A Dialogue between Leyla and Her Aunt Farnoosh

zang zadan

to make a call

zang meezanam

I make a call

zang meezanee

You make a call (informal)

jātoon khāli-yé

you are missed

mosāferat

vacation

ghazāyé oonja chetor-é?

how’s the food there?

ché kārhāyee kardeen?

what things have you done?

mahalee

local

az kojā zang meezaneen?

Where are you calling from?

hamé khoob-an!

Everyone is well!

salām ham meeresoonan!

They say hello!

salāmat bāshan!

May they be healthy!

dar cancun khosh meegzaré?

Are you having fun in Cancun?

āré azizam, jāt khaylee khāli-yé!

Yes dear, you are missed!

albaté boodan dar cancun beeshtar kayf dāré.

Of course, being in Cancun is more fun.

vali vāgh’an mosāferat lāzem dāshteem.

but we really needed a vacation.

faghat roozé aval bāroon meeyoomad.

Only on the first day, it rained.

ālee-yé, yé restoorāné mahalee rafteem deerooz ké ghazāsh ālee bood.

Great, we went to a local restaurant that had excellent food.

va tā hālā ché kārhāyee kardeen?

And until now, what all have you done?

khob, deerooz rafteem khareed

Well, yesterday, we went shopping

emrooz oomadeem labé sāhel

today, we came to the beach

va fardā ham tour gerefteem shahr-ō begardeem.

and tomorrow, we got a tour to see the town.

vaghti bargashteed, man ham meeyam dāllās

When you return, I’ll also come to Dallas

va hamdiga-rō meebeeneem

and we’ll see each other.

āré! yā mā meeyāym austin.

Yes! Or we will come to Austin.

een ham fekré khoobee-yé!

Ah, this is also a good idea!

behtar-é man barāyé shenā bargardam!

I better get back to swimming!

khosh begzaré

Have a good time

shenā dar ogheeyānoos khaylee kayf dāré.

swimming in the ocean is very pleasurable.

bé hamé salām beresoon.

Say hello to everyone.

merci ké zang zadeen!

Thank you for calling!