کمک!
Komak!
Help!
Usage
The most critical emergency phrase. Shout loudly.
Grammar Note
"Komak" works as both noun and exclamation. "Komak konid!" (please help!) adds urgency.
پلیس خبر کنید!
Polis khabar konid!
Call the police!
Usage
Iran police emergency number: 110.
Grammar Note
"Khabar kardan" means "to notify". "-id" (as in kon-id) is the polite plural imperative ending. "Ba 110 tamas begirid" = contact 110.
دکتر لازم دارم
Doktor lāzem dāram
I need a doctor
Usage
When medical help is needed. Iran's ambulance/emergency number is 115 (Orzhans).
Grammar Note
"Lazem dashtan" expresses "to need". "Daram" is first-person singular present. More urgent: "fowri be doktor niyaz daram".
آتش!
Ātash!
Fire!
Usage
When there is a fire. Iran's fire brigade number is 125 (Atash-nashani).
Grammar Note
"Atash" is the classical Persian word for fire, significant in Zoroastrianism. "Atash-suzi" = fire/conflagration.
تصادف شده
Tasādof shode
There has been an accident
Usage
Reporting a traffic accident. Iran has high traffic accident rates, so this phrase is useful.
Grammar Note
"Shodeh" is the present perfect of "shodan" (to become). "Tasadof kardam" = I had an accident.
گم شدم
Gom shodam
I'm lost
Usage
When lost. In large cities like Tehran, English speakers can sometimes be found.
Grammar Note
"Gom shodan" = "to get lost" (idiomatic). "Gom" = lost/missing. "-dam" is the first-person singular past suffix.
اورژانس خبر کنید
Orzhāns khabar konid
Call an ambulance
Usage
Iran's ambulance number: 115. "Orzhans" is borrowed from French "urgence".
Grammar Note
"Orzhans" is borrowed from French "urgence". "Khabar kardan" (to notify / call for) is the same construction used in "Polis khabar konid" (call the police).
وسایلم را دزدیدند
Vasāyelam rā dozdidand
I've been robbed
Usage
Reporting theft. For lost passport, contact your country's embassy in Tehran.
Grammar Note
Persian normally expresses this with an impersonal 3rd-person plural ("they stole my things"). Avoid "dozdide shodam", which means "I myself was stolen (abducted)". "Dozd" = thief.
اضطراری است
Ezterāri ast
It's an emergency
Usage
Communicating urgency to hospital staff, hotel staff, or bystanders.
Grammar Note
"Eztarari" from Arabic "iztiraar" (compulsion/urgency). "Fowri" (urgent/immediate) is an interchangeable alternative.
بیمارستان کجاست؟
Bimārestān kojāst?
Where is the hospital?
Usage
Asking for the hospital location. Major Iranian cities have both public and private hospitals.
Grammar Note
"Bimarestan" = "bimar" (sick person) + "-estan" (place suffix). "Kojast" = "koja" (where) + "ast" (is).
آلرژی دارم
Ālerzhi dāram
I have an allergy
Usage
Declaring an allergy. Follow with the allergen (e.g., "be gordu" = to walnuts).
Grammar Note
"Alerji" is borrowed from English "allergy". Full form: "be [food] alerji daram" = I'm allergic to [food]. "Be" is the preposition "to/towards".
بس کنید!
Bas konid!
Stop it!
Usage
Hold this up to shut down persistent touts or unwanted behaviour — no need to raise your voice
به من دست نزنید!
Be man dast nazanid!
Do not touch me!
Usage
Show this to anyone touching you; holding it up also signals bystanders that you need help
دزد
Dozd
Thief
Usage
Names the person who steals; for the act taken by force use dastbord
دستبرد
Dastbord
Robbery
Usage
The crime of taking property by force or threat; plain theft is dozdi
کیف‌قاپی
Kifqāpi
Snatching
Usage
Snatching a bag on the run; the offender is a kifqāp
جیب‌بر
Jibbor
Pickpocket
Usage
The person who picks pockets; the act itself is jibbori
آدم‌ربایی
Ādamrobāyi
Kidnapping
Usage
Taking a person away by force, threat or deception
قتل
Qatl
Murder
Usage
The killing itself; show it when reporting such a crime
شورش
Shuresh
Riot
Usage
Violent civil disorder by a crowd; use it to report that the streets are unsafe
بمب
Bomb
Bomb
Usage
Shown to report a suspicious package or an explosive
کلانتری کجاست؟
Kalāntari kojāst?
Where is the police station?
Usage
Asking where the police station is, to file a report after a theft or an accident
Grammar Note
The "X kojast?" ("where is X?") frame, the same one used in "Bimarestan kojast?", with "kalantari" filled in. "Kalantari" names the local police station as a building, distinct from "polis", the police as an institution.
ماشین آتش‌نشانی خبر کنید
Māshin-e ātashneshāni khabar konid
Please call a fire engine
Usage
Asking bystanders to call a fire engine when you have found a fire
Grammar Note
The "X khabar konid" ("please call X") frame, the same one used in "Polis khabar konid" and "Orzhans khabar konid", with "mashin-e atashneshani" (fire engine) filled in. "Khabar konid" is the polite imperative of khabar kardan (to notify, to summon).
دزد را بگیرید!
Dozd rā begirid!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Shouted right after a theft, to get bystanders to stop the person running away
Grammar Note
Follows the "<object> ra <polite imperative>" order seen in "In ra tekrar konid" and "In lebas-ha ra beshuyid". "Begirid" is the polite imperative of gereftan (to seize, to take), the same form as in "aks begirid".
آیا کسی ژاپنی صحبت می‌کند؟
Āyā kasi Zhāponi sohbat mikonad?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Used at a hospital or a police station to look for a Japanese speaker when you cannot explain yourself
Grammar Note
Putting "aya" in front of a statement turns it into a yes/no question, as in "Aya asansor darid?" and "Aya noskhe-i lazem ast?". "Sohbat mikonad" is the third-person singular present of the compound verb sohbat kardan, the same verb as in "sohbat mikonam".
کیف پولم را دزدیدند
Kif-e pulam rā dozdidand
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Used when reporting the theft to the police or raising the alarm on the spot
Grammar Note
The same frame as "Vasayelam ra dozdidand", with "vasayel" (belongings) replaced by "kif-e pul" (wallet). Persian expresses "was stolen" with an agentless third-person plural "dozdidand" ("they stole") rather than a passive. The possessive suffix "-am" attaches as in "vasayelam" and "durbinam".
لطفاً از خروج اضطراری بروید
Lotfan az khoruj-e ezterāri beravid
Please escape through the emergency exit
Usage
Telling the people around you to use the emergency exit during a fire or an earthquake
Grammar Note
The polite imperative "beravid" of raftan, the same form as in "mostaqim beravid" ("go straight"), joined by "az" ("through") to "khoruj-e ezterari" (emergency exit). This is the same construction as "az in dar beravid" ("go out through this door").
لطفاً مرا به بیمارستان ببرید
Lotfan marā be bimārestān bebarid
Please take me to a hospital
Usage
Asking a taxi driver or a bystander to take you to a hospital when you cannot get there yourself
Grammar Note
"Lotfan mara" from "Lotfan mara inja piyade konid" ("Please drop me off here"), followed by "bimarestan" and the polite imperative "bebarid" of bordan (to carry, to take someone somewhere). "Mara" is the contracted form of "man ra" ("me").
خطر!
Khatar!
Watch out!
Usage
A one-word shout warning someone of immediate danger; the same word that appears on hazard signs
Grammar Note
The single noun "khatar" (danger) used as a warning. The "khatarnak" in "heyvanat-e khatarnak" (dangerous animals) is the adjective derived from this same "khatar" with the suffix "-nak".
لطفاً همین الان بیایید
Lotfan hamin alān biāyid
Please come right away
Usage
Asking someone on the phone or on the spot to come immediately
Grammar Note
"Lotfan" as in "Lotfan sabr konid", followed by "hamin alan" (right now) and "biayid" from "Biayid kami esterahat konim". "Biayid" is the polite imperative of amadan (to come), a different verb from the avardan (to bring) of "biyavarid".
می‌خواهم سرقت را گزارش دهم
Mikhāham serqat rā gozāresh daham
I want to report a theft
Usage
Said at a police station counter when you want to file a report of a theft
Grammar Note
The same frame as "Mikhaham yek kharash ra gozaresh daham" ("I want to report a scratch"), with "yek kharash" replaced by "serqat" (theft). "Bayad gom shodan-e kartam ra gozaresh daham" uses the same "ra gozaresh daham".
More Persian phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences