The Jew's harp is known world-wide by many different names, depending on the country of origin. Some examples are:

• England - Gewgaw
• Germany - Maultrommel (which means mouth drum)
• Japan - Koukin
• Russia - Vargan
• Siberia - Khomus
• Philippines - Kumbing and kubing
• Italy - Scacciapensieri
• Norway - munnharpa or munnharpe
• France - guimbarde
• Bali - genggong

The jaw harp is a one of the oldest musical instruments in the world. Originally called a trump or gewgaw, in different cultures it is known as the Jew's harp, khomuz, kubyz, mungiga or vargan among other names.

The instrument is an idiophone consisting of a flexible metal (or bamboo) tongue attached to a frame. This tongue is placed in the performers mouth and plucked with the finger to produce a note. The note thus produced is constant in pitch, though by changing the shape of their mouth and the amount of air contained in it the performer can cause different overtones to sound and thus perform simple melodies.

There are many theories for the origin of the name Jew's harp (see the external links below), one being that it may derive from its popularity amongst Eurasian steppe-peoples like the Khazars perhaps being introduced to Europe from that direction.