Ëì

coLLoaulAL
P ER SIAN
LeilaMoshiri
Gontents

Introduction 1

Abbreviations 3

The PersianAlphabet 4

Pronunciation 6
Stress and Intonation; Consonants;Vowels; Diphthongs; Alter-
ation of Vowel Soundsin Colloquial Speech;Capital Letters and
Functuation

Lesson 1 11
Articles; Gender; -elast, hast, nist; Word Order; Plurals; lnter-
rogatives;And; Phrasesand Expressions

Lesson2 19
SubjectPronouns;T\e ezãfe;Adjectives; Comparisonof Adjec-
tives; Demonstratives;Phrasesand Expressions

Lesson 3 7Ã
Verbs I: the infinitive; tensesformed from the past stem- simple
past, imperfect and past participle; The Verb 'to be'; Phrases
and Expressions

Lesson4 38
Verbs II: tensesformed from the present stem - present tense'
subjunctive, imperative, Noun of the Agent; Phrases and
Expressions

Lesson5 49
Use of the Particle rã; Compound Verbs; Compound Tenses -
perfect, pluperfect,future, past passive;
subjunctive, and
Phrases
Expressions;Summaryof Verb Endings
Lcsson6 Ot
Prepositions;phrascsand
Adverbsand Adverbial E:rpressions;
Expressions

ksson 7
Numben; Phrasesand Expressions

Lesson 8 79
The Calendar; The Seasons;The Days of the Week; The points
of the Compass; Telling the Time; Currency; Expressions of
Time

Lesson9 97
Pronouns - possessivepÍonouns, interrogative pÍonouns, indefi-
nite pronouns, khod, colloquial use of pronominal suffixes;
Colloquial Use of the ezãfe; Conjunctions; phrases and
Expressions

Lesson 10 96
Subordinate Clauses - relative clauses, indirect statements,
wishes and commands, result clauses, conditional sentences,
possibility; Impenonal Constructions; phrasesand Expressions

I*sson 11
Word Fornation

Irsson 12 110
Polite Phrasesand Conventions;Other Expressions

SituationalPhrasesandConversations: 113
At the Airport; At the Travel Agent; Shopping;Asking the Way;
The Telephone

Appendix t20
Numbers; Currency; The Calendar

Exercise key r23

English-Persianglossary r29
Persian-Englishglossary 185
;j

lntroduction

The country is lran, its people are lranians, but things and the
language are Persian. The Iranians themselves refer to their
languageas fãrsi becausewhereasthe country as a whole derived
its name from the Aryan peoples who first migrated there, the
predominant tongue came to be that of the people of Fars, the
province which held Persepolis,the capital of the Persianempire
of two thousandyearsago.
Persian is an Indo-European language,which means that it is
related to the languagesof Western Europe (when you come to
them, you may like to compare the words for father, rnother,
daughter, brother, with English or German). After the Islamic
conquest of lran, Arabic became for a time the language of
officialdom and learning with the result that Persianitself came to
be written with the Arabic alphabet and there was an enormous
Arabic influenceon the languagein terms of vocabulary,though
hardly any in terms of its oasic structure which retained its own
identity.Thereis usuallya pure Persianequivalentfor mostÀrabic
borrowings, but one or the other has tended to becomedominant
and more normally used.This is rather like the French borrowings
in English after the Norman conquest. In the 1960sand 1970sa
consciouseffort was made to reducethe use of Arabic words, but
with the return to an Islamic societyand the greateremphasisthat
is now placed on the teaching of Arabic and the learning of the
Koran in schools,this trend hasbeenreversed.It is probablyworth
noting, however,that many words of Arabic origin usedin modern
Persian have acquired a different meaning or shade of meaning
from that of present-dayArabic.
Colloquial Persianis the languageof ordinary speechand conver-
sation. It is not written down, exceptnowadaysin informal corre-
spondencebetween young people. The main difference between
the spoken word and the written languageis in the alteration of
vowel sounds, the contractionsthat occur in many forms of the
2 ntnoouctrox

verbs and the colloquial useof the many suffixes. It is quite difficult
to draw a definite line between the conversationallanguageand
more formal speech, not becausethe two forms are interchange-
able, but becauseboth forms úll be heard, depending on the
circumstances in which you may find yourself. Native speakers
alwaysaddresseach other in colloquial Persian,but since they do
not $'rite as they speak, anything being read, such as the radio or
television news, official reports, etc, will be in the correct forms
which would sound stilted if used in conversaüon.It is partly for
this reason that the languagecannot be learnt properly without
some basic knowledge of the correct forms which are then altered
in speech. I have tried, however, not to err too much in this
direction.
It may be of interest to note that a number of other languages
are 5poken in the different regionsof [ran, chief amongwhich are
Turkish in the north-western province of Azarbaijan and an Arabic
dialect in the South. There are also Kurdish and Baluchi, and the
dialect of the Caspian proünce of Gilan. There is a sizeable
Armenian minority in the country, chiefly in Tehran and Isphúan.
People who are native speakersof any of these languageswill tend
to have varying degreesof accent when speaking Persian and this
has little to do with the degree of education of the speaker. The
standard pronunciation is that of Tehran which is used in this book.
A cassettehas been produced to accompany this book so that
you can hear Percianspoken by native speakers.All material on
the cassetteis marked by a I in the text.
Abbreviations

The following abbreviationshave been used in this book:

ThePersian
Alphabet

As a matter of interest, the Persian alphabet is set out below,

togetherwith the transcriptionusedin this book. [t is important to
realisethat the letters changetheir shapeaccordingto the position
they occupy in the word, and for the sake of simplicity only the
initial forms and the final, unjoined forms of the letters are shown
here.

Name Final, unjoined form Initialform Transcription

alef I tï arareroru
be b
pe z
t
p
te ú ; t
se s
jim j
\:-
che e ch
he c >
h
) kh
!!e
dãl ) ) d
zãl .) z
re ) ) r
ze z
zhe ) ) ú
sin s
shin sh
sãd ,ê s
zãd ,-f z
tã .t' J, t
ze .b v
ân 0 :
L
Èân L gE
ú j
fe f
Èãf o j
s[
kãf í k
gãf í E
"t
lãm .J J I
mim I m
nun d t n
vãv t t vrolv

he c I h
ye {s Y ' l r €l
 Pronunciation

It is very difficult to render the pronunciationin transliteration of

any languagenot written with the Roman alphabet.I have tried to
keep the following guide as simple and accurateas possible,but
correct pronunciation can really only be achievedby hearing and
imitating native speech and for this purpose the accompanying
cassettewill be found to be extremelyvaluable, if not essential.

STRESSAI\ID INTONATION
As a generalrule the stressin Persianfalls on the last syllable of
the word. The main exceptionsto this are in words with the various
verb endings and some sufffrxes,which will be indicated as they
occur, and words with the negativeprefixes.persian makes inten-
sive use of prefixesand suffixes,but in generalwords tend to retain
their basic stÍess pattern even when the number of syüablesis
altered by such additions:
e.g. ketàb - *etÀUi - ketàtsm - tetàte send.

Intonation is also used a great deal to give variety of expression,

but apart from mentioning the interrogative tone used for ques-
tions, the rest can really only be learnt by ear.

r 1. CONSONANTS
(a) Pronouncedas in English:
b m
d n
f p
g - hard as in geÍ s*asinsit
h t
j v
k v
I z
 PRONUNCIATION 7

(b) r -trilled, try sayingbrrrr

kh -as in the Scots/oclr
sh -
as in sheep
ch -as in chat, chap
zh -like the j in the Frenchje
g! -there is no correspondingEnglish sound; pronunciation
of this letter should be learnt from native speakers.You
can achievean approximation by sticking the very back
of your tongueto the roof of your mouth and then letting
go, letting breath and sound out at the sametime.
Where any of the aboveletters appearwithout the joining line
underneath,each will have its own value as a consonant.

(c) ' - the glottal stop:

The closest to this in English is in the cockney bo'Ie, fot
'bottle'. This soundis not asstrongin Persianasit is in Arabic.
Between two vowels' really only separatesthem:
sã'at (watch, time), etl'at (obedience)
It is slightly stronger between a vowel and a consonant:
ta'mir (repair), fe'lan (for the time being)
likewise after a consonantat the end of a word:
rob' (quarter)

(d) Double consonants(called taúdid in Persian):

The sound of the consonant is reinforced, so that each
consonant is almost pronounced separately,rather like the
English word boo/c-case:
nqiiãr (carpenter)
It is rather like coming down on the first letter then taking off
again from the second.

r 2. volvEls
ã - as in wash,or the o in on bâbã (daddy)
r-asinhat bad (bad)
e-asinend lhâne (house), esm (name)
i - as in deed in (this)
 8 rnonuxcrenon
o - asin the Frenchrzot bororg (big), do!!t r (girl)
u - asin oalr faulu(peach)

r 3. I'TPHTHONGS
â - as in raid ânek (spectactes)
orv- asin mow mowz (banana)
Where two vowels appear togetheÍ in the text with no connecting
line on top, each vowel will have its own value and must be
pronouncedseparately.

I Pnonunciatbn Exerciscs
â ãlu (plum); ãb (water); ãrd (flour); bãtâ (up); bad (wind)
a ast (is); abru (eyebrow); namak (salt); bad (bad)
e esm (name); emãrú (building); nefrat (hate); negãh (look);
!!!ne (house); rânende (driver); entezãr (waiting)
i in (this); iqie (here); imãm (faith); bebin (took!); bidãr
(awake); bimãr (ill); abi (blue); zendegiQife)
o oftãd (he fell); otãgh (room); bozorg (big); d@tar (grrl)
u un (that); hulu (peach);utu (iron); ãrezu (wish)
el ânok (spe^ctacles);ôrven (verandah, balcony); môaen
(square); bôrne(between)

r 4. aLTERATTON OF VOWAL SOITNDSIN COLLOQTIAL

SPEBCH
(a) The vowel ã almost always becomes u before an n and
frequently also before an m:
lhãne (house) becomeskhune, nãn (bread) becomesnun,
âmad (he came) can becomeumad.
(á) Vowels followed by two consonantsat the end of a word are
lengthened,as in
hast (there is); goft (he said); nist (there isn't); seft (hard).
In general,throughout this book, the first time a word is used,
it will be shown thus: colloquial or usual spokenform/literary
oÍ correct form. Thereafter the colloquial form will generally
be usedunlessthe style or sentencerendersit necessaryto do
 PRONUNCIATION 9

otherwise. By correct or literary is meant the form as it is

written down and which will not normally be usedin ordinary
speech,but which one will hear if things are being read out,
on radio and television ne\trs,for example.[n explanationsof
grammaticalpoints, the correct forms will also be used' The
glossarieswill show the correct form.

I Pronunciation Exercise
r rãst (right); dorost (correct); rãh (way); barâdar (brother)
kh khãhar (sister);ãkhar (last); kãkh (palace);nimrokh (profile);
ekhtiyar (will)
sh shahr (town); qleno (swimming); shotor (camel); ãsh (broth)
ch glerã (why?); glatr (umbrella); ãchâr (spanner);mãgh (kiss);
nuch (sticky)
zh neghâd(race); moghe(eyelash);Zhâle (a girl's name)
gh gharb (west); taghriban (approximately); oghãb (eagle);
aghrab (scorpion);meghdâr(quantity); dorugh (lie); mag$ub
(defeated);glad (height); ânghadr (that much)
' sã'at (time); etã'at (obedience);
ta'mir (repair); fe'lan (for the time being); jor'at (courage)
e'terâz (protest); e'tebâr (credit); rob' (quarter)
zh ezhãr (statement)
sh eshãg! (Isaac); eshãt(dianhoea)

honunciation Exercise: Doubled Consonants

pp tappe (hill); lappe (yellow split peas)
ii nqijãr (carpenter)
tt etteÍãgh(happening);ettehãd(unity)
chch baghche(child)
w dowom (second)
rr kharrãt (woodcarver)
yy $ayyÕt (dressmaker,tailor)
10 ProNUNcrATroN
CAPITAL LDTTERS AIìID PI,JNCTUATION
Persianis written from right to left using the Arabic script. The
Persianalphabet has four additional letters that representsounds
that do not exist in Arabic. In transcriptiontheseare p, ú, g and
zh. The letters of the alphabetchangetheir shapeaccordingto the
position they occupy in the word, but capitalisationas such does
not occur. The transcriptionusedin this book, therefore, doesnot
use capital letters either. Exception has been made in the caseof
proper nounsin the readingpassages as it is felt that this will make
things easierfor the student.
Punctuationmarks were not traditionally used in Persianas the
sentence structure really renders them unnecessary.They are,
however,now taught in schoolsand usedin modernPersian,though
in a much more limited way than in English, and this has been
incorporatedin the transcription.
 Lesson
One
(darse
awal)

Read aloud:
11 . drr bür-c/büz rí The doo'r is open
) poqferc bsst-ast/b6tc ast The window is closed
3. hevã garm.e/gnnmact The weather is hot
4. âb sord.clsrrd a$ The water is cold
5. nuuhin ttu-últt'p ú The bread is frestr
6. mãdsr mehrabm-e/mehrabôn The mother is loving
ast
7. pedar llpst-ast/lchaste ast The father is tired
8. peaa*ozorg pir.e/pir st The grandfather is old
9. zan Javuo-e{avãn ast The woman is young
10. múdarbozory marlz.e/msÍiz ast The grandmother is ill
1 1 .pesar g!âtun*/snâten sst The boy is mischievous
t2. d@tar kugbik*/tnçlak ast The girl is small
13.!!ud!!âne bozorg-e/ast The house is big
14. âb sad nist The water is not cold
15. havã garm nist The weather isn't hot
1ó. mard pir nist The man is not old
1 7 . gLazã khub-elast The food is good
18. otobus por-e/ast The bus is full
19. otËg! khãü-e/ast The room is empty
zfr.otãgh tamiz nist The room isn't clean

Vocabulary:
eb water @ thing
-e/ast is der door
bad bad d@tar girVdaughter
baste closed garm wann
bãz open ghlzã food
bozorg big havã weather
cherú ìvhy javun/ javãn young
chp what? khtli empty
12 rnssoxoxs:

!haste tired otãÈ. room

khune/hhãne house otobus bus
khub good paqiere window
kojã where? pedar father
kuchik/huchak small p€sar boy/son
mâdar mother pir old
mard man sard cold
mariz iil sandali chair
mehrabun/ loving, kind shâtun/ mischievous
mehrabân rhâtâ"
min table tãa,e fresh
nun/nân bread yã or
nist is not, isn't yek one
olva and zan woman

Notc: mãdar mother

pedar father
bozorg big
madãrbozorg grandmother
pedarbomrg grandfather
but: nave grandson/granddaughter

ARTICLES
Persianhas no articles as such:
khune - house,the house
pedar - father, the father
In a sentence,the noun on its own generallyconveysthe meaning
of the definite article:
\hune bozorg-e - The house is big
pedar pir-e - The father is old

The indefinite is expressedby the addition of an unaccentedi at

the end of the noun exceptwhere the noun endswith an i, in which
caseno distinction is made:
khunei - a house
pedari - a father
BUT sandali - the chair/a chair
 LESONONE 13

In colloquial usage, this l is largely replaced by the use of -ycl

('one') before the noun:
yck $une - a house (one house)
yck tends to get fuÍth€r shortened in speechto ye, so you will hear:
yekhune -ahouse
yeterU -abook
yeoügh -aroom
yctãksi -ataxi
ye miz - a table
yesandali -achair
yemrgas -afly
ye nafar - a person (someone)

GENDER
As in English, nouns in Persian do not have a specific gender
beyond that indicated in their meaning:
pesar úôltun-e - The boy is mischievous
dolhtar khub-e - The girl is good
pedarbomrg pir-e - The grandfather is old
rnâdarbozorg mariz-e - The grandmother is ill
sandali bozorg-e - The chair is big
miz bozorg-e - The table is big
otãg! bozorg-e - The room is big

.E/AST; HAST; NIST

-elast = is hast = there is

The third personsingularof the short form of the verb 'to be' (see
LessonThree) is ast or hast.
In spoken Persianast is shortenedto e after a word ending in a
consonant,and is transcribedas -e in this book to help distinguish
it from other e endings.
After a vowel, ast is shortenedto st and transcribed-st. Where a
word endsin e after a congonant,hotrrever,such as baste(closed),
tãze (fresh), then ast is not shortened.The e of the word is elided
insteadand will be shown by a hyphen:
dar bast-ast (dar basteasÍ) - The door is closed
nun tãz-ast (nun tdze ast) - The bread is fresh
14 r,BssoNoNs

Ast and hast are not interchangeableand their correct use will best
be learnt by examplesand observation.
As a generalrule, hast (a) conveysthe idea of ,thereis', or (á) is
more emphaticthan ast, dependingon the context:
hotel khub-e/khub ast - The hotel is good
nun hast - There rs bread
hrst will also be used to ask 'is there?' (any bread, a room etc.):
nun hast? - Is there any bread?
(See'Interrogatives'below)

The negativeof both ast and hast is nist - see sentence14 at the
beginningof this lesson.

WORD ORDER
Look again at the examplesunder the headingGENDER. Notice
that the verb (-e) is at the end of the sentenceor phrase.The usual
word order in Persianis: subject- object (direct, then indirect) -
verb. The verb normally comesat the end of the sentence,e.g.:
verb
mtu bozorg + (ast) - The table is big
pcsar snâtun 4 (ast) - The boy is naulhty
d@tar !!ub -e (ast) - The girl is good

PLURAT,S
l. As a general rule and particularly in colloquial use, the plural
of nouns is formed by the addition of the suffix -hã, which then
carriesthe stress:
miz - mirhã (table, tables)
sandali - sandalihÕ (chair, chairs)
paqjere * paqjerehã (window, windows)
otobus - otobushâ (bus, buses)
tâksi - tâksihã (taxi, taxis)
Nate: ln colloquial usage,in fact in speechin general,as opposed
to the written word, the h of -ha is often not pronounced
exceptwhen the word itself endsin the sound e:
otobusã tãksiã sur paqierehã
 LESTPN ONE 15

2. The sufftx -ln is used to form the plural of nouns denoting

people, animals, birds etc.
For euphony, suchnouns ending in o or u will also add v, those
in s n'ill add y and those in e will add g before the suffix:
msrd - mrrdtn (man, men)
,tn - ztnln (woman, women)
pedar - p€drfn (father, fathen)
âghr - rgliyin (gentleman,gentlemen)
shenrvande -glcnavandegin (listener, listeners)
gudand - guúndrn (one sheep,sheep)
norx!, - morg!ân (chicken, chickens)
Fmnde - poranAcgfn (bird, birds)

The plural suffix -ln is not interchangeablewith -hã, but most

words, such as mldrr, pcd.r, for which the correct, grammatical
plurals are miüdartn, pedrrin, do in fact take -hn to form the
plural in colloquial usage:
ndrrhr (cotJ. nffarf)
pedsrüfl (pdút)
pcrerf .
dollterl

This is the form we will us€ most in this book, but do not expec't
even this to be entirely consistent. A common example of the
inconsistenciesthat you will en@unter is in the phrasê 'ladiee
and gentlemen'- khânumhl va Íg[tytn, whiú shona the ttpo
different forms of the plural which are in use. $lnum is the
everyday word for 'lady' or 'Mrs', and is always [nmunhl in
the plural, whereasqÈfyln is the correct grammatical plural of
@.
3. The Arabic plural sufâx -it is also used, but not colloquially:
bÕg! - bÕglrÍ (garden, gardens)
A form of broken plural is also used:
nrrnz€l - qrürrl (house, hOuses)
But for both theseexamplesand rnanyotherslike them, bÕÈhã
and menzrlhl are more common in colloquial usage.The orher
forms are mentioned so that you may recognize them for what
they are should you encounter them.
 16 Lessox.oxs.

4. Use of tlre singular and plurall , . .

There aÍe tÌvo points of differehce to be noted,here between
Persianand English:
(a) Persian usel the singular when considering the noun col-
lectively or in a general sense:
Ifies are dirty - magaskasif-e
Books are good - ketãb khub-e
(â) The singular is also used after ttum-6ersand after the word
Èand'how many?':
five books - panj ketãb
six boys - shish pesar
how many books? - chand ketãb?

INTERROGATTVES
Questions are asked either lvith the use of interrogative words
which are usually placed immediately before the verb or the noun
to which they refer, or, in the absenceof any interrogative word,
by raising the tone of the voice towards the end of the sentenceto
indicate a question. The chief interrogative words are:
kojã where? ku where?
úi what? che what?
glerã why? Èe ju" how?
ki who? chand how many? (+
kudunr/hodãm which? noun tn smgu-
kô when? lar)
chetowr how?

I hava úetowr+? - What's the weather like?

hotel kojâ-st? (kojã ast)
kudum hotel?
ki-e Qtronounced kiy e\?
nun hast?
- Where is the hotel?
- Which hotel?
- Who is it? (e.9. when answering
the door, though it is more polite
to say btle)
- Is there any bread?

Note that kojã ast (where is?) is alwayscontractedto kojã-st and

ki ast (who is?) is alwaysshortenedto ki-st (coll. ki-e, pronounced
ki-ye).
 LESSON ONE I7

In colloquial use, the noun following th€ interrogative word gle

takes the indefinite sufâx "l and as well as just 'what', cte can also
mean'what soÍ of':
I che ketibi? - What sort of book?lÌVhat book?

The word ãyl, which is placed at the beginning of a sentence, is

used to indicate that a question follows, but this is not colloquial
and is seldom used in ordinary speech.

AIïD
The word for'and'is va, usuallyshortenedin speechto o (vo after
a word ending in a vowel):
zen o mord - man and woman
pir o javun - young and old
pcsrr o dolltsr - boy and girl
pcElrf vo Slterl - boys and girls
b@org o kç!$ - big and little
nrmrl o lefd - salt and pepper
(Note the order in the first two phraseswhich is different from that
used in English).

I PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

salim (oa more formal and
Icssuniversar, salim aÉlkum)
hâle glomâ gleúowr.e?
khubam, mersi
õu uq1â"
khodefez/lúodã hâfez
ttr"U t"Hiã"
Hello, How do you do?, general
greet@ - used where we would
say either good morning, g@d
afternoon or good anening. Thc
simple arutwerro salãm is also
salâm. You will also hear
alôkum assallm.
How are you?
I am well, thank you
Good morning (/esscolloquial,
than just salâm)
Goodbye (lit. God, the Keeper)
Good night (on gotng to bed, or
also used in conjunction with
18 LD,ssoNoNE

!!odã hâÍezon taking leave,of

someoneat night)
bale Yes
na No
khôrr No (moreformal)
ii*tô,t Emphatic no, i.e. certainly not
I!ãú.ü!"0 All right, O.K. (Properly speak-
ing this ir !!ôü khub - very
good)

EXERCISES
A. Put into Persian: B. Read aloud and translate:
1. The food is good l. nun tãze nist
2. T}lc \ilateÍ is hot 2. havã gaÍm-c -
3. The window is not open 3. havã garm ast
4. Hello 4. pesar bozorg-e
5. How are you? 5. miz kojã-st?
6. I am well, thank you 6. dar bãz-e
7. Goodbve 7. panjere bast-ast?
8. a house,a chair, a man 8. kudum panjere?
9. Where is the hotel? 9. dokhtar shâtun nist
10. Which hotel? The 10. mãdarbozorgmanz-e
Esteghlal 11. magaskasif-e
11. Five books 12. havã chetowr-e?
t2. The bread is fresh
13. Is the girl small?
14. The weather is not warm
15. The houseisn't big
1ó. The water is cold
17. The mother isn't bad
18. fathers,windows,boys
19. young and old
20. Is the room clean?
 Lesson
Two
(darse
dowom)

Read aloud:
I 1. in otãgbeman-e
2. forudgãhe Tehrãn bozorg-e
3. bãgle mã ghaqhang-e
4. bilite havãpêrmãkhâli gerun-e/gerãnast
5. behtarin hotele shahr kojã-st?
6. istgãheotobuse Shemrun/Shemrãnkojã-st?
z. vtãryam az Fãte;; khâli-6ozorgtar-e
8. in chameduneshomã-st?
9. na, un chamedunmãle man-e
10. ketãbe man kuchiktar az ketâbe Hasan-e
kuchiktarin ketâbamruye miz-e
ast
11. fãrsi az ingilisi ãsuntar-e/ãsãntar
Tehrân bozorgtaringhahrelrãn-e
12. mãshineman az mãshineHasan behtar-e
mãshineHosein az hame behtar-e
13. lebãseFãteme az lebãseMaryam tamiztar-e
lebãseZahrã az hame tamiztaÍ-e
1.4.nune emruz tãzetar az nune diruz-e
tãzetarin nun mãle maghãzeyeAkbar ãghâ-st
15. Maryam az Ali bozorgtar-e
Hasan az hame bozorgtar-e
16. in nun azuntãzelaÍ-e
17. in kafú az in yeki bozorgtar-e

Vocabulary:
ãÈã mister, sir b€ to
iisun easy behtar better
az than, from bilit ticket
bãg!. garden úamedun suitcase
barâdar brother dir late
baraye for diruz yesterday
20 ressox lvo

emnu today mÍlef belonging to

ffrsl Persian mãshln car
forudglh airport mcdfd pencil
s[sÊEqng lovely ruye on
havrpôrmf aeroplane sorbâz soldier
in this scfid white
hdlisi English shrhr tovm, city
lqiâ here shgjl' brave
hfsh shoe dâh black
ksdf dirty ShemrÕn/ name of the
ketib book Shemrun northern part
khlhrr sister of Tehran
E!ôrt very hrn|r clean
lebôs dress, clothes tappe hill
nagbfze shop un/itr that
mrn I, me uqjíÍqii there

*See LessonNine (l)

Proper names:
Boys: Mohammad, Hasan, Hosein, Akbar, Ali, Rezâ
Girls: Maryam, Fãteme, Zahrã, Shirin

SUBJECT PRONOTJNS
The subject pronounsare as follows:

singular plural
man 0) mã (we)
to (you) shomâ (vou)
u (he, she) ishãn (they)

There are two points to be noted here:

(a) the subject pronouns are only used for persons,therefore the
3rd person u, ishân (he, she, they) cannot be used to denote
inanimate objects. 'It' is expressed by the demonstrative
pronoun tn Qtlural unhã) or not separatelyat all, as the verb
ending will indicate the subject of the verb.
 I,ESSGN TIVO 2I

(à) ghe 2nd person plural úomã (you) is generally used as the
polite form of address between strangers,.when children
addressadults, as a sign of respect,etc.
The singularform to (you) is usedbetweenfriends, by children
and young peopleamongthemselves,by adultsaddressingchil-
dren or superiorsaddressinginferiors. The distinction here is
similar to that betweentu and vous in French. It is best to use
shomã in all casesat first.

THE EZÃFE: C
The ezãfeis a final e sound,rather like a suffix, after a word ending
in a consonant,or ye after a word endingin a vowel. It has several
uses:

(a) To expressthe possessive:

khuneyepedar - the father's house(/it. house-of
the father)
r bilite otobus - the bus ticket (ticket-of the
bus)
' barâdareMaryam - Mariam's brother
! khâhare Hasan - Hassan'ssister
' dare khune - the door of the house
gharlhe ma$in - the wheel of the car
lebãsemard - the man's clothes
chõdorezan - the woman'sveil
Note the word order which is quite different from the English
usageof 's which is what it conveys:
khuneyemard - the house-ofthe man.
It is the thing which is possessed
which takes the ezãfe, not
the possessor,as in English.

(b) Whenan adjectivequalifiesa noun - again note the word

order: noun + ezafe- adjective:
hotele hhub - the good hotel
lebãsetamiz - the clean dress
barãdare bozorg - the big brother
farghe bozorg - the big carpet
nune tãze - the fresh bread
?2 LESSON TWO

rcstoÉrc khub - the good restaurant

daste rlst - the right hand (note: this can
also rnean on the right)
If the noun is qualified by more than one adjective,the 'quali-
fyng' ezãfe is also added to each adjective except the final
one:
lhuneye kç$ke sefid - the small white house
nunc garne tâze - the hot fresh bread
Írrgle boaorgegerun - the large expensivecarpet
If the noun is plural, then the ezãfe is added onto the plural
ending and sincethis is generally-hã, the ezãfen'ilIbe ye and
not e:
$unehâye boúorg - large houses
baghclehiye kuchik - small children

(c) For possessiveadjectives- there are no sepüate possessive

adjectives as such (my, your, their etc.) in Persian. The
meaning'my book', 'your book'etc. is renderedexactly as the
possessivein (a) above, using the subject pÍonouns instead of
the noun:
skgular: kettbe man my book (tr. book-of I)
kcttbc 3o your book (fanilior\
ketÍbc u his/her book
phtrol: k&e mr our book
t& süooi your book (polite,
Lalbc Mn their book

Much more @mmon, however, especiallyin speech,is the use

of the pronominal suffixee:
.em (ny) qtn (colJ. -cmun) (our)
-at GoA. 4) (your) .etin (colL +tun) (your)
.orh (coll .ç!) @is/her/ {Êh.tn (cott. <g!un) (their)
its)
The colloquial form for'my b@k', 'your book', etc. will there-
fore be:
kenbem my book ketâbemun our book
kettbet your book kettbehn your book
ketibeg! his/her/its ketãbcglun their book
book
 rwo 23
LESSON

likewise:
buâdsrem barãdaremun
berãdrret brãdaretun
bülda@ barãdareglun
but where a word endsin a vowel, the formal pattern will be:
llurelllflnc
!!ân€an lllneyenen
llrn€ct !!!reyetm
E$msh llrncyeglrn
which is fuÍher shortened in speechto:
fhurm $mmun
$umt I$ncron
khunrsh llunrúun
Where the noun qualified by the possessiveadective is also
qualified by an adjective or adjectives,then the pronominal
suffix is added to the final adjective:
For exanple your brother - borãdereíat
bw your big brother - bsridsre bozorget/et
your big, thin brother - barãdare bomrç
lâghorcú/ú
your smdl, naughty son - pesrne kryLike
sM/ú
ADJECTIVES
Adjectives remain unchangedwhether the noun they qualify is
singular or plural. As a general rule, they follow the nouns they
qualify and the noun takes the eziife ending to relate it to the
adjective:
nune tãre - fresh bread
nunhâyetãze- fresh bread(s)
dolltare bozorg - the big girl
dokhtarhâye bozorg - the big girls
marde pir - the old man
mardhãyepir - old men
sarbãze$ojã' - the brave soldier
sarbâzhãyeshoja'- the brave soldiers
24 r.rssonrwo
zenejrvur -úe young woman
*nh$yeJavun - the young uromen

Departure from this rule is used for stylistic effect, in special

expressionsor ones which are much-usedwhich will be pointed out
as ìr,e encounter them. For example, marde pir, the old man, is
often iendered as piremard, likewise zane pir becomespinezan.

Notice that the abovephrasesare definite - thebig girl, etc. Where

the noun qualified by the adjective is indefinite, the indefinite suffix
i is added to the qualifiing adjeaive:
d@tare bozorg - the big girl
do$tare bozorgi - a big girl
marde pir - the old man
marde piri - an old rnan

If there is.more than one adjective, the indefinite i is added to the

last one:
fargle bozorge geruni - a large expensivecarpet
The indefinite suffix i is never stressed.

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
The comparativeand superlativeof adjectivesare formed by the
addition of the suffixes-tar, for the comparative, and -tarin, for
the superlative,to the adjectives.,Than' is rendered by the prep-
osition az:
Thus:
Maryam az Fãúemekuchlktar-e - Maryam is smaller (or younger)
than Fãteme
otobus az tãksi bomrgúar-e - The bus is bigger than the taxi

The comparativefollows the noun:

lluneye bozorgÍar nune tãzetar
marde behtar pesarekugliktar
havãye sardtar mãshine Uentar
but the superlativecomesbefore the noun:
bozorgtarin khune tâzetarin nun
 LEssoNrwo 25

behtarin mard kuÈiktarin p€srr

sardtarin havã behtlrin mõúin

Here are the comparative and superlatives of some of the more

common adjectives:
glrrn garmtaÌ garmtarin (hot)
sard sardtar sardtarin (cold)
bozorg bozorgtar bozorgtarin (big)
kug$k kuchiktar kug$ktarin (little)
sakht sakhter satltarin (difficult)
âsârúun âsunter âsuntarin (easy)
tÃre tãzetar tãzetarin (fresh, new)
kohne kohnetar kohnetarin (old - of thing)
kutâ kutâtar kutâtarin (short)
botand bdendtar bolandtarin (long, tall)
nszdik nrzdlkter nazdiktarin (near)
dur durtar durtarin (far)
bod brdtar bldtarin (bad)
khub behtar behtarin (good)

Note: (a) khub changesits stem in the cornparative and superla-

tive, using the form beh-
(á) sstltü is, of cqurse, sakht-tar, but the second 't' is
dropped in speech. The combination 'dt' is also
pronouncedvery closetogether.
(c) when there is no point of comparisonfor the superlative,
i.e. when we want to say'the biggest'without specifying
the biggest of which things, a very common way of
expressing the superlative in Persian is by using the
constructionaz hame (than all) + the comparative,e.g.
az hame bozorgtar
Maryam az hame behtar-e - Maryam is the best

DEMONSTRATIVES
The demonstrativepÍonouns are:
in - this (one) inâ/inhã - these (ones)
un/õn - that (one), it una/anha - those (ones), they
 26 rcssox nilo

Theseproneunsmay refer to either people or things:

in bozong.e ' this is big
un $ub-c thaVit is good
inhl bocorgondr the* Qrcopleor things)are big
unhã khub-ad those/they are good
'Note: -and = are, and will be explainedin LessonThree.

If, therefore, we urant to say 'this bread is fresher than that', we

will say in nun az un tlzctar+. ükewise:
h krf$h az un kuúiktar.e - This shoe is smaller than that one
tn otâÈ ez un behtar-e - This room is better than that one

The demonstÍative adjectives are also ln and un but when used as

such they do not vary in the plural:
in der - this door in darâ/hã -these doors
un ketib - that book un ketãbã/hã- those books
ln !!une - this house in khunehã - these houses

II PHRASES ANI} F,XPRESSIONS

hsr úe andtar - As soon as possible
c}ie bettar - So much the better
mcslein ke - It looks as if, I think
besm ellâhe rahmãne rahlm - In the Name of God, the
Compassionate,the Merciful.
This Arabic phrase slwuld be
lcarned and recognisedfor it is
widcly wed - to begin prayers,
speeches,letters, docwtunts, etc.
besmellã - In the Name of God. ?ìhts,r
the short form o/besm ellãhe
rahmãne rrhim and is generally
used bdore starting anything. It
is also widcly used, in speech
only, as a blessingupon an action
to follow.
mersi - Thankyou
khôü mamnun - Thank you
bi zahmat - Please(lit. without trouble)
lotfen - Please
 LESSON r1tlo n

Note: ln speaking Persian, even in colloquial usage' people are

much more formally polite than is customary in English.
There is therefore a much greateÍ variety of polite phrases
and expressions.These are covered in gÍeater detail in
Les,sonTwelve.

EXERCISES
A. Put into Penian:
1. My house is bigger than Hassan'shouse
2. Ttle biggest house is on the hill
3. My car is smaller than Hassan'scar
4. Fateme'sdressis cleanertban Maryam's
5. This dress is the cleanest
ó. The hotel is clean
7. My room is small
8. This is your book
9. That table is dirty
10. That is my black suitcase

B. Read atoud and translüe:

1. túlite glomã ruye miz-e
r 2. lebãsedokhtare bozorg sefid-e
F 3. mãdare Maryam mariz-e
I 4. in dar bãz-e
I 5. un pesar úâtun-e
6. barãdaramaz hame behtar-e
7. tam'.l,tarin hotel
8. chameduneman siãh-e
f. istgãheotobus kojã-st?
10. behtarin hotele shahr kojã-st?

C. Put into Persian:

1,. My book
2. My big book
3. Your houseis small
4. His car is big
5. The gardendoor is oPen
6. The girl's dressis clean
 28 LEssoxTnro

7. My môther's room isn't big

8. Your father's car is small
9. My brother's houseis on the hill
10. Hassan'ssister is ill

D. Read aloud.,putting in the ezãfe:

1. ketâb Hasan (Hassan'sbook)
2. khune mard (the man's house\
3. khãhar man (my srsrer)
4. khune man (my house)
5. barãdar (hislher brother)
ó. hotel !!ub (rfte good hotet)
7. bilit otobus (the bus ticket';
8. ye faç! bozorg (a big carpet)
9. ketãb shomã $tour book)
10. char!! mãshin (the wheel of the car)

Lesson
Three
(darse
sewom)

Read aloud:
I 1. havãpêrmãdir resid/rasid.dustam unjã/anjã nabud. bã tâksi be
hotel raftam.!bâü dur nabud. otãgham bozorg o tamiz bud.
sobune/sobhãnelhordam. ba'd neshastamye nãme neveshtam
o kami ruznâme-khundam/khãndãm. dustam bã mãshinesh
umad/ãmad. manãesh n""ãke hotel bud. bã ham be
manzeleú raftim.

2. búãr bud. derakhthã glargle shokufe budand. sedãyegonji-

shkhã az hame taraf miumad. nasimemolãyemi mivazid. bach-
 LESSON TITNEE 29

ghehâ tuye kuche midowidand/midavidand. man tuye otãgham

budam o barãye dustam nãme mineveshtam.

