Updated: 8 July 2019
There are some words and expressions in languages that we learn that for one reason or another we like and aim to use at some point. For me, I like the way some Persian expressions sound and try to find an excuse to use them while others never fail to amuse me and get a chuckle out of me as I wonder, “Who came up with this!?” Here are 11 such Persian idioms and expressions that are among my favorites.
Sag sâhebesho nemishnâse
Literally: A dog doesn’t recognize its owner.
Meaning: It’s chaotic.
How to use it: Like in this scene from Shahgoosh: the mother and daughter go to the police station and are a little overwhelmed by all the chaos and commotion around them. There are people arguing, people yelling, and one random guy rapping in the corner. The mother says, “Inja sag sâhebesho nemishnâse (it’s chaotic here). I don’t think we’ll have any luck.”
How poetically on point is this phrase? I mean when the most loyal creature in the animal kingdom is unable to recognize its owner, you know things are bad. Alternatively, you can use balbasho, another one of my favorite words.
Halâl zâdeh
Literally: Legit/kosher birth. The suffix zâdeh means “born of”.
Meaning: Speak of the devil
How to use it: Just as you would in English. You’re thinking about someone and they show up. Che halâl zâdeh! (What a kosher birth!)
Khodâ vakili
Literally: God as an attorney
Meaning: truly/honestly/honest to God
How to use it: Khodâ vakili resturane ghazâsh kheyli âliye! (Honestly, that restaurant has really fantastic food!)
Gooreto gom kon
Literally: Go lose your grave!
Meaning: Get the hell out of here!
How to use it: Don’t. It’s very impolite, and you’re basically asking for a beatdown if you do. It’s included in this list because I find it hilarious and definitely under the category of “Who came up with this?” Similarly, there’s kodum goori hasti? (which grave are you?) which means “where the hell are you?” (also rude, obviously).
Dastam be dâmanet
Literally: My hand to your skirt
Meaning: [Help me] I beg/implore you.
How to use it: In yet another scene from Shahgoosh, the old man has lost a bag containing a large sum of money and asks the police to help him retrieve it. He goes on about how his entire life savings is in there and says, “Dastam be dâmanet jenâb Sorkhi,” (I’m begging you, Mr. Sorkhi).
Delamo sâbun zadam
Literally: I rubbed soap on my stomach.
Meaning: I got my hopes up [and was ultimately let down].
How to use it: Like if you’re invited to someone’s house for dinner, and you really hope they made your favorite dish, ghormeh sabzi, but you went and it was actually chicken. Later, you would say, “Delamo sâbun zadam ghormeh sabzi bokhoram (I got my hopes up to eat ghormeh sabzi), but they had chicken instead.”
The negative form is also quite common: Deleto sâbun nazan (Don’t get your hopes up).
Tagh o lagh
Literally: On its own, tagh is like a popping noise, and lagh means “loose.”
Meaning: Unstable, shaky, in disarray
How to use it: For better or worse, tagh o lagh is very much a cultural concept. It’s most prevalent around Nowruz and the 1st of Mehr (the first day of school- roughly during the last week of September). It’s the days leading to Nowruz when work and class attendance slowly starts to trickle (because Nowruz preparations are more important), and the week or so after Nowruz when people are battling coming to terms with having to return to work or school. When it’s back to school in Mehr, students (I’m talking ALL students- elementary, middle, high, university) almost never go the first week (and the American in me will never cease to be utterly perplexed by this). When I ask them why not, they respond, “Teacher, because the first week is… I don’t know… tagh o lagh.” Only a handful of students show up and classes inevitably get canceled, so they don’t bother. Which is why you should never plan anything important at any time considered tagh o lagh.
Hâzer javâb
Literally: Ready answer
Meaning: A person who is quick-witted and always has an answer ready is described as hâzer javâb. My introverted tendencies only allow me the privilege of this skill while I’m teaching. And the minute my foot is out the door, I crawl back into my shell, unable to understand why anyone would talk to me when they could just send a text.
How to use it: My cousin, on the other hand, is without a doubt the most hâzer javâb person I know. Many years ago, she was at the bank when an elderly man walked up behind her and said, “Bebakhshid, mâdar [excuse me, mother].” (Iranians commonly use words like father, mother, sister, brother, etc. to speak to strangers- more on that in a future post.) My cousin whipped around and replied, “It would be a real honor for me to have a son like you.” And everyone around her started laughing, including the man when he realized she was about 30 years younger than him.
Kachalam kardan
Literally: They made me bald.
Meaning: They’re driving me nuts.
Niki o porsesh?
Literally: Goodness and asking? Niki means “goodness” and porsesh relates to questioning.
Meaning: Do you even have to ask?
How to use it: Someone asks, “Want some fesejoon? [the Persian dish made with walnuts, pomegranate paste, and chicken].” Fesenjoon is your favorite (or maybe you’re just really hungry), so you answer, “Niki o porsesh?”
Az har angoshtesh ye honar mibâre
Literally: A talent rains from every one of his/her fingers.
Meaning: S/he’s very talented.
How to use it: Imagine a person who’s a skilled piano player, speaks 5 languages, makes their own bread from scratch, and runs an online business. Bah bah! Az har angoshtesh ye honar mibâre!
Camilla
9 June 2018 at 14:17Hi Pontia,
I just started learning Persian on my own and I’m so glad I found your site! I can’t get enough of it! It helps me stay motivated.
Thanks again,
Camilla
Pontia
10 June 2018 at 10:24Hi Camilla, welcome! I’m so glad you found my site and that you enjoy it 🙂 I hope it helps keep you motivated, and in the meantime, if you ever have any questions about Persian, just let me know! Good luck with your studies!
Camilla
15 June 2018 at 23:17Thank you, Pontia!
I actually do have a question about when it’s appropriate to use joon, jan, and azizam.
I don’t know any Persian-speaking people here in Arizona yet so I signed up for online language exchange. I’ve been practicing with a married woman in her mid-20’s and she started calling me joon and azizam fairly quickly so I started doing the same. I’m also talking to a few male students in their mid-20s too but I haven’t said “Mohammad Jan” etc to them even though one of them said “Camilla Jan” to me.
Is Jan slightly more formal or polite than Joon or are they the same thing, just pronounced differently? Is azizam less formal (like something you’d use with friends in real life only) or is it at the same level as joon and Jan?
I don’t want to accidentally offend someone by being too informal too quickly.
When is it ok to use these terms with an acquaintance or online language partner? Do females use it with other females but not with male friends?
Thanks in advance for your help, Pontia joon! (Too soon? Lol)
— Camilla
Pontia
18 June 2018 at 10:23Hi Camilla jan! (Not too soon at all 🙂 )
Great questions, especially because these words are used about every 10 seconds in Iran. Haha! Joon and jan are the same, just different pronunciations. And they have many different uses which you might have already seen here. It’s almost never to soon to use them and in almost any situation it’s ok. I suppose if it’s super formal, you could just drop it.
Azizam just means “my dear”, and it’s used a lot! It’s common for women to call other women azizam (especially if they don’t know their names). Men even use it between themselves, but I feel like if it’s used between men and women, then it’s a bit more romantic. But then again, I have a friend who uses azizam with everyone- men, women, old, young… it’s just his style. I would say it’s ok to use with women, particularly those who are your age or younger. But saying it to men could be construed as giving them the green light, so unless you’re into the guy, I wouldn’t say it (although I suppose between really close friends, it can easily be used without any other implication)- whew! Lots of exceptions. I hope that all made sense, but let me know if it didn’t or if you have any other questions!
Camilla
18 June 2018 at 16:56Merci, mamnoon! Thank you so much! That was incredibly helpful. I think I understand much better now.
Pontia
19 June 2018 at 05:46Great to hear! Khahesh mikonam 🙂