زَبَان
zabān
The English word 'language' is translated into Persian as زَبَان (zabān). Wiktionary also lists لِسَان (lisān) and زَبان (zabân).
Meaning: body of words used as a form of communication (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| زَبَان | zabān |
| لِسَان | lisān |
| زَبان | zabân |
| زُبان | zobân |
| لِسان | lesân |
The term refers to a body of words used for communication. A common way to express the concept of a 'mother tongue' or 'native language' is by using the phrase زَبَانِ مادری.
What does it mean word for word?
The word زَبَان literally means 'tongue'.
Which one should you use?
زَبَان is the standard word for 'language'. In contrast, لِسَان is a more formal or literary term that is frequently used in poetic or academic contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
zabān
Did you know?
- In Persian, if someone is described as زَبَاندار, it does not mean they speak many languages, but rather that they are eloquent or persuasive.
- The term لِسَان is a loanword from Arabic and is often used in the Quran and classical Persian poetry to evoke a sense of divine or formal authority.
- The word زَبَان is also used in technical terms for 'tongue' in a mechanical sense, such as the 'tongue' of a shoe or a latch.
Example sentences for Persian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Amir and Niloufar are talking about their hobbies.
- امیر Amirنیلوفر، تو چه زَبَانهایی یاد میگیری؟Niloufar, to che zabānhāyi yād migiri?Niloufar, what languages are you learning?
- نیلوفر Niloufarمن زَبَان فرانسوی یاد میگیرم.Man zabān-e faransavi yād migiram.I am learning the French language.
- امیر Amirآیا آن زَبَان دشوار است؟Āyā ān zabān doshvār ast?Is that language difficult?
- نیلوفر Niloufarبله، ولی خیلی زیبا است.Bale, vali kheyli zibā ast.Yes, but it is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “language” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
