کالج
kâlej
The Persian word for college is کالج (kâlej).
کالج is used to refer to an academic institution. In many Persian-speaking contexts, it specifically refers to smaller, specialized colleges or Western-style institutions.
Meaning: academic institution (noun)
Which one should you use?
While کالج is used, the standard and more common term for an academic institution is دانشگاه. Additionally, the phrase مؤسسه تحصیلات عالی can be used to mean an institute of higher education.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
دانشگاه is the more formal and standard way to refer to a university or college. For a very formal expression meaning an institute of higher education, use مؤسسه تحصیلات عالی.
How do you pronounce it?
kâlej
Did you know?
- The word کالج is a direct loanword from English, but it traveled to Persian through South Asian languages like Urdu or Pashto. This makes its journey to the Persian language a bit more indirect than one might expect.
- A person attending a دانشگاه is called a دانشجو, which literally means 'seeker of knowledge'.
- While کالج is a loanword, the standard word for university, دانشگاه, comes from the roots دانش meaning 'knowledge' and گاه meaning 'place'.
Examples in context
- تام می خواست کجا به کالج برود؟Where did Tom want to go to college?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's destination regarding the word کالج.Tatoeba #3750520 by AsliAbbasi, translation #3737782 by CK
- من به دانشگاه رفتم و رشته‌ی مهندسی کامپیوتر را انتخاب کردم.I went to college and chose computer engineering as my major.
- توی دانشکده فنی و مهندسی درس می‌خونه.He/she studies in the college of engineering.
- او در یک کالج در لندن تحصیل می‌کند.u dar yek kālej dar London tahsil mikonad.He studies at a college in London.
- آیا این کالج برای رشته هنر مناسب است؟āyā in kālej barāye reşteye honar monāseb ast?Is this college suitable for art studies?
Example conversation
Niloufar and Amir are discussing their education plans.
- نیلوفر Niloufarامیر، آیا تو به کالج رفتی؟Amir, āyā to be kālej rafti?Amir, did you go to college?
- امیر Amirبله، من سال گذشته فارغ‌التحصیل شدم.Bale, man sāl-e gozashte fāregh-ot-tahsil shodam.Yes, I graduated last year.
- نیلوفر Niloufarمن هم می‌خواهم در یک کالج ثبت‌نام کنم.Man ham mī-khāham dar yek kālej sabt-e-nām konam.I want to enroll in a college too.
- امیر Amirاین تصمیم خیلی خوبی است، نیلوفر.In tasmim-e kheyli khubi ast, Niloufar.That is a very good decision, Niloufar.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries کالج, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
