What it means
لباس ورزشی (lebâs-e varzeshi) means sportswear: clothing designed for exercise and athletic activity. The phrase combines two components of different origins: لباس (lebâs), the Arabic-rooted word for clothing, and ورزشی (varzeshi), an adjective derived from ورزش (varzesh, sport or exercise), which itself traces back to the Middle Persian verb varzidan, meaning to cultivate or practice, a pure Persian root. A colloquial alternative that learners hear often is اسپرت (esport), borrowed from English via French, which Iranians use loosely for any casual or athletic wear.
How to use it
- لباس ورزشیام رو آوردم برای باشگاه. (lebâs-e varzeshi-am ro âvardam barâye bâshgâh.) “I brought my sportswear for the gym.”
- نمیشه با لباس ورزشی بری اون مهمونی. (nemishe bâ lebâs-e varzeshi beri un mehmuni.) “You cannot go to that party in sportswear.”
- یه لباس ورزشی گرم میخوام برای دویدن. (ye lebâs-e varzeshi-ye garm mikhâm barâye davidan.) “I want a warm set of sportswear for running.”
- فروشگاه لباس ورزشی کجاست؟ (forushhgâh-e lebâs-e varzeshi kojâst?) “Where is the sportswear store?”
Cultural note
In Iran, sportswear occupies an interesting social space: at public parks and outdoor gyms, women wear their mandatory covering even while exercising, so لباس ورزشی for women in public must still comply with hijab requirements, meaning a manteau or long tunic over leggings is typical. Indoor sports facilities and women-only gyms allow more freedom. Iranian sportswear brands have grown significantly since the 1990s, and international brands like Nike and Adidas circulate widely through both official import channels and informal markets. The word itself appears in gym signage, school physical education rules, and sports-facility dress codes across the country.