What it means
کلیه (kolye) is the Persian word for “kidney,” the organ that filters the blood. It comes from Arabic (كُلْية) and is the neutral, standard term you hear from doctors and in everyday health conversations. The older native Persian word is گرده (gorde), which goes back to Middle Persian, but in modern usage کلیه is the proper anatomical and medical term. You may also hear قلوه (qolve), which is mostly used for kidney as food, like in cooking.
How to use it
- کلیههام درد میکنه. (kolyehâm dard mikone.) “My kidneys hurt.”
- دکتر گفت سنگ کلیه دارم. (doktor goft sang-e kolye dâram.) “The doctor said I have a kidney stone.”
- باید بیشتر آب بخوری تا کلیههات سالم بمونه. (bâyad bishtar âb bokhori tâ kolyehât sâlem bemune.) “You should drink more water so your kidneys stay healthy.”
- برادرش بهش کلیه اهدا کرد. (barâdaresh behesh kolye ehdâ kard.) “His brother donated a kidney to him.”
Cultural note
کلیه is the word used in hospitals, prescriptions, and medical paperwork in Iran. Kidney stones (سنگ کلیه, sang-e kolye) are a very common complaint, and people often blame them on not drinking enough water in hot, dry regions. The plural form کلیهها (kolyehâ) is normal because the body has two, and many speakers talk about them together when describing pain.