How do you pronounce سگ (Sag)?

سگ (Sag) is pronounced //sæɡ//.

What is the English equivalent of سگ (Sag)?

The closest English equivalent of سگ (Sag) is "dog (as insult)".

سگ (Sag)

//sæɡ//insult

What does سگ (Sag) mean? سگ (Sag) is a Farsi (Persian) moderate that translates to “dog (as insult)” in English.

Literal Translation

dog

Meaning & Usage

"dog (as insult)"

Calling someone a dog — in Persian/Islamic culture, one of the most degrading animal comparisons possible. Dogs in traditional Iranian culture are considered najis (ritually unclean), making 'sag' an insult that attacks both character and spiritual status. It implies someone is dirty, low, and unworthy of respect.

Examples in the Wild

'Mesle sag' — like a dog (degraded, subservient). 'Sag-e man bood' — he was my dog (my servant/lackey). The word carries more weight in traditional contexts.

2/ 5

Moderate. Moderate. Common in everyday speech but not for polite company.

Cultural Context

The gulf between Western and Iranian attitudes toward dogs makes this insult culturally fascinating. In English, 'dog' as an insult is almost playful; in Persian, it draws on centuries of Islamic teaching about dogs' ritual impurity. 'Pedar sag' (dog father, already in the database) is the compound form. However, younger, westernized Iranians increasingly keep dogs as pets, creating tension around the word's power.