در خفا
dar khafa
In secret, secretly
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'dar khafa' to describe actions taken away from the public eye, usually in a formal or serious context.
- Means: Doing something secretly or in private (literally 'in concealment').
- Used in: Political negotiations, private agreements, or serious personal matters.
- Don't confuse: With 'yavashaki', which is the informal/slang version for 'sneaky'.
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
Done or existing without the knowledge of others.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'Sadaqah-e Khafi' (Secret Charity) is highly valued. Iranians believe that if you give with your right hand, your left hand shouldn't know. This makes 'dar khafa' a positive term in religious contexts. Classical poets like Hafez often speak of 'Rāz-e Khafi' (The Hidden Secret). It refers to the mystical truth that cannot be spoken aloud in the marketplace. Films by directors like Asghar Farhadi often revolve around things done 'dar khafa'—secrets that eventually unravel and cause social tension. In Iranian social life, discussing family problems in public is frowned upon. Problems are handled 'dar khafa' to maintain the family's 'Aberoo' (honor/face).
Newspaper Reading
When reading Iranian news, look for 'در خفا' to identify 'back-channel' or 'unofficial' reports.
Don't use with 'Khafan'
Do not confuse this with the slang 'Khafan' (cool). Saying 'In kar dar khafan ast' makes no sense.
Meaning
Done or existing without the knowledge of others.
Newspaper Reading
When reading Iranian news, look for 'در خفا' to identify 'back-channel' or 'unofficial' reports.
Don't use with 'Khafan'
Do not confuse this with the slang 'Khafan' (cool). Saying 'In kar dar khafan ast' makes no sense.
The 'Dar' is Key
Always keep the 'Dar'. Without it, 'Khafa' is just a noun that isn't used alone in modern speech.
Sincerity
Using this phrase for charity or good deeds makes you sound very culturally aware and respectful.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct formal phrase for 'secretly'.
دولتها معمولاً مذاکرات حساس را ________ انجام میدهند.
In the context of 'governments' and 'sensitive negotiations', the formal 'در خفا' is the only appropriate choice.
Which sentence uses 'در خفا' correctly in terms of register?
کدام جمله درست است؟
The Security Council (شورای امنیت) is a formal institution, making 'در خفا' the correct register.
Match the Persian phrase with its English equivalent and register.
Match the pairs:
Understanding the register is key to using these synonyms correctly.
Complete the dialogue between two diplomats.
دیپلمات ۱: آیا مردم از این توافق خبر دارند؟ دیپلمات ۲: خیر، همه چیز ________ پیش میرود.
If the people don't know, the process is happening 'in secret'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ways to say 'Secretly' in Persian
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but it's the formal version. Think of it as 'covertly' or 'in private'.
You can, but it sounds very serious. 'Makhfiyane' is better for a surprise party.
The root 'khafa' is used in the Quran, and the Persian phrase is heavily influenced by Islamic terminology.
The opposite is 'Ashkara' (openly) or 'Dar mala-e-am' (in public).
It's common in writing, news, and formal speech, but rare in casual street talk.
No, it's an adverbial phrase. You can't say 'a khafa meeting'. You say 'a meeting in khafa'.
Not necessarily. It can be negative (a conspiracy) or positive (secret charity).
It's a voiceless velar fricative, like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'.
Yes, very frequently, to describe the hidden secrets of the heart.
No, that is grammatically incorrect in Persian.
Related Phrases
مخفیانه
synonymSecretly
پنهانی
similarHiddenly
آشکارا
contrastOpenly/Publicly
پشت پرده
builds onBehind the scenes
در ملاء عام
contrastIn public
Where to Use It
Political Negotiation
Reporter: آیا مذاکرات علنی است؟ (Are the negotiations public?)
Official: خیر، فعلاً در خفا انجام میشود. (No, for now they are being conducted in secret.)
Corporate Strategy
Manager: ما باید این طرح را در خفا پیش ببریم. (We must advance this plan in secret.)
CEO: موافقم، رقبا نباید چیزی بفهمند. (I agree, competitors shouldn't find out.)
Charity/Good Deeds
Friend A: او چطور این همه پول جمع کرد؟ (How did he collect all this money?)
Friend B: او سالها در خفا به خیریه کمک میکرد. (He was helping the charity in secret for years.)
Romantic Intrigue
Narrator: آنها در خفا به هم نامه مینوشتند. (They were writing letters to each other in secret.)
Legal Proceedings
Lawyer: دادگاه در خفا برگزار خواهد شد. (The court will be held in private/camera.)
Personal Grief
Relative: او همیشه در خفا گریه میکند. (She always cries in private.)
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Khafa' as 'Cover'. When you are 'Dar Khafa', you are 'Under Cover'.
Visual Association
Imagine a high-level meeting in a dimly lit, wood-paneled room with heavy curtains drawn. The people inside are speaking in low voices. This is 'dar khafa'.
Rhyme
در خفا، دور از چشمها (Dar khafā, dur az cheshm-hā) - In secret, far from eyes.
Story
A king wanted to know if his people were happy. He didn't ask them in public. Instead, he went into the city 'dar khafa' (in disguise/secretly) at night. By being 'dar khafa', he saw the truth that was hidden during the day.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a 3-sentence formal email to a 'colleague' about a secret project using 'در خفا'.
In Other Languages
En secreto / A escondidas
Spanish uses 'a' (to/at) for the informal version, Persian uses 'dar' (in) for the formal.
En catimini / En secret
French has many idiomatic variations for different types of secrecy.
Im Geheimen
German often compounds words, but this phrase remains a prepositional structure.
内密に (Naimitsu ni)
Japanese uses a particle 'ni' instead of a preposition 'dar'.
في خفاء (Fi khafa')
Arabic uses 'fi' instead of 'dar'.
秘密地 (Mìmì de)
Chinese focuses on the adverbial form rather than a prepositional phrase.
몰래 (Mollae)
Korean has distinct levels of formality that change the word entirely.
Às escondidas
Portuguese uses a plural feminine noun 'escondidas'.
Easily Confused
Learners might think it's related to 'khafa' because of the sound.
Khafaghān means 'suffocation' or 'strangulation' (often political). While both involve 'closing' something, 'dar khafa' is about secrecy, not lack of air.
Similar starting sound.
Khafif means 'slight' or 'mild' (e.g., a mild fever). It has nothing to do with secrets.
FAQ (10)
Yes, but it's the formal version. Think of it as 'covertly' or 'in private'.
You can, but it sounds very serious. 'Makhfiyane' is better for a surprise party.
The root 'khafa' is used in the Quran, and the Persian phrase is heavily influenced by Islamic terminology.
The opposite is 'Ashkara' (openly) or 'Dar mala-e-am' (in public).
It's common in writing, news, and formal speech, but rare in casual street talk.
No, it's an adverbial phrase. You can't say 'a khafa meeting'. You say 'a meeting in khafa'.
Not necessarily. It can be negative (a conspiracy) or positive (secret charity).
It's a voiceless velar fricative, like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'.
Yes, very frequently, to describe the hidden secrets of the heart.
No, that is grammatically incorrect in Persian.
