A hijab h ɪ ˈ dʒ ɑː b h ɪ ˈ dʒ 230 b ˈ h ɪ dʒ 230 b h ɛ ˈ dʒ ɑː b arabic حجاب ḥijāb pronounced ħɪˈdʒaːb or egyptian arabic ħeˈɡ230ːb in common english usage is a veil worn by some muslim women in the presence of any male outside of their immediate family which usually covers the head and chest.