جَنُوب
janūb
The English word 'south' is translated into Persian as جَنُوب (janūb). Wiktionary also lists نِیمْروز (nīmrōz) and جُنوب (jonub).
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| جَنُوب | janūb | |
| نِیمْروز | nīmrōz | archaic |
| جُنوب | jonub | |
| نیمْروز | nimruz | archaic |
جَنُوب is the standard word for south in Persian.
Which one should you use?
The standard word is جَنُوب (or its variant جُنوب), while نِیمْروز and نیمْروز are archaic forms.
How do you pronounce it?
janūb
Did you know?
- The archaic word for south نیمروز literally translates to 'midday'. This is because in the northern hemisphere, the sun is positioned in the south at the peak of the day.
- Persian speakers often use the word جنوبی to describe not just people from the south, but a specific style of folk music and dance that is distinct from the culture of Tehran.
- In the context of traditional Persian architecture, the 'south' side of a building is often the most prized for its sunlight, leading to the creation of specific rooms designed only for southern exposure.
Examples in context
- ما به سمت جَنُوب حرکت میکنیم.mā be samte janub harkat mikonim.We are moving towards the south.
- باد از جَنُوب میوزد.bād az janub mivazad.The wind is blowing from the south.
Example conversation
Zahra and Amir are looking at a map.
- زهرا Zahraکجا هستیم؟koja hastim?Where are we?
- امیر Amirما در جَنُوب این منطقه هستیم.ma dar jonub-e in mantaqe hastim.We are in the south of this region.
- زهرا Zahraباید به شمال برویم.bayad be shomal beravim.We need to go north.
- امیر Amirبله، درست است.bale, dorost ast.Yes, that is correct.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “south” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
