What it means
فعلاً (felan) means “for now,” “at the moment,” or “currently.” It comes from Arabic: the noun فعل (fiʿl, “act” or “deed”) with the adverbial accusative suffix ـاً, a purely Arabic grammatical feature. In Persian it has drifted from its Arabic root meaning to signal something temporary or provisional, as in “this is the case right now, but it may change.” It is very common in informal speech and text messages. A close synonym in formal writing is در حال حاضر (dar hâle hâzer, “at the present time”).
How to use it
- فعلاً خونهام. (felan khunaam.) “I am at home for now.”
- فعلاً کاری نمیکنم. (felan kâri nemikonam.) “I am not doing anything at the moment.”
- فعلاً همین کافیه. (felan hamin kâfiye.) “This is enough for now.”
- فعلاً نمیدونم چی میشه. (felan nemidoonam chi mishe.) “For now I don’t know what will happen.”
Cultural note
فعلاً is one of the most frequently heard adverbs in Iranian daily life, appearing in everything from casual chat to WhatsApp messages. Its provisional tone fits a cultural tendency to avoid overly definite commitments about the future. Saying فعلاً اینجام (felan injâm, “I am here for now”) leaves the future open, which can feel polite rather than evasive.