What it means
شبنم (shabnam) is the word for dew, the small water droplets that form on grass, leaves, and other cool surfaces overnight as temperatures drop. The word is a compound of شب (shab, night) and نم (nam, moisture), both native Persian elements, making it a fully Persian formation. It is used in both everyday speech and in poetry, where it often symbolizes freshness, fragility, or the fleeting nature of beauty.
How to use it
- صبح روی گلها شبنم نشسته بود. (sobh ru-ye golhâ shabnam nashaste bud.) “In the morning dew had settled on the flowers.”
- علفها از شبنم خیس بودن. (alafâ az shabnam khis budan.) “The grass was wet from dew.”
- شبنم توی آفتاب خشک شد. (shabnam tu-ye âftâb khoshk shod.) “The dew dried in the sunlight.”
- قطرههای شبنم رو برگا میدرخشیدن. (ghatrehâye shabnam ru-ye bargâ midrakshidan.) “Drops of dew were glistening on the leaves.”
Cultural note
شبنم is one of a handful of weather words that live comfortably in both everyday speech and high literary Persian. Classical poets including Saadi and Hafez use it as a symbol of morning freshness and the brevity of life. The word is also a common given name for Iranian women, reflecting the positive associations of purity and delicacy it carries in the culture.