What it means
رباب (robâb) is a string instrument that can be played either bowed or plucked, depending on the regional tradition. The word entered Persian via Arabic رَبَاب (rabâb), and Dehkhoda classifies it as an Arabic-origin term. However, the etymology is debated: recent musicological scholarship proposes a Persian-Khorasani origin for the instrument itself, so the precise source of the word remains an open question. The robab has a shorter neck than the tar and a resonating body covered with skin. It is the national instrument of Afghanistan and plays a central role in both Afghan and Khorasan Persian classical traditions.
How to use it
- رباب سازِ ملی افغانستانه. (robâb sâz-e melli-ye afghânestâne.) “The robab is the national instrument of Afghanistan.”
- نوازندگی رباب خیلی مهارت میخواد. (navâzandegi-ye robâb kheyli mahârat mikhâd.) “Playing the robab requires a lot of skill.”
- صدای رباب قلب رو میبره. (sedâ-ye robâb qalb ro mibare.) “The sound of the robab takes the heart away.”
- رباب از قدیم تو موسیقی خراسان بوده. (robâb az qadim tu musiqi-ye khorâsân bude.) “The robab has been in Khorasan music since ancient times.”
Cultural note
The robab is mentioned in the literary heritage of the Persian-speaking world and was widely played in Khorasan Sufi musical gatherings. The instrument spread from Central Asia westward and eastward, giving rise to related forms such as the Indian sarod. In contemporary Afghan classical music, masters such as Ustad Mohammad Omar elevated the robab to its current status as a symbol of national cultural identity.