Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'Gom kardan' when you can't find your keys, your way, or even yourself in a crowd.
- Means: To lose or misplace a physical object or a direction.
- Used in: Daily mishaps, travel confusion, and describing forgotten items.
- Don't confuse: Never use this for losing a game; that's 'bakhtan' (باختن).
Explicación a tu nivel:
Significado
To misplace something or fail to keep it.
Contexto cultural
The phrase 'khodash rā gom kardeh' (he has lost himself) is often used to describe someone who has become arrogant or forgotten their humble roots after gaining wealth or status. In mystical poetry, 'gom kardan' is a positive step. One must lose their ego (nafs) to find God. This is a central theme in the works of Attar and Rumi. Some Iranians believe that if you lose something, saying a specific prayer or 'Salawat' will help you find it. It's a way of turning a stressful 'gom kardan' moment into a spiritual one. In the chaotic traffic of Tehran, 'rāh rā gom kardan' is a daily reality. People often use it as a standard excuse for being late, and it is socially accepted.
The Game Trap
Never say 'gom kardan' for sports. Your Persian friends will think you physically lost the ball or the stadium!
The 'Ra' Rule
Always use 'rā' (را) when you lose a specific item like 'my phone' or 'that book'.
The Game Trap
Never say 'gom kardan' for sports. Your Persian friends will think you physically lost the ball or the stadium!
The 'Ra' Rule
Always use 'rā' (را) when you lose a specific item like 'my phone' or 'that book'.
Polite Excuses
Losing the way (rāh rā gom kardan) is a very common and accepted excuse for being late in Iran.
Passive vs Active
Remember: 'Gom kardam' = I lost (something). 'Gom shodam' = I got lost.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'gom kardan'.
من دیروز کلیدم را ______.
'Dirooz' (yesterday) requires the past tense.
Which sentence is correct for 'I lost the football match'?
کدام جمله درست است؟
You use 'bakhtan' for games and matches, not 'gom kardan'.
Match the Persian phrase with its English meaning.
وصل کنید:
These are common collocations with 'gom kardan'.
Complete the dialogue.
علی: چرا ناراحتی؟ سارا: چون کیفم را ______.
Being 'nārāhat' (sad/upset) suggests she lost her bag.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
What can you 'Gom Kardan'?
Objects
- • Keys
- • Phone
- • Wallet
Abstract
- • The Way
- • Address
- • Goal
People
- • Friend in crowd
- • Child in mall
Gom Kardan vs. Bakhtan
Banco de ejercicios
5 ejerciciosمن دیروز کلیدم را ______.
'Dirooz' (yesterday) requires the past tense.
کدام جمله درست است؟
You use 'bakhtan' for games and matches, not 'gom kardan'.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
These are common collocations with 'gom kardan'.
علی: چرا ناراحتی؟ سارا: چون کیفم را ______.
Being 'nārāhat' (sad/upset) suggests she lost her bag.
🎉 Puntuación: /5
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, but only if you mean you lost sight of them in a crowd. If you mean the friendship ended, use 'az dast dādan'.
It is neutral and used in both daily speech and formal writing. For extreme formality, use 'mafqud kardan'.
Use the passive form: 'Man gom shodam' (من گم شدم).
The opposite is 'peydā kardan' (پیدا کردن), which means 'to find'.
Yes, 'fāyl-rā gom kardam' is perfectly natural in modern Persian.
No, for wasting time or money, use 'talaf kardan' or 'dūr rikhtan'.
Gom khāham kard (formal) or Gom mi-konam (informal/future intent).
Yes, 'gom-shodegi' (the state of being lost) or 'fegdān' (formal loss).
No, use 'vazn kam kardan'.
It's an idiom meaning someone has become arrogant or forgotten their roots.
Frases relacionadas
پیدا کردن
contrastTo find
گم شدن
similarTo get lost
جا گذاشتن
similarTo leave behind / misplace
از دست دادن
specialized formTo lose (an opportunity, a person, or a game)
Dónde usarla
At the Airport
Passenger: ببخشید، من پاسپورتم را گم کردهام.
Officer: نگران نباشید، آخرین بار کجا آن را داشتید؟
In a Taxi
Driver: آقا، چرا توقف کردیم؟
Passenger: فکر کنم راه را گم کردیم. باید به چپ میپیچیدیم.
At Home
Child: مامان، مدادم را گم کردم!
Mother: دوباره؟ همیشه وسایلت را گم میکنی.
Shopping Mall
Friend A: سارا کجاست؟
Friend B: نمیدانم، او را در شلوغی گم کردم.
Job Interview
Candidate: ببخشید که دیر رسیدم، آدرس شرکت را گم کرده بودم.
Interviewer: اشکالی ندارد، خوشحالم که بالاخره پیدا کردید.
On Social Media
User 1: آن ویدیو را گم کردم، میتوانی دوباره بفرستی؟
User 2: حتماً، الان لینک را میفرستم.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of 'Gom' as 'Gone'. If it's 'Gom', it's 'Gone' from your sight!
Asociación visual
Imagine a giant 'G' (for Gom) shaped like a magnifying glass looking at an empty spot where your keys should be.
