What it means
توان (tavân) is a pure Persian word derived from the ancient root meaning capacity or ability, the same root as the everyday verb توانستن (tavânestan, to be able to). In modern Persian it carries three distinct but related senses: physical or mental ability, political or economic power, and the mathematical concept of an exponent or power (for example, 2 to the power of 3). In maths it is the standard term for exponent, replacing any foreign equivalent. قدرت (qodrat) is a near synonym in the sense of power or strength, but it comes from Arabic and does not carry the mathematical meaning.
How to use it
- ۲ به توان ۳ مساوی ۸ است. (do be tavân-e se mosâvi-ye hasht ast.) “2 to the power of 3 equals 8.”
- این کار از توانم خارجه. (in kâr az tavânam khâreje.) “This task is beyond my ability.”
- ایران توان هستهای داره. (irân tavân-e hastei dâre.) “Iran has nuclear capability.”
- توانت رو بذار تو این پروژه. (tavânat ro bezâr tu in poroje.) “Put your full ability into this project.”
Cultural note
توان is one of those Persian words whose everyday and technical meanings reinforce each other elegantly. Iranian school textbooks use it as the standard term for mathematical exponents from middle school onward, so students already familiar with its everyday sense of ability find the maths usage intuitive. The word also appears frequently in political and geopolitical discourse about a country’s capabilities, making it one of the most versatile and culturally present words in the language.