When discussing medications and pharmaceuticals in Persian, کپسول (kapsul) is the standard and most commonly used term for 'capsule.' It directly refers to the gelatin-encased dosage form of medicine.
While قرص (ghors) is often used more broadly for 'pill' or 'tablet,' it's important to differentiate it from کپسول. A کپسول specifically implies the two-part, usually cylindrical, casing containing the active ingredient, whereas a قرص typically refers to a solid, compressed dosage form.
Understanding this distinction is crucial for clear communication in a medical context, such as when a pharmacist asks if you prefer a 'capsule' or a 'tablet.' The word کپسول has been directly borrowed from French ('capsule') and is widely understood across all dialects of Persian.
Let's talk about a practical Persian word you'll definitely hear: کپسول (kapsul). You might recognize it because it sounds a lot like its English equivalent, 'capsule'. That makes it an easy one to remember, which is great for you as an English speaker learning Persian!
- DEFINITION
- A small casing, usually made of gelatin, used to enclose a dose of medicine.
While its primary meaning is related to medicine, like in English, you might also hear it in other contexts. Think of it as anything small and enclosed, but for B1 level, focusing on medicine is your best bet.
§ Where you'll hear کپسول (kapsul)
You'll mostly encounter کپسول (kapsul) in situations related to health, pharmacies, or discussions about medication. Here’s where it comes up:
- In a pharmacy (داروخانه - dārukhāneh) when asking for or being given medicine.
- At the doctor's (پزشک - pezeshk) office when they prescribe something.
- In everyday conversations when people talk about taking vitamins or medication.
- In news reports about health, particularly about new medications or medical treatments.
§ Practical examples
Let's look at some examples so you can see how کپسول (kapsul) is used naturally.
لطفاً دو عدد کپسول مسکن به من بدهید.
*Hint: Please give me two painkiller capsules.*
این کپسول را هر دوازده ساعت یک بار مصرف کنید.
*Hint: Take this capsule every twelve hours.*
آیا کپسول ویتامین دی دارید؟
*Hint: Do you have vitamin D capsules?*
پزشک برای سرماخوردگی من کپسول تجویز کرد.
*Hint: The doctor prescribed capsules for my cold.*
بسته بندی کپسول ها را قبل از استفاده بررسی کنید.
*Hint: Check the capsule packaging before use.*
§ Related words and phrases
Understanding کپسول (kapsul) is good, but knowing related terms will help you even more. Here are a few:
قرص (qors): This means 'pill' or 'tablet'. While similar to a capsule, a pill is typically solid and compressed, whereas a capsule is a casing. You'll use these words interchangeably sometimes, but it's good to know the distinction.
دارو (dāru): This is the general word for 'medicine' or 'drug'. Both کپسول (kapsul) and قرص (qors) are types of دارو (dāru).
نسخه (noskheh): This means 'prescription'. When a doctor writes a prescription for you, they'll often specify whether it's a capsule or a pill.
By familiarizing yourself with کپسول (kapsul) and these related terms, you'll be much more confident navigating medical conversations in Persian. Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it!
Difficulty Rating
straightforward, borrowed word
straightforward, borrowed word
common, easy to pronounce
common, easy to distinguish
What to Learn Next
Learn Next
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Idioms & Expressions
"کپسول زمان"
time capsule
این کپسول زمان حاوی اطلاعات مهمی از گذشته است. (This time capsule contains important information from the past.)
neutral"کپسول آتش نشانی"
fire extinguisher
در مواقع اضطراری از کپسول آتش نشانی استفاده کنید. (In emergencies, use a fire extinguisher.)
neutral"کپسول اکسیژن"
oxygen tank/cylinder
بیمار برای تنفس به کپسول اکسیژن نیاز دارد. (The patient needs an oxygen tank to breathe.)
neutral"کپسول خواب"
sleeping pill (colloquial)
بعد از یک روز خسته کننده، یک کپسول خواب برای من لازم بود. (After a tiring day, a sleeping pill was necessary for me.)
informal"کپسول گاز"
gas cylinder/canister
برای پخت و پز در طبیعت، کپسول گاز کوچک همراه داشتیم. (We brought a small gas canister for cooking in nature.)
