خداحافظی کنید
khodahafezi konid
Say goodbye
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Persian way to say 'goodbye' or 'take your leave' in any social setting.
- Means: To perform the act of saying goodbye to someone.
- Used in: Ending phone calls, leaving parties, or finishing a meeting.
- Don't confuse: With 'Salamat bashid', which is a response to 'thank you'.
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
To express farewell.
Cultural Background
The 'Doorway Goodbye' is a real phenomenon. It is considered polite to continue the conversation even after the 'official' goodbye has been said. Younger generations often use 'Mersi, felan' (Thanks, for now) or even 'Bye-bye' in very casual settings, but 'Khodahāfezi' remains the respectful standard. Because the phrase mentions 'Khoda' (God), some very secular people prefer 'Bedroud', though 'Khoda Hafez' is largely seen as cultural rather than strictly religious today. In a business setting, you should wait for the person of higher status to initiate the 'Khodahāfezi' ritual.
The 'Repeat' Rule
On the phone, it's normal to say 'Khodafez' 3-4 times in a row while the other person does the same before actually hanging up.
Don't Just Walk Out
Leaving a room without saying 'Khodahāfezi' is considered very rude (bi-adab) in Iran.
Meaning
To express farewell.
The 'Repeat' Rule
On the phone, it's normal to say 'Khodafez' 3-4 times in a row while the other person does the same before actually hanging up.
Don't Just Walk Out
Leaving a room without saying 'Khodahāfezi' is considered very rude (bi-adab) in Iran.
Softening the Exit
Use 'Ba ejaze' (With your permission) before you say 'Khodahāfezi mikonam' to sound like a native pro.
The Doorway Chat
If you are a guest, start saying goodbye 15 minutes before you actually need to leave. This accounts for the 'doorway conversation'.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
من دیروز با دوستم ________. (I said goodbye to my friend yesterday.)
The sentence refers to 'yesterday' (diruz), so we need the past tense 'kardam'.
Which phrase is the most formal way to say you want to leave?
How do you say 'I want to take my leave' in a formal meeting?
This is a classic Ta'arof phrase for formal departures.
Fill in the missing line in this phone conversation.
A: خیلی ممنون از راهنمایی شما. B: خواهش میکنم. A: ________.
After a 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' at the end of a call, the next step is to say goodbye.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are telling a group of children to say goodbye to their grandmother.
The imperative plural 'konid' is used for a group of children.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Goodbye by Register
Formal
- • Morakhkhas shodan
- • Khodahāfezi mikonam
Casual
- • Khodafez
- • Felan
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is used by everyone regardless of their faith. It is a cultural standard.
They are interchangeable. 'Khoda Negahdar' is slightly more formal and literally means 'May God be your keeper'.
In big cities like Tehran, many young people say 'Bye' or 'Bye-bye', but it's better to use Persian with older people.
You change 'kardan' to 'kardam' (I), 'kardi' (you), 'kard' (he/she), etc.
It's a high-frequency phrase, so the vowels often get compressed in casual speech.
Yes, but mostly in TV news, books, or by people who prefer 'pure' Persian words without Arabic roots.
You should say 'Khoda Hafez' back, or 'Be salamat' (Go in health).
Yes, but usually you would use a more formal closing like 'Ba ehteram' (With respect).
Yes, it can be the plural 'you' or the formal singular 'you'.
Young people might say 'Felan' (For now) or 'Fe' (very short slang).
Related Phrases
بدرود
synonymFarewell
به امید دیدار
similarHope to see you again
خدا نگهدار
synonymMay God be your keeper
مرخص شدن
specialized formTo take one's leave
Where to Use It
Leaving a friend's house
Ali: خیلی خوش گذشت، فعلاً خداحافظ.
Sara: قربانت، خداحافظی کن و برو تا دیر نشده!
Ending a business call
Manager: ممنون از تماس شما. خداحافظی میکنم.
Client: خواهش میکنم، خدانگهدار شما.
At the airport
Traveler: وقت رفتن است، باید خداحافظی کنیم.
Family: به سلامت، مواظب خودت باش.
Leaving a shop
Customer: خیلی ممنون، خداحافظ شما.
Shopkeeper: به سلامت، باز هم تشریف بیاورید.
Ending a first date
Person A: شب خوبی بود. چطور خداحافظی کنیم؟
Person B: با یک لبخند و به امید دیدار مجدد.
Closing a formal email
Student: با احترام، از شما خداحافظی میکنم.
Professor: موفق باشید.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Khoda' as 'Code' and 'Hafez' as 'Office'. You need the 'Code' to leave the 'Office' safely.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant golden shield (Hafez/Protector) being placed over a friend by a divine hand (Khoda) as they walk away into the sunset.
Rhyme
Khoda Hafez, be omide didar / Ta vaghti ke mibinamet, ey yar!
Story
A traveler named Khoda met a guard named Hafez at the city gates. Every time someone left, Khoda told Hafez to watch over them. Now, everyone says their names together when they leave.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to say 'Khodahāfezi mikonam' three times fast while mimicking the Iranian 'doorway goodbye' (walking slowly toward a door).
In Other Languages
Despedirse
Spanish is reflexive; Persian is a light-verb construction.
Dire au revoir
French implies a future meeting; Persian implies a blessing.
Sich verabschieden
German is more about the 'leave' itself, Persian is about the 'God-protection'.
別れを告げる (Wakare o tsugeru)
Japanese is highly situational; Persian 'Khodahāfezi' is more universal.
ودع (Wadda'a)
Persian 'Khodahāfezi' is more common than the Arabic-rooted 'Vedā'.
告别 (Gàobié)
Chinese focuses on 'seeing again'; Persian on 'protection'.
작별하다 (Jakbyeolhada)
Korean has different verbs depending on who is staying and who is leaving.
Despedir-se
Portuguese uses a single reflexive verb; Persian uses a compound.
Easily Confused
Learners think it's a goodbye because it's said at the end of interactions.
This is a response to 'Thank you' or 'How are you', not a way to initiate leaving.
Literally 'You came well', but used as 'Welcome'.
This is for when someone *arrives*, not when they leave.
FAQ (10)
No, it is used by everyone regardless of their faith. It is a cultural standard.
They are interchangeable. 'Khoda Negahdar' is slightly more formal and literally means 'May God be your keeper'.
In big cities like Tehran, many young people say 'Bye' or 'Bye-bye', but it's better to use Persian with older people.
You change 'kardan' to 'kardam' (I), 'kardi' (you), 'kard' (he/she), etc.
It's a high-frequency phrase, so the vowels often get compressed in casual speech.
Yes, but mostly in TV news, books, or by people who prefer 'pure' Persian words without Arabic roots.
You should say 'Khoda Hafez' back, or 'Be salamat' (Go in health).
Yes, but usually you would use a more formal closing like 'Ba ehteram' (With respect).
Yes, it can be the plural 'you' or the formal singular 'you'.
Young people might say 'Felan' (For now) or 'Fe' (very short slang).