Vocabulary:
ua from mineveghtam I was writing
bã with mivazid it was blow-
ba'd then ing
bachchehã children molâyem mild, gentle
bã ham together nabud he was not
bahâr spring nâme letter
berâye to nasim breeze
bud was nazdike near Qtrep.)
budand \ileÍe neshastam I sat
derakhthã the trees neveútam I wrote
dur Íar raftam I went
dust friend raftim \ile rtrent
gonjighk spaÍïow resid he/she/it
gharghe covered in arrived
hame all ruznãme newspaper
jã place sedã sound, voice
kami a little sobune/ breakfast
khordam I ate sobhâne
khundam I read shokufe blossom
manzel home, house taraf side
miãmad he/she/it was tuye in @rep.)
coming uqiíâqiã there
midowidand they were
running

Notes: nazdikeand tuye are prepositionswhich take the ezafe(see

LessonSix).
barãye usually means 'for', but it is more colloquial to
say ba.râyedustam name mineveshtamthan be dnstam . . .
although be is the usual word for 'to'
30 ussox rrrREE

VERBS I

A. THE INIIhIITTVE
The infinitives of all verbs end in dan, -trn or -idan and each verb
has two stems, the presentstern and the past sfern, which form the
basisfor the mnjugation of the various tenses.
The infinitive itself can be used as a noun, e.g.:
rundrn sq!!t e Driving is dif6cult
khordrn ãsrn.e Eating is easy

Taking the -an off the end of the infinitive will alwaysgive the past
Stem, and taking the -dan, -tan or -idan off will usually give the
presentstem, but as so many verbshave an irregular presentstem,
each new verb should be learnt as tfl'o elements: infinitive, froni
which the past stem is regularly formed, and the present stem.
Once thes€ two elementsare known, the conjugation of almost any
verb simply follows the rules. Each new verb will therefore be
shown thus: infinitive (presentstem) e.g. rÕndan(rân).
Ìüireshall take the verbs raítan (to go), rãndan (coll. rundan) (to
drive) and rasidan (colL rcsidan) (to anive) as models:
Infiütive Presentstem
raftsn r|v
rundü run
r€sidrn ' ne3

B. TENSES FORMED TROM TIIE PAST STEM

1. Thesimple past(or preterite)

Since the past stem is closestto the infinitive, the natural order for
learning the tensesin Persian begins with the simple past.
To form the simple past (I went, I drove, I arrived etc.), we start
with the infinitive. If we take the -an ending off this, we are left
úth the past stem:
raftan (to go) - raÍt
randen (to drive) - rand
residan (to arrive) - rcsid
 ressorrnREe 31
To this we add the personal endings
Singular Plural
lst person .rtrl (I) -lm (we)
2nd person .i (you) -id (you)
3rd person (he/she/it) .snd (they)

The simple past is therefore:

Singular Plural
-1stperson: raftam (I went) mtrm {we went)
2nd person: rafü (you went) raftd (you went)
3rd person: mft (he/she/it went) raftand (they went)
Note: T\e stressis on the sy'lable before the personal ending, and
not on the ending itself. 'and'is generallypronounced'an'.
Likewíse:
nrndam (I drove) rundim (we drove)
nrndi (you drove) rundid (you drove)
rund (he/she/it drove) rundand (they drove)
residam (I anived) restdim (we arrived)
residt (you arrived) r€stdid (you arrived) ,
resid (he/she/it arrived) ̀ddand (they anived)

The simple past of all verbs is formed in this way.

Note that because the penonal endings already indicate who is
doing úe action, the subject pronouns are not used in simple
sentences:
e.g. be madreserafr He/she went to school
az madresetmad He/she came from school
be edfre rtftâm I went to the office
az cd$re ãmadim We came from the office

When, however, the idea of.who is doing an action is to be stressed

or contrasted or reinforced in someway, then the subject pÍonouns
are used as well:
e.g. u be madreseraft ammã barãdares! der khune mund/mând
He/she went to school but his/trer-brotheiltayed at home
(mundan/mãndan: to stay;presentstem: mun/mãn)
32 mssox rHnEE

mâ az cdâre ãmadim ammâ unhã mundand

\Ve left (came from) the office but they stayed

If the subject is a proper noun, the verb still carriesthe personal

ending:
Hrsan be madreseraft - Hassanwent to school
Maryam o Hasan bc - Mariam and Hassan
madreseraÍtand went to school

The negative is formed by adding the verbal prefix na- to the

beginning of the simple past; the negativeprefix then carries the
stress:
naraftam (I did not go)
narafti (you did not go)
narundam (I did not drive)
narundi (you did not drive)
naresidam (I did not arrive)

Here are a few more examplesof the infinitive and the past stem:

gereftan gereft to take

ãmadan ãmad to come
dãdan dãd to give
kharidan kharid to buy
khordan !!ord to eat
neshastan neshast to sit
khundan khund to read
neveshtan nevesht to write
úodan shod to become

The most commonuse of the simple past is to expressa completed

action in the past. It is also the narrative tense- i.e. the tenseused
to describeor report on actionswhich have taken place.

Note also the following use of the simple past for an action which
is about to be completed:
ãmadam - I'm coming(in answerÍo 'hurry up', or 'are you
coming?')
 LESSON THREE 33

rrtrm - We're off; we're going

In both the above examples, the simple past is being used in

responseto questions or commandswhich imply that the action is
overdue and ought already to have taken place. The answer to a
straightforward question 'are you coming?' would be in the present
tenseas in English.

2. The imperfçc1
The imperfect is formed by the addition of the verbal prefix mi- to
the simple past, with the stresson this prefix:
miraÍlam (I was going) miraÍüm (we were going)
minÍü niraÍtd
mireft mlrúand
mirundam (I was driving) nlrundlm
mlntndi mirundtd
nlntnd mhmdrnd
mirecidrm (I was dting) mlreddtm
mlreddi mlresidid
mircsid miresidand

The imperfect is used to expresscontinuous, habitual or recurrent

actions in the past:
e.g. pedaram har ruz be edãre miraÍt
My father used to go to the office every day
Fâteme har ruz az madresemiâmad
Fateme used to come from school every day
man hamishebe masjed miraÍtrm
I always \rent to the mosque
Hasan har ruz az edâre miãmad
Hassancame frorn the of6ce every day
Maryam nun mipokht
Mariam was baking bread
monghi nãme minevesht
The secretary $'as \ilriting a letter
The imperfect is also used in certain kinds of conditional sentences
(SeeLessonTen)"
34,rrssoxrrrnsr
In the imperfect tense, the negativeprefix is ne- and the stressis
transferredto this prefix:
neniraÍtam (I was not going)
nemiraÍti (you were not going)
nemimndam (I was not driving)
nenirundi (you were not driüng)

3. The pastparticiple
The past participle consistsof the past stem plus an e on the end
which carriesthe stress.and this will be transcribedthus: é for the
sakeof differentiation:
raÍlan raÍt rdté
ntndan nrnd rundé
residsn r€sid r€sidé

It is used in the formation of the compound tenses (perfect and

pluperfect) which will be covered in Lesson Fïve. It is also used
adjectivally.

C. ïhc verü 'lo be'

(a) We have already encounteredthe use of ast, shortenedto .e
oÍ .str meaning'is' (LessonOne). In fact the verb 'to be' has two
forms'in Persian.The presenttenseis alwaysexpressed:
(i) by the use of the following personalendingswhich are added
to the precedingword (exceptin the caseof the 3rd personsingular
where ast standson its own) and can also be called the short form
of 'to be'.
Singular Plural
-am (I am) -im (we are)
-i (you are) -id (you are)
ast/-e (he/she/it is) -and (they are)

Thus:
$ub (good)
llubam (I am good) khubim (we are good)
$ubi (you are good) khubid (you are good)
khub asU-e(he/she/it is good) khuband (they are good)
 LESSON I.|NEE 35

If one remembersthe basic rule.about word srder - i.e. gubiÊct;

object, verb, then it will not be difficadt to decide where to put
these endingp.
Some examplesof the use of the short form for 'to bsr:
borfdanm kuchiÌ.c My brother is little
dustem müiz-c My friend is sick
dar bÕz.c The door is open
ketlb ruye mtz.e The book is on the table
nthir hâzer.e Lunch is ready
úãm hfzer.e Supper is ready
mrn tuyc hanum.em I am in the bath
pecrregôtrn-ad The boys are naughty
Note, however, the two colloquialisms:
SOmCnlm-e I am hungry
tcsh[rmr I am thirsty
gü{lsne means'hungry' and tcglne m€ans'thiÍsÇ', thereforeúe
ooÍrect forn shouldin fact be güom.on, |fum, but these
havebeenoontractedto gorwn, fu and then had the 3rd
persoÍrsingglar+ addedalso.
; . .!
(ii) by the useof the more eurphaticfornr hd, alsoreferredto in
Lesson One, which is conjugatedas follows (remernber,the
personalendingsdo not take the stress):
hastsm hasdm
hasd hasm
hst hastand

The form in (i) above is much more common in colloquial use to

expressthe simple present tense of 'to be', hast having the slightly
more emphatic meaning already explained, bnr hast etc. is normally
used after a word ending in i, e.g.:
ingilisi hrstid? Are you English?
!!âreji hss6d? Are you a foreigner?(lit. are
you foreign?)
Both these forms survive in the present tense only, and although
the infinitives astanor hrsten are to be found in Persiandictionaries
and grammar books, they are no longer fully conjugated.
 36 ressox rgnes

A plural subject denoting rational beingstakes a plural verb, but

inanimate objects and irrational beingstake the singular:
e.g. bachchehãiqiã hastand - The children are here
!!âhar o barâdaram dar - My brother and sister are in
Tabriz-and Tabriz
ketâbã iqiã nist - The books aren't here
ruznâmehãiqiâ-st - The newspapersare here
kefshã hãzer nist - The shoesaren't ready
For the negativein both casesthe negativeof hast is used:
nistam (I am not) nistim (we are not)
nisti (you are not) nistid (you are not)
nist (he/she/it is not) nistand (they are not)

(b) All other tensesof the verb 'to be' are expressedby the verb
budan (bã$) which is conjugatedas follows:
Preteritelsimplepast
budam (I was) budim (we were)
budi (you were) budid (you were)
bud (he/she/it was) budand (they were)
As with the preterite of other verbs,the negativeprefix is na- which
is stressed:
nabudam,nabudi, etc.

Imperfect
The forms mibudam, mibudi etc. are regularly formed but seldom
used exceptin certain kinds of conditional sentencesand not at all
in coÌloquial speech.Theseare literary and only given here for the
purposeof recognitionshould you encounterthem.
Present tense
This is formed quite regularly from the presentstem (bash),
mibãsham mibãshim
mibãshi mibashid
mibâshad mibashand
but it is not normallyusedto express'I am', .you are' etc. It is in
fact so rarely used as such that if you ask the averagelranian the
 rrssoN nüEE 37
present tense of budrn, you will probably be told hrúm, hts$,
hast etc.

I PHRASF,SANI' EXPRESSIONS
ingFlldenghr d|eh God willing. A much-used
phrase in referenceA funre
time.
mãshâtlâ /it. what_Qodwills; a rnuch
used verbal talisman. It is
always said if one has paid
sorneonea compliment, or
praisedsomething.It's very
much like'touch wood' only
with a religious elernent. ìlasa
be sLub is also said ('touch
wood'), but not as much.
ãftãb bud The sun was shining
bârun gereft It started to rain
dorost úod /it. it came nght; said of a
satisfactory outcome
!!ub qlod/bad glod It turned out welVbadly
lharãb qlod It was spoilt, it went wïong

EXERCISES
A. Read aloud.and then translate:
1.. otãghambozorg o tamiz bud
2. dustam az edãre ãmad
3. Maryam subune\hord
4. manzeledustam dur nabud
5. ingilisi hastid?
6. otobus por bud
7. tâksi khãli bud
8. Hasan har ruz be edãre miraft
9. neshestamo kami ruznâmekhundam
10. bã dusteqhbe hotel raft
11. gherã ãmadi?
12. nasime molãyemi mivazid
 3E LEssoNTHnEE

B. Put into Percian:

1. The plane arrived late
2. My room was large and clean
3. My friend was there
4. We came yesterday
5. The secretarywas writing a letter
6. Did you write a letter?
7. Is your daughter'sschoolthere?
8. Did you go to his house?

C. Make the sentencesin exerciseB negative

Lesson
Four
(darse
chahãrom)

Nore: Passage1 is a little conversation and to pÍeserve the flow

and feeling of the text, the usual colloquiaUliterary format
has not been followed. It is given insteadin the vocabulary.
Read aloud:
I l. kojã miri?
mil!ãm beram mive bekharam
manambâhet miãm
pas zud bag! ziãd vaght nadâram
piãde miri? "hun
bale
I 2. Maryam har ruz be maghãzeyeAkbar ãghã mire/miravad. dar
unjã chãi o shir o kare vo panir mikhare/mikharad. ba'd be
nunvãi mire vo nun mikhare. diruz az ghassãbigusht kharid.
emnrz unjâ nemire. ãire davãkhune barãye dokhtaresh
davã mikhare. ba'd be m"nreìãh mire vo Ue Uactr-
chehãsh/bachchehâyash sobune miOeÃiAahaa.
 LEssoNroun 39

Vocabulary:
to
bÕh€t/bã with you nide/mtdehaó he/she/it gives
@ be! ni!$n/ I want
(imperuive) mikhâhsm
be to nillerd he/she buys
bellrran that I may buy mi!!9rad
beram that I may go miri/minvi you go
chni tea mirelmiravad helshe goes
glun because mive fruit
davâ medicine nsdãnm I haven't got
drvâllune pharmacy nemire she doesn't
ilurr@rep.) in go
gusht meat nunvâi bakery
Èrssãbi butcher's panir cheese
hrr each, every pllde on foot
kar€ butter shtr milk
!!üid he/she bought vaght time
kojã where? drd a lot
nagüeze shop ztd early
nrnam/nrn me too ztd ry be quick
hrm

Norz; bôhet: colloquial form of bÕto (with you)

rnrnlrn: colloquial form of man ham (me too, I also)

VERBS II

TENSES FORMED FROM TIIE PRESENT STEM

1. Thepresenttense
The present tense is formed by the addition of the verbal prefix
mi- to the present sÍern, followed by the personal endings which
are the same as for the simple past, except for the third person
singularwhich is -ad. The endingswill therefore be:
40 rsssox Foun

Singular Plural
Lst person: -am -im
2nd penon: -i -id
3rd person: -ad -and
In regular verbs, if we take the -dan, -tan or -idan off the infinitive.
we will be left with the presentstem, but as already mentioned in
LessonThree, many verbs have an irregular presentstem which is
why this should be learnt with each new verb.
The presentstem of raftan is rav, of rundan, run, of residan,res,
therefore:
mi * rav * am : miravam (I go)
mi * run * am : minrnam (I drive)
mi * res * am : miresam (I arrive)
As with the imperfect, the stressis on the verbal prefix mi-.
From raftan (rav), we will therefore have:
miravam (I go) miravim (we go)
miravi (you go) miravid (you go)
miravad (he/she/it miravand (they go)
goes)
from rundan (run):
mirunam (I drive) mirunim (we drive)
miruni (you drive) mirunid (you drive)
mirunad (he/she/it mirunand (they drive)
drives)
from residan (res):
miresam (I arrive) miresim (we arrive)
miresi miresid
miresad miresand
In speech,the -ad ending of the 3rd person singular of all verbs
formed from tire present stem is shortenedto -e when the stem
endsin a consonant.Therefore:
miresadbecomesmirese (he/she/itarrives or is arriving)
mirunad becomesmirune (he/shedrives or is driving)
 LFSSON IOUR 4I

When the presentstem ends in h, v, or a vowel, however, (a) ay

is sometimes inserted after the vowel and (b) tensesformed from
it aÍe contracted still further. These have to be learned individually
as there is no generalrule to indicate when this takes place.

(i) mfran - pÍesent stem: nY

mlravam, mlravi, mirevad, etc become:
mlrem mlrim
miri mirid
ntre mlrtn
(ü) inodrn (i) - to come
milyam, miii, mirlyed, miiim, mlãld, milyend, become
miim tn|ttm
mlry düd
nild nifn
(iii) drdü (dch) - to give; lircrary form: mtdrhrm, mldrhl etc.
(Note the exceptional úange of the vowel e to a when the verb is
conjugated)
midrm midim
midi midid
mide midan
The stressremains on the first syllable.
The negative is formed by adding the prefix ne-, which then carries
the stress:e.g.
nemiram, nemiri, nemire etc
The presenttense in Persianrendersboth the simple presentand
the presentcontinuousin English.
Hasan mi'ãil (miãyad\ HassancomeVis coming
Maryam mire Mariam goes/isgoing
baúmiâd lt snows/issnowing
Maryam mã$in mirune Mariam drives a carlis driving
mongbi nime minevise The secretary writeVis writ-
ing a letter
b!run nemiâd It doesn't rain/isn't raining
42 LEssoNFouR

It is also used for an action which beganin the past and continues
into the present:
paqi ruz+ ke dar hotel-em - I have been in the hotel for five
days (and am still there)
(Note: ke = 'that' and will be covered rnorefully in Lesson Ten)
ez diruz tâ hiln minevise- He has been writing sinceyesterday
In colloquial usage,the presentis also used for the future:
e.g. fardâ bilit mikharam - I'll buy a ticket tomorrolv
It will alwaysbe clear from the context whether or not the future
tenseis meant.

2. The Subjunctive
The subjunctiveis formed from the presentstem \yith the addition
of the prefix be- and the penonal endings.Othenviseit follows the
samepattern as the present:
be + presentstem + personalendings= subjunctive
e.g. mndan - (ron):
berunam (that I may drive) berunim
beruni beruntd
berune/ad berunand
raftan - (rav):
beravam (that I may go) beravim
beravi beravid
beravad beravand
which will be shortenedin speechto:
beram berim
beri berid
bere berand
Note that the subjunctiveof budan(bãsh),.to be', is formed from
the presentstem plus the personalendingsbut without the be-:
bâsham bãshim
b@i bãshid
bãshe/-ad bashand
 LESSON FOUR 43

The present subjunctive is used a great deal in Persian.Here are

someof its uses:
(i) The first and third personssingular and plural are used in
questionswhich are expressedin English by 'shall Awe?'
etc.:
beram khune? Shall I go home?
berim bãzãr? - Shall we go to the bazaar?
berim sheno? - Shall we go swimming?
bere kharid? - Shall he/shego shopping?
(ii) The first personplural is used in the senseof 'let's':
berim khune Let's go home
berim bÕzãr - Let's go to the bazaar
berim gleno Let's go swimming
(iii) The subjunctiveis alwaysused after the verbs:

!!ãstan (!Iãh) - to want

and tavãnestan(tavân) - to be able
nilil!âm Brãghlnberunam - [ want to drive a car
mitunam mâshln berunam - I can drive a car
In each case both khãsúan and tavãnesúanand the verb
expressingthe action agree with each other in person and
number, and this usageshould be noted as it is quite unlike
English:
mikhtun (lst pers. sing. present) beram (lst pers. sing.
subjunctive)
I want (lst pers. sing. present)to go (infinitive)
mi!!ãm beram bãzâr - I want to go to the bazaar
mi!!âd bere khune - He wants to go home
ni!!ãm beram mive - I want to go and buy some
bekharam fruit
In order to say 'I do not want to go', 'I cannot drive' etc,
the stressednegativeprefix ne- is put before the appropriate
form of khâstanor tavãnestan:
nemikhãmberam I don't want to go
nemituneberune - He can't drive
44 LESSON FOUR

(iv) The words bãyad (must, ought to) and"qhãyad (perhaps,

maybe) also take the presentsubjunctivewhen referring to
the presentor future:
bãyad beram khune - I must go home
bâyad kafú bekharam - I must buy someshoes
ghãyadberam mosãferat - PerhapsI will go away (on a
Journey)
g!âyad manzelbãshe - Maybe he's at home
(v) Whenever the verb gozãshtan(gozãr) which also means 'to
put' is usedin the senseof 'to permit', 'to allow', the verb
following it is in the subjunctive:
(Note that in spoken Persian, the go is also dropped from
the presentstem of gozãshtanso that tensesformed from it
sound as though the stem were zãr.)
bezãr beram - L,et me go
bezãr bebinam - Let me see
nemizãram beri - [ won't let you go
(vi) The subjunctive is used in a variety of subordinateclauses
which will be coveredin lrsson Ten.

3. The imperative
The imperative singular is formed by adding the prefix be- to the
present stem:
rundan (run) - berun - drive!
residan(res) - beres - arrive! (get there!)
The following exceptionsshould, however, be noted:
(o) If the presentstem endsin av, this becomeso in the impera-
tive singular:
shenidan(shenav)---+besheno-+beshno(hear!)
(b) If the imperative singularendsin o, the prefix be- sometimes
becomesbo-:
raftan (rav) --+bero ---rboro (go!)
Thesecaseshave to be learned individuallv.
 LESSON FOUN 45

(c) The verb buden does not take be-:

budan {bâsttl + bãsh
The plural takes the -id ending of the secondpersonplural:
b€runid beresid berid bãshid

The negative imperative, 'do not . .' is formed by the use of the
prefix na- instead of be/bo-:
-narun narunid
nares naresid
mro narid
nabãsh nabâshid

Apart from the actual numerical plural sense,i.e. for commands

to more than one person, the imperative plural is also the more
polite form when addressinga single person in the same \ilay as
shomâ(seeLessonTwo, Subject Pronouns(b)).

NOUN OF THE AGENT

A noun denotingthe persondoing the action concernedand there-
fore called the noun of the agentis formed from the pÍesent stem
of some verbs.
This is done by addingthe suffix -andeto the presentstem.A point
to notice here is that the vowel changesthat take placein the other
spokenforms of suchverbs do not usually apply to the noun of the
agent.
e.g. rândan (rãn) - to drive: rânande - driver (pl. rânandehâ)
forukhtan (foruü) - to sell: forushande - salesperson(p/.
forughandehâ)
khãndan- G!an) - to read, to sing: ktanande - reader, singer
(p/. khtuandehã)
shenidan- (shenav)- to hear: shenavande- hearer, listener
(p/. shenavandegãn)
M LEssoNFouR

Somecommon verbs:
ãmedan (â) Ìo come
bordan (bar) to take
ãvarden (ír) (coll. âvorden) to bring
goftan (gu) to say
budan (bãg!) to be
shoden (shav) to become
kardan (kon) to do
dildan (deh) to give
gereftan (gir) to take
!!ãndan (!!an) (col/. khundan) to read
bastan (band) to close,to shut
nqlpstan (neq$n) to sit
isúedan(ist) to stand,to stop
didsn (bin) to see
glenidan (sheno) to hear
khordan @o") to eaídrink
Elibidrn (khãb) to sleep
nushidan (nush) to drink
dãshtsn (dâr) to have
zadan (zen) to hit

Notes:
1. Strictly speaking,llordan means'to eat', but it is also generally
used to mean 'to drink':
e.g. ghszã khordam I ate food
âb khordsm I drank water
In fact, the term for'drinking-wateÍ' is ãbe khordan.
2. nug!$en is seldom used in colloquial speech, but the noun
derived from it nushâbe is commonly used to refer to non-
alcoholic drinks of the bottled fizzy kind which are available in
variety and very popular.
Thus in a restaurantor even in a shop one might ask:
nugllbc chi dãrid? - What do you have in the way of drinks?
or one might be asked:
nushâbechi mikhãid - lühat drink would you like?
 LESSONFOUR 47

3. The verb dãútan does not take mi- or bc-. Its presenttenseis:
singular plural
dãram (I have) dãrim
dãri dãrid
dâre/ad dârand
The imperfect is the sameas the simple past:
dãshtam:I had, I was having

The present subjurictiveis:

dâshté bãsham
4àshtébashi etc.
which is also the form of the past subjunctive(seeLessonFive).

The imperative of dãshtan is dag!É baç!.

I PHRASES AND EXPR&SSIONS

kojâ miri? Where are you going?
kojã mirid? Where aÍe you going? Qtolite)
bã chi miri? How are you going? (/rr. with what
are you going?)
bã táksi miram I'm going by taxi
vãllâh Honestly, in truth
ba$e OK (spokenform of bãslutd = let it
be, the 3rd person singular of the
subjunctive o/ budan)
tslodã nakone God forbid!
bejomb Be quick! hurry up! (from
jombidan, to move); get a move
on!
48 LEssoNFoun,

EXER,CISES
A. Read aloud then translate:
1. havã sard-e,barf miãd
2. monúi nãme mineúse
3. har che zudtar miram
4. mikhãm piãde beram mive bekharam
5. Maryam az davãkhunebarãyepesareshdavã mikhare
6. mã barãye sobunenun o panir o chãi mikhorim
7. dustam natunestbã mâ biãd
8. fardã miram edãre
9. dar-o beband

B. Put into Persian:

L. Hassangoesto the office every day
2. She does not go there every day
3. It is raining
4. Are you English?
5. No, I am Iranian. I am not English
6. He wants to come to my house
7. I'll go tomorrow
8. Why did you Qtlural) come?
9. Where is he going?
10. Where are you going tomorrow?

C. Put the following into (a) the present tense; (b) the imperfect;
(c) the subjunctive'
L. raftam
2. goftim
3. rundid
4. khordand
5. shod

D. Give the imperativesingular of thefollowing:

1. to say
2. to hear
3. to eat
4. to run
5. to come
Lesson
Five
panjom)
(darse

Read aloud:
mosãferbe istgãheotobus resid. az gishechandtãbiiit kharid chun
dar lrãn bilit o/rã dar otobus nemifruúand. mardom unhã ro/rã
az gishe mikharand. otobus resid. hame savãr shodand.dar ba'zi
otobusa bilit o be rãnande midand, dar ba'zihã-ham be shãgerd-
ghofor. otobus rãh oftãd. jã kam bud o chandnafar istãdébudand.
be istgãhe awal nazdik shodand. ye nafar sedã zad: ãghã negah
dãr. otobus istãd. rãnande dar o bãz kard. chand nafar piãde
shodand,dar bastéshodo bãzotobusrãh oftad. rãnandebe sã'atash
negãhkard - kami dir shodébud.

Vocabulary:
awal first mardom people
bãrz(adverb) again moeãfer passenger
ba'zi some nafar person
basté closed (pasr negah dãr stop!
participle) nazdik úod approached
Èand some nemifnrshand they don't sell
ghandtã several piãde qlodand they got off
grshe booth rãnande driver
ham also rãh oftãd set off
hame everyone, all savãr shodandthey got on
istgâh stop sedâzad (zan) (he) called out
istgâhe otobus bus stop sedã noise. voice
stopped

Nole.' nemifrushand:the verb is forukhtan (forush); the u is elided

in speechin tensesderived from the presentstem.
Tensesformed from the past stem behavenormally.

New verbs: savãr shodan(gbav):to get on, to mount

râh oftâdan (oft): to set off, to start up
50 ressox rrw
- nâzdtk shodan (qhav): to approach, to near
sedâladrn (zan): to call
negú d&htsn (dâr): to stop, to hold
püide gloden (g!av): to get off (a bus etc.\
bsstan (band): to close
istãd8tr(lst): to stand, to stop

USE OF TIIE PARTICLE RÃ

One of the characteristics of Persian is the use of the particle râ
after the word or phrase that is the definite direct object of the
verb.
Up to now we have used very simple basic sentencepatterns Ìvhich
have tended to expressstates of being rather than actions:
dsr hste ast The door is closed
cEl hâzer.c The tea is ready
but if we want to say 'he closed the door', then 'he' is the subject
and'the door'is the definite direct object - the speciôcthing to
which the aetion is being done - in which case it will.be followed
by the particle rt.
râ is changed in speechto ro (following a word ending in a vowel
sound) and o (following a consonant), though this is not necessarily
very consistent, and you may notice such inconsistenciesin this
book.
dar o bast He closedthe door
chãi ro ãvord - He brought the tea
bilit o kharid He bought the ticket
ghazõ ro !!ord He ate the food
If the direct object is a group of words, the rã comes after the
gÍoup:
otobusehotel o didam I saw the hotel bus
moãvenevazir o did He saw the deputy minister
sedãyeradio ro shenid He heard the sound of the
radio
Where a noun to which a pronominal suffix has been added
 LESSONFIVE 51

(kctÕbam,ketâbet, etc.) is the direct object of the verb, then the

râ is added after the suffix:
ketãbam o gom kardsm - I lost my book (gom kardan: to lose)
and if such a noun is qualified by an adjective, it follows the
adjective:
ketãbc sefidan o gom kardam - I lost my white book
Personalpronouns are definite and therefore take rã when they
are the direct object of the verb:
man+rt=m8rt
to+ú=tortetc.
In speechthese forms úll be:
rnrno mÍFo
toro shomÕno

$enrran manozod- My sisterhit me

A direct object can, however,be indefinite,in whichcasethere
s,ill be no rã:
ye blüt llarid He bought a ticket
ye ketâbÍvord She broug[t a book
ye g!ãl !!ord He drank a orp of tea
the ye can also be left out:
bilit kharid He bought a ticket
ketâb âvord She brought a book
chãi khord He drank some tea
Note: One does not, however, say dar bast to mean 'he closed a
door'. In colloquial speechone always says dar o bast, as
the door is consideredto be a definite object in this case.
The phrasedar bast is used adjectivally and is explained at
the end of this lesson.

COMPOUND VERBS
Persianhas relatively few simple verbs, therefore another feature
of the languageis the extensiveuse that is made of compound
verbs.Theseconsistof a few commonverbssuchas 'make'. 'do'.
52 rnssox rrvs

'become',etc. coupledwith a noun, adjective,adverb,verbal noun

or preposition. In each casethe verb is conjugatedbut the quali-
fying word remainsunchangedthroughout.
The verbs used most in compoundsare:
kardan (kon) - to do, to make,for transitiveverbs
shodan(shav)- to become,for intransitiveverbs
e.g.: bãz- open
kardan - to do
bãz kardan - to open
dar o bâz kard - He openedthe door
dar bãz shod - The door opened
bachcheman o khaste kard - The child made me tired
fhaste qbodam - I got tired
or, in the presenttense:
dar o bãz mikone - He opens the door
dar bãz mishe - The door opens
bachchemen o khaste mikone - The child makes me tired
- I get tired
Compound verbs are used as if they \ilere a single verb, i.e. they
generally come at the end of the sentenceand the separateparts
are placed together.
They are conjugated normally, the only difference being in the
imperative, where the verb does not take the prefix be- so that
whereasthe imperative of kardan used on its own will be bekon,
in a compoundit is kon:
dar o bãz kon - Open the door
Look againat this phrasefrom the readingpassageat the beginning
of this lesson:
ãghã negahdãr (the verb is negahdãshtan)
and note that when dãshtanis beingusedas a compoundverb, its
imperative is formed regularly.
The following are some more verbs generally used. to form
compounds:
 LESSON.FIVE 53

dishtan (dÕr) to have, to possess

dôdrn (deh/deh) to gve
SereÍtsn (gir) to take, to get
zadan (zan) to hit, to strike
khordan (!!or) to eat
âmadan (ã) to come
ãvardan (àr') (coll. ãvordan) to bring

Some examplesof compoundverbs are:

(a) with adjectives:

boland - long, tall, high
boland kardan - to lift (also to lengthen)
boland shodan- to get up
khub - good
khub úodan - to get well, to get better
Note that in generalthe English 'to get . . .' will be renderedby a
compoundverb with úodan.
kutâ - short
kutã kardan - to shorten
dorost - correct, right, proper
dorost kardan - to make, fix, mend (a much-usedcompoundverb)
sandali ro boland kard He picked up the chair
az jash/jayashboland shod She got up from her place
mariz khub shod The patient got better
emtahãnamkhub shod I did well in my exam
dâmanesho kutã kard - She shortenedher skirt
ghazâro dorost kard She got the meal
talhtekhãb o dorost kard She made the bed
mâshinesho dorost kard He fixed the car

(b) with nouns:

gush ear
gush kardan - to listen
gush dãdan - to listen
54 rnssoN nvn

hammâm (col/. hamum) - bath

hamun karden to have a bath
dush shower
dush gereftan to have a shower
farãr kardan to escape(seealso dar raÍtan
in section (c))
dast hand
dast dãdan to shake hands
zamin ground, land, earth (not soil
which is khak)
zamin khordan - to fall down (ftr. to eat the
ground)
be a$bãr gush kard - She listenedto the news
bâ dusteghdast dãd He shook handswith his friend
bqlgle zamin khord The child fell down

(c) with prepositions:

bar (on, up, off)
ber dãshtsn to remove, to pick up, to take
bar gdtân to return, to comeigo back
ketâb o bar dâsht - She picked up the book
fardã bar migardam I'll come back tomorrow
dar (in)
dar âvonilan to take off. to take out
dar raftan to escape(more colloquinl
thanÍarir karden), to get
away, to go off (gunsetc.), to
snap(elastic),to ladder
(stockings)
dar kardan to let off (a gun etc.)
lebãsesho dar ãvord She took off her dress
gorbe dar raft The cat got a\ilay
jurãbam dar raft I laddered my stocking (/ir:
my stockingran away)
 LEssoNFïvE 55

(d) with prepositionalphrases:

az bôrn raftan to cease to exist
az dast dâdan to lose {a person through
death, a contract, a job, etc.;
to lose things ,s another
compound gom kardan; to get
lost ir gom qbodan)

COMPOUND TENSES
The compoundtensesof singleverbsare the perfect, the pluperfect,
the future, the past subjunctiveand the passive.They are formed
with the use of the verbs budan (bãsh) otobe', khãstan(khãh) 'to
want' and shodan (shav) 'to become', which therefore act as
auxiliary verbs.

1. ïhe Peúect
This is formed from the past participle with the addition of the
short forms of the verb 'to be':
-am -im
-i -id
ast -and
The past participle consistsof the past stem with an accentede
sound (transcribedé) on the end: raftan - raft - rafté.
The forms of the perfect tenseare:
rafté-am (I have gone) rafté-im (we have gone)
rafté-i raÍté-id
rafté ast raÍté-and
rãndé-am(I have rãndé-im (we have driven)
driven)
rândé-i r:andé-id
rãndé ast rãndé-and
The perfect tenseis generallycontractedin speechso that it sounds
very much like the simple past, exceptthat the stressis now'on the
last syllable and not the first:
56 Lsssoì{ FrvE

raft-am raft-im
raÍt-i Ìaft-id
raÍt ast raft-and
rând-am rãnd-im
rãnd.id rãnd-id
rãnd ast rãnd-and
In the third person singular, it is also quite common in speechto
usethe past participle on its own when in fact the perfect is meant:-

otobus rafté The bus has gone

The negativeprefix is na-, which then carriesthe stress:
otobusnarafté The bus hasn't gone
The perfect tenseis quite commonin colloquial Persian.It usually.
refers to actions which have recently been completed or which
started in the past but which haven't yet been completed:
ketâb o ãvordé-am I have brought the book
ruznãmerã khundé-arn- I have read the newspaper
tãksi âmadé ast The taxi has come
Maryam khãbidé ast Mariam is sleeping

2. The Pluperfect
The pluperfect is formed from the past participle, which does not
change,and the simple past of budan:
rafté budam (I had gone) rafté budim (we had gone)
rafté budi rafté budid
rafté bud rafté budand
The useof the pluperfectin Persianis much the sameas in English,
exceptthat it is also used as a descriptivetensein the past: istãdé
bud : was standing,stood.

3. The Future
The future tenseis formed by using the presenttense of the verb
khãJtsn (E!ãh) 'to tvant', minus the usual verbal prefix mi-,
followed by the past stem of the verb:
 LEssoNFIvE 57

khãham raft (I will go) khãhim raft (we will go)

khãhi raft lhâhid reft
khãhad raft khâhand raft

The future propeÍ is used in formal speech(radio and television

news or announcements,for example)but in colloquial speechthe
presenttenseis used instead,as already indicatedin LessonFour.
Note that wheneverkhãstanis used in its own senseand not as an
auxiliary, it behavesquite normally in the presenttense:
chãi mikham - t want sometea
tra--n""am khune I want to go home
-it
4. The Past Subjunctive
The past subjunctiveis formed by usingthe pastparticiple followed
by the presentsubjunctiveof the verb budan:
raÍté bãsham(I may have gone) rafté bãshim
rajté bãshi rafté bãúid
raÍté bãgle/baglad rafté bãqband
The past subjunctiveis used:
(a) after bâyad and shâyadwhen they refer to the past:
bâvad rafté bãshe He must have gone
shãvadin o didé bâshi Perhapsyou've seenthis

(b) to expressdoubt about somethingin the past:

mitarsam gom shodébâshe I'm afraid it may have got lost

(c) as the presentsubjunctiveof dâshtan(seeLessonFour).

5. The Passive
The passiveis formed by using the past participle followed by the
appropriate tenseof the verb ghodan(qhav)'to become':
e.g. from koútan (kosh)to kill:

koglté qlod he/she/it was killed

koshté misham I shall be killed etc.
 58 rnssox nvr,

Use of the passiveis very restrictedin Persianand it is not used if

the active can be used instead.

