چطوری

Chetori is the informal Persian "how are you?" and the word you will hear approximately four hundred times on your first day in Iran. It breaks down as che (what) + tor (manner/way) + i (you are), so literally: "what way are you?" or "in what state are you?"

What Should You Actually Answer?

When someone asks chetori, they do not want an honest answer. This is critical for learners to understand. The correct response is one of these:

• Khoobam, mersi (خوبم مرسی) – I am good, thanks. The default. Use this 95% of the time.
• Bad nistam (بد نیستم) – I am not bad. Slightly more honest, signals you are okay but not great. Iranians will probe further if you say this.
• Aliye (عالیه) – Excellent. Enthusiastic. Use when you genuinely feel great or want to project energy.
• Eh, idjoori (اه، اینجوری) – Eh, like this. The most honest possible response. Signals something is wrong without being dramatic. A close friend will follow up. An acquaintance will move on.

Never respond with a genuine complaint. Saying "actually I am stressed about money and my back hurts" in response to chetori is a social violation equivalent to answering "how are you?" honestly in English. The question is a greeting, not a medical intake form.

How Do You Say It Formally?

Chetori is informal (to). The formal versions:

• Chetorin? (چطورین؟) – Formal "how are you?" Uses the plural/polite verb ending -in. Use with elders, professors, strangers, anyone you would call shoma (you-formal) instead of to (you-informal).
• Haaletun chetoreh? (حالتون چطوره؟) – "How is your condition?" More formal still. Business meetings, first meetings with your partner’s family, anyone significantly older.
• Ehvaaletun chetoreh? (احوالتون چطوره؟) – "How are your states?" The most formal. Arabic-origin. Government officials, very senior people, doctors greeting patients.

Why Do Iranians Stack Three Greetings?

In practice, Iranians stack greetings. A typical encounter between two friends:

Person A: Salaam!
Person B: Salaam! Chetori?
Person A: Khoobam, mersi. To chetori?
Person B: Mamnun, khoobam. Che khabar? (What news?)
Person A: Salamati, hichi. (Health, nothing.)

This entire exchange takes three seconds and communicates almost zero information. Its purpose is not informational. It is relational. Each response confirms: I see you, I acknowledge you, we are on good terms. Skipping any step feels cold.

How Do Iranians Text “How Are You”?

In text messages and social media, chetori is often written as چطوری or abbreviated to خوبی؟ (khoobi? / you good?). Among close friends, the greeting might be just خوبی without even a salaam first, which signals maximum intimacy. You skip the formalities because the relationship is past formalities.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab