Food and drink in Persian
176 words in Persian on the topic “food and drink”: چای — tea, قهوه — coffee, آب — water, نان — bread.
176 words on the topic
- چایchayteaThe national drink, drunk in armchair glasses all day. The word travelled west with the leaf itself: chaay became the tea of half the world
- قهوهgâghvecoffeeCovers both the drink and the café where it is served — qahve-khane is a teahouse. The word is the ancestor of European "café"
- آبâbwaterOne syllable, and it opens half the compound words of food: ab-mive juice, ab-miondani mineral water. The a is long
- نانnânbreadFlat, baked fresh twice a day. Nun-e barbari and nun-e sangak are the names you meet at the bakery door
- شیرshirmilkSame word as in shirini, pastry — sweetness and milk share a root of gentleness. Also lives in shir-mal, a soft milk roll
- نوشیدنnâshidanto drinkThe dictionary form. Speech uses the stem nush — mi-nusham, I drink. From the same root as nushidani, any drinkable thing
- غذاghazafoodThe general word for a meal and for a dish. Ghazaha-ye daryai — seafood — is the same word in the plural
- پنیرpanircheeseWhite brined cheese, the breakfast partner of bread. The pair nun o panir is one phrase, like "bread and butter"
- گوشتgushtmeatMeat in general; the animal names follow it: gusht-e morgh, chicken meat. The gh is deep, gargled
- ماهیmâhifishOne word for the animal and the food. Mahi-e sefid, the white fish of the north, is the festive one
- سالادsâlâdsaladThe international word, said exactly as at home. Salad-e Shirazi — cucumber, tomato, onion — is the house version
- سوپsupsoupThe spoon word of winter, said like "soup". Ash is the older, thicker native cousin — a meal in itself
- نمکnamaksaltSalt for the table and for idioms — namak nasnakhtan means to be ungrateful, to not recognize the salt
- شکرshekarsugarThe written name; the word itself travelled out of these lands into "sugar" and "candy". In speech shekar is just as common
- خوردنkhârdanto eatThe dictionary form, from the stem khor. It doubles as "to consume": sandal mikhore — it eats the wood, it corrodes
- سیبsibappleThe same syllable that rings in "seb" of old poems. Sib-e zamin — ground apple — is the potato
- پرتقالpârtâgâlorangeLiterally "Portuguese [fruit]" — the fruit arrived by sea, and the name remembers the ship. Juice is ab-porteghal
- گوجهفرنگیgâdzhe-fârângitomatoLiterally "foreign plum" — farangi is a Frank, a European. The newness of the vegetable is recorded right in the name
- میوهmirefruitFruit in general and any single fruit. Mive-f rush — fruit-seller — is a shop you pass every second street
- آبمیوهâbmirejuiceLiterally "fruit water": ab + mive, squeezed into one word. Fresh-squeezed stands at every corner in summer
- خوشمزهkhâshmazetastyKhosh, pleasant, + mazze, taste: pleasant-to-the-taste. The compliment every host waits for
- تازهtâzefreshFresh — bread, fruit, news. The compliment of the bakery and the complaint of the fishmonger when absent
- رسیدهrasideripeRipened, from residan, to arrive: the fruit has arrived at readiness. The opposite of nares, unripe
- صبحانهsâbhânebreakfastLiterally "the morning-thing": sobh + ane. Bread and cheese is the breakfast, says the course
- ناهارnâhârlunchThe midday meal — the same root as zohr, noon. Nahar saat-e yek: lunch at one
- شامshâmdinnerDinner — sham, the shortest meal name. Shaam saat-e hasht: dinner at eight
- جویدنzhâvidanto chewTo chew — java. Nan khoob ju: chew the bread well — the table command of grandmothers
- بلعیدنbelâidanto swallowTo swallow — bela. Aab bela: take a swallow of water — the command form of the doctor and the mother
- اشتهاeshtehâappetiteAppetite — eshteha, the word restaurants wish you. Emrooz eshteha nist: no appetite today
- تکهtekepieceA piece of anything — teqe. Teqe-e nan, lotfan: a piece of bread, please
- بوbusmellSmell — boo, good or bad by its adjective. Boo khoob ast: a good smell — the kitchen’s promise
- بعد از غذاba'd az ghazaafter mealsBaad az — after — the phrase of pill schedules: qors baad az ghaza. Take it after eating
