Meaning
To consume the beverage coffee.
Cultural Background
In cities like Tehran and Shiraz, 'Cafe-gardi' (cafe hopping) is a major social activity for youth. Using 'nooshidan' in a social media post about a cafe visit is very trendy. The Armenian community in Iran has a long tradition of coffee brewing. They are famous for 'Ghahve-ye Armani' (Armenian Coffee), which is thick and served in small cups. Despite the name 'Coffee House', these places mostly serve tea today. However, the phrase 'Ghahve-chi' still refers to the person who runs the establishment. Coffee is often used as a symbol of wakefulness and intellectual labor in modern Persian poetry and prose.
The 'Khordan' Rule
If you are in doubt, use 'khordan'. It is never 'wrong' in speech, whereas 'nooshidan' can be 'too right' (overly formal).
The 'H' in Ghahve
Don't skip the 'h' entirely in formal settings; it should be a light breathy sound.
Meaning
To consume the beverage coffee.
The 'Khordan' Rule
If you are in doubt, use 'khordan'. It is never 'wrong' in speech, whereas 'nooshidan' can be 'too right' (overly formal).
The 'H' in Ghahve
Don't skip the 'h' entirely in formal settings; it should be a light breathy sound.
Order like a local
When ordering, just say the name of the coffee + 'lotfan'. You don't even need the verb!
Noosh-e Jan
When someone is drinking coffee, say 'Noosh-e jan!' (May it be soul-nourishing).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct formal present tense form of 'nooshidan'.
من هر روز صبح یک فنجان قهوه ________.
The subject is 'Man' (I), so the verb must end in '-am'. 'Mi-noosh-am' is the formal present continuous/habitual form.
Which sentence is most appropriate for a formal written essay?
Which one is correct?
'Nooshidan' is the standard for written Persian. 'Khordan' is for speech, and 'zadan' is slang.
Complete the formal invitation.
میزبان: آیا مایل هستید با من ________؟
The host is using the formal 'you' (shoma), so the verb must be 'benooshid'.
Match the phrase to the correct register.
1. قهوه زدن 2. قهوه نوشیدن 3. قهوه خوردن
Zadan is slang, Nooshidan is formal, Khordan is informal.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs Informal Drinking
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن هر روز صبح یک فنجان قهوه ________.
The subject is 'Man' (I), so the verb must end in '-am'. 'Mi-noosh-am' is the formal present continuous/habitual form.
Which one is correct?
'Nooshidan' is the standard for written Persian. 'Khordan' is for speech, and 'zadan' is slang.
میزبان: آیا مایل هستید با من ________؟
The host is using the formal 'you' (shoma), so the verb must be 'benooshid'.
1. قهوه زدن 2. قهوه نوشیدن 3. قهوه خوردن
Zadan is slang, Nooshidan is formal, Khordan is informal.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsHistorically, 'khordan' became a generic verb for consumption in Persian, similar to how 'have' is used in English ('have a drink').
No, it can be used for any liquid (water, juice, wine), but it always remains formal.
Only if you are being poetic or very polite. Otherwise, use 'khordan'.
Informal: 'Daram ghahve mikhoram'. Formal: 'Dar hal-e nooshidan-e ghahve hastam'.
It is 'nooshid-'. For example: 'Man nooshidam' (I drank).
Tea is still the national drink, but coffee is extremely popular among the younger generation in cities.
It means 'Bitter Coffee'. It's also the name of a very famous Persian comedy series.
Say: 'Ghahve ba shekar lotfan' (Coffee with sugar please).
The root is Arabic, but 'nooshidan' is a pure Persian word. The Arabic equivalent 'shariba' is used in the Quran.
Yes, it's polite, but 'Yek ghahve lotfan' is more natural.
It is the practice of reading coffee grounds to tell the future.
In modern cafes, it can be relatively expensive compared to traditional tea.
Related Phrases
قهوه تلخ
similarBitter coffee
فنجان قهوه
builds onA cup of coffee
قهوه فوری
specialized formInstant coffee
کافهنشینی
similarCafe culture/sitting in cafes
نوشابه نوشیدن
similarDrinking soda
چای خوردن
contrastDrinking tea
