What it means
ضامن (zâmen) is a noun borrowed from Arabic, from the root ض-م-ن meaning to bear responsibility or to guarantee. It refers to a guarantor: a person who formally pledges to fulfill an obligation if the primary party fails to do so. In everyday Persian, ضامن is used across financial, legal, and social contexts, from bank loans to court bail to job references. A close synonym is کفیل (kafil), also from Arabic, though ضامن is more common in everyday speech. The abstract counterpart is ضمانت (zemânat), the guarantee itself.
How to use it
- برای وام بانکی به یه ضامن نیاز دارم. (Barâye vâm-e bânki be ye zâmen niâz dâram.) “I need a guarantor for the bank loan.”
- کی حاضره ضامن من بشه؟ (Ki hâzere zâmen-e man beshe?) “Who is willing to be my guarantor?”
- پدرم ضامن اجارهخونهام شد. (Pedaram zâmen-e ejârekhune-am shod.) “My father became the guarantor for my rental.”
- بدون ضامن وام نمیدن. (Bedun-e zâmen vâm nemi-dan.) “They don’t give loans without a guarantor.”
Cultural note
In Iran, the role of ضامن goes far beyond banking. A guarantor is often required for renting an apartment, getting a job in the public sector, or being released on bail. The relationship carries genuine social weight: if the primary person defaults, the ضامن is legally and morally on the hook. Asking someone to be your ضامن is a significant request, and most people only agree for close family members or trusted friends. The pressure this creates is a common theme in everyday Persian conversations about money and obligation.