What it means
آبوهوا (âb-o-havâ) is the everyday word for climate or weather in general. It is a compound noun built from two parts: آب (âb), meaning water, which comes from ancient Persian, and هوا (havâ), meaning air, which entered Persian from Arabic هَوَاء. Together they form a word that literally describes what surrounds us, water in the air, and Persians use it whenever they talk about the general character of a place’s weather rather than today’s conditions. For today’s weather you are more likely to hear وضع هوا (vaz’-e havâ). The two expressions exist side by side and learners should know both.
How to use it
- آبوهوای تهران خشکه. (âb-o-havâ-ye Tehrân khoshke.) “The climate of Tehran is dry.”
- آبوهوا اونجا چطوره؟ (âb-o-havâ oonjâ chetore?) “How is the climate over there?”
- به این آبوهوا عادت کردم. (be in âb-o-havâ âdat kardam.) “I got used to this climate.”
- آبوهوا داره عوض میشه. (âb-o-havâ dâre avaz mishe.) “The weather is changing.”
Cultural note
Iran spans a remarkable range of climates, from the humid Caspian coast in the north to the hot deserts of the central plateau and the cold winters of Tabriz and Mashhad. When Iranians meet someone from a different city, asking about the آبوهوا is a natural opener, similar to asking about local food. Seasonal shifts matter deeply in Iranian culture: Nowruz marks the arrival of spring, and the intense heat of summer in cities like Ahvaz is a constant topic of conversation. Climate change has made آبوهوا a more urgent word in recent decades, as drought and water scarcity have become serious national concerns.