Condolences in Persian: What to Say When Someone Dies

The standard way to offer condolences in Persian is تسلیت می‌گم (tasliyat migam), “my condolences,” or in formal Persian تسلیت می‌گویم (tasliyat miguyam). Iranians usually add خدا رحمتش کنه (khodâ rahmatesh kone), “may God have mercy on him/her,” or روحش شاد (ruhesh shâd), “may his/her soul be at peace.” To the family you can also say غم آخرتون باشه (gham-e âkharetun bâshe), “may this be your last sorrow.”

When someone you know loses a loved one, a few words in their own language can mean a great deal. This guide gives you the phrases Iranians actually use, with pronunciation and notes on when each fits: in person, at a memorial gathering, in a card, or in a text. It also explains the main mourning customs so you know what to expect, and how the family is likely to reply.

The key condolence phrases

These are the expressions you will hear most often. Most are spoken forms; the written forms are listed in the next section.

Tasliyat migam: “my condolences”

تسلیت (tasliyat) Listen means “condolence,” and می‌گم (migam) is the spoken form of “I say.” So تسلیت می‌گم (tasliyat migam) Listen is “I offer my condolences,” the most direct equivalent of “I’m sorry for your loss.” To be more personal and polite, say بهتون تسلیت می‌گم (behetun tasliyat migam), “I offer you my condolences.” In formal speech and writing it becomes تسلیت می‌گویم (tasliyat miguyam) Listen, and with a closer friend you might say بهت تسلیت می‌گم (behet tasliyat migam).

Khodâ rahmatesh kone: a prayer for the person who died

خدا رحمتش کنه (khodâ rahmatesh kone) Listen means “may God have mercy on him/her.” Persian has no he/she distinction, so the same phrase works for a man or a woman. Iranians often say it every time the person who died is mentioned, even years later. For an older person or someone you want to honor, use the plural of respect: خدا رحمتشون کنه (khodâ rahmateshun kone) Listen.

A close relative is خدا بیامرزدش (khodâ biâmorzadesh) Listen, “may God forgive him/her.” The same root gives the adjective خدابیامرز (khodâbiâmorz), used before or after a name to mean “the late”: پدر خدابیامرزم (pedar-e khodâbiâmorzam), “my late father.” In formal language the word for “the late” is مرحوم (marhum): مرحوم آقای کریمی (marhum âghâ-ye Karimi), “the late Mr. Karimi.”

Ruhesh shâd: a phrase for everyone

روحش شاد (ruhesh shâd) Listen, “may his/her soul be happy,” is widely used by religious and secular Iranians alike, in speech, on social media and in cards. If you do not know the family’s beliefs, this is a safe and kind choice. The respectful form is روحشان شاد (ruheshân shâd), spoken ruheshun shâd. It is often paired with یادش گرامی (yâdesh gerâmi), “may his/her memory be honored.”

Gham-e âkharetun bâshe and sar-e shomâ salâmat: words for the family

These two phrases are said to the mourners rather than about the person who died. غم آخرتون باشه (gham-e âkharetun bâshe) Listen means “may this be your last sorrow,” a wish that the family will not grieve again. سر شما سلامت (sar-e shomâ salâmat) Listen literally means “may your head be safe,” a wish for the long life of those who remain. To a friend you can say سرت سلامت (saret salâmat).

Spoken vs. written condolences

Condolence cards, obituary notices and formal messages use written Persian. Here is how the main phrases change.

For the general pattern behind these changes, see spoken vs. written Persian. If the shomâ/to difference is new, read polite Persian: shomâ instead of to; in condolences the polite forms are nearly always the right choice.

Condolence messages you can send

These messages are written for different relationships. Choose the one that fits, and change the relative to match (see our list of family members in Persian). To type them, you can use our online Persian keyboard.

Text to a close friend (spoken style)

عزیزم، خیلی متأسفم. خدا رحمتشون کنه. اگه کاری از دستم برمیاد بهم بگو.
(azizam, kheyli mote’assefam. khodâ rahmateshun kone. age kâri az dastam barmiâd behem begu.)
Dear, I’m so sorry. May God have mercy on them. If there’s anything I can do, tell me.

Message to a colleague (written, polite)

درگذشت مادر عزیزتان را صمیمانه تسلیت می‌گویم و برای شما و خانواده‌ی محترم صبر و شکیبایی آرزو می‌کنم.
(dargozasht-e mâdar-e azizetân râ samimâne tasliyat miguyam va barâye shomâ va khânevâde-ye mohtaram sabr o shakibâyi ârezu mikonam.)
I offer my sincere condolences on the passing of your dear mother, and I wish you and your family patience and strength.

Card to a family (formal)

با نهایت تأسف، درگذشت پدر گرامی‌تان را تسلیت می‌گوییم. روحشان شاد و یادشان گرامی.
(bâ nahâyat-e ta’assof, dargozasht-e pedar-e gerâmitân râ tasliyat miguyim. ruheshân shâd va yâdeshân gerâmi.)
With deepest regret, we offer our condolences on the passing of your dear father. May his soul rest in peace and his memory be honored.

