What it means
متکا (motakkâ) means “bolster pillow” or “cushion,” a firm pillow you lean or rest against. It shares an Arabic root (و ک ء, “to lean on”) with تکیه (tekye), meaning “leaning” or “support,” so a متکا is literally the thing you lean against. In modern speech it most often names the ordinary pillow you sleep on, overlapping with بالش (bâlesh). The older, more specific sense is the long, firm bolster you prop behind your back or under your elbow while sitting on the floor.
How to use it
- متکا رو بذار زیر سرت (motakkâ ro bezâr zir-e saret) “put the pillow under your head”
- یه متکای نرم میخوام (ye motakkâ-ye narm mikhâm) “I want a soft pillow”
- به متکا تکیه داد (be motakkâ tekye dâd) “he leaned on the bolster”
- روبالشی متکا رو عوض کن (rubâleshi-ye motakkâ ro avaz kon) “change the pillowcase”
Cultural note
In traditional Iranian seating, where people sit on rugs and cushions rather than on chairs, a firm متکا is propped along the wall so guests can lean back comfortably. You still see this setup in many homes, in tea houses, and in rooms arranged around a korsi in winter. In everyday talk today, most people use متکا and بالش interchangeably for the pillow on a bed.