فِنْجان
fenjân
The English word "cup" can be translated into Persian as فِنْجان (fenjân), پِنْگان or جام.
Meaning: drinking vessel (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| فِنْجان | fenjân | |
| پِنْگان | pengân | |
| جام | jâm | /ˈd͡ʒaːm/ (Classical Persian) |
These words all refer to a drinking vessel, a noun used to describe a container for liquids. However, the terms shift in meaning depending on whether you are referring to a poetic goblet, a formal vessel or a sports trophy.
Which one should you use?
فِنْجان (fenjân) and پِنْگان (pengân) refer to drinking vessels, while جام (jâm) is specifically used in literature and poetry to refer to a cup or goblet, often in the context of wine or ritual. When referring to a sports trophy, you may use جام (jâm) as seen in the phrase jâm-e qahremâni (championship trophy) or use the modern loanword کاپ (kâp).
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
fenjân
Did you know?
- While جام refers to a goblet, the phrase جام جم refers to a mythical cup that allows the drinker to see all the worlds of existence.
- In some traditional settings, offering a فنجان of coffee or tea is a vital gesture of hospitality that precedes any formal business conversation.
- The word جـام (jâm) is not just a vessel but a central symbol in Persian mystical poetry, often representing the heart or the soul of the lover.
Examples in context
- البته، الان یک فنجان چای برای شما میآورم.Certainly, I'll bring you a cup of tea now.
- این فِنْجان خیلی زیباست.in fenjān kheyli zibāst.This cup is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cup” translations and entries جام, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
