What it means
شبکه (shabake) means network. The word is Arabic in origin, from the root shabak (شبک) meaning net or lattice, something woven or interlaced. In modern Persian it covers all kinds of networks: computer networks, social networks, and broadcast channels. This versatility makes it one of the most useful single words in contemporary Persian, but context matters because the same word can refer to a Wi-Fi network, Instagram, or a TV channel depending on the sentence.
How to use it
- شبکه قطعه، نمیتونم وصل بشم. (Shabake ghate’e, nemitonam vasl besham.) “The network is down, I can’t connect.”
- این شبکه اجتماعی خیلی محبوبه. (In shabake-ye ejtemaiye kheyli mahbube.) “This social network is very popular.”
- شبکه داخلی شرکت رو راه انداختیم. (Shabake-ye dakheli-ye sherkat ro rah andakhim.) “We set up the company’s internal network.”
- تو کدوم شبکه کار میکنی؟ (Tu kodum shabake kar mikoni?) “Which network/channel do you work at?”
Cultural note
شبکه has a particularly wide reach in Iranian daily life. State television channels are known by their shabake number, so Iranians say شبکه یک (Channel One) or شبکه سه (Channel Three). On social media, شبکههای اجتماعی is the standard phrase for social media platforms. Because many social networks are filtered in Iran, the phrase شبکههای فیلترشده (filtered networks) has become a common expression in everyday conversation.