Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| خوش اومَدین | xoš umadin | colloquial, polite |
| خوش آمَدید | xoš âmadid | literary, polite |
| خوش آمَدی | xoš âmadi | familiar, literary |
| خوش اومَدی | xoš umadi | colloquial, familiar |
This phrase is a greeting given upon someone's arrival. You can also use the pattern خوش آمدید به… (Khosh Amadid be…) followed by the name of a specific place to formally welcome someone to a location.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "you came happily" or "you arrived in a good state". In the colloquial form خوش اومَدین, the word اومدین (umadin) is a spoken version of the verb meaning "you came".
Which one should you use?
The different forms are chosen based on the level of formality and the relationship with the person being welcomed. Use خوش آمَدید (xoš âmadid) for formal written contexts, while خوش اومَدین (xoš umadin) is the natural, spoken version used to greet a group or a single person politely. Use خوش اومَدی (xoš umadi) only when welcoming a single person who is a child or a close friend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal version is خوش آمَدید (xoš âmadid). For natural spoken communication, use the polite colloquial خوش اومَدین (xoš umadin) when addressing one or more people. For informal or familiar situations with a single person, use خوش آمَدی (xoš âmadi) or خوش اومَدی (xoš umadi).
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms change based on whether you are addressing one or more people, or using polite versus familiar language. In خوش آمَدید, the suffix -ید (-id) is used for both the plural "you" and the polite singular "you". In خوش آمَدی, the suffix -ی (-i) is used for the singular, familiar "you".
How do you pronounce it?
xoš umadin
Did you know?
- In Iranian culture, a greeting like خوش اومَدین is often accompanied by 'Taarof', a complex system of social etiquette where the guest may initially decline an invitation before accepting.
- Another linguistic theory traces خوش back to the Proto-Indo-European word for 'sweet taste', meaning the 'pleasantness' of a welcome was originally described in terms of flavor.
- While خوش اومَدین welcomes someone to a place, Persians may use the related term خوش آمدی in poetry to express a spiritual or metaphorical arrival of a loved one.
Examples in context
- خوش آمدید به دفتر ماWelcome to our office
- خوش اومَدین به خانه ما.khosh oomadin be khāne-ye mā.Welcome to our house.
- خوش اومَدین، بفرمایید داخل.khosh oomadin, befarma'id dākhel.Welcome, please come inside.
Example conversation
Mohammad welcomes Sara to his home for tea.
- محمد Mohammadخوش اومَدین، سارا خانم.khosh oomadin, Sārā khānom.Welcome, Ms. Sara.
- سارا Saraممنون، خیلی ممنون از دعوتتون.mamnun, kheyli mamnun az davatetun.Thank you, thank you very much for your invitation.
- محمد Mohammadبفرمایید، بگذارید چای درست کنم.befarma'id, begzarid chāy dorost konam.Please, let me make some tea.
- سارا Saraخیلی ممنون، زحمت نکشید.kheyli mamnun, zahmat nakashid.Thank you very much, don't go to any trouble.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “welcome” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries خوش, CC BY-SA 4.0.
