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A2 adjective #8,000 most common 9 min read

بدبو

Top 8,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips بدبو in 30 Seconds

Explanation بدبو in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'badbu' means 'smelly' or 'stinky.' It is a very useful word for basic daily life. You can use it to describe things like old food, dirty socks, or a trash can. It is the opposite of 'khoshbu' (good-smelling). You will mostly use it in simple sentences like 'This is badbu' or 'That is badbu.' It is a compound word made of 'bad' (bad) and 'bu' (smell). Even at this early stage, knowing this word helps you express basic dislikes and hygiene needs. You might hear it in cartoons or from teachers when talking about health. It's a 'survival' word for your nose!

At the A2 level, you should start using 'badbu' with the Ezafe construction to describe specific objects. Instead of just saying 'It is smelly,' you can say 'The smelly water' (ab-e badbu) or 'The smelly room' (otagh-e badbu). You should also be able to use simple adverbs like 'kheyli' (very) to say 'kheyli badbu' (very smelly). At this level, you are expected to handle common social situations, like complaining about a bad smell in a hotel or asking someone to take out the trash. You can also start recognizing the word in health-related contexts, like 'badbu-ye dahan' (bad breath).

At the B1 level, you can use 'badbu' to describe more abstract or environmental situations. You might talk about 'hava-ye badbu' (smelly air) in the context of pollution or 'mavad-e badbu' (smelly materials) in a workplace. You should be able to compare smells using 'badbu-tar' (smellier). You will also start to see 'badbu' in written texts, such as short stories or news snippets about environmental issues. Your understanding should move beyond just 'stinky socks' to include chemical or industrial odors. You can also use it to explain why you don't like a certain place or product in a more detailed way.

At the B2 level, you should understand the nuance between 'badbu' and its synonyms like 'gandideh' (rotten) or 'mote'affen' (putrid). You can use 'badbu' in more complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences ('If the food is badbu, don't eat it'). You should also be comfortable using the word in professional settings, such as describing a technical problem with a sewage system or a chemical leak. At this level, you can appreciate how 'badbu' might be used in a slightly metaphorical way in modern Persian prose to describe something unpleasant or 'off' about a person's character, though literal usage remains dominant.

At the C1 level, you are expected to use 'badbu' with precision. You understand its role as a general descriptor and can contrast it with more sophisticated vocabulary like 'karih' or 'zenandeh.' You can follow complex discussions about public health or urban ecology where 'badbu' is used to describe societal problems. You should also be able to use the word in creative writing to build atmosphere, perhaps describing the 'badbu' streets of a historical city. Your grasp of the word includes its historical roots and how it fits into the broader Persian system of sensory adjectives, allowing you to use it with the correct register in any situation.

At the C2 level, 'badbu' is a simple tool in a very large kit. You understand its etymology perfectly and can identify its use in classical vs. modern literature. You might explore how the concept of 'badbu' has changed in Persian culture—from ancient Zoroastrian associations of bad smells with 'Ahriman' (the evil spirit) to modern industrial contexts. You can use the word in high-level academic or literary analysis, discussing how sensory language like 'badbu' contributes to the themes of a work. You have complete mastery over all its forms, derivations, and the subtle social implications of using such a direct word in various Persian-speaking subcultures.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

بدبو in 30 Seconds

Badbu is the primary Persian word for 'smelly' or 'stinky.'
It is a compound of 'bad' (bad) and 'bu' (smell).
It is used for food, people, places, and pollution.
The opposite of badbu is khoshbu (fragrant/pleasant).

The Persian word بدبو (badbu) is a compound adjective that literally translates to 'bad-smelling.' In the rich tapestry of the Persian language, where sensory descriptions are often nuanced and poetic, this word serves as the standard, everyday term for anything that offends the olfactory senses. It is composed of two distinct parts: bad (meaning 'bad' or 'evil') and bu (meaning 'smell' or 'scent'). Together, they create a straightforward descriptor for odors ranging from mildly unpleasant to downright repulsive.

