دروغگو (Dorough-gu)

do.ɾuːɣ.ɡuːinsult

What does دروغگو (Dorough-gu) mean? دروغگو (Dorough-gu) is a Farsi (Persian) moderate that translates to “liar” in English.

lie-sayer / liar

01

"liar"

A liar — 'dorough' (lie) + 'gu' (sayer). In a culture built on ta'arof (where polite exaggeration is expected), being called an actual liar cuts through the social performance and says: this isn't ta'arof, you're genuinely dishonest. It's a character assault that matters in a society where personal reputation is everything.

'Dorough-gu! Man khodam didam!' — liar! I saw it myself! 'Adam-e dorough-gu-yi-e' — he's a lying person (character judgment).

Context

  • Casual conversations with friends
  • Informal settings where profanity is accepted
  • Direct confrontation (use with caution)

Avoid

  • Professional or formal settings
  • Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations

Cultural Context

The ta'arof system complicates lying in Persian culture. When your host says 'everything I have is yours,' they're not lying — they're performing ta'arof. But 'dorough-gu' breaks through this system to accuse someone of real, self-serving dishonesty. The distinction between socially mandated exaggeration and actual lying is crucial and 'dorough-gu' targets only the latter.

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کس (Kos)

kos

cunt, pussy

The vulgar Persian word for vagina — the root of an enormous profanity family. 'Kos' by itself is crude but it's the derivatives that make it devastating: koskesh (pimp), kos-e naneh (mother's cunt), kos nagu (don't talk shit), kos khol (vagina-brained/idiot). Understanding 'kos' unlocks half of Persian profanity.

4 / 5insult

بی‌ناموس (Bi nāmus)

biː nɒː.muːs

dishonorable, scumbag

'Nāmus' is one of Persian's most loaded concepts — it means honor, specifically family honor tied to female relatives' chastity and reputation. 'Bi nāmus' (without nāmus) is therefore one of the worst things you can call someone: a man who has failed to protect his family's honor, or worse, doesn't care about it.

3 / 5insult, body part

کیری (Kiri)

kiː.ɾiː

shitty, dickish, crappy

The all-purpose adjective form of 'kir' (penis). Anything terrible, worthless, or pathetic can be 'kiri' — a kiri car, a kiri movie, a kiri day. It transforms the penis from a body part into a quality rating system where everything associated with it is garbage. One of the most frequently used adjectives in vulgar Persian.

3 / 5insult

بی‌شرف (Bi sharaf)

biː ʃæ.ɾæf

dishonorable, lowlife, scum

Literally 'without sharaf' (nobility/honor). While similar to 'bi nāmus,' this targets general moral character rather than specifically family-sexual honor. A 'bi sharaf' person is a liar, a cheat, someone who breaks promises — dishonorable in the broader sense. It's a serious insult but less explosive than 'bi nāmus.'

2 / 5scatological

شاشیدن (Shāshidan)

ʃɒː.ʃiː.dæn

to piss, to pee

The vulgar verb for urination. Figuratively, 'shāshidam be X' (I pissed on X) means extreme contempt or disrespect. Less harsh than 'ridan' (shitting) but in the same contempt family. 'Shāsh' (piss) as a noun also means something worthless.

3 / 5insult

عوضی (Avazi)

æ.væ.ziː

bastard, asshole, wrong'un

From 'avaz' (exchange/substitute), implying someone who shouldn't exist — a 'replacement' child, a mistake. In modern usage it's simply 'bastard' or 'asshole' without the literal illegitimacy implication. It's one of Persian's most versatile general-purpose insults for someone you despise.

2 / 5insult

خسیس (Khasis)

xæ.siːs

cheapskate, miser, tightwad

Stingy, miserly — someone who hoards money and refuses to share. In Iranian hospitality culture, being 'khasis' is a character flaw that borders on moral failure. The Arabic-origin word carries weight: it's not just 'careful with money,' it's a fundamental deficiency of generosity that makes someone socially repugnant.

4 / 5insult, sexual

دیوث (Dayoos)

dæj.juːs

pimp / scumbag / bastard

A strong insult implying a man is a pimp, specifically one who pimps his own wife, characterizing him as utterly without honor.