Skip to content
Persian Phrases for Beginners — 80 Essential Farsi Expressions for Real Conversations
The fastest way to start communicating in Persian is not to study grammar — it is to learn the phrases that come up in real conversations, every day, in the same situations. Greetings, thank-yous, apologies, asking for help, expressing feelings. These 80 essential Persian phrases for beginners are the ones that actually get used — with Farsi script, romanisation, and cultural notes on when and how to use each one.
| سلام | Salām | Hello — works in every situation, all times of day |
| ممنون | Mamnun | Thank you — casual, universally appropriate |
| ببخشید | Bebakhshid | Sorry / excuse me — both functions in one word |
| خواهش میکنم | Khāhesh mikonam | Please / you’re welcome |
| بله / نه | Baleh / Na | Yes / No |
| نمیفهمم | Nemifahmam | I don’t understand |
| آهستهتر بگویید | Āhaste-tar beguyid | Please speak more slowly |
| اسمم … هست | Asmam … hast | My name is … |
| کجاست؟ | Kojāst? | Where is it? |
| خداحافظ | Khodāhāfez | Goodbye |
Greetings — سلام و احوالپرسی
Persian greetings are layered — after سلام, Iranians almost always ask how you are and wait for a genuine answer before getting to the point of the conversation. Rushing past the greeting exchange is considered abrupt.
| Farsi | Romanisation | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| سلام | Salām | Hello | Universal — all situations, all times of day |
| صبح بخیر | Sobh bekheir | Good morning | From waking until around midday |
| روز بخیر | Ruz bekheir | Good day | Daytime — slightly formal |
| عصر بخیر | Asr bekheir | Good afternoon | Late afternoon — formal contexts |
| شب بخیر | Shab bekheir | Good night | Evening farewell |
| خوش آمدید | Khosh āmadid | Welcome | Welcoming someone — genuine and warm |
| حال شما چطور است؟ | Hāl-e shomā chetour ast? | How are you? (formal) | First meeting, elders, professional |
| چطوری؟ | Chetori? | How are you? (casual) | Friends and peers only |
| خوبم، ممنون | Khubam, mamnun | I’m well, thank you | Standard response to “how are you” |
| خداحافظ | Khodāhāfez | Goodbye | Universal farewell |
| به امید دیدار | Be omid-e didār | Until we meet again | Warmer farewell — genuine feeling |
| مواظب خودت باش | Movāzeb khodat bāsh | Take care of yourself | Parting — warm and affectionate |
🤝 The Persian greeting exchange — what to expect
When you greet someone in Persian, expect a multi-step exchange before the actual conversation begins: سلام → حال شما چطور است؟ → خوبم ممنون، شما چطورید؟ → الحمدلله. This back-and-forth is not small talk — it is genuine interest and social obligation. Skipping it or rushing through it registers as rude. Budget 30–60 seconds for the greeting exchange in any Persian conversation.
Polite Expressions — عبارات مؤدبانه
| Farsi | Romanisation | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ممنون | Mamnun | Thank you | Everyday — the most-used thank you |
| متشکرم | Moteshakkeram | Thank you (formal) | Professional settings, elders |
| مرسی | Mersi | Thanks | Very casual — from French merci |
| خواهش میکنم | Khāhesh mikonam | Please / You’re welcome | Both functions — context decides which |
| ببخشید | Bebakhshid | Excuse me / Sorry | Universal — to apologise or get attention |
| شرمندهام | Sharmandéam | I’m truly sorry | Sincere apology — more emotional weight |
| بفرمایید | Befarmāyid | Please go ahead / After you | One of the most useful Persian polite words |
| لطفاً | Lotfan | Please | When making a request |
| خوشوقت شدم | Khoshvaght shodam | Pleased to meet you | After being introduced to someone |
| قابلی نداشت | Qābeli nadāsht | It was nothing / Don’t mention it | Humble response when someone thanks you |
💡 بفرمایید — learn this word early
بفرمایید (befarmāyid) is one of the most useful words in Persian and beginners almost never learn it first. It means “please go ahead,” “after you,” “please help yourself,” “please come in,” and “please sit down” — all depending on context. When someone says it to you, you are being invited or given precedence. When you say it to someone, you are showing courtesy. It is the single most polite word a beginner can learn.
