What it means
چک (chek) means a cheque, the written banking instrument ordering a bank to pay a specified amount. The word is a direct borrowing from English “cheque” (which itself came from French “chèque”), and it is one of the most thoroughly adopted loanwords in Persian financial vocabulary. There is no native Persian alternative in common use: چک is what everyone says, in every register, from formal banking documents to casual conversation. In Iran, چک is used not only for bank-to-bank payments but also as a form of deferred credit between individuals, which gives it a social role beyond its technical function.
How to use it
- چک کشیدم برای اجاره. (Chek keshidam barâ-ye ejâre.) “I wrote a cheque for the rent.”
- چکش برگشت خورد. (Chekesh bargasht khord.) “His cheque bounced.”
- دفترچه چک داری؟ (Daftarche-ye chek dâri?) “Do you have a chequebook?”
- با چک پرداخت کردم. (Bâ chek pardâkht kardam.) “I paid by cheque.”
Cultural note
In Iran, چک functions as an informal credit instrument in a way that is uncommon in many Western banking systems. When someone cannot pay immediately, they often issue a post-dated cheque: the recipient holds it and deposits it on the agreed date. This practice extends to car sales, apartment rentals, and business deals, making cheques a cornerstone of everyday commerce. A bounced cheque, چک برگشتی (chek-e bargashti), is not just a financial problem but a serious legal matter and a source of social stigma, which is why the phrase carries weight far beyond the banking context.