سیلی
sili/siː.ˈliː/
In Persian, the word for "slap" is سیلی (sili).
The noun سیلی refers to a blow dealt with the open hand. To express the action of giving a slap, you use the verbal phrase سیلی زدن.
Meaning: A blow dealt with the open hand (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb phrase سیلی زدن (to slap), the tense is determined by the verb زدن (to hit/strike). For example, the past tense is formed using the past stem of زدن and the present continuous or habitual form is constructed using its present stem. To express that someone received a slap, Persian uses the verb خوردن (to eat/to suffer) rather than a standard passive construction, such as in the phrase سیلی خوردن.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /siː.ˈliː/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The verb used to perform the slap, زدن, is one of the most versatile words in Persian, meaning 'to hit', 'to play' an instrument, or even 'to strike' a clock.
- In traditional Persian storytelling and theater, a سیلی is often a pivotal plot device used to signal a sudden shift in power or a moment of public shaming.
- In certain poetic or highly formal contexts, the concept of a 'slap' can be used metaphorically to describe a sudden, stinging realization or a sharp verbal rebuke.
Examples in context
- او یک سیلی به صورتش زد.u yek sili be suratesh zad.He dealt a slap to his face.
- صدای سیلی در اتاق پیچید.sedaye sili dar otagh pichid.The sound of a slap echoed in the room.
- او با یک سیلی او را ساکت کرد.u ba yek sili u ra saket kard.She silenced him with a slap.
Example conversation
Niloufar and Amir are discussing a scene from a movie.
- نیلوفر Niloufarآن صحنه سیلی خیلی تکان‌دهنده بود.An sahne-ye sili kheyli tekan-dahande bud.That slap scene was very shocking.
- امیر Amirبله، واقعاً غیرمنتظره بود.Bale, vaghean gheyr-e montazere bud.Yes, it was really unexpected.
- نیلوفر Niloufarفکر می‌کنی امیر واقعاً آن را زد؟Fekr mikoni Amir vaghean an ra zad?Do you think Amir actually hit her?
- امیر Amirنه، احتمالاً فقط بازیگری بود.Na, ehtemalan faghat bazi-gari bud.No, it was probably just acting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slap” translations and entries سیلی, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
