دشنام

Persian

Etymology

From Middle Persian [Book Pahlavi needed] (dwšnʾm /⁠dušnām⁠/), from Proto-Iranian *dušHnā́ma (“insult”), from Proto-Indo-European *dus- (“bad”) + *h₁nómn̥ (“name”). Within Persian, compare دشمن (došman, “enemy”), نام (nâm, “name”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [duʃ.nɑːm]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [d̪ʊʃ.nɑːm]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [d̪ʊʃ.nɑːm]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [d̪ʊʃ.nɑːm]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [d̪uʃ.nɔːm]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [d̪oʃ.nɒːm]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [d̪uʃ.nɔm]

Readings
Classical reading?	dušnām
Dari reading?	dušnām
Iranian reading?	došnâm
Tajik reading?	dušnom

Noun

دشنام • (došnâm) (plural دشنام‌ها (došnâm-hâ))

1. insult; verbal abuse

   Synonyms: توهین (towhin), فحش (fohš)

   • late 14th century, Xāja Shams-ud-Dīn Moḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī, “اگر آن ترک شیرازی به دست آرد دل ما را (Shirazi Turk)”, in دیوان حافظ [Divān of Ḥāfeẓ]:

     اگر دشنام فرمایی و گر نفرین دعا گویم
     جواب تلخ می‌زیبد لب لعل شکرخا را

     agar došnâm farmâyi va gar nefrin do'â guyam
     javâb-e talx mi-zibad lab-e la'l-e šekarxâ râ

     Even if you speak harshly, and even if you curse me, I am grateful;
     A bitter answer beautifies a ruby-red sugar-chewing lip.

Derived terms

• دشنام دادن (došnâm dâdan)
• دشنام گفتن (došnâm goftan)
• دشنام‌گویی (došnâm-guyi)