سرفه
sorfe/sur.ˈfa/
The English word cough is translated into Dari as سرفه (sorfe).
سرفه is a noun that refers to a sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis and out through the mouth.
Meaning: sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis, and out through the mouth (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of coughing, you can use the compound verb سرفه کردن, which is the most common method. Alternatively, you can use the single-word verb سرفیدن.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /sur.ˈfa/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Afghan culture, if someone coughs and then says ببخشید (excuse me), it is a vital social marker to show they are not being intentionally loud or disruptive.
- In many Dari-speaking households, if someone experiences a persistent cough, they might not just suggest medicine, but might also suggest drinking warm چای (tea) with specific spices like cardamom to 'soothe the throat'.
- If you are talking to an elder about their سرفه, the entire grammatical structure of the sentence must shift to include honorific verbs to show proper respect.
Examples in context
- سرفه او خیلی شدید است.sarfa-e o kheyli shadid ast.His cough is very severe.
- سرفه در شب بدتر میشود.sarfa dar shab badtar meshowad.The cough gets worse at night.
Example conversation
Maryam and Ahmad are talking about health at home.
- مریم Maryamاحمد، چرا سرفه میکنی؟Ahmad, chera sarfa mikuni?Ahmad, why are you coughing?
- احمد Ahmadمن از صبح سرفه دارم.Man az subh sarfa daram.I have had a cough since morning.
- مریم Maryamآیا تب هم داری؟Aya tab ham dari?Do you have a fever too?
- احمد Ahmadنه، فقط کمی سرفه میکنم.Na, faqat kami sarfa mikunam.No, I am just coughing a bit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cough” translations and entries سرفه, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
