مرگ (Marg)
What does مرگ (Marg) mean? مرگ (Marg) is a Farsi (Persian) strong that translates to “death (as exclamation/curse)” in English.
Literal Translation
death
Meaning & Usage
"death (as exclamation/curse)"
Death — used in compound curses like 'marg bar X' (death to X). As a standalone or in compounds, it's the building block of Persian's death-wish expressions. 'Marg-et' means 'your death' — a curse. 'Marg bar dictator' became globally famous through Iranian political protests.
Examples in the Wild
Political: 'Marg bar...' (death to...). Personal: 'Az khejālat marg-am gereft' — I was dying of embarrassment. Both uses are extremely common.
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
'Marg bar...' (death to...) is Iran's most internationally recognized phrase, chanted at every political rally since the 1979 revolution. But in daily life, 'marg' appears in lighter contexts too: 'marg-am gereft' (death grabbed me = I was dying of embarrassment/laughter/fear). Persian uses 'death' with a casualness that foreign speakers find startling.
More in Farsi (Persian) 🇮🇷
View all →کس (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.
بیناموس (Bi nāmus)
“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.
کیری (Kiri)
“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.
کون (Kun)
“ass, butt”
The standard vulgar word for buttocks/anus. It's the root of 'kuni' (gay, already in the database) and dozens of compound expressions. On its own it's crude but not devastating — more like English 'ass' than anything nuclear. 'Kun' generates much of Persian's anal-themed insult vocabulary.
کسکش (Koskesh)
“pimp, motherfucker, piece of shit”
One of Persian's nuclear insults — literally 'one who drags kos (vagina),' meaning a pimp. But nobody processes the literal meaning; it functions as a general-purpose extreme insult equivalent to 'motherfucker' or 'piece of shit.' Calling someone 'koskesh' is declaring them beneath contempt.
شاشیدن (Shāshidan)
“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.
بیشرف (Bi sharaf)
“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.'
لاشی (Lāshi)
“scumbag, lowlife, piece of trash”
From 'lāsh' (carcass/corpse), calling someone 'lāshi' means they're morally dead — a worthless, contemptible lowlife. It implies someone who does disgusting things without conscience. In Tehran street slang, 'lāshi' has become one of the most common character insults, covering everyone from petty cheaters to serious criminals.