If you knew the person

خیلی مرد مهربونی بودن. جاشون خیلی خالیه.
(kheyli mard-e mehrabuni budan. jâshun kheyli khâliye.)
He was such a kind man. He is so missed (lit. “his place is very empty”). Use زن (zan, woman) instead of مرد (mard, man) for a woman. The plural verb budan is respectful.

How the family may reply

Knowing the replies helps you understand what you hear and respond naturally.

خدا رفتگان شما رو هم بیامرزه (khodâ raftegân-e shomâ ro ham biâmorze) Listen is the classic answer to a prayer for the dead: the family returns the kindness by praying for your own late relatives. You do not need to answer it; a small nod is enough.

Words for death and mourning

Iranians usually speak of death gently. These words help you understand announcements and conversations.

The plain verb مرد (mord), “died,” exists, but it sounds blunt about a person you are offering condolences for. Prefer فوت کرد (fowt kard) or درگذشت (dargozasht). For words that describe grief and sadness, see how to express emotions in Persian and the emotions lesson from Learn Farsi in 100 Days.

Iranian mourning customs: what to expect

Customs differ between families, regions and religions, so treat this as a general picture of what is common among Muslim Iranians.

• Burial is quick. In Muslim families the burial usually takes place very soon after death, often within a day.
• Memorial gatherings. Families hold a مراسم ختم (marâsem-e khatm), a memorial service, often in a mosque, where visitors come to pay respects. Gatherings are also traditionally held on the third day (سوم, sevvom), the seventh day (هفتم, haftom) and the fortieth day (چهلم, chehelom) after the death, and on the first anniversary (سالگرد, sâlgard).
• Black clothes. Mourners and visitors wear black or dark clothing. Close family members often keep wearing black for a period, commonly until the fortieth day.
• Food. At gatherings, guests are usually offered tea, dates (خرما, khormâ) and halva (حلوا, halvâ).
• Separate seating. In a mosque, men and women usually sit in separate sections.
• Flowers. Sending a floral wreath or flower stand (تاج گل, tâj-e gol) to the memorial is a common gesture.

As a visitor, you do not need to say much. Dress in dark clothes, greet the family quietly, say تسلیت می‌گم (tasliyat migam) or خدا رحمتشون کنه (khodâ rahmateshun kone), and sit for a while. Your presence is the message. Iranian Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian and Bahá’í families have their own customs, so if you are unsure, follow the lead of the family or ask a friend quietly.

Persian literature has long dealt with loss; one well-known example is Saadi’s short piece on the death of his son, which you can read with translation in Bustan: on the death of Saadi’s son.

What not to say

• Avoid the blunt verb مرد (mord) about the person; use فوت کرد (fowt kard) or درگذشت (dargozasht).
• Do not use the friendly to forms with older mourners or people you do not know well. Use shomâ forms: بهتون تسلیت می‌گم, غم آخرتون باشه.
• Do not ask how the person died unless the family brings it up.
• Do not use mobârak, “congratulations,” which belongs to happy occasions.

Sharing bad news is also covered in our conversation lesson on sharing good and bad news. For hundreds more set expressions for life’s events, the book 1000 Most Common Farsi Phrases is organized by situation.

Common questions

How do you say “sorry for your loss” in Persian?

Say تسلیت می‌گم (tasliyat migam), “my condolences,” or more politely بهتون تسلیت می‌گم (behetun tasliyat migam). In writing, use تسلیت می‌گویم (tasliyat miguyam) or صمیمانه تسلیت می‌گویم (samimâne tasliyat miguyam), “my sincere condolences.”

How do you say “rest in peace” in Farsi?

The closest phrases are روحش شاد (ruhesh shâd), “may his/her soul be happy,” and خدا رحمتش کنه (khodâ rahmatesh kone), “may God have mercy on him/her.” Both are very common in speech and on social media.

What do you say to an Iranian family at a funeral?

Keep it short: تسلیت می‌گم، سر شما سلامت (tasliyat migam, sar-e shomâ salâmat) or غم آخرتون باشه (gham-e âkharetun bâshe). Wear dark clothes, greet the family quietly and stay for a while.

What does “khoda rahmatesh kone” mean?

It means “may God have mercy on him/her.” Iranians say it when they hear of a death and whenever the person who died is mentioned. The respectful form is خدا رحمتشون کنه (khodâ rahmateshun kone).

What does “sar-e shoma salamat” mean?

سر شما سلامت (sar-e shomâ salâmat) literally means “may your head be safe.” It is said to the bereaved as a wish for their own long life. The usual reply is سر شما هم سلامت (sar-e shomâ ham salâmat).

How do you write a condolence message in Persian?

A short, correct message is درگذشت … را صمیمانه تسلیت می‌گویم. روحشان شاد, “I offer my sincere condolences on the passing of … May their soul rest in peace.” Fill in the relative, such as پدر گرامی‌تان (pedar-e gerâmitân), “your dear father.”

Related guides: Get well soon in Persian · Inshallah and other everyday expressions with God

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