chah

Chah (Persian: چاه) is a Persian noun meaning "well," specifically a water well or borehole. The term denotes a source of groundwater and is widely used in everyday speech in Iran and among Persian-speaking communities in Afghanistan and other regions. In place names, چاه is a common element in toponyms, often forming compounds with another element under the ezafe construction to indicate "the well of" or "the place of water." As a result, many villages, riversides, or districts bear names that incorporate چاه.

Historically, wells have been central to settlement, irrigation, and travel across arid and semi-arid regions. Access to a reliable well determined agricultural potential, population distribution, and trade routes, and wells are frequently associated with oases and caravan stops. In Persian architecture and garden design, wells appear in courtyard features, cisterns, and water-management systems, reflecting the long-standing importance of groundwater.

Today, چاه remains a common component in Persian-language toponyms and everyday language. The word is recognized across Persian-speaking regions and forms part of the linguistic and cultural landscape of Iran and neighboring communities.