What it means
ساز (sâz) is the everyday Persian word for a musical instrument. It comes from the native Persian present stem sâz- (from sâkhtan or sâzidan) in the sense “to arrange, prepare, or tune,” so a ساز is literally something fitted or made ready, and in the musical sense something tuned and ready to play. The word covers instruments of all kinds, from the tar and setar to the violin and piano. Beyond music, ساز also appears in phrases meaning equipment or preparation, as in sâz o kâr (apparatus, gear). In informal speech, Iranians say ساز to mean any instrument without needing to name it specifically.
How to use it
- چه سازی مینوازی؟ (che sâzi minâvâzi?) “What instrument do you play?”
- میخوام یه ساز یاد بگیرم. (mikhâm ye sâz yâd begiram.) “I want to learn an instrument.”
- سازش رو آورده بود کلاس. (sâzesho âvorde bud kelâs.) “He had brought his instrument to class.”
- بدون ساز نمیشه کنسرت داد. (bedune sâz nemishe konsert dâd.) “You can’t give a concert without an instrument.”
Cultural note
In Persian classical music, the most iconic sâz is the tar, a long-necked lute that has been central to the radif repertoire for at least two centuries. The setar, kamanche, santur, and ney are equally recognized members of the classical ensemble. Iran has a rich tradition of instrument making, and the craft of building a fine tar or ney by hand is considered a respected art alongside the music itself.