Rhyme
کجا گذاشتم؟ گم کردم! (Kojā gozāshtam? Gom kardam!) - Where did I put it? I lost it!
Story
Ali was going to the 'Bazaar'. He had his 'Kelid' (key) in his pocket. He saw a beautiful carpet and 'Gom kard' (lost) his focus. When he got home, he realized he 'Gom kard' his key too!
In Other Languages
Similar to the English 'to lose', but remember it's only for objects/directions, not for losing a game (which is 'perder' in Spanish but has two different verbs in Persian).
Word Web
Desafío
Try to name 5 things you have lost this year in Persian using 'من ... را گم کردم'.
Review this verb alongside its opposite: 'peydā kardan' (to find).
Pronunciación
Sounds like 'go' but with an 'm' at the end. Short 'o' sound.
The 'r' is slightly rolled. 'an' sounds like the 'an' in 'pan'.
Espectro de formalidad
اینجانب مدارک خود را مفقود نمودهام. (Reporting lost papers)
من مدارکم را گم کردهام. (Reporting lost papers)
مدارکمو گم کردم. (Reporting lost papers)
مدارکمو گم و گور کردم. (Reporting lost papers)
Derived from Middle Persian 'gum-kardan'. The root 'gum' is related to the concept of 'straying' or 'vanishing'.
Dato curioso
The word 'gom' is a cognate with the English word 'gone' in some linguistic theories, though the path is complex!
Notas culturales
The phrase 'khodash rā gom kardeh' (he has lost himself) is often used to describe someone who has become arrogant or forgotten their humble roots after gaining wealth or status.
“او بعد از پولدار شدن، خودش را گم کرد. (He lost himself after becoming rich.)”
In mystical poetry, 'gom kardan' is a positive step. One must lose their ego (nafs) to find God. This is a central theme in the works of Attar and Rumi.
“در عشق، باید خود را گم کرد. (In love, one must lose oneself.)”
Some Iranians believe that if you lose something, saying a specific prayer or 'Salawat' will help you find it. It's a way of turning a stressful 'gom kardan' moment into a spiritual one.
“صلوات بفرست تا پیدا شود! (Send a Salawat so it may be found!)”
In the chaotic traffic of Tehran, 'rāh rā gom kardan' is a daily reality. People often use it as a standard excuse for being late, and it is socially accepted.
“ببخشید، در ترافیک راه را گم کردم. (Sorry, I lost the way in traffic.)”
Inicios de conversación
تا حالا چیزی در سفر گم کردهای؟
اگر گوشیات را گم کنی، چه کار میکنی؟
چرا بعضی آدمها همیشه وسایلشان را گم میکنند؟
Errores comunes
من بازی را گم کردم.
من بازی را باختم.
L1 Interference
من وزنم را گم کردم.
من وزن کم کردم.
L1 Interference
او در تصادف جانش را گم کرد.
او در تصادف جانش را از دست داد.
L1 Interference
من کلید گم کردم.
من کلیدم را گم کردم.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Perder
Persian distinguishes between misplacing and failing in a competition.
Perdre
Persian requires a compound verb structure.
Verlieren
Persian uses different verbs for physical vs. abstract loss.
なくす (Nakusu)
The grammatical structure is different (SOV vs. Compound Verb).
فقد (Faqada) / ضيع (Dayya'a)
Persian 'gom' is a native Indo-European root, while Arabic uses triliteral roots.
丢 (Diū)
Chinese 'diū' can also mean 'to throw'.
잃어버리다 (Ireobeorida)
Korean uses a complex auxiliary verb ending.
Perder
Persian is more specific about the *type* of loss.
Spotted in the Real World
“من خودم را گم کردم...”
A famous pop song about losing one's love and self.
“پدرم را گم کردم.”
Nader looking for his father who has Alzheimer's.
“بازم کلیدامو گم کردم، لعنت!”
A common frustrated tweet about losing keys.
Fácil de confundir
Both mean 'to lose' in English.
Use 'Bakhtan' for games/sports. Use 'Gom kardan' for keys/wallets.
Learners confuse the active 'I lost' with the passive 'I am lost'.
If you are the one who can't find the way, use 'Gom shodam'. If you can't find your keys, use 'Gom kardam'.
Preguntas frecuentes (10)
Yes, but only if you mean you lost sight of them in a crowd. If you mean the friendship ended, use 'az dast dādan'.
usage contextsIt is neutral and used in both daily speech and formal writing. For extreme formality, use 'mafqud kardan'.
basic understandingUse the passive form: 'Man gom shodam' (من گم شدم).
grammar mechanicsThe opposite is 'peydā kardan' (پیدا کردن), which means 'to find'.
basic understandingYes, 'fāyl-rā gom kardam' is perfectly natural in modern Persian.
practical tipsNo, for wasting time or money, use 'talaf kardan' or 'dūr rikhtan'.
comparisonsGom khāham kard (formal) or Gom mi-konam (informal/future intent).
grammar mechanicsYes, 'gom-shodegi' (the state of being lost) or 'fegdān' (formal loss).
grammar mechanicsNo, use 'vazn kam kardan'.
common mistakesIt's an idiom meaning someone has become arrogant or forgotten their roots.
cultural usage
