What it means
عزا (azâ) is the Persian word for mourning, the period of grief that follows a death. It comes directly from Arabic, where the root ع-ز-ي carries the sense of condolence and consolation. In everyday Persian use, عزا refers both to the emotional state of grief and to the outward social period of mourning observed by family and community. A close related term is سوگ (sug), an older pure-Persian word for grief, though عزا is far more common in contemporary speech and in religious contexts.
How to use it
- خونهشون عزا داره (khune-shun azâ dâre) “Their house is in mourning.”
- امروز عزا داریم (emruz azâ dârim) “Today we are in mourning.”
- برای مادرش عزا گرفته (barâye mâdarash azâ gerafte) “He has gone into mourning for his mother.”
- تو عزا شادی نمیکنن (tu azâ shâdi nemi-konan) “You do not celebrate during mourning.”
Cultural note
In Iranian culture, عزا is not only a private emotion but a structured social obligation. Family members wear dark clothing, refrain from music and celebrations, and receive guests who come to offer condolences. The period of formal عزا typically spans three days after the death, with additional gatherings on the seventh and fortieth days. Religious Shia observances, especially during Muharram, also use the word عزا to describe communal grief for Imam Hossein.