Essential Phrases in Farsi for Traveling to Iran

Traveling abroad can be challenging. One of the common challenges during your trip might be communicating with the locals. Like any other country, in Iran Knowing some useful words and phrases in the local language can help you with this problem. We have prepared the most useful words and phrases in Farsi to help you be more comfortable during your time in Iran. In addition to common everyday phrases in Farsi, if you are looking for some advanced Farsi expressions, this is the right place for you.

Besides, languages are one of the most persistent inventions of our forebears. When you travel to a new place, you want to taste the food and know the culture. Well, language is always forgotten among other attractions and does not receive the attention it desires. Although getting to know a new language requires plenty of time. But take it as a food and try a bite of delicious Farsi coming from years ago.

Greetings in Farsi

Whether you are staying with locals or staying in a hotel, it's nice to know how to greet people in their own language. In Iran it's common to greet with simply saying Hello. Depending on the time of the day, phrases like good morning and good evening are also useful.

• Hello/Hi >>> Salam
• Good Morning >>> Sobh be Kheir
• Good Evening >>> Asr be Kheir
• Welcome >>> Khosh amadid
• How are you? >>> Chetoori?  or Khobi?
• I,m fine >>> khoobam
• Bye >>>Khodahafez or Khoda Negahdar

Khate Nabashid

There is also a phrase which doesn’t have an exact equivalent in English. Word by word this phrase means “Don't be tired”, But when people use this phrase, normally they mean something else. Khaste nabashid can be used when you enter places like restaurant or shop and you want to order food or ask something. It's a polite way to start a conversation with a stranger who is doing his/her job. This phrase also implies that you understand their hard work and appreciate it.

Communications in Farsi

There are many different occasions when you want to give thanks to someone, from the taxi driver getting you to the hotel to the nice stranger who helped you find your way you can simply say merc and everyone would understand. But there are some words in Farsi used in these situations.

• Thanks >>> mamnoon
• Thank you very much >>> kheili mamnoon.
• Sorry >>> bebakhshid
• My name is … >>> esme man … ast
• What is your name? >>> esme shoma chie?
• Nice to meet you >>> khoshbakhtam

There is also the phrase “Sepaas Gozaram” which is used when you want to thank someone. This phrase is basically more formal than the other ones.

Asking for Directions in Farsi

There are things you can explain without using language, like the directions and guiding people to go straight or change their direction. And there are things you can't explain without using a common language like the exact destination of yours. In Iran, many people are willing to help tourists get where they want and knowing these simple phrases in Farsi can save you a lot of time during your trip to Iran, and also may result in experiencing Iranian hospitality.

• Where is …. >>> … Kojast?
• Bus station >>> Istgaah otoboos
• Subway >>> metro
• … Street >>> khiabane …
• Entrance >>> voroodi
• Exit >>>khorooji
• Bathroom >>> dastshoii
• Right >>> raast
• Left >>> chap
• Straight >>> mostaghim

Shopping in Farsi

Travelling to Iran comes with visiting lots of shops. Like all the tourist attractions, in many of the famous places in Iran, there are lots of art shops and stores selling Iranian unique souvenirs. There are some phrases in farsi which can help you have a better experience of shopping in Iran. Knowing these words also helps you understand the cultural differences.

• How much is it? >>> Gheymate in che ghadre?
• Can I try it on? >>> mitoonam in ro bepoosham?
• Can I taste it? >>> mitoonam in ro bechesham?
• It's expensive! >>> Gerooneh!
• Give some discount>>>Takhfif bedid.
• How much should I pay? >>> Cheghadr bedam?

This Phrases can make you survive shopping in Iran. But if you want to seem more familiar to Iranian culture and have a better shopping experience, the following phrases are for you.

A direct way to ask for a discount is asking for it, but there are some other phrases you can use to ask for a bargain.

“Baraye Man Cheghadr Mishe?”

This phrase means “how much is it for me”. Usually, you first ask the salesman how much is the price of something (Gheymate in cheghadr mishe?) and he/she responds you with a price. Then you come with “Baraye man Cheghadr mishe?” you are implying that the first price was for everybody, you are a special customer and expect the shopkeeper to give you a special offer.

“Akahresh Chand?”

“Akharesh Chand” almost means what’s your final offer. You can use this phrase when you did all the negotiations with the shopkeeper and are asking for the best offer (lowest price) he or she can give you.

Eating out in Farsi

One of the great experiences traveling to Iran is trying a wide range of foods available in different areas. Iranian food can meet the desires of different tastes from meat lovers to vegetarians. Anyhow, to reach food you need to order it and it might happen sometimes that the waiter is not familiar with English or worse there is no English menu. The coming phrases help you pass these situations easily and get to the unforgettable taste of Iranian food.

• I'm a vegetarian >>> Man giah khaar Hastam.
• It was delicious >>> khoshmaze bood
• I dont it … >>> man ... nemikhoram
• The Bill, please >>> Sorat hesaab Lotfan
• Drink >>> Nooshidani
• Water >>> Aab
• Coffee >>> Ghahve
• Bread >>> Naan
• Breakfast >>> Sobhaneh
• Lunch >>> Naahaar
• Dinner >>> Shaam

Health-related Issues in Farsi

Regardless of all the things you do to maintain your health during your trip sometimes you might face some problems and it's better to be prepared. In order to communicate about your health situation, these are some useful phrases in Farsi that can be handy.

• I have a headache >>> Saram dard mikone
• I have a stomach ache >>> Delam dard mikone
• I have diarrhea >>> Eshaal shodam
• I am constipated >>> Yoboosat daram
• I feel nauseous >>> Haalat tahavoo daram
• Pain >>> Dard
• Injury >>> Ausib
• Wound >>> Zakhm
• Vomit >>> Estefragh

The phrases above can help you talk about your health issue with people around you. If you want to act according to unwritten rules, there is a pro-tip for you using the following phrase

“Golab be rootoon”

In Iranian culture, it's sort of impolite to talk about problems regarding your digestive organs such as diarrhea, or constipation. In order to make it more polite Iranian use the phrase “Golab be Rootoon” before talking about these topics. The word by word translation of this phrase is “rose water to your face”. So if you want to inform someone that you feel nauseous, you'd better say:”Golab be rooton, Halat tahavoo daram.”

Knowing some useful Phrases in Farsi can be helpful while you travel to Iran. If you plan to visit Iran and need help in any part of your trip. We are pleased to help you.