- کرهkârebutterButter for the breakfast with bread and tea — the first phrase of the morning pairs them. Bread and butter, says the example
- سیبزمینیsib-zeminipotatoLiterally "earth apple": the apple you know sits inside the word. I want two potatoes, says the example
- آردârdflourFlour. Bread is baked twice a day here, and this is the word of every bakery, says the example
- عسلasalhoneyHoney. The mountain kind from the market is thick, with the comb — tested with a spoon and tea. Tea with it, says the example
- آجیلâdzhilnuts and dried fruit mixA mix of nuts and dried fruit. A plate of it is set before the guest with tea — hospitality starts here. Tasty, says the example
- پیازpiyâzonionThe onion. Pilaf has plenty of it, and people learn not to cry early: the word of every soup. In the soup, says the example
- هویجhâveydzhcarrotThe carrot. Juice is pressed from it, and jam is cooked of it — a carrot jam is no joke here. In the salad, says the example
- فلفلfelfelpepperPepper. Black ground is the black word added to it; the vegetable kind is another dish and another word. Much of it, says the example
- لوبیاlubiabeansBeans — in stews and in rice they come more often than meat: plain, filling food. Tasty, says the example
- ادویهâdviespicesSpices. At the market there are whole rows of them — a mountain of little boxes, and the seller pours by eye. I have many, says the example
- آشپزی کردنâshpezi kânto cookLiterally "to do kitchen". Who cooks, runs the whole evening — the word covers it all. Tonight it is me, says the example
- شستنshâstanto washTo wash. "Wash it!" is the request heard at the sink every day — the fruits too, says the example
- چاقوchâguknifeThe knife. Knife and spoon are the pair looked for in the drawer at the same moment — where both are, says the example
- جوشاندنdzhâshândanto boilLiterally "to bring to boiling" — to boil, to cook in water. Water, soup, everything hot starts with it. I brought the water to a boil, says the example
- سرخ کردنsârkh kânto fryLiterally "to make red": the red crust on the potato is the very meaning of the word. Fry it, says the example
- پختنpâkhtanto bake, cookBaking and boiling packed in one verb: bread cooks and soup cooks, the verb is the same, the food is different. Mother bakes bread, says the example
- خرد کردنkherd kânto chop, diceLiterally "to make small" — to chop, to crumble. "Chop the onion" is the first command of the kitchen, says the example
- قابلمهgâllâmepotThe pot. A big family means a big one: soup is cooked for everyone. The soup is in it, says the example
- تابهtâbefrying panThe frying pan — flat and wide: everything is fried in it, from potatoes to fish. The onion is in it, says the example
- اجاق گازâdzhâge gazstove, gas cookerLiterally "the gas hearth": the hearth is a word from the house where fire was the heart. The stove is on, says the example
- بشقابbâshghâbplateThe plate — an old, ringing word for the deep kind and the flat kind alike. Bread on it, says the example
- فنجانfânzhâncupA cup with a saucer — coffee or tea. A guest gets a full one: it is a sign of respect. One of tea, says the example
- لیوانlivânglassThe glass — and the tea glass on a saucer that other languages borrowed whole. A glass of water, says the example
- قاشقgâshâgspoonThe spoon — a singing word, and the first thing looked for in the kitchen drawer. It is in the cup, says the example
- چنگالchengâlforkThe fork — the junior one on this table, but in the city nothing works without it: one lies by every plate, says the example
- بطریbâtribottleThe bottle. Water is sold everywhere, and a bottle of water is the first purchase in the heat. In the fridge, says the example
- دستمالdâstmâlnapkin, tissueLiterally "hand cloth" — a napkin and a handkerchief in one. The paper kind adds a word of its own. I have the paper ones, says the example
