بوسَه
bōsa
To say kiss in Persian, use بوسَه (bōsa). If unsure, use بوسَه. Wiktionary also lists بوس (bōs) and مَاچ (māč).
Meaning: a touch with the lips (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| بوسَه | bōsa | |
| بوس | bōs | /ˈboːs/ (Classical Persian) /ˈbuːs/ (Classical Persian) |
| مَاچ | māč | |
| بوسِه | buse | |
| ماچ | mâč | /ˈmaːt͡ʃ/ (Classical Persian) |
بوسَه is the noun for a touch with the lips. The verb to kiss is بوسیدن.
Which one should you use?
بوسه is the formal or literary version of the word, while بوس (bōs) is more common in spoken Persian. ماچ (māč) is colloquial and more informal than either.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say to kiss, use the standard infinitive بوسیدن or the informal ماچ کردن in casual speech. Kissing each other on the lips can also be said with لب گرفتن.
How do you pronounce it?
بوسَه is romanized as bōsa. In Iranian speech it is often romanized as buse.
Did you know?
- The Persian word بوس is a cognate of the archaic English word 'buss', which also means 'to kiss'.
- In Persian culture, a social kiss on the cheek is often not a single touch but a series of two or three rapid kisses, alternating sides.
- While بوسه is a beautiful, poetic noun, using it in a casual conversation might make you sound like a character from a 13th-century poem.
Examples in context
- یک پاسخ به جا همانند یک بوسه محبت آمیزه.A correct answer is like an affectionate kiss.Here بوسه is the noun in a written proverb style sentence comparing a correct answer to an affectionate kiss.Tatoeba #10636304 by utm1990, translation #5027454 by Adelpa
- بوسه بهترین راه برای حفظ سکوت و در عین حال گفتن همه چیز است.A kiss is the best way to keep silent while saying it all.In this saying بوسه is again the formal written noun.Tatoeba #10793164 by cojiluc, translation #909114 by sacredceltic
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kiss” translations and entries بوس, ماچ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بوس, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
