شادی

What it means

شادی (shâdi) means “joy, happiness, gladness.” Pure Persian, A2 vocabulary. Built from the adjective شاد (shâd, “happy”) plus the abstract-noun suffix -ی. Lighter and brighter than خوشحالی (khoshhâli, “good-mood-ness”).

How to use it

• شادی بزرگی است (shâdi-ye bozorgi ast) “It is a great joy”
• پر از شادی (por az shâdi) “full of joy”
• شادی کردن (shâdi kardan) “to celebrate, to be merry”

Common pairings

• شاد (shâd) “happy, glad”
• شادمان (shâdmân) “joyful”
• غم و شادی (gham-o-shâdi) “sorrow and joy”
• شادباش (shâdbâsh) “congratulations” (literally “be joyful”)

Etymology

From Middle Persian šād, from Old Persian šiyāti- (“happiness, well-being”). The Achaemenid kings inscribed šiyāti- in their royal proclamations as a divine gift bestowed by Ahura Mazda. The Persian Pure Persian Movement uses شادی and شاد widely as preferred alternatives to Arabic-origin words for joy. روح شاد (ruh-e shâd, “happy soul”) is also said about the deceased, “may his soul be joyful.”

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab