Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Persian way to say 'goodbye' or 'take your leave' in any social setting.
- Means: To perform the act of saying goodbye to someone.
- Used in: Ending phone calls, leaving parties, or finishing a meeting.
- Don't confuse: With 'Salamat bashid', which is a response to 'thank you'.
Erklärung auf deinem Niveau:
Bedeutung
To express farewell.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Doorway Goodbye' is a real phenomenon. It is considered polite to continue the conversation even after the 'official' goodbye has been said. Younger generations often use 'Mersi, felan' (Thanks, for now) or even 'Bye-bye' in very casual settings, but 'Khodahāfezi' remains the respectful standard. Because the phrase mentions 'Khoda' (God), some very secular people prefer 'Bedroud', though 'Khoda Hafez' is largely seen as cultural rather than strictly religious today. In a business setting, you should wait for the person of higher status to initiate the 'Khodahāfezi' ritual.
The 'Repeat' Rule
On the phone, it's normal to say 'Khodafez' 3-4 times in a row while the other person does the same before actually hanging up.
Don't Just Walk Out
Leaving a room without saying 'Khodahāfezi' is considered very rude (bi-adab) in Iran.
The 'Repeat' Rule
On the phone, it's normal to say 'Khodafez' 3-4 times in a row while the other person does the same before actually hanging up.
Don't Just Walk Out
Leaving a room without saying 'Khodahāfezi' is considered very rude (bi-adab) in Iran.
Softening the Exit
Use 'Ba ejaze' (With your permission) before you say 'Khodahāfezi mikonam' to sound like a native pro.
The Doorway Chat
If you are a guest, start saying goodbye 15 minutes before you actually need to leave. This accounts for the 'doorway conversation'.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
من دیروز با دوستم ________. (I said goodbye to my friend yesterday.)
The sentence refers to 'yesterday' (diruz), so we need the past tense 'kardam'.
Which phrase is the most formal way to say you want to leave?
How do you say 'I want to take my leave' in a formal meeting?
This is a classic Ta'arof phrase for formal departures.
Fill in the missing line in this phone conversation.
A: خیلی ممنون از راهنمایی شما. B: خواهش میکنم. A: ________.
After a 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' at the end of a call, the next step is to say goodbye.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are telling a group of children to say goodbye to their grandmother.
The imperative plural 'konid' is used for a group of children.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Goodbye by Register
Formal
- • Morakhkhas shodan
- • Khodahāfezi mikonam
Casual
- • Khodafez
- • Felan
Aufgabensammlung
5 Aufgabenمن دیروز با دوستم ________. (I said goodbye to my friend yesterday.)
The sentence refers to 'yesterday' (diruz), so we need the past tense 'kardam'.
How do you say 'I want to take my leave' in a formal meeting?
This is a classic Ta'arof phrase for formal departures.
A: خیلی ممنون از راهنمایی شما. B: خواهش میکنم. A: ________.
After a 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' at the end of a call, the next step is to say goodbye.
Situation: You are telling a group of children to say goodbye to their grandmother.
The imperative plural 'konid' is used for a group of children.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it is used by everyone regardless of their faith. It is a cultural standard.
They are interchangeable. 'Khoda Negahdar' is slightly more formal and literally means 'May God be your keeper'.
In big cities like Tehran, many young people say 'Bye' or 'Bye-bye', but it's better to use Persian with older people.
You change 'kardan' to 'kardam' (I), 'kardi' (you), 'kard' (he/she), etc.
It's a high-frequency phrase, so the vowels often get compressed in casual speech.
Yes, but mostly in TV news, books, or by people who prefer 'pure' Persian words without Arabic roots.
You should say 'Khoda Hafez' back, or 'Be salamat' (Go in health).
Yes, but usually you would use a more formal closing like 'Ba ehteram' (With respect).
Yes, it can be the plural 'you' or the formal singular 'you'.
Young people might say 'Felan' (For now) or 'Fe' (very short slang).
Verwandte Redewendungen
بدرود
synonymFarewell
به امید دیدار
similarHope to see you again
خدا نگهدار
synonymMay God be your keeper
مرخص شدن
specialized formTo take one's leave
Wo du es verwendest
Leaving a friend's house
Ali: خیلی خوش گذشت، فعلاً خداحافظ.
Sara: قربانت، خداحافظی کن و برو تا دیر نشده!
Ending a business call
Manager: ممنون از تماس شما. خداحافظی میکنم.
Client: خواهش میکنم، خدانگهدار شما.
At the airport
Traveler: وقت رفتن است، باید خداحافظی کنیم.
Family: به سلامت، مواظب خودت باش.
Leaving a shop
Customer: خیلی ممنون، خداحافظ شما.
Shopkeeper: به سلامت، باز هم تشریف بیاورید.
Ending a first date
Person A: شب خوبی بود. چطور خداحافظی کنیم؟
Person B: با یک لبخند و به امید دیدار مجدد.
Closing a formal email
Student: با احترام، از شما خداحافظی میکنم.
Professor: موفق باشید.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'Khoda' as 'Code' and 'Hafez' as 'Office'. You need the 'Code' to leave the 'Office' safely.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a giant golden shield (Hafez/Protector) being placed over a friend by a divine hand (Khoda) as they walk away into the sunset.
