What it means
کتان (katân) is the Persian word for linen, a light, breathable fabric made from the fibres of the flax plant. The word came into Persian from Arabic كتّان (kattân), which in turn was borrowed from Classical Syriac kettânâ. Linen is valued for its ability to stay cool in hot weather, making it common in summer clothing. A related term you may hear is کرباس (karbâs), which historically referred to a coarser undyed linen or cotton cloth.
How to use it
- این پیراهن از کتانه. (in pirâhan az katâne.) “This shirt is made of linen.”
- کتان زود چروک میشه. (katân zud chorok mishe.) “Linen wrinkles easily.”
- تابستون لباس کتان خنکتره. (tâbestun lebâs-e katân khanak-tare.) “In summer, linen clothes are cooler.”
- یه متر کتان سفید میخوام. (ye metr katân-e sefid mikhâm.) “I want one metre of white linen.”
Cultural note
Linen has a long history in the Iranian textile tradition, prized for its durability and lightness in hot, dry climates. Iran’s bazaars have traded fine linen alongside silk and wool for centuries. Today کتان appears frequently on clothing labels and in fabric shops, particularly for warm-season garments such as loose trousers and summer shirts.