What it means
اتو (otu) means “iron,” the household appliance you heat up and run over fabric to press out wrinkles. It does double duty: besides the appliance, اتو also names the sharp crease pressed into a pair of trousers, as in اتوی شلوار (otu-ye shalvâr). The action of ironing is اتو کردن (otu kardan) or اتو کشیدن (otu keshidan). A steam iron is اتوی بخار (otu-ye bokhâr), and someone whose clothes are crisply pressed is described as اتوکشیده (otu-keshide).
How to use it
- این پیراهن چروکه، باید اتوش کنم (in pirâhan choroke, bâyad otush konam) “this shirt is wrinkled, I have to iron it”
- اتو رو روشن کن (otu ro roshan kon) “turn on the iron”
- شلوارش همیشه اتو داره (shalvâresh hamishe otu dâre) “his trousers always have a crease”
- لباساتو اتو کشیدی؟ (lebâsâto otu keshidi?) “did you iron your clothes?”
Cultural note
Pressed, tidy clothes carry real weight in Iranian social life, so اتو کردن is a regular part of getting ready for work, a guest visit, or any formal occasion. Calling someone اتوکشیده is a compliment about looking neat and put together. Before Nowruz and other gatherings, ironing a fresh set of clothes is part of the routine, alongside the wider house cleaning.