- کتریketeriteapotA kettle you boil water in, not the pot tea brews in — that one is the ghori. From the kettle the strong brew is topped up with boiling water right in the glass. The water is in it, says the example
- سینیsinitrayThe tray — tea is carried out to the guest on it, together with glasses and sweets. The tea is on it, says the example
- داغdâghotHot. "Hot tea" — temperature is respected here; nobody understands cold tea. The tea is hot, says the example
- سردsardcoldCold. "Cold water" is the first request in the heat — the pair of hot. It stands in the fridge, says the example
- گرسنهgârsnehungryHungry — "hungry-I", the little verb again at the end. The invitation to the table starts with this question. I am very hungry, says the example
- مزهmazetasteThe taste: "the taste of the food". From it grew the "good-taste" word for tasty that you have long known. The taste of the food is good, says the example
- شورshârsaltySalty. Salt stands on the table always; the sea and tears go by the same word. The soup is salty, says the example
- ترشtârshsourSour. Lemon and unripe grape share it — sour snacks are loved here. The orange juice is sour, says the example
- تلخtalkhbitterBitter. Strong tea without sugar is bitter — and that is normal: sweetness is held on the lips. The tea is bitter, says the example
- تندtândhot, spicySpicy, sharp. The pepper goes by it — and the fast wind, and the fast talk. The pepper is hot, says the example
- سیرsirfull, satedSated — "I am full" is the polite way to refuse a second helping, and a smile is expected back. Full, thanks, says the example
- چشیدنcheshedanto taste, tryTo taste. "Try it!" is the invitation sounded at every table. Try the food, says the example
- منوmenumenuThe menu — an international word said just like at home: menu, please, says the example
- گارسونgârsunwaiterThe waiter — the word came from the same city as the restaurants themselves. Call him politely: excuse me! He is young, says the example
- سفارشsefâreshorderThe order — of food in a restaurant and of goods in the phone: the same word. Ours is two teas, says the example
- سفارش دادنsefâresh dâdanto orderLiterally "to give an order". Said of food and of a taxi alike — I am ordering, says the example
- خوراکkhârâkdish, mealA dish, food — from the same root as "to eat": the meal is named by its verb. It was very tasty, says the example
- پرسpârsportionThe portion — kebabs and rice are counted in plates, and the plate is the measure. One, please, says the example
- میز برای دو نفرmiz bârâye dâ nafartable for twoLiterally "a table for two persons": the table word plus the person-as-count word. I want one, says the example
- دسرdeserdessertDessert, like at home. After pilaf there is not always a sweet: the tea itself is the dessert. Tasty, says the example
- بدون گوشتbedune gushtwithout meatLiterally "without meat". Ask for it plainly and be understood at once: without meat, please. I want food so, says the example
- کیکkeykcakeThe word came from outside and crowded out the rest: cake and pastry in the sweet shop go by it. Mother’s was excellent, says the example
- ماکارونیmâkârânipasta, macaroniThe same word as at home — it traveled from the same land. Here it is not boiled but baked to a crust — the dish of the day off. Tasty, says the example
- ماستmâstyogurtThicker than the yogurt at home: eaten with a spoon, with salt and cucumber, not drunk. A cool drink is made of it too. Tasty, says the example
- خامهkhâmecream, clotted creamThick cream, eaten with honey at breakfast. Coffee with it is the most caloric drink of the capital — ordered with pride. I love it, says the example
- بستنیbâstâniice creamLiterally "the icy one", from the ice. The local kind is yellow and fragrant: saffron and rose water inside — a taste people then seek all their lives. Tasty, says the example
- شکلاتshâkâlatchocolateThe same word as at home, through its own spelling. A bar is called by the sweet word plus chocolate — and given instead of flowers. For you, says the example
