What it means
تسلیت گفتن (tasliyat goftan) is the light-verb phrase meaning to offer or extend condolences. It is built from the Arabic-origin noun تسلیت (tasliyat) joined with the native Persian verb گفتن (goftan), meaning to say or to speak. This structure, an Arabic noun carrying the core meaning plus a Persian verb supplying the grammatical action, is very common in everyday Persian. The phrase is functionally identical to تسلیت عرض کردن (tasliyat arz kardan), which uses a more formal register.
How to use it
- رفتیم تسلیت گفتیم. (Raftim tasliyat goftim.) “We went and offered our condolences.”
- باید بری تسلیت بگی. (Bâyad beri tasliyat begi.) “You need to go and offer your condolences.”
- زنگ زد تسلیت گفت. (Zang zad tasliyat goft.) “He called to offer his condolences.”
- نمیدونم چی بگم وقتی باید تسلیت بگم. (Nemidoonam chi begam vaghti bâyad tasliyat begam.) “I never know what to say when I have to offer condolences.”
Cultural note
Saying تسلیت گفتن in person carries more social weight than sending a message or card. Iranian families in mourning typically receive visitors for several consecutive evenings, and guests are expected to approach the immediate family, make eye contact, and speak condolences directly. Simply nodding from across the room is generally considered insufficient. The act of physically going to offer condolences is called عرض تسلیت کردن in more ceremonial speech.