What it means
مدال (medâl) means “medal.” The word entered Persian from French medaille, which itself traces back through Italian medaglia to Latin metallum (metal). It is used for sports medals, military decorations, and formal honors without distinction. In sports contexts Iranians specify the color: مدال طلا (medâl-e talâ) for gold, مدال نقره (medâl-e noqreh) for silver, and مدال برنز (medâl-e boronz) for bronze. The verb used with it is گرفتن (gereftan, to receive) or کسب کردن (kasb kardan, to earn).
How to use it
- اون مدال طلا گرفت. (un medâl-e talâ gereft.) “She won a gold medal.”
- مدال نقرهام رو گم کردم. (medâl-e noqreh-am ro gom kardam.) “I lost my silver medal.”
- ایران چند تا مدال داره؟ (irân chand tâ medâl dâreh?) “How many medals does Iran have?”
- مدال برنز هم ارزش داره. (medâl-e boronz ham arzesh dâreh.) “A bronze medal has value too.”
Cultural note
Winning an Olympic or world-championship medal brings significant public recognition in Iran, and medal-winning athletes often receive financial rewards, land grants, or tax exemptions from the government. Wrestling (کشتی) and weightlifting (وزنهبرداری) have historically produced the most Iranian Olympic medals. The phrase مدال آوردن (medâl âvardan, to bring a medal) is the common way journalists and fans describe an athlete’s achievement, carrying an undertone of national pride and honor brought home.