What it means
لباس (lebâs) means clothing, clothes, or a garment. The word comes from Arabic لِباس (libâs), which shares the same meaning, and it entered Persian centuries ago as part of the broad Arabic influence on the language. Today it is completely neutral in register and used by all Persian speakers to refer to any item of clothing or a full outfit. A close synonym is لباسپوشیدن (lebâs pushidan), the verb phrase meaning to get dressed, though لباس by itself is the noun form most people reach for in daily speech.
How to use it
- این لباس خیلی بهت میاد. (In lebâs kheyli behet miyâd.) “This outfit really suits you.”
- لباسهام رو شستم. (Lebâs-hâmo shostam.) “I washed my clothes.”
- کجا لباس میخری؟ (Kojâ lebâs mikhâri?) “Where do you buy your clothes?”
- لباس گرم بپوش، هوا سرده. (Lebâs garm bepush, havâ sarde.) “Wear warm clothes, it’s cold outside.”
Cultural note
In Iran, dress carries social and legal weight. Since 1979, Islamic dress codes have required women to cover their hair and bodies in public, making the choice of لباس a matter that intersects personal expression, religious observance, and law. Younger Iranians, especially in major cities, push the boundaries of these codes through cuts, colours, and layering. For men the standards are less restrictive, though shorts in public remain uncommon in traditional settings. The phrase لباس مناسب (lebâs-e monâseb), meaning appropriate dress, is regularly used in public signage and official communications.