What it means
مهد کودک (mahd-e kudak) means nursery or kindergarten. The compound combines the Arabic-origin word مهد (mahd), meaning cradle, with the Persian word کودک (kudak), meaning child. Together they form an image that translates literally as cradle of children, a poetic description of the earliest educational setting. In Iran, مهد کودک typically refers to a facility for children from roughly age two to five, before they enter the formal دبستان (dabestan, primary school) system. The phrases مهد کودک رفتن (mahd-e kudak raftan, to go to kindergarten) and ثبتنام مهد کودک (sabt-nâm-e mahd-e kudak, kindergarten enrollment) are the most common collocations.
How to use it
- بچهام رو مهد کودک نوشتم (bachche-am ro mahd-e kudak neveshtan) “I enrolled my child in kindergarten.”
- مهد کودک ساعت چند تموم میشه؟ (mahd-e kudak sâ’at chand tamum mishe?) “What time does kindergarten finish?”
- اون مهد کودک خوبیه (un mahd-e kudak khubiye) “That is a good nursery.”
- دختره هنوز مهد کودکه (dokhtar-e hanuz mahd-e kudak-e) “The girl is still in nursery.”
Cultural note
Choosing a مهد کودک is a significant decision for Iranian families, particularly in cities where competition for places at reputable facilities is real. Parents evaluate nurseries not only on safety and staff quality but also on whether they teach the Quran, offer art or music, or follow a particular educational philosophy. The socialization that happens at mahd-e kudak is seen as the first step toward school readiness, and the first day of kindergarten is often photographed and celebrated much like the first day of primary school.
References
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