حرف زدن

What it means

حرف زدن (harf zadan) is a Persian compound verb meaning “to talk” or “to speak.” Built from حرف (harf) “word, speech” + زدن (zadan) “to hit, strike.” Literally “to hit a word.” It is the spoken-Persian standard for “to talk.”

How to use it

• با تو حرف می‌زنم (bâ to harf mizanam) “I am talking with you”
• حرف نزن! (harf nazan!) “Don’t talk!”
• درباره چی حرف می‌زنید؟ (dar bâre-ye chi harf mizanid?) “What are you all talking about?”

Compound breakdown

• حرف (harf) noun: “word, speech, letter” (Arabic loan)
• زدن (zadan) light verb: “to hit, strike, do” (Persian)
• Combined: “to hit a word” = to talk

Formal alternative

The formal alternative صحبت کردن (sohbat kardan) “to converse” is used in writing and formal speech. حرف زدن dominates everyday spoken Persian, including with strangers in casual contexts.

Common pairings

• حرف زیاد زدن (harf-e ziâd zadan) “to talk a lot”
• حرف بد زدن (harf-e bad zadan) “to say bad words”
• حرف قشنگ زدن (harf-e qashang zadan) “to say beautiful things”

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab