Meaning
To organize and invite guests to a social gathering.
Cultural Background
When you are invited to someone 'giving a party', it is customary to bring a small gift, usually flowers or a box of sweets (shirini). The host will often use 'Ta'arof' to insist you eat more. They might say 'Toro khodā bishtar bokhor' (For God's sake, eat more!). Shoes are almost always removed at the door before entering the area where the party is being held, especially if there are carpets. Parties often start late and end very late. A dinner party 'giving' might start at 9 PM and dinner might not be served until 11 PM.
Use the 'u' sound
If you want to sound like a local in Tehran, say 'mehmūni' instead of 'mehmāni'.
Avoid 'kardan'
Never say 'mehmāni mikonam'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating from English.
Meaning
To organize and invite guests to a social gathering.
Use the 'u' sound
If you want to sound like a local in Tehran, say 'mehmūni' instead of 'mehmāni'.
Avoid 'kardan'
Never say 'mehmāni mikonam'. It's a dead giveaway that you're translating from English.
The 'Soor' rule
If you get a promotion, expect your Iranian friends to demand a 'soor' (a celebratory party).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'dādan' in the present tense.
من فردا شب ............ (I am giving a party tomorrow night.)
The sentence refers to the future ('fardā shab'), which in spoken Persian uses the present continuous/simple present form 'midaham'.
Which sentence means 'We hosted a party last night'?
Select the correct Persian translation:
Option 1 uses the wrong verb (kardim). Option 3 means 'We went to a party'. Option 2 is correct.
Complete the dialogue.
A: تولدت مبارک! B: مرسی! جمعه بیا خونهمون، دارم ............ .
The speaker is inviting someone to their house for their birthday, so they are 'giving' the party.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You just bought a house and want to invite friends over.
Hosting a housewarming is 'mehmāni dādan'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن فردا شب ............ (I am giving a party tomorrow night.)
The sentence refers to the future ('fardā shab'), which in spoken Persian uses the present continuous/simple present form 'midaham'.
Select the correct Persian translation:
Option 1 uses the wrong verb (kardim). Option 3 means 'We went to a party'. Option 2 is correct.
A: تولدت مبارک! B: مرسی! جمعه بیا خونهمون، دارم ............ .
The speaker is inviting someone to their house for their birthday, so they are 'giving' the party.
You just bought a house and want to invite friends over.
Hosting a housewarming is 'mehmāni dādan'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsUsually, for a wedding, we say 'arūsi gereftan' (holding a wedding), but 'mehmāni dādan' can describe a smaller dinner party related to the wedding.
'Mehmāni' is a party/gathering. 'Jashn' is a celebration or festival. You 'give' a mehmāni, but you 'hold' (gereftan) a jashn.
Not at all! It's just the informal, spoken version. Use it with friends and family.
You say 'Be mehmāni davat shodam'.
Related Phrases
مهمانی رفتن
contrastTo go to a party
دعوت کردن
builds onTo invite
پذیرایی کردن
similarTo host/serve
جشن گرفتن
similarTo celebrate
سور دادن
specialized formTo give a celebratory feast