- بیسکویتbiskvitbiscuit, cookieThe same biscuit word, from Europe by the same road. Served with tea; the festive kind goes by the sweets word. I want cookies and tea, says the example
- گوشت گاوgushte gâvbeefLiterally "the meat of the cow": a meat is always named through the animal. The beef word at home is built on the same ancient cattle word. It is expensive, says the example
- گوشت گوسفندgushte gusfândlamb, muttonLiterally "the meat of the sheep". Festive meat here: pilaf with it is cooked for guests, and it is never cheap. It is expensive too, says the example
- میگوmigushrimpCaught in the south of the country, by the sea, and fried with lemon. A short word, like the shrimp itself — no plural asked of it. They are expensive, says the example
- انگورângurgrapesThe grape; the raisin is its dried cousin — dried grapes here are a food of their own. No wine is pressed, but a thick syrup is boiled down. Sweet, says the example
- خیارkhiyârcucumberCut small into every salad here and eaten whole, like an apple. Pickled rarely — the fresh one is prized higher. We have cucumbers and tomatoes, says the example
- کلمkâlâmcabbageA short word for the cabbage. The pickled kind is eaten less than the fresh one in salad — and they stand at different prices. It is cheap, says the example
- سیرsirgarlicThe garlic — and the same word means "plain, pure": garlic here is poor man’s food and medicine at once. Fried in whole heads. I love it, says the example
- کدو تنبلkâdâ tanbalpumpkinLiterally "the lazy gourd": it grows by itself, without care — hence lazy. The ordinary zucchini is just the gourd word; do not mix them. It is big, says the example
- بادمجانbâdemdzhâneggplant, aubergineThe word that traveled to the tables of other tongues: the eggplant here is the king of vegetables. Fried, stewed and smoked over fire for salad. I love them, says the example
- لیموlimulemon, limeBoth the lemon and the lime: the yellow sweet one takes the sweet word, the green sour one the sour. The juice of the green seasons nearly everything. It is sour, says the example
- هندوانهhândunewatermelonLiterally "the fruit of the south": the watermelon came from the south, and the name kept the road. In summer it is eaten chilled, with a little salt. It is cold, says the example
- توتفرنگیtut-fârângistrawberryLiterally "the overseas mulberry": the mulberry plus overseas. The tomato is named the same way — you know it. Sweet, says the example
- گلابیgâlâbipearBuilt on the rose water: a pear here is fragrant like perfume. The northern ones are the summer goods of every market. Cold and sweet, says the example
- هلوhâlupeachA short word for the juicy fruit. A ripe peach is eaten here over a plate: the juice is a matter of honor, not of embarrassment. Sweet, says the example
- دستور پختdasture pâkhtrecipeLiterally "an order of cooking": the instruction plus the cooking. A recipe here is not "received" but "ordered": the steps come like commands. It is simple, says the example
- پوست گرفتنpust gereftanto peel vegetablesLiterally "to take the skin": the skin plus the taking. Peeling vegetables and fruits here is "removing the peel" — one verb for it all. I am peeling apples, says the example
- جوشاندنdzhâshândanto bring to a boilFrom the boiling: "the water brings boiling". To cook and to boil are one nest: this verb makes things boil. The water is coming to a boil, says the example
- هم زدنham zadanto stir, mixLiterally "to strike together": the together plus the all-purpose striking. Soup and dough are stirred alike: in this kitchen everything is "struck". Stir the tea, says the example
- نمک زدنnamak zadanto add saltLiterally "to strike salt": salt is "struck" into food here. To over-salt is "to strike much salt" — and the dinner is saved or not. Salt the food, says the example
- گرم کردنgârm kânto heat up, warmLiterally "to make warm": the warm word. One can warm food, a room and even an argument — the verb works with anything. Heat up the food, says the example
