سرای سپنج

Persian

Etymology

Literally, “temporary house; lodging of a guest.”

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [sa.ˈɾɑː.ji si.ˈpand͡ʒ]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾɑ́ː.jɪ sɪ.pʰǽnd͡ʒ]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾɑ́ː.jɪ sɪ.pʰǽnd͡ʒ]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾɑ́ː.jɪ sɪ.pʰǽnd͡ʒ]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾɔ́ː.ji si.pʰǽnd͡ʒ̥]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [sæ.ɹɒ́ː.je se.pʰǽnd͡ʒ̥]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾɔ́.ji si.pʰǽnd͡ʒ]

Readings
Classical reading?	sarā-yi sipanj
Dari reading?	sarā-yi sipanj
Iranian reading?	sarâ-ye sepanj
Tajik reading?	saro-yi sipanj

Noun

سرای سپنج • (sarâ-ye sepanj)

1. (figurative, poetic) the fleeting world
   • c. 1011, Abu'l-Qāsim Firdawsī, “The reign of Iskandar”, in شاهنامه [Book of Kings]‎^[1]:

     بدو مرغ گفت ای دلارای رنج
     چه جویی همی زین سرای سپنج

     bad-ō murğ guft ay dilārā-yi ranj
     či jūyī hamē z-īn sarāy-i sipanj

     The bird said to him, "O you who adorn your heart with pain,
     Why are you seeking out this temporary world?"

     (Classical Persian romanization)

Further reading

• Hayyim, Sulayman (1934) “سرای سپنج”, in New Persian–English dictionary, Teheran: Librairie-imprimerie Béroukhim