What it means
ریاضی (riazi) is the Persian word for mathematics, used both as a school subject and as a general reference to the discipline. It is borrowed from Arabic riyāḍī, derived from the root ر-ي-ض (r-y-ḍ), which originally related to practice and exercise. In everyday school talk, students simply say ریاضی (riazi) to mean their maths class or homework. A contrast worth noting: ریاضیات (riyaziyyat) is the more formal, academic register of the same word.
How to use it
- ریاضی سختترین درسمه. (Riazi sakht-tarin daresame.) “Maths is my hardest subject.”
- معلم ریاضیمون خیلی سختگیره. (Mo’allem-e riazimun kheyli sakht-gire.) “Our maths teacher is very strict.”
- امتحان ریاضی فردام. (Emtehan-e riazi fardame.) “My maths exam is tomorrow.”
- هر شب ریاضی کار میکنم. (Har shab riazi kar mikonam.) “I work on maths every night.”
Cultural note
Mathematics holds a particularly high status in the Iranian education system. The رشته ریاضی (reshte-ye riazi), or maths track, at secondary school is traditionally seen as the most prestigious academic stream, attracting students aiming for engineering or medicine. Iran has a strong tradition in mathematics going back to scholars such as Omar Khayyam and al-Khwarizmi, and the country continues to produce medalists at international mathematics olympiads.