Integrity is the thread that connects our inner truth to our outer life. It’s what holds us together when things fall apart and what makes our actions reflect our beliefs. Integrity is not perfection or rigid morality. It is the quiet promise to show up honestly, to take responsibility, and to do what’s right even when it’s hard. It lives in the daily choices we make when no one is watching and in the way we treat others with fairness, even when it’s inconvenient. In Persian, the language of integrity weaves through words that reflect honesty, character, reliability, and inner alignment. These ten words offer a powerful vocabulary for living authentically and keeping faith with ourselves and others.
1. درستی Dorostī (do-ros-tee) – correctness, uprightness, moral soundness
Dorostī conveys moral soundness, upright conduct, and correctness in both thought and action. It is the cleanness of conscience that guides a person to do what’s right without compromise.
Example: “Her dorostī was evident in how she treated everyone with fairness.”
2. صداقت Sedāqat (se-dā-qat) – sincerity, truthfulness, honesty
Sedāqat means being truthful and sincere in both word and intent. It reflects a heart aligned with truth and a voice that speaks without deceit or manipulation.
Example: “He spoke with sedāqat even when the truth was difficult to share.”
3. امانت Amānat (a-mā-nat) – trust, honesty, entrusted responsibility
Amānat refers to something entrusted to someone in faith. It symbolizes trustworthiness and the integrity to guard responsibilities and relationships with care.
Example: “She handled the team’s confidence like a sacred amānat.”
4. پایمردی Pāymardī (pāy-mar-dee) – steadfastness, loyalty, perseverance
Pāymardī implies loyalty and staying true under pressure. It is the quality of someone who does not waver from their principles, even when tested.
Example: “His pāymardī in hard times earned him deep respect.”
5. راستی Rāstī (rā-stee) – honesty, truth, integrity of speech
Rāstī reflects unshakable honesty and the alignment of thoughts, words, and actions. It is the clear light of truth that defines integrity at its core.
Example: “Rāstī was her way of life, not just her way of speaking.”
6. تعهد Ta’ahhod (ta-ah-hod) – commitment, obligation, faithful duty
Ta’ahhod speaks to the sense of committed responsibility. It is a solemn vow to follow through, to keep one’s word, and to act with dependable integrity.
Example: “He carried his ta’ahhod to the project with full heart.”
7. اصالت Esālat (e-sā-lat) – authenticity, originality, noble character
Esālat means authenticity and nobility in character. It’s about being true to one’s essence, not imitating others or betraying one’s roots for approval.
Example: “Her esālat made her stand out in a world full of imitation.”
8. وجدان Vejdān (vej-dān) – conscience, moral compass, inner awareness
Vejdān is the inner voice that whispers what is right. It guides us toward integrity by reminding us of what feels just and what we can live with in peace.
Example: “His vejdān would not allow him to betray a friend.”
9. تعادل Ta’ādol (ta-ā-dol) – balance, harmony, moral equilibrium
Ta’ādol refers to balance and moral centeredness. It’s the integrity of staying grounded and just, without swinging into extremes or compromise.
Example: “She faced conflict with calm ta’ādol and clear boundaries.”
10. بیریایی Bī-riyā’ī (bee-ree-yā-ee) – genuineness, lack of pretense, honesty of being
Bī-riyā’ī reflects a life free from pretension and ego. It’s the purity of being real—living from the heart without hidden agendas or false masks.
Example: “There was a quiet strength in his bī-riyā’ī that drew others in.”
Pronunciation Note
To help with pronunciation, Persian transliterations often use the following consonant markers:
• gh – a throaty sound, like French r (غ / ق)
• kh – a deep “h” sound, like the ch in Bach (خ)
• zh – like the s in measure (ژ)
• sh – like sh in shine (ش)
• ch – like ch in cheese (چ)
Stressed syllables are shown in bold within the pronunciation.
Italicized words in parentheses reflect how to say the word phonetically.
