What it means
کاهو (kâhu) means lettuce, the leafy green eaten raw. The word traces back to Middle Persian kāhōk and is fully native to the language. In everyday use it refers to the common head lettuce or romaine varieties sold at greengrocers. A related and sometimes confused word is اسفناج (esfenaj), which is spinach, a different leafy green used mainly in cooked dishes rather than raw salads.
How to use it
- کاهو تازه داری؟ (kahu taze dari?) “Do you have fresh lettuce?”
- کاهو رو بشور. (kahu ro beshu.) “Wash the lettuce.”
- سالاد بدون کاهو نمیشه. (salad bedun-e kahu nemishe.) “A salad without lettuce doesn’t work.”
- یه کاهو کامل بده بهم. (ye kahu kamel bede beham.) “Give me a whole head of lettuce.”
Cultural note
Lettuce appears in the classic Persian salad shirazi, though that dish is primarily built from cucumber, tomato, and onion with lime juice and dried mint rather than leafy greens. Kahu is more central to the style of salad served at kebab restaurants, where a simple plate of raw lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and fresh herbs accompanies the main grilled dish. It is also a common wrap for eating certain snacks and grilled items in casual street-food settings.