Daily Hygiene: Used to describe body odor, sweaty clothes, or bad breath (halitosis). For example, 'جوراب‌های بدبو' (bad-smelling socks) is a common domestic complaint.

این پنیر خیلی بدبو است، آیا خراب شده؟ (This cheese is very foul-smelling; has it gone bad?)

Environmental Contexts: Used for stagnant water, garbage, or industrial pollution. In cities like Tehran, people might use it to describe the air on particularly smoggy days when chemical odors are prevalent.

Understanding the usage of بدبو requires recognizing its place in the spectrum of Persian adjectives. While words like mote'affen (putrid) or gandideh (rotten) are more specific to biological decay, badbu is the umbrella term. It is the antonym of khoshbu (pleasant-smelling/fragrant). If you walk into a room and the air is stale, you say it is badbu. If a flower has a pungent, unpleasant scent, it is also badbu.

دهانش به خاطر سیگار کشیدن بدبو شده بود. (His mouth had become foul-smelling because of smoking.)

Culinary Disgust: Persian cuisine relies heavily on aromatic herbs. If an ingredient smells 'off' or if a dish like fish isn't prepared with enough spices to mask its natural pungency, it might be labeled as badbu.

Finally, the word is used in metaphorical senses in literature, though less commonly than in literal senses. A 'bad-smelling reputation' or a 'bad-smelling situation' can imply something suspicious or morally corrupt, though modern Persian usually prefers other idioms for these abstract concepts. In daily life, however, if your nose is unhappy, badbu is your go-to word.

Grammatically, بدبو functions as a standard adjective in Persian. Its most common placement is following a noun using the Ezafe construction (an unstressed 'e' sound connecting the noun and the adjective). For example, 'the smelly trash' becomes zobale-ye badbu. It can also function as a predicate adjective after the verb 'to be' (budan) or 'to become' (shodan).

این سطل زباله بسیار بدبو است. (This trash can is very foul-smelling.)

Attributive Usage: When describing a noun directly: gaz-e badbu (foul-smelling gas), hayvan-e badbu (a smelly animal like a skunk). Note the Ezafe connector '-e' at the end of the noun.

One of the interesting aspects of using بدبو is its intensity. You can modify it with adverbs like kheyli (very), besyar (highly), or vaghe'an (really). In colloquial Persian, people might say badbu-ye gand which adds an extra layer of disgust, though gand itself is quite a strong word bordering on slang.

جوراب‌هایت را بشور، واقعاً بدبو هستند! (Wash your socks, they are really smelly!)

Comparative and Superlative: To say 'smellier,' add '-tar': badbu-tar. To say 'smelliest,' add '-tarin': badbu-tarin. Example: 'This is the smelliest place I've ever been' -> Inja badbu-tarin ja'i ast ke ta be hal rafte'am.

In more complex sentences, you might see it paired with verbs of perception. 'I feel a bad smell' in Persian is literally 'I smell a bad smell' (bu-ye bad mi-shnavam - literally 'hear a bad smell' in archaic forms, but modernly hess mikonam or be mashamam mi-resad). However, describing the object itself as badbu remains the most common construction.

گیاهانی که گل‌های بدبو دارند معمولاً حشرات را جذب می‌کنند. (Plants that have foul-smelling flowers usually attract insects.)

Negation: To say something is 'not smelly,' you use 'badbu nist.' However, it is more natural to use the positive opposite, 'khoshbu' (fragrant), or simply say 'bu nemideh' (it doesn't give off a smell).

In formal writing, such as a scientific report about air quality or a medical diagnosis, badbu is perfectly acceptable, though it might be accompanied by more technical terms like mote'affen. For instance, a doctor might describe a wound as badbu to indicate infection. In such cases, it conveys a professional, descriptive tone rather than just a personal opinion.

You will encounter the word بدبو in a variety of real-life settings in Iran and Persian-speaking communities. Its frequency is high because humans are naturally preoccupied with scents. Here are the most common scenarios where you'll hear it spoken or see it in print.

In the Kitchen and Home: This is perhaps the most common environment. A mother might tell her child to throw out the zobale-ye badbu (smelly trash). When checking the fridge, someone might remark that the milk has become badbu, indicating it has spoiled.

