What it means
حساب کردن (hesâb kardan) means “to count,” “to calculate,” or “to consider.” The noun حساب (hesâb) is borrowed from Arabic, where it means calculation or account. Combined with the Persian verb کردن (kardan), it forms one of the most productive compound verbs in everyday Farsi. Beyond arithmetic, حساب کردن is also used to mean considering or expecting something: یه چیزی رو حساب کردن means to factor something in.
How to use it
- پولا رو حساب کردی؟ (Pulâ ro hesâb kardi?) “Did you count the money?”
- اون رو حساب نکردم. (Oun ro hesâb nakardam.) “I didn’t count on that / I didn’t expect that.”
- بذار حساب کنیم چقدر میشه. (Bezâr hesâb konim cheghadr mishe.) “Let’s calculate how much it comes to.”
- تو حسابم نیست. (To hesâbam nist.) “You’re not in my count” (meaning: I’m not counting on you).
Cultural note
حساب carries a social weight beyond mathematics in Persian. The phrase حساب کتاب (hesâb-o ketâb, literally calculation and book) is used to mean being careful, methodical, or keeping things straight between people. Telling someone بیا حساب کتابمونو صاف کنیم (let’s settle our accounts) can refer to money, but just as often to clearing up an argument or a misunderstanding. The related noun حساب (hesâb) also appears in bank account terminology, making this a high-frequency word across everyday and formal contexts.