What it means
شامپو (shâmpu) is a direct borrowing into Persian from the English word “shampoo,” which English in turn borrowed from Hindi in the 18th century. It refers to the liquid or foam cleanser used for washing hair. The pronunciation in Persian closely mirrors the English original. You will see شامپو on product labels, in pharmacies, and hear it in everyday conversation. There is no native Persian alternative in common use: شامپو is the standard term across all registers.
How to use it
- شامپوت رو بده به من. (Shâmpu-t ro bede be man.) “Pass me your shampoo.”
- شامپو تموم شد، باید بخریم. (Shâmpu tamum shod, bâyad bekharim.) “The shampoo ran out, we need to buy more.”
- این شامپو برای موهای چرب خوبه. (In shâmpu barâye muhâye chorb khube.) “This shampoo is good for oily hair.”
- موهامو با شامپوی بچه میشورم. (Muhâmo bâ shâmpu-ye bachche mishuram.) “I wash my hair with baby shampoo.”
Cultural note
Iranian pharmacies and supermarkets stock a wide range of domestic and imported shampoo brands, and hair care is a significant part of grooming culture for both men and women. The word شامپو is so fully integrated into Persian that speakers do not think of it as foreign. European cosmetic vocabulary entered Persian largely through French during the 20th century, but “shampoo” arrived via the English channel alongside its global spread from British India.