Some time ago, a lovely person asked me on this blog to recommend some popular terms of endearment that Persian speakers use. I decided to post the list here too in case some of you may find it useful.
Note that there are some terms of endearment that people are more comfortable to use in public, and then there are some that they may only use in private. I give you examples of both.
In public, you may hear couples use āazizamā (Ų¹Ų²ŪŲ²Ł
)/ āmy darlingā a lot. You may even hear it used frequently by women when addressing one another in a friendly way. Itās true even when they have just met! I think it works like a disarming word. When you hear someone tell you āazizamā you feel like theyāre a nice person and you can trust them or something, lol.
Couples may use āeshghā (Ų¹Ų“Ł)/ āeshghamā (Ų¹Ų“ŁŁ
):ālove/my loveā in public too.
Also, ājaanamā (Ų¬Ų§ŁŁ
), meaning āmy lifeā is a very beautiful way to address a loved one in othersā company. The informal way of saying jaanam is ājoonamā (Ų¬ŁŁŁ
) and it can come after the loved oneās name.
But most of these terms of endearment are usually used in private, because of their very intimate and romantic nature. I mean, you probably wonāt hear couples use these while addressing each other in othersā companies, unless theyāre extremely comfortable with their audience or just simply donāt care to be judged as sentimental (many do, I guess).
azize delam (Ų¹Ų²ŪŲ² ŲÆŁŁ
): my sweetheart
jaane delam (Ų¬Ų§Ł ŲÆŁŁ
): the life of my heart (you can also use it when your loved one calls your name to ask you something. This way, it tells them youāre all ears to listen to what they have to say)
khoshgelam/ghashangam (Ų®ŁŲ“ŚÆŁŁ
/ ŁŲ“ŁŚÆŁ
): my beautiful/my pretty
arousak (Ų¹Ų±ŁŲ³Ś©): doll
nazanin (ŁŲ§Ų²ŁŪŁ)/ nazaninam (ŁŲ§Ų²ŁŪŁŁ
): precious/ my precious (nazanin is also a girl name)
nafas (ŁŁŲ³)/nafasam (ŁŁŲ³Ł
): breath/my breath (kinda hardcore - nafas is also a girl name)
zendegi (Ų²ŁŲÆŚÆŪ)/zendegim (Ų²ŁŲÆŚÆŪŁ
): life/my life (better not use it to call them over. Use it when youāre gonna tell them sth sappy, lol. Also āto hameye zendegimiā ŲŖŁ ŁŁ
ŁāŪ Ų²ŁŲÆŚÆŪŁ
Ū is a very intense form of love confession and means āyouāre my whole life.ā)
shirinam (Ų“ŪŲ±ŪŁŁ
): my sweet (shirin is also a girl name)
asal (Ų¹Ų³Ł)/asalam (Ų¹Ų³ŁŁ
): honey/my honey (also asal is a girl name)
fadat sham/ ghorbounet besham (ŁŲÆŲ§ŲŖ Ų“Ł
/ ŁŲ±ŲØŁŁŲŖ ŲØŲ“Ł
): ālet me die for youā
The last one may sound very dramatic, but itās so commonly used that it has lost its literal meaning. Romantic couples use it freely to address each other. You may also hear it used a lot by women who are interacting with something very cute and wish to express their love. For example, a woman seeing a cute baby or a kitten would say āghorbounet besham manā (ŁŲ±ŲØŁŁŲŖ ŲØŲ“Ł
Ł
Ł), which literally means ālet me sacrifice myself for youā but actually just means āyouāre so cute Iām gonna dieā.
Little girl: Auntie, can I have another cupcake pls?
Auntie, whoās totally smitten with her cute, little niece: aare ghorbunet besham (Ų¢Ų±Ł ŁŲ±ŲØŁŁŲŖ ŲØŲ“Ł
): of course you can, dear.
Oh, and when couples address each other, a simple way of saying āwhat is it, my love?ā is ājounam?ā (Ų¬ŁŁŁ
Ų), which literally means ā(yes) my life?ā. Itās very romantic and I recommend all lovers use it instead of saying āchie?ā (ŚŪŁŲ): āwhat?ā. It makes you feel really loved and appreciated when someone says ājounam?ā. Chie? sounds impatient and kinda rude. You can however use it with siblings or colleagues or friends.
