بَچِّه
bačče
The English word child is translated into Persian as بَچِّه (bačče). Wiktionary also lists بَچِه (bače) and کودَک (kudak).
Meaning: son or daughter, someone's child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| بَچِّه | bačče |
| بَچِه | bače |
| کودَک | kudak |
| فَرزَنْد | |
| کُر | kor |
The term is used to refer to a son, a daughter or any young person, regardless of their specific age.
Which one should you use?
While بَچِّه is the common, colloquial way to say child in everyday speech, کودَک is used in formal writing, literature or more polite contexts like books and news reports. The form فَرزَنْد is also a formal way to refer to one's offspring, often appearing in official or respectful settings. Additionally, the term کُر is a way to refer to a child.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the colloquial form بَچِّه plural, you add the suffix -hā to create بَچِّهها (children).
How do you pronounce it?
bačče
Did you know?
- In many Persian-speaking households, parents avoid using the literal word for 'child' to address their offspring, preferring instead to use terms of endearment like 'my life' or 'my eyes'.
- While بَچِّه is the go-to word for a child, using it to refer to an adult can be a subtle way to be condescending or to call someone 'childish'.
- The word کُر is not just an informal term for 'child', but is a quintessential part of the Luri and Bakhtiari dialects in western Iran.
Examples in context
- اون بَچِّه خیلی بامزه است.un bach-che kheyli bā-maze ast.That child is very cute.
- بَچِّه کجاست؟bach-che kojāst?Where is the child?
- این بَچِّه کجایی است؟in bach-che kojāyi ast?Where is this child from?
Example conversation
Ali and Maryam are talking about family.
- علی Aliمریم، بَچِّه چطوره؟Maryam, bacche chetore?Maryam, how is the child?
- مریم Maryamخیلی خوبه، ممنون.kheyli khube, mamnun.Very well, thank you.
- علی Aliالان چند سالشه؟alān chand sālashe?How old is he now?
- مریم Maryamدو ساله است.do sāle ast.He is two years old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “child” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
