What it means
چاق (châq) is an adjective meaning “fat” or “overweight,” borrowed into Persian from Turkish, where a related form carried the sense of robust or strong. In colloquial Persian, especially in phrases like چاق و چله (châq-o-chele, “chubby and plump”) or when elders say to a child “چاقی” (châqi, “you look healthy”), the word softens toward “well-fed” or “in good health” rather than a criticism. The more neutral medical alternative is دارای اضافه وزن (dârâye ezâfe-vazn), but almost nobody uses it in conversation. The direct antonym is لاغر (lâghar), “thin.”
How to use it
- از وقتی ازدواج کرده چاق شده. (az vaqti ezdevâj karde châq shode.) “Since getting married, he/she has put on weight.”
- مامانم همیشه میگه چاق و سالمی. (mâmânam hamishe mige châq-o-sâlami.) “My mom always says you look healthy and well-fed.”
- گربهام خیلی چاقه. (gorba-am kheyli châqe.) “My cat is really fat.”
- نه چاق نه لاغر، همینطوریه. (na châq na lâghar, haminturiye.) “Not fat, not thin, just the way he is.”
Cultural note
In Iranian culture, calling a baby or young child چاق (châq) is often a compliment, implying the child is thriving and well-nourished. For adults the word becomes more loaded, though direct remarks about body size remain far more socially common in Iran than in many Western contexts. The compound چاق و چله (châq-o-chele) softens the meaning further, describing a pleasantly round appearance without strong negative judgment.