The list of things I cannot control is long, diverse and seemingly multiplying! And now, outside of the mysterious and powerful tool of prayer and the part of my taxes that go to pay for the US military machine, I am powerless to control the outcome of the current street strife in Iran. You, too, I’m guessing.
But here is what we can do: We can say hi. While this admittedly solves nothing, it is, and I have absolutely no doubt about this, a step in the right direction. Connecting with an Iranian is good for the souls of both the connector and the connected.
My off and on efforts to grab hold of a tiny bit of Farsi haven’t been successful. On the off chance you’ve shared that experience, here are the first three phrases we need to say “hi” to the next Persian person God causes to cross our path. (And I’m praying right now that happens soon for many of us!)
- Salaam (sah-LAHM) is your go-to Persian greeting that works everywhere! Dorood (doh-ROOD) adds a touch of elegance to your greeting. This more poetic alternative to salaam carries a hint of traditional Persian charm. (Short video on salaam, dorood and chetori here.)
- Chetori (che-TO-ri) is a short, sweet “how are you” question that works perfectly in relaxed settings. Stretch-out chetoori (che-TOO-ri) to sound extra friendly to Persian ears. Reply with “Khoobam, merci, to chetori?” (I’m good, thank you, and how are you?)
- Khodahafez (kho-da-HA-fez) is your everyday “goodbye” superstar! This friendly phrase literally means “may God be your guardian” and fits perfectly in any situation. (Pronunciation)
I borrowed the words and most of the descriptions for those three words from a helpful page on the Preply site.
It feels weird to me to be an American these days and it must be at least a little angsty to be a Persian American (or a Persian in America), as well. May God open some kingdom doors for us this week. If he does, let me know how it goes!