What it means
بیماری مزمن (bimâri-ye mozman) means chronic illness or a long-term disease that persists for months or years. بیماری (bimâri) is a native Persian noun meaning illness or disease. مزمن (mozman) is an Arabic-origin adjective from the root زمن, relating to time, and in Arabic it specifically means something that has lasted a long time or become entrenched. The combination is standard in formal medical Persian and is exactly what a doctor would write in a diagnosis or a public health report. In casual conversation people sometimes say بیماری که خوب نمیشه (bimâri-ye ke khub nemishe), a disease that does not get better, to express the same idea without the formal term.
How to use it
- دیابت یه بیماری مزمنه که نیاز به مراقبت دائم داره. (diâbet ye bimâri-ye mozman-e ke niâz be morâqebat-e dâem dâre) “Diabetes is a chronic illness that requires constant management.”
- بیماریهای مزمن هزینههای بهداشتی رو بالا میبرن. (bimârihâye mozman hazine-hâye behdâshti ro bâlâ miborn) “Chronic diseases drive up healthcare costs.”
- اون با یه بیماری مزمن زندگی میکنه. (oon bâ ye bimâri-ye mozman zendegi mi-kone) “She lives with a chronic illness.”
- درمان بیماریهای مزمن نیاز به صبر داره. (darmân-e bimârihâye mozman niâz be sabr dâre) “Treating chronic diseases requires patience.”
Cultural note
Non-communicable chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension are now the leading cause of death in Iran, a shift that has accelerated since the 1990s alongside urbanization and dietary change. The Iranian Ministry of Health tracks these through the National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. Managing a بیماری مزمن in Iran can be challenging for lower-income families because specialty medications and regular specialist visits place sustained financial pressure on households. Family caregiving for chronically ill members remains a strong cultural norm.