آشپزخانه به خاطر ماهی مانده بدبو شده است. (The kitchen has become smelly because of the leftover fish.)

Public Transportation and Crowds: In the crowded Tehran Metro during summer, you might overhear people complaining (usually quietly or to themselves) about someone's badan-e badbu (smelly body). It’s a common topic of frustration in densely populated urban areas.

On Iranian television, specifically in health and hygiene programs, experts frequently use badbu. They discuss badbu-ye dahan (bad breath) and its causes, such as stomach issues or poor dental health. Advertisements for mouthwash, detergents, and air fresheners also use this word to identify the 'problem' their product solves.

بسیاری از مردم از مشکل عرق بدبو رنج می‌برند. (Many people suffer from the problem of foul-smelling sweat.)

Environmental News: News reports regarding the 'Tehran odor' (a mysterious smell that occasionally wafts through parts of the city) use the term bu-ye bad or describe the air as badbu. This makes it a common word in journalistic contexts related to ecology and urban planning.

In literature and poetry, while more elevated terms are often preferred, badbu appears in modern prose to ground a scene in gritty realism. For example, a novelist describing a back alley or a neglected house will use the word to evoke a sense of decay and abandonment. It is a visceral word that immediately connects the reader to the physical reality of the setting.

For English speakers learning Persian, the word بدبو is relatively straightforward, but there are nuances in word choice and grammar that can lead to common errors. Understanding these will help you sound more like a native speaker.

Confusing 'Badbu' with 'Gandideh': Mistake: Using badbu when you specifically mean 'rotten.' While rotten things are badbu, gandideh is the specific term for biological decomposition. Use badbu for the smell itself, and gandideh for the state of the food.

Incorrect: این تخم‌مرغ بدبو است. (While technically true, it's better to say 'gandideh' if it's rotten.)

The Ezafe Omission: Mistake: Saying 'جوراب بدبو' (jurab badbu) without the 'e' sound. In Persian, you must say jurab-e badbu. Omitting the Ezafe is a classic beginner mistake that makes the phrase sound like two disconnected words.

Another common error is using badbu for things that are socially 'stale' but not physically smelly. In English, we might say a joke is 'stale' or 'smells fishy' (meaning suspicious). In Persian, badbu is almost always literal. If you want to say something is suspicious, use mashkuk. If you want to say a joke is old, use ghadimi or bi-mazeh (tasteless).

Correct: این وضعیت مشکوک است. (This situation is suspicious.) Not 'badbu'.

Register Errors: Using badbu in extremely formal poetry where a word like karih (loathsome) or na-khosh-ayand (unpleasant) might be more appropriate. However, for 95% of situations, badbu is the correct choice.

Finally, watch out for the pluralization. Since badbu is an adjective, it usually doesn't take the plural '-ha' or '-an' endings when it's describing a plural noun. You say ghazahaye badbu (smelly foods), not ghazahaye badbuha. The adjective remains singular while the noun it modifies is pluralized.

While بدبو is the most versatile word for a bad smell, Persian offers several alternatives depending on the intensity and the source of the odor. Knowing these will significantly enrich your vocabulary.

متعفن (Mote'affen): This is a more formal and intense word than badbu. It translates to 'putrid' or 'fetid.' It is often used in medical or scientific contexts to describe decaying organic matter or infected wounds. It implies a sense of rot that badbu does not necessarily have.

جسد حیوان در جنگل متعفن شده بود. (The animal's carcass had become putrid in the forest.)

گندیده (Gandideh): Specifically means 'rotten' or 'spoiled.' While a rotten egg is badbu, the word gandideh describes the state of the egg itself. It's very common in the kitchen when talking about vegetables, meat, or fruit that have gone bad.

For milder unpleasantness, you might hear na-khosh-ayand (unpleasant). This is a polite way to describe a smell without being too blunt. If you are at a dinner party and something smells a bit off, using na-khosh-ayand is much more 't'arof'-friendly than calling it badbu.