neutral"کپسول قهوه"
coffee capsule/pod
صبح ها یک کپسول قهوه اسپرسو می نوشم. (I drink an espresso coffee capsule in the mornings.)
neutral"کپسول ویتامین"
vitamin capsule/supplement
برای حفظ سلامتی، هر روز یک کپسول ویتامین مصرف می کنم. (To maintain health, I take a vitamin capsule every day.)
neutral"کپسول فضایی"
space capsule
فضانوردان در کپسول فضایی به زمین بازگشتند. (The astronauts returned to Earth in a space capsule.)
neutral"کپسول ژلاتینی"
gelatin capsule
این دارو به صورت کپسول ژلاتینی عرضه می شود. (This medicine is available in gelatin capsule form.)
formal"کپسول خوراکی"
oral capsule
پزشک مصرف کپسول خوراکی را برای بیمار تجویز کرد. (The doctor prescribed oral capsules for the patient.)
formalTips
Learn the basic meaning
The most common use of "کپسول" (kapsul) is to refer to a medical capsule. Think of it like the little shell around medicine.
Pay attention to context
While primarily for medicine, in some informal contexts, it might refer to other small, capsule-shaped items. However, for B1, focus on the medical use.
Practice with common phrases
Try saying things like "یک کپسول بخورید" (yek kapsul bokhorid - take one capsule) or "کپسول سرماخوردگی" (kapsul sarmākhordegi - cold capsule).
Don't confuse with 'قرص'
"کپسول" is a capsule (usually two-part, filled with powder/liquid), while "قرص" (ghors) is a pill or tablet (solid, compressed). They are different.
Listen for the sound
The pronunciation is similar to the English word "capsule." The "u" sound is like the "oo" in moon.
Visualize the word
When you hear or read "کپسول," immediately picture a medical capsule in your mind. This helps with recall.
Use it in sentences
The best way to learn is to use it. "دکتر به من کپسول داد." (Doktor be man kapsul dād. - The doctor gave me a capsule.)
Note its grammatical gender
Persian nouns don't have grammatical gender, so you don't need to worry about masculine or feminine for "کپسول." This simplifies things compared to some other languages.
Read medical labels
If you see Persian medical labels, look for "کپسول" to see how it's used in a practical context, e.g., "هر ۸ ساعت یک کپسول" (har hasht sā'at yek kapsul - one capsule every 8 hours).
Don't overthink it
For B1, keep it simple. "کپسول" almost always means a medical capsule. Master this core meaning first.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsThe word for 'capsule' in Persian is کپسول (kapsul).
کپسول (kapsul) refers to a small casing, usually made of gelatin, that contains a dose of medicine. Think of a medicine capsule.
While its primary meaning is a medicine capsule, کپسول can sometimes be used more broadly for a small, enclosed container, especially in a technical or scientific context, but this is less common in everyday conversation. It's best to stick to medicine capsules for now.
Yes, کپسول is a very common and essential word, especially when talking about health or medicine.
It's pronounced kap-sul. The 'a' is like the 'a' in 'father', and 'u' is like the 'oo' in 'moon'.
Here's an example: لطفا یک کپسول بخورید. (Lotfan yek kapsul bekhorid.) - Please take one capsule.
In some specialized contexts, کپسول can refer to a small, self-contained unit, like a 'space capsule'. However, for general learners, focusing on its medical meaning is most practical.
You can say یک کپسول بخورید (yek kapsul bekhorid), which literally means 'eat a capsule', but it's the natural way to say 'take a capsule' in Persian.
The word کپسول is considered to be at a CEFR B1 level, meaning it's an important word for intermediate learners to know.
Yes, کپسول is a loanword in Persian, likely from French 'capsule' or English 'capsule'.
Test Yourself 18 questions
Imagine you are sick. Write two short sentences about needing medicine using the word 'کپسول'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
من بیمار هستم. به کپسول نیاز دارم. (I am sick. I need a capsule.)
Describe a common situation where someone would take a 'کپسول'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
وقتی سردرد دارم، یک کپسول می خورم. (When I have a headache, I take a capsule.)
Write a sentence telling someone to take a 'کپسول' for a specific reason.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
اگر تب داری، این کپسول را بخور. (If you have a fever, take this capsule.)
What did the doctor tell the person to do with the capsules?
