What it means
ذرت (zorrat) is the Persian word for corn or maize. Dehkhoda marks it with the Arabic marker (ع اِ), confirming it is borrowed from Arabic ذرة (dhurra), a word that originally referred to sorghum or millet in classical Arabic. When maize was introduced to the Middle East and Iran following its spread from the Americas in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the existing Arabic grain word was applied to it. In Iran today, ذرت most commonly means maize (corn), not sorghum. Common synonyms you may encounter include گندم مکه (gandom-e mekke, Meccan wheat) and بلال (belâl), which refers specifically to the fresh ear of corn on the cob.
How to use it
- ذرت بو داده خیلی خوشمزهست. (zorrat-e bu dâde kheili khoshmaze-st.) “Roasted corn is very tasty.”
- تو این مزرعه ذرت میکارن. (too in mazra’e zorrat mikâran.) “They grow corn in this field.”
- روغن ذرت از دونههای ذرت گرفته میشه. (rowghan-e zorrat az dune-hâye zorrat gerefte mishe.) “Corn oil is extracted from corn kernels.”
- بلال ذرت رو دوست دارم. (belâl-e zorrat ro dust dâram.) “I love corn on the cob.”
Cultural note
Although maize is not indigenous to Iran, it has become a significant crop, especially in the Khuzestan and Golestan provinces where the climate supports its growth. Roasted corn on the cob (بلال) sold by street vendors is a popular snack in Iranian cities, particularly in autumn. Corn oil is widely used in Iranian cooking as a cheaper alternative to other vegetable oils. Industrial cultivation has grown substantially, and Iran now produces corn for both animal feed and food processing.