English blurs them into “aunt”, “uncle”, “cousin”. Persian never does. It always knows which side of the family you mean, and it says so in one word. Tap anyone below to learn who they are to you.
Showing the
Tap anyone. Switch sides to watch عمو become دایی.
father’s side
عمو
amu
paternal uncle
Who they are to you
Your father’s brother. عمو is strictly the father’s side.
His wife is زنعمو (zan-amu). Kids also call a kind older man عمو out of respect.
چهار کلمهای که همه را گیر میاندازد The four that trip everyone up
One English word, “aunt” or “uncle”, splits into four in Persian. The split is always the same question: whose sibling, mother’s or father’s?
Cousins are built, not named
There is no single word for “cousin”. You say whose child they are: a son or daughter, of which aunt or uncle. Pick two pieces and watch the word assemble.
Son or daughter
Of which aunt or uncle
پسر+عمو
پسرعمو
pesar-amu
Your cousin, the son of your father’s brother.
وقتی ازدواج در کار باشد When a marriage joins the family
No English word for these
How family really talks
The words above are the ones on the form. At home, they soften. Tap to hear the everyday version.
Name that relative
You have met everyone. Now, given only the relationship, can you land on the exact word?
Persian With El◆Tabriz → Milano