How to Say Goodbye in Persian (Farsi)

Khodafez is made of khoda, which means God, and hafez, which means keeper. Literally it wishes that you are kept safe, and in daily use it is just the word for goodbye, with no religious weight to it. Say it to a friend, a cousin, a shopkeeper, a grandmother or the person at the end of a call.

Say it slowly and give the middle its length: kho-daa-FEZ. The kh is the rough sound at the back of the throat that you also use in Khoobam. The answer to Khodafez is Khodafez. If you want to add a little warmth, put a short wish in front of it, such as Shab bekheir at night or Merci before you walk out.

Persian has a few goodbyes that say when you will meet again. Ta farda means until tomorrow, and you use it only when you really will see the person tomorrow. Felan means bye for now, the friendly, casual one you say to someone you will see again soon.

The warmest one is Zood bia, which means come soon, and it is what a relative says to a cousin or a child at the door. To an elder, or to more than one person, it becomes Zood biayn. Hearing it from a relative means you are welcome back anytime.

At the end of an evening, the goodbye is often Shab bekheir, which means good night. It works when you are leaving a friend's house late, hanging up with family, or heading to bed in a home where you are a guest. It carries more warmth than Khodafez because it wishes the person a good night, not only a farewell.

People say the same two words back. If the person you are talking to says Shab bekheir first, answer Shab bekheir and add Khodafez if you are leaving the room or ending the call.

Leaving a Persian home is not a one-line event. When you say you need to go, the host will usually ask you to stay longer, and that is part of the goodbye, not a problem. Say it once, with a smile, say it again in a few minutes, and keep moving toward the door while you talk.

A good exit has a few parts. Thank whoever cooked, tell people to give your regards to the others, and say Khodafez at the door. A friendly cousin gets Dastet dard nakone, which thanks someone for what they made, and an elder gets Dastetoon dard nakone. Salam beresun asks the person to say hello to everyone for you. Dige bayad beram means I really should go now.

For a more polished farewell, you will hear Be omid-e didar, which means hoping to see you again. It sounds more formal than Khodafez, and you hear it on the phone with someone you do not know well or at the end of a polite visit.

Family phone calls end in layers. First, the practical last words. Then the warm ones. Dooset daram goes before Khodafez, and a grandparent may add a kiss down the line: Boos, often said twice.

A call between friends is shorter, and Khodafez or Felan is plenty. Between family, the call is not over until everyone has been greeted, so expect Salam beresun on both sides.