شَبپَرَه
The English word 'bat' is translated into Persian as شَبپَرَه, خُفاش or شَبکور. Wiktionary also lists شَبپَرَهٔ چَرْمِی (šab-para-yi čarmī).
Meaning: small flying mammal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| شَبپَرَه | |
| شَبپَرَهٔ چَرْمِی | šab-para-yi čarmī |
| خُفاش | |
| شَبکور |
All three terms refer to the small flying mammal. خُفاش is the standard and most common word used in everyday conversation and scientific contexts, while شَبپَرَه serves as a more descriptive or poetic term. شَبکور is a more literary or archaic synonym.
What does it mean word for word?
The word شَبپَرَه is a compound of شَب, meaning 'night' and پره, meaning 'wing/feathered', literally translating to 'night-wing'.
Which one should you use?
خُفاش is the most practical word for daily use and science. In contrast, شَبپَرَه is a descriptive or poetic term and شَبکور is a literary or archaic alternative.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Tehran, the term خُفاش is used for 'bat'.
Did you know?
- In modern Persian slang, خُفاش is used to describe a person who stays up all night, similar to the English term 'night owl'.
- While خُفاش is the standard word, it is actually a loanword from the Arabic word خفاش, showing the deep historical influence of Arabic on Persian vocabulary.
- The poetic term شَبپَرَه is also used in Persian literature to refer to moths, as both are nocturnal flying creatures.
Example sentences for Persian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Niloufar and Mohammad are looking at a cave.
- نیلوفر Niloufarمحمد، آنجا یک شَبپَرَه است.Mohammad, ânjâ yek shabpareh ast.Mohammad, there is a bat over there.
- محمد Mohammadکجا؟ من چیزی نمیبینم.Kojâ? Man chizi nemibinam.Where? I don't see anything.
- نیلوفر Niloufarببین، دارد روی سقف میچرخد.Bebin, dârad ruye saghf micharkhad.Look, it is circling on the ceiling.
- محمد Mohammadبله، حالا دیدمش.Bale, hâlâ didamash.Yes, I see it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bat” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
