How to Learn Key Phrases in Persian

Should you ever find yourself in Iran, a few key phrases will help your trip go a little more smoothly.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

1. Use "selam" (pronounced seh-lam) for hello, and "khoda hafez" (pronounced kho-dah ha-fez) for goodbye.

2. Introduce yourself by saying "esm man" (essem man) and then your name.

3. Use "khahesh mikonan" (khaw-hesh me-conan) and "tashakor" (tah-shah-core) to say please and thank you.

4. Say "balleh" (baa-lay) for yes and "kheir" (khay-err) for no. Nodding or shaking your head vigorously is also a time-tested form of communication.

5. Say "kojoh" (kojah) for "where" if you're looking for something.

6. Use "man doost daram" (man doost daram) for "I would like," and point to what you want; add "tashakor" to be polite.

7. If you haven't been able to get your point across, then ask, "Englisi harf mizani?" (En-glee-z haaarf me-zah-nee), which means, "Do you speak English?" If that person doesn't, perhaps he or she can find someone who does.

Tips & Warnings

• Carry a phonetic dictionary or phrase book for quick help.
• Written signs will do you no good; Persian is a non-Romanic language, and to anyone not familiar with the language, it appears to be stylized squiggles.
• Be aware that Iran is a nation of dichotomies: It's a cosmopolitan nation with strong fundamentalist leanings and is in the middle of a cultural shift. Become familiar with the do's and don'ts of an Islamic nation, and don't be too obvious about being an American.

on 11/22/2005 If you visit Iran, be sure to be very respectful of the citizen's religion and customs. Always take your shoes off when you enter a mosque or a private home. Never leave without formally saying goodbye to all, and learn about "taarof," the process of offering and refusal. This practice is very common, and everyone from shopkeepers to private citizens use it. They have a greater respect for you if you understand "taarof."