Magnet — a place that draws people
- Hub — a centre of activity
- Destination — neutral and clear
- Capital — as in the surfing capital of Europe
- Any of these avoids the objection without losing the meaning
From the name of the city, Arabic *Makkah*. The figurative English use dates from the 1800s.
Is it wrong to call somewhere a mecca?
Not grammatically, but many Muslims find it disrespectful and several style guides now recommend alternatives such as magnet or hub.
Why is Makkah the preferred spelling?
It is closer to the Arabic pronunciation, and Saudi Arabia has promoted it in official use since the 1980s.