Read this passage:
من امروز صبح خیلی احساس خوبی نداشتم. گلو درد داشتم و کمی تب. دکتر گفت باید استراحت کنم و این کپسول ها را هر هشت ساعت یک بار بخورم.
What did the doctor tell the person to do with the capsules?
The passage says 'این کپسول ها را هر هشت ساعت یک بار بخورم' which means 'take these capsules every eight hours'.
The passage says 'این کپسول ها را هر هشت ساعت یک بار بخورم' which means 'take these capsules every eight hours'.
Why should capsules be kept away from children?
Read this passage:
در خانه، همیشه باید کپسول ها را دور از دسترس کودکان نگه دارید. آنها ممکن است فکر کنند آب نبات هستند و آنها را بخورند.
Why should capsules be kept away from children?
The passage states 'آنها ممکن است فکر کنند آب نبات هستند و آنها را بخورند' which translates to 'They might think they are candy and eat them'.
The passage states 'آنها ممکن است فکر کنند آب نبات هستند و آنها را بخورند' which translates to 'They might think they are candy and eat them'.
What is important to do before taking any capsule?
Read this passage:
قبل از خوردن هر کپسول، همیشه دستورالعمل روی بسته بندی را بخوانید. برخی از کپسول ها باید با غذا خورده شوند و برخی دیگر با معده خالی.
What is important to do before taking any capsule?
The passage says 'همیشه دستورالعمل روی بسته بندی را بخوانید' meaning 'always read the instructions on the packaging'.
The passage says 'همیشه دستورالعمل روی بسته بندی را بخوانید' meaning 'always read the instructions on the packaging'.
Which of these is most similar to a کپسول?
Both قرص and کپسول are forms of solid medication, whereas the others are liquids or topical.
If someone says 'دکتر به من گفت که باید هر ۸ ساعت یک کپسول بخورم', what does it mean?
The sentence specifically mentions 'کپسول' (capsule) and 'بخورم' (eat/take medicine).
Which sentence correctly uses 'کپسول' in a medical context?
Capsules are taken orally for internal conditions like a headache. The other options describe actions not related to taking medicine.
کپسول usually refers to a type of liquid medicine.
کپسول refers to a small casing, usually gelatin, containing solid medicine, not liquid.
When a doctor prescribes a 'کپسول', you are expected to swallow it.
Capsules are typically swallowed to deliver medication internally.
It is common to break open a کپسول before taking it to mix the contents with water.
Generally, capsules should be swallowed whole as directed by a doctor or pharmacist, as breaking them open can affect their efficacy or release mechanism.
This sentence means 'A capsule was prescribed for severe pain relief.' The order of words is crucial for conveying this meaning in Persian.
This sentence means 'These long-term capsules have an effect on health.' The order of words like 'این', 'کپسولهای', and 'درازمدت' is important for grammatical correctness.
This sentence means 'This new medicinal capsule is a major advancement in technology.' Understanding how adjectives and nouns are ordered is key here.
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
Learn the basic meaning
The most common use of "کپسول" (kapsul) is to refer to a medical capsule. Think of it like the little shell around medicine.
Pay attention to context
While primarily for medicine, in some informal contexts, it might refer to other small, capsule-shaped items. However, for B1, focus on the medical use.
Practice with common phrases
Try saying things like "یک کپسول بخورید" (yek kapsul bokhorid - take one capsule) or "کپسول سرماخوردگی" (kapsul sarmākhordegi - cold capsule).
Don't confuse with 'قرص'
"کپسول" is a capsule (usually two-part, filled with powder/liquid), while "قرص" (ghors) is a pill or tablet (solid, compressed). They are different.
Example
او هر روز صبح یک کپسول ویتامین مصرف میکند.
Related Content
More health words
عارضه
B1A secondary, typically undesirable, effect of a drug or medical treatment.
اعصاب
B1Fibers or bundles of fibers that transmit impulses of sensation and motion.
عضلات
A2Tissues in the body that can contract to produce movement.
عضله
A2Muscle.
عفونت
A2The invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents.
علائم
A2A sign or indication of something; symptoms.
عمل
A1A surgical procedure; an operation.
عمل جراحی
A2A medical procedure involving incision into the body.
عموماً
B1In most cases; usually; generally.
عمیقاً
B1Deeply; to a great extent or degree.