I PHRASESAND EXPRESSIONS
dar bast Exclusive - in relation to the hire
of cars, taxisor evenbuses;if they
are ô* bastit meansno one other
than the person hiring them (or
members of their party) wíll use
them. The phrase ts relevant
because ordinary taxis, for
exarnple, are by no means daÍ
brrst.Theypick up severalpassen-
gers as they go, depending on
whether their dutinations fit the
route the taxi happens to be
taking.
befarmãid lit. the imperativeo/farmudan'to
command'.Thisk avery common
word, used
'1,.when givtng or showing
someone sornething to mean
'here you are'
2. in the sënseof 'after you'
3. in the senseof 'come in'
4. by peopleservingthepublic in
shops, offices etc. to mean
'what can I do for you?'
khãhesh mikonam Please, when asking someoneto
do something (from khúegh
kardan 'to requestpolitely', 'to
ask a favour'). khãheshmikonam
can be usedat the beginningor at
the end of a sentenceor phrase
e.g. !!âheú mikonarndar rã bãz
konid: pleaseopen the door.
begu bebinam Tell me, " . . e.g. begu bebinam
emruz kojã mirim tell me, where
are twegoing today
 LESSoN Fryl 59

begid bebinrm polite form of beg! bebinam

I Some useful commands:

bar gard/bar gerdid Come back! ffamiliarlpolite)
boro/b€rid Gol (familiarlpolite)
bÕzkon/bãz konid - Open!
dar o bcbond Shut the door!
dar o bebandid Shut the door! @olite)
b€E[iilbcg$núd Sit down! (familiarlpolite)
boland gìo Get up!, Stand uP!
boland shH Get up!, Stand up! (politÒ

EXERCISES
A, Readaloud and translate:
1. rãnande dar o bãz kard
2. pesaram dar o bast
3. ketãb o ãvord
4. bilite otobus o az sishe kharid
5. pesare shâtun 51ôtfi tumin mikhore
6. be hotel raftam o hamum kardam
7. havã khâli sard shodé vo har ruz bãrun miãd
8. lebãsamo dar ãvordam
9. dar o bãz kon. nazdike ãb naro. panjere ro beband
10. dir residam o otobus rafté bud

B. Put into Persian:

1. He closedthe door; she brought the tea; they ate the food
2. He bought a newspaper;she drank a cup of tea; we had some
food (i.e. we ate)
3. They saw the hotel bus
4. We saw the dePutYminister
5. My friend openedthe door. He said: "Come in"
6. Someonecalledout: 'Stop'
7. Do not open the door
8. Pleaseclosethe window
9. The bus has gone
1.0.Has the taxi come?
60 ressox rrve

SUMMARY OF VERB ENDINGS

PRESENI.' mí- * presentstem + -sm -fun
-i -id
-ad -and
IMPERFECT: mi- * past stem + -am -im
-i -id
- -snd
PRETERITE: past stem + -am -im
-i -id
- -and
PERFECT: past participle + .ltrl -im
-t -id
ast -and
PLUPERFECT: past participle * btdrm budim
budi büüd
büd büünd
FUTURE
PROPER: khãham khÕhim + past stcm
khãhi Ellhid
E!ãhad khihand
PRESENT
SUBJUNCTNE' be + presentstetn + -am -im
-i -id
-ad -and
PAST
SUBIUNCTNE: past participle + bãsham bãshim
b@i bâúid
bâglad bãshand
IMPERATM: be/bo+ presentstem
NEGATNE IMPERATM.' na- + presentstem
The -ad of the 3rd personsingularpresentand subjunctiveis short-
enedto -e in speech.
Lesson
Six
(darse
shighom)

Read aloud:
pãyeta!!-te lrãn Tehrãn-e. Tehrãn shahre bozorgi-e va taghriban
noh meliun nafar jam'iyat dãre. bigltqre unhã dar ghesmathãye
jonubiye shahr zendegi mikonand. bishtare edãrehãdar ghesma-
thãye markaziyeshahr-and.esmeghesmateshomãliyeshãhrShem-
run-e. Shemrun dar dãmaneyekuhâye Alborz-e. bishtare khune-
hãye bõzorge Tehrãn dar Shemrun-andchun havaye unla O"t
tãbestun khonaktar az ghesmathãye digeye shahr-e. asrhãye
tãbestunmardom ba'd az kãreshunbarãve sardesho tafrih o este-
fade az havãye behtar be mâd-anhavo iarËnaye-qnemrun mirand
o gardeshmikonand. bishtar bã mãshineshakhsimirand, gar che
bã otobus o tãksi ham mishe raft. havãve Tehrãn dar tãbestun
t1êrti garm va dar zemestuã-khâhsard-e.bãrun kamtar azEnge-
lestãn mibâre. dar zemestãngãhi barf ziãd mibãre. dar jonube
Tehrãn, dar shahreghadimiyeRey, pãlãyeúgãheTehrãn va gland
karkhuneye dige gharãr gerefté. dãneúgãhe Tehrãn dar vasate
qhahr-e.har hafte mardom barãye namãzejom?ebe unjã mirand.

Vocabulary:
asrhã evemngs gharâr gerefté is situated
bãrun rain glesmathã paÍs, sections
bnridan (bâr) to fall (of rain, jam'iyat population
snow etc\ jonub south
d,ãncglgãh university kâr work
dâmane foothills kãrfhune factory
dige/digar other kuhâ mountains
Engelestân England lhonak cool
esm name markazi central
gãhi sometimes meliun million
gardegh outing mibãre it falls
gar ghe although nafar persons
ghadini old namez prayers
62 rmsox slx

noh nine tafrih recreation

pãlãyeshgâh refinery taghriban approximately
pãyetakht capital vasat(e) middle (of)
shakhsi personal zemestun/ân winter
úomâü northern zendegi they live
tãb€stun/ãn summer mikonand

Notes: migbe raÍt: one can go; in addition to 'become', ttíe verb
shodanalso has the meaningof it is possible',and is used
in this kind of impersonalconstruction.
namâz: the name for the prayers which every practising
Moslem must say five times a day. It is one of the
most important of the practical religious duties -
others are fasting, almsgivingand pilgrimage. On
Fridays it is customaryfor the noon prayers to be
said in congregationin the mosque.The word for
ordinary prayer is do'ã, the verb is do'ô kardan
(kon)

ADVERBS AI{D ADVERBIAL EXPRF,SSIONS

Adverbs or adverbialexpressionsof time usuallycomebefore those
of manner and place. If a sentencecontains all three, then the
order will be: time, manner,placee.g.:
har nrz bã tSksi bc ednrc miram - I go to the office by taxi every
day
1. Most adjectives are used as adverbs in Persian without any
change:
dir ãmad - He came late
zud raft - She weníleft earlv
khub mikhune - She reads well
bad mirune - He drives badly
râst boro - Go straight on
dorost beshin/beneshin - Sit properly
 LESSONSIX 63

2. Many nouns of time and place are also used adverbially:

sob dars mikhune He studiesin the morning
shab kâr mikone He works at night
ruz mikhãbe He sleepsduring the day
asr bãrun ãmad It rained in the evening
zohr namãzmikhune She saysher prayersat noon
ghorub ãb pâchi mikone He does the watering at dusk
sahar pâ mishe She gets up at dawn (pd
$odan)
ketâb o bezar iqiã Put the book here
uqiâ naraftam I didn't go there
az pelle bâlã raft He went up the steps
It is also very common in speechfor thesenouns to be put in the
plural when being used adver.bially:
sobã ruznãme mikhune He reads the paper in the
mornings
shabâ ketãb mikhunam I read books at night
asrã kelâs mire He goes to classes in the
evenings
3. Other adverbsof time and manner are:
(a) Time:
emruz today
diruz yesterday
pariruz the day before yesterday
dishab last night
fardii tomorrow
psfardã the day after tomorrow
hamiúe always
hâtã now
mâhyune monthly
emsãl this year
pârsãl last year
hanuz still
hanuz. . . na- not yet
hiúvaght never
har gez never
altân right now; just
64 rsssox srx
râ hãli
bÕrhi
cãhi
yek dafe
cnrnu miram $uneye
dustam
diruz maghâzebaste bud
paÌiruz raftam bâzãr
dishab dir khãbidam
fardâ zud boland misham
pasfardã mirarn sahìni
hamishe ketãb mikhune
hamishemire masjed
hâlã vaghúnadãram
majaleyeDãneshmand
mâhyune dar miãd
emsâl biirun ziãd umad
pãrsãl mive farâvun bud
hanuz baú miãd
dustam hanuz nayãmade
dustet hanuz nayãmade?
higlvaght havâpômã savãr
nashodébud
har gez torâ farãmush
nemikonam
al'ãn miãm
al'ân telefonkard
tã hâlã khub kâr kardé
tã hãlã telefon nakardé
bãrhã be manzeleman ãmadé-
bud
gâhi u rã mibinam
yek dafe tãrik shod
Note: 'often' is frequently rendered in colloquial speechby titrôli
('very') which is like the English use of ,a lot':
khôü b€ manzeleman âmadé- He has come to mv house
up to no\r'; yet
often, many times
sometimes
suddenly(/r't.one time, one)
I'm going to my friend's house
today
The shop was shut yesterday
I went to the bazaarthe day
before yesterday
I went to bed late last night
I'll get up early tomorrow
I'll go to the hairdressersthe
day after tomorrow
He's alwaysreading
He alwaysgoesto the mosque
I've no time now
'Daneshmand'appears
monthly
It rained a lot this year
Fruit was plentiful last year
It's still snowing
My friend hasn'tcomeyet
Hasn't your friend come yet?
He had neverbeenon a plane
I'll never forget you
I'm coming right now
Shejust telephoned
lt hasworked well up to now
Shehasn'ttelephonedyet
He had come to my house
many times
I seehim sometimes
lt suddenlywent dark
a lot
 LESSON,STX65

(b) Manner:
ãheste slowly
yavaqh slowly
tond fast
dbette certainly
tenhõ alone
bâ ham togetheÍ
intowr thus, in this way, like this
untowr like that
gbetowr how
úond naro Don't go fast
yavig! boro Go slowly
Õh€stebeÉnid Drive slowly
tanhi birun naro Don't go out alone
biâ bã ham berim gadcgh Let's go somewheretogether
unlowr nist It's not like that

4. Some adverbs are derived from Arabic and usually end in -an:
aghallan at least
Èpbhn formerly
movaglattan temporarily
taÈriban approximately
fetlrrn for the time being, for the
moment
masalan for example
aslan at all
belakhare at last, finally

aghallan sadtÉimãshin tuye There were at least a hundred

saf bud
injâ ghablan madresebud
edãreyebargh fyuzemun o
movaglattan dorost kard
taghriban pa4jâh nafar
âmadébudan
fe'lan nemitunam biãm
cars in the queue
This [place] was formerly a
school
The electricity board
temporarily mendedour
fuse
There were about fifty people
there
I can't come for the moment
6ó'.rmsox srx
PREPOSITIONS
There are two groupsof prepositionsusedin Persian,thosewithout
the ezãfeand those which are connectedto the noun by meansof
the ezãfe. Some of these have already been used in the reading
passagesat the beginningof the lessons.
Prepositionsalwayscome before the noun to which they refer.
Prepositions without the ezãfe are:
ú, from
bÕ with
beriyc for
bc to
hi without
tã up to, to, as far as
tüz except
dar in
bor on (in compounds)
u
az has a wide variety of meanings:
In Lesson Two we saw its uss to express'than'in comparisons:
n4[irc mrn az n$lnc - My car is biggerthan
io bozorgúsrr yours
The most common meaningof az, however,is 'from':
e.g.:
az dustam nãme dâshtam - I had a letter from
my friend
az hotel telefon mikonam - I am phoning from
the hotel
mive ro az bâzãr kharidam - I bought the fruit
from the bazaar
az Tehrian tâ Tabriz sheshsad - It is six hundred
kilometr-e kilometres from
Tehran to Tabriz
kilide otâg! o az man gereft - He took the key of
the room from me
 lrssox'stx ó7

az kojl rmdé-id? - lVhere have you

come from?
az can also mean 'through/in':
az dar ãmad Helshe came through/in the
door
az der vâred sbod He/she entered through the
door

or 'of':
kami az in b{!or - Have some of this
bÕ: witb
dastam o bÕ Õbo sibun sbosúen - I washed my hands
with soap and water
Maryan b0 !$harq[ rgft mafr,ese - Mariam went to
school with her sister
bÕduefam rrnrm meümni - I went lo a party with
my friend
bÕhm südllortu - lYe ate together
bâ mo'&vm vdr sohbot larüem - I spoke tothê deputy
(oohbot krrds - to speak) minister

hrãye: for
loftan barâye mon yek chli biãrid - Pleasebring me a cup
of tea
kgr kardan barãye man siakhl+ - Work is difficult for
me
barãye chi âmadi? - What did you come
for?

be: to
be man telefon kon - Telephoneme
ketâb o beh€$ dãd - He gave him the
book
be Irãn umad - He/she came to lran
(umaüemad: both
forms are used)
behem negã kard/be man negã - He/she looked at me
kard
68 LEssoNsrx

Note that in colloquial speechthe forms be mtn, be to, be u etc.,

becomeshortenedas follows:
behem to me behemÕn to us
behet to you behetãn to you
bch€E[ to him/her beheshãn to them

bi: without
bi is most often used almost as a prefix, rather on the lines of the
English suffix -/ess:
tavq[ioh - care
bi tavqijoh - careless
kÕr - work
bikãr - without work, also, having nothing to do
adab, terbiat - politeness
bt.dab - rude
bi trrblNt - mde
men ghazâyebi namak mi$oram - I eat unsalted food

tâ: as far as, up to, to

az manzel tã edãre piãde raft - He walked from the house to
the office

joz: except
joz fardâ har ruz âzâd hastam - I am free every day except
tomorrolv

dar: in
mo'allem dar kelãsbud - The teacherwas in the classroom
dar is more generallyformal except in certain expressions(see
phrasesand expressions at the end of this lesson).In colloquial
speechtu (or tuye, with the ezãfe)is much more widely usedto
render 'in':
 LESSÓNSIX @

biã tu Come in
befarmãid tu - Come in (more polite)
nãme ro tuye kifam gozÕshtam - I put the letter in my
bag

Prepositions which take the ezafe and which are derived from
adverbsand nouns are:
bedune: without
birune: outside
tuye: inside, in
pãine: below
balãye:above; up
dombãle: behind, after
poqLte:behind
jeloye: in front of
pishe: with
dame: on the edge of, at
zire: under
ruye: on
nazdike: near
pahluye: beside
kenãre: beside
- bedunehejãb birun naro
- birune ghahr kãrkìune ziãd-e
- tuye oteg!!ôtfi garm bud
- pâine pellehâ istãdé bud
- pesarbalãyederakht bud
- dombãle man biã
- poshtemiz neshastébud
- jeloye man bãzeshkard
- tamãme ruz Pigheman bud
- dame dar montazeret misham
- kafshâ ro zire takht
gorãlht"-
- zarÍe mive ruYe miz'e
- Karaj nazdike Tehrân'e
- dustam pahluye man neúasté
bud
- kenãre rudkhune ghadam
zadim

Vocabulary:
hejãb: prescribedIslamic coveringfor women
pellehã:steps
montazershodan:to wait for
zaú: dish
rudkhune: river
ghadamzadan: to stroll
 70 LEssoNsrx

T PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

mrgar, coll. mage preposition, literally meaning
except
magenagoftamnaro Didn't I tell you not to go?
mage nayumad Didn't he come?
magenabud Wasn't itlhe/she there?.
wasn'tit so?
magekãret trmum naghod Wasn't your work finished?
dar havãyeãaâd In the open air
dar ham bar ham Muddled, all mixed up
together
az bas ke So much so that
az sob úãúab From morn till night
kame kam At the very least
dar har hil In any case,at all events
be har hãl In any case,any\pay
har towr shodé Come what may
azeshbadam umad I took a dislike to him
cherã Yes (in ü$wer to a negative
question)

EXERCTSBS
A. Read aloud and translate
1.. man o dustampariruz raftim sinemã
2. fardã biã bã ham berim kharid
3. dishabcherãunghadrdir ãmadi?
4. taghriban bist daghighesabr kardam ammã otobus nayãmad
5. pedaram hanuz az mosãferatbar nagashté
6. cherã bã ham naraftid
7. edãram nazdike bãzâr-e
8. sãle dige miram dãneshgãh
9. pãrsal bã mâqhinbe Torkiyye raftim
10. otobuseshahr sob o asr :ìz jeloye khuneye mã rad mishe
11. ãghã,kafshemano nadidid?
gherã- zire takhtetun-e
12. begubebinam,joz to kesedigei ham umadébud?
 LESSONSEVEN 71

B. Put into Persian:

1. The glasswas on the table
2. The child went slowly up the stairs
3. I finished my work yesterdaY
4. We went to Paris last Year
5. My friend drives well
6. My daughter came home late
7. The train travels very fast (useraftan)
8. Put your bag here
9. How did you come?
10. They flew to London last year (say 'went by plane')

C. FilI in the blanks:

l. - man biã
2. nãme ro - vazir bede
3. ketâb o - unjã nakharidam
4. pedaram man kafsh kharid
5. - kojã ãmadi?
6. mãglin o - gãrq$ goziishtam
7. dustam telefon kardam

$even
Lesson
(darse
haÍtom)

Read aloud:
I Irãn keshvarebozorgiy-e. hodude yek melyun o gheghsadosi hezãr
kilomeG morabba' masãhat dãre vo bishtar az panjãh melyun
nafar ham jam'iyyat. tagh:ribanyek panjome unhã dar Tehrãn
zendegi mikonand' ghahrhãye bozorge dige Mashhad, Tabriz,
Esfahãn, Shirâz o Ahvez hastand. inhã har kudum az hamdige
khâfi dur-and. masalanaz Tehrãn tã Tabriz yã Esfúãn ú"ths"d
Flo-"tt ráh-e. dar shomãleIrãn daryãyeKhezergharãr gereftéva
dar jonub Khalije Fãrs' chand reshte kuhe bozorg ham az sh"tÈ
72 r-essox savEN

be gharb va az shomãl be jonub keglidé rhodé. megldãre ziâdi az

ghesmathãye markazi va sharghiye lrãn kaúr-e vã zendegi dar
unja khâli sakht-e. faghat mantagheyesãheliyeDaryãye Khezer
bãrandegiyekãfi dãre va havãyemartubeunjã barãyekeshteberenj
o chãi monãseb-e.

Vocabulary:
bãrandegi rainfall mantaghe regron
bereqi rice markazi central
daryâ sea-' martub moist
daryâye the Caspian masãhat area (in terms
Khezer sea of quantity)
dur far masalan for example
faghat only melyun million
gbarb west metr metÍe
gLarer gerefté is situated monãseb suitable
ghesmat section morabbã' square (area)
hamdiç each other paqiãh fiftv
hezâr thousand râh way, road
hodude about reshte range
jam'iyyat population sãheli coastal
jonub south úa"e! east
kãfi sufficient sheúsad six hundred
kavir salt desert shomãl north
keshvar country yek pa4jom a fifth
k€lhidé shodé are stretched zendegi life
kqlt cultivation zendegi they live
kilometr kilometer mikonand
llal1i sulf
khal[ie Fãrs the Persian
Gulf

NTJMBERS
Unlike the script which is written from right to left, numbers are
written from left to right as in English (SeeAppendix).
1. The cardinal numbersare:
0 sefr 3se
1 yek 4 chãr/chahãr
2 do 5 panj
 LESSON SEVEN 73

6 ürlb 30 si
7 haft zm gleVchehel
8 haqlt 50 panjú
9 noh 60 ghast
10 dah 70 haftãd
11 yâzÀah 80 ha$tãd
12 davãzdah 90 navad
13 sizdú lfi) sad (a hundreQ
14 ghârdah/chahãrdah yeksad (one hwdreQ
15 punzdah 101 sad-o-yek
16 ghunzdah 102 sad-o'do
17 hivdah 121 sad-o-bist-o-yekeÍc
18 higldah 200 divist
19 nuzdah 3ü) sisad
20 bist 4{X) chãnad/çhahãnad
2l bist-o-yek 5(X) punsad etc.
22 bist-o-do l0ü) hezãr
23 bist-o-se 1,(m,000 melyun
24 bist-o-chãr erc.

Note: Ttrc final h after the vowel (as in noh, dah, ylzdeh, etc. is
hardly pronounced at all, but it has been written in to avoid
confusion when forming the ordinal numbers where it ls
pronounced(seeparagraph2).

(a) When speaking of things, the word dune/dãnc (&ï. grain,

seed) is often used as an itemiser ye dune ketãb kharüam.
For people, nafar Qterson)is used: ye nafar âmad.
(b) When speakingof numbers of things (i.e. more than one),
the suffix -tâ is added to the cardinal number and the noun
remainsin the singular:
Hasan beheú dotã ketãb dad - Hasan gave him two books
setã chamedun dâram - I have three suitcases
BUT for people and time (hours, days, months, years etc)
the numberstandsalone:
uran do ruz ur{ã mundam - I stayed there for two days
emghabpaqi nafar - I have five guests this
mehrnundãram evening
74 rrssox snvsN

berõdüam se sõI dar - My brother was in England

cngelestãnbud for three years
Hasanpa4l si'at drr - Hassan stayed at Akbar's
$uneye Akbar mund house for five hours
(c) chandtíglend - how many?/how much?
In the sameway, when asking 'how many?' (things), the question
is asked using úandtâ:
chandtn ketãb dãri? - poqitã
Maryam chendtâ ketâb dâre? = shishtÕ
chadtã nrm khsridl? - setâ
For people and time, the same distinction ap'pliesas in (b)
above:
cland nafan umadand? -shbh nafar
cband sã'at rãh dãrim? -haÍt sã'at
chand nz kãr dãrt? - s€ ruz
chand sÕlüqiÔ büdi? - paqi sÕl
@ The expression 'how old are you?' which would, stÍictly
speaking, be chand sãl dãri/darld? - how many yËrs do you
have?- is alwaysrenderedcolloquially as:
chand sãlet-c (i.e. chand sãlat ast)
Èand sãletun.e Qhand sãletãn ast)
pesaretungland sãlesh-e?- How old is your son?
(e) úand is also used for'how much?' when askingthe price of
something:
in ketãb chand-e? How much is this book?
bilite otobuschand-e? How much are bus tickets?
khiãr yeki chand-e? How much are cucumbers
each?(for things sold singly)
gusht kiloi chand-e? How much is meat per kilo?
One can alsojust namethe object, followedby chand-e:
tãksi chand-e? How much are taxis? (i.e. the
fare)
portaghãl chand-e? How much are oranges?
daftar chand-e? How much are exercise
books?
 LESSON SEVEN 75

in chend-e? How much is this?

A The sameexpressionis used for askingthe time:
sÕ'atchand.e? VÍhat is the time? (See also
Lesson 8)
but remember,úand sâ'at?- how many hours?in (c) above.

2. The ordinal numbersare:

awal - first. This is an Arabic word and is alwaysused to mean
'frrst', not yekom as would be expected,e.g. nne awd - the frnt
day. yekom is used in compoundnumbers, such as 'twenty-first'-
bist-o-yekom.
dowom (coll. = doyyom) - second
sewom (coll. = scyyom) - third
ghúãrom (coll. g!ãrom) - fourth
paqiom etc., the remaining ordinal numbers being formed by the
addition of .om to the cardinal number. Where the cardinal number
is a group of numberse.g. bbt o-yek, the last number takes the -
om: blst-o-yekom, srd-o-bií-o-dowom etc.

3. Fraaions
Mathematical fractions are expressedby the use of the cardinal
number followed by the ordinal:
yek dowom U2
yek sewom rlz
yek g!ârom Yq
se paqiom 4s
haft davãzdahom- 1ln

The Arabic forms nesf (and its Persianequivalent nim), sols and
robt are also commonly used for 'half', 'third' and 'quarter'
respectively.
(a) nesf and nim: both mean 'half', but are not necessarily
interchangeable:
(i) nesf: when used as a noun, nesf always takes the ezafe:
nesfe shab the middle of the night, mid-
night
76- LessoNsevtx
nesfe nrz j half,day (but not midday,
which is mhr)
nesfe pulq! half of his money
ncsfe ketâb half the book
nesfeklram o tamum I finished half of my work
kerdrm
(ii) nin: is usually used in expressions of quantity or
measurement:
nim kilo half a kilo
nim sÕtrt half an hour
nim nomre half a mark (or shoe size)
nim metr half a metre
also 'one and a half', 'two and a half', etc. alwaysuse
nim:
yek o nim one and a half
blstopaqiontm twenty-five and a half
(b) sols, 'a third', is much less commonly used in colloquial
speechwhere it is preferable to sayyek sewom oÍ ye sewom.
The word sds is most commonly found in schools where it
refers to a third of úe academic year - the equivalent of
the English term. Children go to school for nine months
consecutively(apart from 13 days'holiday for the new year),
and examsare held at the end of eachsols,rüth the aggregate
of the three sets of marks deciding a passor a fail at the end
of the year.
(c) rob', 'a quaÍer', is most commonly used in telling the time
(Irsson Elghq or in expressionsto do with time:

lnqi o rob' a quaÍter past five

rob'sã'at a quarter of an hour
ye rob'dige in a quarter of an hour,
another quarter of an hour

'a quarter of a kilo' will usually be referred to as divist o

poqii çram (250 grammes) and 'a quarter of a meter' when
buyrng things by length, such as material, wire, ribbon etc.,
srill be referred to as bist o paqi sânt.
 LESSON SEVEN 77

4. To sayonce,twice,etc., the cardinalnumbersare used,followed

by dafe/daf'e, bãr or martabe ('times'):
yelyek dafe ye bãr ye martabe once, one tlme
do dafe do bâr do martabe twice
sc dafe se bãr se martabe three times
Notei yelyelr dafe and ye martabe are also used as expressions
to mean 'suddenly' (i.e. 'all at once'); do martabeis also
usedin the sense'again'asis do bàre.

'twice as much', 'twice as ÍnârÌj', aÍe expressedby the cardinal

number followed by the word barãbar ('equal'). In colloquial
speechthis constructionis also used to express'double', 'triple',
etc, i

do barãbar - double
se barãbar - triple
paqi barâbar - five times
sad barãbar a hundred times

5. Weights& Measures
The metric systemis used:
metr - meter
sãntimetr - centimeter (often shortenedto sànt)
milimetr
kilometr
metre morabbat squaremeter
hektãr hectare
geram - gramme
kilogeram/kilo kilo
e.g. diruz do metr pãrche - I bought two metres of
kharidam fabric yesterday
bi zahmat se metr o bist o - Pleasegive me three
paqi sãnt az in bedid metres and twentY-five
centimetresof this
ernruz se kilo guút - I bought three kilos of
kharidam meat todaY
az Tehrãn tã Karqi ghehel - It is forty kilometres
kilometr-e from Tehran to Karaj
 78 LEssoN sEvEN

cband geram kare llzem - I need a few grammes of

diram butter
Note the differencein the useof the singularandplural in Penian
andEnglish- the wordskilro,metr etc. are not put into the plural.

r PHRASESAND EXPRESSIONS
Here are somemoreusefulnumericalphrases:
doün Double; two-fold (le means
layer, fold)
selli Triple; three-fold
chirlâ Quadruple
y*i yeki One by one
ye-nrz-der.miun On alternate days, every other
day (lit. one day in the middle)
se-ruzdr.miun Every three days
se.nrz-be-se-ruz Every three days
yeki dotâ One or two
se chirtâ ketáb Three or four books
yehi do nafer One or rwo people
do sc sâ'at Two or three hours
nãh be mnh Each month
ye joft jurãb A pair of socks
ye livln lb A glassof water

EXERCISF,s
A. Read aloud and translate:
1. sad o siyo panj nafar dar edãreyemã kãr mikonand
2. mãdaram dotã pirhane sefid kharid
3. chandtãbachchedãrid?
4. barãye man se kilo guút bekhar
5. ghandtakhãhar barãdar dãre?
6. chand nafar tuye otobus budand?
7. yek sewome puleghobeman dãd
8. paqj shishmetr pãrgbelãzem dãram
9. ghâmate khune bist dar sad bãlã rafté
10. az kojã mitunam ye joft kafshekhub bekharam?
 LESSONEIGET 79

B. Put into Persian:

1. How old are you? (Polite and familiar)
2. l'm forty-five
3. My son is four yearsold
4. He ate half of the loaf (= breaü
5. There are two big mountain rangesin lran
6. I telephonedthem three times
7. He has been to my office tw'ice
8. I saw the minister once
9. How much are theseorangesper kilo?
10. How many people were there in the room?

Eight
Lesson
(darse
hashtom)

Read aloud: ^
T EIDE NO\ry RUZ
awale Farvardinruze awale sil va âde now ruz-e. now n z shoru'e
sãle jadid va âde ghadimiye lrãn-e. har sãl barãye âd e-dareha
se tã panj ruz ta'tiland va madresehâsizdahruz. dar sã'atetahvile
sãlenow khãnevâdehãlebãsenow mipushand,saresofreyehaftsin
dowre ham jam mishando montazeree'lãne úoru'e sãle jadid az
rãdyo miqhand. ba'd do'ãye sãle now rã milhunand, behamdige
tabrik mi[and o shirini mikhorand. dar ayy-ameâd mardom be
didane hamdige mirand. awal az fãmile nazdik va bozorgâne
khãnevãde.horo' mikonand o be tadrij be didane hameyedustan
o ãghnãhãmirand. esmein kãr did o bãz did-e glun yekl be didane
ãdam miâd ba'd ãdam be bazdid-eshmire. maãseme âd betowre
kolli sizdah ruz edãme dãre - ruze sizdahomefarvardin esmesh
sizda-bedar-e.mardom hame az lhunehãshun birun mirand o dar
sahrãvo biãbun piknik mikonand. bã in kãr nahsiyeruze sizdahom
barãve tamãme sãl dar mishe.
80 r-Bssoxercnr

Vocabulary:
fdrm one; a penon jen n[land they gather
Íplnf acquaintance hrftsin (see below)
ryytm time (Arabic jadid new
pl-oÍ lltnevãde family
lomn = marâsem ceremonies
dav) (pt.oï
be tâdrii gradually rasm =
betowre kolli in all, all told custom)
Hnbun wilderness; mardom people
anywhere mipushand they wear
not culti- montazere waiting for
vated or nahsi ill luck
popu- no$t nelv
lated sahrã fields; desert
bozorgân those who are sãl yeaÍ
older, the sane at
elders sofre cloth (see
dowre around notes)
dowre ham together úirini s\ileetmeats
âa festival, feast- úoiu' beginning
day ta'til holiday
e'lãn announcement tahvil hand-over,
fãmil relatives change-over

Notes:
sare sofre: Though this phrasecan be translatedas'at the table',
its literal meaning is 'at the table cloth'. This is becausethe
traditional way of sitting down to eat \ilas, and for many people
still is, round a cloth spreadon the floor. 'at the table' is sare miz.
An ordinary table cloth, not intended for eating off, would be ru
mizi.
haftsin: literally the sevens's. The Now Ruz table, or cloth, as the
casemay be, is set with seventhings beginning with the Persian
letter sin (s), aswell as a number of other things(suchas decorated
eggs),each representingdesirableelementsin the year to come.
sizda-bedar:the traditional outing on the 13thday of the first month
of eachyear, intendedto do awaywith the ill-luck of the 13th days
 LESSONEICIIT 81

of all the other months. Note that nahsi is not usedin the senseof
'I had bad luck' - that would be bad shânsidlshtqm or bad shãnsi
ãvordam; it has an element of supersfton as iíingitisã migt;d az
zirc rÉrdebun nabâyad rad shod, nahs.e - The English say you
shouldn't walk under a ladder, it's bad luck.
nabÕyadrad ghod: ldt. you shouldn't pass;impersonal use of bâyad,
seeI-esson10.
New verbs: pug$ün (pug!) - to wear
montazer úodan (güil) - to wait (note the use of this
yerá.' montrzere e'llne úom'e sile jadid nishend)
edÍme dlç[tsn (dâr) - to continue
bbrik goftrn Gu) - to congratulate

THE CALENDAR
The Iranian calendar is basedon the Moslem era. It starts u/ith the
flight (or hejraQ of the Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina
in AD 622. lt differs from the Islamic lunar calendar used by the
Arab world, however,as it is calculatedby the sun and usually has
365 days. It is known as stle hejrie glamsi ('the solar hejira year')
and is used for all civil purposes. Religious holidays are observed
accordingto the Islamic calendar(known as hejrie ehamrri, 'lunar
hegira') (see Appendix), so most calendarsand diaries will show
both setsof dates,togetherwith the correspondinggregoriandate.
The namesof the gregoriancalendarmonths aÍe pronouncedas in
French, and the Arabic names,with slight variationsin one or two
cases,are used for the Islamic months.
I There are twelve months in the Persiancalendarvear
(sãle iruni davãzdahmâh dãre):
Farvardin, Ordibeheght, I(hordâd,
Tir, Mordãd, Shahrivar,
Mehr, Abân, Azar,
Dey, Bahman, Eúand.
The first six months have thirty-one days in each, the secondfive
thirty and Esfand has twenty nine days and 30 in a leap year. The
year begins on the first of Farvardin which usually correspondsto
 82 r.rssox rrcrR
21 March and is the first day of spring. The seasonsare reckoned
to correspondto three months each, i.e. summer beginswith the
month of Tir, autumn in Mehr and winter in Dey.
Dates are expressedthus: rwalc larvardinc hezàro sisedo shasto
shÊ - the first of Farvardin 13óó. When no specific y"at i.
mentioned, 'the first of Farvardin' is just awale farvardin.
The corresponding European date would be:
blrt o y*m Dârc hczâr o nohsod o - 21st March 1997
h.shtãd o hdt

TTTE SEASONS
The seasonsare called (be fadã ntrand):
b0üâr/hohrr spring
tfbcshnltnbcstân summer
Püh autumn
mcsürn/zemcstãD winter
I THE I}AYS OT IHE WEDK
The dap are (be rv.hiye haútcmtgond):
sbglnbe Saturday
ye*shpnbe Sunday
dosngnbe Monday
scglanbe Tuesday
úe$ünbe (cnshâ@ambe) - Wednesday
panshambe(psqishanbe) Thursday
Jom'e Friday
dar Irãn ruze jom'e hamc jâ ta'til-e

I THE POINTS OF THE COMPASS

The points of the compass are (be jahãte astiye gbotb-namã
miqand):
shomã|,jonub, mashreg!, mqghreb
and south-eastetc. ar€ expressedas follows:jonube shargbi(south-
east), shomãlegLarbi (north-west)etc.
 LESSON EIGHT 83

TDLLING TIIE TIME

The time is expressedby the use of the word sã'at (hour), plus the
ezõfe plnrsthe cardinal numbers:
sÕ'alesc - three o'clock
cô'aúedrh ten o'clock
Tbe word for 'minute' is .lrl'he/drgüEhÊ; vdo is used for 'past',
be is used foÍ 'to':
cü'aüGhdt o büú daEh twenty past ssyen
bfut dohhc bc noh twenty to nine
Half an hour is nh sttat aod a quarter of an hour is ye rub' or
robt or rtbt cltrt:
sl'aús drh o trh half past ten
sÕ'ateffi o rub' guaÍter psst sir
Note: He eameat sir o'clock = st'rte shbh umsd
F.xonples:
$'rl chsnd+? - lVhat's the time?
cü'et Fqfe.c lt's 6ve o'clocl
Et'sa p.qi o poqf &&e rú - It's fiye paS Êve
ia'rt p.qf o drh detg[.d lt's ten past five
sâ'at paqf o rob'-e lt's a quarter past five
sÕ'atpaqf o btst dstgb-ad lt's twenty past fÍ\€
st'at paql o bbt o paqf lt's twenty-five minutes past
ddÈ-asú five
st'at prqi o nim.e lt's half past fiye
sâ'at bisúo poqi delgle be lt's ts,enty-five to six
shEEe
st'rt blst drlrrhe be shish.e lt's tÌventy to six
sl'at ye rob'be gltshe.e lt's a quarter to six
Note that instead of saying bist dstÈe be glish it is also very
common to say ghfu! o büú delgle kem i.e. six Jesstwenty minutes,
sh!g! o rob' kem and so on. It is also quite common to leave out
the word sl'et ('hour') when replying to sÕ'atcìand-c?, exoeptfor
when the time is on the hour:
st'at paqi+, but paqi o paqi drlsh-est, peqi o drh daioh-ast,
poqi o rob'-e, ye rob' be peqidpeqi o rob'lssm-e, etc.
'84 r,rssow rrcrrr

The words zohr and nesfeshab('midday'and ,midnight') arèoften

used instead of davâz.dah,though not exclusively. \Mhen using zohr
or nesfe shab instead of sã'ate davâzdah o paqi dliqhe, or sâ'ate
davãzdaho nim, you would have to say:
paqi daigbe az zohr/nesfegbab gozaghte
nim sã'at az zohr/nesfeglab grzashtc
paqi daighe be zohr mundg eúc.
a.m. is usually renderedas sob, p.m. as ba'd az zohr. If no time is
stated, pish az zohr refers t-o the time before noon. Compare the
following examples:
sã'aúedúe sob bâyad I have to go to the doctor at
beren dokúor 10 a.m.
sâ'ale lnqie ba'd az zohr - C"ometo my office at 5 p.m.
bii daftane rnqn
farde pig! azmhr bâyad I have to go to my solicitor's
berem daÍlar€ vakilam office before lunchtime
tomorro\il

The word drgddlgar ('other') is used to render the idea of time

left, e.g.
ye rob'dige miãd He'll come in a quarter of an
hour
nim sâ'at dige ker dâram I've got another half an hour's
work
shiú ruz diç miram I'll be going away in six days'
mosãferat time
in kãr se hafteye dige tamum This job will be finished in
mishe three weeks' time
otobus dah daigheyedige The bus is leavingin ten
harekat mikone minutes.

'ago'is renderedby prsh:

g!ãr sâle pish in sãkhtemun This building wasn't here four
iqiâ nabud years ago
 I.ESSON EIGIIT 85

CUNRENCY
The basic unit of cuÍïency is the riel (pronounced riat). Ten rials
make one toman (toman), and although official monetary figures
are alwaysgiven in rials, and coins and bank notes are both in rials
only, native speaken always use the toman for round sums over
ten rials, so that whereas,for example, a ministry might declare
that they had budgeted one million rials for some purchase or
other, a private individual would always refer to the same sum as
one hundred thousand tomans (sad ezãrlhezãr toman). Till slips,
receipts,etc. are alwaysin rials, but in handingyou a bill for 1500
rials, the shop assistantwill say sad o paqiã ioman or sad o paqiâ
úomanmishe.
In speech,the words gbenrn (usuallyonly usedfor one singlerial)
and ezãr, or zâr after a number ending in a vowel sound, are used
to mean rial, although in fact they are survivors of older currency
systems.You will therefore hear the following:
ye-glerun - 1 rial
dozãr-2rials
se zãr, chãrezãr, paqiezâr, shishezâr,hafezãr, hashezãr,nozãr,
ye toman; yãzdezãr, davãzdezãr, sirdezâr, ghâfdezar,
punzdezãr, úunzdezãr, hivdezãr, hizhdezãr, nuzdezâr, do
toman; bist o ye-glerun, bisto do zar etc. until se toman. From
this point on it is usual to say se toman o ye-ghenrn, se totrran
o do zâr, se toman o se zâr, etc.
Change is called pute $urd and notes are eskenãs.
A list of coins and notes currently in circulation is given in the
Appendix.

