What it means
سکته (sekte) means “stroke” or “heart attack,” depending on the context. It comes from the Arabic root س-ك-ت (s-k-t), meaning to fall silent or to stop suddenly, the root also behind the word سکوت (sokut, silence). In Persian two compound forms specify the type: سکتهٔ مغزی (sekte-ye maghzi, brain stroke, literally “brain stoppage”) and سکتهٔ قلبی (sekte-ye qalbi, heart attack, literally “heart stoppage”). In casual speech Iranians often say سکته without the qualifier and rely on context. The word covers what English separates into “stroke” (cerebrovascular accident) and “heart attack” (myocardial infarction), though medically these are distinct conditions.
How to use it
- پدرم سکته کرد. (pedar-am sekte kard.) “My father had a stroke or heart attack.”
- سکتهٔ مغزی خیلی سریع باید درمان بشه. (sekte-ye maghzi kheyli sari bâyad darmân beshe.) “A brain stroke has to be treated very quickly.”
- بعد از سکتهٔ قلبی باید مراقب باشه. (bad az sekte-ye qalbi bâyad morâqeb bâshe.) “After the heart attack he needs to be careful.”
- علائم سکته رو بلدی؟ (alâem-e sekte ro baladi?) “Do you know the symptoms of a stroke or heart attack?”
Cultural note
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Iran, and سکته is a word most Iranians encounter in a family context. The phrase سکته کرد (sekte kard, he had a stroke or heart attack) is also used colloquially in an exaggerated way to mean extreme shock or fright, similar to “I nearly had a heart attack” in English. Awareness campaigns by the Iranian health ministry have worked to spread public knowledge of the warning signs of سکتهٔ مغزی, as rapid response dramatically improves outcomes.