Burka and Hijab Are Different — but It’s Easy to See Why New Shoppers Mix the Words Up

The words get thrown together so often that a simple question can start to feel awkward: is a burka just another kind of hijab, or are they two different garments? The plain answer is that they are different. Hijab usually means modest covering, and in everyday English it often means a headscarf. A burka is a full-body outer garment that covers far more of the body, usually including the face in some form.

That difference matters because language shapes how people are seen. When every Muslim woman’s scarf is called a burka, the woman wearing a simple headscarf is misunderstood. When every face-covering garment is called hijab, the details of niqab, burka and other forms of covering disappear. The result is confusion for shoppers, awkwardness in conversation, and sometimes unfair assumptions about women’s choices.

This guide explains the difference in ordinary language. It is not a ruling, a debate about what any woman should wear, or a way of ranking modesty. It is a careful, practical explanation of what people usually mean when they use the words hijab, burka, niqab, abaya, khimar and related terms. The aim is simple: to help you speak more accurately, search more usefully, and choose or discuss modest clothing with respect.

The quickest plain-language difference

Hijab is the broader and more flexible word. In Islamic discussion, hijab can refer to modest conduct, privacy and covering. In everyday fashion and shopping language, it usually means a headscarf that covers the hair and often the neck, while the face remains visible. That is the meaning most people are using when they say someone “wears hijab” in Britain.

A burka is not just a scarf. It is normally understood as a full-body covering garment. In many common uses, it covers the body from head to feet and includes face coverage, sometimes with a mesh or screened panel over the eyes. That makes the burka a much more complete outer covering than a hijab scarf.

So the simplest answer is this: hijab usually refers to the head covering, while burka refers to a full-body garment with face coverage. They can both sit within modest dressing, but they are not the same item and should not be used as interchangeable labels.

Hijab is not only one physical garment

Part of the confusion comes from the word hijab having more than one layer of meaning. A woman may speak about hijab as a spiritual practice, a standard of modesty, a way of dressing, or a specific scarf. Someone else may use the word only for the cloth wrapped around the head. Both uses are common, but they do not mean every modest garment is therefore called a hijab.

In a clothing conversation, it is usually safest to ask what role the item has. A rectangular chiffon scarf, a jersey wrap, a square scarf folded around the head, and a ready-made pull-on head covering may all be described as hijabs because they cover the hair and frame the face. They vary in fabric, shape and styling, but they are still head coverings rather than full-body garments.

That is why a hijab can be worn with many different outfits. It may be paired with an abaya, jilbab, dress, skirt, coat, tunic or ordinary loose clothing. The scarf is one part of the outfit, not automatically the entire covering system.

A burka usually describes a full outer covering

When people use the word burka, they are normally pointing to a garment that covers much more than hair. It is understood as an outer layer that covers the body and includes the face. In some descriptions, the eyes are covered by mesh or a screened section rather than left open. This is why calling an ordinary headscarf a burka creates such a big mistake.

The word is also used differently by different communities and in different countries. Some people spell it burka, others burqa. Some use it narrowly for a particular full-body garment. Others use it loosely for any face-covering style. That loose usage is common in media and casual speech, but common does not always mean accurate.

For a shopper, the practical point is to look at what the garment actually covers. Does it cover only the hair and neck? Does it cover the face except the eyes? Does it cover the face completely? Does it include a body garment as well as head covering? Those questions tell you more than the label alone.

The face is the detail that changes the conversation

The easiest visual distinction is the face. A standard hijab leaves the face visible. It may cover the hair, ears, neck and chest depending on how it is wrapped, but the face is not covered. A burka, in common use, includes face coverage. That single difference changes how the garment functions and how people understand it.

Niqab is the important middle term here. A niqab covers the face while leaving the eyes visible. It is usually worn with a head covering and suitable outer clothing. A woman wearing niqab may be wearing an abaya, jilbab or other loose garment underneath or with it. She is not automatically wearing a burka.

This matters because many people see a face covering and immediately say burka. Often, the garment is actually a niqab. If the eyes are visible and the body garment is separate, niqab is usually the more accurate word. If the full-body covering includes an eye screen or mesh as part of one garment, burka may be closer.

Why people mix up burka, hijab and niqab

People mix these words because they often learn them from headlines, not from women who wear the garments. Media language tends to simplify. A photograph of a Muslim woman in any kind of covering may be described quickly, and the most dramatic word is sometimes chosen even when it is not accurate. Over time, that creates a habit of using burka for almost everything.

Shopping language can add another layer of confusion. Some sellers use popular search terms even when the garment is technically different, because they want customers to find the product. A face veil may be labelled burka, niqab, hijab veil or Islamic face cover. A long head covering may be called khimar hijab. A loose outer garment may be described as abaya, jilbab or burqa style. Search results can therefore mix correct and loose wording.

The respectful response is not to shame someone for asking. It is to give the correct terms calmly and explain the difference. Most confusion disappears once the coverage area is named: hair, neck, chest, body, face, eyes.

Burka and hijab difference in one comparison

Term	Usually covers	Face visible?	Common use
Hijab	Hair, often neck and sometimes chest depending on style	Yes	Headscarf or broader modest-covering practice
Niqab	Face, usually with head covering and modest outer clothing	Eyes usually visible	Face veil, not a full-body garment by itself
Burka or burqa	Full body and face, often including an eye screen or mesh	Usually no, or only through a screen	Full outer covering in common English usage
Abaya	Body as an outer dress or robe	Yes unless worn with niqab separately	Loose outer garment, often worn with hijab
Khimar	Head, neck, shoulders and often chest	Yes	Longer head covering with more drape than many scarves

A table can make the difference look neat, but real clothing is not always neat. Women layer garments, regional terms vary, and shops sometimes label products loosely. Still, the table gives a practical starting point. If the face is visible and the garment is mainly a scarf, hijab is usually the better word. If the body and face are covered together, burka or burqa may be the word being used.

Hijab can be worn with ordinary clothes

A woman wearing hijab may be wearing a long dress, a loose shirt, a coat, trousers, an abaya, a jilbab or a skirt. The scarf does not decide the whole outfit by itself. This is one reason the word hijab should not be stretched to mean every piece of modest clothing. It can be part of many different clothing systems.

For everyday life, a hijab often has practical concerns of its own: fabric, pins, undercaps, drape, warmth, opacity, shape and security. A jersey hijab behaves differently from chiffon. A square scarf behaves differently from a long rectangle. A ready-made hijab solves different problems from a wrap that has to be pinned. These are head-covering questions, not full-body garment questions.

That difference helps with shopping. If you need a scarf, search for hijab, headscarf, jersey hijab, chiffon hijab, khimar or ready-made hijab depending on the shape you want. Searching for burka when you need a scarf will bring confusing results.

Burka is not the same as an abaya

An abaya is a loose outer garment, often shaped like a long dress or robe. It covers the body but normally leaves the face visible. A woman may wear an abaya with a hijab. She may also wear an abaya with niqab. The abaya itself is not automatically a burka because it does not usually include the face-covering structure.

This distinction is important for Amani’s shoppers because abayas are common everyday modest outerwear. They can be open or closed, simple or embellished, casual or formal. They answer questions about body coverage, movement, fabric, sleeve shape and layering. They do not automatically answer questions about face veiling.

If someone searches for a burka but actually wants a loose full-length dress with a matching scarf, they may be closer to an abaya, jilbab or prayer outfit. If they want face coverage, they may need to look at niqab separately, depending on what is available and appropriate for their needs.

Niqab is often the missing word

Niqab is the word many people are reaching for when they say burka. It usually means a face veil that covers the lower face and leaves the eyes visible. It may be tied behind the head, attached to a head covering, layered over a khimar or worn with a suitable abaya or jilbab. It is not the same as a simple hijab scarf.

The difference between niqab and burka can depend on construction. Niqab is commonly a separate face veil. Burka is commonly understood as a full-body covering that includes the face within the garment. A woman in a black abaya, black hijab and black niqab is therefore not automatically wearing a burka, even if a passer-by might use that word.

If you are trying to learn these terms, niqab is worth remembering because it makes the whole vocabulary clearer. It gives you a word for face covering without incorrectly naming every face-covering outfit as burka.

Khimar is another head-covering term

Khimar is a head covering that usually extends longer than many scarf styles, often covering the shoulders and chest. The face remains visible unless a separate niqab is added. This places khimar closer to hijab in function than to burka, although it may provide more upper-body drape than a compact scarf.

Someone who wants more chest coverage from a head covering may be looking for khimar rather than burka. A khimar can be worn with an abaya, jilbab, skirt or dress, depending on the wearer’s preference. It is especially useful for women who want the scarf itself to provide more coverage without adding a face veil.

Again, the coverage question solves the vocabulary problem. Hair only, or hair and neck, points towards hijab. Hair, neck, shoulders and chest points towards khimar. Face coverage points towards niqab or burka depending on construction. Full-body and face coverage points towards burka or burqa in common use.

Jilbab can also confuse the search

Jilbab is another modest outer garment term, and its meaning can vary by community and product style. In many shopping contexts, it refers to a loose outer garment that covers the body, sometimes as a one-piece or two-piece set with a head covering. It is not automatically a burka because the face may remain visible.

A two-piece jilbab, for example, may include a long top or head-covering piece and a skirt. It can provide more full-body modesty than a simple scarf and dress combination, but it still does not become a burka unless face coverage is built into the design or added separately in a way that matches that usage.

If a shopper searches “burka” because she wants a very loose full-body outfit without face coverage, she may actually prefer jilbab or abaya. That distinction can save time, especially when product pages use many overlapping words to attract different searches.

Chador is not another word for hijab either

Chador is a large outer covering associated with particular cultural contexts, especially Iran. It is typically a full-body wrap or cloak-like garment, but it usually leaves the face visible. That means it is not the same as a hijab scarf, and it is not automatically the same as a burka either.

The word chador reminds us that modest clothing terms are not just shapes. They also have cultural and regional histories. It is better to describe what a garment does and name it carefully than to use one word for everything. A scarf, cloak, robe, face veil and full-body screened garment are different clothing forms, even when they all sit within modest dressing.

For an ordinary shopper, the useful lesson is humility. If you do not know the exact term, describe the coverage plainly. “A full-body outer covering with the face visible” is clearer than guessing. “A face veil with eyes visible” is clearer than calling it every dramatic word at once.

Why spelling varies between burka and burqa

Burka and burqa are both common English spellings. You may see one spelling in newspapers, another in product descriptions, and another in academic or regional writing. The spelling does not always prove the exact garment. It often reflects transliteration choices and local convention.

For search, it can be useful to try both spellings if you are researching the term broadly. For respectful conversation, the spelling is less important than whether you are using the word for the right kind of covering. Calling a hijab scarf a burqa is still inaccurate, even if the spelling is correct.

In Amani’s content, the best approach is plain and consistent. Explain the word the reader used, then gently clarify related terms. A person who types burka may not know whether she needs niqab, abaya, jilbab or khimar. The article should help her find the right garment family without making her feel foolish for not knowing the vocabulary yet.

Types of burka can mean different things online

When people search for types of burka, they may be asking several different questions. Some want to know about full-body garments with face screening. Some want to compare burka and burqa spellings. Some want to understand whether niqab is a type of burka. Others are using burka as a loose word for any highly covered Muslim outfit.

The answer depends on how strictly the word is being used. In stricter language, a burka is a specific kind of full-body covering and should not absorb every face veil, abaya or jilbab. In looser online language, people may group full coverings, face veils and long outer garments together under the burka label, even when that is not technically precise.

A useful way to handle “types” is to describe the coverage: full-body covering with screened face, face veil worn with separate outer garment, long head covering with face visible, body robe with face visible. Those are clearer categories than forcing every modest garment into the burka word.

Regional words should be handled respectfully

Muslim clothing vocabulary is shaped by language, place, scholarship, culture, climate and family habit. One woman may use a word she grew up with even if a shop uses another label. A family may say burqa where another community says niqab. A product page may use English search terms that do not capture the full local meaning.

This is why it is wise to be careful rather than rigid in personal conversation. If a woman tells you what she calls her garment, use her word for her own clothing. If you are writing an explanation for the public, explain the common distinctions clearly and acknowledge that terms can vary.

Accuracy and respect are not opposites. You can say, “In common English shopping language, hijab usually means a headscarf and burka usually means full body with face coverage,” while also recognising that real communities may use words with more nuance.

Do not rank women by the garment they wear

Explaining the difference between burka and hijab should not turn into ranking women’s modesty. A woman in a headscarf is not automatically less sincere than a woman in niqab. A woman in a full covering is not a costume or a symbol to be argued over without her voice. Clothing vocabulary should make conversation clearer, not make women into categories.

For a Muslim reader, the terms may be tied to personal faith, family expectations, comfort, climate, safety, confidence, worship and changing seasons of life. For a non-Muslim reader, the best starting point is simple respect: name the garment accurately, avoid assumptions, and remember that women are not wearing explanations for strangers.

Good language helps here. It keeps the focus on what the garment is and how it functions, rather than turning every outfit into a public debate. Plain words can be protective when they are used carefully.

How to ask without sounding rude

If you genuinely need to ask what someone is wearing, the safest approach is gentle and specific. “What is the correct name for that style?” is better than “Is that a burka?” if you are not sure. “May I ask what the difference is?” is better than making a statement that may be wrong.

Context matters. A close friend may welcome the question. A stranger in the street may not. A shop assistant helping with clothing can ask practical questions about coverage and style. A colleague does not need to turn someone’s outfit into a lesson during a meeting. Respect includes knowing when not to ask.

If someone corrects you, accept it without making them carry your embarrassment. A simple “Thank you, I didn’t realise” is enough. The goal is not to prove you meant well. It is to learn and move on with better language.

How to search when you are not sure what you need

Search by coverage first. If you need a scarf for hair and neck, start with hijab, headscarf, jersey hijab, chiffon hijab or khimar depending on the shape you want. If you need a face veil, search niqab. If you need a loose body garment, search abaya or jilbab. If you are specifically looking for a full-body covering with face screening, burka or burqa may be relevant.

Then add practical words. For a scarf, add fabric, length, ready-made, no pins, jersey, chiffon, crinkle or undercap. For an abaya, add open, closed, everyday, occasion, batwing, butterfly or fabric. For niqab, add one-layer, two-layer, tie-back or flip depending on what you need. Practical search terms usually beat vague labels.

If you want broader explanation of face covering and head covering together, the burka and hijab difference sits alongside the niqab and hijab guide, which can help separate face veil, headscarf and outerwear questions more clearly.

What shoppers often mean by “burka hijab”

The phrase “burka hijab” often signals uncertainty rather than a precise garment. A shopper may want a hijab that gives more coverage. She may want a khimar. She may want a niqab with a head covering. She may want a full-body outer garment. She may simply have heard the two words together and is trying to find the modest clothing category that feels right.

Instead of treating the phrase as wrong and stopping there, translate it into needs. Does the shopper want hair coverage, chest coverage, face coverage, body coverage or all of them? Does she want a separate scarf, a pull-on piece, a veil, a dress, or an outer layer? Does she need something for everyday wear, prayer, travel, work, or a specific family occasion?

That is the kinder and more useful way to handle confused search language. The search may be imprecise, but the person behind it is usually asking a real practical question.

What to check on a product page

Do not rely only on the product title. Check the photographs, description and included pieces. A product may mention hijab in the title but not include a scarf. It may show a face veil in styling but sell only the abaya. It may use the word burka loosely while offering a niqab or khimar instead.

Look for clear information about what is included, what areas are covered, whether the face is covered, whether the eyes are open or screened, whether the garment is one piece or separate pieces, and whether any underlayers are needed. For clothing, check size, length, fabric and care. For face coverings, check fastening, layers and visibility.

If something is not stated, treat it as unknown. Do not assume a scarf is included because it appears in the image. Do not assume an abaya has a matching niqab because the model is wearing one. Product styling and product contents are not always the same thing.

Why plain language helps new Muslims

New Muslims often learn clothing words in pieces: one from a friend, one from a product page, one from a video, one from family, one from a mosque conversation. It is normal to mix terms at first. A calm explanation is more helpful than a correction that makes the person afraid to ask again.

Plain language is especially useful because it connects the term to the function. Hijab: head covering, and sometimes a broader modesty concept. Niqab: face veil with eyes usually visible. Burka or burqa: full-body covering with face coverage in common English use. Abaya: loose body garment. Khimar: longer head and chest covering. Jilbab: loose outerwear, often more encompassing than an ordinary dress.

Once those functions are clear, the wardrobe becomes easier to understand. A woman can choose what she needs without feeling that every unfamiliar word is a test she must pass.

Why plain language helps non-Muslim readers too

Non-Muslim readers may encounter these words through news, workplaces, schools, travel, friendships or customer service. Accurate language helps them avoid embarrassing or unfair assumptions. It also helps them listen better when a Muslim woman explains her own clothing.

The most important correction is that hijab is not a synonym for oppression, and burka is not a synonym for Muslim woman. These are clothing words with particular meanings and social contexts. They should not be used as shorthand for fear, politics or judgement.

If you are writing, teaching, reporting or serving customers, use the specific term only when you know it is correct. If you are unsure, describe the garment neutrally. “A headscarf” may be more accurate than guessing. “A face veil” may be clearer than calling everything a burka.

How hijab, niqab and burka affect outfit planning

A hijab outfit usually needs coordination between scarf and clothing: fabric, colour, chest coverage, pins, undercap and how the scarf sits with the neckline. The face remains visible, so the scarf frames the face and interacts strongly with colour and texture near the top of the outfit.

A niqab outfit adds face-covering considerations. The wearer may think about visibility, breathability, ties, layers, how the niqab sits with the hijab or khimar, and how it behaves in wind or long wear. The outer garment still matters, but the face veil brings another practical layer.

A burka, when used to mean a full-body and face-covering garment, changes the outfit in a different way because the outer covering is the dominant garment. Underlayers still matter for comfort and modesty, but much of the visible outfit is controlled by the burka itself.

Coverage is not the same as comfort

More coverage does not automatically mean more comfort, and less coverage does not automatically mean less modesty. A woman choosing a hijab may care about fabric that stays in place and does not overheat. A woman choosing niqab may care about breathability, eye opening and secure ties. A woman choosing a full-body covering may care about movement, length and climate.

Comfort also includes confidence. Some women feel most at ease with a simple headscarf and loose clothing. Some feel more at ease with khimar. Some choose niqab. Some may wear different forms of covering in different seasons of life. The garments are not abstract symbols to the wearer; they are lived clothing.

That is another reason to use the correct words. Accurate language makes it easier to talk about the real practical issues instead of reducing everything to one dramatic label.

Legal and workplace conversations need extra care

In workplace, school or legal conversations, vague language can cause real problems. A policy that says “burka” when it means face covering may be unclear. A discussion about hijab that actually concerns identity checks or face visibility may miss the practical issue. A customer service note that calls a headscarf a burka can sound careless or disrespectful.

Good wording separates the question. Is the issue hair covering? Face visibility? Loose clothing? Uniform colour? Safety equipment? Identification? Modesty accommodations? Religious expression? Each question may involve different clothing and different practical answers.

This article is not legal advice, but the language principle is simple: name the garment accurately and describe the specific practical concern. That keeps the conversation more respectful and less likely to turn into a generalised judgement about Muslim women.

Photography and media captions often get it wrong

Photographs are powerful because people think they are self-explanatory. They are not. A woman in an abaya and hijab may be captioned as wearing a burka. A woman in niqab may be described as wearing hijab only. A group of women in different clothing may be described with one single term. The caption then teaches the mistake to thousands of readers.

Better captions name visible clothing carefully. If the face is visible and the head is covered, headscarf or hijab may be appropriate. If the face is covered with eyes visible, niqab is usually more accurate than burka. If the garment covers the whole body and face with a screen, burka or burqa may fit depending on the context.

No caption can tell you a woman’s intention, level of faith, family situation or private story. It can only describe visible clothing. That limitation should make the language more careful, not more dramatic.

Respectful product writing avoids scare words

Product writing should help a woman understand what she is buying. It should not use garment terms to create shock, exoticism or fear. Words like hijab, niqab, burka, abaya and jilbab should be used because they clarify the product, not because they attract attention.

That means a product title should not call a simple scarf a burka. It should not call an abaya a hijab. It should not imply that a face veil is included if it is only used for styling. If a product is inspired by a form of covering but is not the same garment, the description should explain that honestly.

Clear product writing is also better for trust. A shopper who receives what she expected is more likely to feel respected. A shopper who thought she was buying a full set and receives one piece has been misled, even if the photograph looked attractive.

Parents and children need simple terms too

Children often ask direct questions, and adults sometimes panic because they do not want to say the wrong thing. A simple explanation is usually enough: a hijab is a head covering; a niqab covers the face except the eyes; a burka covers the body and face more fully. Different women wear different things.

That explanation can be given without fear or judgement. There is no need to turn a child’s question into a debate about politics or religion. Children learn respect partly from the tone adults use. Calm language teaches them that difference can be named without being mocked.

If the child asks why someone wears it, the honest answer may be: for faith, modesty, comfort, family practice or personal choice, and we do not know every person’s private reason unless she tells us. That protects both accuracy and manners.

A simple memory aid

Here is the easiest way to remember the terms. Hijab usually starts with the head. Khimar extends the head covering down over shoulders and chest. Niqab adds face covering with the eyes generally visible. Abaya and jilbab are body garments. Burka or burqa, in common English use, points to full-body covering with face coverage.

This is a memory aid, not a complete map of every culture or garment history. Real life includes regional words, family terms, product labels and personal preferences. But the aid helps prevent the most common mistake: calling a hijab scarf a burka, or calling every face veil simply hijab.

Once you remember the coverage area, the vocabulary becomes less intimidating. Ask what is covered, how it is constructed and whether the face is visible. Those three questions usually lead to the right word.

Frequently asked questions about burka and hijab difference

Is a burka the same as a hijab?

No. In everyday English, hijab usually means a headscarf that covers the hair and often the neck while leaving the face visible. A burka is usually understood as a full-body outer covering that includes face coverage. They can both be part of modest dress, but they are not the same garment.

What is the main burka and hijab difference?

The main difference is coverage. Hijab usually refers to covering the hair and head area, while the face remains visible. A burka covers far more of the body and usually includes the face, sometimes with a mesh or screened eye panel. That makes burka a full-covering garment rather than a scarf.

Is niqab the same as burka?

No. Niqab is usually a face veil that covers the lower face and leaves the eyes visible. It is often worn with a separate hijab, khimar, abaya or jilbab. A burka is more commonly understood as a full-body covering that includes the face as part of the overall garment.

Can a woman wear hijab without wearing a burka?

Yes. Many women wear hijab with ordinary modest clothing, abayas, jilbabs, dresses, coats, skirts or trousers. A hijab scarf does not require a burka. The scarf covers the head area, while the rest of the outfit is chosen separately according to the woman’s needs and preferences.

What are the types of burka people usually mean?

People may mean a full-body garment with face screening, a face-covering outfit, or sometimes they may be using burka loosely for niqab, abaya or jilbab. The clearer approach is to describe the coverage: headscarf, face veil, body garment, or full-body and face covering. That avoids forcing every style into one term.

Why do people call every Muslim headscarf a burka?

Many people learn the words from headlines, casual speech or unclear product labels, so they use the most familiar or dramatic term even when it is inaccurate. A Muslim headscarf is usually called a hijab. Burka should not be used for an ordinary scarf because it describes much more coverage.

How do I know what to search for online?

Search by the coverage you need. For hair and neck coverage, search hijab or headscarf. For longer shoulder and chest coverage, search khimar. For face covering with the eyes visible, search niqab. For loose body garments, search abaya or jilbab. For full-body and face covering, burka or burqa may be relevant.

Is burka spelled burka or burqa?

Both spellings are common in English. The spelling varies because words from Arabic, Urdu, Persian and other languages are transliterated into English in different ways. Spelling is less important than using the word accurately for the garment being discussed.

Is it disrespectful to ask what someone is wearing?

It depends on context and tone. Asking a close friend or shop assistant may be fine if the question is respectful. Asking a stranger in public may feel intrusive. A polite question such as “What is the correct name for that style?” is usually better than guessing or using the wrong word confidently.

Where can I learn more about niqab and hijab together?

A niqab and hijab guide can help explain the difference between head covering, face covering and the outer garments worn with them. That is often the next useful step after understanding that burka and hijab are not the same, because niqab is the term people most often miss.

The respectful answer is usually the clearest one

Burka and hijab are not the same. A hijab, in everyday clothing language, usually means a headscarf. A burka usually means a full-body covering with face coverage. Niqab, khimar, abaya and jilbab fill in other important parts of the vocabulary. Once those terms are separated, the confusion becomes much easier to solve.

The point of learning the difference is not to police women’s clothing or correct people harshly. It is to speak with more care. Accurate words help shoppers find what they need, help writers avoid lazy descriptions, and help everyday conversations feel less clumsy.

Modest clothing carries faith, habit, comfort, family, culture and personal choice. Plain language should make those realities easier to respect. If you remember only one thing, remember this: a hijab is not automatically a burka, and a woman’s clothing deserves to be named with the same care as anyone else’s.