معلم
mu'allim/mu.ʔal.ˈlim/
The Persian word for teacher is معلم (mu'allim).
معلم refers to a person who teaches. You can specify the gender of the teacher by adding a title before the word: use آقا to mean Mr. and prefix it for a male teacher, or use خانم to mean Mrs. and prefix it for a female teacher.
Meaning: person who teaches (noun)
Which one should you use?
While معلم is a general term for a teacher, استاد is used specifically for university professors or individuals who are highly skilled masters of a particular craft.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /mu.ʔal.ˈlim/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- Persian has a distinct word شاگرد (shāgerd) for a student of a معلم, which literally means 'apprentice', reflecting a history of master-disciple relationships.
- The term استاد is often used as a compliment in casual conversation, such as saying 'You are an استاد' to someone who has performed a clever or skillful task.
- While معلم is the standard word for a school teacher, in a very formal or poetic setting, you might encounter the word آموزگار, which is a pure Persian alternative.
Examples in context
- معلم غرق اشک شد.The teacher burst into tears.This sentence shows the word معلم used in a context regarding emotions.Tatoeba #7968407 by cojiluc, translation #7039538 by OsoHombre
- تام می خواست معلم فرانسه باشد.Tom wanted to be a French teacher.This sentence shows the word معلم used in a context about professional aspirations.Tatoeba #7745932 by mshahriarinia, translation #6529620 by CK
- حتی یک معلم می‌تواند اشتباه کند.Even a teacher can make mistakes.This sentence shows the word معلم used in a context about human error.Tatoeba #8288040 by cojiluc, translation #272808 by CK
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Reza and Maryam are talking about their school day.
- رضا Rezaمعلم جدید شما چطور است؟Moallem-e jadid-e shoma chetor ast?How is your new teacher?
- مریم Maryamاو معلم خیلی مهربانی است.Oo moallem-e kheyli mehrabani ast.She is a very kind teacher.
- رضا Rezaآیا او سخت درس می‌دهد؟Aya oo sakht dars midahad?Does she teach strictly?
- مریم Maryamنه، اما معلم دقیقی است.Nah, ama moallem-e daghighi ast.No, but she is a precise teacher.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry معلم, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
