Meaning
To no longer remember something or someone.
Cultural Background
In classical poetry, 'yād' is the only thing that remains after death. Poets like Hafez often write about keeping the 'yād' of the beloved alive to achieve immortality. If you forget someone's name in Iran, it's polite to say 'ببخشید، نام شریفتان از یادم رفت' (Forgive me, your noble name went from my memory). It sounds much softer than 'I forgot'. The phrase is a staple in 'Ghamgin' (sad) songs. It usually refers to a lover who has moved on and 'forgotten' the singer. In Islamic Persian tradition, 'Ghaflat' (heedlessness) is the act of forgetting God. 'Az yād bordan' is used in sermons to warn against forgetting one's spiritual duties.
The 'Az' Rule
Always remember the 'az'. Saying 'yād bordam' sounds like you 'took the memory' somewhere else, which is confusing.
Physical vs. Mental
Never use this for your wallet or keys. It's strictly for data, facts, and people.
Meaning
To no longer remember something or someone.
The 'Az' Rule
Always remember the 'az'. Saying 'yād bordam' sounds like you 'took the memory' somewhere else, which is confusing.
Physical vs. Mental
Never use this for your wallet or keys. It's strictly for data, facts, and people.
Sounding Native
Use 'yādam raft' for small things and 'az yād bordam' for big, emotional, or formal things.
The Power of 'Never'
Pairing this with 'hargez' (never) is a very common way to show deep loyalty in Persian.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'az yād bordan'.
من دیروز کلیدهایم را در خانه جا گذاشتم، اما شماره تلفن دوستم را ________.
Since a phone number is abstract information, 'az yād bordam' is the correct choice.
Which sentence is the most formal and polite?
How would you tell a teacher you forgot the homework?
'Az yād borde-am' is formal and appropriate for a student-teacher relationship.
Match the Persian phrase with its English context.
Match the following:
These are common pairings for the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
سارا: چرا به تولد من نیامدی؟ علی: واقعاً متأسفم، تاریخش را ________.
The past perfect 'az yād borde budam' is used to explain a past mistake.
In which situation is 'az yād bordan' NOT appropriate?
Select the wrong context:
For physical objects, use 'jā gozāshtan'.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Mental vs. Physical Forgetting
Practice Bank
5 exercisesمن دیروز کلیدهایم را در خانه جا گذاشتم، اما شماره تلفن دوستم را ________.
Since a phone number is abstract information, 'az yād bordam' is the correct choice.
How would you tell a teacher you forgot the homework?
'Az yād borde-am' is formal and appropriate for a student-teacher relationship.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common pairings for the phrase.
سارا: چرا به تولد من نیامدی؟ علی: واقعاً متأسفم، تاریخش را ________.
The past perfect 'az yād borde budam' is used to explain a past mistake.
Select the wrong context:
For physical objects, use 'jā gozāshtan'.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, they are synonyms, but 'az yād bordan' is more formal and poetic.
Yes, e.g., 'خرید نان را از یاد بردم' (I forgot to buy bread), but it sounds very formal.
Use 'yādam raft' (یادم رفت).
It is 'از یاد برده' (az yād borde).
Constantly, especially in dramas about family and old age.
Yes, but 'az yād bordam' might sound a bit dramatic or hurtful depending on the tone.
Yes, if the object is specific (e.g., 'آن کتاب را از یاد بردم').
No, but 'farāmush kardan' is often used as a quicker alternative.
Yes, 'زبان فارسی را از یاد بردم' is perfect for this.
The opposite is 'به یاد آوردن' (to remember/bring to memory).
Yes, it's very professional for explaining a missed task.
It implies the memory was 'carried away' from your mind.
Related Phrases
فراموش کردن
synonymTo forget
به خاطر سپردن
contrastTo memorize / To commit to heart
یادآوری کردن
builds onTo remind
از خاطر رفتن
similarTo be forgotten
نادیده گرفتن
specialized formTo ignore / To overlook
