دیر

What it means

دیر (dir) means “late” or “too slow” in Persian. It is a pure Persian adverb and can also function as a predicative adjective. On its own, دیر describes something that happens after the expected or appropriate time. The compound verb دیر کردن (dir kardan) means “to be late” or “to take too long,” used when a person delays or does not arrive on time. دیر شدن (dir shodan) is the passive or impersonal equivalent, meaning “it has gotten late” or “it is becoming late,” often used when time has slipped away regardless of anyone’s fault. The opposite is زود (zud), meaning early or soon. دیر is one of the earliest time-words a Persian learner needs, appearing in everything from scolding a child to apologizing to a boss.

How to use it

• دیر کردی (dir kardi) “You are late.”
• دیر شده، بریم (dir shode, berim) “It has gotten late, let’s go.”
• چرا اینقدر دیر اومدی؟ (cherâ inghad dir umadi?) “Why did you come so late?”
• دیر می‌شه، زود باش (dir mishe, zud bâsh) “It is getting late, hurry up.”

Cultural note

Iranian time culture is famously flexible, and the phrase «دیر کردی» said with a warm smile is practically a greeting ritual. Arriving late to a social gathering is accepted and sometimes expected; the expression «یه کم دیر کرد» (he was a bit late) rarely carries serious criticism in informal settings. However, the same leniency does not apply to formal or professional contexts: being late for a job interview or a business meeting is considered disrespectful, and دیر کردن in those contexts carries genuine social weight.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab