What it means
مهمان (mehmân) means guest or visitor. The word is borrowed from Arabic مَهْمَان (mahmân), though the precise direction of borrowing between Arabic and Persian at the earliest stage is debated by scholars; in any case it is fully native to modern Persian. A مهمان is anyone who comes to your home as an invitee, from a close family member to a formal dignitary. The word carries no negative connotation; receiving a مهمان is understood as an honor and an opportunity to demonstrate generosity. The compound مهمان داشتن (mehmân dâshtan, to have guests) is one of the most common phrases in domestic Persian conversation.
How to use it
- امشب مهمان داریم (emshab mehmân dârim) “We have guests tonight.”
- مهمونی داری؟ (mehmuni dâri?) “Are you having people over?”
- مهمان عزیزه (mehmân azize) “The guest is dear.”
- مهمان ناخونده (mehmân-e nâkhunde) “An uninvited guest.”
Cultural note
The saying مهمان حبیب خداست (mehmân habib-e khodâst, the guest is the beloved of God) reflects how seriously the role of host is taken in Iranian culture. An Iranian host is expected to insist on feeding and accommodating a guest regardless of convenience or preparation, and a guest is expected to initially decline offerings before accepting, in keeping with ta’ârof conventions. مهمان is therefore not just a vocabulary word but an entry point into understanding a core Iranian social value.
References
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