شیرینی
شیرینی (shirini) means “sweet” or “pastry” in Persian. From shirin (sweet). Anchors the engagement ritual shirini-khori and Iran’s regional pastry traditions: gaz from Esfahan, sohan from Qom.
Glossary
پذیرایی
پذیرایی (pazirayî) is the act of hosting guests properly: tea, fruit, sweets, conversation. Distinct from esteghbâl (welcoming at the door).
نه
نه (noh) means “nine” in Persian. Foundation A1 numeral. Note: same written form as نه meaning “no” (na/nah). Context disambiguates: noh tâ = nine, na mikham = I don’t want.
هشت
هشت (hasht) means “eight” in Persian. Foundation A1 numeral. Cognate with English “eight,” Latin octo. Used in hasht-behesht (eight paradises, classic Persian garden design).
شش
شش (shesh) means “six” in Persian. Foundation A1 numeral. Cognate with English “six,” Latin sex. Note: same spelling as شش meaning “lung.”
پنج
پنج (panj) means “five” in Persian. Foundation A1 numeral, also a productive prefix: panj-shanbe (Thursday), panj-zaboune (five-tongued, polyglot).
نمک
نمک (namak) means “salt” in Persian, but in Iranian culture it carries far more weight: gratitude, charm, loyalty. Namak-nâshenâs = ungrateful (lit. salt-blind).
چهار
چهار (chahâr) means “four” in Persian. Foundation A1 numeral, used with classifiers: chahâr tâ ketâb (“four books”), chahâr nafar (“four people”). Cognate with English “four,” Latin quattuor.
مست
مست (mast) is the Sufi-poetic word for “drunk, intoxicated, ecstatic.” Heavy classical register: drunk on divine love. Distinct from ماست (mâst, “yogurt”), which shares the consonant frame.
لکه
لکه (lekke) means “spot, stain.” Concrete noun for marks on cloth, skin, paper, walls. Also used metaphorically for a stain on honor (لکهای بر دامنم).