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B1 verb #4,500 most common 6 min read

بالا آوردن

bala avardan
Practice it Examples Notes & Tips بالا آوردن in 30 Seconds
Explanation بالا آوردن in your Level:
At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'bālā āvardan' means 'to throw up.' You might use it in a very simple sentence like 'Man bālā āvardam' (I threw up) if you are feeling sick. You don't need to worry about complex tenses yet. Just remember that 'bālā' means up and 'āvardan' is the verb for 'to bring.' If you are in Iran and feel sick, saying this word to a friend or a host will let them know you need help or a bathroom. It is a vital survival word for health emergencies. Focus on the past tense: 'āvardam' (I), 'āvardi' (you).
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At the A2 level, you should be able to use 'bālā āvardan' in the present continuous to describe an ongoing situation, like 'Dārad bālā mi-āvarad' (He is throwing up). You should also be able to combine it with reasons, such as 'Ghazā bad bud, bālā āvardam' (The food was bad, I threw up). You should start to recognize the difference between this and 'hāl-am bad shod' (I felt sick). You should also practice the negative form 'bālā nayāvardam' (I didn't throw up) to answer a doctor's questions. Understanding the word order in compound verbs becomes important here.
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At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'bālā āvardan' fluently in various tenses, including the future and the subjunctive. For example, 'Mi-tarsam bālā biyāvaram' (I am afraid I might throw up). You should understand the social nuances—when it is appropriate to use this word versus the more polite 'hāl-am be ham khord.' You should also be able to describe symptoms in more detail, such as 'az sobh se bār bālā āvardam' (I have thrown up three times since morning). This level requires you to handle the irregular present stem 'āvar' and correctly place the 'mi-' and 'na-' prefixes.
At the B2 level, you can use 'bālā āvardan' in more complex grammatical structures, such as passive-like constructions or within reported speech. You should also be familiar with related nouns like 'tahavo' (nausea) and be able to distinguish between 'bālā āvardan' and 'estefrāgh kardan' based on the formality of the situation. You might use it to describe a scene in a book or a movie. You should also be aware of the colloquial 'ovordan' pronunciation used in Tehran and be able to understand it in fast-paced conversations. Your vocabulary should now include terms for motion sickness and food poisoning.
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At the C1 level, you should understand the deeper linguistic roots of the verb and its place in the Persian compound verb system. You should be able to use it in figurative contexts, if any, and understand classical alternatives like 'ghay kardan' when reading literature. You should be able to discuss the medical implications of 'bālā āvardan' using technical Persian terminology. You can also use the word in complex sentences with multiple clauses, such as 'Agar be mahze rasidan dāru nemikhordam, hatman bālā mi-āvardam' (If I hadn't taken the medicine as soon as I arrived, I definitely would have thrown up).
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At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of the word. You understand the subtle cultural taboos and the specific euphemisms like 'golāb be rutun' used when discussing the topic. You can use the verb in any tense, including archaic forms, and can distinguish between various types of 'bringing up' (e.g., acid reflux vs. vomiting). You are comfortable using the word in professional medical settings or high-level literary analysis. You understand the nuances of how the verb functions in different Persian dialects (Dari, Tajik) and can adapt your usage accordingly.
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

بالا آوردن in 30 Seconds

  • Commonly used to mean 'to vomit' in everyday Persian.
  • A compound verb consisting of 'bālā' (up) and 'āvardan' (to bring).
  • Neutral register, suitable for family, friends, and medical visits.
  • The prefix 'mi-' goes between the two parts in the present tense.

The Persian verb بالا آوردن (bālā āvardan) is a compound verb that literally translates to "to bring up." In everyday Persian, it is the standard way to say "to vomit" or "to throw up." It is a B1-level word because while the components are simple, understanding its specific medical and social context is essential for intermediate fluency. Unlike the more clinical term استفراغ کردن (estefrāgh kardan), بالا آوردن is what you will hear in homes, among friends, and in casual doctor visits. It describes the physical act of ejecting contents from the stomach through the mouth.

