What it means
مشق (mashgh) refers to a written homework exercise, particularly the kind where a student copies out letters, words, or sentences repeatedly for practice. The word entered Persian from Arabic مَشْق (mashq), whose root M-Sh-Q originally described writing letters in a swift, elongated style. In modern everyday use it simply means homework assigned by a teacher, especially written work. A close synonym is تکلیف (taklif), which is the broader word for homework in general, while مشق tends to imply written or handwriting practice more specifically. The plural form is مشقها (mashghha).
How to use it
- مشقهات رو نوشتی؟ (mashghhat ro neveshti?) “Have you done your written homework?”
- معلم گفت فردا مشق بنویسیم. (moallem goft farda mashgh benevisim.) “The teacher said to write exercises for tomorrow.”
- بچه داره مشق مینویسه. (bache dare mashgh minevishe.) “The child is doing their written homework.”
- اون مشق خوشنویسی میکشه. (un mashgh-e khoshnivisi mikeshe.) “She is practicing calligraphy exercises.”
Cultural note
In Persian calligraphy, مشق carries a meaning far deeper than homework. Calligraphy students practice مشق for years, filling pages with repetitions of a single letter until the stroke becomes second nature. The style known as سیاهمشق (siyah-mashgh), meaning black practice, fills the entire page with layered script until the paper turns dark, and is recognized as an art form in its own right. This dual life of the word, as both a child’s dreaded homework and a master calligrapher’s meditative discipline, reflects how Persian treats repetition as a path to excellence.