What are the first words you learn when learning another language? It’s always the same, of course! You learn how to ask if the meat is halal, if the toilets have a botty-hose, and of course, the names of various four-legged animals. After you’ve impressed any newly-found foreign friends with the names of four-legged animals in their language, they’ll likely proceed to teach you more words. Don’t be confused though when they follow up by telling you to never use any of them. In a similar vein, this episode of the Ask An Iranian podcast is exactly that, in that, we hope you’ll never use any of the Persian, or Farsi insults that we teach you.
Should the suggestion of that have aroused your curiosity, then tune in to enjoy the veritable smorgasbord of Persian insults, innuendos and inappropriate words. Also, within this episode, we read out contributions from our beloved listeners who kindly helped us out in helping you get familiar with the best, the worst and the weirdest Farsi cuss words. So, if you want to know what you should not say to an Iranian, be sure to check this episode out.
Questions we also get answers to in this episode
- How do I swear in Farsi?
- Do Iranians think that they swear more than other peoples?
- Which Iranian serial is good to learn Persian with whilst watching?
- Do Iranian movies have age certification, or is it all ‘Parental Guidance’?
- Is it ok for non-Torks to use the term “Tork e Khar” (Tork Donkey)?
- Did the historical Persian poets ever use profanity in their works?
- Do Arabs and Iranians have similar insults?
- How do the Kurdish insult one another?
- Are people that use bad language, more trust-worthy?
A list of common Persian-language insults and foul language
We feel that it’s important for you to know these Persian insults and to know them by reading how they would sound if spoken. We hope that you never hear them, and we sure hope you never use them.
| Persian (Pingilish) | English translation |
|---|---|
| Āb chāghāl: | Semen of a male that prefers males |
| Ahmagh: | “Idiot” |
| An āghā: | “Mr Shit” |
| Azāmātam: | Wishing someone continuous death and sorry, and to continually be in mourning |
| Bi gheirat: | A person with no honour |
| Bi nāmoos: | A person with no honour |
| Chāghi: | A male who prefers males, but maybe more passively |
| Dayoos: | “Pimp” or “cuckold” |
| Gardan koloft: | “Thick neck” — a term for bigot |
| Ghoroom sāgh: | “Cuckhold” — or maybe “your wife is a bitch” |
| Goh/An: | “Feces” |
| Goh to dahanet: | “Shit in your mouth” — an insult you’d say to someone |
| Goh to saret: | “Shit on your head” — an insult you’d say to someone |
| Harām zādeh: | “Bastard” |
| Hezār pedar: | “Thousand fathers” — an insult suggesting your mother gets around |
| Jā kesh: | “Place puller” — like a brothel provider |
| Jendeh: | “Prostitute” |
| Ke ke: | “Shit” |
| Kir: | “Dick” |
| Kiri: | A person who is into dick |
| Kiram to dahanet: | “My dick in your mouth” |
| Koonaki: | This probably means, “little arse” |
| Koon bacheh: | A male who prefers males, but maybe more passively |
| Koon nashoshteh: | “Arse not washed” — said to somebody who you want to suggest doesn’t wash their arse |
| Koon goshād: | “Loose arse” — a term used to suggest somebody is lazy |
| Koon kesh: | “Pimp” — for men looking for men |
| Kos e sher: | “Pussy poetry” — meaning, (you’re talking) “bullshit” |
| Kos kesh: | “Pussy puller” — a pimp |
| Kos khol: | “Crazy pussy” — suggesting somebody is a crazy idiot |
| Khāk to saret: | “Mud on your head” — something like, “die!” |
| Khār koste: | “Your sister is a slut” — probably one of the worst insults |
| Khasis: | “Stingy” — being tight with money |
| Mādar jendeh: | “Your mother is a prostitute” |
| Mādar ghabeh: | Referring to another person’s mother as a prostitute |
| Mādari: | A person who is sexually interested in their mother |
| Martikeh: | A way to refer to a man in a belittling way |
| Martikeh haraam goosht: | Kinda like, your meat is haram, and can’t be eaten |
| Morde shoor: | “washer of dead people” — an occupation in itself |
| Namak nashenas: | “Not knowing salt” — kinda used to suggest somebody is ungrateful |
| Nang: | A disgrace |
| Naneh hamegi: | “Mother of everyone” — an insult suggesting that your mother belongs to all |
| Oskol: | “Idiot” |
| Pedar sag: | “Dog father” — like, “you cretin” |
| Pedar sookhteh: | “Burnt dog” — like, “you cheeky so and so” |
| Pofak sar: | “Cheese-puff head” |
| Shahre Nooei: | Somebody from the place known as ‘Shahre No’, a place that was essentially a ‘red light’ district |
| Tokhm e jen: | “A genie’s testicle” |
| Tokhm e sag: | “Dog’s testicles” |
| Tool e sag: | “Child of a dog” |
| Tork e khar: | “Tork donkey” — Torks are ethnic group of Iranians |
| Yāboo: | The name of the animal known as an ass |
| Zahre mār: | “Snake’s poison” — said in response to another, by an upset person |
| Zer nazan: | Kinda like, “don’t talk too much” |
“a” appearing without an accent will be pronounced as a short-a, as in “ate”
“ā” appearing with an accent will be pronounced as a long-a, as in “water”
Tell us your favourite insults in Farsi
We had a lot of help from our listeners in getting these examples, so thanks to all those that contributed. If you feel that we’ve missed anything, please add it below. Also, if you want to contribute to upcoming episodes, be sure to follow us on Instagram and check out our stories, in which we occasional request feedback.
Lastly, If our exhaustive list of how to swear in Persian (Farsi) isn’t satisfactory enough, head here for even more.
Translations of Persian (Farsi) words used during this episode
| Persian (Pingilish) | English translation |
|---|---|
| Khodā nakoneh: | “God forbid” |
| Mashgh: | “Practice/exercise” — sometimes used for “homework” |
| Khāk bar saram: | “Mud on my head” — like, “bury me” |
| Lāti: | Something like gangster |
| Kholāseh ke: | Slang, kinda like, “…long story short” |
| Neveshtan: | “Writing” |
| Daste shomā dard nakone: | “May your hands not be tired” |
| Nemishe goftesh: | “It can’t be said” |
| Fākher: | “Fine” (as in fine art) — sometimes a family name for Iranians |
| Khoondan: | “Reading” |
“a” appearing without an accent will be pronounced as a short-a, as in “ate”
“ā” appearing with an accent will be pronounced as a long-a, as in “water”
Image credit: ‘red collapsable donkey toy’ edited by Ask An Iranian, 2021. All of the Ask An Iranian podcast covers are available as NFTs here.
Foroogh
Just came across your website and, as an Iranian, I have to say it’s incredibly interesting and funny! Continue the great job!
An Iranian
Hello Foroogh! As one and a half Iranians, we thank you! Keep in touch with us with your comments and share what you like with your friends.
Ali Baba
I really enjoyed & will use some words with my Iranian friends to make them surprise. 😂
safeer
Imagine you, friends, we’re damn bitches when your a motherfucker
safeer
I fucking love this shit
safeer
what does fucking duff is mean in Farsi
Be to cheh, boro bache KONI
Duff: a beautiful girl you can find in Parks, Bars, restaurants and… .
Negar
ok but Kiri is not a person who’s in to dicks, it’s more like “a shitty person”
Neil friday
I’m assuming Kiri Te Kanawa isn’t too popular in Iran then 😖
safeer
what about you swearing about Robert Uhlmarash and kim jong you Napolean dick
Me
If you’re doing more comments then maybe change your name, and search the meaning
papar
we have the best curse words ever
like tokhme sag e kiri kose amat 🫠🤣
Be to cheh, boro bache KONI
Exactly, dadasham
Bethlyn
I have an oncologist who doesn’t display much humor, empathy or personality. What is a good way to pretend I am trying to learn Farsi but only bad words come out?
sarah
maybe find out a good word and put it in front or behind a bad word so it looks like you’re trying and tell them you know what it means but instead tell them the fake translation you wanna pretend it to be ( like beautiful dayoos … )
Bethlyn
I have an oncologist who doesn’t display much humor, empathy or personality. What is a good way to pretend I am trying to learn Farsi but only bad words come out?
Please answer. Thanks
sarah
maybe find out a good word and put it in front or behind a bad word so it looks like you’re trying and tell them you know what it means but instead tell them the fake translation you wanna pretend it to be ( like beautiful dayoos … )
Mahsa amini
“basiji” is my best badword
Its meening of mother fucker our 100 father
Bts army
🌝🤣فقط یک ایرانی این رو درک میکنه
Candaa
I’m a NewZealander, not Iranian 💁♀️
Pouria
Haji Hamachi khoob bood vali beonvane ye Fars migam kash un Tork e Khar nabood, in feghat ye harf bad Ya tohin nist ye jooraee nezhad parastie va baese nefrat va tafraghe bein Fars va Tork mishe.
safeer
ah shit that’s so cool bro
CesarJoon
My gf says you guys used kiri examples.
Be to cheh, boro bache KONI
She’s an angel.
safeer
your gf is a bitch
Fars
F***k persian f*sh*s*ts
Be to cheh, boro bache KONI
Fuck you Madar jendeh!
Elor
Aww Guys, let me teach u a bad words as an Iranian – “Madar Neskaffé” مادرنسکافه-
It means almost like the same word as ‘mother fucker’ but 1 level lower.
Kiram to dahanet
Teach me a very bad word
پارسا
Hi, I’m an Iranian , It is better to equate the word “dog egg” with someone who is playful.
Kelly Dragoo
I love this. I can’t wait to surprise my new Persian friend!
In your note about prononciation, the word “short” should be swapped with the word “long” where you describe the A-sound. “Long a” sounds like how Americans (👋) pronounce the letter “A” and rhymes with “stay.” I’m going to subscribe to your podcast now — Thank You!
Kiram to dahanet
I love the shit about to use this shit on this Irani bitch I know and his motherfucker cousin and if he saw a bad word to me he gonna get kidded in the Kir as hard as I could and also to his dum ass cousin
Kiram to dahanet
Not kidded kicked
Nikane gol
Yeah…… As an Iranian I can confirm that if you say just one of this swears to a person in iran.. You won’t see anything again
iran
You forgot “beh an am” which means “to my shit” or “i dont give a shit”.
Sofi
Hello, I saw the movie Offside by Jafar Panahi and almost at the end of the movie the fireworks guy tells the girls “titis” what does it really mean? I looked for information but couldn’t find anything.