شام
shām
The Persian word for dinner is شام (shām).
شام refers to the evening meal. This term is used regardless of whether the meal is a heavy formal dinner or just a light snack.
Meaning: evening meal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are referring to a specific dinner, such as a particular meal that was eaten or is being eaten, the noun شام is typically used with the object marker را (rā).
How do you pronounce it?
shām
Did you know?
- The word شام is actually two different words that sound the same. One is an ancient Iranian word for 'evening' and the other is a loanword from Arabic meaning 'the Levant'.
- In traditional Persian dining, شام is often served on a سفره, a decorative cloth spread on the floor rather than a raised table.
- In traditional Persian culture, dinner is often the lightest meal of the day. The main, most substantial meal is typically eaten at midday.
Examples in context
- امشب شام چی داریم؟What do we have for dinner tonight?This sentence is useful for asking about the menu for the evening meal.Tatoeba #9134114 by Suroosh, translation #9134115 by Suroosh
- اجازه بدهید شام را به تأخیر بیاندازیم.Let's postpone dinner.This sentence is useful for suggesting that dinner be postponed.Tatoeba #12727871 by manelie, translation #448959 by CK
- تام شام نخورد.Tom didn't eat dinner.This sentence is useful for stating that someone did not eat dinner.Tatoeba #9868211 by sinakd, translation #9843742 by CK
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Reza and Sara are deciding what to eat.
- رضا Rezaسارا، برای شام چه میخوری؟Sara, baraye sham che mikhori?Sara, what are you eating for dinner?
- سارا Saraمن هنوز نمیدانم. تو چه میخوری؟Man hanooz nemidanam. To che mikhori?I don't know yet. What are you eating?
- رضا Rezaمن دوست دارم شام بیرون بخوریم.Man doost daram sham biroun bokhorim.I would like us to eat dinner out.
- سارا Saraخیلی خوب است! برو آماده شو.Kheili khoob ast! Boro amadeh sho.That's great! Go get ready.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries شام, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
