What it means
مجمه (majma) refers to a large round tray, traditionally crafted from copper or brass, used for serving food to guests or carrying dishes at a formal meal. The word is borrowed from Arabic, derived from the root ج-م-ع (j-m-a), which carries the meaning of gathering or bringing together. The full Arabic form مجمعه (majma-e) shares this root with words like اجتماع (ejtema, meaning gathering or society). In Persian usage, مجمه has narrowed to mean specifically this type of ornate serving tray. A more neutral everyday term for a tray is سینی (sini), while طبق (tabaq) is a more formal written equivalent. The مجمه is associated with the traditional form of serving a meal on a cloth spread on the floor (sofreh), where the tray would hold multiple dishes at once.
How to use it
- غذاها رو گذاشتن روی مجمه و آوردن وسط اتاق. (Ghazâ-hâ ro gozâshtan ru-ye majma o âvordan vast-e otâq.) “They placed the dishes on the tray and brought it to the middle of the room.”
- مجمهی مسی قدیمی از مادربزرگ به ارث رسیده. (Majma-ye mesi-ye qadimi az mâdar-bozorg be ars raside.) “The old copper tray was inherited from grandmother.”
- میوه رو چیدن روی مجمه برای مهمونا. (Mive ro chidan ru-ye majma barâye mehmunâ.) “They arranged fruit on the tray for the guests.”
- یه مجمه پر از شیرینی گذاشتن جلوی مهمونا. (Ye majma por az shirini gozâshtan jelo-ye mehmunâ.) “They placed a tray full of sweets in front of the guests.”
Cultural note
The مجمه is more than a serving tool: it is an object with cultural memory. Engraved copper and brass trays were produced in workshops in Isfahan, Tabriz, and other craft cities, and skilled craftsmen (zargar and mesgar) decorated them with floral patterns, calligraphy, and geometric designs. Antique مجمه trays are still sold in traditional bazaars and are prized as decorative pieces or family heirlooms. In rural and nomadic traditions, a large مجمه placed on a low table (korsi or tablecloth on the floor) served as the communal eating surface for an entire family.