CultureSeptember 7, 2026

riads

ree-AHDZ

Definition

Traditional Moroccan houses or palaces that feature an interior garden or courtyard.

Etymology

Derived from the Arabic word 'riyad', meaning 'gardens', the term entered English to describe the specific architectural style of inward-facing Moroccan homes built around a central courtyard.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the layout of El Fenn in Marrakech, which consists of multiple interconnected traditional courtyard houses, to illustrate how large these 'no key' properties have become.

I'm a solo female traveller — there's one travel trend I'll never support

Read the full article ↗

Metro.co.uk

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