ول کردن

What it means

ول کردن (vol kardan) is a compound verb combining ول (vol) with the all-purpose light verb کردن (kardan, to do or to make). The compound means to let go of something, to drop or release it, to abandon a person or task, or to stop bothering someone. In its physical sense, ول کردن describes releasing your grip: ول کن means “let go” or “drop it.” In its social sense it means to leave someone alone or to abandon a relationship. In its motivational sense it means to give up on a project or to quit. The imperative ول کن is among the most frequently heard phrases in colloquial Persian, covering everything from playful teasing to genuine frustration. The origin of ول (vol) is not fully settled in Persian lexicography; Dehkhoda lists it but does not trace it to a single clear source, so claiming a confident etymology here would go beyond what the evidence supports. What is certain is that the compound is deeply embedded in everyday speech across all age groups in Iran.

How to use it

• ول کن، بذار برم. (vol kon, bezâr beram.) “Let go, let me leave.”
• کارمو ول کردم، خسته شدم. (kâram ro vol kardam, khaste shodam.) “I abandoned my work, I got tired.”
• ولم کن، حالم خوب نیست. (volam kon, hâlam khub nist.) “Leave me alone, I am not feeling well.”
• این پروژه رو ول نکن، نزدیکه تموم بشه. (in proje ro vol nakon, nazdike tamum beshe.) “Don’t abandon this project, it’s almost done.”

Cultural note

ول کن is so common in Tehran street speech that it has developed its own pragmatic range. Said gently between friends it can mean “oh come on, stop it” in a joking tone. Said sharply it signals real irritation. The phrase ول معطل (vol mo’attal), meaning something left idle or a person with nothing to do, extends the same root into an adjective used to describe someone who is at loose ends or a task that has been abandoned halfway. In parenting and classroom contexts, ول دادن (vol dâdan, to let loose or to give too much freedom) carries a note of concern, suggesting a child or student has been left without enough structure.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab