دیو
dêv/ˈdeːw/
The English word "demon" can be translated into Persian as دیو (dêv), شیطان or ابلیس depending on the context.
Meaning: evil being (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| دیو | dêv | /ˈdeːw/ (Classical Persian) |
| شیطان | šeytân | /ʃaj.ˈtaːn/ (Classical Persian) |
| ابلیس | eblis | /ʔib.ˈliːs/ (Classical Persian) |
While دیو refers to mythological creatures, شیطان and ابلیس are used within religious frameworks.
Which one should you use?
In contrast, شیطان is the standard term for 'Satan' or a devil in a general or Islamic religious context. ابلیس is even more specific, serving as the proper name for the devil (Iblis) within Islamic theology. In modern Persian, دیو can also be used metaphorically to describe a person who is exceptionally large, strong or terrifying.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Tehran dialect, the word شیطون is used colloquially to refer to a mischievous or troublesome person, often translated as "rascal".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of دیو is /ˈdeːw/.
Did you know?
- The word دیو shares an ancient root with the English word 'deity' and the Latin 'dies', meaning 'sky' or 'god'.
- While شیطان is a serious term in religious texts, calling a child شیطون is a common way to affectionately describe them as 'cheeky' or 'playful'.
- In ancient Zoroastrianism, the دیو were originally deities who became associated with evil and falsehood.
Examples in context
- آیا باور دارید که شیطان‌ها واقعی هستند؟Do you believe that demons are real?
- آن دیو بسیار ترسناک بود.ân div besiyâr tarsnâk bud.That demon was very scary.
- در داستان قدیمی یک دیو بزرگ وجود داشت.dar dâstân-e ghadimi yek div-e bozorg vojud dâsht.In the old story, there was a large demon.
- او فکر می‌کند که یک دیو در جنگل است.u fekr mikonad ke yek div dar jangal ast.He thinks there is a demon in the forest.
Example conversation
Reza and Zahra are discussing a movie they just watched.
- رضا Rezaآن دیو خیلی ترسناک بود.An div kheyli tarsnak bud.That demon was very scary.
- زهرا Zahraبله، من واقعاً ترسیدم.Bale, man vaghean tarsidam.Yes, I was really scared.
- رضا Rezaفکر می‌کنی دیو واقعاً وجود دارد؟Fekr mikoni div vaghean vojud darad?Do you think a demon actually exists?
- زهرا Zahraنه، این‌ها فقط داستان هستند.Nah, inha faghat dastan hastand.No, these are just stories.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “demon” translations and entries دیو, شیطان, ابلیس, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ابلیس, دیو, شیطان, CC BY-SA 4.0.
