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Words at the table

A handful of words that keep coming up at a Persian table – in Persian script, in a simplified transliteration, and written the way an English speaker can approximate them. The transliteration follows the sound, not an official system.

How to read it

kh: The throaty sound of Scottish „loch“ – never a soft h.
gh: Deep in the throat, like a rolled r that does not rattle.
â: A long, dark a leaning towards o – between „father“ and „fall“.
-e: Always pronounced at the end of a word, never silent.

At the restaurant

Persische Schrift	Umschrift	Say it like	Meaning
ببخشید	bebakhshid	beh-bakh-sheed	Excuse me. It calls someone over and apologises – the kh is like the ch in Scottish „loch“.
چی پیشنهاد می‌کنید؟	chi pishnahâd mikonid?	chee peesh-na-hahd mee-ko-need	What do you recommend?
صورتحساب لطفاً	surat-hesâb lotfan	soo-rat-heh-sahb lot-fan	The bill, please. Expect the host to wave it away first – that is ta'ârof.
خیلی خوشمزه بود	kheili khoshmaze bud	khay-lee khosh-ma-zeh bood	It was very good.
سیر شدم	sir shodam	seer sho-dam	I'm full. Necessary, because more will be served unasked.

At the table

Persische Schrift	Umschrift	Say it like	Meaning
نوش جان	nush-e jân	noosh-e jaan	Said to someone who is eating – literally ‚sweet for the soul‘. Not a toast but a wish across the table.
دستت درد نکنه	dastet dard nakone	das-tet dard na-ko-neh	‚May your hand not hurt‘ – how you thank whoever did the cooking.
سفره	sofre	sof-reh	The cloth meals are eaten on, and the laid table itself. You do not set a sofre, you spread it.
تعارف	ta'ârof	ta-aa-rof	The courtesy of offering and declining. When something is offered a third time, you may take it.
چای	chây	chaa-ee	Black tea in slim glasses, all day. Sugar does not go in; a cube goes between the teeth.

Ingredients

Persische Schrift	Umschrift	Say it like	Meaning
زعفران	za'farân	za-fa-raan	Saffron. Ground in a mortar and dissolved in hot water, never stirred in dry.
زرشک	zereshk	ze-reshk	Barberries. Small, dark red, sharply sour – tossed briefly in butter, never boiled.
لیمو عمانی	limu omâni	lee-moo o-maa-nee	Dried limes, black and hollow. Pierced and simmered along; they give sourness and a light bitterness.
کشک	kashk	kashk	Thickened, dried whey. Diluted and brought to a boil before use; tastes salty and sour like a very ripe cheese.
سبزی	sabzi	sab-zee	Herbs – a bunch on the table or finely chopped in the pot. ‚Sabzi khordan‘ is the herb plate served with almost everything.
ادویه	advieh	ad-vee-yeh	The house spice mix. Every family blends it differently; cinnamon, cumin, rose petals and turmeric are usually in it.
رب انار	rob-e anâr	rob-e a-naar	Pomegranate molasses. Dark, thick, sour – the counterweight to the sweetness of walnut.
گلاب	golâb	go-laab	Rose water. Goes into sweet things, never savoury, and always at the very end.

In the kitchen

Persische Schrift	Umschrift	Say it like	Meaning
ته‌دیگ	tahdig	tah-deeg	Literally ‚bottom of the pot‘: the golden crust under the rice. Turned out at the end and shared first.
پلو	polo	po-lo	Rice cooked together with something else – barberries, herbs, beans. Not the same as chelo.
چلو	chelo	che-lo	Rice on its own, cooked twice: boiled first, then finished in steam. The khoresh comes alongside in its own bowl.
خورش	khoresh	kho-resh	The stew served with rice – never poured over it, always beside it.
دم کردن	dam kardan	dam kar-dan	Letting the rice rest over low heat, a cloth under the lid. This is what makes the crust.
آش	âsh	aash	A thick pottage of herbs, pulses and often noodles – between soup and main course.
کوکو	kuku	koo-koo	A thick egg dish, full of herbs or vegetables, set in the pan and cut into pieces.
ترشی	torshi	tor-shee	Vegetables pickled in vinegar – they stand beside every meal and cut the fat.