What it means
تنبل (tanbal) means lazy. The word is native to Persian, with Turkish tembel, Arabic تَنْبَل, and many other regional forms all borrowed from Classical Persian, not the reverse. It has been part of everyday Persian across all registers for centuries. It describes someone who avoids effort or work. The noun form تنبلی (tanbali) means laziness. A near synonym in literary Persian is کاهل (kâhel, sluggish), which sounds more formal, while تنبل remains the everyday go-to word.
How to use it
- امروز حوصله ندارم، یه کم تنبلم. (emruz howsele nadâram, ye kam tanbalam.) “I don’t feel like it today, I’m a bit lazy.”
- این بچه تو درس خوندن تنبله. (in bache tu dars khundan tanbale.) “This kid is lazy about studying.”
- تنبلی نکن، کارتو تموم کن. (tanbali nakan, kârato tamum kon.) “Don’t be lazy, finish your work.”
- اون از اون آدمای تنبله که همیشه بهانه میاره. (un az un âdamâye tanbale ke hamiše bahâne miyâre.) “He is one of those lazy people who always makes excuses.”
Cultural note
Calling a child تنبل at school is a common, if blunt, assessment that Persian-speaking parents and teachers use freely. In adult life, the word is often deployed with affectionate teasing between friends or partners. The phrase تنبل تنبل (tanbal tanbal), doubled for emphasis, softens the accusation into something closer to playful. At the same time, a strong work ethic is praised in Persian culture, so the label carries genuine social disapproval when used seriously.