From Tehran’s Grand Bazaar to Tajrish Bazaar, shopping is one of the best ways to practise Persian. Traders are used to bargaining and usually enjoy it, as long as it stays good-humoured. Our guide to buying souvenirs in Tehran tells you where to go.
Asking and bargaining
| Persian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| این چنده؟ | in chande? | how much is this? |
| اون یکی | un yeki | that one |
| خیلی گرونه | kheyli gerune | it’s very expensive |
| تخفیف میدید؟ | takhfif midid? | will you give me a discount? |
| آخرش چند؟ | âkharesh chand? | what’s your final price? |
| ارزونتر ندارید؟ | arzuntar nadârid? | don’t you have anything cheaper? |
| فقط نگاه میکنم | faghat negâh mikonam | I’m just looking |
| اینو میخوام | ino mikhâm | I’ll take this |
Paying
| Persian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| با کارت میشه؟ | bâ kârt mishe? | can I pay by card? |
| نقد | naghd | cash |
| کیسه | kise | bag |
| رسید | resid | receipt |
Tehran tip: Foreign bank cards do not work in Iran, so visitors pay in cash or with a local tourist card. See our banking guide.
Colours and sizes
| Persian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| قرمز | ghermez | red |
| آبی | âbi | blue |
| سبز | sabz | green |
| زرد | zard | yellow |
| سیاه / مشکی | siâh / meshki | black |
| سفید | sefid | white |
| بزرگ | bozorg | big |
| کوچیک | kuchik | small (spoken) |
| سایز | sâyz | size |
When a shopkeeper says it’s free
Sometimes a trader will wave away your money with ghâbel nadâre (“it’s not worthy of you”). This is taarof, ritual politeness, and it does not mean the item is free. Thank them, insist, and ask again: khâhesh mikonam, chand shod? (please, how much was it?). They will then name the price.
Practise
- Ask the price of a scarf, say it’s too expensive and ask for a discount.
- What should you do if a shopkeeper says ghâbel nadâre?
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