این عطر کمی برای من ناخوشایند است. (This perfume is a bit unpleasant for me.)

تند (Tond): Literally 'sharp' or 'fast,' but when applied to smells, it means 'pungent.' A smell can be tond without necessarily being badbu. For example, vinegar or strong spices have a bu-ye tond. It’s an objective description of intensity.

Finally, we have zenandeh (repulsive/striking). This is used for smells that are so strong or bad they almost 'hit' you. It is often used for chemical smells like bleach or heavy ammonia. If a smell makes you want to turn away immediately, it is zenandeh.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root 'bu' is related to the English word 'bud' and 'bouquet' through distant Indo-European connections to growth and flowering scents.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /bæd.buː/

US /bæd.bu/

The stress is typically on the second syllable: bad-BU.

Rhymes With

Khoshbu (خوشبو) Tarsu (ترسو) Darsu (درس‌خوان - partial) Gisu (گیسو) Aru (آبرو - partial) Juju (جو‌جو) Lulu (لولو) Pashmu (پشمالو - partial)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'bad' like 'bed'.
Not stretching the 'u' sound enough.
Adding an extra vowel between 'bad' and 'bu'.
Misplacing the stress on the first syllable.
Forgetting that 'u' is a long vowel in Persian.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize once you know 'bad' and 'bu'.

Writing 2/5

Simple spelling with no difficult Persian letters.

Speaking 1/5

Very easy to pronounce for English speakers.

Listening 2/5

Clear sounds, usually easy to pick out in a sentence.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

بد (Bad) بو (Smell) است (Is) غذا (Food) آب (Water)

Learn Next

خوشبو (Fragrant) کثیف (Dirty) تمیز (Clean) عطر (Perfume) شستن (To wash)

Advanced

متعفن (Putrid) رایحه (Scent) استشمام (Inhaling) رذیلت (Vice) تعفن (Rot)

Grammar to Know

Ezafe Construction

Jurab-e badbu (Smelly sock)

Compound Adjectives

Bad + Bu = Badbu

Adjective Comparison

Badbu-tar (Smellier)

Predicative Adjectives

In badbu ast (This is smelly)

Adverbial Modification

Besyar badbu (Very smelly)

Examples by Level

این جوراب بدبو است.

This sock is smelly.

Simple subject + adjective + verb 'to be'.

آیا این شیر بدبو است؟

Is this milk smelly?

Question form using 'aya'.

من غذای بدبو نمی‌خورم.

I don't eat smelly food.

Adjective 'badbu' modifying the object 'ghaza'.

سگ من بدبو است.

My dog is smelly.

Possessive 'man' + adjective.

این گل بدبو نیست.

This flower is not smelly.

Negative form 'nist'.

او یک کیف بدبو دارد.

He has a smelly bag.

Indefinite 'yek' + noun + adjective.

آب اینجا بدبو است.

The water here is smelly.

Subject 'ab' + adverb of place 'inja'.

هوا بدبو شد.

The air became smelly.

Verb 'shodan' (to become) in past tense.

سطل زباله خیلی بدبو شده است.

The trash can has become very smelly.

Use of 'kheyli' for emphasis.

دهان او بعد از سیر خوردن بدبو بود.

His mouth was smelly after eating garlic.

Time phrase 'ba'd az' + gerund.

ما باید این لباس‌های بدبو را بشوییم.

We must wash these smelly clothes.

Modal verb 'bayad' + present subjunctive.

چرا این اتاق اینقدر بدبو است؟

Why is this room so smelly?

Question word 'chera' and intensive 'inghadr'.

گربه بدبو به خانه آمد.

The smelly cat came into the house.

Adjective following noun with Ezafe.

او از بوی بدبو متنفر است.

She hates smelly odors.

Verb 'motenafer budan' (to hate).

پنیرهای فرانسوی گاهی بدبو هستند.

French cheeses are sometimes smelly.

Plural subject + frequency adverb 'gahi'.

کفش‌های بدبویت را بیرون بگذار.

Put your smelly shoes outside.

Imperative verb 'be-gozar'.

