فرصت

What it means

فرصت (forsat) means opportunity, chance, or a window of time. The word comes from Arabic فُرْصَة (fursa), from the root ف-ر-ص (f-r-s), which carries the idea of a moment of opening or advantage that presents itself. In Persian the word is fully naturalized and used across all registers. The standard verb phrases are فرصت داشتن (forsat dâshtan), to have the chance or time, and فرصت دادن (forsat dâdan), to give someone an opportunity. The phrase از فرصت استفاده کردن (az forsat estefâde kardan) means to make use of an opportunity, and فرصت از دست دادن (forsat az dast dâdan) means to miss or lose an opportunity. A near-synonym is موقعیت (moghei’yat), which leans toward a broader situational opportunity or position, while فرصت feels more specifically like a time-limited opening.

How to use it

• فرصت داری باهام حرف بزنی؟ (forsat dâri bâham harf bezani?) “Do you have time to talk to me?”
• فرصت رو از دست نده (forsat ro az dast nade) “Don’t miss the opportunity.”
• یه فرصت بهم بده (ye forsat behem bede) “Give me a chance.”
• از این فرصت استفاده کردم (az in forsat estefâde kardam) “I took advantage of this opportunity.”

Cultural note

In Iranian professional and academic culture, فرصت carries real weight. Parents often frame education and hard work as فرصت‌هایی (forsathâyi, opportunities) that must not be squandered, and the fear of فرصت از دست دادن, losing a window of opportunity, is a recurring theme in how Iranians talk about career decisions, immigration, and life choices. In ta’arof exchanges, offering someone فرصت can also be a form of politeness: giving the other person space or time rather than pressuring them.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab