کلمه

The Arabic plural کلمات (kalamât) is also used in Persian, especially in literary contexts: a poet might write کلمات سنگین (heavy words). The phrase کلمه‌به‌کلمه (kalame-be-kalame) means "word for word," used for translation accuracy. In a Tehran classroom you'll hear teachers say کلمه dozens of times an hour, while a Farhangestan publication will quietly switch to واژه.