خواهش

What it means

خواهش (khâhesh) is a noun meaning request, plea, or wish. It is built on the stem خواه (khâh), which comes from خواستن (khâstan), the verb to want or to wish. The suffix -esh forms abstract nouns in Persian, so خواهش is literally the act of wanting or the state of wishing for something. On its own the word means a request: خواهشی دارم (khâhesh-i dâram), “I have a request.” Its most frequent appearance, however, is in the fixed phrase خواهش می‌کنم (khâhesh mi-konam), literally “I make a request” or “I do a pleading,” which serves as the standard word for please and also as the response to thank you, equivalent to you’re welcome or not at all. This dual function, please and you’re welcome, is one of the first things learners notice and remember about the word.

How to use it

• خواهش می‌کنم بنشینید (khâhesh mi-konam beneshinid) “Please sit down.”
• ممنون. خواهش می‌کنم (mamnun. khâhesh mi-konam) “Thank you. You’re welcome.”
• یه خواهشی ازت دارم (ye khâhesh-i azat dâram) “I have a favor to ask you.”
• خواهش می‌کنم این کارو نکن (khâhesh mi-konam in kâr-o nakon) “Please don’t do this.”

Cultural note

In Iranian social life, خواهش می‌کنم sits within the larger system of ta’arof, the elaborate politeness culture that governs how Iranians make requests, offer things, and respond to gratitude. As a response to ممنون (mamnun, thank you), خواهش می‌کنم is the warm, personal alternative to the more neutral قابل نداشت (ghâbel nadâsht). Using it signals genuine warmth. As a softener before a request, it makes the ask feel considerate rather than abrupt, which matters in a culture where directness can sometimes read as rudeness.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab