لال
لال in 30 Sekunden
- Lāl means 'mute' or 'unable to speak' in Persian.
- It is used for both physical conditions and emotional states of shock.
- Commonly paired with 'kar' (deaf) as 'kar o lāl'.
- Used in the important idiom 'Zabānam lāl' (God forbid).
The Persian word لال (lāl) is a primary adjective used to describe the physiological or psychological state of being unable to speak. While its most direct translation is "mute" or "dumb" (in the archaic sense of being unable to vocalize), its usage in the Persian language spans a broad spectrum from medical diagnosis to poetic metaphor and even aggressive colloquialism. Understanding lāl requires looking past the simple dictionary definition and into the Iranian cultural psyche where silence is often weighted with meaning—sometimes as a sign of respect, sometimes as a manifestation of fear, and other times as a tragic physical limitation.
- Medical and Literal Context
- In a literal, clinical sense, لال refers to someone who cannot produce speech, often paired with kar (deaf) in the compound phrase kar o lāl (deaf-mute). This is the most objective use of the word. It describes a permanent condition or a congenital disability. When used in medical documents or formal social services, it is the standard term, though modern Persian speakers are increasingly using more sensitive terms like nā-tavān-e goftāri (speech impaired) to avoid the perceived harshness of the monosyllabic lāl.
- Metaphorical and Emotional State
- Metaphorically, lāl describes a person who is so shocked, terrified, or overwhelmed that they cannot find words. If someone sees a ghost or a horrifying accident, they might become lāl. This isn't a permanent condition but a temporary paralysis of the vocal faculties caused by extreme emotion. In Persian literature, a lover might become lāl in the presence of the beloved's beauty, suggesting that human language is insufficient to describe such perfection.
او از ترس دیدن آن صحنه ناگهان لال شد و نتوانست حرفی بزند.
— From fear of seeing that scene, he suddenly became mute and couldn't say a word.
Furthermore, the word appears in several protective idioms. For example, zabānam lāl (may my tongue be mute) is a very common interjection used when someone mentions a hypothetical negative event (like death or illness). It functions similarly to the English "God forbid" or "knock on wood." By wishing for their own muteness, the speaker is symbolically preventing the bad thing from manifesting through their words.
اگر خدای نکرده، زبانم لال، او بمیرد، ما چه کنیم؟
— If God forbid, heaven forbid (lit: my tongue be mute), he dies, what shall we do?
Using لال (lāl) correctly depends heavily on the verb it is paired with and the social context of the conversation. Because it is an adjective, it usually functions as a complement to the subject or as part of a compound verb construction. The most common verb associated with it is shodan (to become), indicating a transition into silence, whether physical or psychological.
- The Verb 'Shodan' (To Become)
- When you say lāl shod, you are describing a sudden loss of speech. This is frequently used in storytelling to heighten drama. For example: "When the teacher asked for the homework, the student became lāl." This implies the student was so nervous or unprepared that they couldn't speak.
- The Verb 'Kardan' (To Make)
- To lāl kardan someone means to silence them or to make them mute. This can be used literally (as in a mythological curse) or figuratively, meaning to win an argument so convincingly that the other person has no rebuttal. "His logical arguments silenced (lāl kard) all the critics."
بچه از شدت تعجب لال شده بود و فقط نگاه میکرد.
— The child was struck dumb with surprise and was only watching.
In formal writing, lāl is often used to describe the disenfranchised or those who have no voice in society. You might read about tude-hā-ye lāl (the mute masses), referring to people who are unable to express their political or social needs. In this context, it carries a heavy socio-political weight, suggesting a systemic stripping away of the right to speak.
او در برابر ظلم، لال نماند و فریاد کشید.
— He did not remain silent (mute) in the face of oppression and screamed out.
Grammatically, lāl acts like any other Persian adjective. It can be modified by adverbs like kamalā (completely) or taqriban (almost). For example, ū taqriban lāl ast (He is almost mute). It can also be used in the plural form lāl-hā to refer to "the mute people" as a collective group.
You will encounter لال (lāl) in a variety of real-world settings, ranging from the mundane to the highly dramatic. Its presence in the Persian linguistic landscape is ubiquitous because it touches on the fundamental human faculty of communication. Here are the primary domains where you will hear or see this word used frequently:
- In Everyday Arguments
- In a heated debate or a family spat, you might hear the phrase Lāl-mān gerefti? (Did you get the 'mute-disease'?). This is a rhetorical question asked when someone refuses to answer a question or stays silent as a form of protest or guilt. It’s a sharp, often irritating way to goad someone into speaking. It’s not a compliment; it implies the person is being intentionally difficult by not talking.
- In Cinema and Television
- Persian drama often uses muteness as a plot device. A character might lose their voice after a traumatic event (psychogenic mutism). In these scripts, the doctor might say, Ū az nazare feziyoložiki sālem ast, ammā lāl shodeh (He is physiologically healthy but has become mute). This highlights the psychological depth of the word.
چرا لال شدی؟ بنال ببینم چه اتفاقی افتاده!
— Why did you go mute? Speak up (lit: groan) and let me see what happened!
You will also hear it in superstitious or religious contexts. The phrase Zabān-e doshman lāl (May the enemy's tongue be mute) is a protective prayer/curse meant to prevent enemies from speaking ill or plotting against someone. It shows how the word is used as a tool for spiritual protection. In news reports, especially those concerning human rights or people with disabilities, you will see lāl used to categorize groups, often alongside nā-binā (blind) and nā-shonavā (deaf).
او مثل یک بره لال ایستاده بود و هیچ نمیگفت.
— He stood there like a mute lamb and said nothing.
While لال (lāl) seems straightforward, English speakers and Persian learners often stumble over its specific connotations and its distinction from other words for silence. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Persian sound much more natural and sensitive.
- Mistake 1: Using 'Lāl' for 'Quiet'
- The most frequent error is using lāl when you mean sāket (quiet). If a library is quiet, it is sāket. If a person is shy and doesn't talk much, they are kam-harf. Calling a shy person lāl is incorrect and quite insulting, as it implies they have a physical or mental defect rather than a personality trait. Lāl is an absolute inability; sāket is a state or choice.
- Mistake 2: Confusing 'Lāl' with 'Gong'
- While gong also means mute, it often refers to something being vague, muffled, or unintelligible. A message can be gong (unclear), but it cannot be lāl. A person can be both, but lāl focuses on the lack of sound, while gong focuses on the lack of clarity. Learners often swap them, leading to confusing sentences like "This book is lāl" (incorrect) instead of "This book is gong" (vague).
❌ اشتباه: کلاس خیلی لال است.
— Correcting the usage of 'mute' vs 'quiet' in a classroom setting.
✅ درست: کلاس خیلی ساکت است.
Another mistake involves the idiom Zabānam lāl. Learners often forget the 'm' (my) and just say Zabān lāl. Without the possessive pronoun, the phrase loses its idiomatic power. It is specifically your own tongue you are wishing muteness upon to ward off bad luck. Also, be careful with the tone of Lāl-mān gereftan. Unless you are very close with someone and joking, this phrase can start a real fight, as it's quite aggressive.
او گنگ حرف میزد، اما لال نبود.
— He was speaking vaguely/unintelligibly, but he wasn't mute.
To truly master لال (lāl), you must see how it sits within the wider family of Persian words related to silence and speechlessness. Persian is a language of nuance, and choosing the right synonym can change the entire tone of your statement.
- Lāl vs. Sāket (ساکت)
- Lāl is the inability to speak. Sāket is the state of not speaking. You can be sāket by choice (e.g., in a library), but you are lāl because of a condition or extreme shock. Sāket is generally positive or neutral, while lāl is often perceived as a limitation or a negative state.
- Lāl vs. Gong (گنگ)
- Gong is often used as a synonym for lāl in the sense of 'mute', but it carries a stronger sense of being 'unintelligible'. If someone is gong, they might be making sounds, but those sounds don't make sense. Lāl usually implies no sound at all. In modern slang, gong can also mean 'cool' or 'mysterious' (similar to 'hard' in English rap slang), whereas lāl never has this positive connotation.
- Lāl vs. Khāmush (خاموش)
- Khāmush literally means 'turned off' or 'extinguished' (like a candle or a light). When applied to a person, it is a very poetic and respectful way to say 'silent'. It suggests a deep, meditative, or dignified silence. While lāl might describe a victim who can't speak, khāmush describes a wise man who chooses not to.
عارفان غالباً خاموشاند، نه لال.
— Mystics are often silent (by choice), not mute.
In summary, if you want to be clinical or describe a sudden inability to speak due to shock, use lāl. If you want to describe a quiet room, use sāket. If you are writing poetry about a silent night or a wise person, use khāmush. If you are talking about something that is confusing and hard to understand, use gong. This mastery of synonyms is what separates a B1 learner from a C1 proficient speaker.
How Formal Is It?
Wusstest du?
The word is almost identical in several regional languages like Urdu and Hindi, showing the deep linguistic connection across the Iranian plateau and the Indian subcontinent.
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing it like 'Lal' with a short 'a' (as in 'apple'). It must be a long 'ā'.
- Confusing the final 'L' with an 'R' sound.
- Making the 'L' too soft; it should be a clear, dental 'L'.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Very easy to recognize due to its short, symmetrical shape.
One of the easiest words to write in Persian script.
Simple pronunciation, but requires the long 'ā' sound.
Easy to hear, but can be confused with 'hāl' or 'sāl' if not careful.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Wichtige Grammatik
Adjective placement
مردِ لال (The mute man) - uses ezafe.
Compound Verbs
لال شدن (To become mute) - no ezafe.
Negative 'to be'
او لال نیست (He is not mute).
Pluralization
لالها (The mutes) - adding 'hā'.
Possessive Suffixes
زبانم (My tongue) - adding 'am'.
Beispiele nach Niveau
او لال است.
He is mute.
Simple subject + adjective + to be verb.
آن مرد لال است.
That man is mute.
Demonstrative pronoun 'ān' + noun + adjective.
آیا او لال است؟
Is he mute?
Question form using 'āyā'.
من لال نیستم.
I am not mute.
Negative form of 'to be' (nīstam).
بچه لال است.
The child is mute.
Simple noun + adjective.
دوست من لال است.
My friend is mute.
Possessive 'man' after the noun.
اسم این مرد لال چیست؟
What is the name of this mute man?
Ezafe construction 'mard-e lāl'.
او نمیتواند حرف بزند، او لال است.
He cannot talk, he is mute.
Two simple clauses.
او کر و لال است.
He is deaf and mute.
Compound adjective 'kar o lāl'.
او از بدو تولد لال بود.
He was mute from birth.
Past tense of 'to be' (bud).
چرا ساکتی؟ لال شدی؟
Why are you quiet? Did you go mute?
Informal question using 'shodi'.
او وقتی ترسید، لال شد.
When he got scared, he became mute.
Subordinate clause starting with 'vaqti'.
آن دختر لال نیست، فقط خجالتی است.
That girl isn't mute, she's just shy.
Contrast using 'fagat' (only).
ما باید به افراد لال کمک کنیم.
We must help mute people.
Modal verb 'bāyad' + infinitive.
او با ایما و اشاره با مرد لال حرف زد.
He spoke with the mute man using gestures.
Prepositional phrase 'bā īmā va eshāreh'.
او لال است اما خیلی باهوش است.
He is mute but very smart.
Conjunction 'ammā' (but).
زبانم لال، اگر او تصادف کند چه؟
God forbid (lit: my tongue be mute), what if he has an accident?
Idiomatic interjection.
او از شدت تعجب لال شده بود.
He had become mute from the intensity of surprise.
Past perfect 'shodeh bud'.
حرف بزن! چرا لالمانی گرفتی؟
Speak up! Why are you acting like you're mute?
Idiomatic phrase 'lāl-mān gereftan'.
نویسنده در این داستان، قهرمان را لال کرده است.
The author has made the hero mute in this story.
Present perfect 'kardeh ast'.
او در برابر سوالات پلیس لال ماند.
He remained mute in the face of the police's questions.
Verb 'māndan' (to remain) + adjective.
آیا این بیماری باعث لال شدن میشود؟
Does this disease cause muteness?
Gerund 'lāl shodan' as an object.
او یک بره لال و بیآزار است.
He is a mute and harmless lamb.
Metaphorical use of 'lāl'.
او سعی کرد حرف بزند اما زبانش لال بود.
He tried to talk but his tongue was mute.
Personification of 'zabān'.
جامعه نباید در برابر ظلم لال بماند.
Society should not remain mute in the face of oppression.
Social/Political context.
او با منطق قوی خود، منتقدان را لال کرد.
With his strong logic, he silenced (made mute) the critics.
Transitive use of 'lāl kardan'.
این سکوت او، یک نوع اعتراض لال است.
This silence of his is a kind of mute protest.
Abstract noun phrase.
او چنان محو زیبایی منظره شد که لال ماند.
He was so absorbed in the beauty of the scenery that he remained mute.
Result clause 'chonān... ke'.
در آن لحظه، هیچ کلمهای نداشتم و کاملاً لال بودم.
In that moment, I had no words and was completely mute.
Adverb 'kāmelan' (completely).
حقوق افراد کر و لال در قانون اساسی آمده است.
The rights of deaf and mute people are mentioned in the constitution.
Formal legal context.
او به جای فریاد زدن، دردی لال را تحمل میکرد.
Instead of screaming, he was enduring a mute pain.
Poetic adjective-noun pairing.
چرا وقتی حقیقت را میدانی، لال نشستهای؟
Why are you sitting there mute when you know the truth?
Present perfect of state 'neshaste-ī'.
زبان از توصیف عظمت این بنا لال است.
The tongue is mute from describing the greatness of this building.
Hyperbolic literary expression.
او در میان جمع، به مثابه یک تماشاگر لال بود.
In the group, he was like a mute spectator.
Formal preposition 'be masābe-ye'.
شاعر در این بیت، از واژه لال برای نشان دادن عجز انسان استفاده کرده است.
The poet in this verse has used the word 'lāl' to show human helplessness.
Literary analysis.
او با یک نگاه، تمام ادعاهای واهی آنها را لال کرد.
With one look, he silenced (made mute) all their vain claims.
Metaphorical transitive verb.
فریادهای لال او در گلو خفه شده بود.
His mute screams were choked in his throat.
Oxymoron 'faryād-hā-ye lāl'.
این سکوت، نه از سر رضایت، بلکه یک اعتراض لال و عمیق است.
This silence is not out of satisfaction, but rather a mute and deep protest.
Contrast 'na az sar-e... balke'.
او در برابر ابهت کوهستان، خود را لال و کوچک میدید.
In the face of the mountain's majesty, he saw himself as mute and small.
Reflexive 'khod rā'.
تاریخ مملو از قهرمانانی است که در زمان خود لال نگاه داشته شدند.
History is full of heroes who were kept mute in their own time.
Passive construction 'negāh dāshteh shodand'.
مفهوم 'لال' در فلسفه او به معنای نارسایی زبان در بیان حقیقت مطلق است.
The concept of 'lāl' in his philosophy means the inadequacy of language in expressing absolute truth.
Philosophical terminology.
او با مهارتی بینظیر، درد لالِ قرنها استبداد را در رمانش به تصویر کشید.
With unparalleled skill, he depicted the mute pain of centuries of tyranny in his novel.
High-level literary description.
زبانآوری او در واقع نقابی بود بر روح لالی که در درون داشت.
His eloquence was actually a mask for the mute soul he had within.
Psychological metaphor.
در ساحت عرفان، آنجا که سخن باز میماند، سالک لال میشود.
In the realm of mysticism, where speech fails, the seeker becomes mute.
Mystical context.
این اثر هنری، گویایِ رنجهای لالی است که در کلمات نمیگنجند.
This artwork is expressive of mute sufferings that do not fit into words.
Abstract expression.
او در مواجهه با امر متعالی، به لالیِ وجودی دچار گشت.
In the encounter with the sublime, he fell into an existential muteness.
Existentialist vocabulary.
سیاستهای سرکوبگرانه، جامعه را به یک توده لال و بیشکل بدل کرده بود.
Oppressive policies had turned the society into a mute and shapeless mass.
Political critique.
او در آخرین لحظات عمر، با نگاهی لال، ناگفتههای بسیاری را منتقل کرد.
In the last moments of his life, with a mute gaze, he conveyed many untold things.
Poignant narrative style.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
— To be struck dumb (often used rudely to ask why someone isn't speaking).
چرا لالمانی گرفتی؟ جواب بده!
— A longer version of 'Zabānam lāl' (May my tongue be mute).
زبانم لال باشد اگر بخواهم دروغ بگویم.
— Mute, blind, and deaf (often used to describe ignoring the truth).
آنها در برابر مشکلات لال و کور و کر هستند.
— May the enemy's tongue be mute (a protective phrase).
انشاءالله که زبان دشمن لال شود.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Means 'tulip'. Sounds similar but has an 'h' at the end.
Means 'state' or 'mood'. Rhymes with lāl but starts with 'H'.
A character from Shahnameh or means 'albino'. Rhymes with lāl.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— God forbid. Used when mentioning a negative possibility to prevent it from happening.
زبانم لال، اگر فردا بمیریم چه؟
Everyday— To remain silent when one should speak (negative connotation).
وقتی باید دفاع میکردی، لالمانی گرفته بودی؟
Informal/Aggressive— He was unable to speak (due to fear or death).
تا پلیس را دید، زبانش لال شد.
Neutral— Don't die mute (used to tell someone to speak their mind before it's too late).
حرفت را بزن، لال از دنیا نروی!
Informal— Are you mute? (Rude way to ask why someone isn't replying).
چرا جواب نمیدهی؟ مگر لالی؟
Slang/Rude— To silence a critic completely with a strong argument.
او با این کتاب، تمام منتقدان را لال کرد.
Formal— One's tongue becoming mute on Judgment Day (religious idiom).
در محشر زبان گناهکاران لال میشود.
Religious— The pen becoming mute (unable to write about a tragedy).
قلم از نوشتن این همه رنج لال میماند.
Literary— Mute and innocent (like an animal).
او یک موجود لال و بیزبان است، اذیتش نکن.
Empathetic— The silencing of a bell (metaphor for the end of an era).
با مرگ او، ناقوسها لال شدند.
PoeticLeicht verwechselbar
Both mean not talking.
Lāl is inability; Sāket is a temporary state or choice.
بچهها در کتابخانه ساکت هستند.
Both can mean mute.
Gong implies lack of clarity or being muffled; Lāl is total absence of speech.
صدای گنگی از دور میآمد.
Both mean silent.
Khāmush is poetic/respectful; Lāl is literal/clinical.
او با لبانی خاموش رفت.
Both mean without sound.
Bi-sedā is used for objects (silent movies, quiet cars); Lāl is for living beings.
ماشین برقی بیصدا است.
Both mean not talking much.
Kam-harf is a personality trait (shy/reserved); Lāl is a condition.
برادرم خیلی کمحرف است.
Satzmuster
[Subject] [lāl] [ast].
او لال است.
[Subject] [lāl] [shod].
سارا لال شد.
Zabānam lāl, [Negative Event].
زبانم لال، اگر او بمیرد.
[Subject] az [Emotion] [lāl] [shodeh bud].
او از ترس لال شده بود.
[Subject] [lāl] [māndan] dar barābar-e [Noun].
او لال ماند در برابر ظلم.
[Noun] az towsif-e [Noun] [lāl] [ast].
زبان از توصیف زیبایی او لال است.
[Abstract Concept] rā [lāl] [kardan].
او وجدان جامعه را لال کرد.
Chera [lāl-mān] [gerefte-ī]?
چرا لالمانی گرفتهای؟
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Verwandt
So verwendest du es
Common in literature, idioms, and daily speech.
-
In khetāb lāl ast.
→
In khetāb gong ast.
You can't call a speech 'mute'; you should call it 'unclear'.
-
Otāq lāl ast.
→
Otāq sāket ast.
Rooms are 'quiet', not 'mute'.
-
Zabān lāl!
→
Zabānam lāl!
You must include the 'my' (-am) for the idiom to work.
-
Ū lāl harf mizane.
→
Ū gong harf mizane.
If someone is talking, they aren't 'lāl'. They might be 'gong' (unintelligible).
-
Bach-ye lāl-e man.
→
Bach-ye lāl-e man (usage check).
Calling your own child 'lāl' can be seen as very harsh or clinical; 'zabān-basteh' is softer.
Tipps
Context is King
Only use 'lāl' for a person's condition or extreme shock. Never use it to describe a quiet room.
The Power of the Tongue
Iranians believe words have power. 'Zabānam lāl' is a way to protect yourself from your own words.
Compound Verbs
Remember 'lāl shodan' (to become) and 'lāl kardan' (to silence). They are very common.
Long A
Make sure the 'ā' is long. If you say it short, it might not be understood.
Pair with Kar
Learn 'kar' (deaf) and 'lāl' (mute) together as a set.
Sensitivity
If meeting a mute person, use 'nā-tavān-e goftāri' in formal speech.
L-A-L
It's a palindrome! Symmetrical like a closed mouth.
