Meeting Up in Farsi

meeting up in Farsi - Meeting Up in Farsi

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture of any country you are visiting is to make friends with locals, attend their gatherings, and hang around or travel with them. In Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, it is not difficult to befriend locals because people in these countries are usually very hospitable and helpful. However, to arrange a meeting up in Farsi and set a date with Persian speakers you need to speak Persian most of the time. As always, we are here to help you with useful phrases and cultural notes. Let’s read some interesting and fruitful facts about meeting up in Iran and then go to the language part.

Planning 

The very first thing you need to know is that Iranians are not into planning. Most of the people decide to go on a one-week trip a day before they set off. But if you are invited to go somewhere without planning, do not hesitate to join. You may face many challenges in finding a residency and an open restaurant or you may get stuck in rain without being prepared for that. But most of the time, your hosts will find a way to solve these problems and make the trip pleasant for you.

Picnicking 

You also need to get familiar with picnicking. For most of the Iranians, this term means going to the closest park, sitting on the grass, and making lots of “jujeh kabâb”, grilled chicken, while smoking hubble-bubble (hookah). In spring and summer, this “nature-friendly activity” may start at 10 p.m. and continue to 2-3 a.m. So, our advice is to check with your host to find out what s/he means by inviting you to a picnic.

I’ll do my Best!

When you invite people to join you for a party or mountain climbing or even a walk by the seaside, they sometimes tell you “sa’y mikonam biyâm” or “behet xabar midam” which mean “I’ll do my best” and “I’ll let you know” respectively. However, you’d better not wait for their call because what we infer, as Iranians, from these phrases is “I am not coming”. But as a non-Iranian, try to be precise and clear because you are not familiar with cultural context and what we call “tâ’rof” or “politeness formulas”. Moreover, Iranians expect you to be more direct because you are not Iranians after all.

If you decide not to go where you are invited, you’d better give a short explanation for your declination such as being busy or planning for something else. But make sure to say “išâlâ daf’e-ye ba’d”, hopefully, next time, to complete your act of politeness.

Cancelling 

One of the surprises of meeting-ups in Iran is the last-minute cancelation, or even worse, not showing up. Even for Iranians, it is not considered polite and acceptable but it may happen. It is usually very annoying, but do you know any culture without any weak points? Try to get used to it and enjoy the other bright sides of being in Iran.

Another Tarof

If you are invited to join a friend for a party or go to the cinema, etc. but you cannot go, you can always follow up by asking how the party, camping, or the movie was. You may usually hear “jâ-ye šomâ xâli” which will be meaningless if you translate it word by word. It is just another Iranian “tâ’orof” which is somehow an equivalent for “you were missed” or “it was a pity you couldn’t join us”. In response, you can say “dustân be jâ-ye mâ”, which means I am happy that my friends enjoyed the activity.

In case you are interested in learning more about Iranian “tâ’rof” culture, you can go can take a glance at cultural notes.

Meeting Up Vocabulary in Farsi

English Pronunciation Farsi
meeting qarâr قَرار
plan barnâme(h) بَرنامه
invitation invitation دَعوَت
arrangement hamâhangi هَماهَنگی
weekend âxar-e hafte(h) آخرِ هَفته
this evening emruz ‘asr اِمروز عًصر
tonight emšab اِمشَب
holidays ta’tilât تَعطیلات
free âzâd آزاد
where kojâ کُجا
which day če(h) ruzi? چه روزی؟
what time? sâ’at-e čand? ساعَتِ چَند؟

Meeting Up Useful Verbs in Farsi

English Pronunciation Farsi
to set a date qarâr gozâštan قَرار گُذاشتَن
to make an arrangement hamâhang kardan هَماهَنگ کَردَن
to invite da’vat kardan دَعوَت کَردَن
to have time vaqt dâštan وَقت داشتَن
to be late dir kardan دیر کَردَن
to arrive early zud residan زود رِسیدَن
to let someone know xabar dâdan خَبَر دادَن
to call zang zadan زَنگ زَدَن
to accept qabul kardan قَبول کَردَن
to be able to tunestan تونِستَن
to pick someone up donbal-e kasi raftan دُنبالِ کَسی رَفتَن
waiting for someone montazer-e kasi budan مُنتَظِرِ کَسی بودَن

Inviting and Accepting in Farsi

meeting up accepting - Meeting Up in Farsi

– Do you have time on the weekend? – âxar-e hafte(h) vaqt dâri? آخَرِ هَفته وَقت داری؟ – 

– Yep, why? – âre(h), četor? آره چطور؟ –

– have you got any plan for this weekend? – in âxar-e hafte(h) barnâme(h)-I dâri? این آخَرِ هَفته بَرنامه داری؟ – 

– No, I don’t have any plan – na(h), barnâme(h)-ye xâsi nadâram .نه، بَرنامه یِ خاصی نَدارَم –

