What it means
نقرهای (noqre-i) means silver or silver-coloured, formed from نقره (noqre, silver metal). Persian borrowed نقره from Arabic نُقْرَة (nuqra), meaning a piece or ingot of silver. The suffix ای turns the noun into a colour adjective, exactly as قهوهای is built from قهوه. In everyday use, نقرهای describes anything with a metallic, shiny silver appearance: car paint, jewellery, fabric, electronics. A near contrast is خاکستری (khâkestari, grey), which covers matte, dull greys rather than the bright metallic tone نقرهای implies.
How to use it
- ماشینم رنگ نقرهایه. (mâshinam rang-e noqre-ihe) “My car is silver.”
- یه النگوی نقرهای داره. (ye olanguy-e noqre-i dâre) “She has a silver bracelet.”
- لپتاپم نقرهایه. (laptâpam noqre-ihe) “My laptop is silver.”
- اون پارچه نقرهای خیلی گرونه. (un pârche-ye noqre-i kheyli gerune) “That silver fabric is very expensive.”
Cultural note
Silver has deep roots in Persian craft tradition. Iranian silversmiths, known as نقرهساز (noqre-sâz), have produced engraved silverware, jewellery, and decorative objects for centuries, with regional styles in Isfahan, Tabriz, and Shiraz still recognised internationally. The colour نقرهای therefore carries connotations of craft quality and elegance in Persian. In traditional wedding ceremonies, silver-coloured items and silver coins (سکه نقره) appear in the sofreh-ye aghd, the ceremonial wedding spread, as symbols of prosperity.