Poetic Silence
In poems, 'lāl' often means human words are not enough for God.
Lāl-mān
Use 'lāl-mān gereftan' only with people you know well; it's quite blunt.
Silencing Critics
'Lāl kardan' is a great way to say someone won a debate convincingly.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of the 'L's as two pillars of silence with an 'A' (for 'Aaaah' sound) trapped in between. The pillars block the sound from coming out.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a person with a large red 'X' over their mouth. The 'X' looks like the 'A' in the middle of 'LAL'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to go one hour without speaking a single word. During that hour, think to yourself: 'I am lāl right now.' See how it feels to be lāl.
Wortherkunft
The word 'lāl' has roots in Middle Persian (Pahlavi) and is related to Sanskrit 'lalla' (stammering/babbling). It is an onomatopoeic word, imitating the sound of someone trying to speak but failing.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Unable to articulate sounds clearly; babbling or mute.
Indo-European (Indo-Iranian branch).Kultureller Kontext
Avoid using 'lāl' as a joke about someone's disability. Only use it metaphorically for shock or in the specific idiom 'Zabānam lāl'.
English speakers should be careful. While 'mute' is okay in English, 'lāl' can sound harsher in Persian depending on the tone.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Medical/Disability
- مدرسه کر و لالها
- زبان اشاره
- ناشنوا
- نطق
Emotional Shock
- از ترس لال شدن
- زبونم بند اومد
- شوکه شدم
- مات و مبهوت
Arguments
- چرا ساکتی؟
- جواب بده
- لالمانی
- زبون درازی
Superstition
- زبانم لال
- خدا نکنه
- بلا دور باشه
- گوش شیطون کر
Literature
- عجز زبان
- وصفناپذیر
- خاموشی
- اسرار
Gesprächseinstiege
"آیا تا به حال از ترس لال شدهای؟ (Have you ever been struck dumb by fear?)"
"نظرت در مورد زبان اشاره برای افراد لال چیست؟ (What is your opinion on sign language for mute people?)"
"در فرهنگ شما وقتی میخواهید بگویید 'God forbid' چه میگویید؟ (In your culture, what do you say for 'God forbid'?)"
"آیا فیلمی دیدهای که قهرمان آن لال باشد؟ (Have you seen a movie where the hero is mute?)"
"چگونه میتوان با کسی که لال است ارتباط برقرار کرد؟ (How can one communicate with someone who is mute?)"
Tagebuch-Impulse
تصور کن برای یک روز لال هستی. چه حسی داری؟ (Imagine you are mute for a day. How do you feel?)
یک داستان کوتاه درباره کسی بنویس که ناگهان لال میشود. (Write a short story about someone who suddenly becomes mute.)
چرا در فارسی میگوییم 'زبانم لال'؟ تحلیل کن. (Why do we say 'Zabānam lāl' in Persian? Analyze it.)
تفاوت بین سکوت اختیاری و لالی اجباری را بنویس. (Write the difference between voluntary silence and forced muteness.)
آیا کلمات میتوانند تمام احساسات ما را بیان کنند یا گاهی لال میشویم؟ (Can words express all our feelings or do we sometimes become mute?)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt can be. In a medical context, it's neutral. In a social context, calling someone 'lāl' can be rude, similar to 'dumb' in English. Use 'nā-shonavā' (deaf) or 'nā-tavān-e goftār' for more respect.
It literally means 'May my tongue be mute'. It is used exactly like 'God forbid' in English to prevent a bad thing from happening after you mention it.
Yes, but 'bi-zabān' (tongueless/innocent) is more common and empathetic for animals.
There isn't one perfect word, but 'guyā' (expressive/speaking) or 'sokhan-gu' are close.
Yes, 'Lāl-mān gerefti?' is a common slangy way to ask someone why they are suddenly quiet during a fight.
The phrase is 'kar o lāl'.
Metaphorically, yes, if it doesn't convey its message, but 'gong' (unclear) is better.
No, it is of Persian origin, though it exists in other regional languages.
Yes, 'lāl shodan az tars' (becoming mute from fear) is a very common expression.
It's the Persian word for the game 'Charades' or pantomime.
Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen
Write a sentence in Persian: 'The boy is mute.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using 'Zabānam lāl'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'He became mute from fear.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence: 'Deaf and mute people use sign language.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Use 'lāl kardan' in a sentence about an argument.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Describe a shy person without using 'lāl'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a poetic sentence about silence using 'lāl'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Why are you being stubbornly silent?' (using lāl-mān).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence about a 'mute lamb'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The room was very quiet.' (Do not use lāl).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Explain in Persian why someone might become 'lāl' temporarily.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a formal sentence about the rights of mute people.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'May the enemy's tongue be mute.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using the plural 'lāl-hā'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'He has been mute since birth.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using 'lāl māndan' in a political context.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'His logic silenced everyone.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a dialogue between two people where one says 'Lāl shodi?'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'A mute cry.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence about 'charades'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Pronounce the word 'Lāl' correctly.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'He is mute' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say the idiom 'Zabānam lāl' out loud.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Pronounce the phrase 'Kar o lāl'.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'I became mute from fear' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Ask someone 'Why are you quiet? Did you go mute?' informally.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Mute people use sign language' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Pronounce 'Lāl-mān gereftan'.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'May the enemy's tongue be mute' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Pronounce 'Lāl-e mādarzād'.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'The tongue is mute from describing beauty' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Charades' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'He silenced the critic' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Pronounce the plural 'Lāl-hā'.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Mute and harmless' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'He remained mute in court' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Mute masses' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'He is not mute' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Why are you sitting there mute?' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Say 'Mute pain' in Persian.
Read this aloud:
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Identify the word: 'Lāl'.
Listen to the sentence: 'Ū lāl shod.' What happened to him?
Listen to: 'Zabānam lāl'. Is this good or bad news usually?
Identify the phrase: 'Kar o lāl'.
Listen to: 'Lāl-mān gerefti?'. Is the speaker happy or annoyed?
Identify the word: 'Lāl-bāzi'.
Listen to: 'Zabān az vasfash lāl ast'. What is being described?
Identify the word: 'Lāl-e mādarzād'.
Listen to: 'Ū rā lāl kard'. Did he kill him or silence him in an argument?
Identify the phrase: 'Zabān-e doshman lāl'.
Listen to: 'Bach-ye lāl'. Who is being described?
Identify the word: 'Lāl-mān'.
Listen to: 'Ū lāl mānd'. Did he speak eventually?
Identify the word: 'Bi-zabān'.
Listen to: 'Lāl-hā-ye jām'eh'. Who is being referred to?
Write a sentence using 'lāl' in a medical context.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The mute masses want justice.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Lāl is the standard Persian word for 'mute'. Beyond its literal meaning, it is a powerful tool for expressing shock and is central to the common protective idiom 'Zabānam lāl' used to ward off bad luck. Example: 'Ū az tars lāl shod' (He became mute from fear).
- Lāl means 'mute' or 'unable to speak' in Persian.
- It is used for both physical conditions and emotional states of shock.
- Commonly paired with 'kar' (deaf) as 'kar o lāl'.
- Used in the important idiom 'Zabānam lāl' (God forbid).
Context is King
Only use 'lāl' for a person's condition or extreme shock. Never use it to describe a quiet room.
The Power of the Tongue
Iranians believe words have power. 'Zabānam lāl' is a way to protect yourself from your own words.
Compound Verbs
Remember 'lāl shodan' (to become) and 'lāl kardan' (to silence). They are very common.
Long A
Make sure the 'ā' is long. If you say it short, it might not be understood.
Verwandte Inhalte
Dieses Wort in anderen Sprachen
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr body Wörter
عضلانی
B1Bezieht sich auf die Muskeln oder hat gut entwickelte Muskeln.
عضلهسازی
B1Der Prozess des Muskelaufbaus durch Training und Ernährung.
عفونی
B1Das Wort 'ofuni' bedeutet infiziert oder infektiös, oft verwendet für Wunden oder Krankheiten.
عمودی
B1In vertikaler Richtung oder Position.
عنبیه
B1Die Iris ist der farbige Teil des Auges.
عرق کرده
B1Mit Schweiß bedeckt, normalerweise wegen Hitze, Bewegung oder Nervosität.
افقی
B1یک خط افقی بکشید.
آه
B1Ein Seufzer, der Schmerz oder Bedauern ausdrückt.
اخم کردن
B1Die Stirn runzeln; die Augenbrauen zusammenziehen als Ausdruck von Missfallen oder Konzentration.
انعطاف پذیر
B1Ein flexibler Arbeitsplan ist sehr hilfreich.