جعفری
جعفری (ja’fari) means parsley in Persian. Wiktionary traces the herb name to a Caspian language, shaped by folk etymology connecting it to the Arabic name جعفر (Ja’far). It is one of the most common herbs in Iranian cooking.
Glossary
نعنا
نعنا (na’nâ) is mint in Persian, borrowed from Arabic نَعْنَاع (na’nâ’), which itself was borrowed from Hurrian, an ancient language of the Near East. Mint is one of the most used herbs in Iranian cuisine and daily life.
شنبلیله
شنبلیله (shanbalile) is fenugreek, a bitter-sweet herb central to ghorme sabzi. The word traces through Middle Persian to Akkadian and Aramaic, making it one of the oldest spice names in the Persian kitchen.
لیمو عمانی
لیمو عمانی (limu omâni) is dried lime, a cornerstone ingredient of Persian stews. The compound blends لیمو, traced to Sanskrit, with عمانی, meaning from Oman, where the limes were historically dried and traded.
گلپر
گلپر (golpar) is Persian hogweed, a sharp, earthy spice unique to Iranian cooking. The word was borrowed from Mazanderani, a Caspian Iranian language, and did not enter standard Persian until the late 18th century.
ادویه
ادویه (advie) means spice or spice mix in Persian. It is borrowed from Arabic أَدْوِيَة (adwiya, plural of دَوَاء). In Iranian cooking it often refers to a ready-made spice blend.
هل
هل (hel) is cardamom, a fragrant spice used in Persian tea, coffee, sweets, and rice dishes. The word comes from Classical Persian هیل (hil), which traces back through Sanskrit to South Asian origins.
دارچین
دارچین (darchin) is cinnamon, a Persian compound meaning “wood of China.” It flavors both sweet and savory Persian dishes and is one of the oldest spice names in the language.
زردچوبه
زردچوبه (zardchube) means turmeric, literally “yellow wood” in Persian. This native Persian compound of زرد (yellow) and چوبه (wood/stick) describes the spice’s vivid color perfectly.
زعفران
زعفران (za’faran) is saffron, the world’s most expensive spice and the heart of Persian cooking. The word entered Persian from Arabic زَعْفَرَان, which itself traces back to Aramaic roots.