What it means
لگن (lagan) means a basin, a large shallow bowl used for washing vegetables, soaking laundry, or rinsing dishes. The word is ultimately derived from the Ancient Greek word λεκάνη (lekânê), meaning a shallow bowl or dish, and it passed into Persian over many centuries of contact. In everyday spoken Persian, لگن refers to a large plastic or metal basin kept in the kitchen or bathroom. The word also carries an anatomical meaning: لگن خاصره (lagan-e khâsere) is the medical and everyday term for the pelvis. A synonym for the kitchen basin sense is تشت (tasht), which tends to be larger and more specifically used for laundry.
How to use it
- سبزیها رو بریز تو لگن و بشورشون. (Sabzi-hâ ro beriz tu lagan o beshurashun.) “Put the herbs in the basin and wash them.”
- یه لگن آب گرم آوردم که ظرفا رو خیس کنم. (Ye lagan âb-e garm âvordam ke zarf-hâ ro khis konam.) “I brought a basin of warm water to soak the dishes.”
- لگن پر از رخت خیسه. (Lagan por az rakht-e khise.) “The basin is full of soaking laundry.”
- لگن رو بذار زیر شیر که آب جمع بشه. (Lagan ro bezâr zir-e shir ke âb jam beshe.) “Put the basin under the tap to collect the water.”
Cultural note
Before automatic washing machines became common in Iranian homes, the لگن was a central fixture of domestic life, used every day for hand-washing clothes, rinsing rice, and cleaning produce. In many households, especially in smaller towns and villages, large metal or plastic basins remain in daily use. The word also appears in Persian poetry and classical literature as a vessel for ritual washing, reflecting its long presence in the culture since antiquity.