The city and its places in Persian
81 words in Persian on the topic “the city and its places”: شهر — city, خیابان — street, میدان — square, داروخانه — pharmacy.
81 words on the topic
- شهرshahrcityThe city as a whole, from a hamlet to the capital. Shahr-e qadimi — the old city — is a phrase of guidebooks
- خیابانkhiyabânstreetThe big street with traffic and shopfronts. The small twisty one is kucheh — learn both and the map opens
- میدانmeydânsquareThe open square a city pivots on — and the roundabout where streets meet. Meydan-e azadi is the gate of the capital
- داروخانهdârukhânepharmacyLiterally "house of drugs": daroo medicine + khane house. Marked by a green cross
- بانکbânkbankThe same word as in every currency of the world. State banks keep the queues; sarafi keeps the exchange rates
- شلوغیshâlugicrowdSholugh is busy, crowded; the -i makes the bustle a noun. Dar bazaar sholooghi ziad ast: the bazaar is packed
- چراغ راهنماcherâge rahnâmâtraffic lightLiterally "guiding lamp": cheraagh, lamp, light, plus raahnamaa, guide — raah, road, and namaa, showing. Red is ghermez. The light is red, says the example
- دوچرخهdâchârkhebicycleLiterally "two wheels": do, two, plus charkh, wheel. To work one rides it with the same "I go to work" as on foot. So, says the example
- ایستگاه اتوبوسiystgâe âtâbusbus stopistgaah is both a stop and a station; the second word tells which. The rail one is istgaah-e ghataar. Where is it? says the example
- بلیط ماهانهbâlite mâhânemonthly passThe ticket word in general — it traveled from Europe with the tickets themselves. The monthly adds the month. I am buying a pass, says the example
- خطkhattroute, lineLiterally "a line, a stroke": a bus or metro route — and simply a line on paper. The route number is asked: "which line?" This one, says the example
- خط عابر پیادهkhatte âbere piyâdecrosswalkLiterally "the line of the passer-by on foot": khatt, line, aaber, passer-by — as in aaberbaank, ATM — and piyaade, on foot. Over there, says the example
- ترافیکterâfiktraffic jamA borrowing that lives: the morning heavy traffic is the theme of every talk about the road. Jam here is "heavy" — from the stone. It is dense, says the example
- پارکینگpârkingparking lotSpelled as at home, read the local way. The paid one goes by the money word — the money you changed at the exchange. The parking is paid, says the example
- پمپ بنزینpâmp benzingas stationLiterally "the pump of the gasoline": pump plus the gasoline word everyone recognizes at once. Stations here serve by hand, no self-service. It is far, says the example
- پارکpârkparkAn international word, read short. In the evenings the parks are full: families with little carpets and tea settle right on the grass. The children play in one, says the example
- کتابخانهketâbkhânelibraryLiterally "the house of the book": the house tail as in the pharmacy. Not the bookshop: there they sell, here they lend. It is big, says the example
- موزهmuzemuseumA European word, from French musée, like restoraan, restaurant. The national one stands in the very center of the city. In the center, says the example
- تئاترteâtrtheaterA European word read in one breath. A theater evening is said literally "tonight we have theater". Tonight we go to one, says the example
- سینماsinemacinemaThe movie house goes by the same family word as at home. Going to the movies is "I go to the cinema" — no little word "to" needed. We go, says the example
- کلیساkelisâchurchA word shared by the temples of several peoples, and it sounds soft. An old one adds the old word. Over there, says the example
- ورزشگاهvarzeshgâhstadiumLiterally "the house of sport": the place tail as in the shop. Full is the same word as about a full glass. It is full, says the example
- چهارراهchâhârrâhcrossroads, intersectionLiterally "four roads": the same four as the numeral. A three-way crossing takes the three — numbers live in street names here. At the crossroads go right, says the example
- پیاده‌روpiyâderusidewalk, pavementthe half-break inside makes one word: piyade-ru
- بلوارbâlvâravenue, boulevardA word from the Parisian set, like the restaurant: it came in the kings’ times together with the new streets. A wide street with trees goes by it. It is very wide, says the example