کارخانه باعث شده که هوای منطقه بدبو شود.

The factory has caused the region's air to become smelly.

Cause-effect structure with 'ba'es shodan'.

ماهی اگر تازه نباشد، خیلی زود بدبو می‌شود.

If fish is not fresh, it becomes smelly very quickly.

Conditional 'agar' + negative subjunctive.

او به خاطر دهان بدبویش به دکتر رفت.

He went to the doctor because of his smelly mouth.

Reasoning with 'be khater-e'.

این رودخانه به دلیل فاضلاب بدبو شده است.

This river has become smelly due to sewage.

Passive-like state with 'shodeh ast'.

آیا راهی برای از بین بردن کفش‌های بدبو وجود دارد؟

Is there a way to eliminate smelly shoes?

Existential question 'vojud darad?'.

برخی گیاهان برای جذب مگس، گل‌های بدبو دارند.

Some plants have smelly flowers to attract flies.

Purpose clause with 'baraye'.

او همیشه از بوی بدبوی سیگار شکایت می‌کند.

She always complains about the smelly odor of cigarettes.

Verb 'shekayat kardan' + preposition 'az'.

در فصل تابستان، سطل‌های خیابان بدبوتر می‌شوند.

In summer, street bins become smellier.

Comparative adjective 'badbu-tar'.

استفاده از مواد شیمیایی بدبو در آزمایشگاه ممنوع است.

The use of smelly chemicals in the laboratory is forbidden.

Gerund 'estefadeh' as subject.

گاز متان گازی بی‌رنگ اما گاهی بدبو است.

Methane is a colorless but sometimes smelly gas.

Contrast using 'ama' (but).

مرداب‌های بدبو محل مناسبی برای رشد پشه‌ها هستند.

Smelly marshes are suitable places for mosquitoes to grow.

Compound noun 'mahall-e monaseb'.

بوی بدبوی ناشی از سوختن پلاستیک سمی است.

The smelly odor resulting from burning plastic is toxic.

Participle 'nashi az' (resulting from).

او با یک اسپری سعی کرد محیط بدبو را خوشبو کند.

With a spray, he tried to make the smelly environment fragrant.

Verb 'sa'y kardan' + infinitive.

تجمع زباله‌ها در هوای گرم، منظره‌ای بدبو ایجاد کرده بود.

The accumulation of trash in hot weather had created a smelly scene.

Past perfect 'ijad kardeh bud'.

برخی از مواد شوینده خودشان بوی بدبویی دارند.

Some detergents themselves have a smelly odor.

Reflexive 'khodeshan'.

پزشک متوجه شد که عفونت باعث بدبو شدن زخم شده است.

The doctor noticed that the infection had caused the wound to become smelly.

Noun clause with 'ke'.

نویسنده با توصیف کوچه‌های بدبو، فقر شهر را نشان داد.

The author showed the city's poverty by describing smelly alleys.

Instrumental 'ba' + gerund.

فساد در لایه‌های زیرین جامعه، همچون تعفنی بدبو به مشام می‌رسید.

Corruption in the underlying layers of society was felt like a smelly rot.

Simile using 'hamchon' (like).

در متون قدیمی، دیوها را موجوداتی بدبو و زشت‌رو توصیف می‌کردند.

In ancient texts, demons were described as smelly and ugly-faced beings.

Plural 'mojudati' with multiple adjectives.

تخمیر مواد آلی در غیاب اکسیژن، فرآیندی بدبو ایجاد می‌کند.

The fermentation of organic matter in the absence of oxygen creates a smelly process.

Technical vocabulary 'takhmiir', 'mavadd-e ali'.

او از میان انبوهی از لباس‌های کهنه و بدبو، کلید را پیدا کرد.

He found the key from among a pile of old and smelly clothes.

Prepositional phrase 'az miyan-e'.

تاثیرات بدبوی این تصمیم سیاسی تا سال‌ها باقی خواهد ماند.

The 'smelly' (unpleasant) effects of this political decision will remain for years.

Metaphorical usage of 'badbu'.

