Iranians will constantly try to feed you and won’t be content unless you’ve left the country with a few extra kilos. It’s used by the cook both before a meal, like bon appétit, and after to express delight that you enjoyed the dish. Though you’re more likely to hear this phrase, it’s a good one to know because it’s so common. Yet another phrase for “thank you,” this one is taarof-based and literally means “may your hand not hurt.” Impress the locals and appear like one yourself when you thank someone for a meal. Compliment the chef for the delicious food you’ve just devoured, and give them an enormous sense of self-satisfaction at having fed you well.ĭaste shomâ dard nakone - Thank you (for the meal) Iranians are proud of their cuisine, and dinner for a normal-sized group can yield enough to feed a small army. This phrase may come in handy in case anyone is in shock as to why you aren’t inhaling that plate of chelow kebab, the national dish. Vegetarianism is very slowly (but surely) growing in Iran, but still, Persian cuisine is highly meat-based. Man giâhkhoram (man gee-âh-khor-am) - I’m a vegetarian. If you don’t remember this phrase, use the universally understood “WC.” Take advantage of bathrooms in any restaurants or attractions you visit and be prepared for the squat kind. Servees behdâshti kojâs? - Where is the bathroom? The response might be this same phrase or khodâ negahdâr, “may God protect you.” When parting ways, a simple khodâ hâfez (run together to sound like khodâfez) will suffice. Otherwise, you might hear it when someone offers you something or directs you-as if to say, “go ahead.”Īppropriate when you want to get someone’s attention or if you accidentally bump into someone. Two of the most basic words, you’ll be surprised how far they can get you.Īnother taarof-related phrase, this one can be used in many contexts, but it’ll be most helpful to you when you want to hand someone money. They’ll be astonished (and relieved) you recognized it as taarof and take your money. This phrase can be a simple answer to “thank you.” But when an Iranian says ghâbel nadâre,implying that you don’t need to pay, you can use khâhesh mikonam to insist. Khâhesh mikonam - You’re welcome, or Please, I insist. Similar to “hello” above, if you want to use the authentic Persian word, go with sepâs. Persian has several ways to say “thank you,” and they’re often used together in combination. Merci / Kheyli mamnoon / Sepâs - Thank you The standard answer is salâmat bâshid, “may you be healthy.” Use it as a greeting alone or right after “hello” as a super polite greeting. It literally means “don’t be tired” and is used as a way to recognize and appreciate a person’s hard work. There’s no English translation for this because it’s a cultural phrase rooted in Iranian taarof. Choose whichever you like (or whichever is easier to remember). Salâm is probably the most routine way to say “hello,” but since it’s an Arabic-rooted word, many Iranians opt to use the authentically Persian dorood. Start with a smile and one of these words.

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