Common Farsi Phrases for Tourists in Iran | Essential Words for Your Trip
Traveling in Iran is a warm experience, but it can also be a linguistically humbling one. English is not widely spoken outside the youngest urban demographics, and even in cities like Tehran and Isfahan, you will frequently find yourself face to face with a taxi driver, shopkeeper, or fellow traveler who does not share your language. The good news is that Iranians are famously hospitable and patient, and they appreciate any attempt by visitors to speak their language. Even a few words of Farsi will open doors, earn smiles, and make your journey significantly richer.
Why Learning Some Farsi Matters
There are several reasons to pick up at least a handful of Farsi phrases before your trip. First, not every traveler is comfortable relying on English as a default. Second, many Iranians, particularly outside the major cities and younger age groups, have limited English. Third, and perhaps most importantly, making the effort to speak someone's language is one of the fastest ways to build rapport. Iranians are curious, friendly, and proud of their culture. When they hear a visitor attempting Farsi, the response is almost always delight.
You do not need to become fluent. A phrasebook approach is perfectly sufficient for most trips. What follows is a practical selection of the words and sentences that will serve you best on the road in Iran.
Greetings and Politeness
These are the essentials. If you learn nothing else, learn these.
Hello is Salaam. It works in every situation, from entering a shop to greeting a fellow passenger on a bus. Iranians greet each other frequently and warmly, and returning a greeting is considered basic good manners.
Good morning is Sobh bekheir. The "kh" sound is pronounced like the German "ch" in "Bach," a soft fricative at the back of the throat.
Good evening or good night is Shab bekheir, following the same pattern.
Welcome is Khosh amadid, used when greeting someone who has just arrived.
Goodbye is Khoda hafez, which literally means "may God protect you." It is the standard farewell and is used in all contexts.
Please is Lotfan. A little goes a long way.
Excuse me or sorry is Bebakhshid. Use it to get someone's attention, to apologize for a bump in a crowd, or to express regret.
Thank you has several options. The most common is Merci, borrowed from French and used constantly in everyday speech. More formally, you can say Mamnoon (thanks), Kheili mamnoon (thanks a lot), Sepas (a word with ancient Persian roots), or Tashakkor (from Arabic). A particularly warm and common expression is Daste shoma dard nakone, which literally means "may your hand not hurt" and is used to thank someone who has done something helpful or generous.
The standard response to "merci" is Khahesh mikonam, which serves as "you're welcome," "please" (as in "I beg your pardon"), and "don't mention it" all at once.
Useful Words and Sentences
Once you have the basics of politeness, a few functional sentences will help you navigate daily situations.
Yes is Bale, and no is Nah (sometimes heard as "Na").
I understand is Mifahmam, and I don't understand is Nemifahmam. The prefix "na-" is the standard negation marker in Farsi.
I don't speak Farsi is Farsi balad nistam. This will be useful more often than you expect, but saying it in Farsi is already an advantage.
I know is Midunam; I don't know is Nemidunam.
I want is Mikham, followed by the object. For example, Chai mikham means "I want tea," and Yek bilit mikham means "I want a ticket." I don't want is Nemikham: Ghahve nemikham (I don't want coffee), Ghaza nemikham (I don't want food).
I need is Lazem daram. A particularly useful variant for travelers: Cart-e SIM lazem daram means "I need a SIM card," and Mehyar can help you get one through the app.
Can I...? is Mitunam?, as in Mitunam beshinam? (Can I sit?).
Where is...? is ... kojast?, as in Metro kojast? (Where is the metro?).
Here is Inja, there is Unja, right is Rast, and left is Chap.
How much? is Chande? You will use this phrase dozens of times a day in bazaars and shops.
When? is Key?, and why? is Chera?
Numbers in Farsi
Prices in Iran involve large numbers (often expressed in hundreds of thousands or millions of rials), and the relationship between rials and tomans can be confusing for newcomers. Learning the numbers from one to ten is not going to solve your money problems, but it is fun and occasionally useful.
One is Yek, two is Do, three is Se, four is Chahar, five is Panj, six is Shesh, seven is Haft, eight is Hasht, nine is No, and ten is Dah.
From there, the pattern is fairly regular. Eleven is Yazdah, twelve is Davazdah, thirteen is Sizdah, and so on. Twenty is Bist, thirty is Si, forty is Chehel, fifty is Panjah, and the pattern continues in tens up to one hundred (Sad).
Having Conversations in Farsi
Iranians are curious people. Expect to be asked about your name, your country, your family, and occasionally your marital status. This is not nosiness in the negative sense. It is how people connect. Here are some phrases to help you engage.
How are you? can be Khubi? (informal), Chetori? (informal), or Haletun chetore? (formal).
I'm fine is Khubam.
My name is... is Esme man ... e, as in Esme man Sarah-e (My name is Sarah).
What is your name? is Esme to chi-e? (informal) or Esme shoma chi-e? (formal).
Nice to meet you is Khosh bakhtam.
Let's go! is Bezan berim!, a cheerful expression you will hear frequently.
Bon appetite is Nooshe jan, literally "may it nourish your soul." Iranians say this before every meal, and you should too.
Delicious is Khosh mazeh, useful when complimenting the cook or the restaurant.
Farsi and the Mehyar Experience
When you travel with Mehyar, many of the practical barriers are already handled. The app provides hotel bookings, taxi services, bus tickets, and flight information in English, so you can navigate the logistics without needing Farsi for every transaction. But when you step out of the app and into the street, a few words of Farsi will make every interaction warmer and more rewarding.
Iranians respond to linguistic effort with generosity. A shopkeeper who hears a visitor say "salaam" and "mersi" may offer tea, a better price, or simply a longer conversation. A taxi driver who hears "khoda hafez" at the end of the ride will remember you. These small moments are the real substance of travel, and they cost nothing but a little preparation.
Beyond the Basics
The phrases above are enough to manage most common travel situations: greetings, shopping, transport, dining, and basic social exchange. As you spend more time in Iran, you will pick up additional words naturally. Iranians love to teach their language to visitors, and a conversation that begins with your halting Farsi often ends with you learning something new.
For a deeper engagement with the language, consider a formal Persian course before your trip, or even a short language program after arrival. Several universities and private institutes in Tehran and Isfahan offer courses for foreigners. But for most travelers, a phrasebook approach combined with the Mehyar app's practical tools is more than enough to enjoy a comfortable and rewarding visit.
Safar bekheir, and enjoy every moment of your Iranian adventure.