The pronunciation is with the stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is like the beginning of elope, and the word is pronounced [i-gree-jus].
White was added to the flag to identify Bahrain as a friendly state. Red was the traditional colour of the Kharijite Sect. In 2002 the number of serrations were reduced to five, possibly representing the five pillars of Islam. Effective date: 19 August 1972.