آقاجان
آقاجان (âqâ-jân) means “dear sir” or affectionately “father” in Persian. آقا is Turkic-Mongol in origin, جان is Persian. Together they form a warm, respectful form of address used across many social contexts.
Greetings and Etiquette
خواهش میکنم بفرمایید
خواهش میکنم بفرمایید (khâhesh mikonam befarmâyid) means “please, go ahead” or “please, come in.” It is a polite invitation used when welcoming a guest or deferring to someone out of courtesy.
درود بر شما
درود بر شما (dorud bar shomâ) is a formal, literary Persian greeting meaning “greetings to you” or “salutations.” It carries an elevated, classical tone rarely heard in everyday casual speech.
خوش گفتید
خوش گفتید (khosh goftid) means “well said” or “nicely put.” A polite formal affirmation built from two pure Persian words: خوش (pleasant) and گفتید (you said).
قربانت بروم
قربانت بروم (qorbânat beram) means “may I be sacrificed for you.” An intimate taarof term of endearment. قربان is Arabic; بروم is Persian. Used between loved ones.
خدمتگزارم
خدمتگزارم (khedmat-gozâram) means “I am at your service” or “your servant.” خدمت is Arabic in origin; گزار is a Persian agent suffix. Common in formal closings.
فدای شما
فدای شما (fadâ-ye shomâ) means “I’d sacrifice myself for you.” A warm taarof phrase of devotion. فدا comes from Arabic فداء; شما is Persian.
قربان شما
قربان شما (qorbân-e shomâ) means “I am your humble servant” and is one of the most deferential taarof expressions in Persian. قربان is Arabic in origin.
اجازه بدید
اجازه بدید (ejâze bedid) means “with your permission” or “please allow me.” The opener اجازه comes from Arabic; بدید is Persian. A staple of formal taarof.
معذرت میخواهم
معذرت میخواهم (mazerat mikhâham) means “I apologize” or “I beg your pardon” in formal Persian. The Arabic noun mazerat combines with the native verb khâstan to form the most polished apology in Iranian Persian.