فلفل
felfel
The Persian word for pepper is فلفل (felfel).
The word فلفل is used for both black pepper (the spice) and chili peppers (the vegetable).
Meaning: spice (noun)
Which one should you use?
To specify black peppercorns, you can add سیاه (black) after the word فلفل سیاه. To specify a chili pepper or a red bell pepper, you can add قرمز (red) after the word فلفل قرمز.
How do you pronounce it?
felfel
Did you know?
- The Persian word فلفل is actually a distant relative of the Swahili word 'pilipili'. Both trace their roots back to the same ancient Dravidian word for the 'long pepper' plant.
- In traditional Persian medicine, فلفل is classified as a 'hot' food that is used to balance 'cold' temperaments in the body.
- Historically, فلفل referred specifically to 'long pepper', a different species than the common black peppercorn.
Examples in context
- نمک و فلفل را بگردان، لطفا.Pass me the salt and pepper, please.This sentence is useful for practicing how to ask for فلفل at a table.Tatoeba #705470 by mahdiye, translation #25755 by CK
- لطفاً به من فلفل را بدهید.Please pass me the pepper.
- کمی فلفل به غذا اضافه کن.kami felfel be ghaza ezāfe kon.Add a little pepper to the food.
- این فلفل خیلی تند است.in felfel kheyli tond ast.This pepper is very spicy.
Example conversation
Ali and Sara are cooking dinner together in the kitchen.
- علی Aliسارا، فلفل کجاست؟Sara, felfel kojast?Sara, where is the pepper?
- سارا Saraپشت ظرفهای نمک است.posht-e zarf-haye namak ast.It is behind the salt containers.
- علی Aliپیدایش کردم، ممنون.peyda-yash kardam, mamnun.I found it, thanks.
- سارا Saraزیاد فلفل نریز!ziyad felfel nariz!Don't put in too much pepper!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries فلفل, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
