What it means
فلکه (falake) is the everyday Iranian word for a traffic circle or roundabout. It comes from the Arabic root فلک (falak), meaning orbit, celestial sphere, or circular path. The connection is the shared idea of circular movement. You will rarely hear the more formal term “دوار” (davvar) in spoken Persian. Iranians use فلکه both for the road feature itself and as a place-name landmark: “Ferdowsi Circle” or “Vanak Circle” are just فلکه in common speech.
How to use it
- در فلکه ولیعصر پیاده میشم. (dar falake-ye Vali Asr piade misham.) “I get off at Vali Asr Circle.”
- از فلکه بپیچ راست. (az falake bepich rast.) “Turn right at the roundabout.”
- خونهشون نزدیک فلکهست. (khuneshun nazdike falakast.) “Their house is near the traffic circle.”
- فلکه شلوغه ساعت هشت. (falake sholughe sa’at hasht.) “The roundabout is packed at eight o’clock.”
Cultural note
In most Iranian cities, the فلکه is far more than a traffic feature. It serves as the primary reference point for giving directions, naming neighborhoods, and even identifying bus stops. Tehran alone has dozens of named فلکهها, from Ferdowsi to Tajrish, and locals navigate entire districts by them. Asking someone where they live, you will nearly always hear a فلکه name as the anchor point.