بوی بدبوی لاشه در تمام فضای غار پیچیده بود.

The smelly odor of the carcass had filled the entire space of the cave.

Verb 'pichidan' (to wrap/fill) for smells.

محققان در حال بررسی منشأ این بوی بدبوی ناگهانی در شهر هستند.

Researchers are investigating the origin of this sudden smelly odor in the city.

Progressive tense 'dar hal-e barresi'.

استشمام آن رایحه بدبو، خاطرات تلخ دوران اسارت را در او زنده کرد.

Inhaling that smelly scent revived bitter memories of his captivity.

Formal noun 'esteshmam' (act of smelling).

در فلسفه اخلاق، گاه رذایل را به امور بدبو و فضایل را به عطر تشبیه می‌کنند.

In moral philosophy, vices are sometimes likened to smelly things and virtues to perfume.

Passive 'tashbih mikonand' (they liken).

آن منطقه به دلیل فعالیت‌های آتشفشانی، همواره سرشار از گازهای گوگردی بدبو است.

That region, due to volcanic activities, is always full of smelly sulfur gases.

Adjective phrase 'sarshar az' (full of).

ویژگی بدبو بودن برخی قارچ‌ها، مکانیسمی دفاعی در برابر شکارچیان است.

The smelly characteristic of some fungi is a defense mechanism against predators.

Gerund 'budan' used as a noun.

نثر او به قدری واقع‌گرایانه بود که خواننده بوی بدبوی محیط را حس می‌کرد.

His prose was so realistic that the reader felt the smelly odor of the environment.

Result clause 'be ghadri... ke'.

تلاش برای پنهان کردن این رسوایی بدبو، تنها به گسترش آن انجامید.

The effort to hide this 'smelly' scandal only led to its expansion.

Metaphorical 'badbu' for a scandal.

او با دقتی وسواس‌گونه، هرگونه منبع بدبو را از خانه حذف می‌کرد.

With obsessive precision, he removed any smelly source from the house.

Adverbial phrase 'ba deghati vasvas-gune'.

در اساطیر، اژدها اغلب با نفسی بدبو و آتشین تصویر می‌شود.

In mythology, the dragon is often depicted with smelly and fiery breath.

Adverb 'aghalab' (often).

Common Collocations

دهان بدبو

جوراب بدبو

سطل بدبو

غذای بدبو

گاز بدبو

محیط بدبو

عرق بدبو

آب بدبو

حیوان بدبو

نفس بدبو

Common Phrases

چقدر بدبو!

— How smelly!

وقتی وارد اتاق کثیف می‌شوید می‌گویید: چقدر بدبو!

بوی بدبو دادن

— To give off a bad smell.

این لباس بوی بدبویی می‌دهد.

خلاص شدن از شر بوی بدبو

— To get rid of a bad smell.

چطور از شر بوی بدبوی یخچال خلاص شویم؟

منبع بدبو

— The source of the smell.

باید منبع بدبو را پیدا کنیم.

فضای بدبو

— A smelly atmosphere.

فضای بدبو مانع کار ما شد.

مواد بدبو

— Smelly materials.

این مواد بدبو هستند.

جای بدبو

— A smelly place.

اینجا جای بدبویی است.

بوی بدبوی ماندگی

— The smell of staleness.

اتاق بوی بدبوی ماندگی می‌داد.

حس کردن بوی بدبو

— To sense a bad smell.

من یک بوی بدبو حس می‌کنم.

از بین بردن بوی بدبو

— To eliminate a bad smell.

این اسپری بوی بدبو را از بین می‌برد.

Often Confused With

بدبو vs Gandideh

Gandideh means rotten (physical state), Badbu means smelly (sensory).

بدبو vs Kasif

Kasif means dirty. Something can be dirty but not yet badbu.

بدبو vs Tond

Tond means pungent. It can be a good smell (like spices) or a bad one.

Idioms & Expressions

"گندش در آمدن"

— Literally 'the rot came out,' meaning a scandal has been revealed.

بالاخره گند کارهایش در آمد.

