What it means
پارچه (pârcheh) is the standard Persian word for fabric or cloth of any kind. It derives from the native Persian پاره (pâre, piece or section) with the diminutive suffix ـچه, giving it a sense of a small piece or cut of material. The word covers everything from dress fabric and upholstery cloth to curtain material. It is used at every level of formality and is one of the first words a learner will encounter when shopping for clothes or describing textiles. A related word is پارچهفروشی (pârcheh-forushi), a fabric shop, which is still common in Iranian bazaars.
How to use it
- این پارچه چنده؟ (in pârcheh chande?) “How much is this fabric?”
- پارچهی لباسم خیلی نرمه. (pârche-ye lebâs-am kheyli narme.) “The fabric of my dress is very soft.”
- پارچه ابریشم میخوام. (pârche-ye abrisham mi-khâm.) “I want silk fabric.”
- این پارچه رنگش میره. (in pârcheh rang-ash mi-re.) “The colour of this fabric runs.”
Cultural note
Iran has a rich textile tradition, and پارچه shops remain a central feature of traditional bazaars across the country. Cities like Yazd and Isfahan are historically known for silk and brocade weaving, with fabrics woven there prized for their quality and pattern. Buying پارچه and having clothes custom-tailored (rather than buying ready-made garments) remains common in Iran, especially for formal occasions such as weddings or Nowruz. The Nowruz tradition of wearing new clothes often begins with choosing پارچه from the bazaar weeks in advance.