What it means
سطل زباله (satl-e zobâle) means “trash can” or “bin,” literally a bucket (سطل, satl) for garbage (زباله, zobâle). It is the standard everyday term for the container you throw rubbish into, whether the small bin under the kitchen sink or the larger one on the curb. In casual speech people often shorten it to just سطل (satl) when the context is obvious, and you will also hear سطل آشغال (satl-e âshghâl) with the same meaning, since آشغال is the more colloquial word for trash.
How to use it
- این رو بنداز تو سطل زباله (in ro bendâz tu satl-e zobâle) “throw this in the trash can”
- سطل زباله پر شده (satl-e zobâle por shode) “the bin is full”
- سطل آشپزخونه رو خالی کن (satl-e âshpazkhune ro khâli kon) “empty the kitchen bin”
- سطل زباله کجاست (satl-e zobâle kojâst) “where is the trash can”
Cultural note
In Iranian cities, household garbage is usually collected at night, so families set their bags out by the building entrance or a shared street container in the evening. Apartment buildings often have a single large bin near the door for all residents. Many homes keep a small lidded سطل in the kitchen and another in the bathroom, and people are increasingly careful to tie bags well, since stray cats are common around street bins.