احمق
ahmaq/ʔah.ˈmaq/
The English word "stupid" can be translated into Persian using several terms, most commonly احمق (ahmaq). Wiktionary also lists کودن (kowdan) and خنگ (xeng).
Meaning: lacking in intelligence (adj)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| احمق | ahmaq | /ʔah.ˈmaq/ (Classical Persian) |
| کودن | kowdan | |
| خنگ | xeng | /ˈxinɡ/ (Classical Persian) |
These terms are used to describe someone or something that is lacking in intelligence.
Which one should you use?
While احمق is a standard way to say stupid, خنگ is a more colloquial and milder term, often used to describe someone being silly or slow-witted rather than truly unintelligent.
How do you pronounce it?
The default form احمق is pronounced /ʔah.ˈmaq/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The word خنگ is a cognate of the German word 'Hengst', which means 'stallion'.
- Both کودن and خنگ derive from words for horses or pack animals. This reveals a cultural pattern of associating stupidity with the stubbornness or simplicity of beasts.
- The term احمق is a loanword from Arabic, which is common in Persian due to historical and religious influences.
Examples in context
- تو واقعا احمق نیستی.You're really not stupid.This sentence shows how to use احمق in a negative context.Tatoeba #3842009 by kuarash, translation #1416 by Zifre
- من جوان و احمق بودم.I was young and stupid.This sentence demonstrates the use of احمق when describing a past state.Tatoeba #7559385 by cojiluc, translation #1635745 by Spamster
- ما همه احمقیم، هر کدام در یک زمینه.We are all stupid, just on different subjects.This sentence illustrates how احمق can be used to describe a general human condition across different subjects.Tatoeba #6830376 by cojiluc, translation #667947 by CC
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ali and Maryam are discussing a movie character.
- علی Aliاین شخصیت فیلم خیلی احمق است.In shakhsiyat-e film kheyli ahmagh ast.This movie character is very stupid.
- مریم Maryamبله، کارهای عجیبی می‌کند.Bale, kar-haye ajibi mikonad.Yes, he does strange things.
- علی Aliفکر می‌کنی او واقعا احمق است؟Fekr mikoni oo vaghean ahmagh ast?Do you think he is really stupid?
- مریم Maryamنه، احتمالا فقط تظاهر می‌کند.Na, ehtemalan faghat tazahor mikonad.No, he is probably just pretending.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stupid” translations and entries احمق, کودن, خنگ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries احمق, خنگ, کودن, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
