"Mizrahi" is literally translated as "Oriental", "Eastern", "Mizraḥ", Hebrew for "east". In the past the word "Mizrahim", corresponding to the Arabic word "Mashriqiyyun" (Arabic "مشريقيون" or Easterners), referred to the natives of Iraq and other Asian countries, as distinct from those of North Africa ("Maghribiyyun"). In medieval and early modern times, the corresponding Hebrew word "ma'arav" was used for North Africa. In Talmudic and Geonic times, however, this word "ma'arav" referred to the land of Israel, as contrasted with Babylonia. For this reason, many object to the use of "Mizrahi" to include Moroccan and other North African Jews.