What it means
بزرگراه (bozorgrâh) means expressway, freeway, or motorway. It is a native Persian compound formed from بزرگ (bozorg, large or great) and راه (râh, road or way), both of which are ancient Persian roots. The word is the standard formal term used in traffic signs, news broadcasts, and official documents for high-speed divided highways. A close related term is آزادراه (âzâdrâh), which specifically denotes a toll-free limited-access motorway, whereas بزرگراه can include urban expressways with intersections.
How to use it
- بزرگراه چمران ترافیک سنگینی داره. (bozorgrâh-e Chamrân terâfik-e sangini dâre.) “The Chamran Expressway has heavy traffic.”
- از بزرگراه برو، سریعتره. (az bozorgrâh boro, sari’tare.) “Take the expressway, it is faster.”
- ورودی بزرگراه کجاست؟ (vorudi-ye bozorgrâh kojâst?) “Where is the expressway entrance?”
- این بزرگراه شهر رو به فرودگاه وصل میکنه. (in bozorgrâh shahr ro be forudgâh vasl mi-kone.) “This expressway connects the city to the airport.”
Cultural note
Iran’s expressway network expanded significantly from the 1970s onward and now links most major provincial capitals. Tehran alone has more than a dozen named urban expressways, many of which bear the names of post-revolution figures or geographic landmarks. Traffic on these roads is notoriously heavy during morning and evening rush hours, and navigating Tehran’s بزرگراه system is considered a practical skill that newcomers to the city must quickly acquire. Road signs throughout the country use بزرگراه as the standard designation, making it one of the most visible formal Persian compound words in everyday life.