What it means
ورزش کردن (varzesh kardan) means to exercise, to work out, or to do sport. The noun ورزش (varzesh) comes from the pure-Persian verb varzidan, meaning to practice or cultivate, and the light verb کردن (kardan) turns it into an action. Varzesh alone can mean sport or exercise as a noun, while varzesh kardan is the verb form used when describing the activity. It covers everything from a morning walk to professional athletics. A close synonym in everyday speech is sport kardan, which is also used informally especially among younger Iranians.
How to use it
- هر روز صبح ورزش میکنم. (Har ruz sobh varzesh mikonam.) “I exercise every morning.”
- چقدر ورزش میکنی در هفته؟ (Cheghadr varzesh mikoni dar hafte?) “How much do you work out per week?”
- دکتر گفت باید بیشتر ورزش کنی. (Doktor goft bâyad bishtar varzesh koni.) “The doctor said you need to exercise more.”
- ما با هم ورزش میکنیم. (Mâ bâ ham varzesh mikonim.) “We work out together.”
Cultural note
Sport and exercise carry strong cultural value in Iran, rooted in both the ancient tradition of varzesh-e bâstâni (traditional Persian athletics, practiced in the zurkhaneh) and modern gym culture. Zurkhaneh is a traditional Iranian house of strength where practitioners perform ritualised movements to the beat of a drum and Shahnameh recitation. Today, gym culture is especially popular among young Iranians in cities, and the phrase varzesh kardan is as likely to mean lifting weights as it is to mean a walk in the park. Women-only gyms (bâshgâh-e zananeh) are common and well-attended.