What it means
دعا کردن (do’â kardan) means to make a personal supplication to God, to pray informally, or simply to wish something for someone. It is a compound verb formed from two elements of different origin: دعا (do’â) is an Arabic noun from the root د-ع-و (d-‘a-w), meaning “call” or “invocation,” while کردن (kardan) is a native Persian light verb meaning “to do” or “to make.” This Arabic noun plus Persian verb pattern is extremely common in Persian. دعا کردن is broader than نماز خواندن (namâz khândan, to perform the ritual prayer): you can دعا کردن at any time, in any posture, in your own words. It also means to make a wish or bless someone, as in «برات دعا میکنم» (barât do’â mikonam, “I will pray for you”).
How to use it
- برات دعا میکنم که زود خوب بشی. (barât do’â mikonam ke zud khub beshi.) “I will pray for you to get well soon.”
- مامانم هر شب دعا میکنه. (mâmanam har shab do’â mikone.) “My mom prays every night.”
- دعا کن امتحانمون خوب بشه. (do’â kon emtehânemon khub beshe.) “Pray that our exam goes well.”
- وقتی غم داری، دعا کن آروم بگیری. (vaghti gham dâri, do’â kon ârum begiri.) “When you are sad, pray to find peace.”
Cultural note
In Iranian daily life, دعا کردن is used far more casually than the formal ritual prayer نماز. Iranians of varying levels of religious observance use the phrase to mean anything from a heartfelt supplication to God to simply wishing someone well. Parents routinely say «برات دعا میکنم» to their children before an exam or journey, and the phrase carries genuine emotional warmth. Certain دعاها (do’âhâ, plural) are recited at specific times, such as دعای کمیل (do’â-ye Komeil) on Thursday nights in Shia practice, but personal do’â requires no fixed form or time.