بَچَه
bača
The English phrase "boy" can be translated into Persian using several forms, most commonly پِسَر. If unsure, use بَچَه (bača). Wiktionary also lists بَچَّه (bačča) and پُس (pos).
Meaning: male child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| بَچَه | bača |
| بَچَّه | bačča |
| پِسَر | pesar |
| پُس | pos |
| جَوانَک | javânak |
The term پِسَر is the most common and general way to say "boy" in Persian. The word بَچَه is often used to mean "child" in a general sense.
Which one should you use?
The term بَچَه is gender-neutral and is more accurately translated as "child." In contrast, پِسَر specifically refers to a male child.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the noun بَچَه plural, you add the suffix -hā to create بَچهها, which can mean "boys" or "children."
How do you pronounce it?
bača
When do people say it?
Parents or close relatives may use the form پسرم to say "my boy" as an affectionate expression.
Did you know?
- In Persian literature, particularly in classical poetry, the term for a young boy is often used as a metaphor for the 'beloved' in Sufi mystical texts.
- The phrase بچه is used in many compound words to describe animals, such as بچه گربه for 'kitten'. In these cases, it functions more like 'baby' than 'boy'.
- In many parts of Iran, calling a young man بَچَه can be seen as patronizing or even an insult, as it implies he is immature or lacks dignity.
Examples in context
- آن بَچَه خیلی بازیگوش است.ān bache kheyli bāzigush ast.That boy is very playful.
- این بَچَه باهوش است.in bache bāhush ast.This boy is smart.
Example conversation
Maryam and Mohammad are looking at a photo of a relative.
- مریم Maryamاین بَچَه کیست؟In bache kist?Who is this boy?
- محمد Mohammadاو پسر عموی من است.Oo pesar-e amoo-ye man ast.He is my cousin.
- مریم Maryamاو چند سال دارد؟Oo chand sal darad?How old is he?
- محمد Mohammadاو پنج سال دارد.Oo panj sal darad.He is five years old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
