What it means
نان بریدن (nân boridan) means to slice bread or to cut bread. It is a compound verb formed from نان (nân, bread) and بریدن (boridan, to cut), both native Persian words with roots going back to Old Iranian. In everyday speech you will also hear نان بریدن used loosely for portioning flatbread like sangak or barbari at the table. A close synonym for the general action is بریدن alone, but نان بریدن is the specific, natural phrase for bread.
How to use it
- نان رو برام ببُر. (Nâno baram bebor.) “Cut the bread for me.”
- قبل از غذا نان رو ببُر. (Qabl az ghazâ nâno bebor.) “Slice the bread before the meal.”
- چاقو برای نان بریدن خوبه. (Châqo barâye nân boridan khube.) “A knife is good for slicing bread.”
- میتونی نان رو به تکههای کوچیک ببُری؟ (Mituni nâno be tekehâye kuchik bebori?) “Can you cut the bread into small pieces?”
Cultural note
Bread holds a place of deep respect in Iranian culture. Iranians traditionally do not slice flatbreads such as sangak, lavash, or barbari with a knife at the table; instead they tear them by hand. The verb نان بریدن applies more naturally to loaf-style or thicker breads. Throwing away bread is considered disrespectful, and stale pieces are often left on a high shelf or a clean surface rather than put in the bin.