I EXPRESISIONSOF TIME:
che sã'ati miÕd?
sâ'ate doye ba'd az zohr
sã'ate seyeba'd ez nafe shab -
At what time is he coming?
2 p.m.
3 a.m. (You can also say *ye
sú, but the hours nearer
midnight tend to be rdened
to rather than to the tnom-
W)
8ó LEssoNErcHr
mãhe gozaglté Last month
sâh gozagltíparsal Last year
glpmbeye pish Last Saturday
shambcyegozaglté Last Saturday
doshambeyeãyande Next Monday
doshambeyedige Next Monday
sare zohr At noon, on the dot of noon
sare shab Early evening(dffirent useof
the word sare)
gherâ dir kardi? Why are y-oulate?
ma'zerat mikhãm ke dir I'm sorry ['m late
kardam
bebakhshid ke dir kardam I'm sorry I'm late
mesleinke zud âmadam It looks as though I'm early
dir naya Don't be late
sã'atam khãbidé My watch has stopped
sã'ate min qglab-e/jelo-e My watch is slow/fast

EXERCISES
A. Read aloud and translateinto English:
Maryam ye ketãb dãre. emruz Hasan behesh dotã daftar dãd.
shambeMaryam be madresemire. madreseylMaty"m bozorg-e.
taghriban haftsadtã úãgerd diire. dar har kelâs hodude cheheltã
ghagerdhast.dar Irãn bachchehãfaghatjom'e ta'til-and. azlambe
tã chãnhenbe bishtare madresehãsã'ate kãreshun az hashte sob
tã yek o nime bíA az zohr-e. panjshambehã-faghat6,Tavãzda
hastand.sãle túsili az awale mehr shoru' mishe va ma'mulan tã
avãkhere khordãd yeksare edãme Oare. faglat dar awale bahãr
ham barãye âde now ruz szda ruz ta'tili dãrand.
New words: g!âgerd pupil
sãle tahsili the academicyear
matmulan usually
avãkher around the end (ot); pl. of
ãkhar, the end
yeksare straíght through
edãme dãre it continues
 LESSONNINE 87

B. Put into Persian:

1. He's comingon Saturday
2. It's twenty past seven
3. I have a meeting at eight o'clock
4. My examsare in six months' time (use emtahãndãghtan)
5. I'm going to England on businessnext month
6. I have to be at the airport by sevena.m.
7. They left for London at eight p.m. yesterday
8. What time does the train leave?
9. Pleasedon't be late becauseI have a lot to do
10. I worked every day last week
11. Don't you haveany change?
12. The seventhof Ordibehesht1366.

Lesson
Nine
(darse
nohom)

Read aloud:
I salãm, Maryam, hâlet chetowr-e?
to-i, Susan,salãm, khãli vaght-e nadidamet- kojã-i?
haminjãhã. faghat diruz o pariruz dãneshgãh nayumadam chun
mãdarammariz bud.
chetowr, mage kese digei nabud pç!e$ bemune?
na, nabud. khob, che khabar, diruz chikar kardin?
mã kãre ziãdi nakardim. ostãdejadid umadé bud bã hame ãshnã
beshe.modatti ham tuye kelãsemã bud.
adabiyyãtdars mide?
na, tãrikh
emtahãnúi shod?
mãle mã bad nabud vali shenidam mãle goruhe to khâli sakht
bud.
pas che behtar ke man nabudam.rãsti khabar nadãri rãjebe
ketâbkhunechikâr kardand?
hanuz ke hichchi. migand khode ra'ise dãneshgãham nemidune
88 ussox ruxr
chikãr kone. albatte benazareman bãyad tuye ta'tilãt-am vãz bãshe
vú khob, lâbod sarparastiq! moqlkei mishe
ãre, in ke hast. rãsti, tâ yãdam rlarafte, in pugle mãle to-e?
e - ãre, ghe !hub, fekr mikardam shãyad injãhã oftãdé bãshe,
khâli mfrnrt-
ey vãy - sã'at o negâkon! bâyadberam-_Ebâli dir shod, ghorbãne
to
khodãfez

Vocabulary:
adabiyyÕt literature khode ra'is the head
Íshni shodan to get himself
acquainted raris director, boss
che behtar so much the modatti a while
better nadtdamet : to ro nadidé-
chikãr (cfte what am
kar) ostád professor (a/so
Èikir kardin what did you s.o. good at
(coll. for do sth.)
kordid) pushe folder
emtehân exam r{iebe about
goruh goup (raje'be\
gborbãne to goodbye (see sarparasti supervision
Lesson 12) Susan girl's name
kâre ziãdi we didn't do târikh historv
nakardim much tã'tilâ-t-am shortiorm of
ketãblhune library, tã'tilât ham
bookshelf

PRONOUNS
Personalpronouns, subject pronouns and the pronominal suffixes
have already been mentionedin LessonTwo.
Other pronouns are as follows:

l. PossessivePronouns (mine, yours, etc)

 LESSON NINE 89

Ttre possessivepronouns are rendered'in Persian by the use of the

word mãle, 'belongingto'., and the personalpronoun:
un Éetãbmõle man-e - That book is mine
in kife pul mãle to-st? Is this purse yours?
pedaram keshãvarz-e, My father's a farmer, the
trãktor mãl,eun.e tractor is his
mãshinekerem mãle mâ-st The cream-coloured car is
ours
in ru sari mãle shomi-st? Is this headscarfyoun?
otigL kuglikèf mâle unã-st The little room is theirs
*otãg! kuchikè: see Colloquial Use of the ezãfe, below.

2. Interrogetive honouns
The word ki? renders 'who?', 'whom', in colloquial Persian.It is
consideredto be definite and therefore takes rã when it is the direct
object of the verb:
ki umad? Who came?
ki bud? Who was it?
kiy-e Who is it?
kiyo did? \ilhom did he see?
kiyo zad? Whom did he hit?

3. Indefinite Pronouns
(a) hame- all, everyone
hame umadand - They all came, everyone came

hameis often used with the ezãfe,to indicate possession:

hameyedâneshiuyãndars - All (of) the students study,
mikhunand or all students study

hame also takes the pronominal suffix -ag! in the third

person, to give hameag[hamash - all of it:
âsemunhamag! âbi bud - The sky was all blue
ghaze $ub bud? bale, hama$ -Was the food good? Yes,
o khordam I ate it all (all of it)
9O Lrssox xtxe
hrma$ is also used to mean 'all the time':
EngGlcstân hrv$h hic! !!ub nisú, hamesrh btrun miâd
(hevo$ = hrvüVd) - English weather isn't at all good, it
rains all the time
(b) kesi - someone;no-one (with a negaive verb)
hichkes - no one
kcsi uqiãst? [s anyone there?
ked hsst? Is anyone there?
ked nht There's no one (there)
hichkas nist There's no one (there)
hichkt nebud There s,as no one (there)
hiú kudum - none
hiú kudum az ln chizã rlo I don't Ìvantany of these
neni!!!n things
htctr kudum az in n4ghs!úã - None of these maps is
bcdsrd ncm[lorand any good
Note that Persian usesthe double negative in such cases.

(c) tnnrnc - the whole of, all

tsmãmc sbpb kãr krrd - He worked all nigtrt

tamãmc ruz jalese lVe had meetingp all day
dãúün

(d) dige/dignr - another

handige one another
yekdige one another
be hemdige salãm They greeted one another
kardand

(e) folãn, folâni - so-and-so

folãn kas So-and-so
folãni umad So-and-socame
folÕni ostãdein ker-e So-and-sois very good at this
 LESSON NINE 91

(f) be'zi * some

This precedesthe noun it qualifies,which is put in the plural
and does not take the ezafe:
bo'd ketlbÕ !_hub nistand - Some books are not good
der be'd jür havÕpêrti - The weather has got very cold
slrd shodc in some places

Note the difference in the use of ba'zi and ghrdti. Èandtâ

carries the sense that a few individual items or people are
referred to:
I bought some books - ú8ndtâ kctâb llprilam
ba'zi (pl. ba'ziá)is alsousedasa noun,in whichcaseit takesaz:
be'zigz unhã Someof them
bo'zi az kr{lunehâ emruz - Some of the factories are
ta'dl-snd closed today
bo'dt neshasúand, bo'dã Some people sat doìvn,
pÕglodttrd others got up
bs'dãrzllrküden Some people don't like
fnoglEÈu nãntfd working

!!og! ãmadan (ã), 'to like', takes the pronominal sufâxes:

az lrãn lloghlsn miâd - I like lran

bad ãmadan,'to dislike', behavesin the sameway:

az ilame durug$u badam miãd - I don't like people who
tell lies

k) kam: few,little
kami:afew,alittle
yek kami: a little

gLazã kam bud - The food was not enough

kami ãb mib!ãm - I want a little water (some u/ateÍ)
ye kami ãb mil!âm - I want a little water (somewater)
92' LBsoN NINE ,
4 lftod
In colloquial Persianthe word khod which basi,callymeans'self is
mainly used in the following ways:
(a) s,ith the pronominal suffixes (.am, .at, -ash; -emãne-€tltr'
-€!Em) and rl to form a kind of reflexive:
$odet o khaste nakon Glodat - Don't tire yourself
r[ flpste nahon)
llodet o nârãhat nakon - Don't upset yourself/
Don't get upset
(ô) when the possessiveadjective or personal pronoun refers to
the subject of the sentence,the word khod is used, and in
colloquial usage,it is againusedwith the pronominalsuffixes:
ehahme !!odc!bo beman dãd - He gave me his own pen
(c) !!od is also used as an emphatic particle, withthe ezõfe:
!!ode u bud - It was he himself
which colloquially will be: khodeshbud
daf $ode Landan zendegi - He lives in l-ondon itself
mikone
Here are some more examples:

!!ode!U dar o bâz kard - She opened the door henelf

lbodam miram - I'll go myself
$odet bokon Do it yourself!
glerã $odet iemiri? - Why don't you go yourself?
llodgi! !!ãst - He himselflshe herself
wanted (it)

5. Colloquial Use of Pronominal Suffixes

In Lesson Two we saw the use of the pronominal suffixesl -tln,
-eú, -et, -emun, -etun, -eshun,to conveythe possessive:ketâbam,
ketãb@, etc. This useis extendedto a variety of other expressions
which, in English, would not quatify as possessives:
diglab ye restorãne tãze We \pent to a nerv
rafitim, gharãsh Xnâti nuU nua restaurant last night, the
food was very good
 LESSON NINE 93

hndunrsh g1ân 3quU.e, mlkhtl This water meloÍ?s very

ye kami behet bedrm? good, do you want
some?
in ghazã n8makeB môti ziia.e Ïhere's too much salt in
this food
in naÈÈãsh kerpg! *nôli gluU-e - This painter's work is
very good
(See also the example about the weather under 3(a): havrú)

Yet another use of thesesuffixesis instead of the personalpronouns

plus râ:
uno glenrlltam (u rã shenõkhtatn)- I recognisedhim/her
so that we have úenãkhtamesh
!!âü vaglt-e noAiae-ef - I Faven't seen you for a long time/for
ages
In compound verbs, the suffixes are usually added to the noun/
adjective element of the verb, though compoundswith prepositions
I

tend to vary:
mãshinet chi g!od? \ilhat happened about your
car?
donosteg!kardam (an o I fixed it
dorost kardam)
barât nãme umade bud, There was a letter for you, did
didish? you see it?
âre, ber d$lttnq! Yes, I picked it up
irc, baresh d{üttn Yes, I picked it up

coLLoQtiIAL USE OF THE EZÃFE

One of the examplesgiven in (1) abovewas:
o3ãghkug$kè mãle unã-st - The little room is theirs
You would expect this to have been otãgLekug$k mãle unâ-st, but
in ordinary conversation, when a definite noun is qualified by an
adjective, it is very coÍnmon for the ezãfe to move onto the adjec-
tive and to take the stress:
Õg!!r bozorgèkojl-st? - Where's the big spanneÍ
94 ressor{ Nnre
nemidunem, tâzcgi nadidemeg! - I don't know, I haven't
vali kugllkè mye rnlr-e seenit lately but the little
one's on the table.
If the noun in such a phraseis the direct object, taking rã, there
is a further change:
ãÈâr bozorgàro kojâ - Where did you put the big
gozãllti? (è becomesà) spanner?
kif siâhàmo nadidi? _ - Have you seen my black bag?
Notice that in PersianÌve say nedidi where in English a straight-
forward 'have you seen' is more natural. 'haven't you seen'
(indicating that you might weil have been expected to have
done) is also nrdidi, but with a different intonation.

CONJI.'NCTIONS
The most common conjunctions are:
va/o: and
ham: also, and
hrm. . . vahanr: both . . . and
yâ: or
yâ. .. yi: either. . . or
na. . . va na: neither . . . nor
vali, rnrnâ: but
mage,/magar:but; with a negative verb, mage has the meaning
'didn't . . .?'
Most of the above have already been encounteredin the reading
passagesand examples,but here aÍe somefurther examples:
kãretun o tamum kardid? bale, harn nãmehãyeenrruz o mãshin
kardam o haur mãle diruz o -
Have you finishedyour work? Yes, I typed both yesterday'sletters
and today's
yeki az inã ro bãyad entekhãb konid, yâ in yã un -
You must chooseone of these, either this one or that one
na az in tü@am miãd na az un, or na az in khosham miãd na
az un yeki -
I like neither this one nor that one
 LESSON NINE 95

in restorln ghezã$ khub-e, vali mãle un yeki behtar+ -

The food in this restaurantis good, but the food in that one is
better
mi$ãstâm barãt gol biãram rmmâ golforushi baste bud -
t wanteOto bring you some flowers, but ttFflorist's was shut
mage nadidi mâglin ez kudum tlmf miãmrd? -
Didn't you seewhich way the car was coming?

T PHRASES ANID EXPRESSIONS

bedard khordan To be useful
bedardam nemikhore lt's no use to me
bedardet mikhore? Is it any use to you?
b€dard nemikhore lt's no good; it's no use (of things)
fiiyedenadãre lt's no ure (figurative)
veleghkon Leave it alone (un o vel kon)
velam kon Leave me alone
úomnhâ You people, you lot
tlod bc llod Of its om accord
Proverbs
hâm khodã ro mikhâd ham He wants to have his cake and eat
khormã ro it (/rï. he wants both God and the
date)
bÕ do tir ye ncshun (zadan) To kill rwo birds with one stone
(/ü. with two shots, one target)
siliye naghd beh az halvãye A bird in the hand is worth two
nesy-ast(nesye ast) in the bush (tr. a slap in cash is
better than halva on account)
ham fâl o ham Í-mãqba Businessand pleasure

EXERCISES
A. Read aloud and translate:
1. un khodneviso bar nadãr, mãle man-e
2. bishtarein zaminhã mãle dowlat-e
3. age gofti diruz kiyo didam
4. harghedar zadamhichki javãb nadãd
5. diruz tamãmevaglt dars khundam
 96 LESsoN,unrn

6. khodneüs siãhèye rnan o nadidi?

khodnevise siãham o nadidi?
-emsal
7. barãye âO mitctramberam kenãre daryã - shenidam un
vaghte sãl havãsh khât kbub-e
8. in kãr k!âli ãsun-e,gletowr khodet nemikonish
9. mage nãmidunesti emãa tramda 6'til-e?
10. higlvaght in kãr o nakon, khêü badam miãd

B. Put into Persian

1. There \trasno one there
2. V/hy didn't you go yourself? (give polite and familiar forms)
3. Have you seenmy white bag?
4. That restaurant's food is very bad
5. What did you do about your car? I fixed it
6. Don't take that folder, it's mine
7. I don't like any of these shoes
8. I was on the plane all night
9. Some shops are closed tomorrow
10. She came in her own car

Lesson
Ten
(darse
dahom)

Read aloud:
f (bã sedãye boland belbunid)
ghahrhãye lrãn
mohemtarin úúre Irãn Tehrãn-e, ke pãyetalhte keshvar o
markaze hokumate. khâü az kãrlhunehãye bozorg o kuchik ham
dar atrãfe Tehrãn Èarãr gereftand. glahrhãye mohemme digeye
Irân Maglhad, Tabriz, Esfúãn o Shirliz-and. Mashhad, ke dar
úomãle sh*ghiy" Irãn ast, shahre ziãrati-st ghun ghabre Emãm
Rezã, emãme hashtome shi'ayan dar unjã-st. havãye Maglhad
khonaktar az havãye Tehrãn-e va mardom ag$ab dar tãbestun
barãye ziãrat o gardeú be unjã miran. nazdike Maglhad, dar Tus,
 LESSON lBN Y/

gLabre Ferdowsi, shã'ere bozorge irãni gharãr gerefté ke ghãyad

tarjomeye agh'ãre u rã lhundé bãúid. agar javãher dust daúté
bâshid, firuzeye Maglhad niz ma'ruf ast.

Tabriz bozorgtarin ghahre shomãle glarbiye lrãn-e va mardome

unjã dar asl tork zabãn hastand. albatte hame fãrsi ham harf
mizanand chun dar madãresfãrsi tadris mishe. agar ãdam belhãd
az tâhe zamini be Orupã bere, ma'mulan az Tabriz rad mishe va
bishtare tejãrate zaminiye bâne lrãn o Orupã niz az rãhe Tabriz
anjãm mighe ghun alãve bar jãdde, \hatte asliye rãhâhan niz az
unjã rad mishe. Tabriz dãneghgãhebozorgi dãre. ghiili va noglre-
kãriye in shahr ham ma'ruf ast.

Vocabulary:
q$hb generally mohcm important
alãve bor in addition to gli'er poet
ash'ir poems(pl.of úi'ayân pl. of úÊ'e,
she'r) Shiites, the
dust dãshtan to like sect of Islam
emãm religisug which is the
leader official reli-
firuze turquoise gion of lran
gLabr grave tdrls teaching
ghãli carpet tarjome translation
Èmer gereÍté is situated t€Jãrot trade
hokunat government tott Turkish, Turk
javther jewel tork-zabãn Turkish-
'
ke that speaking
mrülres p/. o/madrese zabãn tongue
markaz centre zsmlni overland
ma'rú famous dãrat pilgrimage

STJBORDINATECLAUSES

1. Relative Clauses
Relative clausesare generally introduced by the relative pronoun
98'' rcssox rEx

ke which in this context will rrean 'that', 'which', 'rvho', 'whomr

etc. fre unaccentedsuffix i is then usually added to the noun
beginning the relative expression (the antecedent).
In this context, this i which we have already encounteredas an
indefinite suffix (ketãbi - a book) has the effect of singling out the
noun and makiig it definite:
ketâbl ke llrridrn khub The book that I bought
nrbud wasn't any good
!!Õnuni ke pogltc miz bud The lady behind the desk
Indlfui bolad nghd didn't know any English
yãd dâglti ro kc bc u dâdam He lost the note I gave him
gom kard
Nouns already ending in I do not take-anotherone:
sandali ke ãvord shekastebud-The chair he brought wasbroken
Note, however,that proper nounsand nounswith personalendings
indicating the possessivedo not take the suffix i:
Ifasan ke ketÕbqlo beman g&otz dãd dãnç$u bud - Hassan,
who lent me his book. was a student
Mashhrd, ke dar glonãle glargliye lrãn.e, shúrc bozorgiy.e -
Mashad,which is in the north east of lran, is a big city
un barãdaram ke tuye glerkatc naÍt kâr mikone rafté Ahvãz -
My brother who works in the oil company has gone to Ah\raz

2. Indirect Statements
Indirecl statements,questions and reported speechwill also be
introduced bv ke:
sãb$une gofr ke shãm hãzer.€ The hostess said that
supper was ready
porsid ke istgâheotobus kojã-st He asked where the bus
stop was
girãzh behem goft ke mãshinam The garagetold me that
hanuz hãzer nist my cÍrÍ wasn't ready yet
Notice the difference in the use of tensesin Persianand English,
as repoÍed speechin Persianis in-the sametense as would have
 LESSONTEN..99

been used in the original statement.If in doubt about which tense

to use, think what the original statementwould be and use the
sametensein the subordinateclause.

3. Wishesand Commands
(a) The subordinateclausein wishesand commandsis introduced
by kc followed by the verb in the subjunctive:
behgof ke bere (beravad)nun beLhare- He told him to
go and buy some bread
azeq! !!âst ke biãd o bã khodeshmotarjem biãre - He asked
him to come and bring an interpÍeter with him
beman gofl ke zud biâm kãrhâ ro shoru' konam - She told
me to come early and start the work
(b) 'I wish . . .' referring to the future can be said in tlvo $'ays,
either:
(i) with kÕshkilk{! ke and the verb in the subjunctive:
kãglki biõd - I wish he would come/I do hope he'll come
or:
(ii) with !!odã kone ke@odã konad ke plus the subjunctive:
lhodâ kone ke biâd - I do hope he'll come (lir. may God
make him to come)

!!oda nakone- God forbid - is used as an interjection and

also with the subjunctivelike khodâ kone
For the past, kãshki is used with the imperfect or pluperfect:
kãshld umadé bud I wish he had come
kãshki in kâr-o nakardé - I wish I hadn't done that
budarn

4. Result Clauses
Theseare introduced:
(a) by ungLadr ('so much') and untowr ('like that') in the main
clause,plus ke to introduce the next clausewith the verb in
the present or past tense for definite consequences,and in
100 I,ESSON'TEN

the subjunctive for indefinite consequences:

ung[adr $ub ghenokerd ke ncÕbeglpro bord - He swam
so well that he won the race
gligerd darseshounghdr$ub bolad nabud ke ghabul begle
- The pupil didn't know his subject well enough to pass
men u rã u4gladr !!ub nemQlnrsrm ke in o beh€ begorn
- I don't know him well enough to tell him this
hayâ untowr htm nist ke beghebcdune pÕlúobirutr raft - The
\peather isn't really such that you can go out without a coat
Note that where u4gladr is used in a time context, for
example to mean 'so often', 'so long' etc., then it is used
with tt and does not take the subjunctive:
ungLadr teldon krrdam tf beh[lpre gtrq! ãvordm - I kept
on telephoning until I got hold of him
(b) by tl ('so that', 'in order to') which usually takes the
subjunctive:
mrn kÍr mlkonam ti zendqiye b€htrrl dfúúe bâúrm - I
work so that I can have a better life
qiolkad tl be úeranberse (beresad)- Shehunied in order
to get úe train.
(c) colloquially, by ke:
paqiere ro bsz kard ke havã biãd - He opened the window
to let in some air
zud ãmadan ke to rã ghabl az mftân bebtnam- I came early
so that I could see you before leaving
(d) by hrrãye inke. In addition to 'because',barâye inke can also
mean 'in order that' in which case it takes the subjunctive
and usually oomesat the beginning of the sentence:
barãye inke betunamllune Uellpran; meghdârebigltari pul
lãzem dãram - I need more monev in order to be able to
buy a house
You could also say:
meghdãre bisütrri pul lãzem dãram tã betunam khune
bellaran
 TEN 101
LESSON
5. Condiüonal Scntenccs
Conditional sentencesare generally introduced by agar (colloquial,
age: 'if') and can be divided into those referring to possible con-
ditions and those referring to impossibleconditions.

(a) Impossibleconditions
Sentencesreferring to impossible conditions generally take
the imperfect tense in both parts:
agar midunestam ke hãzer nisti nemiumadaú - I wouldn't
have come if I'd known you weren't ready
agar fârsi balad budam in ketâb-o nemillpridam - If I knew
Persian, I wouldn't have bought this book
agar zud miãmad bã ham miraftim Blarid - If he had come
early, we'd have gone shoppingtogether

(ó) Possibleconütiors
(D Sentencesexpressinga straightfor$,ard possibility, with
little element of doubt, take the present tense in the
. 'if'clause and the pÍesent or future tensein the other
clause:
age khÕb-e,bida@ If he's asleep, don't
nakon wake him
sgar moúnrtcn nlsd, Don't do it if you're
nekon not sure
age kâr dâri' nayã Don't come if you're
busy
agsr lbrfb-e beheshdrst - Don't touch it if it's
nrzrn not working
(ii) Possibleconditions referring to the future (where there
is, therefore, much more of an element of doubt) take
the presentsubjunctivein the'if'clause:
agar biid ba ham mirim bãzâr - If he comes, we'll go
to the bazaar together
agar in kiro barãyc man behoni, $âli mamnunet
niqbon - If you do this for me I'll be very grateful to
you
1(Ì2 rsssox rBx

agar havÕ khub blglc mirim birÍun - We'll go out if

the weather'sgood
agar rãh o gom mkonam, zud miresam - ['ll get there
quickly if I don't lose the way
agar beman begi chi llzem dari, berãt nikhrram - If
you tell me what you need, I'll buy it for you
'lVhen, however,the action in the 'if'clause is a single
action which precedes the action in the main clause,
the simple past is used:
agar telefon kard, begu ke man mrnzd nistam - If he
telephones,tell him that ['m not at home
agar dustam umad in nãme rr beheq! bede - If my
friend comes, give her this letter
agar rafti mocãferathahsn barãm nãme benevls- Do
write to me if you go away
(iii) \ilhen the 'if'clause refersto the past,the pastsubjunc-
tive is used:
ag;rr oúobusrafté bÕgledirtar mireeam- If the bus has
left I1t arrive later
(iv) \ilhen nagtr or magsr inke is used conditionally (to
mean 'unless'),it takes the verb in the subjunctive:
mrn uqil nemlrsm mngar inke to hrm bÕhembiãi - I
won't go there unless you come with me

ó. FosdHnty
In addition to the use of shlyad (Lesson Four), possibility is also
expressedby the use of momkm aí ke followed by the verb in the
subjunctive.
Colloquially this becomesmomken-eand ke is often omitted:
nnomken+ biãd He may come
momken-etasrdof kardé He may have had an accident
brgle
momken-cfardã havü khub It mav be fine tomorrow
bügle
 LESSONTEN 103

The sameconstructioncan also be used for polite Íequests:

momken-ein kâr o barãye man bekoni? - Can you possibly do this
for me
momken-cbeporsamchi shodé- May I ask what's happened?
momken-ebeman begid nazdiktarin istgâheotobus kojâ-st - Could
you tell me where the nearestbus stop is?

IMPERSONAL CONSTR,UCTIONS
Look again at the fourth sentencein 4(a) above:
havã untowr ham nist ke beshebedune pefto birun mfi
bãyd and the appropriate tensesof glodan can be used with the
past stem to give an impersonalconstruction:
bãyad raft One/you must go, it is
necessaryto go
misheraft It is possibleto go, you/one
can go
migbe goft (ke) It can be said (that) . . .
tavãnestancan also be used in this way, but not cplloquially.

I PHRASES AND BXPRESSIONS

na bâbâ You don't say
age goftVagar gofti (ft|. if you said) do you know
what, guesswhat
bâyad sâ$t (lit. one has to build) one
must make do, one must
adapt. sãlltan also hac the
meaningo/ to make do with,
to get along with
misãzim, dige Well, we manage
agebeduníagar beduni You've no idea . . .i e.g, Age
beduni ch@adr in kãr sakht
bud you've no idea how dif-
ficult this was
lO4 urssonrsx
fclr umrm I subjwraive, I don't think . , . Veryoftcn.
mln nrloam (+ szâ- usedfutteadof Í&
iutnive\ ncmlkonm tG. . . which also
tokes tte subjwrctive.
Íekr nrkonam btãd I don't think he'll come
khgg! gourglt (|lr. it passedwell) Vwe had a
good time
e.g. dishab ratrm mehmuni,
B!ôtli !!og! gozoglt we \ilent
to a party last night, we
enjoyed ourselvesvery
much. !!oq! gozagltm rr
conjugatedh the third person
only and is used irnpersonnlly:
B!og! rnigzare/rnlgozsrod?
are you having a good time?

EXER,CISES
A. Read aloud and translatu:
1, azam !!ãst ke biãm
2. mosãfer porsid te havãpâma che sã'aü pawãz mikone
3. baghcle ungladre gerye kard ta khãbeú bord
4.a&r belley Oel!ãhi) mituíam biãm aghabet bebaramet
llarid
5. agar beman gofté budi ke mãshin nadãri zudtar miãmadam
6. jã dãrid agar belhãm yek qla6-ezãfe bemunam?
7. momkene fardã nakhâm beram birun
8. panjeraro ungladr mohkam bast ke shisbaqbstrikast
9. agar !!ub kar-koni zud piúraft mikoni (pigbtìlt : progr*s)
10. agar diruz bã mã miãmadi behet khosh migozaght

B. Put into Persian

1. He told me he was going to stay at home all day
2. She said that she would try and find my purse
3. He asked me what I was going to do
4. I thought you were coming yesterday
5. If I'd known you had this book, I wouldn't have bought it
6. If he comes,tell him I've gone
 ELEVEN105
I.ESTK,N

7. Can you tell me where I can find a chem.ist? '' .: ,

8. lVill it be ready if I come tomorrow?
9. I don't think that's right
10. Will I be able to see the doctor if I wait?

LessonEleven
yâzdahom)
(darse

Read aloud:
(bâ sedãye boland belbunid)
ghúrhãye Irãn
barãye $arejihã ruzi Esfahãn ma'ruftarin úúre keghvarbud glun
dar zamãnepãdeshãhãnesafaviyye ke taghriban hamdowreye Eliz-
ãbete awal budand, pãyetakhte mamlekat bud. Esfúiin ke dar
kenãre Zãyande rud gharâr gerefté ch*d masjede ma'rúe besyãr
didani dãre va mâdane shahr hanuz az mâdanhãye mashhure
donyãst. ghãü, dastduzi, noglre-kãri, khãtam.kãri va shiriniye
malhsusi benãme gaz hame az towlidâte mohemme in ghúr-and.
agrÍ az bãzãr didan konid mitunid bigltare inhã râ dar hãle dorost
ghodan bebinid.
ghúre ShiÍãz hodude ghãnad kilometriye jonube Esfúãn Éarar
gerefté. maghbarehãyeHãfez o Sa'di, do shã'ere bozorge digeye
irãni, dar ShiÍãz ast va khode úúr ham zibã o didani-st. bãghhãye
besyãr ehaqhangvabãzãre jãlebi ham dãre. albatte barãye mosãfer
g!ãyad az hame èhiz jãlebtar didane ãsãrebãstãniyetalbte jamg$d
va naghsherostam bãgle ke dar nazdikiye Shirãz ghãrãr gerefté.
bishtare manãtegle naftlhize Irãn dar jonub-and va sahmeomdeye
darãmade keqhvar az san'ate naft bedast miãd. sãbeghanpalãyegh-
gúeÃUaaan-azbozorgtarinpalâyeglgãhãyedonyã-bud.-sãdLrãte
naft az tarighe Khalije Fãrs surat migrre va zendegiyemardome in
glesmat az keshvar aksaran be san'ate naft vãbastegidãre. shúre
Bandar Abbãs albatte betowre kolli bandare tejãriye bozorgiye va
106 rrssox ELEvEN

e kheili az kãlãhãike az rãhe daryã be Irãn miãnd be unjã vãred

mishan.

Vocabulary:
ãsãr remains (pI. of me'rú famous
asar) naglhur famous
bandar port mft[liz oil producing
bÕsttui ancient omde main, major
darlmad income pÕdë!Êh king
dilrni worth sceing Ìüd river
hemdowre contemporary Ttlltc Persepolis
jãH interesting Jütrshid
kili goods üorlËlÍ products
I!ârej abroad stderÕt exports
l!ãtam.kâri inlaid work sahm share
msÈbore tomb ssn'tt industry
nanât@ regions (pl. oï vâbastegidere depends on
nantagle) zamãn age, time

WORD FORMATION
C-omprehensiveexplanationsof all the various word formations are
beyond the scopeof this book. A few of the more common vari-
ations are mentioned here as they should help you to understand
what you might hear.

1. Abstract Not*ts
Abstract nouns aÍe formed bv the addition of an accentedi to the
adjective:

Elub $ubi (goodness)

bad badi (evil)
tambd rambali (laziness)
zêrrng zerangi (cleverness)
bad bakht brd brllti (misfortune)
 LESSON ELEVEN 107

Where the adjectiveendsin the sound e, a g is addedfor euphony

betweenthe e and the i ending:

!!ast€ Ebasteg (weariness)

gor(x|ne goroenegi(hunger)
teg!ne tçlnegi (thirst)
The stresson the i ending of abstractnouns is what distinguishes
it from the indefinite i ending.
Read the following aloud and notice the difference:
marde khubi a good man
khubiye mard the man's goodness

2. Verbal Nouns
Verbal nouns are forrrredby the addition of various suffixesto the
pÍesent stem. The most easily distinguishableof theseis the suffix
-esh:
kushidan(k"rt l kushd (effort)
zu$tan (suz) suzeg!(a burning sensation)
!!ãridan (!!õr) E!@ (itching)
balhshidan(h!hs!) brlhsle!! (forgiveness)
puq$dan(push) pusheg! (covering - a word
now often heard in the context
o/puglqle çlàmi which
refers to suitable Islamic
dress')

3. The Causative
In colloquial Persianthe addition of the suffix -Õndanto the present
stemof the verb giveswhat is known asthe causativeverb (because
it has the meaning of making somethinghappen). This new verb
tâkes the usual personalendings:
r€sidsn (res) - rcsãndan (to causeto arrive)
dustem mNn{Dbâ mâshineshresund khune - Mv friend took me
home in his car
108 mssox ELEvEN
4. The Gerundive
shahre Shirâz zibã va didani-st - Shiraz is beautiful and worth
seeing
The addition of an unaccentedi suffix to the infinitive of some
verbs giveswhat is known as the gerundiveúhich has the meaning
of 'to be done', 'worth doing':
didani worth seeing
raftani due to go, being about to go,
having to go
shodani do-able
shenidani worth hearing
sedÉiyebolbol shenidani-st - The song of the nightingale is
worth hearing
in kãr úodani nist This cannot be done
The gerundive of nordan, to die, is often heard in the context of
lãglpr o mordani for people or animals that are thin and sickly-
looking, or just very thin and therefore look as if they are about
to die. You would not say mordani of a person who really was
about to die.

5. Diminutives are formed by the addition of the following suffixes

to the noun:

-ak pcsarak, dokhtarak, mardak, zanak, teffak

(tefl = infant)
-c pcsare, dokhtare, marde, zane
+ke mardeke (col/. martike), zaneke(coll. nnÊke)
-9!e bag!Èe
-icbe dariche
When these suffixes are added to nouns denoting people they can
also denote either âffection or contempt. When used for adults
they are quite often somewhatrude or contemptuous,but it should
also be noted that different suffixes will give a different shade of
meaningto the sameword, for example:
do$tarak and pesarak usually convey the straightforward
diminutive meaning and can be usedaffectionately, teflak is very
eorÌÌmon and just means lpoor thing'
 LESTIONELEVEN 109

but:
dokhtrre, pcftne, are usually slightly pejorative, and
mlrdak, zamk, are used in a slightly derogatory senseor are
at best disrespectful, with martike and zanlke being downright
rude, whereas mlrde, zene, while not altogether polite, will
often be heard in speechand mean little more than'the man',
'that man', 'the woman', 'that woman':
raftam nunvãi marde goft ke nun tamum shodé- I went to the
bakêry and the man said the bread was fiffihed
If one wants to be more polite, one refers to âghãhe,$munc.
Otherwiseone should say un lght, un khlnum, for'that man',
'that woman'.

6. Cotloquial rce of the suffix -esh

The suffix -eg! is also used colloquially as a kind of pronominal
suffix where none is actually needed:

hargli aghabc dustrm ga$tam nabudq!

This is given here so that you will recognize it if you hear it.

