What it means
داوری (dâvari) is a pure Persian noun meaning refereeing, judging, or arbitration. It is formed from داور (dâvar), itself from Middle Persian dâdwar, meaning one who administers justice. In a sports context داوری refers to the act of refereeing a match, while in everyday life it can mean passing judgment on a dispute. The person doing it is the داور (dâvar), the referee or judge, and the noun داوری names the role or the act itself.
How to use it
- داوری این بازی خوب نبود. (dâvari-ye in bâzi khub nabud.) “The refereeing in this match was not good.”
- داور اشتباه داوری کرد. (dâvar eshtebâh-e dâvari kard.) “The referee made a refereeing mistake.”
- داوری در فوتبال خیلی سخت است. (dâvari dar futbâl kheili sakht ast.) “Refereeing in football is very difficult.”
- کمیته داوری تصمیم گرفت. (komiteh-ye dâvari tasmim gereft.) “The refereeing committee made a decision.”
Cultural note
Debates about داوری are a staple of post-match conversations in Iran, whether in tea houses, taxis, or family gatherings after a televised match. The football federation maintains a formal داوری committee that licenses and grades referees, and controversial calls often dominate sports news cycles for days. The word’s legal meaning sits alongside its sporting meaning in everyday speech, so saying “dâvarish dorost nabud” can equally mean the referee was wrong or that someone’s judgment of you was unfair.