آسْمان
âsmân
The Persian word for "sky" is آسْمان (âsmân). Wiktionary also lists آسِمان (âsemân) and سِپِهْر (sepehr).
Meaning: atmosphere above a given point, especially as visible from the surface of the Earth as the place where the sun, moon, stars, and clouds are seen (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| آسْمان | âsmân |
| آسِمان | âsemân |
| سِپِهْر | sepehr |
| جُو | jow |
The word آسْمان refers to the atmosphere above a given point, particularly the visible expanse where the sun, moon, stars and clouds are seen. It can also be used metaphorically to refer to the heavens or the celestial realm in a spiritual sense.
Which one should you use?
آسْمان is the most common and standard word for "sky". سِپِهْر is a more poetic or literary term for the sky, the firmament or the heavens. جُو is another term provided for the sky.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal or poetic tone, you can use سِپِهْر, which is often found in classical literature. Another formal term you can use to refer to the sky is فلک.
How do you pronounce it?
âsmân
Did you know?
- The word آسْمان is a cognate of the English word 'sky' through a very distant ancestor, but it shares a more direct historical root with the word 'heaven'.
- When describing an extremely clear sky, a Persian speaker might describe it as being 'washed' or 'polished'.
- The term سِپِهْر refers not just to the sky but specifically to the celestial spheres, reflecting the ancient astronomical belief that the heavens were made of rotating shells.
Examples in context
- شعر فارسی زیباییهای زیادی را دربارهٔ وسعت فلک بیان میکندPersian poetry often emphasizes the vastness of the sky
Example conversation
Sara and Mohammad are standing outside at night.
- سارا Saraمحمد، به آسْمان نگاه کن!Mohammad, be âsmân negâh kon!Mohammad, look at the sky!
- محمد Mohammadچه ماه زیبایی است.che mâh-e zibâyi ast.What a beautiful moon it is.
- سارا Saraآسْمان امشب خیلی صاف است.âsmân emshab kheyli sâf ast.The sky is very clear tonight.
- محمد Mohammadبله، ستارهها را میبینم.bale, setâre-hâ râ mibinam.Yes, I see the stars.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sky” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