Slang/Informal

"دهانش بو می‌دهد"

— Literally 'his mouth smells,' often implying someone is immature or 'wet behind the ears.'

هنوز دهانش بوی شیر می‌دهد.

Informal

"بوی چیزی بلند شدن"

— When the 'smell' of a secret starts to spread.

بوی خیانتش بلند شده است.

Neutral

"دماغ کسی را سوزاندن"

— To make someone regret or to outsmart them (metaphorically 'burning their nose').

با این کار دماغش را سوزاندم.

Informal

"بوی حلواش می‌آید"

— Literally 'the smell of his funeral halva is coming,' meaning someone is very old or near death.

دیگر بوی حلواش می‌آید.

Slang

"موش مرده بودن"

— To act like a 'dead mouse' (playing innocent while being guilty/smelly).

او موش مرده است.

Informal

"بوی کباب آمدن"

— To sense an opportunity or a conflict.

بوی کباب می‌آید، خبری هست؟

Informate

"دماغ سربالا بودن"

— To be arrogant (nose up).

خیلی دماغ سربالا است.

Informal

"بوی توطئه"

— The smell of conspiracy.

بوی توطئه به مشام می‌رسد.

Formal

"گند زدن"

— To mess up completely (literally 'to make it rot').

توی امتحان گند زدم.

Slang

Easily Confused

بدبو vs بدگو

Sounds similar (Bad-gu vs Bad-bu).

Badgu means someone who speaks ill of others (slanderer). Badbu means smelly.

او آدم بدگویی است (He is a slanderer).

بدبو vs بدخو

Similar structure.

Badkho means ill-tempered or having a bad character.

رئیس بدخو (An ill-tempered boss).

بدبو vs بدرو

Similar structure.

Badro means ugly or having an unpleasant face.

دیو بدرو (Ugly demon).

بدبو vs بی‌بو

Opposite meaning prefix.

Bibu means odorless. Badbu means it has a smell, and it's bad.

آب بی‌بو است (Water is odorless).

بدبو vs بودار

Related to smell.

Budar means 'scented' or 'having a smell', but can also colloquially mean 'suspicious'.

این پرونده بودار است (This case is suspicious).

Sentence Patterns

[Noun] badbu ast.

Gaza badbu ast.

[Noun]-e badbu ra [Verb].

Jurab-e badbu ra beshu.

Inja be khater-e [Noun] badbu shodeh ast.

Inja be khater-e zobale badbu shodeh ast.

Agar [Noun] badbu bashad, an ra [Verb].

Agar shir badbu bashad, an ra dur beriz.

Ba vojude [Noun]-e badbu, u [Verb].

Ba vojude havaye badbu, u kar kard.

Hich chizi badbutar az [Noun] nist.

Hich chizi badbutar az kheyant nist.

Man [Noun]-e badbu nadaram.

Man kafsh-e badbu nadaram.

Chera [Noun] badbu ast?

Chera dastat badbu ast?

Word Family

Nouns

بو (Smell)

بویایی (Sense of smell)

بوگیر (Deodorizer)

Verbs

بوییدن (To smell)

بو کردن (To sniff)

بو دادن (To give off a smell)

Adjectives

خوشبو (Fragrant)

بی‌بو (Odorless)

بودار (Smelly/Scented)

عطر

رایحه

تعفن

گند

دماغ

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in daily spoken Persian.

Common Mistakes

Saying 'bad bu' with a space. → badbu (بدبو)
It is a compound adjective and should be written as one word.
Using 'badbu' for 'rotten meat' in a shop. → Gousht-e gandideh
While it smells, 'gandideh' describes the spoiled state better.
Omitting Ezafe: 'Jurab badbu'. → Jurab-e badbu
Adjectives need the Ezafe connector.
Confusing with 'Badgu'. → Badbu
'Badgu' means a slanderer, 'Badbu' means smelly.
Pluralizing the adjective: 'Kafsh-haye badbu-ha'. → Kafsh-haye badbu
Adjectives in Persian usually don't take plural endings.

Tips

The 'Bu' Family

Learn 'khoshbu', 'badbu', and 'bibu' together. They cover all your basic smelling needs.

