What it means
همکار (hamkâr) is a compound of هم (ham, together, same) and کار (kâr, work), both native Persian roots. It refers to anyone who works in the same place or on the same team as you: a colleague, a coworker, or a workmate. The word is neutral in register and works in office conversation, formal correspondence, and casual speech alike. A related term is رفیق کار (rafiq-e kâr), a more informal, affectionate way to say the same thing among friends.
How to use it
- همکارام خیلی خوبن. (hamkârâm kheyli khuban.) “My colleagues are really good.”
- با همکارم رفتیم ناهار. (bâ hamkâram raftim nâhâr.) “I went to lunch with my coworker.”
- یه همکار جدید اومده. (ye hamkâr-e jadid umade.) “A new colleague has arrived.”
- همکارام بهم کمک کردن. (hamkârâm beham komak kardan.) “My coworkers helped me out.”
Cultural note
In Iranian workplaces, relations between همکار tend to go beyond the purely professional. It is common to share home-cooked food, celebrate birthdays, and visit colleagues during illness or family events. This culture of closeness means that همکار often implies a degree of social warmth that the English word “coworker” does not necessarily carry.