What it means
چاقو (châqu) means “knife.” The word comes from Middle Persian čākū, which traces back to Avestan cakuš. It is the neutral, everyday term for any bladed cutting tool, whether a kitchen knife, a bread knife, or a folding pocket knife. A close companion word is کارد (kârd), which refers more specifically to a large, fixed-blade knife or dagger. In daily speech, چاقو is the default choice for the knife you reach for at the dinner table.
How to use it
- چاقو را بده به من. (châqu râ bede be man.) “Hand me the knife.”
- با چاقو پیاز خرد کن. (bâ châqu piyâz khord kon.) “Chop the onion with the knife.”
- چاقوم تیز نیست. (châquam tiz nist.) “My knife is not sharp.”
- یه چاقو تمیز بیار. (ye châqu tamiz biyâr.) “Bring a clean knife.”
Cultural note
In the Iranian kitchen, a good knife is considered one of the most personal tools a cook owns. Gifting a knife is traditionally accompanied by a small coin from the recipient, a custom meant to prevent the gift from “cutting” the relationship. The phrase چاقو دسته خودش رو نمیبره, meaning “a knife does not cut its own handle,” is a well-known proverb about loyalty and self-interest.