What it means
سخاوتمند (sakhâvatmand) means generous or open-handed. The word is a compound: سخاوت (sakhâvat), the Arabic-origin noun for generosity, built on the root س-خ-و (s-kh-w), plus the native Persian suffix ـمند (mand), which attaches to nouns to form adjectives meaning “possessing that quality” (compare دانشمند, learned). The result is a mixed-origin word that sounds formal and literary rather than colloquial. A more everyday synonym is بخشنده (bakhshandeh, giving, generous), while the opposite is بخیل (bakhil, stingy).
How to use it
- پدرم همیشه آدم سخاوتمندی بوده. (padaram hamiše âdam-e sakhâvatmandi bude.) “My father has always been a generous person.”
- این خانواده سخاوتمندانه به همسایههاشون کمک میکنن. (in khânevâde sakhâvatmandâne be hamsâyehâshun komak mikonan.) “This family generously helps their neighbors.”
- سخاوت یه فضیلته که هر کسی نداره. (sakhâvat ye fazilate ke har kasi nadâre.) “Generosity is a virtue not everyone has.”
- آدم سخاوتمند همیشه دوست و رفیق زیاد داره. (âdam-e sakhâvatmand hamiše dust o rafiq ziâd dâre.) “A generous person always has many friends.”
Cultural note
Generosity, سخاوت, is one of the most praised character traits in Persian culture and literature. Classical poets from Sa’di to Rumi elevated the generous host and the open-handed patron as moral ideals. In practice, the expectation of hospitality toward guests is a living social norm: offering food, chai, and gifts is not optional courtesy but a deeply felt obligation. Calling someone سخاوتمند is one of the most sincere compliments in Persian, carrying both social and spiritual weight.