نسل

نسل
nasl
generation
nounB1
Quick Reference
NASL
generation
B1 — Intermediate
نسل pronounced by Elyar

What it means

نسل (nasl) means “generation” or “lineage.” Borrowed from the Arabic root n-s-l (descent, offspring), it covers both the family-tree sense (your line of ancestors) and the cohort sense (everyone born around the same era).

How to use it

  • نسل جوان (nasl-e javân) “the young generation”
  • نسل بعد از انقلاب (nasl-e ba’d az enqelâb) “the post-revolution generation”
  • سه نسل از یک خانواده (se nasl az yek khânevâde) “three generations of one family”

Common pairings

  • نسل کشی (nasl-koshi) “genocide” (literally “generation-killing”)
  • اختلاف نسل (ekhtelâf-e nasl) “generation gap”
  • نسل به نسل (nasl be nasl) “from generation to generation”

Cultural note

In Iran, nasl is a loaded sociological label. People talk about نسل سوخته (nasl-e sukhte), “the burnt generation,” meaning those who came of age during the Iran-Iraq war and grew up under sanctions. Each generation gets its own shorthand and its own grievances; the word carries history, not just biology.

References

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In Iran, nasl is a loaded sociological label. People talk about نسل سوخته (nasl-e sukhte), "the burnt generation," meaning those who came of age during the Iran-Iraq war and grew up under sanctions. Each generation gets its own shorthand and its own grievances; the word carries history, not just biology.
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