Meeting People
Persian politeness runs on fixed formulas — you learn them whole, like single words, and they need almost no grammar. When you are introduced to someone, the answer is خوشبختم (nice to meet you, literally "I am fortunate").
| Nice to meet you, ma'am. | خوشبختم، خانم.khoshbakhtam, khânom. |
| Nice to meet you too. | من هم خوشبختم.man ham khoshbakhtam. |
Welcoming Guests
When guests arrive, the host says خوش آمدید — welcome, literally "you came well". It pairs naturally with بفرمایید to usher people in.
| Welcome — please come in. | خوش آمدید، بفرمایید داخل.khosh âmadid, befarmâyid dâkhel. |
| Welcome to our home. | به خانهی ما خوش آمدید.be khâne-ye mâ khosh âmadid |
Saying Sorry
متأسفم expresses regret — I'm sorry — where ببخشید (from the previous lesson) asks pardon: excuse me. Use متأسفم to console or to apologize for something that already happened.
| I'm sorry, mother. | متأسفم، مادر.motaassefam, mâdar. |
| I'm very sorry. | خیلی متأسفم.kheyli motasefam. |
On the Phone
الو is how Iranians answer the phone — never سلام first. The سلام follows once you know who is speaking.
| Hello? Hi! | الو، سلام!alo, salâm! |
| Hello? Hi, mom! | الو، مادر، سلام!alo, mâdar, salâm! |
The All-Purpose بفرمایید
بفرمایید is the politeness word for offering anything: here you are (handing something over), please come in, go ahead, take a seat. You will hear it dozens of times a day in Iran.
| Here you are, this is your tea. | بفرمایید، این چایِ شما است.befarmâyid, in châye shomâ ast. |
| Please come in. | بفرمایید داخل.befarmâyid dâkhel. |