What it means
سوزن (suzan) means needle. The word is native Persian, tracing back through Middle Persian to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to sharpen, which makes intuitive sense for an instrument defined by its point. It covers any slender pointed tool: a sewing needle, a knitting needle, a medical injection needle (سوزن تزریق), and even a compass needle (سوزن قطبنما). A close related word is نخ (nakh, thread), since the two are inseparable in everyday use.
How to use it
- سوزن رو نخ کن. (suzano nakh kon.) “Thread the needle.”
- سوزنم رو گم کردم. (suzanam ro gom kardam.) “I lost my needle.”
- دکتر بهم سوزن زد. (doktor beham suzan zad.) “The doctor gave me a shot.”
- یه سوزن داری بهم بدی؟ (ye suzan dâri beham bedi?) “Do you have a needle you can give me?”
Cultural note
In Persian literature and folk speech, سوزن appears frequently as a symbol of precision and sharpness. The proverb سوزن به خودت بزن، جوالدوز به دیگری نزن (prick yourself with a needle before stabbing others with an awl) is a well-known expression urging self-reflection before criticizing others. In traditional Iranian homes, a small cushion stuck with needles and pins was kept near the sewing basket, passed down between generations.