What is "khirbet"

Khirbet or khirbat, ending with a -t , is the conjunctive form ("ruin of"), of the Arabic word for "ruin" or "ruin on a hill" ( خرب), khirba. Consequently, the term is found as the first part of many place-names in the Middle East.

Some examples, by country (north to south) and main name:

Iraq

• Khirbet Hatara, Iraq
• Khirbet Karhasan, Iraq
• Khirbet Khatuniyeh, Iraq

Syria

• Khirbet Ghazaleh, Syria
• Khirbet al-Ma'zah, Syria
• Khirbet Tin Mahmoud, Syria
• Tall al-Khirba, Idlib Governorate, Syria

Lebanon

• Kherbet Rouha, Lebanon
• Khirbet Qanafar, Lebanon
• Khirbet Selm, Lebanon

Israel

• Khirbet Beit Lei, Israel
• Khirbet Munhata, Jordan Valley, Israel
• Khirbet Qeiyafa, Shephelah, Israel
• Khirbet Sharta, Israel

Jordan

• Khirbet et-Tannur, Jordan
• Khirbet Iskander, central Jordan
• Khirbat en-Nahas, Jordan

West Bank

• Khirbet Abu Falah, West Bank
• Khirbet al-Deir, West Bank
• Khirbet Kefireh, West Bank
• Khirbet al-Malih, West Bank
• Khirbet el-Qom, West Bank
• Khirbet Qumran, West Bank
• Khirbet Safa, West Bank
• Khirbet Tibnah, West Bank
• Khirbet al-Yahud, West Bank

Egypt

• Bir Khirbet el-Reteil, Sinai, Egypt