Persian terms of endearment

Persian sprinkles affection through conversation with a handful of warm, flexible names.

Azizam عزیزم, my dear, is the most useful one. It works for partners, family, and friends, which makes it the safest starting point.

For love and romance

Eshgham عشقم means my love, and nafasam نفسم means my breath. These are romantic and intimate, usually for a partner.

Joonam, the warm yes

Joonam جانم means my dear, but it is also how Persians often answer when someone calls their name, a warm "yes?" instead of a flat one.

The dramatic, tender classics

Ghorboonet beram قربونت برم, may I be sacrificed for you, and fadat sham فدات شم, may I be devoted to you, sound intense in English but are everyday expressions of care, often used with family.

Use azizam freely, save eshgham and nafasam for a partner, and remember that joonam is both a pet name and a gentle way to say yes.