If you walk into a cafe in Northern Tehran speaking the “Standard Persian” you learned with formal books, you’re going to get roasted. You will sound like a news anchor from the 1980s, or worse, a fed.
I live in Italy, and I see the exact same problem here. You learn “Buon giorno, come sta?” in your classes, but then you step onto the streets of Milan and realize the guys at the bar are speaking a totally different language.
Persian is the same. The grammar books teach you the “polite” version. But the real culture happens in the gutters. As a PolSci student, I’m obsessed with how people actually talk, not how the Academy wants them to talk.
Here is the raw data on the 10 Farsi slang words you actually need to survive Tehran in 2025.
1. Khafan (خفن)
The Vibe: Sick / Awesome / GOAT
Start with this. It is the most important word in the language right now. Literally, it means “asphyxiating” or “choking.” Don’t ask why. In reality, it means something is so cool it’s dangerous.
My Italian friends say Che figo, and Americans say Dope, but neither captures the intensity of Khafan.
- Example: In ahang kheyli khafane. (This song is sick).
- Check out Radio Javan to hear this used in every other rap song.
2. Pichundan (پیچوندن)
The Vibe: Ghosting / Ditching / Twisting
This is the art of the “Ghost.” Literally “to twist,” but we use it when someone ditches plans, dodges a difficult question, or flakes on a date. If you’re dating an Iranian and they stop replying? You got Pichundan-ed. If a politician answers a question about the economy by talking about the weather? He Pichund.
3. Oskol (اسکل)
The Vibe: Idiot / Lovable Fool
There is a popular urban legend that an Oskol is a bird that gathers food for winter and then forgets where it buried it. Ornithologists say the bird doesn’t exist, but trust me, the people definitely do. It’s a soft insult. Use it for your friend who pushes a “Pull” door.
- Example: Oskol bazi dar nayar. (Don’t act like an Oskol).
4. Kaf Kardam (کف کردم)
The Vibe: I’m Shocked / “I Foamed”
Yes, like a rabid dog. It means you were so shocked by something that you started foaming at the mouth. In 2025, we mostly use this when we look at the inflation rate or the price of an espresso.
- Example: Gheymat-e iPhone ro didam, kaf kardam. (I saw the price of the iPhone, I foamed.)
5. Khaz (خز)
The Vibe: Cringe / Tacky / Cheesy
This is the “Cringe Police” word. Originally meant “fake fur.” Now it describes anything tacky, cheap, or trying too hard. Gold rims on a cheap Peugeot 206? Khaz. Using pickup lines you found on Google Translate? Extremely Khaz.
6. Sooti (سوتی)
The Vibe: A Blunder / Slip-up
Literally a “whistle.” This is a verbal slip-up or an embarrassing mistake. In Italy, if I accidentally call my professor “Bella” (Beautiful) instead of “Professoressa,” that is a massive Sooti. Note: You don’t just “make” a mistake in Persian; you “give” a Sooti (Sooti dadam).
7. Lash (لش)
The Vibe: Lazy / Chilling / Rotting
This is a lifestyle. Literally “carcass” or “dead body.” It describes that state of being where you are melting into the couch, wearing sweatpants, refusing to be productive. It’s not just lazy; it’s a vibe. Italians call it Dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing). We call it being a carcass.
- Example: Emruz faghat lash kardam. (Today I just rotted.)
8. Jo-gir (جوگیر)
The Vibe: Hype-beast / Overexcited
“Atmosphere-taken.” You know that guy who watches one MMA fight and suddenly wants to fight everyone at the bar? He is Jo-gir. It’s someone who gets easily influenced by the hype and acts unnatural. Don’t be Jo-gir.
9. Dahan-servis (دهن سرویس)
The Vibe: “You son of a gun”
Literally “Mouth-serviced.” (Look, Persian insults are anatomical and weird. If you want the full breakdown of how our swearing works, check the definitions on Forvo or ask me in class). This one is flexible. If someone pulls a prank on you, you laugh and say it. If someone passes a seemingly impossible exam, you say it with respect.
10. Faze (فاز)
The Vibe: Mood / Energy
We stole “Phase” from English/French, but we use it for “Vibe.”
- Faze-e manfi: Negative energy/buzzkill.
- Faze-e gham: Sad boy hours.
- Che fazie?: What’s the deal? / What’s the vibe?
Stop Learning “Robot Farsi”
Reading this list is the easy part. Actually using these words without sounding like a tourist (or an Oskol) is the hard part. Context is everything.
I’m a PolSci student based in Italy, and I teach Persian the way we actually speak it in Tehran, slang, politics, and bad jokes included.
Book a trial lesson on Preply and let’s get to work: Book a Lesson with Elyar