7. Other word formatiotts

(a) The suffixes.gar and -chi tend to denote occupations:
kârgar - worker; zargar - goldsmith; ãhügar - blacksmith;
shenogar- swimmer; shekãryli - hunter
(á) nouns can be formed from two nouns put together as in:
ruznâme - newspaper; mehmãnkhãne- hotel; davã!!!ne -
chemist
or from the combination of a noun and a verb:
pilderow - pavement; srrbiz - soldier; kf*üin - workers
or by the combination of a preposition and a noun:
hrmsrfor - fellow-traveller; hrmMd - playmate; hamrfh -
companion
(c) prepgsrtionsand nouns can also grve adjectives: . .
bikar - unemployed; birdab - rude
 110 lrssox ELEVEN

EXBRCISES
A. Read aloud and trsnslate:
1. kãreú-o bã zerangipish bord
2. az gorosnegio teúnegi dãlbt mimord
3. bedunepuúeshe eslãmituye kuche nabãyadraft
4. agarteran-o az dast dãdi khodam bã mãshin miresunamet
5. dar Orupã shahrhãyedid;ni t<trâti ziaO ast
6. sedãyein khãnandeyejadid vâgle'an shenidanist
7. belakharenafahmidamke in kãr shodani-styã na
8. diruz raftam aghabesã'atam,,nutd" goft keiãzer nist
9. rãnandehecherãghghermez-onadid, zad be ye mãshinedige
10. dokhtare khéìli por ru bud

B. Put into Persian

1. I am extremely tired (say: I am dying of tiredness)
2. You won't get the job done by beinglazy
3. Shiraz is beautiful and worth seeing
4. I wanted to changethe door of my house but the man said it
couldn't be done
5. My friend said she would take me home
6. The little boy was very tired
7. That [awful] boy stuck his tongue out at me (usezabun derazi
kardan)
8. The poor little thing is very tired

C. Give the opposítesof khubi; zerangi;khoú-bakhti

Lesson
Twelve
(darse
dauãzdahom)
I (1) POLTTE PHRASES& CONVENTTONS
Persianhas an enormousvariety of polite phrasesand expressions
which, while they will soundvery flowery in translation, especially
to anyone accustomedto the more brief and basic politenessof
 LESSONTWELVE 111

\ilestern culture, are not just literary forms, but are in everyday
use. Here are a few of them:

!$rti gloggvagtam, or khoshvagbtam- I am very fortunate [to

meet you]; used.on being introduced to someone
The sameexpressioncan be usedwhen sayinggoodbyeafter haúng
being introduced for the first time:

!!odãfez, !!og!vaÈt úodam, or, khôti!!e!v$t glodan

marharnat ziÕd and lofetun ziãd ('may you have much favour',
'may you have much honour') are commonly used when saying
goodbye, as is the expressionsãyeyeglomn kam nasheoÍ sãyetun
kam nsshe which means 'may your shadow never gÍorv less'. Also
usedis ghorbãneshomã,literally'may I be sacrificedfor you', and,
between closer friends gborbâne to or even ghorbãnat (Seereading
passagefor Lesson9).
The more colloquial glorbunet or ghorbunetam, are also used in
the senseof 'be a dear and...'or just'please': dar-o beband,
glorbunetam or glorbunetam, dar-o beband - Shut the door,
there's a dear or do shut the door please
d"ste $omã dard nakone, or dastet dard nakone ft?. 'may your
hand never ache' is a common way of expressingthanks for a
serviceperformed.
jeye glomã khãli - 'your place was empty' is very often usedwhen
reporting on somethingthat was good or was enjoyed:
diruz raftim gardesh,jãye shomõ khãli khôili khosh gozasht- rüÍe
rvent on an outing yesterday;we had a very good time (and there-
fore yow place was empty - i.e. it would have been nice if you
could have been there too)
The word befarmãid (Lesson5, Phrasesand Expressions)is used
all the time. In situations where there is no specific answer to
befarmãid,.forexamplewhen someoneis askingyou to go through
a door fint by saying befarmãid, it is usual to demur and say
t!ãheú mikonam, shomâ befarmâid or na, !!âheg! mikonam,
shomâbefarmãid, at least once. Likewise at a party or in people's
homesyou may seepeople being offered things- fruit, slveetsetc.
and first they will say na mersi in answer to the befarmãid, then
after several befarmãid's and khãhesh mikonam's, they will finally
 LLz LEssoNTwELvE

acceptwhat is being offered. This kind of processis known asttrrof.

The less well people know each other or the more respect they
wish to show, the greater the degreeof 6rof. The verb tãrof kerdrn
means'to offer someonesomething',but only in the senseof food,
drink, etc.

chrylm (which is derived from be ruye g!cg!gn, 'upon my eyes')

means'certainly', 'of couÍse', 'yes, f úll' in anstlreÍto a command
or request:

be p€düehm salãm ber€sunid- ch$rn - Give my regards to your

father - Yes, of course (salh resnndan: to send regards, /dÍ. to
convey greetings; the sameexpressionis also usedfor'give my love
to')
arz kardrn is a polite version of goftan ('to say'), usually usedwhen
referring to yourself, and farmuden ('to comrnand') is used when
referring to others: e.g. sÍz kardam - I said, farmudid - you said
tabrik arz mikonam Congratulations; I congratulate you.
To be lessformal one can sayìbehetun
tâbrik migam (or beüet tâbrik migam,
for the familiar)

tsslirt arz mlkonam Pleaseaccept my condolences;I offer

my condolenees. Lessformal: beheí
behetun tasllrt mlgam
At the New Year and on joyous religious festivals the greeting is:
âAe snome mobãrek
mobârak ('blessed') is also used to @mment favourably on some-
thing new:
e.g.: kafthe now pushidi?
tre
. noHrak (or mobirak c, or mobâraket btshe)
andhârcjadid mobirak - Congratulations on your new job

r (2) o[ItER EXPRESSTONS

(a) The useof oathsto reinforcewhat is beingsaidis quite
' ' common,so you get expressions
üke:
 SITUAfiONAL PHRASESAND CONVERSATIONS113

bellodã (short for be khodã ghassam- I swear to God) -

By God, which meanslittle more than ,honestly', ,truly'
vãllã, bevallãhe ïrcre or lesslike bekhodã
vãllâ is also used as an interjection, rather like 'well':
'chi goft?' 'vâllâ, dorost nafahmidam vali meslein ke goft
fardã miãd'. -'What did he say?''Well, I didn't quite
understand,but I think he said he'd come tomorrow'.
be gbor'ãn - By the Koran
be ghor'ãne mqiid - By the glorious Koran: these
two expressionsare slightly
sfionger than bel<húã and are
obviously usually only used
by Moslems.

(á) The following s\ilearwords may be heard, but it is clearly

not a good idea to use them!
gom úo, or boro gom glo - Get lost!
pedar sag- lit. your father's a dog; very insultingsincedogs
are unclean to Moslems
pedar sukhté - Iit. burnt father, i.e. he's in hell, or should
go there
khâk bar sar/saret- lit. earth on your head; drop dead

Situational
Phrases
andGonversations
I AT THE AIRPORT
ghesmategozarnãme The passportsection
salãm Greetings
khosh ãmadid Welcome
chand vaght mimunid? How long are you staying?
do hafte Two weeks
ãdresctundar Irân kojâ-st? What is your addressin lran?
114 srnreuoNAl pHRAsEs
ANDcoNvEnsATroNs
nehele eghimrtetun drr lrân Where are you staying in
koJi.st? [ran?
hotel tztdi The Azadi Hotel
befatmfid Jelo Move forward please
bcfarmâid intarú Come this way please
sÕl,onegomrok Customs hall
aqiãme tâSrifãte gomrohi lit: The carrying out of
customsformalities, i.e.
going through customs
chi drdn? What have you got/Anything
to declare?
hichi, fr$rt lavãzemeshsllsi Nothing, only personal effects
sigâr o na$rub ke nadãrid? You haven't any alcohol or
cigarettes,have you?
úeri, sigõr dâram vali Yes I do, I have cigarettes but
maghrub nederam no alcohol
na!!ôn No I do not
lofen in glpmeduno bsz Pleaseopen this suitcase
konid
bdarmrid Here you are
barâye in bâyad gomrok bedid You must pay customsduty
on this
arz chi dsrin? What forèign ctrrency have
you got?
neÈdÕri dolãr o pond Some dollars and pounds
bâyd forme erz por konid You must fill in a curïency
form
Èü!! drd Trolley
bür bor Porter
bÕndeforudgfh The runway
hewpânr tr'khir dtr€ The plane is late
delrl'Õt koJÕ-st? lVhere is the information
desk?
befarmiid tuye sef Pleasejoin the queue
vorud Entrance
!!on{ Exit
sfbne entelr Waiting room
 SITUATTONALPHRASESAND COì{VERSAfiONS 115
I AT TIIE TRAVEL AGENT
mikhãm yek jã barnye Landen
rezery konam
besyãr!!ob. barâyeche ruzi?
shambeewale ut
mota'asefilneun parvâz jã
nadâre
egar bekhâhid barãye do
ghombr$ mitunem
bchetun jã b€drm
ye'ni sewome ut?
bde
bÕshc,ps do shrnbc
Uâü &ob berlye do g$mbc
Ír;rÊÍrí mikonam. agrr hrm
be[Fhid mitunem tuye
liste entezãreglambe hem
úomâ ro bezãram.
bale' bi zehmrt in kâr ro
bokonid va rgarjâ bud
bemen khebar bedln.
esmetunrã befarmâid
qlomÈreye úelefonetunchand-
e?
bi zahmetin jãye mano ta'id
konid
otobuseEsfahen che sâ'ati
harekat mikone?
sâ'atepaqie sob
mitunam az hãlã bilit
) ncgmramt
; bale albatte
terane Tabriz az kudurn sakku
herekat mikone?
sakkuye paqi
ghe sã'eti virede Tabriz
mishe?
:
I would like to make a
reservationfor London
Certainly. For what day?
Saturday August the first
Unfortunately there are no
seatson that flight
If you like I can give you
a seat for the Monday
You mean August the úird?
Yes
Alright, Monday then
Very well, I'll make the
booking for Monday. If
you like I can also put you
on the waiting list for the
Saturday.
Yes, pleasedo so and let me
know if there is a seat.
Your name, please
What is your telephone
number?
Could you pleaseconfirm my
reservation.
What time does the Esfahan
bus leave?
At five a.m.
Can I buv a ticket now?
Yes of course
Which platform does the
Tabriz train leave from?
Platform five
At what time does it reach
Tabriz?
 116 srrurrroxAl pHRAsEs
ANDcorìrvgRsATroNs
g!|lUp sobc fardã Six otclock tomorÍow
momrng
biüte turbo teran bartye Do you have any tickets for
Iì/talllhad dãrid? the turbo train to,Mashad?
motatasefãnetâmõm shodé. I'm afraid there aren't any left
mitunld bâ ghatrre sfr'ol ótr You can take the
berh. "*pres
bcsyâr khob, ms yek bilite Alright, I'll have a Íeturn,
nrft o bar gaglt beman please
bcdin
darcjeye yek mi[!!id? First class?
balc Yes
befarmnid Here you are
ch$adr miús? How much is it?
divist o paqiâ iomon Two hundred and fifty tomans

I SHOPPING
satrm {g!!/nanum, Good morning, what can I do
bdormâtd for you?
sellm, shir drrin? Good morning. Is there any
milk?
pãkati tamãm úodé ammã The cartons are finished but
glflshei hast we have bottled milk
bÕshe,pas bi zahmat yeki Alright then, could I have one
beman bedid please
befamüid. glize dige ham There you are. Anything
hzem darid? else?
bale, ye g!$leb kare, diyist o Yes, butter, two hundred and
paqiã gerah panir o yek fifty grammesof cheese
g!ãiye nim kilo'i and a half kilo packet of tea
*e È@adri bãshe? What size butter do you
want?
unam divist o pnjã gerami Two hundred and fifty
bãghe$ub-e grammeswill be fine
bdsrmãid Here you are
fket dârtn Do you have a bag?
gleglfdr g_hod? How much is it? :
 SITUATTONALPÍTRA!|ET}AND OONVBNSAIIONS 117
nrvd o poqi úomrn o pqi
&ú
bdarmÍd
merci, lgÈâtlrnum
$odffez
in Sqgle mehi g!pnd.e?
glpst o paqi toman
$ôrü genrn-e rrzuntaresh o
. nedirid
m, mota'asseftrnetamum
shodé
takhtrham nadlre?
ashn
ËEâtqmt, do meh bcdin
bdarniid puteçUo bedin
sandoghrestdq! o bilrid
jensetun o begirln
portagLile Hbt g!and-e?
punzda toman
Iìos se kib bcdin
I ASKING TTIE WAY
bânke markad az kudum
tarrf-e?
sare rwolln chlr râh doste
nãst bepiglld, tuye hrmun
$ilbun dasSertsúetun-e
bebskhshid, ãgbã/khânum,
vezãirrtekçllverzi kojã-
st?
ãkhnre hrinln khilbun-c
-
khTrü Aur-e?
Ninety-five tomans five rials '
Here you are
Thank you sir/madam
Goodbye
How much a metre is this
material?
Sixty-five tomans
It's very expensive, haven't
you got anything cheaper?
No, unfortunately it's all gone
Can't you give me a red-
uction?
No, I can't
Alright, grve me two metres
Pay at the cash desk, please.
Bring the receipt and take
your goods
How much are the oranges
per kilo?
Fifteen tomans
Give me three kilos, then
How does one get to the
Central Bank?
Turn right at the first
crossroads.It is then in
that road, on your right
Excuse me, sir/madam,
where is the Ministry of
Agrioilture?
It's at the end of this road
Is it very far?
 118 SITUATIoNAL pHRAsEs AND coNvERsATIoNs
ne, piãde hrm mitunid berid
daste chap bepiglid
mostagLimberid
I TIIE TELEPHONE
rllo
befarmâid
manzeteârüâye Heghighi?
nakhôrr, ehtebãh-e
bcbskhshid
allo
manzeleãghãyeHagligli?
befarmãid
âghã tsshrif dãrand?
bale, shomã?
man John Smith
gushi !üdmatetun
salãm âghâye Smith
salem, hãle shomãchetowr-e?
mersi, be marhematetun,bad
nistam, befarmãid
vâllã, mi$ãstam bebinamkô-
vaght dârid biãm shomãro
bebinam
khãheq mikonarn, har sâ'aü
ke befarmõid msn hãzeram
seglambe chetowr-e?
seshambeche s5'ati?
hsr sã'ati shomãbelúÕid/
qleid
st'& prqi khub+?
No, you can walk it if you
Itant
Turn left
Go straight on
Hello
Yes?
Is that Mr Haghighi's
residence?
No, you've got the \ilÍong
number
f'm sorrv
Hello
Is that Mr Haghighi's
residence?
Yes
Is Mr Haghighi in?
Yes. Who's that speaking?
This is John Smith
Hold the line, please
Hello, MÍ Smith
Hello, how are you?
I'm not too bad, thank you,
what can I do for you?
Well, I wanted to ask when I
could come and seeyou
Any time you say
What about Tuesday?
What time on Tuesday?
Any time you say
Is five o'clock alright?
 STTUATIONALPHNASESAND CONVEN,SATIONS119
bale, khôü khub-e
bcsyãr$ú, pas sÕ'atepaqi
mibinrmetun. deftare
nran{r baladid?
bale
pas tã seshambe,khodâfez
$odefez.[!od,e hâfezeshomã
merhemat ziâd
r IN A TAXI
tâ Shemmn chegladr migirid,
âghã?
bi zahmst berim môrdune
Ferdowsi
or: môrduneFerdowsi, loúan
on reachingyour destination:
gbegladr gbod?
Yes, that's fine
Very well, then, I'll seeyou
at five o'clock. Do you
know where my office is?
Yes
Well, till Tuesday, then
Goodbye
Goodbve
How much do you charge to
go to Shemran?
(To) Ferdowsi Square, please
How much is it?
Appendix

IìIT]MBERS
The Arabic numerals,which are alsousedin Persian,are asfollows:

\ Y ï t o 1 v 1 ì'
12 3 4 5 6 78910 ^
123= \ Yï 65 = 1o 2695: Y1lo
The decimalpoint is represented
by a comma.

CURRENCY
Notes and coins currentlv in circulation dre:
COINS NOTES
I rial (yegheruni) 100 rials (da-tomani)
2 rials (dozeri) zffi rials (bis-tomani)
5 rials (paynzeri) 500 rials(paqiâ-tomani)
10 rials (ye-tomani) 1000 rials (sad-tomani)
20 rials (do-tomani) 2000 rials (divis-tomani)
50 rials (paqi-tomeni) 5000 rials (punsad tomani)
10000 rials (hezãr tomani)

TIIE CALEI\IDAR
In Iran, the Islamic months are called:
moharram rqiab
safar sha'bãn
rabi'ol awal ramazân
rabi'os-sãni shawãt
janÌãdi ol awal zigha'de
jamâdi os-sãni zihqije
 ppewox 121
The chief civil public holidays are:
(approxiniaté1ebr-
responüng date)

I - 4 Farvardin Now Ruz holidays (2L-24 March) .

12 Farvardin Islamic Republic (1 April)
Day
13 Farvardin thirteenth of.Now (2 April)
Ruz
15 Khordãd Popular uprising of (5 June)
1Í)63
17 Shahriver C;ommemorationof (8 September)
the martyrs of the
revolution
Zl Bahman Islamic Revolution (11 February)
Day
29 Esfend Nationalisation of (19 March)
the Oil Industry

The chief religrous public holidays are:

13 rqiab Birthday of Aü, the Prophet's son-
in-law
27 rqiab ôrde meb'ss: the anniversary of the
day Mohammad began his ministry
15 sho'bln Birthday of the 12th Imam
2l ramrzin The martyrdom of Ali
1g[swãt âdc letr: the celebration of the
ending of the fasting month of
Ramadan
Zi glrwil Death of Imam Ja'far Sãdegh
ll dg[r'de Birthday of Emam Rezã (the 8ú
lmam of úe Shiites)
10 dhqij€ âae gucrban: the day on which
pilgrims to Mecca make sactifices
It dhqiie âae gmatr: the anniversary of úe
day Ali was appointed successorto
the Prophet
9 mohrrnm tãsu'll: the eve of Imam HusseinÌs
mart5ndom
122 APPENDTx

l0 moharram ãslurã: martyrdom of Imam

Hussein
20 safar arba'in:40th day of the martyrdom
of Imam Hussein
28 sdar Death of the Prophet and
martyrdom of Imam Hassan
17 rabi-ol awal - Bfuthdayof the Prophet, birthday
of Imam Ja'far Sãdegh
 Key
Erercise

LessonOne
A. 1. ghazãkhub-e 2. ãb garm-e3. panjere bãz nist 4. salãm5.
hãle shomãchetowr-e?6. khub'am, mersi7. khodãfez8. khunei;
sandali;mardi; OR ye khune; ye sandali;ye mard 9. hotel kojã-
st? 10. kudum hotel? hotel Esteghlãl11. panj ketãb 12. nun tãz-
ast 13. dokhtar k"chik-e 14. havãgarm nist 15. khune bozorgnist
16. ãb sard-e1.7.mãdarbad nist 18. pedarã;panjerehã;pesarã19.
pir-o javun 20. otãgh tamiz-e?
B. 1. The bread isn't fresh 2. The weatheris hot. 3. The weather
is hot. 4. The boy is big. 5. Where's the table? 6. The door is
open. 7. Is the window closed?8. Which window?9. The girl isn't
naughty.10.The grandmotheris sick. 11.Fliesare dirty. 12.What's
the weather like?

LessonTwo
A. 1. khuneye man bozorgtar az khuneye Hasan-e2. bozorgtarin
khune ruye tappe ast 3. mãúine man kuúiktar az mãúine Hasan-
e 4. lebãse Fãteme tamiztar az lebãse Maryam-e 5. in lebãs az
hame tamiztar-e 6. hotel tamiz-e 7. otãghe man kuúik-e OR
otãghamkuchik-e 8. in ketãbeto-st 9. un miz kasif-e 10. in chame-
dune siãhe man-e
B. L. Your ticket is on ttre table.2. The big girl's dressis white.
3. Maryam's mother is ill. 4. This door is open. 5. That boy is
naughty.ó. My brother is the best. 7. The cleanesthotel. 8. My
suitcaseis black. 9. Where is the bus stop? 10. Where is the best
hotel in town?
C. 1. ketãbam2. ketãbebozorgam3. khunatkuchik-eOR khuneye
to kuchik-e 4. mãshineshbozorg-e 5. dare bãgh baz-e 6. lebãse
dokhtar tamiz-e 7. otãghe mãdaram bozorg-e8. mãshinepedaret
kuchik-e OR mãshinepedareto kuchik-e 9. khuneyepedaramruye
tappe ast 10. khãhare Hasan mariz-e
124 exsnqsp KEy

D. 1. ketãbe Hasan 2. khuneye mard 3.,.khâhareman 4. khuneye

man 5. barãdaresh 6. hotele khub 7. bilite otobus 8. ve farshe
bozorg 9. ketãbeìËoma 10. g!illle maggn

LessonThree
A. 1. My room $'as big and clean.2. My friend came from the
office. 3. Maryam had breakfast.4. My friend's housewasn't far.
5. Are you English? 6. The bus was full. 7. The taxi was empty.
8. Hasan went to the ofÊceevery day. 9. I sat and read the papers
for a bit. 10. He went to the hotel with his friend. 11. rilhy did
you come? 12. There was a gentle breezeblowing.
B. 1. havãpêrmãdir resid 2. oüigham bozorg o tamiz bud 3. dustam
unjã nabud 4. diruz nayãmadim 5. monshi nãme neminevesht ó.
nãme naneveglti? 7. madreseyedokhtaret unjã-st 8. rafti khunaú?
C. 1. havãpêrmãdir naresid 2. otiigham bozorg o tamiz nabud 3.
dustam unjã nabud 4. diruz nayãmadim 5. monúi nãme nemine-
veght 6. nãme naneveúti? 7. madreseyedokhtaret unjã nist 8.
narafti khunash?

LessonFour
A. 1. The weather is cold, it's snowing.2. Tïnlesecretaryis writing
a letter. 3. I'll go as soon as possible.4. I want to go (on foot) and
buy somefruit. 5. Mariam buys medicinefor her son at the chem-
ist's. ó. We eat bread and cheeseand drink tea for breakfast. 7.
My friend couldn't come with us. 8. I'll go to the office tomorrow.
9. Close the door.
B. 1. Hasan har ruz be edãre rrwe 2. har ruz unjã nemire 3.
bãrun miãd? 4. ingilisi hastid?5. na, irãni hastam,ingilisi nistam 6.
mitbãd biãd khunam 7.ftafià miãm 8. cherããmadid?9. kojã mire?
10. fardã koja miri?
C. 1. miram/miravam; miraftam; beram/beravam
2. migim/miguim; migoftim; begim/begurm
3. mirunid; mirundid; berunid
4. mikhorand; mikhordand;.bokhorand
 EXET,CISEKEY Iã

5. miq[e/miúavad; mishod; beshe/beshavad

D. 1. begu 2. beshno/besheno
3. bokhor 4. bodo 5. biã

LessonFive
A. 1. The driver openedthe door. 2.My son closedthe door. 3.
He brought the book. 4. He bought the bus ticket at the window.
5. The naughtyboy falls down a lot. 6. I ìilent to the hotel and had
a bath. 7. It has got very cold and it rains every day. 8. I took off
my clothes. 9. Open the door; don't go near the water; close the
window. 10. I arrived late and the bus had left.
B. 1. dar o bast; chãi ro âvord; ghazãro !!ord 2. ruznãmekharid;
ye úãi khord; ghazã-llordim 3. otobusehotel o didand4. moãvene
vazir o didim 5. dustam dar o bãz kard, goft: biã tu 6. yek nafar
sedã zad: negah dãr 7. dar o bãz nakon 8. bi zahmat panjere ro
beband9. otobus rafté 10. tãksi ãmadé?

LessonSix
A. 1. My friend and I went to the cinemathe day before yesterday.
2. Come tomorrow and we'll go shoppingtogetheÍ. 3.Why did you
come so late last night? 4. I waited for about t\rrentyminutes but
the bus didn't come. 5. My father hasn'tcomeback from his travels
yet. 6. Why didn't you go together?7. My office is near the bazaar.
8. I'm going to university next year. 9. We went to Turkey by car
last year. 10. The town bus/the bus to town passesour house
morningsand evenings.11. Have you seenmy shoes?Yes, they're
under your bed. 12. Tell me, was anyone else there apart from
you?
B. 1. livãn ruye miz bud 2. bachcheãhesteaz pellehã bâlã raft 3.
kãram o diruz tamum kardam.TFãrsãl raftim paris On pãrsãl be
Pãris raftim 5. dustam khub mirune OR dustam khub rãnandegi
mikone 6. dokhtaram dir be khune âmad OR dokhtaram dir ãmad
!!une 7. teraï-khâü tond mire 8. kifet o inja 6ãzar OR kifetun
o injã bezârid 9. bã chi umadi? 10. pãrsãl bã havãpâmã raftand
Landan
C. 1. bã 2. be 3. az 4. barãye5. az 6. tuye 7. be
126 srrpncrseKEy

LessonSeven
A. 1. A hundred and thirty-five people work in our office. 2.My
mother bought two white dressesOR shirts. 3. How many children
haveyou got? 4. Buy me three kilos of meat. 5. How manybrothers
and sistershas she got? 6. How many people were on the bus? 7.
He gave me a third of his money. 8. I need five or six metres of
material. 9. The cost of houseshas gone up by twenty percent. 10.
Where can I buy a good pair of shoes?
B. 1. gland sãlet-e?chand sãletun-e?2. chehel o panj sâlam-e3.
pesaÍamg!úãr sãleú-e 4. nesfe nun o khord 5. Irãn do reshte
kuhe bozorg dãre 6. se dafe beheq! telefon kardam 7. do dafe be
edãreyeman ãmadé 8. vazir o yek bãr didam OR vazfuo ye dafe
didam f. in portaghãlãkilo'i ghand-e?10. chand nafar tuye otãgh
budand?

LessonBight
A. Mariam has one book. Hassan gave her two exercisebooks
today. Mariam is going to go to school on Saturday. Mariam's
schoolis big. It has about sevenhundred pupils. There are about
forty pupils in each class. In lran the children only have Fridays
off. Most schools' hours are from eight to half past one from
Saturdayto Wednesday.On Thursdaysthey only work till twelve.
The academicyeaÍ begins on the first of Mehr and usually goes
straight through until towards the end of Khordad. They do also
have thirteen days' Now Ruz holiday at the beginningof spring.
B. 1. shambemiãd 2. sã'at haft o bist daigh-ast3. sã'ate hasht
jalese dãram 4. rhÉ mãhe dige emtahãndãram 5. mãhe ãyande
barãye kãr be Engelestãnmiram OR mãhe dige barãye kãr be
Engelestãnmiram 6. sã'ate hafte sob bãyad forudgã bãúam 7.
sã'atehashteba'd az zohre diruz barãye Landan harekat kardand
OR sã'ate haglte ba'd az zohre diruz betarafe Landan harekat
kardand 8. teran che sã'ati harekat mikone? 9. khãheshmikonam
dir nakon chun l!ãli kãr dãram OR lhãhesh m-ikonã dir nayã
glun 3!âli karTaram 10. hafteye pistr-har-ru2 kãr kardam i1.
pule lhurd nadãrid? 12. haftome ordibeheshtehezaro sisadoshasto
Ssb
 EXEBCISE KEY I27

Lesson Nine
A. 1. Don't use that pen, it's mine OR Don't take that pen, it's
mine. 2. Most of this land belongsto the state.3. Guesswho I saw
yesterday?4. I knocked and knocked but nobody answered(/Ír.
However much I knocked, nobody answered).5. I studied all day
yesterday.6. Have you seenmy black pen?7.I want to go to the
seasidefor Now Ruz this year. They say the weather is very good
there at that time of year. 8" This is very easy,why don't you do-
it yourself?9. Didn't you know today was a holiday? (ft?. Didn't
you know everywherewas closedtoday?) 10. Don't ever do that,
I really dislike it.
B. 1. hiúkas unjã nabud 2. gherãkhodet nemiri? cherã khodetun
nemirid?3. kife sefideman-onadidi? OR kif sefidéyeman-onadidi?
OR kif sefidàm-onadidi? 4. un restoranglazãsh ttrâti Uaa-eS.
mãqhinet-o $kar kardi? dorosteú kardam 6. un pusha Ío var
nadãr, mãle man-e 7. az hichkudum az in kafshãkhoshamnemiãd
OR hich kudum az in kafshã ro dust nadãram 8. tamãme shab
tuye haTap,âmãbudam g. ba'^dokkunã fardã basté-andOR bì'zi
maghãzehãfardã ta"til-and 10. bã mãshinekhodeú umad

LessonTen
A. 1. He askedme to come.2.The passenger askedwhat time the
plane would leave. 3. The child cried itself to sleep.4. I can come
and collect you and take you shoppingif you want. 5. If you'd told
me you didn't have a car I'd have come sooner. 6. Do you have
room if I should want to stay an extra night? 7.I may not \pant to
go out tomorrow. 8. He shut the window so hard that the glass
broke. 9. If you work hard you'll progressfast. 10. If you'd come
with us yesterday,you'd have enjoyed yourself.
B. L. beman goft ke tamãme ruz khune mimune 2. goft ke sa'y
mikone kife pulam-o pâda kone 3. azamporsidke chikãr mikhãm
bokonam 4. fekr kardam diruz miãi 5. agar miduneìïam in tõIaU-
o dãri nemikharidameú 6. agar umad beheú bogu ke man raftam
7. momkene beman begid davãkhunekojã-st? 8. agar fardã biãm
hãzer-e?9. fekr nakonamdorost besheOR fekr nemikonamdorost
begle 10. agar sabr konam mitunam-doktor-obebinam?
128 ncnncrsexey

Lesson Eleven
A. 1. He succeededby beingclever/hardworkingOR He succeeded
through clevernesVhard work. 2. He was dying of hunger and
thirst. 3. You ought not to go out (in the street) without Islamic
dress. 4. If you miss the train I'll take you there in the car. 5.
There are many cities worth seeingin Europe. 6. The new singer's
voice is really worth hearing. 7. In the end I don't know whether
this can be done or not. 8. I went to collect my watch yesterday
and the man said it wasn't ready. 9. The driver didn't see the red
light and hit another car. 10. That girl \ilas very cheeky.
B.l. az khastegidãram mimiram 2. bã tambali kaÍet pish nemire/
nakhãhad raft 3. ShiÍãz zibã va didani-st 4. mikhãstam dare
khunam-o avaz konam vali marde goft \e qlodani nist 5. dustam
goft ke man-o miresune 6. pesarak tçhâli lhaste bud 7. pesare
behem zabun derãzi kard 8. teflak khâli khaste shodé bud
C. badi; tambali; bad bakhti
 English-Persian
Glossary

abbreviation: kholãse
ability: este'dãd
able: bã este'dãd,tavãnã; to be able, tavãnestan(tavãn)
about: (concerning)dar bãreye; (nearly) taghriban; (n be about
ro)mikhãst...
ebove: bãlãye
abroad: kharej
absent: ghãyeb
absentminded: havãspart
absolute:motlagh, ghat'i
absolutely:be kolli, kãmelan
absurd: bima'ni, mozakhraf
abuse yô: (verbatty) fohs-hdadan (deh)
accept:ghabul kardan (kon)
accident:piúãmad, ettefãgh,tasãdof; (mistake)eútebãh; to have
an accident, tasãdof kardan (kon)
accidentally: (by chance)ettefãghan, tasãdofan; (by mistake'1
eshtebãhan
accommodation:to have acconmodation, jã dãshtan (dar)
according to: motãbegle
rccount: hesãb; (descríption) sharh
accountant: hesâbdãr
accuraúe:daghigh
accustomed:to get accustomed,ãdat kardan (kon)
as: ãs, takkhãl
acquaintance:ãshnã; to be acquainted, ãshnãbudan (bã!b)
acrcs: to go across, obur kardan (kon), rad shodan (úau)
*t vb: amal kardan (kon); (in a play') bãzi kardan (kon)
r action: amal, egldãm
active: fa'ãl
actor: honar piúe
add: jam'kardan (kon)
addicted:mo'tãd
additbn: jam'
edditional: ezãfi
130 eNcusn-PERSTAN
cLossARY

eddressn: ãdres,neg!ãni
rdiust: tanzim kardan (kon)
administration: edãre
advertisement:ãgahi, e'lãn
advice:nasihat,towsiye
affection:rnohabbat,alãghe
afraid: to be afraid, tarsidan (tars)
after: ba'd (az)
afternoon:ba'd az zohr; (late afternoon) asr
afterwards: ba'dan
again: do bãre
against:zedde,bar zedde,mokhãlefe
egen: sen
agency:namãyandegi,âzhãns
agree:movãfeghatkardan (kon)
agreement:movãfeghat
agriculture: keshãvarzi
air: havã; air mail, poste havã'i
air-conditioning: tahviye; (cooler) kuler
air force: niruve havãi
aircraft: havãpeimã
airport: forudgãh
alarm n: zangekhatar, âzhir
algebra:jabr
alike: shabih
alive: zende
all: hame
allow: ejãze dãdan (deh)
almond: bãdâm
alone: tanhã
along: (along the length of) dar tule1'(beside) dar kenâre
alphabet: alefbã
also: hamchenin
although: bã vojudike, bã vojude inke, garche
always: hamishe
ambassador:safir; safir kabir
ambulance:ãmbulãns
Arnerica: ãmrikã
American: ãmrikã'i
 ENGI,J|IH.PET5IIANGI.oSSATY 131

rmt: Élne
amount: meghdãr; (of ,ttoney\ mablag!
anchnt: ghadimi; (hisary, archiucture) biistãni
!Dd: va, o
eryel: fereúte
rngÌï: asabãni
animal: hâvãn
enkle: moche pã
rnnoum€: e'lãn kardan (kon), khabar dãdan (deh)
ennual: sãlãne
enothcr: digar
answer n: javãb
ant: murche
and-aircraft gm: (tupe) zedde havãi
rntique: atighe
anxious: negarãn, delvãpas
any: har
anyhow: behar hãl
anytnre: har kas
anything: har chiz
aparhent: ãpãrtemãn
apologize: ma'zeÍat khãstan (!!ãh)
appetite: eshtehã
apple: sib
applicant: darlhãst konande, dãvtalab, motagbãzi
application form: darkhãst, form
apprmch vb: nazdik sbodan (ghau)
rppropriate: moniiseb
approximete: tagbribi
apricot: zardãlu
Arab: arab
Arabic: arabi
architect: me'mãr; ãrshitekt
arca: masãhat
argue: da'vã kardan (kon), bahs kardan (kon)
arithmetic: hesãb
arm: bãzu (alro dast)
Armenian: armani
*w: (weaporu) aslahe,selãh
132 ENGLISH-PERSIANGLOSSARY

srmyr arteú
around: dowre
arrange: tartib dãdan (deh), chidan (g!in)
arrest vb: bazdãshtkardan (kon), towghif kardan (kon)
arrival: vorud (entrance);residan
arrive: residan (res)
aÍ: honar
articlez(l iter ary) maghãle
artificial: masnu'i
artillery: tupkhãne
as: (like) mesle; (because)chun; as long as, tã; as soonas,
haminke, tã; as soonas possible,har che zudtar
ashamed:khejel, sharmande;to be ashamedlhejãlat keshidan
(kesh)
ashes:khãkestar
ashtray: zir sigãri
Asia: asyã
ask: (a question)porsidan (pors), so'ãl kardan (kon); to ask for,
khãstan(khah)
ass:khar, olãgh
assistant:dastyãr,shãgerd,komak; (deputy) mo'ãven
aspirin: ãspirin
at: dar
athlete: varzeúkãr
atrnosphere:jav, havã
attaché:vãbaste
attack: n hamle; vb hamle kardan (kon)
attempt vb: sa'y kardan (kon), kushidan(k"sh)
attend: hãzer budan (bãqh)
attention: tavajjoh
attractive: janãb
zanJ: Qtaternal) amme; (maternal) khãle
author: (writer) nevisande
automatic:otomãtik, khodkâr
autumn: pã'iz
avalanche:bahman
avenue:khiãbãn
average:motavasset,miyãngin; (norma[) ãddi
awake:bidãr
 ENGLTSH.PTNSNX GTÍXISARY I33

rtre: tabar
rrle: mile, mehvarcharkh
bedr: posht
bockbone: sotune faghariit
Uo*ganmon: takhtenard, takhte, shish o beú
bed: bad
beg: kif
beker: nãnvã
belony: bãlkon, âvãn
bell: tup
bolloon: bãd konak
benrna: mowz
bonk: bãnk
bonknote: eskenãs
bonknpt: varshekasté
borber: salmãni
bore: lokht; berehne
bortfmt: pã berehne
bergsin yã: úune zadar (zan)
ber{ey: jow
borrects: pãdegãn
bese: pãye; (miliury) pãyegãh
b$ic: asãsi
besin: kãse
bosket sabad
bet: shab kur
both: hammãm
hÍhnoom: hammãm
bottle: jang, nabard
batÍle-frmt jebhe
boÍle-fidd: mâdane ;ang
buerr: bãzãr
bc: budan (balb)
|ld: sãhel; plãzh
bcrd: mohre
bean: lubiã; bÍmd bcon, bãg[ãli; kidney bcan, lubiã glerrrez;
Ftench beon, lubiã sabz
beer: khen
berrd: rish
134 excusH-PERsTAN
cI,ossAx,y

beautiful: zibã
becguse:barãye inke
become:shodan
bed: takhte khãb
bedding:rakhte khãb
bedroom:otãghe khãb
bee:zanbur
beef: gushte gãv
bee-hive:kandu
beer: ãbejow
beetle:susk
beetroot:(raw) úoghondar; (cooked) labu
before: ghabl az; pish az
beg: gedã'i kardan (kon)
beggar:gedã
begin: shoru' kardan (kon)
behalf: on behalf of, az tarafe
behaviour: raftãr
behind: poÊbte
believe:bãvar kardan (kon)
bell: zang
belong:mãle (kasi yã chizi) budan (b4); (moreforma\ ta'Uogb
dãshtan(dãr)
below: pã'ine, zire
belt: kamar band
bench: nimkat
bend vá: (intrans")khãm shodanQhav); (trans.) kham kardan
(kon)
benefityb: manfa'at kardan (kon), sud bordan (bar)
beside:(next to) kenãre
between: bâne
bible: enjil
bicycle: doglarkhe
big: bozorg
blll: (invoice) surat-hesãb(hesãbfor short)
bird: parande
birth: tavallod; to give biÉh, zãidan(zãt)
bite vb: gãz gereftan (gr); (o/ insects)nish zadan (zan\, zadan
bitter: talkh
 ENGI.ISH.PERSIANGLOSSARY 135

black: siãh, meshki

blanket: patu
blerd (intmns. vã): khun ãmadan(â)
blind adl: kur
blister n: toval
blood: khun
blossomn: shokufe
blouse:buluz, pirãhan (col/. pirhan)
blow: n zarbe; vb fut kardan (kon); (of wind) vazidan (vaz)
blue: ãbi
blunt adj: kond
board n: takhte
boat: g!ãyeg!
body: badan, tan
boil vb: j"shidan (jush)
bomb: n bomb; vb: bombãrãnkardan
bone: ostekhàn(coll. ostokhun)
book: n ketãb; yá reserv kardan, jã gereftan (gir)
book-keeper:hesãbdãr
book-shop:ketãbforushi
boot(s):chakme
border: n hãshie; (of countriesetc) marz
bored: I am bored, howselamsar rafté
borrow: gharz kardan (kon)
both: har do
bottle: shiqhe,botri
bottom: tah; kaf
bowl: kãse
box: ja'be
boy: pesar
bracelet: dastband
brain: (/it.) maghz;(fg.) hush
brake n: tormoz
branch: (of a tree) úãkhe; (of a business,etc) sho'be
brass:berenj
brave: shojã'
bread:nãn
break vb: shekastan(shekan)
breakfast:sobhãne
136 ENGLTsH-pEnsrANcrrssAry

brcast: sine
breath: nafas
bneathe:nafas keúidan (kegh)
bribc: z roshve; vô roghve dadan (deh)
brick: ãjor
bride: arus
Mdegrcom: dãmãd
bridge: pol
briefcase: kif
bright: rowshan,nurãni; (clever)bahush
brim: labe
bring: âvardan (ãr)
broadcast vá: pakhsh kardan (kon)
bnooch: sanjãgh sine
broom: jãru
broüer: barãdar
broúher-in-law: (one's wife's brother) barãdar zno.;(one's
hwband's brother) barãdar showhar
buelet: satl
bud n: ghonche
budget z: budje
buiH: sãkhtan (saz)
building: sãkhtemãn, emãrat
bub: (filr) lâmp; (of flowerc) piãz
bullct: golule, tir
bunú: daste
burn vD: (intrans.) sulltan (suz); (rrczs.) suaândanGuzãn)
bush: botte
buúrcr: (occupation) shoÈl
busy: mashghul
fu1; rmmã, vali
butcler: ghassãb
buttcr: kare
buttcúy: parvãne
buttm: dogme
buy: kharidan (!!ar)
buyer: llaridâr
by: kenãre; (by meansof transport) bã; by mw, ül hãlã; by thp
door, kenãre dar; by car, bã mãg$n
 ENGLISH-PERSIAN
GLOSSARY
137

cabbage:kalam
cabinet: (govt.) kãbine
café: kãfe
cage:ghafas
calculate:hesãbkardan
calculator:mashinehesãb,mashinhesãb
calendar:taghvim
calÍ: (animal) gusãle
call vá: sedãkardan (kon), sedãzadan(zan)
calm: ãrãm
camel: shotor
camera:durbine akkãsi. durbin
cancel:bãtel kardan
cancer:saratãn
candle:úam'
cannon:tup
capital: (of a country) pãyetakht; (financial) sarmãye
capitalist: sarmãyedãr
captain: (army, police) sarvãn; (of a ship) nãkhodã
car: mãshin,otomobil
card: (for playing) varagh; (business)kãrt; (greetingscard) kàrte
tabrik
cardigan: kot, zhãket
careful: to be careful, movãzebbudan (bãú); ehtiãt kardan (kon)
careless:bi ehtiãt
cargo: bãr
carnation: mikhak
car park: pãrking
carpenter:najjãr
carpet: farsh, ghãli
carrots: haüj
carry: haml kardan (kon)
case:(box) sando$, ja'be; in any case,dar har surat; in case,
agar
cash:naghd; pule naghd
cashier:sandoghdãr
CaspianSea:bahre khezer, daryãyekhezer, daryãyemãzandarãn
cat: gorbe
catch yb: gereftan (gir)
138 eNcusx-PnnsrANctossAny

cauliflower: gole kalam

caudon: ehtiãt
cavlrne: khãviãr
ceiling: saghf
cbbration: jashn
cehry: karafs
ceflrrr: zit zamin
cement: simãn
cemetery: ghabrestân, gurestãn
centrel: markazi
centutX: gharn
chein n: zanjir
chair: sandali
chalk: gach
cbnnce: (accident) ettefãgh, tasãdof; (opportunity) fonat; by
charne, ettefãghan
chrngc: n taghyir, tabdil; (money) pule !!urd; vb (trarc.) avaz
kardan (kon); (intrans.) avaz shodan (shat); úochangemoney,
pul lhurd kardan (kon)
chercool: ?rrÈãLl
chergé d'deires: kãrdiiÍ
cherity: khârãt; (organizaüon) khârietr
cheap: arzãn
cbeeky: poÍ ru
cheese:panir
chcmist: Qterson)dãrusãz; (shop'1davãthãne
úemifi: shimi
cheque:chek
cherry: gilãs; âlbãlu (a particular kind of sour cherry)
chess:úatranj
chcst: (bor) sandogh; (breast) sine
chew: javidan (1av) (coll. jowidan)
chicken: juje; morgh (literally : hen, but wually rced to refer to
eating chicken where the very young bird is not specifically
intendcQ
chick-pea: nolhod
child: bachche
chirnney:dud-kesh
chin: chane (colJ. ghune)
 ENGLTSH.PERSIANGLOSSARY139

