سوسمار

Persian

Etymology

Ultimately from Sanskrit शिशुमार (śiśumāra, “alligator; river dolphin”), from शिशु (śiśu, “child”) + मार (māra, “killing”). سوس (sus, “(rare) lizard”) is a backformation from a reanalysis of the second element as مار (mâr, “snake”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [suːs.ˈmɑːɾ]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [suːs.mɑ́ːɾ]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [suːs.mɑ́ːɾ]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [suːs.mɑ́ːɾ]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [sus.mɔ́ːɾ]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [suːs.mɒ́ːɹ]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [sus.mɔ́ɾ]

Readings
Classical reading?	sūsmār
Dari reading?	sūsmār
Iranian reading?	susmâr
Tajik reading?	susmor

Noun

Dari	سوسمار
Iranian Persian
Tajik	сусмор

سوسمار • (susmâr) (plural سوسمارها (susmâr-hâ))

1. lizard

   Synonyms: مارْمولَک (mârmulak), بزمجّه (bozmajje)

2. crocodile

   Synonyms: کروکودیل (kerokodil), تمساح (temsâh)

   پوست سوسمار ― pust-e susmâr ― crocodile leather

3. (figurative, derogatory) scoundrel

Derived terms

• سوسماری (susmâri)