taarof

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Definitions

  • n. A cultural game of politeness (usually polite refusal) and etiquette in Persian tradition.

  • v. To refuse something out of politeness.

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)

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Languages of Origin

  • Persian
  • Arabic / Judeo-Arabic

Etymology

  • A > P تعارف ta'ârof

      • Who Uses This

      • Persian: Jews with recent ancestry in Iran

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • None

      Alternative Spellings

      tarof

Notes


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