Literal Meaning
The word 'بالا' means 'up' and 'آوردن' means 'to bring'. Together, they create the image of something moving upward from the stomach.
Register and Usage
It is neutral-to-informal. You can use it with your family or your doctor without sounding too graphic or too overly formal.

ببخشید، حالم بد بود و تمام شام را بالا آوردم.

Translation: Sorry, I felt sick and threw up the whole dinner.

In Iranian culture, discussing illness is quite common, but people often use this phrase with a sense of apology if it happens in a social setting. It is often preceded by the phrase حالم بد شد (hāl-am bad shod), meaning "I felt sick." Because Persian is a pro-drop language, the subject is often omitted, and the verb ending tells you who threw up. For example, بالا آوردی؟ means "Did you throw up?"

بچه از صبح دارد بالا می‌آورد.

Translation: The child has been throwing up since morning.
Social Context
It is polite to look away or offer help (like water or tea) when someone mentions they have 'brought up' their food.

Using بالا آوردن correctly requires an understanding of Persian compound verb conjugation. The verb 'āvardan' is irregular in the present tense (stem: 'āvar') but regular in the past tense (stem: 'āvard'). Because this is a compound verb, the non-verbal part 'bālā' remains stationary while the verbal part changes to reflect tense, person, and number.

Past Tense Construction
Bālā + [Past Stem] + [Personal Ending]. Example: 'Bālā āvardam' (I threw up).
Present Tense Construction
Bālā + mi + [Present Stem] + [Personal Ending]. Example: 'Bālā mi-āvarad' (He/She throws up).

اگر دارو را بخوری، دیگر بالا نمی‌آوری.

Translation: If you take the medicine, you won't throw up anymore.

In negative forms, the 'na' prefix attaches to the verbal part. For example, 'bālā nayāvardam' (I didn't throw up). Note that in the present negative, it becomes 'bālā nemi-āvaram'. This verb can also be used with objects, usually the food or substance that was ejected, though it is often used intransitively to describe the state of being sick.

چرا سگ دارد بالا می‌آورد؟

Translation: Why is the dog throwing up?

You will encounter بالا آوردن in a variety of real-life situations in Iran or any Persian-speaking community. The most common place is in a medical clinic or pharmacy. If you tell a pharmacist 'hāl-am bad ast' (I feel bad), they will likely ask 'bālā ham mi-āvari?' (Are you also throwing up?). It is a key diagnostic term.

Pediatric Context
Parents use this word constantly when their children are sick. It is one of the first 'illness' verbs a child learns.
Travel and Motion Sickness
In cars or buses on winding mountain roads (common in Iran), you might hear passengers say they feel like 'bringing up'.

توی جاده چالوس همیشه بالا می‌آورم.

Translation: I always throw up on the Chaloos road.

In movies and TV dramas, characters who are pregnant or poisoned will often be shown running to the bathroom, and other characters will remark that they are 'bālā mi-āvarand'. It is rarely used metaphorically in the way 'vomit' is used in English (e.g., 'that idea is disgusting'), although it can occasionally be used to describe a computer 'bringing up' or 'loading' a file, though this is technical jargon and less common than the physical meaning.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing بالا آوردن with other verbs that use 'bālā' (up). Because 'bālā' is such a common directional prefix, it's easy to mix it up with 'bālā raftan' (to go up/ascend) or 'bālā bordan' (to take up/increase). Remember: 'āvardan' (to bring) is the key here. You are 'bringing' the food 'up'.

Confusion with 'Bālā Bordan'
'Bālā bordan' means to physically lift something or to increase a price. Saying 'ghazā-rā bālā bordam' would mean you took the food upstairs, not that you threw it up.
Conjugation Errors
Learners often put the 'mi-' prefix before 'bālā'. Correct: 'bālā mi-āvaram'. Incorrect: 'mi-bālā āvaram'.

اشتباه: من دارم می‌بالا می‌آورم.

Correction: The prefix 'mi' must follow the non-verbal part 'bālā'.

Another mistake is using the clinical word استفراغ (estefrāgh) in a very casual setting. While not grammatically wrong, it can sound a bit like saying "I expectorated" instead of "I spat" in English. Stick to بالا آوردن for general use. Also, ensure you don't confuse it with پایین آوردن (pāyin āvardan), which means to bring down or lower.

