The Persian language, revered for its beautiful poetry and literature, has been revered for millennia and at times in history has even served as the language of culture in the wider Middle East region, as well as in Central and South Asia. It’s a language that today is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and parts of Uzbekistan, with its rich literary tradition having found a new audience in the West, who have made classical Persian poet Rumi the #1 best selling poet in the United States.
However, language inevitably changes over time, and the Persian language is no exception to this. Slang is an everyday part of all young people’s lives, and some that originated decades ago have made their way into everyday casual conversation today between all generations—such as tāblō (تابلو), for example, which is used to describe something that is obvious or perhaps very awkwardly obvious, and originates from the French word ‘tableau’.
So, welcome to this issue’s volume of the Beginner’s Guide to Persian Adolescent Slang. A word of warning before we begin: brace yourself as some of the phrases below might be offensive, and they are only ever used in very informal and casual conversation. Rumi or any of our other esteemed poets certainly won’t have used them.
Khafan (خفن): Starting off with perhaps the most common word, this is used to describe something really cool. ‘Khafan’ comes from the word ‘khafe’ or the compound verb ‘khafe shodan’ which means ‘to choke’ or ‘to suffocate’.
Eyval (ایول): Used similarly to how someone in English may say ‘Nice!’ in response to a good, exciting, and/or surprising thing happening.
Bikhiāl (بیخیال): The Persian equivalent of ‘forget about it’ or ‘nevermind’. Literally translates to something along the lines of ‘without intention’, ‘unintentioned’, or ‘unintentional’.
Jerrr (جر): This word sometimes has the tendency to be dragged out (i.e. ‘jerrrrrrrrr’). It’s like an IRL way of saying ‘LOL’. Originates from the phrase ‘daram jerr mikhoram’ which means ‘I am ripping [from laughter]’.
Dadāsh (داداش) or Dadā (دادا) for short: Usually used to informally refer to one’s brother but is also used generally as a term of endearment, similarly to the English ‘bro’ or ‘dude’.
K*s charkh (کس چرخ): This is when you ride around in a car looking for girls, usually on certain boulevards in the evenings.
Damet garm (دمت گرم): Bravo, well done. Literally translates to ‘may your breath be warm’.
Jendēh (جنده): A strongly misogynistic insult, meaning ‘slut’ or ‘whore’.
Dāf (داف), Dāffi (دافی), Dāffulak (دافولک): A hot girl. Originates from the phrase ‘dar o daf’ which itself has unknown origins.
Chet (چت): High and intoxicated.
Eshghēh mani (عشقه منی): An endearing phrase meaning ‘you’re my love’
Zeyd (زید): A lover, usually a girl.
Sag mast (سگ مست): Really drunk.
Sober-ē sag (سوبره سگ): Stone cold sober.
Siktir (سیکتیر): This word can mean a lot of things depending on the context, but usually means something along the lines of ‘buzz off’ or sometimes used to suggest that whatever someone is saying is nonsense. Directly borrowed from the Turkish and Azeri languages, but has a broader use and softer impact in Persian.
Cūcūli (کوکولی): Cocaine.
Khodāst (خداست): Used to describe something as being really good. Similar to calling something ‘the bomb’ in English.
Nāmūsan? (ناموسا؟): The Persian equivalent of the English slang term ‘For real?’. Originates from the Shirazi dialect.
K*skalak (کس کلک): Someone who fools around a lot and wastes time.
Khāyē māl (خایه مال): A derogatory term for someone who sucks up to people.
Bēh tokhmam (به تخمم): A rude way of saying ‘I don’t care’ or ‘Whatever’. Literally translates to ‘to my balls’.
Radifēh (ردیفه), Revālēh (رواله), Halēh (حله): It’s set to go. Similar to the English phrase ‘then it’s sorted’.
Pashm rizūn (پشم ریزون): Used to describe something surprising, terrifying or crazy. Literally means that the hair on your body is falling out.
Hāji (حاجی), Dāyi (دایی), Amū (عمو), Mashti (مشتی): Another set of words that are somewhat equivalent to the word ‘dude’ in English.
Oskol (اسکل) or Os (اس) for short: Somebody who is dumb or stupid.
K*ssher (کسشر): A ruder way of describing something that is being said as nonsense.