China: chin
chint: Qtorcelarn) chini
Chinese:chini
chooce:entekhãb kardan (kon)
Christ: isã; (messiah)masih; isãyemasih
Christian: masihi; isavi
church: kelisã
cigarette:sigãr
cinema:sinemã
circle: dãyere
city: shahr
civilizstion: tamaddon
cleanadj: tamiz, pãk
clear: sãf
clever: bã hush, zeÍang
climate: ãb o havã
clock: sã'at
clock hand: agh:rabeyesã'at
clw adj: nazdik
closeyà: bastan(band)
cloth: pãrúe
clothes:lebãs
cloud: abr
coast: sãhel
coat: pâlto
cock:khorus
coffee:ghahve
coin: sekke
coltd:adjsard; n (the common cold) sarmâkhordegi; I have a
cold, sarmã khordéam (col/. sarmãkhordam)
collar: yaghe
colleague:hamkãr
collect:jam'kardan
college:dâneshkade
colour: rang
comb n: shãne(col/. shune)
come: ãmãdan(ã); to comein, tu ãmãdan
comfortable:rãhat
commerce:bâzargãni,tejãrat
140 excusu-pERsrANcr,(xisARy

comnittec: komite
GÍmon: (general)omumi; QrsuaI)ãdü; Çoint) moshtarek
compony:sherkat
oompare: mog!ãyese kardan (kon)
compel:majbur kardan (kon); vã dãr kardan (kon)
compeütion: mosãbeghe
complain: shekãyatkardan (kon)
complete: kãmel
computer: komputer
condemn: mahkum kardan (kon)
condition: (state) vaz', hãl; (stipulation) $art; (stateof affairs)
owzã'
coúectioner: glannãdi
coúess: e'terãf kardan (kon)
congratulate: tabrik goftan (gu)
connect:vasl kardan (kon), rabt dãdan (deh)
oonscience:vojdãn
crnscription: nezãm vazife
constant:sãbet, paydãr
coníipatiron: yobusat
consul: ghonsul
consult: mashverat kardan (kon)
contented: rãzi
continent: g!ãne
continue: edãme dãdan (deh)
contrac'tn: gharãrdãd,peymãn
contractor: peymãnkar, mog!ãte'ekar
control n: kontrol
convcrsaüon: sohbat
cook z: qgbpat
cd adj: khonak
cooler: kuler
co-operate:hamkãri kardan (kon)
oopper: mes
oopy n: runevesht
com: gandom
corner: gushe
correc't adj: súih
corrcqrondence: mokãtebe
 ENGLTSH-PEN,SIAN
GTI)SS^NY 141

coct n: ghâmat, bahã

cutton: nakh
cuÊton.wool:pambe
cnugh n: sorfe
cuuncil: showrã
count yb: shemordan(g!emor)
country: keshvar, mamlekat
soupon:kupon
Goümge:jor'at, daliri
courtyard: hayãt; (in a mosquc) sahn
cousin: (daughter of paternal aunt) dokhtar ammeh; (son of
patemal aunt) pesar ammeh; (daughterlsonof paternal uncle)
dokhtar/pesar amu; (daughterlsonof maternal aunt) dokhtaÍl
pesar khãle; (daughterlsonof maternal uncle) dokhtar/pesar
dãi
cow: madde gãv, gãv
crcck: n tarak; vb tarak khordan (!bot)
cFeam:khãme, sarúir
credit: e'tebãr
crcditor: talabkãr
crime: jenãyat
criticism: enteg!ãd
uooked: kaj
cnocs:n zarbdar; (cnrcifa) salib; adj (angril asabãni; he is crocs,
oghãteg! talkhe; vô obur kardan (kon), rad úodan @ar)
crossroads:chahãr rãh
crowd: jarm'iyyat
cry vb: (weep)gerye kardan (kon); (show) dãd zadan,faryãd
zadan (zan\
cucumber: khiãr
cülde-ssc: bombast
culture: farhang
cup: fenjãn
cupboerd: ganje
cunen: darmiin
curtain: parde
cuúion: kusan; (to lean against)poshti; @íllow) bãleú
crutom: rasm
crrstoms:gomrok
142 nxclrsH-PERSTAN
cI,ossAny

cut vb: boridan (bor)

daily: ruzãne; (in the senseof everyday)rrnmarre
dairy products: labaniât
dam: sadd
damagen: ãsib, khesârat
darnp: namnãk
dance:n raghs; vb raghsidan(raghs)
danger: khatar
dangerous:khatarnãk
dare: jor'at kardan (kon)
dark: tãrik
dats: (time) tãri&b; (frnir) khormã
daughter:dokhtar
daughter-in-law:arus
dawn: sahar;(lesscoll.) bãmdãd
day: ruz
detd: morde
dear: Qtersonetc) aziz
death: marg
debt: bedehi, g$arz
decide: tasmim gereftan (gir)
deduct: kam kardan (kon)
deep:amigh
defeatn: shekast
defect n: âb
definite: (clear) rowshan;(fina[) ghat'i, nahã'i
degree:dareje
delayn: ta'khir
delegate:namãyande
deliberately:amdan, makhsusan
delicate:zarif
deliver: tahül dãdan (deh)
demandn: khãstan
deny: enkãr kardan (kon)
department:ghesmat,dãyere
depth: omgh, gowdi
desert: sahrã
desk: miztahrir
detective: kãr ãgãh
 ENGLISH-PERSIANGLOSSARY I43

develop: (film') zãÃerkardan (kon)

deúl: shâtan
dew: úãbnam
diameter: glotr
diemond: almãs; (expercive, used in jewellery) bereliãn
diarrhoea: eshãl
dictionary: loghatnãme,diksioner
die: mordan
difference: fargh, tafãvot
difficult: sakht, moúkel
dig: kandan (kan)
digest:hazm kardan (kon)
dinner: (eveningmeal) shãm
dining room: (otaghe; natrartçtrori
diploma: diplom
diplomat: diplomãt
direct adv: mostaghim
direction: jahat
director: modir
dirt: kesãfat
dirty: kasif
disconnect:ghat' kardan (kon)
discover:kashf kardan (kon)
discuss:bahs kardan (kon)
dish: zarf
dishwasheì:-rnãshinezarfúu' i
disinfec{: zedde ofuni kardan (kon)
disrespect:bi-ehterãmi
dissolve:(trans.) hal kardan (kon); (intrans.) hal shodan(.h"u)
distance: fãsele
distinguish:tashkhisdãdan (deh); (recognise)shenã\htan (shenãs)
distribute: pakhú kardan (kon)
district: mahalle; nãhiyye
dive yb: shirje raftan (rav)
divide: taghsimkardan (kon); ghesmatkardan (kon)
divorce n: talãgh
rlizzinees:sar gije
do: kardan (kon)
doctor: doktor, tabib, pezeúk
144 excusn-PERsTAN
cLossARY

document:madrak (p/. madarek), sanad(pJ. asnãd)

dog: sag
doll: arusak
dome: gombad
donkey: olâgh, khar
door: dar
doubt: shak
dough: lhamir
down: pã'in
drain: (dn sinl<setc\ fãzel ab; (genera[) rãh ab; (guttering) nowdãn
ilrrw: Qticnre) naghghãshikardan (kon); (to puII) keshidan
(kesh)
drawer: kesho
dream: n khãb, rowyã; vá khãb didan (bin)
dress: pirhani (garment, also attire) lebâs
dressmaker:khayyãt
drink: vâ nushidan;n (non-alcoftoldc)nushãbe;(alcoholic)
mag!rub
drip vb: chekke kardan (kon)
drive vô: rãndan (rãn); rãnandegikardan (kon)
drop: vb andãkhtan(andãz);n: ghatre
drug: (medicine) davã, dãru; (addictive drugs) mavãdde
mokhadder
drunk: mast
dry: khoshk
duck: ordak, morg!ãbi
dumb: lãl
dusk: ghorub
dust: gard, khãk, gard o khãk
dustmen: supur
Ilutch: holandi
duty: vazife; (customsduty) gomrok

each: har; eachone, har yek

eagle: og!ãb
ear: guú
eerly: zud
ear-ring: gushvãre
earth: zamin; (sodí)khãk
 ENGLISH.PER,SIANGLOSSARY 145

earthquake: zelzele, zaminlarze

east: mashreg[
easy: ãsãn
eat: khordan (!!ot)
economy:eqhtesãd
edge:labe
efiect: asar
cgg: tokhme morg!
egg-plant:bãdemjãn
Egryt: mesr
eight: hasht
eighteen:hijdah
eiChty: hagltãd
elrstic: kesh
ehct: entelhãb kardan (kon)
elecdons:entekhãbãt
electricity: bargh
elementary: ebtedãi
elephant: fil
eleven:yãzdah
embassy:sefãrat
embracevb: baghalkardan (kon); (ro krss)busidan(bus)
emerald:zomorrod
emodons:ehsãsãt
employ: estekhdãmkardan (kon)
empty: khãli
enamel:n lâ'ãb; adj lã'ãbi
encouragc:tashúÈ kardan (kon)
end n: pãyan
enemy: doúman
engineer:mohandes
engine: motor
England: engelestãn
English: ingilisi
enough:kãfi; bas
enter: vãred shodan(gban);dãkhel shodan(gbau)
entrance:vorud; (fee) vorudi
envelope:pãkat
equal: mosãvi
146 excusn-PERsTAN
cI.ossAnY

error: eshtebãh
cscapen: farãr
especially:makhsusan
Europe: urupã
eve: shab
even:prep hattâ; adj (of numbers)joft; (levet) sãf.;(equal) mosãvi;
eYenif, valo inke
evening:asr, sare shab, .hab
every:har
everyone:hame; hame kas
everywhere:hame jã
exact: daghigh, sahih
exemination:emtehân; (medicat)mo'ãyene
example:mesãl
excellent:ãli
except: joz;bejoz
exchangevb: avaz kardan (kon)
excitement:hayajãn
excüsevb: bakhshidan
execution:e'dâm
exemptadj: mo'ü
exercisen: (sport) varzegh;Qtractice)tamrin
exit: khoruj
expect:entezãrdãshtan(dãr)
expensive: geÃn (coll. gerun)
experience:tajrobe
expert: khebre, motekhasses,kãrúenâs
explain: towzih dãdan
explosion:enfejãr
export vb: sãderkardan (kon); expoÍs, sãderãt
extra: ezãfi
eye:cheshm

face: surat, ru
factory: karkhãne
faint vá: glash kardan (kon)
fair: adj (equitable)ãdelãne;(hair) bur
faith: imãn
fall vá: oftãdan (oft)
 ENGLISH.PERSIANGLOSSAR,Y147

feme: shohrat
familiar: ãshnã
family: khãnevãde;fãmil
famous:ma'ruf: mashhur
fen: bãd bezan;p"nk"
far: dur
fare: kerãye
farmer: keshãvarz
Íest: adjtond; sari'; vb ruze gereftan (gir)
Íat: adjgbaÉ; n charbi
father: pedar
father-in-law: (wifu'sfather) pedar zan; (husband'sfather) pedar
showhar
fault: taghsir
fear: tars
feast day: âd
featàer: par
fee: ojrat, mozd
feet: pã, pãhã
feel: hes kardan (kon); ehsãskardan (kon)
fellow countryman: hamvatan
fellow townsman:hamshahri
fellow traveller: hamsJfar
festival: jashn
fever: tab
few: kam, andak; (some)chand,chandi,ba'zi
field: mazra'e
fifteen: pãnzdah
fifty: panjãh
fig: anjir
fight vb: jangidan(jang)
figure: shekl, surat; (body) hâtcat
file: sohãn; (of paperserc.) parvande
finallv: belakhare
find vá: péìdã kardan (kon)
fine n: jarime
finger: angosht
finish vô: tamãm kardan (kon)
fir: kãj
148 ENGLISH-PERSIANGLoSSARY

fire: ãtesh;to catch fire, ãteshgereftan(gir); to set fire to, ãtesh

zadan(zan)
fire-brigade:ãteshneúãni
first: awal
fish n: mãhi
fist: mosht
fitted carpet: moket
five: panj
fix: dorost kardan (kon)
flag: parcham, bâragh
[ame: sho'le
flat: sãf; (apartment)ãpãrteman
flea: kak
flood: seyl
floor: zamin; kaf
flour: ãrd
flower: gol
fly: n magas;vb pawãz kardan (kon)
fog: meh
fold vD: tã kardan (kon)
follow: donbãl kardan (kon)
food: ghazâ
fool: ahmagh
foot: pâ; to go on foot, piãde raftan (rav)
football: futbãl
for: barãye
forbid: man' kardan (kon); ghadeghankardan (kon)
force n: zur
fore-arm: bãzu
forehead:piq!ãni
foreign: khãreji
foreigner: khãreji
forest: jangal
forget: farãmushkardan (kon)
forgive: bakhshidan(ba!úü)
fork: changãl
forty: chehel
forward: jelo, pish
fountain: fawãre
 ENGLISH-PENSIANGIISSARY 149

four: chahãr
fourtocn: chahãrdah
fox: rubãh
fracture: shekastegi
frame: ghãb
France: farãnse
Írte adj: ãzãd
frecdom: ãzãdi
freeze:yakh zadan (zan)
firezer: frizer
freight: bãr
French: farânsaü
fresh: tãze
Friday: jom'e
fridge: yakhchãl
friend: dust
frighten: tarsãndan(tarsãn); to be frightened,tarsidan (tars)
frog: ghurbãghe
from: az
front: jelo, písh; (battle-fronr)jebhe; in front of, jeloye
frown: n akhm; vá akhm kardan (kon)
fruit: mive
fruiterer, fruitseller: miveforush
fry: sorkh kardan (kon)
frying pan: mãhitãve, tãve
tull: por
funny: mozhek; b-amazze;khandedãr
ftrrniture: mobl, asãsekhâne
future n: ãyande

game: bàzi
gaol: zendãn
garage: gãrãnh
garden: bãg!; bãghcle
garlic: sir
gas: gãz
gasstove:ojãgh gã2, fere gãz
gate: darviize
geàÍ: (of cars, etc.) dande
150 rxcusx-PERsTAN
GLossARY

gentleman:ãghã
geography:joshrãfiã
German: âlmãni
Germany: ãlmãn
get: gereftan (gir)
giÍt: hedye, kãdo
girl: dokhtar
give: dãdan (deh)
glass:shishe;(for drinking) livãn, gilãs
gfasses:(spectacles) ênak
glove: dastkesh
glue: chasb
go: raftan (rav)
goet: boz
God: khodã; (Arabic) allãth
goal: hadaf; (in games) gol
gold: talã
good: khub
goodbye:khodã hãfez
goods:ajnãs
govern: hokumat kardan (kon)
government:dowlat, hokumat
gradunlly: tadrijan
grandchild: nave
grandfather: pedarbozorg
grandmother: mãdarbozorg
grape: angur
grass:alaf; (lawn) chaman
gr Yeni ghabr,gur
graveyard:ghabrestãn,gurestãn
grease:n (fat) charbi; (oil) rowghan; vb charb kardan (kon);
rowghan zadan (zan)
great: bozorg
Greece:yunãn
greed: tama'
Greek: yunâni
green: sabz
greengroc€r: sabzi forush
greet: salãm kardan (kon)
 ENGLISH-PEN,SIAN
GLOSSARY151

grief: gham, glosse, anduh

grocer: baehehãl
ground: zamin
group: daste, goruh
grow: roúd kardan (kon)
grumble: ghor zadan (zan)
guaranteen: zemãnat
guessvb: hads zadan (zan)
guest:mehmãn
guide n: rãhnamã
galÍ: (geogr aphic al) khalij
gun: tofang; Qtistol)haftir

hail: tagarg
hair: mu. zolf
half: nesf
hall: tãlãr; (of a house\ hãl
halve: nesf kardan (kon)
hammer n: chakkosh
hand: dast
handkerchief:dastmãl
handle: daste
handsome:khoshkel
hang: (trans.) ãvizãn kardan (kon); (intrans.) ãvizãnshodan
(shav); (to execute)dãr zadan (zan)
happen:ettefãgh oftãdan (oft)
happy: khoshhãI,shãd
hard: (firm) seft; (dfficult) sakht, moúkel
hare: khargt'sh
harm: ãsib
harvestn: mahsul
hat: kolãh
hstc vb: tanaffor dãshtan(dãr); motenaffer budan (bãqtr)
have:dãshtan(dãr)
hazel-nut:fandogh
he: u
head: sar
headache:sar dard
health: salãmati,tandorosti
 cLossARY
152 excusn-PERSTAN

heer: shenidan(g!enav)
heâring eid: sam'ak
heart: ghalb
heat n: garmã
heaven: beheglt
heavy: sangin
heel: pãshne
height: bolandi, ertefã'; (of people) gladd
hell: júannam, duzakh
help n: komak
hen: morgh
here: injã
hiccup n: sekseke
hide: (rrcns.) ehãyemkardan (kon); (intrans.\ ghâyem shodan
(sh*)
high: boland, mortafa'
highway: bozorg rãh; shãh rãh
hill: tappe
hinge: lowlã
hip: bãsan
hire vb: kerãye kardan (kon)
history: tãrikh
hit vb: zadan (zan)
hotd vb: dar dast dãghtan (dãr); negú dãgltan (dar)
hole: surãkh
holiday: ta'til; holidays,ta'tilãt
Holland: holand
hollow: puk, tu khãli
home: manzel, khãne
homt: dorost, dorostkâr
honey: asal
honour: eftekhãr, sharaf, ãberu; word of honour, ghowle qharaf
hmk: ghollab; grre
hope n: omid
horimn: ofogh
horn: bug!
horse: asb
hospital: bimãrestan,marizkhãne
hot: dãgh
 ENGLISH-PERSIANGLOSSARY 153

hotel: mehmãnkhâne,hotel
hour: sã'at
houserkhãne
how: úetowr
human: ensãni
hunger: gorosnegi
hurry n: ajale
hurt: vb (intrans.\ dard ãmadan(ã), dard kardan (kon); (trans.)
dard ãvardan (ãr)
husband:showhar
hut: kolbe
hyacinth: sonbol
hygiene:behdãsht

I: man
ice: yakh
ice-cream:bastani
idea: nazar,fekr, ide
if: agar
ignorance:nãdãni, jahãlat
ignorant: jâhel, nãdãn
ill: mariz, nãkhosh, bimãr
illegal: gbâr-gbãuni
illiterate: bi savãd
illness:nãkhoúi, bimãri
imnediate: fowri
immune:masun
irnpartial: bitaraf
impatient: bihowsele,ajul
import yb: vãred kardan (kon)
important: mohem
inpossible: ghâre momken
imprison: habs kardan (kon)
improve: (intrans.) behtar shodan(!buu); (trans.) behtar kardan
(kon)
in: dar, tu(ye)
income:darãmad
increase:(intrans.) ziãd shodan(shav); (trans.) ziãd kardan (kon)
independence : esteghlâl
154 pxcusn-PERtiIANcLossARY
independent: mostaghel
India: hendustãn
Indian: hendi
indicst€: eúãre kardan (kon)
industry: san'at (pJ. sanãye')
inexperienced:bi tajrobe
lnfectious: mosri
infidel: kâfar
infletion: tavarrom
influcnza: ânffuãnzã
inform: ettelã' dãdan (deh)
information: ettelã' QtI. ettelã'at), khabar (p/. akhbâr)
iqjection: ãmpul
iqiure: zakhmi kardan (kon)
ink: jowhar
innocent: bi gonah
insects: hasharãt
inside: dãkhel(e)
insist: esrãr kardan (kon)
inspector: bãzras
install: kãr gozãshtan(gozãr)
inÍalment: glest
lnsteed of: bejãye
insurence: bime
intclligent: bã hush, ãghel
interesting: jãleb
internationel: bânohelali
interpreter: motarjem
interval: fãsele; Qtause)tanaffos
interview n: mosãhebe
intestine: rude
into: dar
introduce: mo'arrefi kardan (kon)
invent: ekhterã' kardan (kon)
invitation: da'vat
invite: da'vat kardan (kon)
iron: (metal) ãhan; (for ironing) utu
irrigate: âb dãdan (deh)
Islam: eslãm
 ENGLISH-PERSIANGLOSSARY 155

Islamic: eslãmi
island: jazire
Itelian: itãlyã'i
Italy: itãlya
itch: n khãresh;vb khâridan (khãr)

jacket: kot, zhãket

jam: morabbã
jasmine: yâs
jaw: ãrvãre
Jesus:hazrateisã
Jew: kalimi, yãhudi,juhud
jewel: javãher
Jewish:kalimi, yãhudi, juhud
ioint: (anatomica[) mafsal
joke n: shukhi
jolt: takãn
jumper: pulover
journalist: ruznãme negar
journey: safar, mosãferat
judge: n g!,ãzi, dãdras;vb g$ezâvatkardan (kon)
juice: âb
jump và: paridan(par)
jury: hey'ate monsefe
iwt: (equitable) ãdel
justice: edãlat

keep: negahdãshtan(dãr)
keepsake:yãdegãri
kernel: haste
kerosene:naft
kettle: ketri
key: kilid
kick vb: lagad kardan (kon), lagad zadan (zan)
kidney: kolye; (edible)gholve
kill: koshtan (ko$
ktnd: adj mehrabãn;n now', jens
kindergarten: kudakestãn
king: úãh, pãdeshãh
 cLossARY
156 eNcusH-PEnSIAN
kiss n: buse,mâch
kitchen: ãqhpazkhãne
kitten: bachchegorbe
knee: zãnu
kneel: zãnu zadan (zan)
knife: chãghu, kard
knit: bãftan (bãf)
knock vb: dar zadan (zan)
knot n: gere
know: dânestan(dãn)
Koran: ghor'ãn

label: bar chasb,etiket

laboratory : azmãyeúgãh
ladder: nardebãn
lady: khãnum, bãnu
lake: daryãche
lamb: barre
lrrme:úal, cholag!
lamp: cherãgh
landlord/lady: sãhebkhãne(coll. sãbkhune)
language:zabãn
lantern: fãnus, cherâgh
last: adj ãkhar, ãkharin; last week, hafteye gozashte;at last,
bel'akhare;vb (be durable)bã davãmbudan (bã$), davãm
dãshtan(dãr)
late: dir
laugh n: khande
lavatory: mostarã,tuãlet
law: ghãnun
lawyer: vakil
lazy: tambal
lead vb: rúbari kardan (kon); (show the way) rãhnamã'i kardan
(kon)
leader: rahbar
leaf: barg
leak vb: âb dãdan (deh)
lean vá: takye dãdan
leap year: sâle kabise
 ENGLISH.PER,SIANGLOSSARY 157

hern: yãd gereftan (gir), ãmukhtan (ãmuz)

hest: kamtarin; at least, aghallan
hather: charm.
leavevô: tark kardan (kon), raftan (rav); to have behind, jã
gozãshtan(gozãr)
hek: tare farangi
hft: glap
hg: pã
lemon: limu
hnd: gharz dãdan (deh), vãm dãdan
hngth: tul
lendl: adas
hoperd: palang
hss: kamtar
lesson: dars
letter: nãme; (of the alphabet) harf. @1.horuf)
httne: kãhu
ller: doruglgu
übrery: ketãbkhiine
llccnce: javã2, tasdigh, ejãze
[ck: lisidan (lis)
lid: sarpush,dar
lle z: dorug!
life: zendegi
lfft: vâ boland kardan; n (elevator'1asãnsor
light: z nur; rowúanã'i; gherãgh;adj (not darlc) rowghan;(in
weight) sabok
ligbtning: bargh
üke: mesle, mãnande; (resembling)glabih; vb Qteoplc, things)
dust dãshtan (dãr'); (want to do) mâl dashtan (dar)
lilac: yãs
limit n: hadd
limited: múdud
llne: khat
llning: ãstar
lion: qhir
lip: lab
llstcn: gugh kardan (kon); guq! dadan (deh)
litüe: kuchak (coll. kug$k)
158 sxcusH-PERSiIAN
cI"ossAx,Y

live yb: zendegikardan (kon)

live adj: zende
liver: kabed; (edible\ jegar
load n: bâr
loan n: glarz, vãm
local: múalli
lock n: ghofl
locksnith: ghoflsaz
locust: malakh
loin cloth: long
long: derã2, tavil, tulãni; how long?, chandvaght?; long ago,
khâli vaglt pis\ to take a long time, tul keshidan(ke!b)
look: n negãh; vá negãhkardan (kon)
looae:shol
lorry: kãmyon
lose:gom kardan (kon); (a game) bãkhtan (baz)
loss:ziãn. zarar
losses:(casualties\talafãt
loud: boland
loudspeaker:bolandgu
love: n eshgh;vb dust dãshtan(dãr); to be in love, {begb budan
(bãsh)
low: past; (quiet) yavãsh
lowei: pa'in avardan (ar)
luck: shãns
luggage:bãr, asbãb
lukewarm: velarm
lunar: ghamari
lunch: nãhâr
lung: rie

machinegun: mosalsal
machinery: mãshinãlat
mad: divãne (col/. divune)
magazine:majalle
magnet: ãhanrobã
main: asli
maize: zoÍÍat
major: (rnÍl.) sargord
 ENGLISH-PERSIAN GLOSSARY 159

mqiority: aksariyat
make: dorost kardan (kon), sãkhtan (sãz)
man: mard; (mankind) ãdam, ãdamizãd
manager: modir
manuaf: (by hand) dasti
manufacture yà: sãkhtan (sãz)
many: khâh, ziãd
map: naghshe
marble: marmar
march: (in a demonstation) rãhpâmã'i
mark n: alãmat
market: bãzãr
marriage: ezdevãj, arusi
rnarro\ry: (,egetable) kadu
marry: ezdevãj kardan (kon), arusi kardan
martyr: úahid
matches: kebrit
material: pãrche
mathematics: riãziyãt
mâttress: doshak
mauYe: banafú
mayor: shahrdãr
measure: andãze; vb andâze gereftan (gir)
meat: gusht
meddle: fuzuli kardan (kon), dekhãlat kardan (kon)
medical: pezeshki, tebbi
medicine: davã, dãru
meet: molãghãt kardan (kon); (welcome) esteghbãl kardan (kon)
meeting: molãghãt; (of committee etc.) jalese
melon: garmak, tãlebi, kharboze
melt: âb shodan (shav)
memory: hãfeze
merchant: tãjer. bãzargãn
mercy: rahm
message:pâgnam. peyãm
metal: felez
midday: zohr
middle: vasat
Middle East: khãvare miãne
1ó0 exclrsg-PERSIAN GLoSSARY

midnight:nesfeshab,nimeshab
mild: molãyem
military: nezãmi
milk: shir
million: melyun
mind: aghl
mine n: ma'dan; (explosive)min
mineral adj: ma'dani
minister: (govt'1vazir
ministry: vezãrat
minority: aghalliyat
minus: menhã
minute: dagligle
miracle: mo'jeze
mirror: ãyne
miss: z (unmarried woman) dushize; vb (bw etc.) az dast dãdan;
I miss you, delam barãt tang shode
mix vb: ghãti kardan (kon), makhlut kardan
modeln: nemune,model
modern:jadid, modern, motejadded
moisture: rotubat
Monday: doshambe
money: pul
monkey: mâmun
month: mãh
moon: mãh
moonlight: mahtãb
more: bishtar
morning: sob
murque: masjed
mosquito:pashe
moth: bid, shâpare
mother: mãdar
mother-in-law:(wife's mother) mãdar zan; (husband'smother)
mãdar úowhar
motor-bike: motorsiklet
mountain: kuh
mourn: azãgereftan(gir); azâdârikardan (kon)
mouse:mush
 ENGLISH.PERSIANGLOSSARY 161

moustache:sibil
mouth: dahãn (col/. dahan)
moveyb: harekat kardan; to movehouse,asbãbkeshikardan (kon)
movement:harekat
much: khâli, ziãd
mud: gel
mulberry: tut
mule: ghãter
mullah: ãkhund
muscle:azole
museum:muze
mushroom: ghãrgh
music: musighi
Muslim: mosalmãn
must: bãyad
mustard: khardal
mutton: gushtegusfand

nail: mikh; fingernail, nãkhun

name: esm, nãm
nap: chort
napkin: dastmãlsofre
narcissus:narges
narrow: bãrik, tang
nation: mellat
national: melli
nationality: melliyyat
natural: tabi'i
naughty: strâtan
navy: niruye daryã'i
near: nazdik
nearly: taghriban
necessary:lãzem
neck: gardan
necklace:gardanband
nectarine:shalil
need:n ehtiãj; vb lãzem dãútan (dãr)
needle:suzan
negotiate:mo'ãmelekardan (kon)
162 sxcusx-PERSTAN
cLossARY
n€gro: siãhpust
neighbour: hamsãye
neither...nor:na. .na
nephew:(brother'schild) barâdar zãde;(sister'schild) kbãhar zãde
rrcrve:asab(p/. a'sãb)
net: tur
never: hargez, hichvaglt
ne'ur:now, jadid, tãze
news:khabar (pl. akhbãr)
newspaper: ruznãme
New Year: sãle now, now ruz
next: ba'di
niece:(srster'schild) khãhar zâde; (brother'schild) barãdar zãde
night: shab
nightingale:bolbol
nine: noh
nineteen:nuzdah
ninety: navad
no: na, khâr
noise:sedã
nonsen$e:mozekhraf, charand
noon: zohr
no on€: hichkas
normal: ãddi, ma'muli, normãl
north: shomãl
nose:damãgh,bini
notary: mahzardãr,daftardãr; (lawyer) vakíI
note n: yaddãsht
note-book:daftarche, daftare yãddãsht
nothing: hich, hichchi (+ negativeverb)
notice vô: tavajjoh kardan (kon), motevajjeh shodan(rhuu)
notify: ettelã'dãdan(deh), khabar dãdan
nought: sefr, hich
noun: esm
now: hãlã
nuisance:mozãhem;asbãbezahmat
numb: bihess,serr
number: shomãre,adad
nurse n: parastãr
:

,
ENGLISH-PEN,SIANGLOSSARYIó3

: ook: balut
mth: g[asam, sowgand
obedience:etã'at
object n: (thinÒ shey'; (aun) hadaf
object vb: e'tetãz kardan (kon)
occupied:eshghãl;mashghul
oceln: og$lãnus
oculist: pezeúk
"h"ú- tãeh; (strange\ajib
úd: (number)
ú: az
ofr: az: far off. dur
offend: ranjãndan (ranjãn); to be ofiended,ranjidan (ranj)
offer: n Qtroposa[)pishnahãd;vb pishnahãdkardan; (a gift)hedye
kardan
ofÊce:edãre, daftar; Qtosition)post, maghãm
officer: afsar
official: adj rasmi; n ma'mur
often: bãrhã, ziãd
oil: rowghan; Qtetroleum)naft
cld: (of people) pir; (of things)kohne
olive: zâtun; olive oil, rowglan zâtun
on: ruye
once:yek bãr, yek daf'e
one: yek
onion: piãz
only: faghat
opn adj: bãz
operation: (medical) amal (e janahi); (military) amaliyyãt
opinion: aghide
opium: taryãk
opportunity: forsat
opposite:(facing) ruberu(ye), moghãbel(e)
or: yã; either. . . oryã . . . yã
, oral: shafãhi
orange:portaghãl
, order: n (arrangement)tartlb; (command)amr, farmãn; out of
I order, kharãb; vb (goods,food) sef.ãresh dâdan (deh)
ordinary:ãa'rnuli
-
organisation:sãzemãn
164ExcLIsH-PERSIAN
clrossAnY

original: asl, asli

orphan: yatim
other: digar (coll. dige)
otherwise: dar ghâre insurat
ought: bãyad (+ subjunctive)
out: birun, khãrej
outslde:birun, birune
oven: fer; tanar (hole in ground or walQ
over: bãlãye, ruye
overalls: rupuú
overcoat: pãlto
oveúow yb: sav raftan
overtake:jelow zadan (zan)
owl: joghd
own yb: dãshtan(dãr)
owner: sãheb
ox: gãv

pack vb: bastan(band); bastebandi kardan (kon)

package:baste
page: safhe
pain: dard
painter: naghghãsh
painting: naghghâshi
pair: (two of something) joft
palace:ghasr, kãkh
pale: (colours) rowúan, kamrang; (face) rang paride
palm: (o/ hand) kafe dast; (rree)nakhl
pansy: banafúe
pants: zir shalvãri
paper: kãghaz
paradise:beheút
parcel: baste
parents: pedar o mãdar; vãledân
park: n pãrk; car park, pãrking; vâ pãrk kardan (kon)
parsley: ja'fari
part: glesmat
partridge: kabk
partner: sharik
 ENGLTSH-PERSTAN
GLOSSARY 165

perty: (socdclgathering')mehmuni; Qtolitical) hezb

pessvb: (an exam) ghabul shodan; (a passby'1rad shodanaz;
note that rad shodan by itself meansto fail (an exam, test etc.)
pasBenger:mosãfer
passport:gozarnãme,pãsport
past: gozaúte
patience:sabr, howsele
paüent: adj sabur; n (sick person) manz
prvement: piãderow
pey vá: pul dàdan (deh)
p: (chickpea) nokhod; (greenpea) nokhod farangi
peace: solh
peaú: hulu
peacnck: tãvus
pear: golãbi
pearl: morvãrid
peel: z pust; vb pust kandan (kan)
pen: glalam
. pencil: medãd
people:mardom
pepper: felfel
percent: darsad
peúect: bi âb, kãmel
perftrme: atr
perhapo:g!ãyad (+ subjunctive)
permit: n javãz; vb ejãzedãdan (deh)
Persia: irãn
Persian: (the people and things) fu-ani;(the language) fãrsi
percon: shakhs
perspire: aragh kardan (kon)
petnol: benzin
petrol station: pompe benzin
petroleum: naft
pharmacy: dãrukhãne, davãkhãne
phoúograph:aks
, photography: akkãsi
pickles: torshi
picture: aks
piece:tekke, ghat'e
166 BNcr,rsn-PEnsrAN
GLoSSARY

pierce: surãkh kardan (kon)

pig: khuk
pigeon: kabutar
pitgrim: zavvãr; (to Mecca) hãji
pilgrimage: ziãrat; (to Mecca) hãjj
pilot: (o/ aeroplane)khalabãn
pill: ghors
pillow: bãleú
pin: sanjãgh
pink: surati
pipe: pip, chopogh
pity: n tarahom; ii's a pity hâf-e; vb delsuzi kardan
place n: jã
plaln adj: sãde; (clecr) vãzeh
plan n: naghshe
plant n: giyãh
plaster: gag!
plate: boglg!ãb
play vâ: bazi kardan (kon)
pleasevb: {azi kardan (kon)
plenty: farãvãn
plum: ãlu
plumber: lulekeú
plural: jam'
pocket: jib
poem:úe'r
poet: shã'er
point: n sar, nok; (dot) noghte {nicety) nokte; vb neshãndãdan,
eshãrekardan
pole: glotb
police: polis; police oÍficer, afsarepolis
policeman:pasebãn
police station: kalãntari
polite: bã adab, bã tarbiat
political: siãsi
politics: siãsat
poniegranate: anãr
pond: howz
poor: faghir
 ENGLISH-PERSIAN GLOSSARY167

Pope: pãp
, population:jam'iyyat
. port: bandar
porter: Çor luggage)bãrbar; (door-keeper)darbãn
Flssess:dãshtan(dãr)
possible:momken
post n: post
postagestamp: tambr
post office: postkhãne
pt: (saucepan)dig; (flowerpot) goldãn
potato: sibe zamini (col/. sibzamini)
, pour: rikhtan (riz)
poÌver: glodrat, niru
; practise:tamrin kardan (kon)
pray: do'ã kardan (kon)
prayer: do'ã
prefer: tarjih dãdan (deh)
pregnant: ãbestan,hãmele
. prepare: ãmãdekardan (kon)
prescription: noskhe
present:adj hãzer; (now) hãlã; n (Stfò kãdo, hedye
''
press:n the press:matbu'ãt; vá feúãr dãdan (deh)
pressur€:feshãr
pretty: khoshgel
price: bahã,g!âmat
pride: ghorur, takabbor; (in the good sense)eftekhãr
priest: keshish
prime minister: nakhost vazir
print vb: chãp kardan (kon)
priority: taghaddom
prison: zendãn, habs
private: khosusi
probable: momken
problem: mas'ale
produce:n mahsul; vb towlid kardan (kon)
production: towlid
professor: ostãd
profit: sud, naf', manfa'at
programme:barnãme
168 excusH-PERsTAN
GrpssAny

progr€ssz: pishraft, taraggi

promisen: g[owl, va'de
ptrnumiation: talaffoz
prophet: p,âghambar, rasul
proposel: piúnahãd
protect: hemãyat kardan (kon)
protest vb: e'tetãz kardan (kon)
proud: mag!rur
prov€: sãbet kardan (kon)
public: omumi
pull: keg$dan (keg!)
pulse: nabz
pump: tolombe
purcture: panchar
puniú: tanbih kardan (kon)
prrppy: tule sag
pure: khãles
purale: banafsh
purse: kife pul
push: hol dãdan (deh)
put: gozãgltan (gozar)

qudity: jens
quantity: meghdãr
quarrel: da'vã
qurrter: (numerica[) rob'; Qtart of a town) múalle
queGn:maleke
quesüonn: so'ãl
quicÌ: (fast) tond; (soon) zud
qúrú adi: sãket, arãm
quilt: lâhãf

rabblt: khargush
moe n: (cotnpetition) mosãbeghe;(nationality) neg!ãd
radio: rãdio
radish: torobche
railway: rãhe ãhan, rãhãhan; railway station, istgãhe rãhãhan
rain n: bãrãn
rainbow: ghowsoghazú
 ENGIJSH-PERSIAN cLosSAnY 169

raincoat: bârãni
raisin: k"g!-eg!
raw: khãm
razor: tig!
reach: residan (res)
read: khãndan(khan)
ready: hãzer
real: vãghe'i
neasonz: dalil. ellat
receipt: resid
recognise:shenãkhtan(shenãs)
recommendation: towsiye
record vb: zabt kardan (kon)
recreation: tafrih
rcd: ghermez, sorkh -
reduce:kam kardan (kon)
refine: tasfiye kardan
refinery: palâyeúgãh
refuge: panãh, panãhgãh
refugee:panãhande
refuseyb: ghabul nakardan (nakon), rad kardan (kon)
regret n: ta'assof
regular: morattab
relations:(kíndred) glomokhig!, fãmil; Qtroportion)nesbat;
diplomatic relations, ravãbete siãsi
religion: mazhab,din
remember:yãd dãshtan(dãr); I remember,yãdam miãyad/miãd
remind: yãdãvarikardan (kon)
repeat vb: tekrãr kardan (kon)
repent: towbe kardan (kon)
reply vb: javãb dãdan (deh)
report n: gozãresh
representative:namãyande
republic: jomhuri
requestn: darkhãst, taghãzã
rescuen: nejàt
resemblance:shabãhat
resêrvevb: jã, gereftan(gir), Íezel kardan (kon)
resiEr: este'fã dãdan (deh) or kardan (kon)
170 rxcusg-PExÍrrANclossAr,y

respccf n: ehterãm
rcsponslble: mas'ul
rcsult n: natije
rctire: bãzneshasteshodan(shau)
r.eturn vb: bâz gashtan(gard), bar gashtan(gard)
nevenge:enteg!ãm
revoludon: enghelãb
rewsrd n: pãdãsh
rhuberb: rivãs
rib: dande
ribbon: rubãn
rke: berenj
rich: puldãr, motemawel
ride vb: savâri kardan (kon)
ridicule: n maskhare;vb maskharekardan (kon)
riding: savãri
right: rãst, dorost, sahih
ring: n halghe; (for thefinger) angoshtar;vb (bell) zang zadan
(zan)
rinse vb ãb keshidan(kesh)
ripe: reside
risc: boland shodan (shav)
river: rudkhãne
rmd: khiãbãn; jãdde, rãh
rob: dozdidan (dozd), dozdi kardan (kon)
roof: saghf, poúte bâm (coll. poshtebun)
room: otãgh; (space)jã
root: righe
rope: tanãb, rismãn
rocc: gole sorkh, roz
rot vb: pusidan(pus)
rough: zebr
round: gerd
rub: mãlidan (mãl)
rubber: lãstik; (eraser\medãdpãk kon
rubbish: ãshghãl
rude: bi adab, bi tarbiat
rug: ghãliche
ruin n: kharãbi; (a place) ürãne, kharãbe
 ENGLISH.PERSIANGLOSSANY171

rule n: g!ã'ede
nrn yó: davidan (dav\ (coll. dowidan)
rural: rustã'i
Russia:rusiye
Russian:rusi
rust: zang
rusty: zang zade

sack: guni
sacrifice:glorbãni
sad: ghamgin
saddle:zin
safe: amn
safety: amniyyat
saffron: za'ferun
sail n: bãdbãn
sailor: malavãn
safary: hoglug! (pl.of hash = right(s))
sale:forush; (aucüon) harâj
salmon:mãhiye ãzãd
salt: namak
salt-cellar:namakdãn
same:hamin, hamun
sample:nemune
sand:úen, mãsse
Satan: shâtan
satellite:mãhvãre
satisfaction:Íezãyat
satisfy: rãzi kardan (kon)
Saturday: shambe
saucepan:g!ãbleme
saucer:nalbeki
savings:pasandãz
saw n: arre
say: goftan (gu)
scales: tarazu
scarcely:benodrat
scarf: shalgardan;headscarf',rusari
school:madrese
172 rNcLrsn-pERsrAN
cr.ossAx,y

science:elm (p/. olum)

scissors:ghâOi
scorpion: agh:rab
scratch vb: khãrãndan(khãrãn)
screw: pich
screwdriver: pichgushti, pichvãkon
scythe:dãs
sea:daryã; seaside,kenãre daryã
sealn: mohr
season:fasl
seat: sandali; (in a cinema,theatre,etc.) jã
second:n (time) sãniye;adj (number) dowom
sccond-hand:daste dowom
secret: n rãz; adj sern
secretary:monshi
security: amniyyat
see:didan (bin)
seed:tokhm, bazr
seldom:benodrat
sell: forukhtan (for"sh)
send:ferestãdan(ferest)
sensible:ãghel
sentence:jomle
separate:jodã, savã
servant: mostakhdem,kãrgar
service:khedmat
seven:haft
seventeen:hivdãh
seventy:haftãd
several:chand
sew:dukhtan (duz)
sewing:khayyãti
sewingmachine:charkhe khayyãti
sex:jens
shade,shadow:sãye
shake:takãn dãdan (deh)
shallow: kam omgh
shame:sharm
shape:shekl, tarkib
 ENGLISH-PERI;IÂN GTI)SSANY 173

sharen: sahm (pl. sahãm);sharned, shariki, sherãkati

sharcholder: sahãmdãr
sharp: tiz
sharpener:Qtencilsharpener)medãd tarãsh
sheve:tarãshidan(tarãsh); (one's beard) rish tarãshidan(tarãsh)
sheep:gusfand
sheet:(/or a bed) malãfe; (of paper\ varagh
shelf: tãghche
shepherd:chupãn
ship: kashti
shirt: pirhan
shiver: larzidan (larz)
shoe:kafsh
shoehorn:pãshnekeú
shoelace:bande kafú
)
shoemrker: kaffãg!
shoot: bã tir zadan (zan); tirandãzi kardan (kon)
shop: n maghãze,dokkãn; vb kharid kardan (kon)
shopkeeper:maghãzedãr,dokkãndãr
short: kutã
short-sighted:nazdikbin
shoulder:shãne
show yb: neúân dãdan (deh)
shut vb: bastan(band)
shy: khejãlati
sick: mariz, bimãr
side: pahlu, taraf, kenãr
sieve:n sãfi, alak; vb sãf kardan, alak kardan (kon)
sign, signal z: alãmat
signature: emzâ
silencc: sokut
silk: abrisham
silver: noglre
simitrrrity: shabãhat
simple: sãde
sin n: gonãh
since: (áecause)chun; (time) az vaghtike
sing: âvãz khãndan (thãn)
single: tak
174 excrrsH-PERsTAN
GLossARY

sister: khãhar
sister-in-law:(wife's sl'srer)khãhar zan; (husband'ssister)khâhar
showhar
sit: neshastan(neshin)
sitting room: otãgle neshiman
six: shesh
sixteen:shunzdah
sixty: shast
size: andâze
skin: pust
skirt: dãman
sky: ãsemãn
slap n: keqbide
sleepvb: khãbidan (\!ãb)
sleet:burân
sleeve:ãstin
slidevb: sor khordan,liz khordan (L!or)
slipper: dampã'i
slow: ãheste,yavãsh
small: kuchak
smallpox: ãbele
smell n: bu
smile n: labkhand
smoke:n dud; vb (fire erc) dud kardan (kon); (cigarettes)sigár
keshidan(kesh)
smooth:sãf
snake: mãr
sneeze:n atse; vb atse kardan (kon)
snorevá: khor khor kardan (kon)
snow n: barf
so: banãbar'in
soap: sãbun
society:jãme'e, ejtemã'
sock: jurãb
sofa: nimkat, mobl
soft: narm
soil: khãk
solar: khorúidi, shamsi
soldier: sarbãz
 ENGLISH-PERSIANGLOSSARY175

some:ba'zi
somehdy: yek kas, kasi
something:yek chiz, chizi
sometimes: gãhi, ba'zi vaghthã
somewhere: jã'i, yek jã
son: pesar
song:ãvã2,tarãne
son-in-law:dãmãd
soon:zud, bezudi
sorry: mota'assef;I am sorry, bebakhshid
soup: sup
sour: torú
south: jonub
souvenir:yâdegãri
SovietUnion: showraü; USSR,ettehãdejamãhire showravi
sow: kâshtan (kãr)
sptce: (room) jã, fazã; (outer space) fazâ
spade:bil
Spain: espãnyã
Spanish:espãnyoli
spanner: âchãr
spareadj: ezãfi, yadak; sparewheel, charkhe yadak
speak:harf zadan (zan); sohbat kardan (kon)
special:makhsus
spectacles:ânak
speech:sohbat; (at a rally erc.) sokhanrãni
speedn: sor'at
spend:(money) kharj kardan (kon); (time\ gozarãndan(gozar);
sarf kardan (kon)
spicen: adviyye
spill: rikhtan (riz)
spinach:esfenâj
spoil: (rrans.) kharãb kardan (kon); (intrans.) kharãb shodan
(üav)
qxnn: Èaglog!
sport: varzeú
spring: (season)bahâr
square: z mêrdan; adl chahãrgt'sh
stair: pelle
17ó Bxcrrsx-PEnsrANclossAnY

stemp: Qtostage\tambr; (seal)mohr

stend: istãdan (ist)
star: setãre
station: railway station, istgahe rãhãhan
statue: mojassame
stay: mãndan (mãn)
steal: dozdidan (dozd)
íeam: bo!!ãr
step: gladami (of a stair) pelle
stepbrother: nã barãdari
step-deughter: nã dokhtari
stepfather: nã pedari
step-mother: nã mãdari
step-son:nã pesari
stick: (izÍrcns.) ghasbidan(g!asb); (traru.\ chasbãndan
sücky: nuch, chasbnãk
stâll: adj ãrãm; adv (yet) hanuz
sting n: nish
stir: ham zadan (zan)
stocking: jurãb
stomach:shekam,ma'de
stone: sang
stop vb: (intrarc.) istãdan(ist); negahdãshtan(dãr); to stop doing
sth., nakardan
storey: tabaghe;multi-storey,chand tabaghe
súorm: tufãn
story: dãstãn,glesse
streigbt: râst, sãf
strawberty: tutfarangi
stram: nahr, juy
street: kuúe
shing: nakh
student: dãneq$u; mohassel
study vb: dars khãndan (!!an)
stupid: ahmagh
sturgeon: mãhiye uzun borun; mãhiye khãviar
subtract: kam kardan (kon)
suburb: hume
such: chenin
 ENGLISH.PERSIANGLOSSARY I77

suck: mekidan (mek)

sudden:nâgahãni,(col/.) yeho
sugar: shekar; (lump sugar)gland
suicidc:khodkoshi
srtit: (man's) kotshalvâr; (woman's) kotdãman
sum: (o/ money) mablagh
summer: tãbestãn
sun: ãftâb
Sunday:yekshambe
sunrise:tolu'e ãftãb
sunset:ghorube ãftãb
supermarket: supermãrket
supper: shãm
suppose:tasawor kardan (kon); gamãnkardan (kon)
$rre: motma'en
surgoon:janãh
surprise:ta'ajjob
swallowvb: ghurt dãdan (deh); bal'idan (bal')
sweatn: aragh '
swoep:jãru kardan (kon)
sweet:shirin
swim: sheno kardan (kon)
swimmingpool: estakhr
syringe:sorang
syrup: shire

table: miz; table-cloth,rumizi

tailor: khayyãt
take: gereftan (gir); to take away, bordan (bar); to take off
(clothes)kandan (kan), dar ãvardan(ãr)
talk vâ: harf zadan (zan); sohbatkardan (kon)
tall: boland
tangerine:nãrengi
tap: shir
tape: navãr
tape recorder: zabte sowt
tax n: mãliãt
taxi: tãksi
tea: chã'i
178 nxcrtsn-PERSIAN
GLossARY
teach: dars dãdan (deh)
teacher:mo'allem,ãmuzegãr
tea-cup: fenjân
tcarrvb: pãre kardan (kon)
tears: ashk
teese:sar besargozãshtan(gozãr)
telegramme:telgerãf
telephone:telefon
television:televizyon
tell: goftan (gu)
temporary: movaghghat
ten: dah
tenant: mosta'jer
test n: ãzmãyeú
than: az
thank: tashakkor kardan (kon)
that: ãn
theft: dozdi
then: ãnvaght
there: ãnjã
therefore: banâbar'in
these:inhã
they: ãnhã
thick: koloft, zakhim
thief: dozd
thin: Iãghar
thing: chiz QtL chizha),úâ' (p/. a!byã')
think: fekr kardan (kon)
third: sewom
thirst: teshnegi
thirsty: teghne
this: in
those:ãnhã
thought: fekr
thousand:hezãr
three: se
throat: galu
through: az
throw vb: andãkhtan(andãz);paÍ kardan (kon)
 ENGLISH.PET,SIANGLOSSARY 179

thunder: ra'd
Thurday: panjshambe
thus: intowr
ticket: bilit
tie: n (necküe)kerãvãt; vb bastan(band); to tie a knot, gere zadan
(zan)
tight: tang
tile: kãshi
tïll: (unti[) tá
time: vaglt, zamãn;by the time that, tã; from time to time, gãhi;
(the hour) sã'at
tin: ghuti
tired: khaste
to: be
today: emruz
toe: angoshtepã
together:bã ham
tomato: gowje farangi
tomorrow: fardã
tongue:zabãn
tonight: emshab
too: (also) ham; (too much) ziãdi
tool: abzãr
tooth: dandãn
toothbrush: mesvãk
toothpaste:khamir dandãn
torch: cherãghghowe
touch vb: dast zadan (zan)
tourist: jahãngard, turist
towards: be tarafe
towel: howle
town: shahr
trade: tejârat; (craft or occupation)herfe
traffic: raft o ãmad, ãmad o shod, terâfik
train n: teran, glatãr
transaction:mo'ãmele
transfer n: enteghãl;(of money) havãle
translate:tarjome kardan (kon)
translationn: tarjome
180 rncusx-PERnTAN
crtNsARy

hansport n: haml o naghl; tarãbari

travel: n mosâferat; vb mosãferat kardan (kon)
traveller: mosãfer
hee: derakht
tremble: larzidan (larz)
tribe: ghabile, il
trouble n: zahmat; to take trouble, zahmat keshidan (keú);
Qtroblerrc)gereftãri, darde sar
trousers: shalvãr
tme: rãst
tnrnk: (ãox) sandogh;(ol a tree\ tane
trust n: e'temãd, etminãn
hrtb: rãsti, haghighat
Tuesday: seshambe
tulip: lãle
tune: ãhang
turban: ammãme
Turk: tork
Turkey: Torkiyye
turkey: lrrqhalamun
tumreric: zardúube
turn: n nowbat; rrb pichãndan(prg!); charkhândan(gb"t!!)
turnip: shalgham
turquoise: firuze; (the colour\ firuzei
hpelve:davãzdah
hrenty: bist
twice: do daf'e, do bãr
two: do
typewriter: mãshine tahrir
typewriting: mãshin nevisi
typhoid: hasbe
typist: mãshin nevis

ugly: zeglt
umbrelh: chatr
unbeliever: kãfar
lllrc*: QtaternaÍ)amu; (maternat) dâ'i
under: zire
under.secretary: mo'ãven
 ENGLTSH-PERSIANGLOSSATY I81

understand: fahmidan (fahm)

unemployed:bikãr
unemployment:bikãri
unfortunately : mota'asefãne
union: ettehãd; (of workers)ettehãdiye
unit: vãhed
United Stetes:ayãlãtemottahedeyeãmrikã; ãmrikã
university: dãneqlgãh
uqiust: bi ensãf
unless:magar, magar inke
untie: bãz kardan (kon)
up: bãlã
ulxm: ruye
upper: bãlã
upside-down:vãrune
urgent: fowri
use:n it isn't any use, fãyedenadãrad; vó masraf kardan (kon);
estefâdekardan (kon) az; be kãr bordan (bar)
useful: mofid, bedard bellor
USSR:ettehãdejamãhire showraü
utensils: zarfhã, zoruf (Arabic pl.)
utmost: nahãyat

vacany:jã, jãye khãli

vecent: (empty) khãli; (free) ãzâd
vaccinate:mãye kubi kardan (kon), vãksin zadan (zan)
valid: mo'tabar
valley: darre
valuable:ghâmati, arzande
velue n: arzeú
vase:goldãn
various: mokhtalef
veal: gushtegusãle
vegetables:sabzijãt (Arabic pl.\
veiú:(for the face) rubande; (long black verÍ) ghãdor
vein: rag
verb: fe'l
very: khâli
vest: pirhan zir
182 excusn-?EnsrANGrossARy

victory: fath
údeo: üdyo
üew: manzare
village: deh, dehkade,ãbãdi, rustã
vine: mow
vinegar: serke
visa: vizã, ravãdid
visit: n didan; vá didan kardan
voice:sedã
volcsno: ãteshfeshãn
vomit n: estefrãgh
vote vb: râ'y dãdan (deh)

wages:hog[ug! (p/. o/haeh)

waist: kamar
wait vb: sabr kardan (kon)
wake: (Írans.) bidãr kardan (kon); (intrans.) bidãr shodan
walk vb: rãh raftan (rav)
walking: rãhpâmã'i
wsll: divãr
walnut: gerdu
want yb: khâstan (!!ãh)
war: jang
rvarm: garm
warmtb: garmã
wash vb: shostan(rhuy, col/. shur)
washing maehine: mãshine rakhtshu'i
wastevô: harãm kardan (kon)
waterfall: ãbg!ãr
watering can: ãbpãsh
water-melon: hendevãne
Ìvaye:n (of the sea)mowj; vb dast takân dãdan (deh)
way: rãh, tarigh
we: mã
weeh: za'if
weakness:za'f
weelth: dãrã'i
ìïealxln: aslahe
wcar: puúidan (push)
 ENGLISH-PERSIAN GIrossARY L83

weather: havã
Weòresday:chahãrshambe
week: hafte
rvoep:gerye kardan (kon)
weigh:(trans.)keúidan (kesh),vazn kardan (kon); (intrans.)
vazn dãshtan(dãr)
weight: vazn, sangini
welcomevb: khoúãmad goftan (gu),!!râre maghdamgoftan
well adv: khub
west: gharb
western:gharbi
wet: khis, tar
what: chi, che
whaiever: harchi, harche
wheat: gandom
wheel:charkh
when: vaghtlke; (interrog) kêr
whenever:har vaght, har gãh
where:jã'ike; kojã
wherever:har kojã ke
which: ke
whichever:har kudum
while: dar hãlike
whisper vb: zemzemekardan (kon), zire lab goftan (gu), peg!
pechkardan (kon) (col/.)
whistle ru: sut
white: sefid
who: ke; ki
whole: kãmel, tamãm
why: cherã
wide: pahn, ariz
widow: bive
width: arz, pahnã
wife: zan, hamsar
wild: vahshi
willow: bid
win yb: bordan (bar), barandeshodan(shav)
wind: bãd
window: panjere
184 eNcusH-PERsTAN
GLrxisArY

wlne: sharãb
wlng: bãl
wink vb: cheúmak zadan (zan)
wlnter: zemestân
wire: sim
wirelcss:rãdio, bisim
wise: ãúel
wisÉ n: ãrezu
with: bã
within: dã!!el
without: bedune
witness: shãhed
womtn: zan
wood: chub
wool: paghm; woollen, paghmi
word: kalame, loglat, vãzhe
work n: kãr
worker: kãrgar
workshop: kãrgah
world: donyã
worth: arzeú
wound n: zakhm
wrap: pichidan (pich), pichãndan(prg!ãn)
wrist: moch, moche dast
write: neveútan (nevis)

yard: hayãt; yãrd (English measure)

year: sãl
yellow: zard
yes: bale, ãre (coll.\
yesterdey: diruz
yet: hanuz
you: to, shomã
young: javãn
youth: javâni

zeno:sefr
Zoroaster: zartoút
Zoroostrian: zartoshti (coll. zardoshti)
 Glossary
- English
Persian

In this glossaryâ, ch, g!, kh, sh and zh are treated as separate

letters, following ?, c, E, k, s and z respectively.

abad: eternity; tã abad, for ever; abadi, eternal

abr: eloud
abru: eyebrow
adab: manners;bã adab, polite; bi adab, rude
adabiyyât: literature
adviyye: spice
afirãr (p/. o/ fekr): thoughts
afsar: officer
afsus: what a pity
agar: if
aghab:behind
aghallan: at least
ag!!ab: mostly, often
agLrab: scorpion
úmagh: stupid
ahyanan: by any chance
qinãs (pr. o/jens): goods
akhiran: recentlY,latelY
temperament;bad akhlãgh, bad tempered;Xhosn
"tnlâglt
akhlãg!, good tempered
akhm: frown; akhm kardan (kon), to frown
akkãs: photograPher
aks: picture, photograPh
ahsaran:mostlY,mainlY
aksariyyat: majoritY
alaf: grass(usually long grass);weeds
al'ãn: right now
albatte: of course
alfãh: God (Arabic)
almãs:diamond
amal: action (pt. a'mãl); surgicaloperation (pl. amaha)
amaliyyãt: operations
18ó rrnsnx-ENcl,lsn cr.ossARy
smlnrt: something lent or entrusted to someone (can be thíngs
or money)
ambtr: store room; amblr krrdan (kon), to store, to accumulate
rmml: but
8mr: command;amr kardan, amr farmudan, to command
(someoneto do something)
smrâz @L of rrwaz): diseases
rn'im: tip, gratuity
onÕr: pomegÍanate
andillton (andtz): to throw
andlze: size
engcht: finger
angchtar: nng (for finger)
anguhk kardan (kon): to fiddle with, to poke, to bait
rngur: grape
rqfir: fig
orag!: sweat;any distilled spirits e.g. aragbekeshmc!!, an alcohol
distilled from raisins
arblb: master
ermani: Armenian
8rr!e: saw
artesh: army
erus: bride
anrsi: wedding
arz: foreign exchange;ard dâúttm, polite way of saylng'I would
like to say something'
arzân: inexpensive
aneg!: value, worth
asâ:walking stick
sab (pI. a'sãb): nerve; a'sâbamkherib-e, my nervesare bad
nsar: effect (p/. ãsfr is also used in ãsâre tãritli, historical
remains)
esâs:basis
asâsi:basic
asãsiye:fumiture
asb: horse
asbãb:goods, furniture; asbãbasâsiye,goods & chattels
asir (p/. oaarâ): prisoner
asl (p/. osul): principle; asli, principal
 PERSIAN.ENGLISHGLOSSARY187

aslahe:weapon
aslan:not at all (with negativeverb)
asr: early evening, late afternoon
assâ'e:right now
atr: perfume
atrãúQtl. o/taraf): side; atrâfe Tehrân, around Tehran
avazkardan (kon): to change(trans.), to exchange
avaz shodan(shav):to change(intrans.)
awal: first
awelan: firstly
az: from
azãn: the call to prayer
aziat kardan (kon): to bother, to trouble (trans.\
aziz: dear

ãb: water
ãb keshidan(keq!): to rinse
ãbãd: cultivated
ãbãdi: village
ãbân: Aban, the 8th Persianmonth
ãbele:smallpox
ãberu: reputation; iiberum raft. I lost face, I was disgraced
ãberurizi: a disgrace(lit. the spilling of face water!)
ãbi: blue
ãbkesh:colander
âbpach:watering can
ãbpaz: boiled (of food, fit. watercooked)
ãchãr: spanner
ãdat: habit, custom
ãftâb: sun
ãftãbe: a kind of ewer for water, used specificallyfor washing
insteadof lavatory paper
ãgahi: advertisement
ãhan: iron (the metal)
âhang:tune
ãhangar: blacksmith
âheste:slow, quiet
âjor: brick
ãkhar: last
188 pensrAN-ENcr,rsn
cr-ossAtY

ã!!und: mullah
ãlbãfu: a kind of cherry ( srnall, dark and sour, usedfor jam and
in a rice dish\
ãli: very good, superb
ãlmân: Germany
ãlu: plum
ãmadan(ã): to come
ãmâde:ready
âmâr: statistics
ãmpul: injection
âmrikã: America
ãmukhtan (ãmuz): to learn
âmuzesh:learning
ãn: that
âqiá: there
ãrãm: quiet, still
ãrd: flour
ãre: yes (coll.)
ârezu: wish
ãsãn:easy;ãsãni, ease;be âsuni, easily
âsemãn:sky
ãsfãlt: asphalt
ãsh: Persiansoup - it is usually quite thick and there are
innumerablevarieties
âshnã:acquaintance;acquainted
ãqlpaz: cook
ãsyã:Asia
âtegh(col/. ãtish): fire
ãteshfeshãn:volcano
ãteglneshãni:fire brigade
ãvardan (ãr): to bring
ãvâzkhândan (khãn): to sing
âyizan kardan (kon): to hang(things, trans.); ãvizãn, hanging
ãyande:future
âyne: mirror
ãzãd: free
àzar: Azat,9th Persianmonth; girl's name
ãzâr: hurt, damage
ãmâyesh: teSt, trial
 PER,SIAN-ENGUSTIGLOSSARY 189

ãzmÕyqlgú: laboratory
tzhir: siren

bachche: child
bad: bad
ba'd: then, afterwards;ba'd az, after
bag!g!ãl: groceÍ
bagLiyye:remainder; bagliyye(ye),the rest of
bahã: price
bahâr: spring
behman: llth Persianmonth; boy's name; avalanche
balhslidan (bakhsh): to forgive
bakhshesh:forgiveness
ba$t: luck, fortune
bafad budnn (bãsh):to know (how to do sth., a languageerc.\
hle: yes
banafú: violet
beúshe: pansy
bandnr (p/. banâder): port
bande: slave;polite form for I, i.e. your slave
bannâ: builder
barãbar: equal
berãdar: brother
barãye: for
bar dãshtân (dâr): to take off, to take away
bar gaqbtan(gard): to return, to tuÍn around
barg: leaf
bargh: electricity
barnãme:programme
bas: enough
basij: mobilisation
bastan(band): to close, to tie, to fasten
bestani: ice cream
baste: parcel; adj closed
ba'zi: some
bâ: with; bã ham, together
bãd: wind; swelling; bãd kardan, to swell
bãdãm: almond
bãg!: garden
190 psnshx-ENGLTsH
cI,ossAly

bâg$avã: sweetmeatmade of thin pastry, ground almondsand

sugar
b{ie: ticket office
b@tsn (bãz): to lose (a gameetc.)
bãI: wing
bãlã: up, above
bâleg!: pillow
bãlkon: balcony
bânk: bank
bãnu: lady
bãr: load, luggage;bar; times
bãrãn (colL bârun): rain
bârâni (col/. beruni): raincoat
bârik: narrow
bãsavâd:literate
bãvar kardan (kon): to believe
bãz: open; bãz kardan (kon), to open
bâzâr: market, bazaar
bãzargãn:merchant
bâzdid: control, inspection,return visit
bãzi: game
bãzras: inspectoÍ
bãzu: forearm
be: to
bedune:without
behesht:heaven,paradise
behdasht:hygiene;public health
bôrne:between
bônolmelali : international
bâragh: flag
benzin: petrol
bereqi: rice; brass
besyâr:much, many, very
bi: without
biãbun: uncultivatedland. wasteland
bidÕr: awake; bidãr úodan, to wake up; bidâr kardan (kon), to
waken
bid: willow tree; clothesmoth
bi!!od: unnecessarily
 PERSIAN-ENGIJSH GITOSSARY191

bil: spade
bimâr: sick
bimãri: sickness,illness
bime: insurance
bini: nose
binrn: outside; birun kardan (kon), to dismiss,to expel
biútar: more
bist: twenty
bive: widow
bokhâr: steam
bokhãri: fire, stove
boland: high, tall; boland shodan(shav),to rise, to get up; boland
kardan (kon), to lift, to raise; (col/.) to steal
bolbol: nightingale
bombast:cul-de-sac
bordan (bar): to take away, to take, to carry
boridan (bor): to cut
boglghrlb: plate
botri: bottle
boz: goat
bozorg: big, large, great
bu: smell; bu kardan (kon), to smell (trans.); bu dadan (deh), to
smell (intrans.)
budrn (bãsh):to be, to exist
bug!: horn
bus, buse:kiss; busidan(bus), to kiss

chakkoeh: hammer
chakme: boot
chaman: lawn, grass
chand: how much; how many; how long; some; few
changõl: fork; claw
chep: left
glprb: gÍeasy
glprbi: grease, fat
charkh: wheel
ÈaÌllidan (g!pr!!): to turn
g!gm: leather
chasb: glue
192 prnsnx-ENcLrsn crrx;sARY

chrsbftlan: to stick
chashm: alright, certainly (in answer to a command)
chetr: umbrella
ghÕdor:tent; the long veil worn by the women in lran
chli: tea
eìãgh: fat (adj)
chilghu: knife
chãh: well (n)
chúãr (colÍ. cher): four
châp: print
ghehel: forty
chek: cheque
chenâr: plane tree
g!erã: why
cherãgh: lamp
g[erk: dirt, pus; dirty; cherk kardan (kon), to becomeinfected
(of wounds, lesionsetc.)
gleg$dan (chesh): to taste
cheshm: eye
cheshmak:wink; cheshmakzadan (zan), to wink
gheqhme:spring
chetowr: how
úi: what
chidan (chin): to cut
chin: fold; China
chini: Chinese;porcelain
chiz: thing
cholãgh: lame
úort: snooze
chub: wood
chubi: wooden
úune: chin; chune zadan (zan), to bargain, to haggle
úunrk: wrinkle; crumpled

dabestãn:primary school
daf'e: time; yek daf'e, once; daf'eye dige, next time
daftar: exercisebook; office
deghigh: accurate
d'-highe (coll daighe): minute
 PER,SIAN-ENGIJSHGLOSSARY 193

deh: ten
dshãn (colL drhrn): mouth
damâg!: nose
dandãn (col/. dandun): tooth
dande:rib; gear; cog
dar: door (n); in; dar bâreye,concerning,about
dareje: degree,rank
dard: pain; dard kardan (kon) (intrans.), to ache; dard ãvardan
(âr) (rraru.), to hurt; dard ãmadan(a) (intrans.), to hurt;
dardam ãmad, it hurt me
dere: lesson
dast: hand; dast dãdan, to shake hands; dast bardãshtan (bardãr),
to stop, to desist;dastckam, at least; az dast diidan, to lose
(a loved one, a job etc; to lose thingsis gom kardan)
daste: group, bunch
dastkesh: glove
dastmãl: handkerchief
davã: medicine
da'vâ: argument; da'vã kardan (kon), to argue, to quarÍel
devâzdah: twelve
davidan (ilzv, coll. dow): to run
dãdan (deh): to give
dâdãsh: brother (coll., also affectionate\
dâdgostari: justice; vezãratedãdgostari, Ministry of Justice
dâdsetãn:public pÍosecutoÍ; dãdsetâni,the public prosecutor's
office
dã'em, üi'emi: permanent,perpetual
dã'eman: perpetually, constantly
dãoh: hot
dÃmõd:son-in-law;bridegroom
diiman: skirt
dãnestan(ilân) (coll. dun): ro know
dãnesh: knowledge
dãnc$ãnuz: student Qnually in school)
dâncglgah: university
dãrchin: cinnamon
dâru: medicine
dãstân: story
dâútan (dãr): to have
194 prrsnx-ENcI"rsHcLossARY
dâyere:circle
deglghat: care; deglglat kardan (kon), to pay attention, to take
care
deh: village
del: heart, stomach
delsuzi:sympathy;delam sukht, I felt sorry; delam barâg! sulüt,
I felt sorry for him/it
deldard: stomachache
de[hor: put out, offended
deltang:sad, distressed
derâz: long
dey: 10th Persianmonth
didan (bin): to see
didani: visiting
dig: cooking pot
dilar (col/. 'lige): other, next; daf'eye dige, next time; ruze dige,
another day; chizedige, somethingelse
din: religion
dir: late; dir kardan (kon), to be late
diruz: yesterday
diúab: last night
divãne (coll. divune): mad
divãr: wall
do!!tar: girl; daughter
dokkãn (col/. dokkun): shop
dokkândâr: shopkeeper
dogme:button
donyã: world
dorost: correct, right; dorost kardan (kon), to make, to put right
doroste:whole
dorugh: lie, falsehood;dorugh goftan (gu), to lie
doshman:enemy
dozd: thief
dozdi: theft; dozdi kardan (kon), to steal
dozdidan(dozd): to steal
dowlat: government,state
dowlati: belongingto the state
dowre: around (prep.\
doshak:mattress
 PEÌSIAN-ENGLISH GISSANY 195

dud: smoke; òd karden (kon), to give off smoke

dug[: a drink consisting of yogurt, water and scasoning,. :,
dulütrn (duz): to sew
durbh: telescope; binoculars; dürbirc akllld, camera (also jwt
durbin); adj long-sighted ,
duí: friend
dusti: friendship
dush: shower; shoulder

ebtedã: begrnning (seealso g[onu')

edime: continuation; edãmedãdon (deh), to continue
edlre: office; edare kardan (kon), to administer, to manage
eftâr: breaking of rhe fast at sunsetin Ramadan
eúÌckhÍr: honour; dt{!Õr kardrn (kon), to be proud, to be
honoured
dtetlh: inauguration, opening; efretãh kardan (kon), to
inaugurate
eltczth: disgrace
egLlmet: residence; eiãnye eshimat, residencepermit
egLtesü: economy; economics(the subject)
egltaúdi: economical
eh8: feeling, emotion; úsÕs kardan (kon), to feel
eìslsÕti: emotional
ehtcrãm: respect
ehtekãr kardan (kon): to hoard; ehtckãr, hoarding
ehtenãl: possibility, likelihood; ehemileg! kam-e, it's unlikely;
ehtemâl dãre, it's possible; be ehtemile zitd, in all probability
úti{i: need; ehti4i dehtan (dÍr), to need
útiãt: care, -caution; bii ehtiãt, carefully
ôrvân (coft. ôvun): balcony, verandah
ôrnek: spectacles
âb: fault; ôU aegten (dâr), to matteÍ; âb nadãre, it doesn't
matter, never mind
ejâre: rental; ejãrc kardan (kon), to rent
ejÍrenãme: rental agreement, also sometimesrefened to as
ejercnfngbe
ejize: permission; ejãze dãdan (deh), to give permission; ejãze
gertftan Gir), to obtain permission; ejize hast?, may I?
ejbãr: obligation; ejbâri, obligatory
19ó psRsrAx-ENGLTSH
Gt,ossAny

ejtemâ': society;gathering
ejrâ kardan (kon): to carry out
elhtelãf: difference; elltelãf dãshtan (dãr), to differ
ekhtiãr: will
elâhi: diüne; ehlãhi ke or elâhi * subjuncüvewould to God that

e'lân: announcement;e'lãn kardan (kon), to announce

e'temãd: trust; e'temâdkardan (kon) be, to trust; e'temãdd@tan
(dâr) bc, to trust
e'terãz: protest; e'terãzkardan (kon), to protesÈ
e'tesâb:strike; e'tesâbkardan (kon), to go on strike
emâm: spiritual leader
emãmzade:shrine
emkân: possibility; emkân dãshtân(dãr), to be possible;emkãn
nadãre, it's impossible
emruz: today
emsâl:this year
emúab: tonight
emtehãn:examination.test
emzã:signature
engelestãn:England
enghelâb:revolution
enghelãbi:revolutionary
enhesãr:monopoly
ensãn:homo sapiens;one (the impersonalpronoun); folâni ensãn-
e, so-and-sois decent
ensãniyyat:decency,humanity
enshâ:essay,composition(literary)
entekhãb:choice; entekhãbkardan (kon), to choose .
entekhâbãt:elections
erâdat: devotion
erãde:will; erâdekardan (kon), to will; bã erãde, strong-willed
ershãd:enlightenment;vezâreteershãd,Ministry of Guidance
ertebãt: connection
esfand:12th Persianmonth; incense
eskenãs:bank note
eslãh:correction; eslãhkardan (kon), to correct; to shave
eslãm: Islam
eslãmi: Islamic
 PER,SIAN.ENGUSHGLOSSARY 19?

