What it means
قانون (qânun) means “law” or “regulation.” Its ultimate source is ancient Greek kanon (κανών), meaning a straight rod, rule, or standard. The word passed into Arabic as qânun and from there into Persian, where it became the standard term for any law, statute, or binding regulation. It covers everything from a parliamentary act to a household rule. A related word is مقررات (moqarrarat), which refers more to regulations and by-laws, while qânun typically points to formal legislation.
How to use it
- این کار خلاف قانون است. (in kâr khalâf-e qânun ast.) “This action is against the law.”
- قانون جدیدی تصویب شد. (qânun-e jadidi tasvib shod.) “A new law was passed.”
- باید طبق قانون عمل کنیم. (bâyad tebq-e qânun amal konim.) “We must act according to the law.”
- قانون اساسی حقوق شهروندان را تضمین میکند. (qânun-e asâsi hoqoq-e shahrvandân râ tazmin mikonad.) “The constitution guarantees citizens’ rights.”
Cultural note
The phrase قانون اساسی (qânun-e asâsi) is the Persian term for the constitution, literally “the fundamental law.” In Iran, debates about whether specific government actions conform to qânun are a central thread in public life and press coverage. The word also appears in compound terms across Islamic jurisprudence and civil law, reflecting centuries of legal tradition in Persian-speaking societies.