What it means
گوشی هوشمند (gushi-ye hushmand) is the Persian phrase for smartphone, built entirely from native Persian roots. گوشی (gushi) comes from گوش (gush), meaning ear, and originally referred to a telephone handset that one holds to the ear. هوشمند (hushmand) means intelligent or smart, from هوش (hush), a native Persian word for intellect. In everyday conversation, most people simply say گوشی (gushi) and the meaning is understood to be a smartphone. گوشی هوشمند is the fuller, slightly more formal form.
How to use it
- گوشیم رو جا گذاشتم. (gushiam ro jâ gozâshtam.) “I left my phone behind.”
- گوشی هوشمند داری؟ (gushi-ye hushmand dâri?) “Do you have a smartphone?”
- گوشیم اینترنت نداره. (gushiam internet nadâre.) “My phone has no internet.”
- گوشیت رو بذار رو سایلنت. (gushiat ro bezâr ru sâylent.) “Put your phone on silent.”
Cultural note
Smartphone ownership in Iran is very high, and the word گوشی has essentially replaced تلفن (telefon) in everyday conversation when referring to a personal mobile device. Many Iranians use their گوشی هوشمند as their primary way to access the internet, often through mobile data rather than home Wi-Fi. Apps like Telegram and Instagram are widely used via VPN, making the گوشی a central tool for daily communication and news.