شکر
šakkar/ʃak.ˈkar/
The English word "sugar" is translated into Persian as شکر (šakkar).
شکر is a noun used to refer to the sucrose substance from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drinks. Note that while شکر is the noun for the substance, the adjective شیرین is used to describe something that tastes sweet.
Meaning: sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drink (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ʃak.ˈkar/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The distant ancestor of the word شکر actually meant 'grit' or 'gravel' in Sanskrit, referring to the grainy texture of the substance.
- The Persian word شکر has a double life, serving as the word for 'sugar' and also as the word for 'thanks' or 'gratitude' when borrowed from Arabic.
- Because شکر also means 'gratitude' in Arabic, Persian literature often uses the word as a pun to blend the physical sweetness of sugar with the emotional sweetness of being thankful.
Examples in context
- مورچه ها شکر را دوست دارند.Ants like sugar.This sentence shows the use of شکر in a simple subject-object context.Tatoeba #12879237 by manelie, translation #6298250 by Hybrid
- مادر شکردان را روی میز نهاد.The mother puts the sugar bowl on the table.This sentence uses شکر within the compound شکردان (sugar bowl).Tatoeba #10706262 by cojiluc, translation #6811968 by Eccles17
- ما چایمان را با شکر مینوشیم.We drink our tea with sugar.This sentence demonstrates how شکر is used when describing how one drinks tea.Tatoeba #11122429 by sinakd, translation #490841 by CM
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Amir and Maryam are preparing coffee in the kitchen.
- امیر Amirمریم، شکر کجاست؟Maryam, shekar kojast?Maryam, where is the sugar?
- مریم Maryamدر کابینت بالاست، امیر.Dar kabinet-e balast, Amir.It is in the upper cabinet, Amir.
- امیر Amirپیدایش کردم، ممنون.Peydayash kardam, mamnoon.I found it, thanks.
- مریم Maryamخیلی شکر نریز، برای سلامتی بد است.Kheyli shekar nariz, baraye salamati bad ast.Don't pour too much sugar, it's bad for health.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry شکر, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries شکر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
