Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Persian violet

Persian violet

7.2
A small houseplant with sweet smelling bluish to dark lavender flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈpɜrʒən ˈvaɪlɪt/
translation icon : violeta persa
  • The Persian violet needs indirect sunlight and regular watering to thrive indoors.

Examples

  • She placed a Persian violet on the windowsill to brighten up the kitchen.

  • The Persian violet blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • Its delicate fragrance makes the Persian violet a popular choice among houseplant enthusiasts.

  • Look at this Persian violet!

  • Its delicate fragrance makes the Persian violet a popular choice among houseplant enthusiasts.

  • The Persian violet needs indirect sunlight and regular watering to thrive indoors.

  • She placed a Persian violet on the windowsill to brighten up the kitchen.

Synonyms

Exacum affine
vsPersian violet
  • Specialized
9.9

A houseplant that lives for many years with fragrant blue or lavender flowers

is the common everyday name used for the same cultivated fragrant houseplant

Surface Forms

Persian violet singular
Persian violets plural

Morphology

Persian + violet

The phrase combines the adjective 'Persian' (from Persia/Iran) with the noun 'violet' (a type of plant), so its meaning — a violet associated with or originating from Persia — is directly derivable from the constituents. This is a straightforward adjective+noun composition that is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Persian violet comes from the plant's origin and its flower color: Persian because it was brought from old Persia, the area now called Iran, and violet for its blue to light purple flowers. So, the name now means a small, scented houseplant with blue to light purple blooms.