قاشق

What it means

قاشق (qâshoq) means “spoon.” The word was borrowed into Persian from Old Anatolian Turkic (ultimately from Proto-Turkic *kaĺuk), and cognates appear across Turkic languages, including Turkish kaşık. It covers all types of spoons, from a teaspoon to a large serving spoon. To specify size, Persians add a modifier: قاشق چای‌خوری (qâshoq châykhori) is a teaspoon, and قاشق غذاخوری (qâshoq ghazâkhori) is a tablespoon.

How to use it

• یه قاشق بیار. (ye qâshoq biyâr.) “Bring a spoon.”
• با قاشق هم بزن. (bâ qâshoq ham bezan.) “Stir it with the spoon.”
• قاشقت رو بذار رو میز. (qâshoqet ro bezâr ru miz.) “Put your spoon on the table.”
• سه قاشق شکر بریز. (se qâshoq shekar beriz.) “Add three spoons of sugar.”

Cultural note

The spoon holds a beloved place in Iranian New Year tradition. The custom of قاشق‌زنی (qâshoq-zani), or spoon-banging, takes place on the eve of Nowruz: people go door to door wrapped in disguise, banging spoons on bowls to receive sweets and nuts. The spoon symbolises the mouth, the receiver of good things in the new year.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab