What Does "Azizam" Mean in Farsi? (A Closer Look at the Ed Sheeran Song)

What does “Azizam” mean?

“Azizam” is Persian, translating to “my dear” or “my beloved.” It originates from the Persian language (also known as Farsi), which is a Western Iranian language. “Azizam” is derived from عزیز "aziz," meaning “dear,” “precious,” or “beloved.” Its suffix, "-am," is a Persian possessive noun translating to “my.” Thus, the full word “azizam” means “my dear” in Farsi. The term has become a more popular term outside of Farsi speakers because of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s recent single, “Azizam.”

Meaning of the Song “Azizam” by Ed Sheeran

“Azizam” is a love song inspired by Sheeran’s wife, Cherry Seaborn. Seaborn and Sheeran were childhood friends; they married in 2019 and have two children. A source reportedly told The Sun that Sheeran’s entire record (Play, which features “Azizam”) is inspired by Seaborn and their relationship. Sheeran sings, “I wanna be nowhere but here with you now / I wanna be one in this space” in the first verse, implying the song is about being with someone special. Though Sheeran hasn't explicitly said the song is about Seaborn, we can assume it is, since he tagged her in a Valentine's Day 2025 Facebook post captioned "Azizam ❤️."

The lyrics describe dancing with a partner, getting lost in the moment. In the chorus of “Azizam,” Sheeran sings, “Meet me on the floor tonight / Show me how to move like the water / In between the dancing lights / Be mine, be mine, azizam.” He goes on to sing, “I don’t care what they say, we can do it our way / And if love’s just a game, then come on and play.” It’s clear that Sheeran’s song is a love song based on his lyrics and the use of “Azizam” (which can be romantic depending on context, as mentioned below).

Sheeran learned about Persian music and culture through “Azizam.” He was encouraged to use Persian musical influences by his producer, ILYA, who is Iranian-Swedish. “I love learning about music and different cultures the more I travel and connect with people,” Sheeran wrote in an Instagram post. “It was like opening a door to a completely new and exciting world. I loved how a lot of rhythms, scales, melodies, and instruments were different but similar to the Irish trad music I had grown up with.”

Using “Azizam” in Persian

“Azizam” is very versatile, used to express affection to any loved one. It’s not inherently flirty or used around a particular person; it can refer to a family member, a dear friend, or a romantic partner—basically, anyone you care deeply about. “Azizam” (عزیزم) is a warm term of endearment that can even be used toward strangers or people you don’t know very well! For example, a Farsi-speaker might call someone “azizam” when they’re sad while offering them comfort or support. “Azizam” is typically an informal word; it isn’t used in formal or professional settings. However, it’s definitely used casually in public; you might hear couples or close friends use it to refer to one another.

Why does Ed Sheeran’s “Azizam” use Persian?

Sheeran co-wrote “Azizam” with producer Ilya Salmanzadeh. In fact, “Azizam” uses the Persian language on Iranian-Swedish Salmanzadeh’s advice. On his Instagram post about “Azizam,” Sheeran says, “I wrote ‘Azizam’ after @ilya_music [Ilya Salmanzadeh] suggested trying out making music inspired by his Persian heritage and culture.” Sheeran has even released a Persian version of “Azizam” featuring Googoosh, with all-Persian lyrics. As a producer, Salmanzadeh (known mononymously as ILYA) has also worked with singers like Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding, and Sam Smith.

“Azizam” also features other Iranian and Indian musicians. Its instrumentals are heavily inspired by Persian music, with Indian and Iranian artists playing traditional instruments such as the ghatam, daf, and hammered dulcimer (or santur) for the track. “Azizam” also features Iranian singers on backup vocals. On the song’s creation, Sheeran added, “It was showing to me music connects us all, and really is a universal language.” The ghatam is an ancient Pakistani and Indian percussion instrument resembling an earthenware clay pot. The daf is another type of percussion instrument—a frame drum used in many Persian-influenced types of music. The hammered dulcimer (or santur) is a percussion-string instrument, with numerous strings stretched across a resonant soundboard. There’s also an Indian variant of the instrument, called a santoor.

“Azizam” Music Videos

Sheeran released a “Pink Heart” video alongside the song “Azizam.” While the Pink Heart video isn’t the song’s official music video, it was filmed across the USA and Ipswich, England, during Sheeran’s promotion of “Azizam,” featuring footage of Sheeran and his fans. That video was released at the beginning of April 2025.

The music video for “Azizam” dropped later in April 2025. On April 17, Sheeran released a second video for Azizam—this one the official music video. Featuring Sheeran attending a joyful Persian wedding. The official “Azizam” music video was directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Saman Kesh. It also stars Googoosh, Andy, Omid Djalili, Eyelar, ILYA, and Shervin Alenabi.

More About Sheeran’s “Play” Album

“Azizam” is the lead single off Play, Sheeran’s eighth studio album. In another Instagram post, Sheeran wrote, “It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music…but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father.” Sheeran has also revealed that Play is part of an idea he had years ago for releasing a series of 10 albums. On the Tonight Show, Sheeran said, “When I was like 18, I had an idea for 10 albums and it was Plus, Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals, and then Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward, and Stop.” If Sheeran sticks to the plan, that implies there are at least four more albums to come—but, in the meantime, Play releases on September 12, 2025.