تَنبَل
tanbal
The English word 'lazy' is translated into Dari as تَنبَل (tanbal). Wiktionary also lists لس (las).
Meaning: unwilling to work (adj)
Ways to say it
| Dari | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| تَنبَل | tanbal |
| لس | las |
The word is an adjective used to describe someone who is unwilling to work.
Which one should you use?
تَنبَل is the standard and most common way to express the concept of being lazy. In contrast, لس is a more colloquial or slangy variation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective تَنبَل is indeclinable, which means it does not change its form to indicate gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
tanbal
Did you know?
- The colloquial term لس shares a common prehistoric root with the Mazanderani word for 'slow'.
- In many Afghan social contexts, calling someone تَنبَل to their face can be seen as a much more direct and heavy insult than 'lazy' might feel in a casual English conversation.
- The term لس is often heard in specific regional dialects in the North, making it a marker of local identity rather than just a synonym for 'lazy'.
Examples in context
- او خیلی سست است.He is very lazy.
- تو واقعاً کاهلی!You are really lazy!
- لطفاً تَنبَل نباش.lutfan tanbal nabash.Please don't be lazy.
Example conversation
Maryam and Ahmad are talking about a roommate at home.
- مریم Maryamاحمد، آیا او تَنبَل است؟Ahmad, aya o tanbal ast?Ahmad, is he lazy?
- احمد Ahmadبله، مریم، او بسیار تَنبَل است.Bale, Maryam, o besyar tanbal ast.Yes, Maryam, he is very lazy.
- مریم Maryamاو هیچ وقت کار نمیکند.O hech waqt kar namikonad.He never works.
- احمد Ahmadاو همیشه در خانه است.O hamisha dar khana ast.He is always at home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lazy” translations and entries لس, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries لس, CC BY-SA 4.0.
