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Persian (Farsi) Phrases for Your Partner and Their Family
Your Persian Partner is a Finglish by Iranopedia track for English speakers dating a Persian. It teaches casual pet names that sound natural, what to call everyone in the family, and what to say at the door, at dinner and on the big days.
Who it is for: Anyone with a real person to impress: a girlfriend, boyfriend, fiance or spouse, and the family that comes with them. The track teaches the casual way people actually talk, so nothing sounds like a textbook.
Included in Full Access. $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year.
Pet names: who says what and when
Here is a can-I-say-this table for the words you are most likely to hear first.
| Say | It means | Who you can say it to | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azizam | My dear | A partner, friends, family and kids | The most common term of endearment. Casual and warm, never too much. |
| Joonam | Yes, dear? | People you are close to | It is also the warm answer when someone you love says your name. |
| Dooset daram | I love you | Family, a partner and close friends | The everyday way to say it. Warm, not only romantic: children say it to parents and grandparents too. |
| Doosetoon daram | I love you (formal) | Elders you address as shoma | The polite, respectful form, with the formal ending. |
Joonam, azizam and the ones to skip
Start with two words and you will sound natural: Azizam and Joonam. Say Azizam to your partner when you say good morning, when you ask for something and when you send a text. Answer Joonam when your partner calls your name, the way you would answer with a warm "yes, dear?" in English.
The one to skip is habibi. Habibi is an Arabic word, so a Persian family will hear it as borrowed. The Persian pet names to learn are Azizam and Joonam. Dooset daram is the everyday family I love you, so you can say it freely. Save the much stronger, romantic words for the moment you mean them. Hearing them in the right place is what makes them land.
Meeting the parents: the first five phrases
These five already live in the main course, so you can hear them and practice them today. They are the ones that carry a first dinner.
Use shoma, the polite you, with their parents and older relatives. Your partner and people your age use to, the friendly you. Module 1 of the main course teaches both.
What to call everyone
Persian has a separate word for each side of the family, which is why aunts and uncles have two words each. Mom's side and dad's side are not the same.
| Person | You say | A note |
|---|---|---|
| Mom | Maman | Warm and casual. It is the word you will hear most in the house. |
| Dad | Baba | The same word in almost every family. |
| Grandma and grandpa | Maman bozorg and Baba bozorg | The literal meaning is big mom and big dad. |
| Mom's sister and brother | Khaleh and Daei | Your mother's side. |
| Dad's sister and brother | Ammeh and Amu | Your father's side. |
Dinner at their place
A Persian dinner is long, generous and full of offers. A few words get you through every course.
No, thanks. I'm full.
A first no is expected, and a second offer is usually coming.
Dastet dard nakone
Thanks for making this
Thank you for making this. Say it at the end of the meal.
Your host may offer food several times before they take no for an answer. That is taarof, and it is a compliment.
Texts and voice notes
The sweet things you say in person, you also write. These are the three that show up in the first month.
Delam barat tang shode
I miss you
I miss you. Heartfelt, and the right size for a text.
The track, module by module
Eight short modules in three parts: sweet and casual, meet the family, and every day and holidays.
Pet names, casual not cringe
Call your partner the way people really do, and answer when they call you.
You will say: Joonam
Shoma or to?
Pick the right "you" for each person in the family.
You will say: Are you well?
Meeting the parents
Say a warm first hello at the door and a polite goodbye.
You will say: Khoshbakhtam
What to call everyone
Use the right name for aunts, uncles and grandparents on both sides.
You will say: Maman bozorg
Dinner at their place
Thank the cook, praise the food and say when you are full.
You will say: Dastet dard nakone
Texts and voice notes
Write and say the sweet things in a message.
You will say: Delam barat tang shode
Holidays with the family
Greet everyone on the big days.
You will say: Happy holiday.
Making up
Say sorry and mean it, the Persian way.
You will say: Bebakhshid
Ready when you are
Your Persian Partner is included in Full Access, the same plan as the whole main course. Sara will be your host.
Questions
No. We teach the casual way people actually talk, so pet names sound natural and not like a textbook.
No. Habibi is an Arabic word. Persian speakers say azizam and joonam.
This track is about language and manners. Ask your partner what their family would like, and learn the thank-you words in this track.
It helps, and Module 1 is free with no signup. This track builds on those first greetings.
Yes, when it opens. Every track will be included in Full Access, the same plan as the whole main course, at $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year.
More tracks
- Visiting IranVisiting their family in Iran? The airport, the taxi and the table.Read about it
- Persian HolidaysSpending Nowruz or Yalda with them? What to say on each day.Read about it
For the full list of Persian terms of endearment and what each one means, read the guide: Persian (Farsi) Terms of Endearment.
Want to say something that is not here? Search the Persian phrasebook, or see all the tracks.
Finglish by Iranopedia is a Persian (Farsi) learning app for English speakers. It teaches everyday spoken Persian in English letters, built around you: a daily review that schedules every word for you, speaking practice, games and real-life conversations. Module 1 is free with no signup.