50 Farsi Words and Phrases Every Non-Persian Partner Should Know
You don't need a dictionary. You need the right 50 words — the ones that actually come up in real life with a Persian partner. Here they are, organized by category.
Learning Farsi doesn't have to mean studying grammar rules or memorizing verb conjugations. If your goal is to feel closer to your Persian partner, family, or friends, what you actually need is a curated set of words that come up in real, everyday life. Here are 50 of the most useful ones, organized by category.
Terms of Endearment (The Ones You'll Use Every Day)
🌹جانم (joonam) — my soul, my darling. The most common term of endearment in Persian.
🌹عزیزم (azizam) — my dear, my precious.
🌹نازنینم (naazinam) — my delicate one, my darling.
🌹قربونت برم (ghorboonet beram) — I'd sacrifice myself for you. Said with deep affection.
🌹دلبرم (delaram) — the one who stole my heart.
🌹گلم (golam) — my flower.
🌹عشقم (eshgham) — my love.
🌹جیگرم (jigar-am) — my liver. Sounds strange in English, but it's a deeply affectionate term in Persian.
Expressing Love and Affection
🌹دوستت دارم (dooset daram) — I love you.
🌹عاشقتم (aashegheta-m) — I'm in love with you. More intense than dooset daram.
🌹دلم برات تنگ شده (delam barat tang shode) — I miss you (literally: my heart has become tight for you).
🌹بهترینی (behtarini) — you're the best.
🌹خوشگلی (khoshgeli) — you're beautiful.
🌹چشمام روشن (cheshmam roshan) — my eyes are bright (said when you see someone you love after time apart).
🌹دیوونتم (divoone-tam) — I'm crazy about you.
Everyday Phrases You'll Hear Constantly
🌹سلام (salaam) — hello.
🌹خداحافظ (khodaafez) — goodbye.
🌹ممنون (mamnoon) — thank you.
🌹مرسی (mersi) — thank you (informal, from French).
Food is central to Persian culture. If you're going to her family's house, these are essential:
🌹نوش جان (nooshe jan) — enjoy your meal / bon appétit (literally: may it nourish your soul).
🌹دستت درد نکنه (dastat dard nakone) — thank you for your effort (literally: may your hand not hurt). Said after someone cooks for you.
🌹به به (bah bah) — wow, delicious! An exclamation of delight about food.
🌹غذا خوردی؟ (ghazaa khordi?) — have you eaten?
🌹بفرمایید (befarmaaeed) — please, go ahead / help yourself. Used constantly in Persian hospitality.
Persian Expressions That Don't Translate Directly
These are the phrases that reveal the soul of the language:
🌹انشاالله (enshaallaah) — God willing. Used for anything in the future, from "I'll call you" to "I'll be there."
🌹ماشاالله (maashaallaah) — God has willed it. Said to express admiration and ward off the evil eye.
🌹چشم (cheshm) — literally "eye," but means "yes, I will" or "as you wish."
🌹دست گلت درد نکنه (daste golet dard nakone) — may your flower hand not hurt. A poetic way to thank someone.
🌹سر به هوا (sar be havaa) — head in the sky. Means someone is absent-minded or dreamy.
🌹دلم میخواد (delam mikhad) — my heart wants it. Used instead of "I want."
🌹حالم خوبه (haalam khube) — I'm feeling good.
🌹خدا رو شکر (khodaa ro shokr) — thank God. Said after something good happens.
Compliments and Praise
🌹آفرین (aafarin) — bravo, well done.
🌹عالیه (aalie) — it's excellent / amazing.
🌹قشنگه (ghashange) — it's beautiful.
🌹باهوشی (baahushi) — you're smart.
🌹مهربونی (mehrabuni) — you're kind.
Start learning Farsi for your Persian partner — one beautiful word a day, texted to you at 8pm.
How to Actually Remember These Words
The trick isn't to study all 50 at once. Pick three this week. Use them. Then add three more. The words that stick are the ones you actually say out loud — especially to your Persian partner. When she hears you say جانم or دستت درد نکنه to her mom, the reaction will make it all worth it.
The easiest way to build this habit is to have a new word arrive every day without any effort on your part. That's exactly what Babe, It's Farsi is designed for — one beautiful Persian word or phrase, texted to you every evening at 8pm.