What it means
دستبند (dastband) is the standard Persian word for bracelet. It compounds دست (dast, hand or wrist) with بند (band, fastening or tie) to describe any band worn around the wrist. The word is used for gold and silver bracelets, beaded bangles, leather wristbands, and even handcuffs in colloquial speech. The closely related بازوبند (bâzubând) refers to a band worn higher on the upper arm, while دستبند sits at the wrist. In informal speech, دستبند is sometimes also used for handcuffs, a context that is usually clear from tone and situation.
How to use it
- دستبند نقره میخوام. (dastband-e noqre mi-khâm.) “I want a silver bracelet.”
- دستبندش خیلی ظریفه. (dastband-ash kheyli zarife.) “Her bracelet is very delicate.”
- دستبند طلا کادو گرفتم. (dastband-e talâ kâdo gereftam.) “I got a gold bracelet as a present.”
- دستبند از دستش افتاد. (dastband az dast-ash oftâd.) “The bracelet fell off her wrist.”
Cultural note
In Iranian jewellery tradition, دستبند is one of the most gifted items at Nowruz (the Persian New Year) and at weddings. Charm bracelets with turquoise or blue glass beads are also commonly worn as protection against the evil eye (چشمزخم, cheshm-zakhm). Gold دستبند pieces are often sold by weight in the bazaar, and their price moves with the gold market. The word appears frequently in traditional poetry as a symbol of the beloved’s adorned wrist.