I learned a bit of Mandarin before taking my first trip to Taiwan, and have been studying Persian and Spanish more recently. Learning a new language can give a deeper understanding and appreciation for cultural nuances… and it’s also an excellent lesson in humility! Far be it from this beginner to teach you much of anything about these rich and beautiful languages, but the glossary below includes some of the words and phrases that come up in this series.
A few general notes:
I made the stylistic decision not to italicize the non-English words within the books. While this is a matter of debate, it felt more true to my multilingual characters, who can slip effortlessly between languages.
I generally use the term “Persian” instead of “Farsi” to describe the language spoken by the characters of Iranian descent. This is because Farsi is what it’s called in the language itself, so saying, “I speak Farsi” in English is kind of like saying “I speak Deutsch” instead of “I speak German.” (For a more expert look at these various nuances, as well as the Persian vs. Iranian conundrum that I didn’t even touch on here, check out this excellent blog post).
A term of endearment. Literally means “precious” or “treasure.”
Gōng fu chá
Carefully brewing Chinese tea with great skill. Watch a demonstration here!
Hěn hǎo
Very good
Hěn hǎo hē
Mmm, that’s delicious (literally, “very good to drink”)
Jiǎo zi
Fried dumplings / potstickers
Lǔ ròu fàn
Braised pork belly served over rice (a beloved Taiwanese comfort food)
Lu Yu
A Chinese tea master who lived from 733-804 CE and authored the first definitive work on cultivating, making, and drinking tea.
Wǒ ài nǐ
I love you
Xīn nián kuài lè
Happy New Year!
Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn
Good luck
Persian Words & Phrases
Albaloo
Sour or tart cherries.
Areh
Yes
Asheghetam
I love you
Attari
A drugstore that sells traditional Persian medicinal herbs, plant essences, spices, soaps and shampoos.
Azizam
A term of endearment. Literally means “my dear.”
Baba
The colloquial Persian term for “father” (equivalent to “dad”).
Chahar Shanbeh Suri
The festival that kicks off Nowruz on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year. The activities usually involve lots of pyrotechnics and fire-jumping, in accordance with the holiday’s Zoroastrian roots.
I miss you (literally, “my heart has become tight for you”)
Gheimeh polo
A stew made with lamb, tomatoes, yellow split peas, onion, and dried lime. Usually served over rice.
Ghorbanet beram
Goodbye (literally, “I’ll sacrifice myself for you”)
Jaan
This appears quite often as an addition to a name, as in “Roya-jaan.” While it literally means “soul/spirit/life,” it can be translated as “dear”—it’s a term of endearment and affection. You may also see it written as “joon,” but it’s often pronounced as “jaan” when spoken (see this great blog post for more info on this term). I went back and forth about how to best transliterate it, finally settling on “jaan” since this most clearly illustrates the pronunciation.
Joojeh kebab
Literally means “grilled chicken.” This popular dish usually consists of chicken marinated in a mixture of yogurt, saffron, turmeric, and citrus juice, but check out my blog for a vegan version!
Khaleh
Usually refers to a maternal aunt, but can also be used for a close family friend (like Khaleh Yasmin in the books).
Kheyli khoshgel
Very beautiful
Khoresht
A generic term for stew, often comprised of vegetables, herbs, beans and/or meat.
Khosh amadid
Welcome
Maman
The colloquial Persian term for “mother” (equivalent to “mom”). The term is also used in French, of course, but in Persian it’s pronounced pretty much exactly how it looks, with an enunciated “n” at the end.
Merci
Thank you
Mordad
The fifth month in the Iranian calendar (from late July to late August, roughly aligning with the zodiac sign Leo).
Nah deegeh
No way / absolutely not! (Used when you want to really emphasize the “no.”)
Nowruz
Persian New Year, celebrated on the spring equinox. The Nowruz festivities stretch over a period of several weeks and involve feasting, spring cleaning, and visiting family.
Sabzi
Green vegetables or herbs. Persian meals are often served with a sabzi plate containing radishes, walnuts, and plenty of fresh herbs like mint, basil, cilantro, parsley, scallions, tarragon, dill, and chives.
Shab-e Yalda
Yalda night, celebrated on winter solstice. Red fruits like pomegranates and watermelons are part of the traditional spread for this holiday, as they are said to boost the immune system and symbolize rebirth.
Shahnameh
The “Book of Kings”: an epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi that is hugely important in Iranian culture.
Sholeh zard
Saffron rice pudding.
Simorgh
A mythical phoenix-like bird.
Sizdah Bedar
The 13th day of Nowruz. Typically spent outdoors, picnicking and enjoying nature.
Sobh bekheir
Good morning
Sonbol-eh tib
Valerian root.
Tahdig
A thin crust of slightly browned rice that forms at the bottom of the cooking pot. The tahdig is a crucial (and highly coveted!) component of Persian rice.
Colloquial term for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Lo siento
I’m sorry
Mami
Colloquial term for mother
Mi casa es su casa
Make yourself at home (literally, “my house is your house”)
Papi
Colloquial term for father
Sí
Yes
Tío
Uncle
Uno momento
Just a second (literally, “one moment”)
Usted me puede dar el trabajo?
Can you give me the job?
Yiddish Words & Phrases
Zei gezunt
Be well
Zetik
Nourishing, satisfying
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