Meaning
The act of washing oneself under a shower.
Cultural Background
In Iran, cleanliness is not just hygiene but a spiritual requirement for prayer. While 'dush gereftan' is secular, the habit of daily washing is deeply ingrained. Modern apartments in cities like Tehran often only have showers to save space, making 'dush gereftan' the universal term for bathing. Older generations might still use 'hammam raftan' even if they are just showering at home, reflecting the history of public bathhouses. Due to chronic water shortages, there are public campaigns in Iran encouraging 'dush-e kootah' (short showers).
The 'Take' Rule
Remember that Persian 'takes' a shower just like English. If you remember 'take', you'll remember 'gereftan'.
Avoid 'Kardan'
Using 'dush kardan' is the most obvious sign of a beginner. Stick to 'gereftan'.
Meaning
The act of washing oneself under a shower.
The 'Take' Rule
Remember that Persian 'takes' a shower just like English. If you remember 'take', you'll remember 'gereftan'.
Avoid 'Kardan'
Using 'dush kardan' is the most obvious sign of a beginner. Stick to 'gereftan'.
Spoken Form
In Tehran, 'gereftan' often sounds like 'ge-ref-tan' but in present tense 'mi-gi-ram' becomes 'mi-gi-ram'.
Complimenting
If someone smells nice or looks fresh after a shower, you can say 'Aafiyat bashad' (May it be health).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'gereftan' in the present tense.
من هر صبح دوش ______.
The subject is 'من' (I) and the context is a daily routine (present tense).
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct way to say 'I took a shower'.
The verb for 'dush' is always 'gereftan'.
Complete the dialogue.
سارا: چرا دیر کردی؟ علی: ببخشید، داشتم ______.
The past continuous 'dash-tam dush mi-gereftam' is used for an action that was happening in the past.
Match the phrase to the situation: 'دوش آب سرد'
When would you use this phrase?
A cold shower (dush-e ab-e sard) is typical for cooling down.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Dush vs Hammam
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن هر صبح دوش ______.
The subject is 'من' (I) and the context is a daily routine (present tense).
Choose the correct way to say 'I took a shower'.
The verb for 'dush' is always 'gereftan'.
سارا: چرا دیر کردی؟ علی: ببخشید، داشتم ______.
The past continuous 'dash-tam dush mi-gereftam' is used for an action that was happening in the past.
When would you use this phrase?
A cold shower (dush-e ab-e sard) is typical for cooling down.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, 'dush' specifically refers to the showerhead. Use 'van' for bathtub.
It is neutral. It's fine for both friends and your boss.
You say 'Ehtiyaj be dush daram' or more simply 'Bayad dush begiram'.
The past tense is 'dush gereftam'.
Yes, daily showering is very common in urban Iranian culture.
'Dush' is the fixture/action of showering; 'hammam' is the room itself.
No, that would mean 'eating a shower'.
Dush-e ab-e sard (دوش آب سرد).
Yes, 'ye abi be tan zadan' (hitting some water to the body).
It's a linguistic convention, likely influenced by European languages.
Related Phrases
حمام کردن
similarTo bathe/take a bath
آبتنی کردن
similarTo splash around/swim
غسل کردن
specialized formTo perform ritual ablution
دست و رو شستن
contrastTo wash hands and face
لیف زدن
builds onTo scrub with a loofah
