What it means
مرحبا (marhabâ) is a greeting of warm welcome, borrowed into Persian from Arabic مَرْحَبًا, itself rooted in the Arabic verb meaning to be spacious or to receive generously. In everyday Persian it carries the sense of “welcome” or, when responding to good news or a fine performance, “bravo, well done.” It sits slightly above the everyday خوش آمدید (khosh âmadid) in literary register, making it more common in writing, poetry, and formal or affectionate speech. A close everyday synonym is خوش آمدید; a more informal alternative is سلام (salâm).
How to use it
- مرحبا، خوش اومدی! (marhabâ, khosh umadi!) “Welcome, glad you came!”
- مرحبا به مهمونامون! (marhabâ be mehmunâmun!) “Welcome to our guests!”
- مرحبا، چه کار خوبی کردی! (marhabâ, che kâr khubi kardi!) “Well done, what a great thing you did!”
- مرحبا گفتن به تازهواردها رسم ماست. (marhabâ goftan be tâze-vâredâ rasm-e mâst.) “Saying marhaba to newcomers is our custom.”
Cultural note
مرحبا is widely shared across Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, and Persian, reflecting centuries of literary exchange across the Islamic world. In classical Persian poetry the word appears as a mark of generous spiritual welcome, and it is found in the verse of poets from Rumi to later mystic writers. In modern spoken Persian, especially in Iran, it is less common in casual street conversation than سلام, but it appears naturally in formal toasts, welcoming speeches, and expressions of admiration.