What it means
پیکبار (peyk-bâr) refers to a courier or delivery rider who transports packages, documents, or goods, most often by motorcycle in Iranian cities. The compound joins پیک (peyk, an inherited Persian word for “messenger” or “runner,” tracing back to Middle Persian with the sense of “foot-going”) with بار (bâr, meaning “load” or “cargo”), both of Persian origin. The result literally means “load messenger” or “cargo courier.” In daily life, پیک (peyk) alone is frequently used as a short form, especially when ordering food or requesting same-day delivery. A related term is موتور پیک (motor peyk), specifying the motorcycle-riding delivery person.
How to use it
- یه پیکبار بفرست تا بسته رو بیاره. (ye peyk-bâr befrest tâ basteh ro biyâreh.) “Send a courier to bring the package.”
- پیکبار گفت یه ساعت دیگه میاد. (peyk-bâr goft ye sâ’at dige miyâd.) “The delivery rider said he’ll arrive in an hour.”
- شرکته یه ناوگان پیکبار داره. (sherkat ye nâvegân peyk-bâr dâreh.) “The company has a fleet of couriers.”
- پیکبار نامه رو دستم داد و رفت. (peyk-bâr nâmeh ro dastam dâd o raft.) “The courier handed me the letter and left.”
Cultural note
پیکبار riders are a defining feature of Iranian urban life, weaving through Tehran’s dense traffic to deliver everything from legal documents and restaurant food to medical supplies. The profession grew sharply with the rise of e-commerce and food delivery apps in the 2010s. Riders are recognizable by their branded jackets and the large insulated boxes mounted on their motorcycles. In speech, most Iranians simply say پیک (peyk) when placing a delivery order.