Slang

1. چطوری؟

   Chetori?

   How's it going?

   Usage

   The casual form of "hāl-e shomā chetor ast?". For peers and people you are already easy with — with a stranger or an elder, use the polite "hāl-e shomā chetore?"

2. چه خبر؟

   Che khabar?

   What's new?

   Usage

   Literally "what news?" — a greeting for peers and people you know. The stock reply is "salāmatī", health, which simply means "nothing much"

3. دمت گرم

   Damet garm

   Thanks / nice one

   Usage

   Literally "may your breath be warm" — the most celebrated phrase in colloquial Persian, used both to thank and to applaud. Friends, and shopkeepers or drivers you have warmed to, love hearing it. With an older stranger "mamnūnam" is safer. The polite form is "dametān garm"

4. قربانت

   Qorbānat

   Thanks, my friend

   Usage

   Literally "your sacrifice", but in practice a warm all-purpose "thanks", "you're welcome" or "see you" — nobody takes it literally. For friends and people you have got to know. The polite form is "ghorbān-e shomā"

5. ایول

   Eyval

   Nice one! / well done!

   Usage

   An exclamation of approval — for someone's skill or a well-judged move. For friends of your own age; not for a work setting or an older stranger

6. باحال

   Bāhāl

   Cool / fun

   Usage

   Literally "with mood" — praise that works for a person, a thing or a place, well established among younger speakers. For peers; the usual form in speech is "bāhāle"

7. خفن

   Khafan

   Awesome

   Usage

   Strong praise from younger speakers, used of views, music and food. For friends of your own age — not for a work setting or an elder

8. توپ

   Tup

   Great / spot on

   Usage

   Its literal senses are "ball" and "cannon", but colloquially it means "first rate". Good for praising a meal or an arrangement, and used with peers

9. حال کردم

   Hāl kardam

   I enjoyed that

   Usage

   Literally "I did mood" — the colloquial way to say you had a good time. Natural with friends of your own age; with an elder, "kheylī lezzat bordam" is the polite version

10. بی‌خیال

    Bikhiyāl

    Never mind / forget it

    Usage

    Literally "without a thought" — for letting something go. Aimed at friends; used in reply to someone's concern or offer it can sound dismissive

11. حله

    Halle

    It's sorted

    Usage

    A contraction of "hall shode", it's solved — said when you take something on or when a plan comes together. For peers; in a work setting "cheshm" is the courteous version

12. پایه‌ای؟

    Pāye-i?

    Are you up for it?

    Usage

    Literally "are you a base?" — youth slang for asking whether someone is in. The answer is "pāye-am", I'm in. For friends of your own age only

13. جانم؟

    Jānam?

    Yes? / pardon?

    Usage

    Literally "my soul", and the most natural thing a Persian speaker says when called or when they did not catch something. It sounds warm whoever you say it to. Avoid "che?" — "what?" — which comes across as brusque

14. تعارف

    Ta'ārof

    Taarof (ritual courtesy)

    Usage

    The ritual of deferral that runs through Iranian social life: offers are declined for form's sake and repeated regardless. When a driver or shopkeeper says "ghābelī nadārad" — it's nothing, no charge — they do not mean it, so insist on paying two or three times. As a visitor you can say "ta'ārof nakonīd", please don't stand on ceremony, which makes it easier for the other person to answer plainly

15. دست شما درد نکند

    Dast-e shomā dard nakonad

    Thank you (may your hand not hurt)

    Usage

    Literally "may your hand not hurt" — for whoever cooked or went to trouble for you. The warmest thank-you in Persian and safe with anyone; speech shortens it to "dastet dard nakone"

16. نوش جان

    Nush-e jān

    Enjoy your meal

    Usage

    Literally "sweetness to the soul" — said when serving food, and also the reply to "dast-e shomā dard nakonad". Safe with anyone

17. مخلصیم

    Mokhlesim

    At your service (friendly bye)

    Usage

    Literally "we are your devoted ones" — a stock parting line between men that amounts to "see you". For close friends of your own age; with an elder or a woman, "khodāhāfez" is safer

18. گل گفتی

    Gol gofti

    Well said

    Usage

    Literally "you said a flower" — praise for someone who put it just right. Persian likes to liken good words to flowers. Aimed at peers, but there is nothing rude about it

19. چاکریم

    Chākerim

    Much obliged

    Usage

    Literally "we are your servants", but in practice a light "much obliged", used mostly between men of similar age. In a work setting or with an older stranger, use "mamnūnam"

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