The Persian word for the spread or tablecloth used in the Haft-sin display is sofreh.
A sofreh is traditionally a cloth or low dining surface on which food is arranged and shared. During Nowruz, the Haft-sin table—or more traditionally, the Haft-sin spread—holds seven symbolic items whose Persian names begin with the letter “س” (sin), such as sabzeh (sprouts), seeb (apple), and seer (garlic). The sofreh provides the setting that unites these objects into a ceremonial display.
The word is also rendered sofra or sufra in related languages and English-language references. These forms describe a cloth, table, meal, or serving arrangement, so “sofreh” is more precise for the Persian cultural context. It is not the same as a korsi, a traditional heated table, or a miz, the ordinary Persian word for a table.
Although modern households often place Haft-sin on a dining table, the name sofreh remains associated with the decorated ceremonial cloth and the hospitality surrounding the New Year ritual.