What it means
عوارض جانبی (avârez-e jânebi) means side effects, the unwanted effects a medicine or treatment may cause beyond its intended purpose. Both words come from Arabic: عوارض (avârez) is the Arabic broken plural of عارضه (âreze), meaning a symptom or complication, and جانبی (jânebi) derives from جانب (jâneb), meaning side or flank. Together they describe effects that occur alongside, rather than as the goal of, treatment. In informal speech some people simply say عوارض (avârez) on its own when the context is clear.
How to use it
- این قرص عوارض جانبی داره؟ (in qors avârez-e jânebi dâre?) “Does this pill have side effects?”
- خوابآلودگی از عوارض جانبی این دارو است. (xâb-âludegi az avârez-e jânebi-ye in dâru-ast.) “Drowsiness is a side effect of this medicine.”
- اگه عوارض جانبی دیدی، فوری به دکتر بگو. (age avârez-e jânebi didi, fowri be doktor begu.) “If you experience side effects, tell your doctor immediately.”
- برگه داخل جعبه رو بخون تا عوارض جانبی رو بدونی. (barge-ye dâxel-e ja’be ro baxun tâ avârez-e jânebi ro beduni.) “Read the leaflet inside the box to know the side effects.”
Cultural note
Iranian pharmacists are legally required to counsel patients on عوارض جانبی before dispensing prescription medicines. Medicine packaging sold in Iran must include a Persian-language insert listing side effects, contraindications, and dosage instructions. Patients often refer to this insert as برگه داخل جعبه, the sheet inside the box. Awareness of side effects has grown significantly with the rise of health information available on Persian-language websites and Telegram health channels.