taarof
Definitions
n. Initial rejection of something one wants due to custom, followed by acceptance upon repetition.
v. To initially reject something one wants because of custom, only to accept it the second time or after repeating the process.
v. To feign acceptance of something one does not want out of custom; this process may be repeated.
Example Sentences
“When I asked him if he was hungry, he said no, but I knew he was taarofing, so I convinced him to at least have a snack.”
"In Persian culture, there is a principle named taarof in which if something is being offered to you, you must decline it, even if you want it...However, this principle may raise 2 halachic issues." (source)
Languages of Origin
- Persian
- Arabic / Judeo-Arabic
Etymology
A > P تعارف ta'ârof
- Persian: Jews with recent ancestry in Iran
- North America
- None
Who Uses This
Regions
Dictionaries
Alternative Spellings
tarof, taarof, ta'arof
Notes
Also used by non-Jewish Persians.
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