- کوچهkuchelane, alleyAddresses in the old quarters are given by lanes: "the third lane". The same lane stands in the lane-with-a-garden. The house is in a small lane, says the example
- ساحلsâhelembankment, waterfrontThe same shore word: the embankment is named by the shore. In the evening the townspeople stroll "along the shore". The sea one is beautiful, says the example
- پلpâlbridgeOne syllable — and it is the bridge, not what you might think. The famous bridges of the old city go by it, and the evening gatherings of the townspeople happen right on them. One across the river, says the example
- تونلtuneltunnelA word from the same European set as the boulevard: a mountain country cuts many tunnels through the ridges. Before the entrance — a sign with the same word. It is long, says the example
- چراغcherâgstreet lamp, lanternThe lamp of the house and the lamp of the street alike — the street one adds its word. The same lamp burns in the headlights. The street lamp burns, says the example
- نیمکتnemkatbench, park benchFrom the same European set: the bench came together with the parks of the kings’ times. "On the bench" — and there the bus is waited for too. We sat on one in the park, says the example
- سطل زبالهsatle zebâlelitter bin, trash canThe bucket plus the trash: the bin is named a bucket for trash. The same trash in the word for the garbage truck that wakes the quarter in the morning. It is full, says the example
- راننده اتوبوسrânândee âtâbusbus driverThe driver in general: the same word about the taxi driver. Literally "the driving one": a car is driven here as a horse once was. The bus driver stopped, says the example
- سر خطsare khatlast stop, terminusLiterally "the head of the line": the route begins and ends "at the head". In the bus it is announced — and everyone stands up. The bus goes to the last stop, says the example
- شماره خطshâmâre khatroute numberThe number plus the line: a city bus route here is a line. "Line six" — as the sixth street. What is it? says the example
- ساعت شلوغیsâate shâlugirush hourLiterally "the hour of the crowd": the crowded word, the one said of a busy bazaar. The peak word is not said — one says "the hour when everyone is on the road". At rush hour there are jams, says the example
- جدول ساعتdzhadvale sâatbus timetable, scheduleA table: the timetable is named "the table of hours". The same table serves the trains and the school schedule. It hangs behind the door, says the example
- بلیط خریدنbilit kharidanto pay the fare, buy a ticketThe fare is "paid" by buying a ticket: the ticket — from the same European set. In the bus the ticket is taken from the conductor or the driver. I bought a bus ticket, says the example
- جا گرفتنdzhâ gereftanto take a seat, occupy a placeLiterally "to take the place": a seat in transport is "taken", like a thing. "There was no place" — the morning phrase of the metro. I took a seat in the metro, says the example
- تاکسی گرفتنtâksi gereftanto get a taxi, hail a cabA taxi here is not "called" but "taken": on the street by voice, in the app — "I took a taxi". The shared kind works as a minibus. I took a taxi and went home, says the example
- ایستگاه بعدی پیاده شوiystgâ bâdi piyâde shuget off at the next oneLiterally "become on foot": so one gets out of transport. To the driver they say "at the next" — and he understands. Get off at the next stop, says the example
- محلهmahâlleneighborhood, districtThe quarter, its own yards and its own market: what at home is called the neighborhood. "Our neighborhood" — and there everyone knows everyone. Ours is old, says the example
- مرکز شهرmarkaze shahrcity center, downtownThe center, the middle: the same word in the heart of the city. "To the center" — and all roads go there. It is crowded, says the example
- حاشیهhâshiyeoutskirts, edge of townThe same word as the edge of a page and the curb: the outskirts are named the city’s "trim". A flat "on the edge" is cheaper — but farther from the metro. On the outskirts it is cheaper, says the example
- کارگاه ساختمانیkârgâhe sâkhtemâniconstruction siteThe workplace plus the building: a site is "the house being built". The clang and clatter from it is heard all day. It is behind the lane, says the example
- تعمیر جادهtammire dzhâdderoad repair, roadworksThe fixing in general: the same verb mends clocks and roads. The big road is the intercity one; the street goes by its own word. The road repair drags on, says the example
- تابلوtâblâsign, signpostFrom the Parisian set, like the restaurant: a road sign, a shop sign — and the picture on the wall too. One at the road, says the example
- توالت عمومیtâvâlete âmumipublic toilet, restroomFrom the same European word as at home; the general means public. In the parks and by the mosques the public one is free. It is over there, says the example
- تمیزtemizcleanThe clean: the same word about clean clothes and a clean conscience. The cleaning is its deed — and the cleaner is named by this work. The room is clean, says the example
- کثیفkesifdirtyThe pair of the clean: the dirty. Muddy boots after rain are "dirty shoes" — the first mark of the spring street. The shoes are dirty, says the example
- شلوغshâlugbusy, crowdedCrowded and disorderly at once: the bazaar on Saturday is so — and the head full of tasks too. The bustle and the throng take its tail. At the bazaar it is very crowded, says the example
- روستاrustâvillageThe village in general, the opposite of the town. Summer school breaks the city children spend in the village, at the grandparents. In the village they know everyone, says the example
- پایتختpâyotaktcapital cityLiterally "the foot of the throne": the capital is the city where the throne stands. The throne word also names a bed or a platform. It is Tehran, says the example
- حمل‌ونقل عمومیhamle-nagle âmâmipublic transportLiterally "carrying-and-transport common": the little link between the words is the old "and". The metro and the city buses live under this name. It is inexpensive, says the example
- مهدکودکmahdkudâkkindergarten, nurseryLiterally "the cradle of the child": the cradle plus the child. A beautiful word: the kindergarten here is not a place but a cradle in which one grows. In the morning the children are there, says the example
- زمین بازیzamine bâziplaygroundLiterally "the ground of play": a playground here is simply "a place for play". The same play word will meet you in sport: a game is a game. It is next to the kindergarten, says the example
- فوارهfavvârafountainthe doubled vv is held: favvaare
- قبرستانgabrestâncemetery, graveyardthe gh is the deep throat g: ghabrestaan
- ماشین آتش‌نشانیmâshine âtesh-nâshânifire truck, fire engineLiterally "the machine of the fire-walkers": the same fire service word as the fire station. Its siren is heard rarely here — and that is for the better. It came fast, says the example
- کویkuyquarter (of a city)A residential quarter, a named pocket of streets. Kuy-e qadimi — the old quarter — holds the alleys people love
- بوستانbâstânpublic gardenThe formal word for a city garden or park — boostan, "place of gardens". The sign on the park gate says it
- برجbârdzhtowerThe tower of the skyline — borj, and the same word names the zodiac signs. Borj-e kheili boland: a very tall tower
- حومهhâvzeoutskirtsThe outskirts of a city, where houses end. Khane-ye ma dar houze-ye shahr: our house is on the edge of town
- شهرکshahrakhousing estateLiterally "little city": a planned estate of apartment blocks outside the center
- رهگذرrâhgâzarpasser-byLiterally "way-crosser": rah the road + gozar passing. The person a stranger asks directions from
- عابر پیادهâbere piyâdepedestrianLiterally "a walker on foot": aber one who passes, piyade on foot. The word on every crossing sign
- تابلوی مغازهtâblâye mâgâzeshop signTablu is the borrowed board — the same tableau as in French. Maghaze is the spoken word for a shop
- سطل آشغالsatle âshgâltrash binSatl is a bucket; ashghal is trash. The compound is a bucket for trash — street furniture in two words
- چراغ خیابانcherâge khiyabânstreet lampCheragh is any lamp — the oil lamp of old towns. The street lamp turns itself on at night, roshan mishavad
- چمن‌زارchaman-zârlawnLiterally "meadow-place": chaman grass + zar land. Where children play, says the example — the sign forbids the shortcut
