In most countries around the world, people work more or less eight hours a day. Since we spend considerable amount of time, usually the most productive hours of a day, at work, it is understandable to have inclination to talk about what our occupation is. Do you know what is your job in Farsi? In Iran, asking about someone’s job is not considered rude. Therefore, people may ask you in Farsi “šoql-e šomâ či-ye(h)?”, what is your occupation?, or “če(h) kâre(h) hasti?”, what do you do?

If you like to answer this question, you can find your job’s title in the list below.  If you are interested in learning more workplace phrases, you can find them on ‘talk to people, workplace talk’ (hyperlink). In case we had forgotten including your job, please remind us in the comments so that we add it.

Before going to job titles, the following technical terms are worth learning:

– In Farsi, you can find a couple of words as close equivalents to job, “kâr”, “šoql”, “herfe(h)” and “piše(h)”. “kâr” is a general term for anything we do, an equivalent to work; therefore, it can be used in word formation process. For instance, “bikâr” literally means workless, which is an equivalent to unemployed. Moreover, “kâr kardan” is a verb that means to work.

– Based on our feeling toward what we do, the word “working” is classified in three categories. In Iran, job analysts have chosen equivalents to the English terms “job”, “career” and “calling”.

“šoql” means job. In daily conversations, we use this word to talk about our occupation. But as a technical term, “šoql” is what we do to gain money no matter if we like our job or not. We usually try to make this money to afford what we enjoy doing outside workplace.

Career is translated as “herfe(h)”, which is what we do not only do to earn money but also to get promoted, gain experience and improve. It is enjoyable to have a career and when our work is a career for us, we usually do not have difficulty to wake up in the morning for going to work because we expect new challenges to help us grow.

Finally, if we turn our job to a calling, “piše(h)”, we will be the most professionally satisfied person in the world. In this sense, our work has a purpose and we feel emotionally connected to what we do. This means what we do is made for us and fulfills our desires which are originated from our character. To reach this stage, we first need to know ourselves and then change our perspective of working.

Leave comments for us telling what your occupation is and in which stage you are. Is your work a “šoql”, “herfe(h)” or “piše(h)”? Farsimonde tutors started teaching Farsi as their “šoql”, now they are in “herfe(h)” level and are attempting to change it to a “piše(h)”. What about you?