What it means
رگبار (ragbâr) refers to a short but intense burst of rain, the kind that forces people to run for cover. The word is a compound of رگ (rag, vein) and بار (bâr, from bâridan, to rain), both native Persian elements. It sits at the heavier end of the rain vocabulary, contrasting sharply with the gentle نمنم (nam-nam). A near synonym in formal contexts is باران شدید (bârân-e shadid, heavy rain), but رگبار carries a sense of suddenness.
How to use it
- یه رگبار شدید اومد. (ye ragbâr-e shadid umad.) “A heavy downpour came.”
- رگبار چند دقیقه طول کشید. (ragbâr chand daghighe tul keshid.) “The shower lasted a few minutes.”
- زیر رگبار گیر کردیم. (zir-e ragbâr gir kardim.) “We got caught in the downpour.”
- بعد از اون رگبار خیابونا خیس شده بود. (ba’d az un ragbâr khiyâbunâ khis shode bud.) “After that downpour the streets were wet.”
Cultural note
In Iran, sudden summer رگبار showers are common in the afternoon hours, especially in Tehran where the heat builds throughout the day. These brief but soaking downpours can cause flash flooding in underpasses and low-lying streets. Weather forecasters use رگبار regularly in broadcasts, making it a familiar word across all social registers.