قَلَم
qalam
The English word "pen" can be translated into Persian as قَلَم (qalam) or خودْکار. Wiktionary also lists خْوَدْکَار (xwadkār) and خوَدْکَار (xudkār).
Meaning: writing tool (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| قَلَم | qalam |
| خْوَدْکَار | xwadkār |
| خوَدْکَار | xudkār |
| خودْکار | xodkâr |
قَلَم is a general term used for any writing instrument, such as pens, pencils or styluses.
What does it mean word for word?
The term خودْکار is a compound word where xod means "self" and kâr means "working", literally translating to "self-working" to describe a pen that flows automatically.
How do you pronounce it?
qalam
Did you know?
- The word قَلَم is used in the Persian idiom قَلَم شکستن, which means 'to break the pen', signifying that a matter is settled or a decision is final.
- The term قَلَم is a loanword from Arabic, but it shares a distant root with the Hebrew word for pen, קולמוס, reflecting ancient Semitic linguistic links.
- In traditional Persian calligraphy, the قَلَم was historically made from a dried reed, and the angle of the cut tip determines the entire style of the script.
Examples in context
- من یک قلم دارم.I have a pen.
- میتوانی لطفاً یک قلم به من بدهی؟Can you please give me a pen?
- من قلم گم کرده ام، آیا میتوانید بهم کمک کنید؟I have lost my pen, can you help me?
- یک قَلَم برای من بیاور.yek qalam baraye man biavar.Bring a pen for me.
- این قَلَم برای نوشتن خوب است.in qalam baraye neveshtan khub ast.This pen is good for writing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pen” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
