Meaning
To intensely miss or long for something or someone very much.
Cultural Background
For the millions of Iranians living outside Iran, this phrase is a daily reality. It is often used in social media posts featuring photos of Iranian food, landscapes, or family gatherings to express the pain of distance. The 'heart as a bird' is a recurring motif in the works of Rumi. He often speaks of the soul wanting to fly back to its divine origin, which is the spiritual root of this idiom. Using this phrase when someone visits you after a long time is a high form of 'Ta'arof.' It tells the guest that their absence was physically felt. Almost every major Persian pop or traditional song contains a variation of this phrase. It is the 'go-to' expression for romantic longing in lyrics.
Use it for Food
If you want to sound like a native, use this phrase when you are hungry for a specific home-cooked meal. It shows you appreciate the culture.
Suffixes Matter
Always check your possessive suffixes. Saying 'Delam' when you mean 'His heart' (Delash) is a common beginner mistake.
Meaning
To intensely miss or long for something or someone very much.
Use it for Food
If you want to sound like a native, use this phrase when you are hungry for a specific home-cooked meal. It shows you appreciate the culture.
Suffixes Matter
Always check your possessive suffixes. Saying 'Delam' when you mean 'His heart' (Delash) is a common beginner mistake.
The 'Ta'arof' Factor
Even if you only miss someone a little, using this phrase is a polite way to exaggerate your affection in Persian culture.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'del' and the possessive suffix.
من در لندن هستم و ______ برای تهران پر میکشد.
Since the subject is 'من' (I), you must use the first-person singular suffix '-am'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I miss my mom's cooking'?
Choose one:
Option 1 uses the correct idiom, the correct preposition (baraye), and the correct possessive suffix.
Match the Persian phrase to its English equivalent.
Match them:
These represent the three main registers of missing someone in Persian.
Complete the dialogue.
A: چرا گریه میکنی؟ B: عکسهای قدیمی را دیدم و ______ برای آن روزها پر میکشد.
The speaker is talking about their own feelings.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Intensity Scale
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن در لندن هستم و ______ برای تهران پر میکشد.
Since the subject is 'من' (I), you must use the first-person singular suffix '-am'.
Choose one:
Option 1 uses the correct idiom, the correct preposition (baraye), and the correct possessive suffix.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These represent the three main registers of missing someone in Persian.
A: چرا گریه میکنی؟ B: عکسهای قدیمی را دیدم و ______ برای آن روزها پر میکشد.
The speaker is talking about their own feelings.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, you can use it for places, foods, time periods, or even abstract concepts like 'peace' or 'freedom'.
It's better to avoid it. Use 'Moshtagh-e didar' instead.
'Deltangam' is 'I miss you'. 'Delam par mikeshad' is 'My heart is flying for you'—it's much more intense.
Yes, variations of this poetic imagery exist in Dari and Tajiki, though the exact phrasing might differ slightly.
You say 'Delam barat par mikeshid' (My heart was flying for you).
It can be, but it's also very common between parents and children or close friends.
Not really. It's usually for things with an emotional or nostalgic connection, not just material desires.
In this context, it refers to the bird 'drawing' its wings out to their full length to catch the wind.
Yes, 'Delam lak zade' is the more colloquial, 'street' version of this feeling.
Not at all. It's used by all ages, from teenagers on Instagram to grandmothers.
Related Phrases
دلتنگ شدن
similarTo miss someone
دل لک زدن
specialized formTo die for a taste/craving
هوایی شدن
similarTo get the urge to go somewhere
بیقرار بودن
builds onTo be restless
مشتاق بودن
formalTo be eager/longing
