گلابی
Golabi literally means “pear.” In Iranian Gen Z slang, it’s a soft, naïve, easily-fooled person, often anti-regime-coded as a swipe at people who buy state-TV propaganda. A2 register, teasing edge.
Glossary
عقدهای
Oghdei describes someone driven by an unresolved complex, a chip on the shoulder. From oqde, “knot.” B1 register; weaponized by Iranian Gen Z online against regime-loyal commentators and against anyone whose pettiness has a clear psychological origin.
داغون
Daghoon means wrecked, exhausted, broken. Iranian Gen Z flips it: dâqun-am can mean “I’m destroyed” or “I’m killing it,” depending on tone. A2 Tehrani Instagram register, the flip dates from roughly 2018 onwards.
سوتی
Sotee is Iranian Gen Z slang for a public slip-up, a fumble, a moment that exposes you. From sut, “whistle” (a foul). A2 Twitter/X register, paired with screenshot culture from 2015 onwards.
دکون
Dokon is Tehrani Gen Z slang for “shop,” stretched to mean any scene, situation, gig or vibe. B1 Telegram and X register, late 2010s onwards. Anti-corporate-coded; treats a person’s job or life as a shop they’re running.
فلان
Filân is Tehrani Gen Z’s all-purpose verbal shrug, an Arabic loan (“so-and-so”) repurposed online as a tossed-off dismissal. A2 Twitter and Telegram register, active 2018 onwards.
کنده
Konde (کنده) literally means ‘stump.’ Strength 2/5. A common, milder Persian insult for a jerk, oaf, or inconsiderate person. Survivable in cousin-talk and frequent in Tehran traffic exchanges.
گه
Goh (گه) is the everyday Persian word for shit. Strength 2/5. The base profanity Iranian children learn first and Iranian adults never stop using. Tolerable across a wider range of company than the kos- and kun-family.
جنده
Jendeh (جنده) is the gendered slur for a sex worker, weaponized at any woman a man wants to police. Strength 4/5. DO NOT USE THIS WORD. The everyday male voice doing slut-shaming in a Tehran taxi is doing the same work as gasht-e ershâd, just unpaid.
کونی
Kuni (کونی) is a homophobic slur for the receptive male partner. Strength 5/5. DO NOT USE THIS WORD. Iran executes gay men under Article 234 of the Islamic Penal Code; the language and the gallows belong to the same project.