Ezafe is Key

Don't forget the 'e' sound when putting 'badbu' after a noun. 'Shir-e badbu', not 'shir badbu'.

Perfume Culture

Iranians love 'khoshbu' things. Mentioning something is 'badbu' is a strong statement about quality.

Long 'U'

Make sure the 'u' sound at the end is long like 'moon', not short.

No Spaces

In modern Persian, 'badbu' is usually written as one word without a space.

T'arof and Smell

If someone's cooking is 'badbu', it's very impolite to say so directly. Use euphemisms.

City Life

You'll hear this word often in discussions about Tehran's air quality.

Health Indicator

In Persian medicine, 'badbu' is an important symptom for many digestive issues.

Bad Ghost

Remember: A 'Bad Boo' is a smelly ghost.

Opposites

Always try to remember 'khoshbu' whenever you use 'badbu'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Bad Boo'! Imagine a ghost (Boo) that smells really 'Bad'. That's 'Bad-bu'.

Visual Association

Imagine a green cloud of smoke rising from a pile of old garbage. Write 'BADBU' on the cloud.

Word Web

Smell Bad Trash Socks Garlic Rotten Nose Air

Challenge

Try to find three things in your house that are 'badbu' and name them in Persian today.

Word Origin

Comes from Middle Persian (Pahlavi). 'Bad' is from Old Persian 'vaka', and 'Bu' is from Old Persian 'bauda'.

Original meaning: Unpleasant scent.

Indo-European (Persian branch).

Cultural Context

Calling a person 'badbu' is a very strong insult in Iran. Use it for objects, not people, unless you want to be very rude.

English speakers might find 'badbu' more direct than 'it has an odor'. In English, we often use euphemisms, but 'badbu' is quite standard.

The 'Mysterious Odor of Tehran' (Bu-ye bad-e Tehran) news reports. Modern Persian pop songs about 'bad-bu' relationships. Health segments on IRIB TV.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Kitchen

غذای بدبو
یخچال بدبو
شیر بدبو
گوشت بدبو

Bathroom

توالت بدبو
صابون بدبو
حوله بدبو
چاه بدبو

Doctor

دهان بدبو
عفونت بدبو
عرق بدبو
نفس بدبو

City/Street

هوای بدبو
جوی بدبو
سطل بدبو
دود بدبو

Clothing

لباس بدبو
جوراب بدبو
کفش بدبو
کلاه بدبو

Conversation Starters

"آیا حس می‌کنی اینجا کمی بدبو است؟"

"چرا این رستوران اینقدر بدبو بود؟"

"بهترین راه برای از بین بردن بوی بدبو چیست؟"

"آیا تا به حال یک حیوان بدبو دیده‌ای؟"

"از کدام بوی بدبو بیشتر متنفری؟"

Journal Prompts

امروز یک بوی بدبو حس کردم که مرا به یاد خاطره‌ای انداخت...

چرا برخی از مردم به بوی بدبوی سیگار اهمیت نمی‌دهند؟

توصیف یک بازار قدیمی و بوهای بدبو و خوشبوی آن.

اگر می‌توانستی یک بوی بدبو را برای همیشه از دنیا حذف کنی، کدام بود؟

چگونه یک محیط بدبو بر روی خلق و خوی شما تاثیر می‌گذارد؟

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is not a swear word, but calling a person 'badbu' is very insulting and blunt. Use it for objects instead.

Add '-tar' to the end: 'badbu-tar'.

It's rare. Usually, we use 'gand' or other metaphors for character. 'Badbu' is mostly literal.

'Bu-ye bad' is a noun phrase (bad smell), while 'badbu' is an adjective (smelly).

Yes, it is perfectly fine for news reports, medical texts, and formal descriptions.

It is 'badbu-ye dahan'.

No, something can be 'badbu' like a chemical or a skunk without being rotten.

The most common antonym is 'khoshbu'.

Yes, 'otagh-e badbu' (a smelly room) is very common.

It is spelled 'ب-د-ب-و'.