What it means
صندل (sandal) refers to an open-soled shoe held to the foot by straps, exactly what English speakers call a sandal. The word entered Persian from Arabic صَنْدَل (sandal), which itself came via Greek sandalon, a word attested across ancient Mediterranean languages. Sandals are worn by both men and women in Iran, especially in summer and at home. The related word دمپایی (dompâyi) is used for casual house slippers or flip-flops, so sandal tends to carry a slightly more outdoor or dressy sense.
How to use it
- صندلم پاره شد. (Sandal-am pâre shod.) “My sandal broke.”
- یه جفت صندل چرمی دارم. (Ye joft sandal-e charmi dâram.) “I have a pair of leather sandals.”
- تابستونا صندل میپوشم. (Tâbestunâ sandal miposham.) “I wear sandals in the summer.”
- این صندلا چقدر راحته. (In sandal-â cheghadr râhate.) “These sandals are so comfortable.”
Cultural note
Open sandals have been worn across the Iranian plateau for thousands of years, visible in ancient reliefs from Persepolis. Today sandals remain everyday warm-weather footwear throughout Iran. Because shoes are removed before entering a home, easy-to-slip-off sandals are particularly practical in Iranian social life. Leather sandals from cities like Isfahan still carry a craft reputation.