سَلام
salâm
In Persian, "hi" is said as سَلام (salâm). Wiktionary also lists دُرود (dorud).
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| سَلام | salâm |
| دُرود | dorud |
The most common and widely used way to say "hi" is سَلام.
Which one should you use?
While سَلام is the standard greeting, دُرود is a more formal or literary alternative.
How do you pronounce it?
salâm
Did you know?
- Persian has a complex system called 'Ta'arof' where the greeting سَلام is just the start of a ritualized exchange of extreme politeness and humility.
- While سَلام is the universal greeting, some Iranians use دُرود specifically to emphasize a nationalistic or pre-Islamic Persian identity.
- In many parts of Iran, you might see people greeting each other by lightly touching their hearts or foreheads after a handshake. This gesture accompanies a verbal greeting to show sincere affection.
Examples in context
- سَلام، چِطوری؟salām, chetori?Hi, how are you?
- سَلام، خُوش آمدی.salām, khosh āmadī.Hi, welcome.
Example conversation
Two friends meeting at a cafe.
- رضا Rezaسَلام سارا، خوشحالم میبینمت.Salām Sārā, khoshhālam mibinamet.Hi Sara, I'm glad to see you.
- سارا Saraسَلام رضا، تو هم همینطور.Salām Rezā, to ham hamintor.Hi Reza, you too.
- رضا Rezaچه خبر؟Che khabar?What's up?
- سارا Saraهمه چیز خوبه، مرسی.Hame chiz khube, mersi.Everything is good, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
