Zajal is a traditional form of colloquial Arabic poetry, particularly from the Levant and North Africa, characterized by strophic structure, vernacular language, and lively, often improvisational performance. Unlike classical qasida poetry in formal Arabic, zajal uses dialect, incorporates music and dance, and addresses everyday themes—love, politics, satire—with rhythmic vitality and audience interaction. Its stanzas typically follow a rhyme scheme with a recurring refrain, and it often features a poetic duel (mujawara) between performers. For students, zajal exemplifies the richness of oral poetic traditions outside the literary canon, highlighting the role of performance, community, and linguistic diversity in poetic expression.

Medieval Arabic/Spanish strophic form with alternating Arabic and Romance refrains. Related to Zejel. Features complex rhyme scheme. Study Andalusian poetry for cultural/linguistic hybrid forms.