What it means
دامن (dâman) means skirt, the lower garment that hangs from the waist. The word is pure Persian with deep roots in the language, and it carries several related meanings beyond clothing: it also means the hem or lower edge of a garment, the lap when seated, and metaphorically the foot or slope of a mountain. In everyday clothing contexts, دامن refers to any skirt, from short casual styles to long formal ones. A related term is دامن پلیسه (dâman-e plisé), meaning a pleated skirt.
How to use it
- دامنش خیلی بلنده. (Dâmanesh kheyli bolande.) “Her skirt is very long.”
- یه دامن قرمز خریدم برای مهمونی. (Ye dâman-e ghermez kharidam barây-e mehmuni.) “I bought a red skirt for the party.”
- این دامن بهت میاد. (In dâman behet miyâd.) “This skirt suits you.”
- دامنم گیر کرده. (Dâmanam gir kardeh.) “My skirt got caught.”
Cultural note
Skirts have been worn in Iran for centuries, appearing in Persian miniature paintings and on ancient ceramic figures. In contemporary Iran, دامن worn in public must be long enough to meet Islamic dress code requirements, so long flowing skirts in muted colours are a common sight on the street. At home or at private gatherings, women wear skirts of any length freely. The word دامن also appears frequently in classical Persian poetry with its metaphorical meanings: دامان دشت (dâmân-e dasht) means the foot of the plains, and گرفتن دامن (gereftan-e dâman), literally to take hold of the hem, is a poetic expression for seeking shelter or help from someone.