پریز

What it means

پریز (priz) means “electrical outlet” or “socket,” the fitting on the wall where you plug in appliances at home. It is a loanword from French (prise) and is the standard, neutral word everyone uses. Do not confuse it with دوشاخه (do-shâkhe), which is the plug on the end of the cord that goes into the پریز. The outlet is the wall side, the دوشاخه is the cord side.

How to use it

• دوشاخه رو بزن تو پریز (do-shâkhe ro bezan tu priz) “put the plug into the socket”
• این پریز کار نمی‌کنه (in priz kâr nemikone) “this outlet does not work”
• گوشیم رو زدم به پریز تا شارژ بشه (gushim ro zadam be priz tâ shârž beshe) “I plugged my phone into the outlet to charge”
• یه پریز خالی هست؟ (ye priz-e khâli hast?) “is there a free socket?”

Cultural note

Iran uses the round two-pin European style socket, the same type common across continental Europe, running on 220 volts. In older homes outlets can be scarce, so a سه‌راهی (seh-râhi), a power strip or multi-plug adapter, is a common sight behind the TV or near a desk. Travelers from the US or UK need an adapter, since their plugs do not fit an Iranian پریز.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab