Table of Contents
Different Ways to Say Goodbye
In Persian, as in English, there are several ways to say goodbye. Some are more formal, others are very friendly and informal. In this chapter you will learn the most common and useful ones for real conversations.
The most standard goodbye in Persian is "خدا حافظ" khodâ hâfez. Literally it means "May God protect (you)." You can use it in almost any situation, with friends, family, or strangers. It is safe and polite.
For example:
You: "خدا حافظ" khodâ hâfez
Friend: "خدا حافظ" khodâ hâfez
You can also hear and use a slightly longer version "خداحافظ شما" khodâ hâfez-e shomâ. The word "شما" shomâ is the polite or plural "you." This sounds a bit more polite and is common with people you do not know well, or when you want to sound extra respectful.
There is also a shorter and very casual version "بای" bâi, borrowed from English "bye." Use "بای" only with friends or in very informal situations. For good polite Persian, especially at your level, prefer "خدا حافظ" or "خداحافظ شما."
Wishing a Good Day or Night
Persian speakers often add a good wish when saying goodbye. This is a simple way to sound kind and polite.
To wish someone a good day, you can say:
"روزِ خوبی داشته باشید" ruz-e khubi dâshte bâshid
This means "Have a good day." The word "روز" ruz is "day," "خوب" khub means "good," and "داشته باشید" dâshte bâshid is the polite form "may you have."
You can combine it with "خدا حافظ":
"خدا حافظ، روزِ خوبی داشته باشید."
khodâ hâfez, ruz-e khubi dâshte bâshid.
"Goodbye, have a good day."
For evening or night, you can say:
"شب بخیر" shab bekheir
This means "good night." Use it when you leave someone in the evening or before sleep. It is both polite and neutral. Often you put it after "خدا حافظ."
For example:
You: "خدا حافظ، شب بخیر." khodâ hâfez, shab bekheir.
Basic Polite Words: Please, Thank You, Sorry
Politeness in Persian is very important in everyday life. A few key words will help you sound friendly and respectful from the beginning.
The most common word for "please" is "لطفاً" lotfan. It comes from "kindness" and is used with requests. In speech, Persians often put it at the end of a sentence.
For example:
"آب، لطفاً." âb, lotfan.
"Water, please."
To say "thank you," the most frequent word is "مرسی" mersi. It comes from French "merci" and is very common and neutral. Another common word is "متشکرم" moteshakkeram, which is a bit more formal and very polite.
For example:
"مرسی." mersi.
"Thank you."
"خیلی متشکرم." kheili moteshakkeram.
"Thank you very much."
The word "خیلی" kheili means "very" or "a lot," so you can make your thanks stronger.
To say "you are welcome," the most usual answer is "خواهش میکنم" khâhesh mikonam. Literally it means "I request" or "please," but in this context it means "you are welcome" or "do not mention it."
For example:
A: "مرسی." mersi.
B: "خواهش میکنم." khâhesh mikonam.
To apologize, you can say "ببخشید" bebakhshid. It can mean "sorry" or "excuse me," for example if you step on someone’s foot, if you want to pass, or if you did something wrong.
For example:
"ببخشید." bebakhshid.
"Sorry" or "Excuse me."
Being Polite with People
In Persian, the choice of words shows how polite you are. You already saw "شما" shomâ, the polite "you." When you use polite phrases like "لطفاً" lotfan and "خواهش میکنم" khâhesh mikonam with "شما" shomâ, you sound very respectful.
Here are simple model mini dialogues that use goodbye and polite words. Do not worry yet about the full grammar. Just feel the pattern and sound of the expressions.
Dialogue 1, in a shop:
Customer: "ببخشید." bebakhshid. "آب، لطفاً." âb, lotfan.
Shopkeeper: "بفرمایید." befarma-id. "مرسی." mersi.
Customer: "خداحافظ شما." khodâ hâfez-e shomâ.
Shopkeeper: "خدا حافظ." khodâ hâfez.
The word "بفرمایید" befarma-id is a very common polite word that means "here you are," "please come in," or "go ahead" depending on the situation. You will see it often in real life, so it is good to recognize it now.
Dialogue 2, leaving a friend:
You: "خدا حافظ." khodâ hâfez.
Friend: "خدا حافظ، روزِ خوبی داشته باشی."
khodâ hâfez, ruz-e khubi dâshte bâshi.
Here "داشته باشی" dâshte bâshi is the informal "you" form of "may you have." Between friends this is natural. You will study informal vs formal forms in more detail in other chapters.
Combining Goodbye and Thanks
In many real situations, you say goodbye and thank you at the same time. You can put these expressions together in a simple and natural way.
For example, in a café:
You: "مرسی، خداحافظ."
mersi, khodâ hâfez.
"Thank you, goodbye."
More politely:
"خیلی متشکرم، خداحافظ شما."
kheili moteshakkeram, khodâ hâfez-e shomâ.
"Thank you very much, goodbye."
If you want to add a good wish:
"خیلی متشکرم، روزِ خوبی داشته باشید، خداحافظ."
kheili moteshakkeram, ruz-e khubi dâshte bâshid, khodâ hâfez.
"Thank you very much, have a good day, goodbye."
These models show you the natural order in Persian: thanks, good wish, then goodbye. You do not need to memorize long sentences at once. First be comfortable with each piece, then combine them.
Key polite expressions for goodbye:
"خدا حافظ" khodâ hâfez = Goodbye
"خداحافظ شما" khodâ hâfez-e shomâ = Polite goodbye
"شب بخیر" shab bekheir = Good night
"روزِ خوبی داشته باشید" ruz-e khubi dâshte bâshid = Have a good day
"مرسی" mersi / "متشکرم" moteshakkeram = Thank you
"خواهش میکنم" khâhesh mikonam = You are welcome
"ببخشید" bebakhshid = Sorry / Excuse me
"لطفاً" lotfan = Please
Vocabulary of this Section
| Persian (script) | Transliteration | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| خدا حافظ | khodâ hâfez | goodbye |
| خداحافظ شما | khodâ hâfez-e shomâ | goodbye (polite) |
| بای | bâi | bye (informal) |
| روز | ruz | day |
| خوب | khub | good |
| روزِ خوبی | ruz-e khubi | a good day |
| روزِ خوبی داشته باشید | ruz-e khubi dâshte bâshid | have a good day (polite) |
| روزِ خوبی داشته باشی | ruz-e khubi dâshte bâshi | have a good day (informal) |
| شب | shab | night |
| شب بخیر | shab bekheir | good night |
| لطفاً | lotfan | please |
| مرسی | mersi | thank you |
| متشکرم | moteshakkeram | thank you (formal) |
| خیلی | kheili | very, a lot |
| خیلی متشکرم | kheili moteshakkeram | thank you very much |
| ببخشید | bebakhshid | sorry, excuse me |
| خواهش میکنم | khâhesh mikonam | you are welcome |
| شما | shomâ | you (polite / plural) |
| داشته باشید | dâshte bâshid | may you have (polite) |
| داشته باشی | dâshte bâshi | may you have (informal) |
| بفرمایید | befarma-id | here you are / please / go ahead |