What it means
تخفیف (takhfif) means a discount, reduction in price, or concession. The word is borrowed from Arabic, where it derives from the root خ-ف-ف (kha-fa-fa), meaning to lighten or reduce a burden. In Persian it is used in both formal commercial contexts, such as a sale or promotional discount, and in informal bargaining, where asking for takhfif is a routine part of any negotiation. A close companion word is تخفیف دادن (takhfif dadan), meaning to give a discount.
How to use it
- تخفیف میدید؟ (Takhfif midid?) “Do you give a discount?”
- این هفته تخفیف ویژه داریم. (In hafte takhfif-e vizhe darim.) “This week we have a special discount.”
- اگه نقد بدم، تخفیف میده؟ (Age naqd bedam, takhfif mide?) “If I pay cash, will he give a discount?”
- پنج درصد تخفیف گرفتم. (Panj darsad takhfif gereftam.) “I got a five percent discount.”
Cultural note
Asking for takhfif is a normal and expected behavior in traditional Iranian bazaars and smaller shops, where prices are often set with room for negotiation. In modern malls and supermarkets with fixed prices, asking for takhfif is less common but not unheard of. Seasonal sales, especially around Nowruz (Persian New Year), are heavily marketed using the word takhfif, and “حراج” (haraj, clearance sale) and takhfif often appear together on banners and social media promotions.