em: name
esptnyl: Spain
csptnyoll: Spanish
6rlf: ìvaste
esnâr: insistence; e*lr kardsn (kon), to insist
estaghÍerollÕh:(tit. may God forgve me) goodnessgracious
ested'âkardan (kon): to beg (e.9. a favour'y;esaed'lmikonrm,
please(very polite form)
este'dàd:talent; bã este'dâd,talented, gifted
este'fã: resignation; cste'fã dãdü (deh), to resign
esúelâh:expression; be €steÌnh,so to speak; as it were
csúe'mlr: imperialism
este'mâl: use; eúe'mllc dotllniil mamnu', no smoking
estefâde:use, profit; cstefÕdekardan (kon), to profit; to use (ta&es
az\
estefrãgh: vomit; csteÍtãg! kardan (kon), to be sick
estegLbât:welcome; esteglbãl kardan (kon), to welcome (lit. &
frs.)
estekãn:small glass,usually for drinking tea
estekhdâmkardan (kon): to engage(in a job)
esterãhat: rest; esterãhat kardan (kon), to rest
estesmâr:exploitation
estesnâ:exception; beduneestesnã,úthout exoeption; estesni
gbl'el shodan (g!av), to make exceptions
esúcsnÕ'i: exceptional
eshtebãh:mistake; $tebãh kardan (kon), to make a mistake, to
be mistaken
çltehi: appetite
etâ'at: obedience;etã'rt kardan (kon), to obey
ettetãgl: occuÍrence; etteÍãgloftãdan (oftãd), to happen, to occur
ettehld: unity
ettehãdiye: union (o/ workers etc.)
etlcltr'ãt: information
ezife kardan (kon): to add
ezdevfi: marriage; ezdevli kerdon (kon), to get married (takes be)

fa'Õl: active; fa'lllyyat, actiüty

fadlkãri: self-sacrifice. devotion
faghrat:only
198 psnsrAN-ENGLTSH
cLossARY

faghir (p/. foglare): poor

fúm: understanding,intelligence;fahmidan (fahm), to
understand
fakk: jaw
falqi: paralysed
falake: roundabout
fanar: spring, coil
fandogh:hazel-nut
farâmushkardan (kon): to forget
farãmushkâr: forgetful
farang: word used to refer to Europe in a generalsense
farangi: European
farãnsavi: French
farânse:France
farãr kardan (kon): to run away
farâvãn (col/. farãvun): plentiful
fardã: tomorrow
fargh: difference;parting (of hair)
fargh kardan (kon): to change,to alter, to differ
fargh dãghtan (dãr): to be different
farhang: culture; dictionary; vezãratefarhang, Ministry of
Education
farmân: order. command
farmân dãdan (deh): to give an order
farmãnde: commander(of an army)
farmudan (farmã): to order; mostly usedto mean'to say' in polite
speech(but only in 2nd and 3rd persons)
fasl: season(of the yeer); section(of a book)
fãmil: family (seealso khãnevãde)
fãrsi: Persian(the language)
fãsed:corrupt
farzand: offspring, child
Íãyde: profit, use; hyde nadãre,it's no use
fehrest: list. index
fekr: thought; fekr kardan (kon), to think
fe'lan: for the time being
felez: metal (n); felezi, metal (adj)
felfel: pepper
feqiãn (col/. feqiun): cup
 PEN,SIAN.ENGLISH
GLOSSARY 199

ferestãdan(ferest): to send
fesâd: comrption
feqhãr:pressure;feg!ãr dâdan (deh), to press,to squeeze
fetr: ôde fetr: the festival of the ending of the fasting month of
Ramadanon the 1st of Shawal
fil: elephant
firuze: turquoise; also a girl's name
fohsh: abuse;fohghdãdan (deh), to abuse
folãn: a certain . . .; folãn kas, so and so; folân chiz, such and
such
folãni: so and so
forsat: opportunity
foru$tan (forush): to sell
fowglol'ãde: special,extra, very
fowri: urgent
fowt: death
fruul: meddling

galfe: flock {of sheep)

galu: throat
galudard: sore throat
gandidan(gand): to go bad, to Íot; gandide,rotten
gandom:wheat
gaqie: cupboard
gard: dust, powder
gardane:mountain pass
gardegh:outing; turning (going round)
garm: warm, hot
gasht:patrol
gÊshtan(gard): to turn
gavãhinÕme:certificate
gaz: a kind of nougat
gãhi: sometimes
gãv: cow
gãz: bite; gãz gereftan(gir), to bite
gãz: gas
gel: mud
gelim: woven rug
Eerln (coll. gemn): expensive
2(X) pensrlN-ENcI,rsHcr,ossARy

gerd: round
gere: knot; gere zadan, to tie a knot
gereftan(gir): to take, to seize,to take hold of
gerye kardan (kon): to cry
giãh: plant
gii:.giddy, dizzy; sargiie, dizziness
gilâs: cherry; drinking glass
gir nmadan (â): to be available
gir kardan (kon): to get stuck
goftan (gu): to say
gol: flower
golib: rose-water
golâbi: pear
goldãn (col/. goldun): flower-pot, vase
gom kardan (kon): to lose
gom úodan (úav): to be lost, to get lost
gombad:dome
gomrok: customs
gonãh: sin; gonãhkardan (kon), to sin
gonãhkãr: sinner (n); goilty (adi)
gorbe: cat
gonÍEne:hungry
gowd: deep
gowje: plum
gowjefarangi: tomato
gozãgbtan(gozãr): to put
gul zadan(zan): to deceive
gunâgun:of different kinds, varied
gur: grave (n)
gusãle: calf.(animal\
gusfand:sheep
gush: ear; gug! kardan (kon), to listen
gushe: corner
gushvâre: ear-ring
guyã: it seems,so they say

ghabl: before; ghabl az, before

gbablan: beforehand,previously
ghabile: tribe
 PERSIAN-ENGLISHGLOSSARY 201

ghabr: grave (n)

ghabrestgn:graveyard,cemetery
gLabyl kardan (kon): to accept
ghabz: receipt; voucher
gbadam:step, pace
ghadd: statúre
ghadim: old, ancient
ghadr: value, worth; size, measure;amount
ghadri: a little
glahve: coffee
shelam: pen
ghdat: error, mistake
gham: grief
ghanât: undergroundwater channels
ghand: loaf sugar
Èarãr gozã$tan (gozar): to make an aÍrangement
gbarãrdad: agreement
glarb: west
gharbi: \ilestern
È"qÈ. úodan (shav): to drown
gharib: strange
gharibe: stranger
gharz: Ioan
ghassõb:butcher
ghassam:oath; ghassamkhordan $hor), to take an oath
ghashang:pretty
ghat'kardan (kon): to cut off, to disconnect
gLatãr: train
ghatl: killing; in the religiouscalendarany day commemorating
the killing of a religious leader, as opposedto the death, which
is vafãt
gbavi: strong
ghã'ede:rule
ghãli: carpet
Èânun (pl. ghavãnin): law
ghãrú: mushroom
ghãshogh:spoon
g!âter: mule
ghãyeb: absent
2ü2 psRsrAx-ENcusxGLossARy

ghrlyegL: boat
ghâz: goose
gLâmat: price; g!ômad, costly, worth a lot of money
g!êrr: other, different; ghôrr az, other than, except
gbermez: red
ghesmat:portion; lot (in life)
glofl: lock; ghofl kerdan (kon), to lock
ghomlr: gambling
g!or'ãn: the Koran
ghorbâni: sacrificialvictim; sacrifice
gLosse:grief
ghotb: pole (North & South)
gLowl: promise; ghowl dadan (deh), to promise
g[uri: teapot
gLuti: tin

habs: prison
hadaf: aim, target (both lit. A fiç.)
hadd: limit
hads: guess;hads zadan (zan), to guess
haÍte: week
haÈ (p/. hoglqgD: right, due, truth
heghighat: truth
halvâ: a kind of s\peetmeat
hame: all, everyone
hemkãr: colleague
haml: carrying, transport; haml kardan (kon), to transport; haml
o naghl, tÍansport
hamrãh: together, companion
LrmsÕys;neighbour
hanuz: still, yet
[ar: every, each
har gez: never
harâj: auction, sale
harãm: forbidden by religious law (e.g. alcohol, pork etc.)
hererú: heat
harekat: movement
harf (p/. horuf): letter
hasir: straw: also a kind of cane blind
 PENSIAN.ENGLISH GLOSSARY 203

hagbare(p/. haglarãt): insect

hasht: eight
hashtãd: eighty
hattâ: even (adv)
havâ: air, weather
havâpôlma:aeroplane
havii: carrot
hazine:expenditure;hazineyezendegi,the cost of living
hazm: digestion;hazm kardan (kon), to digest
hãfeze:memory
hâl (pr. ahvãI): health, state, condition
hâlã: now
hâlat: bearing, manner
hãmele:pregnant
hãzer: ready, present
hedye:preseiit, gift
hefz: preservation
hefz kardan (kon): to learn by heart
nôf: a pity; what a pity
hâvan (col/. hôrvun): animal
hejãb: veil, veiling; hejÕbeeslãmi,Islamic coveringfor women
which involves keeping the hair and body totally covered;only
-the face, the handsand the feet (not legs) may be uncovered.
hâ'at: committee; hâ'at modire, board oi directors
trâkal: figure, form
hekãyat: a story
hel: cardamom
hendustãn:India
hendese:geometry
hendevãne:water melon
hendi: Indian
heúe: craft, trade
hesâb:account,bill; arithmetic
hess:feeling; hesskardan (kon), to feel
hezãr: thousand
hezb: political party; hezbollãh,the party of God
hich: none, any; hichvaght, never; hichkas,no one
hizhdah: eighteen
hobubãt: pulses
2(X rrnsrex-ENct,tsncr,ossARy

hoglghe: a trick
hoglugh: rights; salary, Ìvages;the law (as a subject)
hokm: judgement, order, decree
hokumat: government
honar: art
honarpishe: actor (stageor screen)
how kardan (kon): to ridicule, to heckle
howle: towel
howz: pond
hulu: peach
hush: intelligence;bã hush, intelligent

iiãd kardan (kon): to set up, to cÍeate, to establish

il: tribe
imãn: faith
in (p/. inha): this
iqiã: here
irâd: fault; irÕd gereftan (gir), to find fault
irân: Iran
istãdan (ist): to stand, to stop
istgãh: stop (n) (for buses,trairw, taxisetc.')
ist: stop!
ishân: they
itãliã: Italy
itãliil'i: Italian

ja'be: box
jabr: algebra
jadid: new
jahãn: world
jahângard: tourist
jahat: direction; be in jahet, for this reason
jehãz; dowry
jam': addition; gathering,group
jang: war
jangal: forest
jaryân: flow, circulation, happening;jaryân chiye?,what goes
on?, what's it all about?
jarime: fine
 PERSI^,N.ENGLISHGLOSSARY 205

Jenâh: surgeon
jarresag$l: cr ane (rnechanica[)
jashn: celebration;jashn gereÍtan(glr), to celebrate
javâb: ansrper.reply; javãb daden (deh), to ansrver
jevin: young
Javâz:permit
ilúre (pl. jazãyer): island
ji: place
jldde: road, highway
jãleb: interesting;jãlebe tavqiioh, worth noting
jlme'e: society;community
jln: soul, life
jlru: broom
jisus: spy
jebhe: war front, battle front
jeddi: serious,earnest
jeld: volume; binding of a book
jelo: front (n); jelo(ye), in front of
jelogiri karden (kon): to prevent
jens: kind, sort, species
jim úodan (q!av): to slip away (fg.), i.e. to leavewithout being
noticed
jib: pocket
jire: ration
jirebandi: rationing
jobrãn kardan (kon): to make up for
jodã: separate;jodã kardan (kon), to separate;jodã shodan(shav),
to be separated
joft: pair (n)
jom'e: Friday
jomle: sentence
jomhuri: republic; jomhuriye eslãmi,Islamic Republic
jonub: South
jorm: crime
josten Qu): to seek; (col/.) to find; joatish?, did you find it?
jow: barley
joz: except
jub: ditch; water channelby the side of the street
jqie: chicken
206 psnsrAN-ENcLrsH
cr,ossARy
jur: kind, sort
jurâb: socks,stockings
Jush: boil (n)
ju$don (iush): to boil

kabâb: usu. meat cooked over charcoal,kebab, but anything

cooked over charcoal is kabãb kardé
kafú: shoe
kql: crooked
kalãntari: police station
kamar: waist
kamarband: belt
kandan (kan): to dig; to take off (clothes);to remove
kardan (kon): to do
kare: butter
kas (col/. kes): person
kasift dirty
kashk: dried buttermilk
kqi: fir tree
kãghaz: paper
kãh: chaff; meslepare kãh, as light as a feather
kãr: work; kãr kardan (kon), to work
kãrd: knife
kâshtan (kâr): to plant
ke: that
kebrit: matches
ketid (coll. kilid): key
kerâye: hire; fare (bus, taxi etc.);rcntal (houseetc.)
keshidan(kesh):to draw Qticures); to pull; to suffer (coll.)
keglvar: country
ketãb: book
ketri: kettle
ki: who
klf: bag
kise: sack; a stiff washglove
kohne: (n) rag; (adj) old (things)
ko]i: hat
kollan: overall; in general
koloft: thick
 ENGLISH.PEN,SIANCLOSSARY 207

kond: blunt (not sharp\; slow

k@tsn (kosh): to kill
kuche: street
kuchik: small
kuh: mountain
kushidan (kush): to try
kutâ: short
khabar (pr. akhbâr): ne\trs
khalãs: free
khalaban: pilot
khal[i: gulf (geog.)
khamir: paste; dough
kham shodan(shav):to bend (intrans.)
kham kardan (kon): to bend (trans.)
khande: laughter
khandidan (khand): to laugh
khar: assodonkey
!!arâb: out of order, broken
klarãsh: scratch(n)
kharguú: rabbit, hare
kharidan Q!ar): to buy
Eharj: expenditure,expense;kharj kardan (kon), to spend
$ardal: mustard
khaste:tired; khasúeúodan (shav)(intrans.) to get tired; khaste
kardan (kon) (trans.), to make tired
khatar: danger
khatarnâk: dangerous
khatt: line; writing
khatm: mourning ceremony
lLayyât: tailor, dressmaker
!!ãrândan (khãrÕn): to scratch
!!eregb: itching
khãrbãr: foodstuffs
llnrbâr forushi: grocer's
khãridan (khãr): to itch
khãstân(khãh): to \ilant
khastegâri:askingin marriage
khãb: sleep
khãbidan G!aU): to sleep
2ffi prnslrx-ENGLTsH
GtÍxtsAxy

khlher: sister
khÍk: dust; earth; territory
khâkestar: ashes
!!!h: maternal aunt
!!!hs: pure (rlrmgs)
khlli: empty
khlm: raw
khtmush: silent; oú (Sre, light)
l$muú kerdan (kon): to put out (a fire, a light); to turn off. (an
engine, the radio etc.\
khâmc: cream
khÍne: house
$Iúum: lady
!!!rej: outside; abroad
!!!reji: foreigner; foreign
khãsten (khâh): to want
!!!tcr: memory; sake; bekhãtere . . ., for the sake of; khÕteram
ntst/be !!ãter nadarem, I don't remember
$ãter jam': assured,confident; !!âterrm jem' bud, my mind
was at ease;khãteretjamt bãshe,set your mind at rest, Íest
assured
$ednet: service
$edmaQlr: servant
$ejÕlat: shame, embarrassment;khejãlat kqdan (kesh), to be
ashamedor embarrassed
kheslret: damage
khôr: no
Eôrr: goodness
nfiriyye: charity
khiãbln (coír'. khiãbun): road, street
khiil: thought; khiil kardan (kon), to think
khiilr: cucumber
khis: wet
khod: self
khodã: God
$odrcvis: fountain pen
$orlk: food
khordan Qlor): to eat
Blone$t: Persian stew to accompanyrice
 PER,SIAN.ENGLISHGLOSSAR,Y209

khormâ: date
khorshid: sun
khoruj: exit
khorus: cock
!!o$: happy; !!ogh gozashtan(gozsr), to have a good time
!!@k: dry
floqlgel: pretty
khoeusi: private
khub: good
khuk: pig
khun: bloodi hLun ãmadan(ã) (intrans.), to bleed

labe: edge
labriz: overflowing
labu: cooked beetroot
lagad: kick; lagad zadan(zan), to kick; lagadkardan (kon), to
kick or step on
lahn: tone (of voice)
lahãz:: az lahãze,from the point of view of, in terms of
lahestân:Poland
la$e: accent
lqibãz: obstinate
lak: spot, stain; lak kardan (kon), to stain
lang: lame
la'nat: iurse
lappe: yellow split p;as
larzidan (larz): to shiver
lashkar: army, division
lã: fold
lâye: in, between
lãbod: probably
lãghar: thin
lãhâf: quilt
lãl: dumb
liile: tulip
lãyehe: bill Qtarliamentary)
lãzem: necessary;lãzemdashtan(dãr), to need
lebãs:clothes
lezzat:pleasure;lezzatbordan (bar), to enjoy
210 ppnslx-EIìIcIJsH cltlssArY

llmu: lemon; llmu tonh, sour lemon, lime; llmu shirin sweet
lemon
[ddü 0ls): to lick
[vtn: glassffor drinking)
liz: slippery
lokht: naked
loglrt: word
lublâ: bean, usually meaìrswhite haricot beans;lubiâ sabz, French
beans; lubiâ ghermez, red kidney beans; lubil úiti, pinto
beans
lule: pipe Çor water etc.); lule kerdan (kon) (rrazs.) to make into
a roll
lulekech: plumber
lus: spoilt (child etc.)

mrbÕdâ: lest; ruze mlbõdi, a rainy day

mr'du: nrne (both lit. and fig.)
múeoe (pL nrdlrcs & coll. nadresehtl): school
nngíri: ny (n)
maghrcb: west
meghsud: object
mehal: place
mahãl: impossible
mrhsul: harvest
mahtÕb: moonlight
rnrhzâr; notary public's office
mqi[q'; obliged, forced (to do sth.)
nqialh: magazine
mqiks: assembly;parliament; n4il€se úowrãye eslãmi, Islamic
Consultative Assembly: the Iranian parliament
makhsus: special
mahfe: sheet (oz a bed)
mmnu': forbidden, prohibited
nrtmn$n: thankful, gfateful
m!'mur: official z
mtn: I, me
mltni: meaning
manzel: house
mnrd: man
 PERSIAN-BNGLISHGLOSSARY211

msrdom: people
mariz: ill
maraz: illness; also usedin slang as a term of abuse,sotnething
on the lines of 'shut up' only worse
mârsum: customary
martabe: time; yek martabe, once; chand martabe. severaltimes
martub: moist, damp
markaz: centre
marz: frontier
mas'ale:question (in the senseof a problem)
masjed:mosque
mashmul: due for conscription
mashregL:east
maúrub: dnnk (usually refers to alcoholic drink)
ma'zerat: apology; ma'zerat khãstan(khãh), to apologise
mazhab:religion
mazze:taste
mâ: we
mãdar: mother; mâdar zan, mother-in-law (wrf"'s mother');mâdar
showhar,mother-in-law (husband'smother)
mâú: kiss
mâshãllâ:what God wills; an expressionusedas a kind of verbal
toucking wood
mâsse:sand
mãst: yoghurt
mãh: moon; meslemãh, beautiful, very nice; mãh-e, (said of
people or things) iíheishe is extremely nice
mãhi: fish
mâhiãne:monthly (col/. mahyune)
mâl: wealth, riches, possessions; mâle, belongingto
mâlek: owner
mãliãt: tax; mâliãt bar darãmad, income tax
mãli: financial
mâüdan (mãl): to rub
mãndan(mãn): to stay
mâr: snake
mãshin:car; machine
mâye': liquid
mehmân(col/. mehmun): guest
212 pnnglN-Bl6rISH GrossARY

mehrabÕn:loving
melli: national
mle: like, similar
mâden: squaÍe
môrl: preference
mesr: Egypt
mesri: Egyptian
rnikh: nail
mive: fruit
miz: table
mo'allem: teacher
mo'âYen: deputy, assistant
modlr: director
moddat: period of time
mofid: useful
nqghrlbel(e): opposite
mohandes:engineer
mohassel:student
mohkam: firm
mohr: seal
mojâz: permitted
n@tasar: brief
momken: possible
mongli: secretary
morabbã: jam
morabba': squared
mordãd: 5th Penian month
mordan (mir): to die
morg[: hen; chicken
Nfer: traveller
moeâferat: journey; nocãferat kardan to travel
mmbst: positive, affirmative
mostarã: lavatory
moq!!el: difficult
moglt: fist, handful
mogltari: customer
nota'asscf: sorry, regretful
tnot@ptta: thankful
moúfbeghe:accoÍding to
 PERSIAN.ENGLISH GI,OSSARY 2I3

moürhd: united
movÕfeghat:agreement
mowj: wave
mowz: banana
mozallraf: nonsense,rubbish
mozd: wage
mu: hair
mush: mouse
mushak: rocket

nefar: person
nrft: petroleum; kerosene
noghghlsh: painter
naghsle: map, plan
n4ijnr: carpenter
nakhl: palm tree
nam: damp (n); namnâk, damp (adi)
namak: salt
narm: soft
nazsr: thought, opinion; benazareman, to my mind
nãgahãn:suddenly
nâhâr: lunch
nãm: name
nãme: letter
nãn (col/. nun): bread
nãshtãi: breakfast
negãh:look; negâhkardan (kon), to look
nesÍ: half
neshastan(neshin): to sit
ltegbândâdan (deh): to show
neq!ãni: address
neveqhtan(nevis): to write
nezãmi:military
nim: half
niru: strength, power; vezãrateniru, Ministry of Energy
niz: also
nogh:re:silver
nogltc: dot, full stop
nowker: manservant
214 rsnsrANrENGuSH
clrsslrY

mmre: number, mark (in examination)

norr: netv

ofogL: horizon
oútâdrn (oft): to fall
ojlgL: stove
olãgL: donkey
ommat: congregation
onid: hope
omidvãr: hopeful
ons: attachment; ons gereftan (Sr) (be), to become attached (to)
ordak: duck
ordibehesht: 2nd Persian month
orupã: Europe
ompãi: European
ostãd: professoÍ;expert
ostân: proünce
ostokhãn: bone
otãg!: room
owlãd: offspring, children
oã: excuse; ozr khãstan (!hãh), to ask forgiveness, to make
excuses
cn (pl. a'zâ): member

pahlu: side
pambe: cotton wool
panir: cheese
paqiere: window
parúam: flag
pordã$tan (pardaz): to pay
parde: curtain
pariruz: the day before yesterday
pasrnaiaan (pasand): to approve of, to like
potu: blanket
padrft: entertainment (haspiulity); reception
pü: foot
pÕin: down; pãin(e), at the bottom of
pãiz: autumn
pük: clean
 PENSIAN.ENGUSH GLOSS^NY 215

pãtet: envelope;packet; paper bag

pllúo: overcoat
püryle: material
p[rc: torn
pârsãl: last year
pãrti: influence
plru: oar; a flat wide shovel used for clearingsnow
pãsdãr (pl. pâsdãrân): guard
pedar: father
pelle: step, stair
t'rda: apparent, visible; pôraamrAan (kon), to find
pesar:boy, son
peste:pistachio nut
plch: screw
pichândan(piúãn): to turn (trans.)
pichidrn (pich): to turn (intrans.); to wrap up
pir: old
pighraft: progÍess; piglraft kardan (kon), to make progress
piâderow: pavement
piãz: onion
pokhtan (paz): to cook
pol: bridge
polo: pillau rice
porsidan (pors): to ask, to enquire
post: post
pocht: back; poshte, behind
pul: money
pust: skin
pustln: a kind of sheepskinjacket
pushidan (push): to wear
putin: boots

ra'd: thunder
rad glodan (gLav): to passby; to fail (an exam)
rúgL: friend, chum
raÍtsn (rav): to go
raftãr: behaüour
raghs: dance
ragbsidan (raghs): to dance
216 pEnsnn-BNcLISH
cLossARY

ra'is (pl. ro'asâ): boss, head, chief

ra!!tef!!b: bedding, bedclothes
rang: colour, paint; rang kardan (kon), to dye, to paint
rasmi: official
rih: road, way
rthat: comfortable
r{ie'be: concerning,about
rãndan (rân): to drive
rast: right, true, straight
r€sidrn (res): to arrive
rilltsn (riz): to pour; to spill
roqlve: bribe
rntubet: damp
rowglan: fat; oil
rcwglan: light; rowúan kardan (kon), to light, to turn on, to
switch on
nr: face; ruye, on top of; poÌ il, cheeky
nrdc: intestine
nrdkhãne: river
nrz: day
nrze: fast; ruze gereftan(gir), to fast. Fastinginvolves having
nothing to eat or drink betweenthe hours of sunriseand
sunsetin the month of Ramadan.
nnmarre: daily (in the senseof every-day)
ruznãme: newspaper

sabr: patience;sabr kardan (kon), to wait

sabz:green
sebzi: (Iit. greenery) usually rders to the many varictiesof green
herbs such as parsley, dill, coriandcr etc. rned in preparing
Persian dishes. The plural sabziiât is used in restauranr etc. to
rder to vegetables.
sadd: dam
safer: journey; safar kardan to travel
saf: queue; saf bastsn (band), to queue
srfir (p/. sofarâ): ambassador
saÍhe: sheet (of paper, metal etc); page (of a book\
sag: dog (consideredunclean by Moslems)
sahih: correct
 PENSIAN.ENGLISH GLOSSANY217

sahm: share, portion

sahãm: @1. of.sahn) shares(in a company, on the stock exchange
etc.)
sa!!t: difficult, hard; in kâr sakht-e, this job is difficult; fohni
sa$t mashghul-e,so-and-sois hard at work/very busy
salmãni(col/. salmuni): hairdresser;barber
san'at (p/. sanãye'):industry; sanãye'esangin,heavyindustry
sandali: chair
sandogh:large box, chest; cashregister, till; gãv sandog!, safe
sang:stone
sangin: heavy
saqiãg!: pin; hair pin
sar: head (anatomica[);top; sarekuh, at the top of the hill; sare
rãh(e), on the way (to); sare khiabun, sare môrdun, sare kug@,
mean at the top of, at, at the end of, depenüng on the vantage
point of the speakerand are very common expressíons
sarbãz: soldier (lit. one who loseshis head)
sard: cold (cdj)
sarhadd: frontier
sarmâ: cold (n); ssrmã lhordan (khor), to catch cold; sarmã
khordegi, the common cold; sarmã $ordam@ordé-amr I've
got a cold
sarv: Cypress(tree)
savãd:literacy; bâsavãd,literate; bisavâd,illiterate; bisavãdi,
illiteracy
savãrt: riding
sa'y kardan (kon): to try; khôü sa'y kard, he tried hard
sã'at: hour; watch; clock; the time
sãbeg!: former
sâde: plain (adi)
sãder kardan (kon): to export
sãderât: exports
sâheb: owneÍ; sâhebkhune(col/. sôbkhune), landlord/lady
sokht: difficult
sr[ltan (saz):to build, to make
sakhtemân: building; construction
sâl: year
sâlgiard:anniversary
sâye:shadow; shade
218 prnsnx-ENGLTSH
GLoSSARY

sedâ:sound; noise; voice; sedãkardan (kon), to call, to make a

noise; sedãzadan(zan), to call
sefãrat: embassy
sefãresh:order, recommendation;sefãreshdadan (deh), to place
an order; sefãreq!kardan (kon), to make a recommendation
(wu. to recommendsth. or someoneto someoneelse)
sefid: white
seft: hard, tough (usu. refersto kxare)
úrl: flood
senn:age
sepãh:literally meansan army or aÍmy diüsion, but nowadays
used to refer to rfte sepãhepãdãrân, or just sepãh, the force
of revolutionary guards
setãre: star; setâreyesinemã, frlm star
siãh: black
sib: apple
sibzamini: potato (originally sibe zamini)
sigãr: cigarette
sim: wire
sine: breast, chest
sini: tray
so'ãI: question; so'ãl kardan (kon), to ask a question
sob: morning
sombol:hyacinth

glabe glambe: Friday night (Iit. Saturdayeve)

shenidan(shenav):to hear
úerkat: company; participation
qheved(col/. shivid): dill
úir: milk; lion
úirin: sweet;also a girl's name
shirini: sweetness;sweetmeats
úishe: glass,bottle
sho'be: branch (of a bank, businessetc.)
úoÈl (p/. mashãghel):occupation,profession
shol: loose
sho'le: flame
úomãre: number
shoru': beginning;shoru' kardan (kon), to begin (trans.); shoru'
shodan(Sav), to begin (intrans.)
 PETI;IAN.ENCLISH GL$tsArY 219

shotor: camel
g$whor: husband
úukhi: joke
g!ur: salt (ardy)

ta'qijob: surprise
tab: fever
tabi'at: nature
tebi'i: natural
tafrih: amus€ment,fun (but not in the senseof humour)
hohriban: almost, nearly
taghsir: fault; tqqhsir dãshtan (dãr), to be at fault; trqhsirc mln
nist, it's not my fault
taglvim: diary, calendar
tqahyir: change;taÈyir kardan (kon), to change
tahvil: hand-over;tahvil dadan (deh), to hand over, to deliver
tqirobe: experience
takàn (coll. takun): shake;takun dádan (deh), to shake(rrans.);
takun lhordan $hor), to shake(intrans.)
taklif: duty, task; taklife man o rowshankon, make up your mind
lvhat you \ilant me to do; bela taklif budan, to be in a state of
not knowing what one is supposedto do
talab: that which is owing to you; ye toman tâlabe man, you o\ile
me one toman; azcshtalab dãratrt, he owes me
talkh: bitter
tamãm (col/. taurum): whole, complete; tamãm kardan (kon), to
finish (trans.); tamãm úodan ($lv), to finish (intrans.)
tamãshã:watching; sightseeing
tambâku: tobacco
tambal: lazy
tambr: stamp Qtostageand for various kinds of duty)
ten: body (anatomica[)
tanãb: rope
tane: tn:nk; taneyederakht, tree trunk; bâlã tane, upper paÍt of
the body; bodice
tang: narrow; tight
tar: \ilet
taraf: side, direction; be tarafe, towards
tarafdãr: supporteÍ
tarak: crack; tarakidan (tarak), to burst
220 prnsmt-ENcr.rsncrÍxlsAny

tarlshldrn (tarfg!): to shave

tarc: an onion-tasting herb like a very firr:: leek
tare faringi: leek
tarkhun: tarragon
ters: fear
trrsidan (tars): to be afraid
taryãk: opium
tarz: method
tasawor: imagnation, thought
tadigh: certificate; tasdigberânandegi, driving licence
tasfiyc: refining (of oil etc.); purification (o/ water)
tedim: surrender; [!od rf trsüm kgrdsn (kon), or tasüm shodsn
(úev), to surrender
lxnrtrn: decision; t $nlm Scleftrn (dr), to decide
tewlr: drawing, picture
teshr{ftt: ceremonial, protocol
tr'üt úrr. te'$llt): holiday; (ady) closed (of shops ac.)
tevdbd: birth; jrshne tlvdlod, birthday party
tavãni: able
tavirctm (tevân): to be able
teyyine: aeroplane
tâ: until; fold; tã krrdan (kon), to fold
tãb: swing
tãbestÕn:summer
tdier: merchant
tlksi: taxi
târi!!: history, date
tãze: fresh
tejÕrat:trade, commerce
teglne: thirsty
teshnegi:thirst
tir: shot, bullet; tir khordan $!or), to be shot
úofang:gun
tolhm: seed,egg; tollme morgh, egg; tokhme, cured saltedmelon
seeds
tolombe: pump
úond:fast, quick, rapid; hot (of flavours)
towr: way, means:intowr, thus; untowr, like that; be towrike, in
such a \ilay that; har towr !.hdé, whateverhappens(however
much it takesl
 PEISIAN.ENGI.I|H GL('SSANY 22I

tul: length; tul didrn (deh), to take a long tirne; tul k€$don '
(ke!b), to take a long time; chcra i@dr hil al,idl, why did
you take so long; (kfram) tul kesln, (my work or it) took mc:
a long time :
tullni: lengúy
tup: ball (for games\; cannon

utu: iron (for clothes); utu kardan (kon), to iron

ve: and
voglt (pl. owg!â$ time; bo'zi vaglthã, sometimes;ba'zi owg$t,
sometimes
vakil: lawyer; deputy; vakile mqiles, member of parliament; legal
representative
varag!: plaÍng cards; sheet (of paper), e.g. glpnd varqg! kãÈNze
sefid lizem dãram, I need a fedseveral sheetsof white paper;
varagL zadan (zan);ïto turn the page (of a book etc.)
varaghe: a piece of p@er ì 'i
varzeg!: sport, exercise
, varzeshkâr: sportsman
vasat: middle
vasile:means,equipment
vatan: native country
-
vazife: duty; nezam vlzife, military service
vazir: minister; nakhost vazir, prime minister
ví: (*cl.) oh!, really?
vãghe'i: true, actual
vâhed: unit
vlm: loan
vin: bathtub
vãred glodan (shav): to enter
vãredãt: imports
vel ksrdân (kon): to let go of
vojud: existence;vojud dãghtan(dãr), to exist

yagLin: certainty; much usedin speechto mean'mostprobably',

'almost certainly'
I Ve!ü: ice; yakh zadé, frozen (of things\
' yakhc!ãl: refrigerator
yevâsh:slowly; quieüy
222 rrnsnx-ENGLISH cLossARY

yãd: memory
yãd gereftan(gir): to learn
yãddãsht: note
yâs:jasmine,lilac

zabãn:tongue; language
zahmat:trouble; zahmatkeqlidan (keqh),to take pains, to work
hard
za!!m: wound
zemãn:time
zambur: bee
zambil: basket
zan: woman, wife
zang: bell; rust; zang zadon(zan), to ring; to rust
zanjir: chain
zarb: multiplication
zarbe: blow (n)
zard: yellow
zardãlu: apricot
@L zoruÍ, also zarÍhã): dish
"lrÍf
zaúyyat: capacity
zar{shu'i: dishwasher
zã'idan (za): to give birth
zãnu: knee; zãnu zadan(zen), to kneel
zebr: rough
zpdde:against
zemestãn:winter
zendãn:prison
zende:alive
zendegi:life, liüng
ziãd: a lot, much
ziârat: pilgrimage
zibã: beautiful; girl's name
zire: under
zoghãl:charcoal
zohr: noon, midday
zud: early; quick
zur: force, strength; be zur, by force

zhele:jelly
 Ëì

Colloquial Persian is a practicalcourse in everydaywritten

and spoken Persian,also known as Farsi.Persianis used by 30
million peoplein lran and by largecommuniriesin Afghanistanand
Tadzhikistan.Requiringno prior knowledgeof the language, the
course is idealfor anyone seekingto develop a sound command
of contemporaryPersianwhether studyingindependentlyor with
a teacher.

The course is designedto encourate you to learn and practise

essentiallanguageskills.The book is divided into twelve lessons
and includes:
o a wide selectionof texts for readingand comprehensionpractice
a usefulvocabulary,phrasesand expressions
o clear,concisenotes on trammar and functions
o a variety of exerciseswith answer key
o a section on situationalphrasesfor easyreference
o a pronunciationand spellingguide
o a comprehensivetwo-way glossary

An accompanyingcassetteis alailablerecorded by native Persian

speakers.This will prove invaluablein helpingyou develop your
pronunciationand listeningcomprehensionskills.

ROUTLEDGE
| | New Fetter Lane ISBN 0-415-0088ó-7
London EC4P4EE

29 West 35th Street

New York NY 10001
ilililililililil
ilililil iltl
g 17go415 " 0 0 g g ó 0 rl

COVERPHOTOGRAPH
COURTESY
OF THEHUTCHISONLIBRARY