What it means
دستمزد (dastmozd) is built from two native Persian elements: دست (dast, “hand”) and مزد (mozd, “wage, reward”), a word that traces back to Old Iranian and is related to the Avestan mīžda. Together they mean the wage earned for a specific task or piece of labor, the payment you get for using your hands. Where حقوق (hoquq) often refers to a monthly salary in a formal employment context, دستمزد is used for daily wages, freelance fees, or payments for a defined job. A plumber, a house painter, or a day laborer is more likely to discuss their دستمزد than their حقوق.
How to use it
- دستمزد لولهکش چقدر شد؟ (dastmozd-e lulekash cheghadr shod?) “How much did the plumber charge?”
- دستمزدم رو هنوز ندادن. (dastmozdam ro hanuz nadâdan.) “They still haven’t paid my wage.”
- دستمزد روزانهاش خوبه. (dastmozd-e ruzâne-ash khube.) “His daily wage is decent.”
- باید سر دستمزد چونه بزنی. (bâyad sar-e dastmozd chune bezani.) “You need to haggle over the pay.”
Cultural note
In Iran, negotiating دستمزد for skilled tradespeople is expected and normal. Contractors, painters, and repair workers routinely quote an opening price that both sides understand is subject to discussion. The phrase چونه زدن (chune zadan, “to bargain”) is closely associated with this process. Minimum دستمزد for casual workers is set annually by the government and is often lower than the minimum حقوق for salaried employees, reflecting a legal distinction between the two contract types.