Rhyme
Khoda Hafez, be omide didar / Ta vaghti ke mibinamet, ey yar!
Story
A traveler named Khoda met a guard named Hafez at the city gates. Every time someone left, Khoda told Hafez to watch over them. Now, everyone says their names together when they leave.
In Other Languages
Similar to the Spanish 'Adiós' (To God) or French 'Adieu', which also entrust the departing person to a higher power.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to say 'Khodahāfezi mikonam' three times fast while mimicking the Iranian 'doorway goodbye' (walking slowly toward a door).
Review this every time you finish a Persian lesson to 'say goodbye' to the session.
Aussprache
The 'kh' is a guttural sound like the 'ch' in 'Bach'.
The 'z' is a standard English 'z' sound.
Short 'o' sound as in 'book'.
Formalitätsspektrum
از حضور شما خداحافظی میکنم. (General departure)
با شما خداحافظی میکنم. (General departure)
دارم خداحافظی میکنم. (General departure)
ما رفتیم، فعلاً! (General departure)
A compound of 'Khoda' (Middle Persian 'Xwadāy') meaning 'Lord/God' and 'Hafez' (Arabic 'Hāfiz') meaning 'Guardian'.
Wusstest du?
The famous Persian poet Hafez shares the same name, which means 'one who has memorized the Quran' or 'protector'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
The 'Doorway Goodbye' is a real phenomenon. It is considered polite to continue the conversation even after the 'official' goodbye has been said.
“Even after saying 'Khodafez', guests might stay at the door for another 10 minutes talking.”
Younger generations often use 'Mersi, felan' (Thanks, for now) or even 'Bye-bye' in very casual settings, but 'Khodahāfezi' remains the respectful standard.
“A teenager might text 'Felan' to a friend instead of the full phrase.”
Because the phrase mentions 'Khoda' (God), some very secular people prefer 'Bedroud', though 'Khoda Hafez' is largely seen as cultural rather than strictly religious today.
“Using 'Bedroud' in a poem or a patriotic speech.”
In a business setting, you should wait for the person of higher status to initiate the 'Khodahāfezi' ritual.
“Wait for your boss to say 'Khob, dige vaghtetun ro nemigiram' (Well, I won't take more of your time).”
Gesprächseinstiege
چطور در کشور شما مردم با هم خداحافظی میکنند؟
آخرین باری که با کسی خداحافظی کردید کی بود؟
به نظر شما چرا ایرانیها موقع خداحافظی کردن خیلی تعارف میکنند؟
Häufige Fehler
خداحافظی کردن با سلام
خداحافظی کردن با کسی
L1 Interference
من خداحافظی هستم
من خداحافظی میکنم
L1 Interference
خداحافظی کن به او
با او خداحافظی کن
L1 Interference
Saying 'Khodafez' and immediately hanging up.
Saying it, waiting for a response, and perhaps saying it again.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Despedirse
Spanish is reflexive; Persian is a light-verb construction.
Dire au revoir
French implies a future meeting; Persian implies a blessing.
Sich verabschieden
German is more about the 'leave' itself, Persian is about the 'God-protection'.
別れを告げる (Wakare o tsugeru)
Japanese is highly situational; Persian 'Khodahāfezi' is more universal.
ودع (Wadda'a)
Persian 'Khodahāfezi' is more common than the Arabic-rooted 'Vedā'.
告别 (Gàobié)
Chinese focuses on 'seeing again'; Persian on 'protection'.
작별하다 (Jakbyeolhada)
Korean has different verbs depending on who is staying and who is leaving.
Despedir-se
Portuguese uses a single reflexive verb; Persian uses a compound.
Spotted in the Real World
“خداحافظ... خداحافظ...”
In several scenes where characters leave the apartment or the courtroom.
“با تو من خداحافظی میکنم...”
A classic song about a painful parting.
“باید خداحافظی کنیم، این به صلاح همه است.”
A dramatic moment where the main character decides to end a relationship.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners think it's a goodbye because it's said at the end of interactions.
This is a response to 'Thank you' or 'How are you', not a way to initiate leaving.
Literally 'You came well', but used as 'Welcome'.
This is for when someone *arrives*, not when they leave.
Häufig gestellte Fragen (10)
No, it is used by everyone regardless of their faith. It is a cultural standard.
cultural usageThey are interchangeable. 'Khoda Negahdar' is slightly more formal and literally means 'May God be your keeper'.
comparisonsIn big cities like Tehran, many young people say 'Bye' or 'Bye-bye', but it's better to use Persian with older people.
practical tipsYou change 'kardan' to 'kardam' (I), 'kardi' (you), 'kard' (he/she), etc.
grammar mechanicsIt's a high-frequency phrase, so the vowels often get compressed in casual speech.
basic understandingYes, but mostly in TV news, books, or by people who prefer 'pure' Persian words without Arabic roots.
usage contextsYou should say 'Khoda Hafez' back, or 'Be salamat' (Go in health).
practical tipsYes, but usually you would use a more formal closing like 'Ba ehteram' (With respect).
usage contextsYes, it can be the plural 'you' or the formal singular 'you'.
grammar mechanicsYoung people might say 'Felan' (For now) or 'Fe' (very short slang).
cultural usage
