Meaning
Used to state that something is incorrect or mistaken.
Cultural Background
Directly telling someone 'این غلط است' can be seen as harsh. It's often better to say 'فکر میکنم اشتباهی شده' (I think a mistake has been made). In Dari Persian, 'غلط' is also used, but 'اشتباه' is very common in formal media. Tajiki speakers use the same word but write it in Cyrillic: 'Ин ғалат аст'. The term 'Ghalat-e Mash-hur' (A famous mistake) refers to a word or phrase that is technically incorrect but so widely used that it is accepted.
Soften the Blow
Always add 'فکر میکنم' (I think) before saying this to a native speaker to sound polite.
Slang Alert
Never say 'تو غلط کردی' to someone unless you want to start a fight; it's very offensive.
Meaning
Used to state that something is incorrect or mistaken.
Soften the Blow
Always add 'فکر میکنم' (I think) before saying this to a native speaker to sound polite.
Slang Alert
Never say 'تو غلط کردی' to someone unless you want to start a fight; it's very offensive.
True or False
On Iranian exams, 'True/False' is 'Dorost/Nadorost', but teachers will mark a wrong answer as 'Ghalat'.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence to say 'This answer is wrong.'
این جواب _______ است.
'Ghalat' is the word for 'wrong' or 'incorrect.'
Which is the most natural spoken form of 'این غلط است'?
In a casual conversation, how would you say 'This is wrong'?
In spoken Persian, 'ast' contracts to 'e' and attaches to the previous word.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Someone says 5 + 5 = 12.
You use 'این غلط است' to correct a factual/mathematical error.
Complete the dialogue.
A: پایتخت برزیل شهر ریودوژانیرو است. B: نه، ________. پایتخت برزیل برازیلیا است.
Since the first person made a factual mistake, the second person must correct them.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ghalat vs. Eshtebah
Practice Bank
4 exercisesاین جواب _______ است.
'Ghalat' is the word for 'wrong' or 'incorrect.'
In a casual conversation, how would you say 'This is wrong'?
In spoken Persian, 'ast' contracts to 'e' and attaches to the previous word.
Someone says 5 + 5 = 12.
You use 'این غلط است' to correct a factual/mathematical error.
A: پایتخت برزیل شهر ریودوژانیرو است. B: نه، ________. پایتخت برزیل برازیلیا است.
Since the first person made a factual mistake, the second person must correct them.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsIt's not inherently rude, but it is very direct. In a culture that values politeness (Ta'arof), being too direct can be perceived as cold.
No, you should say 'You are making a mistake' (اشتباه میکنی) rather than 'You are wrong' (تو غلط هستی).
'Ghalat' is usually for objective errors (facts, math), while 'eshtebah' is for mistakes in judgment or actions.
Just type 'غلطه' (Ghalate).
No, for a machine that isn't working, use 'خراب' (kharab).
Related Phrases
اشتباه است
synonymIt is a mistake
نادرست است
formal synonymIt is incorrect
درست است
contrastIt is correct
غلط کردن
builds onTo make a mistake / To do something wrong
