How to Say Good Night in Farsi — 25 Persian Bedtime Phrases for Families & Learners

Saying good night in Farsi is one of the simplest ways to bring Persian into your daily home routine — especially if you are raising heritage children or learning the language yourself. This guide gives you the standard phrase, its pronunciation, and 25 genuine Persian bedtime and evening expressions used by Iranian families every day, with Farsi script, romanisation, and cultural context.

The Standard Phrase — شب بخیر (Shab bekheir)

The phrase every Persian speaker knows and uses is شب بخیر (Shab bekheir). It is the direct equivalent of “good night” and works in every context — saying goodbye to a colleague on a video call, putting a child to bed, or ending an evening with family.

Pronunciation Guide

The “kh” sound in both phrases is the most important thing to get right. It is a soft sound made at the back of the throat — similar to the “ch” in the Scottish word “loch” or the German “Bach”. It is not a “k” sound and not an “h” sound — it is produced by letting air flow through a slightly narrowed throat.

Part 1: Good Night Phrases for Children — Persian Bedtime Routine

If you are a Persian heritage parent, bedtime is one of the best opportunities to bring Farsi into your child’s daily life naturally. The phrases below are what Iranian parents say every night — warm, affectionate, and completely natural. Using even three or four of these consistently builds genuine language memory in children far more effectively than lessons alone.

Farsi	Romanisation	Meaning / When to use
شب بخیر جانم	Shab bekheir jānam	Good night my dear — the most natural bedtime phrase for a child
خواب خوش، عزیزم	Khāb-e khosh, azizam	Sweet dreams, my darling — warm and affectionate
بخواب، فردا صبح بیدارت می‌کنم	Bekhāb, fardā sobh bidāret mikonam	Go to sleep, I’ll wake you up tomorrow morning
چشماتو ببند	Cheshmāto beband	Close your eyes — said gently at bedtime
خواب‌های قشنگ ببینی	Khābhāye ghashang bebini	May you see beautiful dreams — a poetic alternative to sweet dreams
قربونت برم، شب بخیر	Ghorboonet beram, shab bekheir	I love you so much, good night — deeply affectionate
مواظب خودت باش تو خواب	Movāzeb khodat bāsh to khāb	Take care of yourself in your sleep — said playfully to children
دوستت دارم، شب بخیر	Dooset dāram, shab bekheir	I love you, good night — simple and everyday

Part 2: Evening Phrases — Persian Expressions for the End of the Day

Beyond “good night,” Persian speakers use a rich set of evening expressions — when winding down, saying goodbye after a gathering, or ending a phone call with family abroad.

Farsi	Romanisation	Meaning / Context
شب بخیر و خداحافظ	Shab bekheir va khodāhāfez	Good night and goodbye — when leaving in the evening
شب خوشی داشته باشی	Shab khoshi dāshte bāshi	Have a pleasant evening — warmer than the basic phrase
استراحت کن	Estrāhat kon	Get some rest / rest well — used after a long day
خوب بخوابی	Khob bekhābi	Sleep well — informal, used with friends and family
شب‌تون بخیر	Shabtoon bekheir	Good night everyone — plural form, said to a group
فردا می‌بینمت	Fardā mibinamet	See you tomorrow — casual evening sign-off
مواظب خودت باش	Movāzeb khodat bāsh	Take care of yourself — said with warmth at end of calls
دلم برات تنگ میشه	Delam barāt tang mishe	I’ll miss you — said at end of an evening with family or close friends

Part 3: Formal Good Night — For Professional and Polite Contexts

Farsi	Romanisation	Meaning / Context
شب‌تان بخیر	Shabtān bekheir	Good night (formal plural “you”) — for elders or professional settings
شب بخیر، خسته نباشید	Shab bekheir, khaste nabāshid	Good night, may you not be tired — respectful end of a working day
استراحت بفرمایید	Estrāhat befarmāyid	Please rest — highly polite, for elders or formal occasions
موفق باشید، شب بخیر	Movaffagh bāshid, shab bekheir	Good luck and good night — ending a business or professional call

Cultural Note: Why Good Night Matters in Persian

In Persian culture, everyday greetings carry significantly more emotional weight than their equivalents in English. Saying شب بخیر is not merely routine — it communicates care, connection, and attention. When an Iranian parent says قربونت برم، شب بخیر (Ghorboonet beram, shab bekheir) to a child, that phrase carries a lifetime of cultural feeling packed into a few words. The phrase خسته نباشید (Khaste nabāshid — may you not be tired) is particularly revealing of Persian values. It acknowledges the other person’s effort and expresses respect for their work — something Iranians say constantly, morning and evening, to colleagues, shopkeepers, service workers, and family members. There is no direct English equivalent, and learning it tells you something important about what Persian culture values. For Persian heritage families abroad, these small expressions — used consistently at bedtime, at the end of a phone call, when leaving a gathering — are the threads that keep the language alive between generations. A child who hears شب بخیر جانم every night for ten years will carry that phrase, and everything it carries with it, for life.

Key Vocabulary — Night and Sleep in Farsi

English	Farsi	Romanisation
Night	شب	Shab
Sleep	خواب	Khāb
Dream	رویا / خواب	Royā / Khāb
Evening	عصر / غروب	Asr / Ghorub
Midnight	نیمه شب	Nimeh shab
Tomorrow morning	فردا صبح	Fardā sobh
Rest	استراحت	Estrāhat
Tired	خسته	Khasteh

Learn Persian with Danaa School

At Danaa School, we help Persian heritage families and learners build real Farsi skills — not just isolated phrases. Our native tutors work 1-on-1 with children and adults, designing lessons around your family’s goals and schedule. Whether your child needs to build confidence speaking with grandparents, or you want to learn Persian as an adult, we have the right tutor for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say good night in Farsi?

The standard phrase is شب بخیر (Shab bekheir) — pronounced shahb beh-KHEYR. It is used in all contexts — formal and informal, with family, friends, and colleagues. The “kh” is a soft throaty sound similar to the Scottish “loch.”

What is the difference between “Shab bekheir” and “Khab-e khosh”?

شب بخیر (Shab bekheir) means “good night” — it is the standard goodbye phrase in the evening. خوابِ خوش (Khāb-e khosh) means “sweet dreams” — it is warmer and more affectionate, typically used with children, partners, or close family. The most natural combination is saying both together: Shab bekheir, khāb-e khosh.

How do you say good night formally in Persian?

For formal or respectful contexts — with an elder, teacher, or someone you do not know well — use شب‌تان بخیر (Shabtān bekheir), which uses the formal plural “you.” You can also add خسته نباشید (Khaste nabāshid — may you not be tired) as a mark of respect.

What does “Khaste nabashid” mean and when do you say it?

خسته نباشید (Khaste nabāshid) literally means “may you not be tired.” It is used throughout the day — not just at night — to acknowledge someone’s effort and express appreciation. At the end of an evening or a working day, adding it to شب بخیر (shab bekheir, khaste nabāshid) is a warm and respectful way to say goodbye.

How do Persian parents say good night to children?

Persian parents use highly affectionate language at bedtime. Common phrases include شب بخیر جانم (Shab bekheir jānam — good night my dear), خواب خوش عزیزم (Khāb-e khosh azizam — sweet dreams my darling), and قربونت برم (Ghorboonet beram — I love you so much). Using these phrases consistently at bedtime is one of the most effective ways to build Farsi naturally in heritage children.

How do you say good night to a group in Persian?

To say good night to multiple people at once, use the plural form: شب‌تون بخیر (Shabtoon bekheir) in informal speech, or شب‌تان بخیر (Shabtān bekheir) in more formal or polite contexts. Both are natural and widely used.