- باغچه گلbâgche gâlflower bedLiterally "garden of flowers": baghche a small garden, gol flowers. The strip of blooms in front of a house
- ایوانeyvânporch / verandaThe veranda of old houses, and the word that walked into English as "iwan" — the grand porch of palaces. Evening tea lives here
- یک پلهyek pellea stepPelle is a stair step; yek-pele is one single step. The warning on a doorstep: inja yek pelle hast
- شماره خانهshâmâre khânehouse numberShomare is any number, khane the house. Our house number is five — the example counts to the course numbers
- نام خیابانnâme khiyabânstreet nameNaam is the name of anything — a person, a street. The sign on the corner carries naam-e khiaban
- تیرکtirekpoleThe pole that carries the lamp or the wire — tira-k, a thing of timber. Cheragh rooye tirak: the lamp on the pole
- بافت قدیمیbâfâte gadimiold town fabricBaft is the weave — the fabric of a city, not just the buildings. In the old fabric the alleys stay small
- ساختمان مسکونیsâkhtemâne maskuniresidential buildingSakhteman is any building; maskuni marks the ones people live in — the example contrasts it with an office
- سکوتsâkutsilenceSilence — sokoot. The word newspapers use for a hush, and the neighborhood one at night
- ساختمانsâkhtemânbuildingFrom sakhtan, to build — the built thing. The school in the old building, says the example
- سالنsalânhallThe hall — of a house, a wedding, a waiting room. Everyone was in the hall, says the example
Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet
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How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
- شهر بزرگ استshahr bâzârg astThe city is big
- خیابان بزرگ استkhiyabân bâzârg astThe street is wide
- میدان بزرگ استmeydân bâzârg astThe square is big
- داروخانه آنجاستdârukhâne ândzhâstThe pharmacy is over there
- بانک اینجاستbânk inyastThe bank is here
- شلوغی بازار زیاد استshâlugi bâzâr ziyod astThere is a big crowd at the bazaar
What is worth knowing about these words
شهر (shahr) — city. The city as a whole, from a hamlet to the capital. Shahr-e qadimi — the old city — is a phrase of guidebooks.
خیابان (khiyabân) — street. The big street with traffic and shopfronts. The small twisty one is kucheh — learn both and the map opens.
میدان (meydân) — square. The open square a city pivots on — and the roundabout where streets meet. Meydan-e azadi is the gate of the capital.
داروخانه (dârukhâne) — pharmacy. Literally "house of drugs": daroo medicine + khane house. Marked by a green cross.
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “city” in Persian?
The city as a whole, from a hamlet to the capital. Shahr-e qadimi — the old city — is a phrase of guidebooks
- How do you say “bicycle” in Persian?
Literally "two wheels": do, two, plus charkh, wheel. To work one rides it with the same "I go to work" as on foot. So, says the example
- How do you say “gas station” in Persian?
Literally "the pump of the gasoline": pump plus the gasoline word everyone recognizes at once. Stations here serve by hand, no self-service. It is far, says the example
- How do you say “stadium” in Persian?
Literally "the house of sport": the place tail as in the shop. Full is the same word as about a full glass. It is full, says the example
- How do you say “tunnel” in Persian?
A word from the same European set as the boulevard: a mountain country cuts many tunnels through the ridges. Before the entrance — a sign with the same word. It is long, says the example
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Street, square, pharmacy, bank. An address is built out of these, and an address is something you have to both say and understand.
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 “city” in Persian?
«شهر», read “shahr”. The city as a whole, from a hamlet to the capital. Shahr-e qadimi — the old city — is a phrase of guidebooks. It is one of 81 words in the set “the city and its places” — the rest are in the table above.
How many street and place words do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 81 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.