ریدم (Ridam)
What does ریدم (Ridam) mean? ریدم (Ridam) is a Dari strong that translates to “fuck it / I shit on this” in English.
Literal Translation
I shat
Meaning & Usage
"fuck it / I shit on this"
The past tense of 'ridan' (to defecate), used as a standalone exclamation of total contempt or resignation. It's the Dari equivalent of throwing your hands up and saying 'fuck all of this.' Short, punchy, and immensely satisfying to say when everything goes wrong.
Examples in the Wild
ریدم به این زندگی. (Ridam ba in zindagi. - I shit on this life.) — Said during a moment of absolute frustration.
When to Use It
Context
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around elders or authority figures
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
This is Afghanistan's most versatile scatological exclamation. It can express frustration ('ridam, the car broke down again'), contempt ('ridam ba in kaar' — I shit on this job), or dismissal ('ridam, who cares'). Despite being crude, it's remarkably common across all social classes. You'll hear it from university professors and taxi drivers alike. The Iranian version 'ridam' is identical — one of the few profanities that crosses the Afghan-Iranian cultural divide without any change.
More in Dari 🇦🇫
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“I fucked your sister”
Declaring sexual intercourse with the target's sister.
لعنتی (Lanati)
“damn / goddamn / cursed”
Someone upon whom God's curse (la'nat) has fallen. In everyday use it functions exactly like the English 'damn' — versatile, moderate, and everywhere. 'In telefon-e lanati' (this damn phone) is something every Kabuli says daily. But in its religious sense, being cursed by God is eternal damnation.
بد کاره (Bad kara)
“whore / sex worker (euphemism)”
The Afghan euphemism for a sex worker — someone whose 'work' (kaar) is 'bad.' It's the word people use when they want to accuse a woman of prostitution without using the explicit 'jenda' (whore) or the formal 'fahisha.' The euphemistic nature actually makes it more common in everyday speech, because it's considered less vulgar to say.
دیوث (Dayus)
“cuck / shameless bastard”
A man who is indifferent to his wife's adultery, or actively pimps her out.
پفیوز (Pofyooz)
“limp dick / useless bastard”
An old word for a useless, pathetic man with no backbone.
تف به رویت (Tof ba royet)
“I spit in your face / you disgust me”
The verbal equivalent of spitting in someone's face — the ultimate gesture of contempt and disgust. In many cultures spitting expresses disgust, but in Afghan culture it's particularly loaded because the face (roo) represents honor, dignity, and public reputation. Spitting on someone's face destroys their roo permanently.
نامرد (Namard)
“coward / traitor / backstabber”
This is one of the most loaded words in Afghan masculinity. It doesn't just mean coward — it means someone who broke a promise, betrayed a trust, or abandoned someone in need. A namard is someone whose word means nothing. In a culture built on oral agreements and personal honor, this can end friendships and start blood feuds.
الاغ (Olagh)
“jackass / stubborn fool”
A second word for donkey — used interchangeably with 'khar' but with a slightly more literary, formal register. It's the donkey-insult you'd hear from an educated person rather than a street vendor. Same meaning: stupid, stubborn, and unable to learn. Afghan Dari borrowed 'olagh' from Turkish, while 'khar' is pure Persian.