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Iran
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When hitchhiking in the north of the country, it might occur that people stop just to ask if you need assistance unrelated to transportation. In fact, you don't stand longer than 10 minutes without some car stopping for you. It can be even a police/army vehicle (they are in every corner of Iran): they will pick you up and even stop a car for you and convince a driver to take you further.
In Farsi language (official language in Iran spoken as a first or second language by most citizens) the word "hitchhiking" doesn't exist. The translation of this word found in English-Farsi dictionaries seem to have a confusing effect on locals of Iran since they hear it for the first time in their lives. Though some people (especially couchsurfers or young Tehranians) know about it, call it "autostop" or English "hitchhiking". The Farsi ''majani savar shodan'' seems to be the closest. (means driving for free)You can use the magic word ''salavaati'' which works quite good. this word has originally a religious background from the war time between Iran and Iraq. some people would do some favours for soldiers and asking them for ''salavaat'' (kind of good pray) instead of money. as soon as you say this world, everyone understand what exactly you mean and nobody expect you to really pray. Useful phrases are:
Do you go to ...? - shoma be ... mirin?
Can you do me a favour please? - Mishe ie lotfi be man bokonin?
Can you give me a ride to ...? please - Mom kene man ro be ... beresoniberesonin? lotfanI don't want to pay - Man nemicham nemikham pul bedam
In the North West of Turkey Iran (Tabriz area, until Qazvin), Turkish will work equally well.
=== Tarof ===