آدم عوضی
ādam-e avazi
In Persian, the English word 'creep' is translated as آدم عوضی (ādam-e avazi).
While the English word 'creep' can be a verb meaning to move stealthily, the Persian phrase آدم عوضی is used as a noun to describe a person who is unpleasant, untrustworthy or creepy.
Meaning: to move in a stealthy or secret manner (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase آدم عوضی literally translates to 'a person [who is] bad' or 'a person [who is] different' in a derogatory sense.
How do you pronounce it?
ādam-e avazi
Did you know?
- The word عوضی originally stems from the concept of a 'changeling' or an 'exchanged child' in the phrase بچّهی عوضی.
- In Persian, calling someone عوضی can be a severe insult in a formal setting but is often used as a teasing joke between very close friends.
- While آدم عوضی describes a 'creep', the root عوض actually means 'compensation' or 'replacement' in a neutral context.
Example conversation
Maryam is telling Reza about a strange person she met.
- مریم Maryamیک مرد عجیب در کتابخانه بود.Yek mard-e ajib dar ketābkhāneh bud.There was a strange man at the library.
- رضا Rezaچه اتفاقی افتاد، مریم؟Che ettefāghi oftād, Maryam?What happened, Maryam?
- مریم Maryamاو مثل یک آدم عوضی دنبالم آمد.Ou mesle yek ādam-e avazi donbālam āmad.He followed me like a creep.
- رضا Rezaخیلی ترسناک به نظر میرسد.Kheyli tarsnāk be nazar mi-rasad.That sounds very scary.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries آدم, عوضی, CC BY-SA 4.0.
