شبنم
shabnam
The English word "dew" is شبنم (shabnam) in Persian.
شبنم is a noun used to describe the moisture in the air that settles on plants.
Meaning: moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of shab, meaning "night" and nam, meaning "moisture".
How do you pronounce it?
shabnam
Did you know?
- The word نم within the compound is an ancient descendant of the Proto-Indo-European root for 'cloud' or 'sky', specifically the root that gave us the English word 'nebula'.
- شبنم is a popular given name for girls in Iran and other Persian speaking regions.
- Because it literally translates to 'night-moisture', شبنم is a favorite word for Persian poets to describe the fleeting and delicate nature of beauty or love.
Examples in context
- روی برگها شبنم نشسته است.ruye bargehā shabnam neshaste ast.Dew has settled on the leaves.
- صبح زود، شبنم روی گلها بود.sobhe zood, shabnam ruye golhā bood.Early this morning, there was dew on the flowers.
- من شبنم را روی چمنها دیدم.man shabnam rā ruye chamanhā didam.I saw the dew on the grass.
Example conversation
Maryam and Mohammad are walking in a garden.
- مریم Maryamببین، شبنم چقدر زیباست!bebin, shabnam cheghadr zibāst!Look, how beautiful the dew is!
- محمد Mohammadبله، کفشهایم خیس شدند.bale, kafsh-hā-yam khis shodand.Yes, my shoes got wet.
- مریم Maryamشبنم باعث شادابی باغ میشود.shabnam bā'es-e shādābī-ye bāgh mī-shavad.Dew makes the garden lush.
- محمد Mohammadواقعاً همینطور است، مریم.vāghe'an hamīn-tor ast, Maryam.It really is, Maryam.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries شبنم, CC BY-SA 4.0.