– Are you free tonight? – emšab âzâd hasti? اِمشَب آزاد هَستی؟ – 

– Yep, have nothing special. – âre(h), kâri nadâram. .آره، کاری نَدارَم –

– Would you like to go to a café tonight? – mixây emšab berim kâfe(h)? می خوای اِمشَب بِریم کافه؟ – 

– Tonight I’m busy a little, but I’m free tomorrow night. – emšab ye(h) kam kâr dâram, ammâ fardâ šab âzâdam. .اِمشَب یه کَم کار دارَم، اَمّا فَردا شَب آزادَم –

– Tomorrow is fine, too. see you tomorrow – fardâ šab ham xube(h), fardâ mibinamet. .فَردا شَب هم خوبه، فَردا می بینَمِت – 

– Let’s go mountain climbing this weekend, what’s your opinion? – biyâ in âxar-e hafte(h) berim kuh, nazaret či-ye(h)? بیا این آخَرِ هَفته بِریم کوه، نَظَرِت چیه؟ – 

– Sounds great, which way should we go? – âre(h), xeyli xube(h). kodum samt berim? آره، خِیلی خوبه. کُدوم سَمت بِریم؟ –

– What is your opinion for going to Isfahan for holidays?  – nazaret či-ye(h) barâ-ye ta’tilât berim esfehân? نَظَرِت چیه بَرای تَعطیلات بِریم؟ – 

– Isfahan? Agreed. I have never been to Isfahan. – esfehân? movâfeqam, man tâ hâlâ esfehân naraftam. .اِصفِهان؟ مُوافِقَم، من تا حالا اِصفِهان نَرَفتَم –

– What time do you finish work? – emruz kâret sâ’at čand tamum miše(h)? اِمروز کارِت ساعَتِ چَند تَموم می شه؟ – 

– Six o’clock. – sâ’at-e šeš. .ساعَتِ شِش –

– Would you like to go to cinema after work? – dust dâri ba’deš berim sinemâ? دوست داری بَعدِش بِریم سینِما؟ – 

– Yep, perfect. – âre(h), ‘âli-ye(h). .آره، عالیه –

– I got bored. – hoselam sar rafte(h). .حُوصِله اَم سَر رَفته – 

– Would you like to go to a park? – mixây berim pârk? می خوای بِریم پارک؟ –

– Which park? – kodum pârk? کُدوم پارک؟ – 

– We can go to Park Mellat. – mitunim berim pârk mellat, xube(h)? می تونیم بِریم پارکِ مِلَّت، خوبه؟ –

– Ok, fine. We can go Café Yâs after park. – are xube(h). ba’deš-am berim kâfe(h) yâs. .آره خوبه، بَعدِشَم بِریم کافه یاس – 

– Great, agreed. – ‘âli-ye qabule(h). .عالیه، قَبوله – 

– I’ll go to camping with my friends this week-end, wanna join? – in âxar-e hafte(h) bâ dustâm mirim kamping, dust dâri biyây? این آخَرِ هَفته با دوستام می ریم کَمپینگ، دوست داری بیای؟ – 

– Sure, it’s a long time I haven’t been to. – hatman, xeyli vaqte(h) ke naraftam. .حَتماً، خِیلی وَقته که نَرَفتَم –

Setting Time and Meeting Point in Farsi

meeting up two man speaking phone2 - Meeting Up in Farsi

– What time should we meet up? – sâ’at čand hamdiga-ro bebinim? ساعَتِ چَند هَمدیگه رو بِبینیم؟ – 

– Is 4 o’clock fine? – sâ’at čâhâr xube? ساعَتِ چهار خوبه؟ –

– Yep, good. Where should we meet up? – âre(h), xube. kojâ bebinamet? آره خوبه، کُجا بِبینَمِت؟ – 

– See you in front of the park entrance. – dam-e pârk mibinamet. .دَمِ پارک می بینَمِت –

– When do we set off? – key râh miyoftim? کِی راه می اُفتیم؟ – 

– I think 3 am will be fine. – fekr konam se(h)-e sobh xub bâše(h). .فِکر کُنَم سه ی صُبح خوب باشه –

– Ok, do I need to bring anything? – bâše(h), čizi lâzeme(h) biyâram? باشه، چی لازِمه بیارَم؟ – 

– No, just personal items. – na(h), faqat vasâyel-e šaxsi. .نَه، فَقَط وَسایِلِ شَخصی –

– What time do we come back? – sâ’at čand barmigardim? ساعَت چَند بَرمی گَردیم؟ – 

– I think we’ll be back home by noon. – fekr konam tâ zohr xune(h) bâšim. .فِکر کُنَم تا ظُهر خونه باشیم –

– We set off at 4 a.m. from Vanak square. – fardâ sâ’at čâhâr-e sobh az meydun-e vanak harekat mikonim. .فَردا ساعَتِ چهارِ صُبح اَز مِیدونِ وَنَک حَرِکَت می کُنیم – 

