در
dar
door; (preposition) in, at
noun (also preposition)A1
Quick Reference
dar
door; (preposition) in, at
A1 — Absolute Beginner
در pronounced by Elyar
What it means
در (dar) means “door.” The same spelling also functions as the preposition “in” or “at,” an extreme case of Persian polysemy where one written form carries two completely different grammatical roles.
The two senses
- Noun “door”: در را ببند (dar râ beband) “Close the door”
- Preposition “in/at”: در تهران (dar tehrân) “in Tehran”
How to tell them apart
Context. The noun در stands as a subject or object. The preposition در precedes another noun. Iranians never confuse the two; learners do at first.
Common pairings (door sense)
- در باز (dar-e bâz) “open door”
- در بسته (dar-e baste) “closed door”
- دروازه (darvâze) “gate, large door”
- درب (darb) “door” (formal alternative)
References
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