What it means
کبوتربازی (kabutar-bâzi) is the hobby of keeping and flying pigeons, especially from rooftops. کبوتر (kabutar) is the Persian word for pigeon or dove, and بازی (bâzi) means play or game. Together they name a practice where enthusiasts release their birds and guide them in aerial displays, often competing to lure a neighbour’s flock. The term is colloquial and carries warm, nostalgic associations. A person who practises it is called a کبوترباز (kabutar-bâz).
How to use it
- بابام از بچگی کبوتربازی میکرد. (bâbâm az bachegi kabutar-bâzi mi-kard.) “My dad kept pigeons since he was a kid.”
- کبوتربازی تو تهران خیلی طرفدار داره. (kabutar-bâzi tu tehrân kheyli tarfadâr dâre.) “Pigeon flying has a lot of fans in Tehran.”
- رو پشتبوم کبوتراش رو رها میکنه. (ru poshtbum kabutarâsh ro rahâ mi-kone.) “He releases his pigeons from the rooftop.”
- کبوترباز خوب میتونه کبوترای غریبه رو جذب کنه. (kabutar-bâz khub mi-tune kabutarâ-ye gharibe ro jazb kone.) “A skilled pigeon keeper can attract other people’s birds.”
Cultural note
Kabutar-bazi has been practised in Iranian cities for centuries and remains a recognisable feature of older urban neighbourhoods, particularly in Tehran and Isfahan. Rooftop pigeon coops are a common sight in traditional districts. The hobby has a strong social dimension: keepers gather on rooftops and the competitive element of drawing rival flocks adds excitement. In recent decades the hobby has faced pressure from urban densification and changing building styles, but it persists in many communities as a cherished working-class tradition.