Yes, no and the essentials in Persian
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Persian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Persian phrases in this lesson
- بلهba-LEH
- Yes
- نخیرna-KHEIR
- No
- باشهBA-sheh
- Okay
- من نمیفهممman ne-mee-FAH-mam
- I don't understand
- آیا انگلیسی حرف میزنید؟A-ya en-glee-SEE harf mee-za-NID
- Do you speak English?
- دوباره بگوییدdo-baa-REH be-goo-YEED
- Can you repeat that?
- آهستهتر لطفاًaa-hes-te-TAR lot-FAN
- Slowly, please
- این چیست؟in CHEEST
- What is this?
- ... لازم دارمlaa-ZEM daa-RAM
- I need...
- میتوانید به من کمک کنید؟mee-ta-vaa-NEED be man ko-MAK ko-NEED
- Can you help me?
Formal yes. In casual speech "آره" (arre) is the everyday yes, almost a head bob in word form. "بله" sounds formal or emphatic. Iranians often simply nod instead, a single sharp upward nod meaning yes.
The polite no. نه (na) is the plain one, but it is spelled the same as nine.
The casual okay, the most natural response to almost anything. "خوب" (khub, fine/good) is more formal. "تمام" (tamām, complete) also works to signal agreement. "باشه" carries an implied "I will do what you ask".
This phrase almost always results in a switch to English in any city setting. In traditional markets it earns a patient repeat, often slower. Pointing or a translation app bridges the gap when needed.
In urban Iran English is increasingly spoken by younger people. In tourist areas English speakers are common. In traditional shops and rural areas far less so. Learning a few Persian phrases earns genuine appreciation and attempts to help you further.
Literally "say it again".
Literally "slower, please".
Literally "I have need of ...".