– 4 a.m, it’s too early. – čâhâr xeyli zude(h). .چهار خِیلی زوده –

– But it gets warm later. – ammâ dirtar havâ garm miše(h). .اَمّا دیرتر هَوا گَرم می شه – 

– Isn’t it possible to set off at 5. – nemiše(h) sâ’at panj râh bioftim? نِمی شه ساعَتِ پَنج راه بیُفتیم؟ –

– Ok, at 5. Don’t be late. – bâše(h), sâ’at panj. dir nakoni. .باشه، ساعَتِ پَنج. دیر نَکُنی – 

– What time will you be ready? – sâ’at-e čand âmâde(h) miši? ساعَتِ چَند آماده می شی؟ –

– I’ll be ready by 11. – man sâ’at yâzdah âmâdam. .مَن ساعَتِ یازدَه آماده اَم – 

– So, I’ll come to pick you up at 11. – pas sâ’at yâzdah miyâm donbâlet. .پَس ساعَتِ یازدَه می یام دُنبالِت –

– Thanks for your kindness. – mersi, lotf mikoni. .مِرسی، لُطف می کُنی – 

– You’re welcome. – xaheš mikonam. .خواهِش می کُنَم – 

Declining an Invitation/ Meeting Up in Farsi

– I really wanted to come, but I am busy. – xeyli delam mixâst biyâm, ammâ kâr dâram. .خِیلی دِلَم می خواست بیام، اَمّا کار دارَم –

– Sorry, I am very tired today. – bebaxšid amma emruz xeyli xaste(h)-am. .بِبَخشید اَمّا خِیلی اِمروز خَسته اَم –

– I don’t feel well, I have headache. – ye(h) kam hâlam xub nist, saram dard mikone(h). .یه کَم حالَم خوب نیست، سَرَم دَرد می کُنه –

– I’d like to come but I have sleep early tonight. – dust dâram biyâm amma emšab bâyad zud bexâbam. .دوست دارَم بیام، اَمّا اِمشَب، بایَد زود بِخوابَم –

– I am busy this weekend. – mote’asefâne(h) in âxar-e hafte(h) saram šuluqe(h) .مُتَاَسِّفانه این آخَرِ هَفته سَرَم شُلوغه –

– I’ve already got plans for the holidays. – barâ-ye ta’tilât barnâme(h) rizi kardam. .بَرای تَعطیلات بَرنامه ریزی کَردم –

– Thanks for letting me know, but I have an exam next week. – xeyli mamnun ke gofti, ammâ hafte(h)-ye dige emtehân dâram. .خِیلی مَمنون که گُفتی، اَمَا هَفته یِ دیگه اِمتِحان دارَم –

– I’d like to meet you, but I have guests this weekend. – dust dâštam bebinamet ammâ in âxar-e hafte(h) mehmun dâram. .دوست داشتَم بِبینَمِت، اَمّا این آخَرِ هَفته مِهمون دارَم –

– Sorry, but I am not in a mood for a party. – bebaxšid amma alân hosele(h)-ye mehmuni nadâram. .بِبَخشید، اَمّا اَلان حوصِله یِ مِهمونی نَدارَم –

– hope you have fun. I’ll join you next time. [1] – omidvâram behetun xoš begzare(h), išâlâ daf’e-ye ba’d. .اُمیدوارَم بِهِتون خوش بِگذَره، ایشالا دَفعه یِ بَعد –

saying no in farsi - Meeting Up in Farsi

Following up Later

meeting up two man speaking phone3 - Meeting Up in Farsi

– How was the party? – mehmuni četor bud? مِهمونی چِطور بود؟ – 

– It was great, you were missed. [3] – xeyli xub bud, jây-e šomâ xâli. .خِیلی خوب بود. جایِ شُما خالی –

– I’m happy you had fun.[2] – dustân be jây-e mâ. .دوستان به جایِ ما – 

– Did you have fun? – ta’tilât xoš gozašt? تَعطیلات خُوش گُذَشت؟ – 

– Yep, it was great. Thanks. – âre(h), xeyli xub bud, mersi. .آره، خِیلی خوب بود. مِرسی –

– How was your camping with your friends? – kamping bâ dustât xub bud? کَمپینگ با دوستات خوب بود؟ – 

– It was great, was a pity that you couldn’t come. – ‘âli bud, heyf šod nayumadi. .عالی بود، حِیف شُد نَیومَدی –

– Next time, hopefully. – išâlâ daf’e-ye ba’d. .ایشالا دَفعه یِ بَعد – 

Footnotes:

[1] This is a phrase to be said right after declining.

[2] Word by word translation is: the place for you was empty. It is a “tâ’rof” in Farsi. To learn more about “tâ’rof” click here.

[3] It’s an answer to “tâ’rof” which it’s literal translation is: our friends in our place. To learn more about “tâ’rof” click here