Persian has several ways to describe feeling sick or vomiting, ranging from polite euphemisms to clinical terms. Understanding these will help you navigate different social levels.

استفراغ کردن (Estefrāgh Kardan)
The formal, medical term. You'll see this in medical reports or hear it from doctors in a professional setting.
حالم به هم خورد (Hāl-am be ham khord)
This literally means "my state/condition was disrupted." It is a very common way to say "I felt nauseous" or "I threw up" without being too graphic. It is considered more polite than 'bālā āvardan'.
قی کردن (Ghay Kardan)
An older, more literary term for vomiting. You might find this in classical poetry or older medical texts, but it is rarely used in modern conversation.

وقتی آن صحنه را دیدم، حالم به هم خورد.

Translation: When I saw that scene, I felt nauseous / my stomach turned.

In slang, you might hear گلاب به روتون (golāb be rutun), which literally means "rosewater to your face." This is a traditional phrase used before mentioning something 'dirty' like vomiting or going to the bathroom, acting as a polite buffer. It's like saying "excuse my language" or "pardon the graphic detail."

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Many Persian verbs for bodily functions are compound verbs. 'Bālā āvardan' is a perfect example of how Persian uses spatial directions to describe physical processes.

Pronunciation Guide

UK bɒːlɒː ɒːværdæn
US bɑlɑ ɑvərdæn
The stress in 'bālā' is on the second syllable. In 'āvardan', the stress is on the last syllable 'dān'.
Rhymes With
آوردن (āvardan) خوردن (khordan) مردن (mordan) سپردن (sepordan) بردین (bordan) فشردن (feshordan) آزردن (āzordan) شمردن (shemordan)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 'bālā' with a short 'a' like 'apple'. It should be long.
  • Putting the stress on the first syllable of 'āvardan'.
  • Confusing the 'v' in 'āvardan' with a 'w' sound.
  • Merging 'bālā' and 'āvardan' into one word without a slight pause.
  • Mispronouncing 'mi-' in 'bālā mi-āvaram' as 'me'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize once you know the two components.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct placement of prefixes in compound verb conjugation.

Speaking 4/5

Irregular present stem 'āvar' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but watch out for the 'ovord' colloquialism.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

بالا (up) آوردن (to bring) حال (state/mood) بد (bad) معده (stomach)

Learn Next

استفراغ (vomit - noun) مسمومیت (poisoning) سرگیجه (dizziness) تب (fever) لرز (chills)

Advanced

فیزیولوژی (physiology) گوارش (digestion) آنتی‌بیوتیک (antibiotic) بستری شدن (to be hospitalized) علائم (symptoms)

Grammar to Know

Compound Verb Conjugation

بالا می‌آورم (bālā mi-āvaram) - prefix goes inside.

Negative Compound Verbs

بالا نیاوردم (bālā nayāvardam) - 'na' goes before the verbal part.

Subjunctive in Compounds

باید بالا بیاورم (bāyad bālā biyāvaram) - 'be' becomes 'bi' before 'āvar'.

Past Continuous in Compounds

داشتم بالا می‌آوردم (dāshtam bālā mi-āvardam).

Irregular Present Stem

آوردن -> آور (āvardan -> āvar).

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Examples by Level

1

من بالا آوردم.

I threw up.

Simple past tense, 1st person singular.

2

آیا او بالا آورد؟

Did he/she throw up?

Question in simple past.

3

گربه بالا آورد.

The cat threw up.

Subject + Verb.

4

امروز بالا نیاوردم.

I didn't throw up today.

Negative past tense.

5

بچه بالا می‌آورد.

The baby is throwing up.

Present continuous.

6

او خیلی بالا آورد.

He threw up a lot.

Adverb 'kheyli' (a lot) used.

7

چرا بالا آوردی؟

Why did you throw up?

Interrogative 'cherā' (why).

8

من حالم بد است، بالا آوردم.

I feel bad, I threw up.

Two simple clauses.

1

بعد از ناهار بالا آوردم.

I threw up after lunch.

Prepositional phrase 'ba'd az' (after).

2

او دارد بالا می‌آورد، کمک کنید.

