گم شو
gom šow/ˈɡum ˈʃaw/word by word
The Persian way to say 'get lost' is گم شو (gom šow).
This phrase is used as a command to tell someone to go away. It is distinct from the related verb گم شدن, which refers to the act of losing one's way.
Meaning: go away! (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
گم شو is composed of گم (gom), meaning 'lost' and شو (šow), which is the imperative form of the verb 'to become'.
Which one should you use?
While گم شو is a direct command for someone to depart, گم شدن is the infinitive verb meaning 'to get lost' or 'to lose one's way'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form گم شو is highly informal and can be perceived as rude or aggressive depending on your tone. For a more formal or plural version, you can use گم شوید.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the imperative command more formal or to address a group of people, you can change the form to گم شوید.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is gom šow and the IPA is /ˈɡum ˈʃaw/.
Did you know?
- Using the formal گم شوید can actually make the phrase feel more menacing or cold than the informal گم شو because it creates a distant, clinical barrier between the speakers.
- While گم شو is a harsh command, Persians may use the related verb گم شدن to jokingly describe someone who has been absent for a long time.
- The word گم likely traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'small' or 'to lessen', suggesting that being 'lost' was historically conceived as fading away.
Examples in context
- لطفاً مرا تنها بگذاریدPlease leave me alone.
- بزن بیرون، خسته کننده‌ایGo away, you're annoying.
- گم شو دیگه!gom sho dige!Just get lost already!
- از اینجا گم شو.az injā gom sho.Get lost from here.
- بسه، گم شو.basse, gom sho.Enough, get lost.
Example conversation
Two people are arguing in a hallway.
- محمد Mohammadمن نمی‌خوام با تو حرف بزنم.Man nemikhām bā to harf bezanam.I don't want to talk to you.
- نیلوفر Niloufarفقط یک لحظه گوش کن، محمد.Faghat yek lahze gosh kon, Mohammad.Just listen for a moment, Mohammad.
- محمد Mohammadبسه، گم شو برو!Basse, gom sho boro!Enough, get lost and go!
- نیلوفر Niloufarخیلی خب، هر چی تو بخوای.Kheyli khob, har chi to bekhāy.Fine, whatever you want.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get lost” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (گم, شو) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries شو, گم, CC BY-SA 4.0.
