Ask An Iranian
Ask An Iranian
Do Iranians have daddy issues?
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In this episode, we discuss the many peculiar Persian expressions using the word ‘dad’. Listen in to learn how to express frustration, how to be sarcastic and how to tell someone where to go when they’ve ticked you off. So, do Iranians have daddy issues or not, listen to find out.

A question that we’ll only half-answer

We have Tyrel to thank for this question. He asks, “I don’t speak Farsi [Persian], but I know that “baba” is dad. And I see my Persian [Iranian] friends say that word a lot in their conversations with anyone, male or female. Do Persians have daddy issues?”. In a sense, there are two questions here, but we’re only brave enough to answer one. If Tyrel truly wants to dig deep into the Iranian psyche, he’ll have to wait until we get an Iranian psychologist on the show.

In this show we also get answers to these questions…

  • What are the Persian words for Dad, Daddy and Father?
  • What Persian language phrases use the word Dad, Daddy and Father?
  • Is there a Persian word for “dude”?

Tell us what we’ve missed?

Are you Iranian and think we’ve missed something? Great, let us know in the comments below. Are you Iranian and think we’ve gotten something wrong? Better, also correct us in the comments below. Maybe you’re not Iranian and would like to know more about Persian phrases containing family members. If so, you know where to go.

Persian (Farsi) words used during this episode

PersianEnglish translation
Baabaa:The informal Persian word for ‘Dad’ — can be like, “dude!”
Ey baabaa:A Persian exclamation, ‘oh dad’ — like, “for Christ’s sake”
Na baabaa:A Persian term of disbelief, ‘no dad’ — also used sarcastically, like, “obviously!” or “no $#!%”
Boro baabaa:A Persian term, ‘go dad’ — like, “get out of here”
Pedar sag:A Persian term, ‘dog father’ — like, “you cretin”
Pedar sookhte:A Persian term, ‘burnt dog’ — like, “you cheeky so and so”
Pedaram-o dar ovord:A Persian term, ‘I got my father out’ — like, “it was difficult”
“a” appearing alone, will be pronounced as a short-a — double ‘aa’s are long, as used in the word “water”

Photo credits: via Wikipedia – Studio Portrait of Three Persian Wrestlers by Antoin Sevruguin, c.1890

Music: “The Jazz Piano”, Benjamin Tissot (bensound.com) | “Kalaghe Dom Siah”, Shohreh Solati | “Mahvash, Parivash”, Jalal Hemmati