What it means
آنتیبیوتیک (ânti-biyotik) means antibiotic, a medicine that kills or stops the growth of bacteria. The word entered Persian from English antibiotic, which was built from Greek roots (anti, meaning against, and bios, meaning life). It is not native Persian. In casual speech Iranians use آنتیبیوتیک directly with no shortened form. A common contrast is داروی ضدقارچ (dâru-ye zedd-e qârch), antifungal medicine, which targets fungi rather than bacteria.
How to use it
- دکتر برام آنتیبیوتیک نوشت. (doktor baram ânti-biyotik nevesht.) “The doctor prescribed antibiotics for me.”
- آنتیبیوتیک رو با آب کامل قورت بده. (ânti-biyotik ro bâ âb kâmel qurt bede.) “Swallow the antibiotic with a full glass of water.”
- دورهی آنتیبیوتیک رو تموم کن حتی اگه حالت خوب شد. (dore-ye ânti-biyotik ro tamum kon hattâ age hâlet xub shod.) “Finish the full course of antibiotics even if you feel better.”
- این سرماخوردگی به آنتیبیوتیک جواب نمیده. (in sarmâ-xordegi be ânti-biyotik javâb nemi-de.) “This cold does not respond to antibiotics.”
Cultural note
In Iran, antibiotics were historically available over the counter without a prescription at pharmacies, which led to widespread overuse and growing antibiotic resistance. Since the early 2010s, Iranian health authorities have tightened regulations and many pharmacies now require a written prescription. Doctors and public health campaigns regularly remind patients that antibiotics do not work against viral infections such as the common cold.