کرامیک

What it means

کرامیک (kerâmik) refers to ceramic tiles used in construction, as well as to the broader category of fired-clay products used in building, including floor tiles, wall tiles, and sanitary ware. The word is borrowed from French céramique, which in turn comes from Greek κεραμικός (keramikos), meaning of pottery, from κέραμος (keramos), potter’s clay. Persian absorbed this and many other architectural and technical terms from French during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when French was the prestige technical language among Iranian modernisers. Closely related is سرامیک (serâmik), which is an alternate spelling used interchangeably. A synonym in some contexts is کاشی (kashi), which historically referred to the glazed tiles of Kashan, though today کاشی and کرامیک can describe somewhat different products in the building trade.

How to use it

• کرامیک حمام رو عوض کردیم. (kerâmik-e hammam ro avaz kardim.) “We replaced the bathroom tiles.”
• کدوم کرامیک برای کف آشپزخونه بهتره؟ (kodom kerâmik bara-ye kaf-e ashpazkhune behtare?) “Which ceramic tile is better for the kitchen floor?”
• قیمت کرامیک‌های ایرانی خیلی بالا رفته. (qeymat-e kerâmikhâ-ye irani khili bala rafte.) “The price of Iranian ceramic tiles has gone up a lot.”
• دیوار حیاط رو با کرامیک پوشوندن. (divar-e hayat ro ba kerâmik pushundan.) “They covered the courtyard wall with ceramic tiles.”

Cultural note

Iran has a deep tradition of glazed tilework, expressed in the intricate کاشی‌کاری (kashi-kari) of its mosques and palaces. The modern term کرامیک, however, signals industrial production: Iran became one of the largest producers of ceramic tiles in the world, with major factories concentrated in provinces such as Isfahan and Yazd. The Tile and Ceramic Industry of Iran exports to markets across the Middle East and Central Asia. In contemporary Iranian construction, کرامیک is almost universal for bathroom and kitchen surfaces, and tile selection is a significant part of any renovation project.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab