What it means
خودخواه (khodkhâh) means selfish. It is a pure Persian compound built from خود (khod, self) and خواه (khâh), which comes from the verb خواستن (to want). Together they literally mean “self-wanting,” that is, someone who wants only for themselves. The word is completely natural in modern spoken and written Persian. A close synonym is خودپرست (khodparast, self-worshipping, slightly stronger), while the contrast is دیگرخواه (digarkhâh, altruistic).
How to use it
- اون آدم خیلی خودخواهه. (un âdam kheyli khodkhâhe.) “That person is very selfish.”
- باهاش قطع رابطه کردم، چون خودخواه بود. (bâhâsh qat’-e râbete kardam, chon khodkhâh bud.) “I cut ties with them because they were selfish.”
- خودخواهی یه عادت بده. (khodkhâhi ye âdat bade.) “Selfishness is a bad habit.”
- نمیخوام خودخواه به نظر برسم. (nemikham khodkhâh be nazar beresam.) “I don’t want to come across as selfish.”
Cultural note
In Persian culture, where hospitality and generosity toward guests and family are core social values, calling someone خودخواه is a genuine social criticism. The accusation carries weight beyond simple rudeness. Persian literature, from classical poetry to modern novels, regularly frames selfishness as a spiritual failure, contrasting it with the ideal of giving without expectation that figures in Sufi thought and everyday Iranian ethics alike.