He is throwing up, please help.

Present continuous with 'dārad'.

3

ماهی خوردم و بالا آوردم.

I ate fish and threw up.

Compound sentence with 'va' (and).

4

نباید بالا بیاوری.

You shouldn't throw up.

Modal 'nabāyad' + Subjunctive.

5

سگم دوباره بالا آورد.

My dog threw up again.

Adverb 'dobāre' (again).

6

او هر روز بالا می‌آورد.

He throws up every day.

Habitual present tense.

7

می‌خواهی بالا بیاوری؟

Do you want to throw up?

Verb 'khāstan' + Subjunctive.

8

او بالا نیاورد، فقط حالش بد شد.

He didn't throw up, he just felt sick.

Contrast using 'faghat' (just).

1

اگر دوباره بالا آوردی، به دکتر زنگ بزن.

If you throw up again, call the doctor.

Conditional sentence Type 1.

2

فکر کنم به خاطر شیرینی‌هایی بود که خوردم بالا آوردم.

I think I threw up because of the sweets I ate.

Relative clause 'ke' (that/which).

3

او تمام شب را بالا می‌آورد و نتوانست بخوابد.

He was throwing up all night and couldn't sleep.

Past continuous + negative ability.

4

ممکن است بعد از این دارو بالا بیاورید.

You might throw up after this medicine.

Probability with 'momken ast'.

5

از وقتی که سوار کشتی شدیم، دارد بالا می‌آورد.

He has been throwing up since we got on the ship.

Time clause with 'az vaghti ke'.

6

خیلی بد است که جلوی همه بالا آوردم.

It's very bad that I threw up in front of everyone.

Sentential subject with 'ke'.

7

او سعی کرد بالا نیاورد اما نشد.

He tried not to throw up, but it didn't work.

Verb 'sa'y kardan' (to try).

8

بچه‌ها معمولاً وقتی تب دارند بالا می‌آورند.

Children usually throw up when they have a fever.

General truth with 'ma'mulan' (usually).

1

بیمار ادعا می‌کند که از دیروز تا حالا ده بار بالا آورده است.

The patient claims that they have thrown up ten times since yesterday.

Present perfect tense in reported speech.

2

شدت مسمومیت به حدی بود که بلافاصله بالا آورد.

The severity of the poisoning was such that he threw up immediately.

Result clause with 'be haddi... ke'.

3

او با اینکه دارو خورده بود، باز هم بالا می‌آورد.

Even though he had taken medicine, he was still throwing up.

Concession with 'bā inke'.

4

احساس تهوع دارم و فکر می‌کنم عن‌قریب بالا بیاورم.

I feel nauseous and I think I will throw up shortly.

Advanced adverb 'an-gharib' (shortly).

5

بالا آوردن در دوران بارداری امری طبیعی است.

Throwing up during pregnancy is a natural thing.

Gerund usage (infinitive as subject).

6

او چنان حالم را بد کرد که نزدیک بود بالا بیاورم.

He made me feel so sick that I was close to throwing up.

Idiomatic 'nazdik bud' (was close to).

7

به محض اینکه بوی غذا به مشامش رسید، بالا آورد.

As soon as the smell of food reached his nose, he threw up.

Temporal conjunction 'be mahze inke'.

8

او به دلیل بالا آوردن مداوم، دچار کم‌آبی شده است.

He has become dehydrated due to constant vomiting.

Causal phrase 'be dalile'.

1

عوارض جانبی این شیمی‌درمانی شامل تهوع و بالا آوردن مکرر است.

The side effects of this chemotherapy include nausea and frequent vomiting.

Technical medical vocabulary.

2

او از اینکه نتوانسته بود جلوی بالا آوردنش را بگیرد، بسیار شرم‌سار بود.

He was very ashamed that he hadn't been able to stop himself from throwing up.

Complex past perfect within a relative clause.

3

در متون قدیمی، به جای بالا آوردن، اغلب از واژه «قی» استفاده شده است.

In ancient texts, the word 'ghay' was often used instead of 'bālā āvardan'.

Passive voice and linguistic comparison.

4

برخی معتقدند که بالا آوردن عمدی پس از پرخوری، نشانه‌ای از یک اختلال روانی است.

Some believe that intentional vomiting after overeating is a sign of a mental disorder.

Complex subject with 'ba'zi mo'taghedand'.

5

چنانچه بیمار خون بالا بیاورد، باید فوراً به بخش اورژانس منتقل شود.

If the patient vomits blood, they must be immediately transferred to the emergency department.

Formal conditional 'chonānche'.

6

مکانیسم بالا آوردن در واقع یک واکنش دفاعی بدن برای دفع سموم است.

The mechanism of vomiting is actually a defensive reaction of the body to expel toxins.

Scientific register.

7

او با لحنی منزجرکننده از بالا آوردن شب گذشته‌اش صحبت می‌کرد.

He spoke about his vomiting last night in a disgusting tone.

Descriptive adverbs and participles.

8

بوی تعفن به قدری شدید بود که حتی قوی‌ترین افراد را هم به بالا آوردن وامی‌داشت.

The stench was so strong that it forced even the strongest people to throw up.

Causative structure 'vā-dāshtan'.

1

تحلیل فیزیولوژیک فرآیند بالا آوردن پیچیدگی‌های عصبی فراوانی را آشکار می‌سازد.

The physiological analysis of the vomiting process reveals numerous neurological complexities.

Highly academic register.

2

پزشک معالج بر این باور است که بالا آوردن‌های صفراوی بیمار نشان از انسداد روده دارد.

The treating physician believes that the patient's bilious vomiting indicates an intestinal obstruction.

Medical jargon 'safrāvi' (bilious).

3

در این رمان، نویسنده بالا آوردن قهرمان داستان را نمادی از پس‌زدن ارزش‌های جامعه می‌داند.

In this novel, the author considers the protagonist's vomiting as a symbol of rejecting societal values.

Literary analysis.

4

استمرار در بالا آوردن می‌تواند منجر به فرسایش مینای دندان به دلیل اسید معده شود.

Persistence in vomiting can lead to the erosion of tooth enamel due to stomach acid.

Technical cause-and-effect structure.

5

او به چنان وضعیتی دچار شده بود که حتی با نوشیدن جرعه‌ای آب، بالا می‌آورد.

He had reached such a state that even by drinking a sip of water, he would throw up.

Intensive result clause.

6

واژه «بالا آوردن» با اینکه در گفتار روزمره رایج است، اما در گزارش‌های کالبدشکافی به ندرت دیده می‌شود.

The term 'bālā āvardan', although common in everyday speech, is rarely seen in autopsy reports.

Comparative linguistics.

7

او در خاطراتش می‌نویسد که از شدت ترس و اضطراب، بارها بالا آورده است.

He writes in his memoirs that he threw up many times out of intense fear and anxiety.

Psychological context.

8

مداخله‌های دارویی برای کنترل بالا آوردن در بیماران سرطانی تحول شگرفی یافته است.

Pharmacological interventions to control vomiting in cancer patients have undergone a tremendous transformation.

Abstract noun phrases.

Common Collocations

خون بالا آوردن
زردآب بالا آوردن
پشت سر هم بالا آوردن
حس بالا آوردن
دوباره بالا آوردن
چیزی را بالا آوردن
بچه‌ بالا آوردن
توی ماشین بالا آوردن
از ترس بالا آوردن
حالت بالا آوردن

Common Phrases

نزدیک بود بالا بیاورم

— I was close to throwing up.

از بوی بد نزدیک بود بالا بیاورم.

می‌خواهم بالا بیاورم

— I want/need to throw up.

نگه دار، می‌خواهم بالا بیاورم!

هر چه خورده بود بالا آورد

— He threw up everything he had eaten.

طفلی هر چه خورده بود بالا آورد.

بالا آوردی؟

— Did you throw up?

رنگت پریده، بالا آوردی؟

نباید بگذاری بالا بیاورد

— You shouldn't let him throw up.

دکتر گفت نباید بگذاری بالا بیاورد.

از صبح دارد بالا می‌آورد

— He has been throwing up since morning.

اوضاعش خوب نیست، از صبح دارد بالا می‌آورد.

