What it means
شب بخیر (shab be-kheyr) is the everyday Persian farewell at night, meaning “may your night be good” or simply “good night.” شب (shab, “night”) is a pure Persian word with deep roots in the language, while خیر (kheyr, “goodness”) comes from Arabic, held together by the Persian preposition به (be). The blend is so natural that it functions as a single unit. The typical response is شب شما هم بخیر (shab-e shomâ ham be-kheyr, “and a good night to you too”) or simply شب بخیر echoed back.
How to use it
- شب بخیر، استراحت کن. (Shab be-kheyr, estirâhat kon.) “Good night, get some rest.”
- شب بخیر، خواب خوب ببینی. (Shab be-kheyr, khâb-e khub bebini.) “Good night, sweet dreams.”
- شب شما هم بخیر. (Shab-e shomâ ham be-kheyr.) “Good night to you too.”
- شب بخیر، فردا میبینمت. (Shab be-kheyr, fardâ mibinamet.) “Good night, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Cultural note
شب بخیر is used both when parting in person at night and in text messages and phone calls before sleep. In Iranian homes it is common to say شب بخیر to every family member individually before going to bed, treating the phrase as a small but meaningful act of care. Unlike the English “good night,” which can also function as a dismissal, the Persian شب بخیر almost always carries genuine warmth. It is one of the earliest phrases learners acquire at the A1 level.