What it means
زمین خوردن (zamin khordan) means to fall to the ground, to trip and fall. It combines زمین (zamin, “ground/earth”) and خوردن (khordan), which in compounds like this means “to hit” or “to meet forcefully” rather than “to eat.” Both words are native Persian with roots going back to Old Iranian. The phrase is the standard colloquial way to say someone fell, whether from tripping, slipping, or losing balance. A more formal alternative is افتادن (oftâdan, “to fall”), but زمین خوردن is far more vivid and common in conversation.
How to use it
- جلوی همه زمین خوردم. (Jelow-e hame zamin khordam.) “I fell right in front of everyone.”
- بچه زمین خورد و گریه کرد. (Bache zamin khord va gerye kard.) “The child fell down and started crying.”
- خیابون خیسه، مواظب باش زمین نخوری. (Khiâbun xise, movâzeb bâsh zamin nakhori.) “The street is wet, be careful not to fall.”
- تو بازی زمین خورد ولی بلند شد. (Tu bâzi zamin khord vali boland shod.) “He fell during the game but got back up.”
Cultural note
زمین خوردن is one of the first movement-related phrases Persian learners encounter because falls are described this way in news, sports commentary, and everyday storytelling. In sports broadcasting, especially football, the phrase is used constantly alongside عمدی (amdi, “intentional”) to debate whether a player genuinely fell or was diving. Metaphorically the phrase can describe a business or plan collapsing, making it useful well beyond its literal sense.