معلم
mo'allem
teacher
nounA1
Quick Reference
mo-AL-lem
teacher
A1 — Absolute Beginner
معلم pronounced by Elyar
What it means
معلم (mo’allem) means “teacher.” It refers to K-12 educators, from primary school through high school. For university instructors, Persian uses استاد (ostâd) instead.
How to use it
- معلم ریاضی (mo’allem-e riyâzi) “math teacher”
- معلم خوبی است (mo’allem-e khubi ast) “He/she is a good teacher”
- معلم کلاس اول (mo’allem-e kelâs-e avval) “first-grade teacher”
Common pairings and workplace context
- معلم زن (mo’allem-e zan) “female teacher”
- معلم مرد (mo’allem-e mard) “male teacher” (gender specified when needed)
- معلمی (mo’allemi) “the teaching profession”
- روز معلم (ruz-e mo’allem) “Teacher’s Day” (12 Ordibehesht)
Cultural note
Teaching carries strong respect in Iranian culture, even though salaries are low. Roz-e Mo’allem on May 2nd is a national observance, with students bringing flowers and small gifts. The phrase “معلم اول من” (mo’allem-e avval-e man) “my first teacher” is a common way to honor someone formative.
References
Actually learning Persian, not just looking up words?
ZabanYar is a Persian app built for heritage learners, the people who can speak a little but want to read, write, and really get it. Free early access at launch.
Join the waitlist →Cultural Context
Teaching carries strong respect in Iranian culture, even though salaries are low. Roz-e Mo'allem on May 2nd is a national observance, with students bringing flowers and small gifts. The phrase "معلم اول من" (mo'allem-e avval-e man) "my first teacher" is a common way to honor someone formative.Connected Words