What it means
کاسه (kâse) means “bowl,” referring to any round, open vessel used for holding food, liquid, or other contents. The word is pure Persian, traceable to Middle Persian kasa, and has no Arabic root. A close companion in the kitchen is دیس (dis), a large flat serving platter, which contrasts with the deeper, rounded shape of the kâse.
How to use it
- یه کاسه سوپ بریز برام. (ye kâse sup beriz baram.) “Pour me a bowl of soup.”
- کاسهها رو بذار تو ظرفشویی. (kâse-hâ ro bezâr tu zarfshui.) “Put the bowls in the sink.”
- از اون کاسه بزرگه استفاده کن. (az oon kâse-ye bozorge estefâde kon.) “Use that big bowl.”
- کاسهی ماست رو از یخچال بیار. (kâse-ye mâst ro az yakhchâl biâr.) “Bring the bowl of yogurt from the fridge.”
Cultural note
The kâse is one of the most universal items on any Iranian table. Ash reshteh, abgoosht, and countless other traditional dishes are served in individual bowls, making the word appear constantly in everyday kitchen conversation. A well-known Persian proverb, کاسه از آش داغتر (kâse az âsh dâgh-tar, “the bowl is hotter than the soup”), describes someone who is more zealous about a matter than the person it actually concerns.