What it means
غذا خوردن (ghazâ khordan) means to eat a meal or have food. The noun غذا (ghazâ) is borrowed from Arabic, where it carries the sense of nourishment or sustenance. It entered Persian centuries ago and is now so deeply embedded that most speakers do not think of it as a foreign word. The light verb خوردن (khordan) is native Persian and covers both eating and drinking in many compound expressions. غذا خوردن is the neutral, universally understood form at every register.
How to use it
- بریم غذا بخوریم. (berim ghazâ bokhorim.) “Let’s go eat.”
- هنوز غذا نخوردم. (hanuz ghazâ nakhordam.) “I haven’t eaten yet.”
- کجا غذا خوردی؟ (kojâ ghazâ khordi?) “Where did you eat?”
- غذا خوردنت تموم شد؟ (ghazâ khordan-et tamum shod?) “Are you done eating?”
Cultural note
Eating together is a central act of hospitality in Iranian culture. Guests are almost always urged to eat more, and refusing food can be read as impolite. The phrase غذا خوردی؟ (have you eaten?) is sometimes used the way English speakers say “how are you?”, as a casual greeting that signals care. Family meals, especially Friday lunches with extended family, are a major social institution in Iran.