بالا آوردن و اسهال

— Vomiting and diarrhea.

علائم مسمومیت بالا آوردن و اسهال است.

بعد از دارو بالا آورد

— He threw up after the medicine.

متاسفانه بلافاصله بعد از دارو بالا آورد.

کمک کن بالا نیاورد

— Help him not to throw up.

سرش را بگیر تا بالا نیاورد.

فقط آب بالا می‌آورد

— He is only throwing up water.

معده‌اش خالی است، فقط آب بالا می‌آورد.

Often Confused With

بالا آوردن vs بالا رفتن

Means 'to go up' or 'to increase'. Don't use it for vomiting.

بالا آوردن vs بالا بردن

Means 'to lift' or 'to raise something'. It requires an object you are lifting.

بالا آوردن vs پایین آوردن

Means 'to bring down'. It is the exact spatial opposite.

Idioms & Expressions

"دل و روده را بالا آوردن"

— To vomit very violently or repeatedly.

آنقدر حالش بد بود که دل و روده اش را بالا آورد.

Informal
"بالا آوردن (در تکنولوژی)"

— To load or boot up a system/site.

سایت را بالا نمی‌آورد.

Slang/Technical
"بالا آوردن (در دعوا)"

— To bring up past mistakes or issues (rarely used this way, 'پیش کشیدن' is better).

دوباره مسائل قدیمی را بالا آورد.

Informal
"بالا آوردن (پول)"

— To lose a lot of money or owe money (less common).

توی قمار کلی بالا آورد.

Slang
"بالا آوردن (غذا)"

— Simply the act of vomiting.

شام دیشب را بالا آورد.

Neutral
"بالا آوردن (خون)"

— To be extremely stressed or suffering (metaphorical/literal).

از دست تو خون بالا آوردم.

Emphatic
"بالا آوردن (محتویات)"

— To reveal information under pressure.

بالاخره همه چیز را بالا آورد.

Slang
"بالا آوردن (نوزاد)"

— Spitting up.

نوزاد همیشه بعد شیر بالا می‌آورد.

Neutral
"بالا آوردن (معده)"

— Feeling like vomiting.

معده‌ام دارد بالا می‌آید.

Informal
"بالا آوردن (تلخی)"

— To express bitterness.

هر چه تلخی داشت بالا آورد.

Literary

Easily Confused

بالا آوردن vs آوردن vs. بردن

Both are basic verbs of movement.

Āvardan is 'to bring' (towards), Bordan is 'to take' (away). In 'bālā āvardan', you bring it up to the mouth.

غذا را آوردم (I brought the food) vs. غذا را بردم (I took the food).

بالا آوردن vs بالا vs. بالاخره

They look similar.

Bālā is 'up', Bālākhare is 'finally'.

بالاخره بالا آورد! (Finally he threw up!)

بالا آوردن vs استفراغ vs. استفراق

Spelling error.

The correct spelling is with 'ghayn' (غ).

استفراغ درست است.

بالا آوردن vs قی vs. قیر

One letter difference.

Ghay is vomit, Ghir is tar/asphalt.

قی کرد (He vomited).

بالا آوردن vs تهوع vs. استفراغ

Nausea vs. Vomiting.

Tahavo is the feeling (nausea), Estefrāgh is the act (vomiting).

تهوع دارم (I feel nauseous).

Sentence Patterns

A1

[Subject] بالا آورد.

علی بالا آورد.

A2

[Subject] دارد بالا می‌آورد.

بچه دارد بالا می‌آورد.

B1

اگر [Condition]، بالا می‌آورم.

اگر این را بخورم، بالا می‌آورم.

B1

فکر کنم [Subject] بالا آورده است.

فکر کنم گربه بالا آورده است.

B2

به خاطر [Reason]، بالا آوردم.

به خاطر جاده بالا آوردم.

B2

[Subject] نزدیک بود بالا بیاورد.

او نزدیک بود بالا بیاورد.

C1

با اینکه [Action]، باز هم بالا می‌آورد.

با اینکه دارو خورد، باز هم بالا می‌آورد.

C2

مکانیسم بالا آوردن شامل [Process] است.

مکانیسم بالا آوردن شامل انقباضات معده است.

Word Family

Nouns

استفراغ (vomit)
تهوع (nausea)
بالاآوری (the act of bringing up - rare)

Verbs

بالا آوردن (to throw up)
برگرداندن (to return/vomit)
استفراغ کردن (to vomit)

Adjectives

تهوع‌آور (nauseating)
حال‌به‌هم‌زن (disgusting/nauseating)

Related

معده (stomach)
مسمومیت (poisoning)
دکتر (doctor)
دارو (medicine)
مریضی (sickness)
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How to Use It

frequency

Extremely frequent in health contexts.

Common Mistakes
  • من می‌بالا آورم → من بالا می‌آورم

    The 'mi' prefix must be attached to the verbal part 'āvaram'.

  • او غذا را بالا برد → او غذا را بالا آورد

    'Bālā bordan' means to take something upstairs, 'bālā āvardan' means to vomit.

  • من بالا آوردم بچه → من بچه را بالا آوردم

    This is a word order mistake. It means 'I brought up the baby' (literally lifted him), not that the baby vomited. To say the baby vomited, say 'Bache bālā āvard'.

  • بالا آوردن موضوع → مطرح کردن موضوع

    Don't translate the English idiom 'bring up a topic' literally into Persian.

  • استفراغ کردن با دوستان → بالا آوردن

    Using the clinical term 'estefrāgh' with friends sounds overly formal and robotic.

Tips

Prefix Placement

Always remember that in compound verbs like this, the 'mi-' and 'na-' prefixes go right before the second (verbal) part. It is 'bālā mi-āvaram', not 'mi-bālā āvaram'.

Formal Alternative

If you are writing a formal email to a professor or boss about being sick, use 'به دلیل بیماری' (due to illness) or 'حالم مساعد نبود' (my state was not favorable) instead of explicitly saying you threw up.

Tehrani Accent

If you want to sound like a local in Tehran, change 'āvardan' to 'ovordan'. Say 'bālā ovordam' instead of 'bālā āvardam'.

Polite Buffer

Use 'golāb be rutun' before saying you vomited. It shows you have good manners and are aware that the topic is a bit unpleasant.

Emergency

If someone is throwing up blood, the phrase is 'khun bālā āvardan'. This is a medical emergency in any language.

Association

Associate 'bālā' with 'ball' (up) and 'āvardan' with 'award'. Imagine a ball bringing an award up from the ground.

Long Vowels

Ensure the 'ā' in 'bālā' is long and deep. If it's too short, it might sound like a different word.

Spelling

The verb 'āvardan' starts with 'Alef-with-hat' (آ). Don't forget the hat (madda)!

Pets

This verb is also perfectly fine to use for pets. 'Sag-am bālā āvard' (My dog threw up).

Literal vs. Figurative

Stick to the literal meaning. Unlike English 'bring up', Persian doesn't use this for raising topics in a meeting.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you are 'bringing' (āvardan) your food 'up' (bālā) from your stomach. Bālā = Up, Āvardan = To bring.

Visual Association

Visualize a balloon (Bālā) bringing up a basket. Now imagine that basket is your stomach contents. It's a bit gross, but you won't forget it!

Word Web

بالا (Up) آوردن (To bring) معده (Stomach) مریضی (Sickness) غذا (Food) استفراغ (Vomit) حالم بد شد (I felt sick) دکتر (Doctor)

Challenge

Try to conjugate 'bālā āvardan' in the past, present, and future tenses while looking in the mirror and pretending to tell a doctor your symptoms.

Word Origin

A compound of the Persian word 'bālā' (from Old Persian 'up/above') and 'āvardan' (from Middle Persian 'āwurdan', meaning 'to bring').

Original meaning: To bring something to a higher position.

Indo-European (Persian).

Cultural Context

Avoid using this word at the dinner table. If you must leave because you feel sick, just say 'ma'zerat mikham' (excuse me).

In English, 'bring up' can also mean to mention a topic. In Persian, 'bālā āvardan' is almost exclusively physical.

Commonly heard in Iranian hospital dramas like 'Parastaran'. Used in children's health books to explain stomach bugs. Mentioned in memoirs of travelers discussing the winding roads of Northern Iran.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Doctor

  • چند بار بالا آوردید؟
  • آیا خون هم بالا آوردید؟
  • بعد از غذا بالا می‌آورید؟
  • دارویی برای بالا آوردن دارید؟

In a Car/Bus

  • حالم بد است، می‌خواهم بالا بیاورم.
  • لطفاً نگه دارید، باید بالا بیاورم.
  • کیسه دارید؟ دارم بالا می‌آورم.
  • توی جاده همیشه بالا می‌آورم.

Food Poisoning

  • فکر کنم مسموم شدم، چون بالا آوردم.
  • غذا خراب بود، همه بالا آوردند.
  • از دیشب دارم بالا می‌آورم.
  • هیچ چیز توی معده‌ام نمی‌ماند و بالا می‌آورم.

Pregnancy

  • صبح‌ها بالا می‌آورم.
  • بوی غذا باعث می‌شود بالا بیاورم.
  • بالا آوردن در ماه سوم تمام می‌شود؟
  • خیلی بالا می‌آورم، نگران بچه‌ام.

Caring for a Child

  • بچه روی تخت بالا آورد.
  • آروم باش، الان تموم میشه.
  • لباس‌هایت را عوض کن چون بالا آوردی.
  • بچه دیگر بالا نمی‌آورد.

Conversation Starters

"ببخشید، جایی هست که بتوانم بالا بیاورم؟ (Excuse me, is there somewhere I can throw up?)"

"آیا شما هم بعد از خوردن آن غذا بالا آوردید؟ (Did you also throw up after eating 그 food?)"

"دکتر، فرزندم از صبح دارد بالا می‌آورد، چه کار کنم؟ (Doctor, my child has been throwing up since morning, what should I do?)"

"خیلی حالم بد است، حس می‌کنم الانه که بالا بیاورم. (I feel very bad, I feel like I'm about to throw up right now.)"

"شنیدم که سارا مسموم شده و همش بالا می‌آورد. (I heard Sara got poisoned and is throwing up constantly.)"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you felt sick and 'bālā āvardi'. What caused it? (درباره زمانی بنویسید که حالتان بد شد و بالا آوردید.)

Write a dialogue between a patient who is 'bālā mi-āvarad' and a doctor. (یک مکالمه بین بیمار و دکتر درباره بالا آوردن بنویسید.)

How do you feel about winding roads? Do they make you 'bālā biyāvari'? (درباره جاده‌های پرپیچ و خم و حس بالا آوردن بنویسید.)

What are the best Persian remedies for someone who is 'bālā mi-āvarad'? (بهترین درمان‌های ایرانی برای کسی که بالا می‌آورد چیست؟)

Write a story about a character who 'bālā āvard' at the worst possible moment. (داستانی درباره شخصی بنویسید که در بدترین لحظه ممکن بالا آورد.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is neutral. It is not rude, but in very formal settings, people prefer to say 'hāl-am be ham khord' (I felt sick) to avoid the direct image of vomiting.

You use 'bālā' + 'mi' + 'āvar' + personal endings. For example: bālā mi-āvaram, bālā mi-āvari, bālā mi-āvarad.

Yes, in modern IT slang, you can say 'site bālā mi-ād' (the site is coming up/loading), but 'bālā āvardan' specifically for 'vomiting' is much more common.

The past participle is 'بالا آورده' (bālā āvarde). Example: 'او بالا آورده است' (He has thrown up).

In Dari (Afghan Persian), it is also used, though 'استفراغ کردن' and 'قی کردن' are also very common.

Yes, 'استفراغ' (estefrāgh) is the noun for the substance itself.

It would be 'بالا بیاور' (bālā biyāvar), but you rarely tell someone to throw up unless in a medical emergency (e.g., poisoning).

You say 'حس می‌کنم می‌خواهم بالا بیاورم' or 'حالت تهوع دارم'.

No, 'to bring up children' is 'bozorg kardan' (to make big) or 'tarbiyat kardan' (to educate/train).

There is no 'h' in 'āvardan'. It starts with a long 'ā' sound.

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