Meaning
An imperative to move or act quickly.
Cultural Background
In Tehran, life is fast. You will hear 'ajale kon' or 'zood bash' constantly in the Metro or in traffic. It reflects the stress of a mega-city. Never say 'ajale kon' to a guest. It implies you are tired of them. Even if you are late for something, you must wait for the guest to move first. There is a religious saying that haste is from the devil. In traditional shops, rushing a craftsman is seen as disrespectful to their art. Young Iranians use 'Yalla' (Arabic) almost as much as 'ajale kon' when hanging out. It's considered cool and casual.
Soften it with 'dige'
Adding 'dige' at the end (Ajale kon dige!) makes it sound more natural, like 'Hurry up already!'
The 'Ta'arof' Trap
Never rush someone during a meal or a formal visit; it's a major social faux pas.
Meaning
An imperative to move or act quickly.
Soften it with 'dige'
Adding 'dige' at the end (Ajale kon dige!) makes it sound more natural, like 'Hurry up already!'
The 'Ta'arof' Trap
Never rush someone during a meal or a formal visit; it's a major social faux pas.
Use 'Yalla'
If you want to sound like a local in a very casual setting, just say 'Yalla!' instead.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct imperative form of 'kardan'.
سارا، خیلی دیر شده، لطفاً عجله ___!
Since the speaker is addressing 'Sara' (informal singular), 'kon' is the correct imperative.
Which phrase is most appropriate to use with your boss?
You need your boss to finish a document quickly.
This uses 'lotfan' (please), 'ajale konid' (formal), and 'agar momken ast' (if possible) to be polite.
Fill in the missing line.
A: اتوبوس آمد! B: ________
The context of the bus arriving requires an urgent response.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are telling a group of students to hurry.
'Konid' is the plural imperative for a group.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to use Ajale Kon
Situations
- • Catching Bus
- • Late for School
- • Meeting Friends
Formal vs Informal
Practice Bank
4 exercisesسارا، خیلی دیر شده، لطفاً عجله ___!
Since the speaker is addressing 'Sara' (informal singular), 'kon' is the correct imperative.
You need your boss to finish a document quickly.
This uses 'lotfan' (please), 'ajale konid' (formal), and 'agar momken ast' (if possible) to be polite.
A: اتوبوس آمد! B: ________
The context of the bus arriving requires an urgent response.
Situation: You are telling a group of students to hurry.
'Konid' is the plural imperative for a group.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt depends on who you say it to. With friends, it's fine. With elders, it's rude. Use 'ajale konid' for politeness.
'Ajale' is a noun (haste), 'zood' is an adverb (early/quick). You 'do' ajale, but you 'are' zood.
Say 'Ajale dāram' (عجله دارم).
Only if the email is very informal. In a business email, use 'lotfan dar asra-e vaght' (please at the earliest time).
'Sabr kon' (Wait) or 'ajale nakon' (Don't hurry).
Yes, it's a short 'æ' sound.
'Yalla' is a borrowed Arabic term that is very punchy and common in slang across the Middle East, including Iran.
Grammatically yes, but in modern spoken Persian, the 'be-' is almost always dropped.
Say: 'Agha, lotfan yekam ajale konid, diram shode.'
The word 'shitāb' is the formal/literary equivalent.
Related Phrases
زود باش
synonymBe quick
تندتر
similarFaster
بشتاب
specialized formHasten
عجله دارم
builds onI am in a hurry
هول شدن
contrastTo get panicked/rushed
