A1Persian

Buying Street Food

Use these phrases when buying food from a street stall or market vendor in Iran.

Key Phrases

Voice
Asking if something is available · 2 ways to say it

سلام، یه ... دارید؟

casual

salam, ye ... darid?

Hi, do you have a ...?

Drop 'یه' and just name the food for an even shorter, very natural version.

ببخشید، ... دارید؟

neutral

bebakhshid, ... darid?

Excuse me, do you have ...?

More polite opener — good with strangers.

Asking the price · 2 ways to say it

چنده؟

casual

chande?

How much is it?

Very common short form; use freely at stalls.

چقدره؟

neutral

chegadre?

How much does it cost?

Slightly fuller than چنده but still completely everyday.

Ordering a quantity · 2 ways to say it

یکی میخوام.

casual

yeki mikham.

I want one.

Replace یکی with دوتا، سه‌تا etc. for other quantities.

دوتا بدید، لطفاً.

neutral

do ta bedid, lotfan.

Two, please.

بدید is the شما imperative of دادن — the polite, everyday way to order.

Requesting no spice

تند نباشه.

casual

tond nabashe.

Not spicy, please.

Literally 'Let it not be hot.' Very common at food stalls.

Saying you are paying cash

پول نقد دارم.

neutral

pul-e naqd daram.

I have cash.

Useful where card readers are uncommon.

Thanking · 2 ways to say it

ممنون.

neutral

mamnun.

Thank you.

The default everyday thank-you; suits almost every context.

مرسی.

casual

mersi.

Thanks.

Borrowed from French; very common in spoken Tehran Persian.

Practice Dialogue

Customer
سلام، ساندویچ دارید؟
salam, sandvich darid?
Vendor
بله، داریم.
bale, darim.
Customer
چنده؟
chande?
Vendor
پنجاه هزار تومان.
panjah hezar toman.
Customer
باشه. یکی میخوام، تند نباشه.
bashe. yeki mikham, tond nabashe.
Vendor
چشم. کارت داری؟
chashm. kart dari?
Customer
نه، پول نقد دارم.
na, pul-e naqd daram.
Vendor
باشه، بفرمایید.
bashe, bafarmayid.
Customer
مرسی.
mersi.
Vendor
خواهش میکنم.
khahesh mikonam.

More Eating & Drinking Out (A1)

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