Fruits

1. سیب

   Sib

   Apple

   Usage

   Apple cultivation thrives in northern Iran (e.g., Mazandaran province). A staple fruit in Iranian markets.

2. موز

   Mowz

   Banana

   Usage

   Persian uses nearly the same word as Arabic (mawz). Bananas are widely available as an imported fruit in Iran.

3. پرتقال

   Porteqāl

   Orange

   Usage

   As in Arabic, the Persian word for orange derives from "Portugal" (Porteqāl). Portuguese traders are credited with introducing oranges to the region.

   Grammar Note

   پرتقال (porteqāl) is a loanword from the Portuguese place name. It shares etymology with Arabic برتقال. Note that the color orange uses a different word: نارنجی (nārenji).

4. انگور

   Angur

   Grape

   Usage

   Grapes have deep roots in Iranian culture and agriculture. Iran has a long history of grape cultivation for raisins and, historically, wine.

5. توت فرنگی

   Tut-e Farangi

   Strawberry

   Usage

   Literally "Frankish/European mulberry." توت (tut) = mulberry, فرنگی (farangi) = European/Westerner (historical term).

   Grammar Note

   توت فرنگی uses an ezāfe construction (توتِ فرنگی). فرنگی is a historical loanword for "Frankish/European," naming the strawberry as the "European mulberry" when it was introduced.

6. هندوانه

   Henduvāne

   Watermelon

   Usage

   Watermelon is an Iranian summer staple and an important fruit at Nowruz (Iranian New Year). Literally means "of India (melon)".

   Grammar Note

   هندوانه (henduvāne) derives from هندو (hindu, Indian), meaning "the Indian (fruit)." This reflects a historical understanding that watermelons came from the direction of India.

7. آناناس

   Ānānās

   Pineapple

   Usage

   Imported as a tropical fruit, widely available in Iranian markets.

8. نارگیل

   Nārgil

   Coconut

   Usage

   Persian نارگیل has a different etymology from Arabic جوز الهند. نارگیل is an old loanword from Sanskrit nārikela (coconut palm).

   Grammar Note

   نارگیل (nārgil) is borrowed from Sanskrit nārikela.

9. لیمو

   Limu

   Lime / Lemon

   Usage

   Lime is heavily used in Iranian cuisine. As in Arabic, the Persian word can refer to both lime and lemon. Dried lime (لیمو عمانی, limu omāni) is an essential spice in Persian cooking.

10. انبه

    Anbe

    Mango

    Usage

    انبه (ambe) derives from Portuguese manga, itself from Malayalam māṅṅa. Mangoes are also cultivated in southern Iran.

11. دوریان

    Duriān

    Durian

    Usage

    The "king of fruits" from Southeast Asia, available in Iranian import markets.

12. مانگوستین

    Māngustin

    Mangosteen

    Usage

    The "queen of fruits" from Southeast Asia, considered a premium imported fruit.

13. پاپایا

    Pāpāyā

    Papaya

    Usage

    An imported tropical fruit available in Iranian markets.

14. لیچی

    Lichi

    Lychee

    Usage

    Originally from China, lychee appears in Iranian import markets during summer.

15. رامبوتان

    Rāmbutān

    Rambutan

    Usage

    A tropical fruit from Malaysia and Indonesia, available as an imported fruit.

16. میوه اژدها

    Mive-ye Ezhdehā

    Dragon fruit

    Usage

    Literally "fruit of the dragon." From Central/South America, now becoming popular in Iranian import markets.

    Grammar Note

    میوه اژدها uses an ezāfe construction (میوهٔ اژدها). میوه (mive) = fruit, اژدها (ezhdehā) = dragon. The ezāfe suffix -ye links them as "fruit of the dragon".

17. لونگان

    Longān

    Longan

    Usage

    A fruit from China and Southeast Asia, available in Iranian import markets.

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English "longan." Without the و it becomes "langān," an unrelated Persian word meaning "limping."

18. جک‌فروت

    Jakforut

    Jackfruit

    Usage

    A large tropical fruit from South and Southeast Asia, sold in Iran under the English-derived name "jackfruit."

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English "jackfruit," written with a ZWNJ between جک and فروت. Do not confuse it with "derakht-e nān" (درخت نان), which is the breadfruit — a different species.

19. تمر هندی

    Tamr-e Hendi

    Tamarind

    Usage

    "Indian date" — the same designation as Arabic. This name is the etymological source of the English word "tamarind."

    Grammar Note

    تمر هندی uses an ezāfe construction (تمرِ هندی). تمر (tamr) = date fruit, هندی (hendī) = Indian. Cognate with Arabic تمر هندي and the etymological source of English "tamarind."

20. گواوه

    Guāve

    Guava

    Usage

    Guava is grown in Iran's warm southern regions and enjoyed fresh or as juice.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages