What it means
معادله (moâdele) means “equation,” a mathematical statement showing that two expressions are equal. The word comes from Arabic, from the root ʿ-d-l meaning “balance” or “justice,” so an equation is literally a balancing of two sides. In Persian it is used in school mathematics, physics, chemistry, and in broader speech to describe any situation where things must balance out. A related word is فرمول (formul), meaning “formula,” which often appears alongside moâdele in scientific contexts.
How to use it
- این معادله رو حل کن. (in moâdele ro hal kon.) “Solve this equation.”
- معادله دو طرف داره. (moâdele do taraf dâre.) “An equation has two sides.”
- معادلهی فیزیک سخته. (moâdele-ye fizik sakhte.) “The physics equation is difficult.”
- اون معادله رو حفظم. (un moâdele ro hefzam.) “I have that equation memorized.”
Cultural note
The concept of algebra itself was systematized by the Persian mathematician al-Khwarizmi in the ninth century, and the word “algebra” comes from his Arabic text. Persian scientific vocabulary for mathematics was shaped deeply by Arabic during this era, and معادله is one direct result. Today Iranian high school students solve معادله in subjects ranging from algebra and geometry to physics and chemistry, and the word carries no register distinction, appearing in textbooks and casual student speech alike.