فدای شما
فدای شما (fadâ-ye shomâ) means “I’d sacrifice myself for you.” A warm taarof phrase of devotion. فدا comes from Arabic فداء; شما is Persian.
Glossary
قربان شما
قربان شما (qorbân-e shomâ) means “I am your humble servant” and is one of the most deferential taarof expressions in Persian. قربان is Arabic in origin.
اجازه بدید
اجازه بدید (ejâze bedid) means “with your permission” or “please allow me.” The opener اجازه comes from Arabic; بدید is Persian. A staple of formal taarof.
معذرت میخواهم
معذرت میخواهم (mazerat mikhâham) means “I apologize” or “I beg your pardon” in formal Persian. The Arabic noun mazerat combines with the native verb khâstan to form the most polished apology in Iranian Persian.
خسته نباشید
خسته نباشید (khaste nabâshid) is a uniquely Iranian greeting said to someone who is working, meaning “may you not be tired” or “well done.” There is no direct equivalent in English or Arabic.
زحمت کشیدید
زحمت کشیدید (zahmat keshidid) means “you went to trouble” or “thank you for your effort” in Persian. The formal Arabic-root noun zahmat pairs with the native verb keshidan to make a polite acknowledgment.
دستتون درد نکنه
دستتون درد نکنه (dastetun dard nakone) is a Persian thank-you phrase meaning “may your hands not hurt,” used to praise someone’s work or effort. It is warm, colloquial, and uniquely Iranian.
نوش جانت
نوش جانت (nush-e jânat) means “bon appetit” or “enjoy your meal” in Persian, literally wishing that food nourishes the soul. It is a warm, everyday taarof phrase at the table.
به چشم
به چشم (be cheshm) means “with pleasure” or “of course” in Persian. It is one of the most common polite affirmations in everyday Iranian speech, rooted in taarof culture.
قابل ندارد
قابل ندارد (ghâbel nadâre) is a Persian taarof phrase meaning it is not worthy of you, spoken when offering a gift or service to humbly dismiss its value out of respect for the recipient.