Introducing Yourself — معرفی کردن
| Farsi | Romanisation | English |
|---|---|---|
| اسمم … هست | Asmam … hast | My name is … |
| من … هستم | Man … hastam | I am … |
| اهل … هستم | Ahl-e … hastam | I am from … |
| زبانم فارسی نیست | Zabānam fārsi nist | Persian is not my language (I’m a learner) |
| دارم فارسی یاد میگیرم | Dāram fārsi yād migiram | I am learning Persian |
| شغلم … هست | Shoghlamm … hast | My job is … |
| چند سالته؟ | Chand sālate? | How old are you? (casual) |
| متأهل هستم / مجرد هستم | Mota’ahel / mojared hastam | I am married / single |
Sample introduction conversation
Daily Life Phrases — عبارات روزمره
| Farsi | Romanisation | English | Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ساعت چنده؟ | Sā’at chande? | What time is it? | Checking the time |
| امروز چه روزیه؟ | Emruz che ruziye? | What day is it today? | Asking the date |
| هوا چطوره؟ | Havā chetore? | What’s the weather like? | Daily conversation |
| گرسنهام | Gorosne-am | I’m hungry | Essential — heard constantly |
| تشنهام | Teshne-am | I’m thirsty | Essential daily phrase |
| خستهام | Khaste-am | I’m tired | One of the most used phrases in Persian daily life |
| باید برم | Bāyad beram | I have to go | Leaving politely |
| یه لحظه | Ye lahze | One moment | Asking someone to wait |
| الان میام | Alān miyām | I’m coming / I’ll be right there | Responding when called |
| نه ممنون | Na mamnun | No thank you | Polite decline — essential in ta’arof culture |
Expressing Feelings — احساسات
| Farsi | Romanisation | English |
|---|---|---|
| خوشحالم | Khoshhālam | I’m happy |
| ناراحتم | Nārāhatam | I’m upset / unhappy |
| دلم تنگ شده | Delam tang shode | I miss you / I’m lonely (my heart is tight) |
| دوستت دارم | Dooset dāram | I love you |
| ممنونم از کمکت | Mamnunam az komakat | Thank you for your help |
| عالیه! | Ālie! | That’s excellent / amazing! |
| جالبه | Jālebe | That’s interesting |
| چه بد | Che bad | How unfortunate / that’s too bad |
| مشکلی نیست | Moshkeli nist | No problem / that’s fine |
| نگران نباش | Nagarān nabāsh | Don’t worry |
Shopping & Restaurants — خرید و رستوران
| Farsi | Romanisation | English |
|---|---|---|
| قیمتش چنده؟ | Gheymtash chande? | How much does it cost? |
| گران است | Gerān ast | It’s expensive |
| میخوام بخرم | Mikhāam bakharam | I want to buy it |
| نمیخوام | Nemikham | I don’t want it |
| منو دارید؟ | Menu dārid? | Do you have a menu? |
| این چیه؟ | In chiye? | What is this? |
| خوشمزهست | Khoshmaze-st | It’s delicious |
| حساب لطفاً | Hesāb lotfan | The bill, please |
| کارت میزنید؟ | Kārt mizanid? | Do you take card? |
Directions & Transport — مسیر و حملونقل
| Farsi | Romanisation | English |
|---|---|---|
| … کجاست؟ | … kojāst? | Where is …? |
| راهو نشونم میدید؟ | Rāho neshoonam midid? | Can you show me the way? |
| راست / چپ / مستقیم | Rāst / chap / mostaghim | Right / left / straight ahead |
| نزدیکه؟ | Nazdike? | Is it close? |
| دور است | Dur ast | It’s far |
| ایستگاه مترو کجاست؟ | Istgāh-e metro kojāst? | Where is the metro station? |
| تاکسی میخوام | Tāksi mikhāam | I want a taxi |
| اینجا نگهدارید | Injā negah dārid | Stop here (to a driver) |
Help & Emergency — کمک و اضطرار
| Farsi | Romanisation | English |
|---|---|---|
| کمک! | Komak! | Help! |
| کمکم کنید | Komakam konid | Help me |
| دکتر میخوام | Doktor mikhāam | I need a doctor |
| درد دارم | Dard dāram | I am in pain |
| گم شدم | Gom shodam | I’m lost |
| دزدیده شدم | Dozdide shodam | I’ve been robbed |
| پلیس بزنید | Polis bezanid | Call the police |
| آمبولانس بزنید | Āmbulāns bezanid | Call an ambulance |
| حالم خوب نیست | Hālam khub nist | I don’t feel well |
Social Situations — مهمانی و اجتماع
| Farsi | Romanisation | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| نوش جونت | Nush-e junat | Enjoy your food / cheers (eating) | Said to someone eating — warmly |
| صبر کن | Sabr kon | Wait / be patient | Casual — among peers |
| بیا بریم | Biyā barim | Let’s go | Suggesting to leave together |
| خوش گذشت؟ | Khosh goshasht? | Did you have fun / enjoy it? | After an event or outing |
| موافقم | Movāfegham | I agree | In conversation or discussion |
| مخالفم | Mokhāfegham | I disagree | Polite disagreement |
| شوخی میکنم | Shukhi mikonam | I’m joking | After a joke — very useful |
| راستش رو بگو | Rāstash ro begu | Tell me the truth | Friendly or serious depending on tone |
🎭 Ta’arof — why “no thank you” is complicated in Persian
When offered something in Iran — food, a seat, help — the polite first response is to decline. The host insists. You decline again. They insist again. On the third round, you may accept. This ritual is called تعارف (ta’arof) and it is not insincerity — it is the social language of respect. The phrase نه ممنون (no thank you) can therefore mean “no” or “yes please, after you insist once more.” Context and relationship tell you which. As a learner, when in doubt, accept on the second offer.
How to Use These Phrases Most Effectively
✅ The most effective approach for beginners
- Learn the top 10 first — the quick-reference table above. Master these before adding more.
- Focus on pronunciation, not perfection — the خ (kh) sound in خداحافظ, the گ in گرسنه. Imperfect but attempted Persian is always welcome.
- Use phrases in context — say ممنون every time you thank anyone for a week. Embed it in real moments, not flash cards.
- Learn the cultural context — knowing that بفرمایید is more important than “please” and that ta’arof changes what “no” means is as valuable as any vocabulary list.
- Practice with a native speaker as soon as possible — pronunciation feedback in the first weeks prevents errors from becoming permanent habits.
Use These Phrases in Real Conversations
Reading 80 phrases builds your passive recognition. Actually using them — in real exchanges with a native Persian speaker who corrects your pronunciation and gives you genuine responses — is what turns passive knowledge into conversational ability. Danaa School’s tutors work with beginners from the very first lesson, in your learning context and at your pace.
Book a Free Trial Lesson →Free trial · From £10/session · Native Persian tutors · All levels
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important Persian phrases for beginners?
The most essential Persian phrases to learn first are: سلام (salām — hello), ممنون (mamnun — thank you), ببخشید (bebakhshid — excuse me/sorry), خواهش میکنم (khāhesh mikonam — please/you’re welcome), بفرمایید (befarmāyid — please go ahead/after you), نمیفهمم (nemifahmam — I don’t understand), and آهستهتر بگویید (āhaste-tar beguyid — please speak more slowly). These seven phrases cover the most frequent communication needs in any beginner conversation.
How do you say “I don’t understand” in Persian?
نمیفهمم (nemifahmam) means “I don’t understand.” A related phrase: میتوانید دوباره بگویید؟ (mitavānid dobāre beguyid? — can you say it again?) and آهستهتر صحبت کنید (āhaste-tar sohbat konid — please speak more slowly). Learning these early saves enormous frustration in real conversations.
What is the difference between ممنون and متشکرم?
Both mean “thank you” but with different formality. ممنون (mamnun) is conversational and warm — the everyday thank you used with friends, family, shopkeepers, and in casual contexts. متشکرم (moteshakkeram) is more formal and respectful — used with elders, in professional settings, and in written communication. When in doubt, ممنون is almost always appropriate.
How do you say “please” in Farsi?
There are two main ways. لطفاً (lotfan) is “please” when making a request — “one coffee, please” (یه قهوه، لطفاً). خواهش میکنم (khāhesh mikonam) is “please” in a stronger sense — “I request” — used when asking something more meaningful. خواهش میکنم is also the standard “you’re welcome” when someone thanks you.
Is it possible to have a basic Persian conversation as a beginner?
Yes — with around 50–80 high-frequency phrases, beginners can navigate greetings, introductions, simple questions, shopping, and directions. The key is that Persian speakers are extremely generous with learners — any attempt to speak Persian, however imperfect, is warmly received. Starting with سلام, ممنون, ببخشید, and نمیفهمم gives you more than you might expect.
