What it means
ول (vol) describes something or someone that is loose, unconstrained, or abandoned. As a standalone adjective it appears in phrases like ول بودن (vol budan, to be at loose ends, to have nothing to do, to roam freely). Its main power is in the compound verb ول کردن (vol kardan, to let go of, to abandon, to drop something). The command form ولش کن (volesh kon) is one of the most common colloquial phrases in spoken Persian, meaning let it go, forget about it, or leave him alone, depending on context. A person described as ول is someone who drifts through life without responsibility.
How to use it
- ولش کن، ارزش نداره (volesh kon, arzesh nadâre) “Let it go, it’s not worth it.”
- دستمو ول کن (dastam ro vol kon) “Let go of my hand.”
- امروز ولم کردی (emruz volam kardi) “You left me on my own today.”
- اون پسره خیلی وله (un pesare kheyli vole) “That guy is really irresponsible, he just drifts around.”
Cultural note
ول and its compounds occupy a central place in colloquial Persian because Iranians use ولش کن as a universal exit from an argument, a frustration, or a topic that is going nowhere. Knowing when to say ولش کن is a social skill as much as a linguistic one: it signals that you are choosing peace over persistence. In Tehran speech the phrase is delivered with a slight rising tone and a hand gesture, often accompanied by a shrug.
References
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