- خنک کردنkhânâk kânto cool, chillCool and refreshing: the same word about a breeze and a drink. To cool is "to make cool" — cakes included. Chill the tea, says the example
- تخممرغ بزنtâkhm-mârg bezanto beat the eggsLiterally "strike the hen’s egg": the egg plus the hen. Beating is the same striking as stirring and salting: in this kitchen everything is struck. Beat two eggs, says the example
- آب اضافه کردنâb ezâfe kânto add waterLiterally "to add water": the same adding as in gaining weight. What you add stands ahead of the verb. Add water, says the example
- کباب کردنkebâb kânto grill, barbecueThe same kebab word as at home: grilling on coals here is "doing kebab". A whole art — and done in the yard more often than in the kitchen. Fry the meat, says the example
- تاریخ انقضاtârikhe engezaexpiration dateLiterally "the date of expiry": the date plus the expiring. On the packaging exactly these two words are looked for, and the month with them. It has passed, says the example
- فاسد شدنfâsed shâdanto go off, spoilThe spoiled: the same word about a rotten apple and a bad character. Food "goes off" — and a person too. The meat went off, says the example
- قوطیgutican, tinA tin can: canned food here goes by exactly this word. The glass jar is a separate story — at the shop they are not mixed up. Open the fish one, says the example
- اضافهezâfesecond helping, extraThe same word as in gaining weight: an addition. At the canteen one asks for it without embarrassment, like a second portion. I want seconds, says the example
- بیرونبرbeyrun-bartakeaway, to goLiterally "an outward carrying": the outside plus the carrying. "Takeaway coffee" — the cup to go. I want coffee to go, says the example
- بدون شکرbedune shekârwithout sugar, sugar-freeLiterally "without sugar": the without — the same little word as direction, with a tail. Tea without sugar is drunk rarely here: the sugar is held at the lips. Tea without sugar, please — says the example
- گیاهخوارمgiyah-khâramI am a vegetarianLiterally "plant-eating am-I": the plant plus the eating-I. A woman says it the same way — the ending is one for all. I am a vegetarian, says the example
- نوش جانnâshe dzhânbon appetit, enjoy your mealLiterally "drink-swallow to the soul": a wish to the eater — "may it be to the soul’s joy". Said by the host, and answered with the same. So! says the example
- غذای چربgazâe charbifatty food, greasy foodThe fatty — from the fat; of a person it is not said: the stout one goes by its own word. The food word you know. After fatty food my stomach hurts, says the example
- آبنباتâbnâbâtcandy, sweetLiterally "water-sugar": boiled syrup set into a candy. The chocolate is its own word — recognized at once. For the children I bought candies, says the example
- غذای ملیgazâe millinational dishThe national — from the people. Under this name they gather the pilaf and the herb stew — the main dish of the country. This is our national dish, says the example
- غذای خیابانیgazâe khiyobânistreet foodFrom the street: what is cooked right at the stall. The evening market — and there it is the main food. At the evening market there is street food, says the example
- تازهپختهtâze-pâhtefreshly bakedLiterally "freshly cooked": taaze-pokhte. The baker has it, says the example — the morning’s best sentence
- بیاتbeyatstaleStale — baayat, of bread gone a day. Not fresh, says the example — the baker’s honest warning
- گوشت خوکgushte khukporkKhuk is the pig. The meat you will not meet in the country itself — the phrase in the course is exactly what a shopkeeper answers
- گوشت مرغgushte mârgchicken (meat)Morgh is the bird — hen, fowl — and with gusht it lands on the plate. The everyday meat of the table
- گوشت اردکgushte ârdakduck (meat)Ordak is the duck, a festival bird rather than a weekday one — hence the price in the example
- گوشت چرخکردهgushte charkh-kârdeminced meatLiterally "turned meat": charkh is a spinning wheel, karde is done. Minced — run through the wheel
- ژامبونzhâmbânhamThe French jambon in local spelling, zh standing for the French j. A deli word that stayed European
- سوسیسsâsissausageThe same word as "sausage", worn down on the road: sosic. Served sliced and fried with potatoes
- ماهی تنmâhi tântunaLiterally "tuna fish" — the English tonn walked in with the can. The word of every sandwich shop
- ماهی سالمونmâhi sâlâmânsalmonThe English name kept whole, mahi-salmon. A restaurant fish, farmed in the north
- میگوmigushrimpFrom the south — the Gulf catch. Migu ra ba limu mikhorand: shrimp is eaten with lemon
- غذاهای دریاییgâzâghâe deriyaiseafoodLiterally "foods of the sea": ghaza food, darya sea. On a menu it means the catch of the day
- آلوâluplumThe plum and its dried sister alou-bokhara, which gives stews their sour note
- تمشکtemeshkblackberryThe bramble berry of the north woods. Eaten with sugar, as the example says — the fruit is tart
- خربزهkharbâzemelonThe summer queen of the fruit stalls — kharboze, and its round small brother hendoone, the watermelon
- انارânarpomegranateThe fruit of autumn and of myths — anar. Its juice, ab-anar, is sour, dark and sold on every corner in October
- آناناسânanâspineappleThe same word as at home, stress on the first a. A fruit-salad regular
- نارنگیnârengitangerineThe winter fruit, kin to porteghal but small and sweet. Narengi ra dar zemestan mikhorim — tangerines are a winter thing
- کیویkivikiwiThe green newcomer from the north, grown around the Caspian. Written with the -i of "a kiwi": kivi-ye sabz
- آووکادوâvâkâdâavocadoThe global word, local spelling. Nun o avokado — avocado toast — is the breakfast of city cafés
- کشمشkeshmeshraisinsGrapes dried in the sun; the golden kind is the pride of the vineyards. Keshmesh ba cha — raisins with tea — is a workday snack
- انجیرandzhirfigThe fig of courtyards and dried-fruit mixes. The same word stands behind the name of many a garden
- فلفل دلمهایfâlfâl dâlmeyibell pepperLiterally "stuffed-pepper pepper": dolme is the dish of stuffed vegetables. The thick-walled sweet kind
- کدو سبزkâdâ sebzzucchiniLiterally "green gourd": kadu is the pumpkin family, sabz green. The summer stew vegetable
- لبوlâbubeetSold hot from street carts in winter — labu, warm and warm, the example is literal. Sweet root, street food
- تربچهtârbâcheradishThe small red radish of the table, always sharp — tiz. Sits next to herbs on every spread
- سبزیsabziherbsThe fresh greens of the table: sabz is green, and sabzi is both "herbs" and "carrot" — the root is green-topped
- شویshâvidillThe herb of every soup pot: shavi be sup bo midahad — dill gives the soup its smell
- جعفریdzhafariparsleyParsley, the base of the herb plate. The word came from the spice routes with the leaf itself
- زنجبیلzandzhebilgingerThe root of winter tea — cha ba zanjebil baaraye sarma khoob ast: ginger tea against a cold
- ذرتzârâtcornThe corn roasted on autumn street corners. Same word you met as the letter-book example for zal
- اسفناجesfenâzhspinachThe leaf that turns stews green — and the word that walked west into "spinage" ages ago
- نان شیرمالnân shirmâlmilk rollLiterally "milk-drawn bread": shir milk + mal drawn. The soft sweet bun of breakfast tables
- پایpâypieThe English pie in local spelling — pastry as loanword. Paay-e sib, apple pie, is what you bring a guest
- شیرینیshirinipastry / sweetFrom shir, milk — sweetness itself. A shirini-f rushi is a pastry shop, and its window is the example’s vetrine
- دوناتdânâtdonutThe American word, said as it is spelled. Gerd o narm — round and soft — is the whole description it needs
- شیرینیجاتshirini-dzhâtpastriesThe -jat ending makes a collective: sweets as a category, the whole display case
- مرباmârâbâjamJam, spooned onto buttered bread. Carrot jam, moraba-ye haveej, is a local classic a foreigner never expects
- شربتshârbâtsyrupThe word that gave English "sherbet" and "sorbet": sharbat, a sweet drink. Diluted with water, exactly as the example says
- پاپ کورنpâp kârnpopcornThe cinema word, split politely into two. Pap-korn dar sinema — the example tells where it lives
- چیپسchipschipsCrisps, in one syllable. Chips namakine — salty chips — and the tea beside it
- آدامسâdâmschewing gumNamed after the first brand that landed here: Adams. Now the generic word — aadamse dar jibe man
- لیمونادlimânâdlemonadeLemonade with real lemon, tart and cold. Khonak is the word for pleasantly cold — the summer compliment
- آب معدنیâb meâdânimineral waterLiterally "mine water": maadan is a mine. The bottle you order when the tap is a question mark
- نوشابه گازدارnâshâbe gazdârfizzy drinkNushabe is any soft drink, gazdar is gas-holding — carbonated. The example gives the parental verdict
- کوکتلkâktelcocktailHere it means fruit cocktails and mocktails — the drink cabinet has no spirits. Koktel-e mive, a fruit one
- کاکائوkâkâucocoaThe breakfast drink of children, said with the stress in the middle: kakaOO. Sobh kakaoo minusham
- نسکافهniskâfeinstant coffeeA brand name turned generic — the way English says "to hoover". Quicker than qahve, says the example, and nobody argues
- چای کیسهایchaye kiseyitea bagLiterally "bagged tea": kise is a little bag. The office compromise, lazem — necessary — at work
- آب جوشâb dzhushboiling waterLiterally "boiled water": joshidan is to boil. The kettle word — tea is made with ab-e josh
- الکلâlkâlalcoholThe chemistry word, said about medicine and disinfectant. The example states the fact about local drinks
- نوشیدنیnâshidânia drinkFrom nushidan, to drink, with the -i of "a thing done": any drinkable thing. Yek nushidani-e khonak — one cold drink
- آبپرتقالâb-pârtâgâlorange juiceLiterally "orange water": the same ab that runs through juice words. Sobhane ab-porteghal mikhoram — breakfast juice
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A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
What is worth knowing about these words
چای (chay) — tea. The national drink, drunk in armchair glasses all day. The word travelled west with the leaf itself: chaay became the tea of half the world.
قهوه (gâghve) — coffee. Covers both the drink and the café where it is served — qahve-khane is a teahouse. The word is the ancestor of European "café".
آب (âb) — water. One syllable, and it opens half the compound words of food: ab-mive juice, ab-miondani mineral water. The a is long.
نان (nân) — bread. Flat, baked fresh twice a day. Nun-e barbari and nun-e sangak are the names you meet at the bakery door.
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “tea” in Persian?
The national drink, drunk in armchair glasses all day. The word travelled west with the leaf itself: chaay became the tea of half the world
- How do you say “cheese” in Persian?
White brined cheese, the breakfast partner of bread. The pair nun o panir is one phrase, like "bread and butter"
- How do you say “to eat” in Persian?
The dictionary form, from the stem khor. It doubles as "to consume": sandal mikhore — it eats the wood, it corrodes
- How do you say “fresh” in Persian?
Fresh — bread, fruit, news. The compliment of the bakery and the complaint of the fishmonger when absent
- How do you say “appetite” in Persian?
Appetite — eshteha, the word restaurants wish you. Emrooz eshteha nist: no appetite today
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
A menu, a market, a shop sign, the question “what is this?”. Food is the most frequent subject of the first weeks and the safest excuse to start talking.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- Study spread over days wins not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “tea” in Persian?
«چای», read “chay”. The national drink, drunk in armchair glasses all day. The word travelled west with the leaf itself: chaay became the tea of half the world. It is one of 176 words in the set “food and drink” — the rest are in the table above.
How many food words do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 176 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.