What it means
ترمینال (terminâl) is borrowed from English and refers to a terminal, the central facility where long-distance buses depart and arrive, or the passenger building at an airport. In Iranian cities, large bus terminals are a central part of intercity travel infrastructure. The word is used for both contexts: ترمینال اتوبوس (terminâl-e otobus) for a bus terminal and ترمینال فرودگاه (terminâl-e forudgâh) for an airport terminal. A close functional synonym in informal speech for the bus context is ایستگاه (istgâh), meaning station, though ترمینال implies a larger facility.
How to use it
- ترمینال جنوب کجاست؟ (terminâl-e jonub kojâst?) “Where is the South Terminal?”
- اتوبوس از کدوم ترمینال حرکت میکنه؟ (otobus az kadum terminâl harakat mikone?) “Which terminal does the bus depart from?”
- ترمینال یک فرودگاه شلوغه. (terminâl-e yek-e forudgâh sholugh-e.) “Terminal one of the airport is crowded.”
- زود برو ترمینال، صف بلیط طولانیه. (zud boro terminâl, saf-e belit tulâniyeh.) “Get to the terminal quickly, the ticket queue is long.”
Cultural note
Iran has an extensive intercity bus network, and large bus terminals serve as the main travel hubs in every provincial capital. Tehran alone has several major terminals, including ترمینال جنوب (South Terminal) and ترمینال غرب (West Terminal), each serving different regional routes. Buses are a primary mode of long-distance travel for many Iranians due to the relatively low cost of tickets. Terminals typically operate around the clock and sell tickets both at counters and through online systems.