An Introduction About Asking Questions in Persian

Asking questions in Persian is a fundamental skill like in any language, allowing learners to engage in conversations, seek information, and express curiosity. In Persian, question formation differs significantly from English, relying on intonation rather than structural changes. This guide explores the key principles of asking yes/no questions, using interrogative words, and handling unique Persian question structures to help learners build confidence in conversation.

Yes/No Questions in Persian

Forming yes/no questions in Persian requires a shift in intonation, rather than structural changes. Unlike English, Persian does not employ auxiliary verbs or subject-verb inversion to create questions. Instead, statements have falling intonation, while yes/no questions adopt rising intonation:

• to gorosne(h)-i. (You are hungry.)
• to gorosne(h)-i? (Are you hungry?)

Additionally, there are specific elements that influence how yes/no questions are framed:

The role of “âyâ”

While Persian does have a question marker (âyâ), it is primarily used in written or formal discourse. In conversation, it serves as an emphatic element rather than a necessary component of question formation. Its function is similar to est-ce que in French.

Tag Questions in Persian:

Persian does not follow the English model of adding a tag (isn’t it?, doesn’t it?). Instead, Persian uses fixed expressions for emphasis or confirmation:

• mage(h) na(h)? (Isn’t that so?)
• intor nist? (Isn’t it like this?)
• dorost-e(h)? (Is that correct?)

Example:

qazâ xeyli xošmaze(h) bud, mage(h) na(h)? → The food was very delicious, wasn’t it? غذا خیلی خوشمزه بود، مگه نه؟

Answering Negative Questions:

To respond negatively, one simply replies “na(h).”

To respond positively, Persian speakers use “čerâ,”  (it is very similar to doch in German) often repeating it to reinforce affirmation:

• qazâ nemixori? (Aren’t you eating?)
   – na(h), nemixoram. (No, I’m not eating.)
   – čerâ, čerâ, mixoram. (Yes, yes, I am eating.)

Persian Questions with Interrogative Words

In Persian, question words replace the topic of inquiry while maintaining the original sentence structure. Unlike English, Persian does not require subject-verb inversion or auxiliary verbs:

Example transformations:

• in sib ast. (This is an apple.) → in či ast? (What is this?)
• man 5 tâ sib mixâam. (I want five apples.) → to čand-tâ sib mixây? (How many apples do you want?)
• un kif ro mixâm. (I want that bag.) → kodum kif ro mixây? (Which bag do you want?)

Additionally, Persian has both formal and informal variations for certain interrogatives:

• ki / če(h) kasi (Who?)
• četor / čegune(h) (How?)

Moreover, Persian includes a specific question word for ordinal numbers, which has no direct equivalent in English:

• pâyiz sevvomin fasl-e sâl ast. (Autumn is the third season of the year.)
• pâyiz čandomin fasl-e sâl ast? (Which season of the year is autumn?)
• tabaqe(h)-ye panjom zendegi mikonam. (I live on the fifth floor.)
• tabaqe(h)-ye čandom zendegi mikoni? (On which floor do you live?)

Finally, Persian offers shortened forms of “to be” in the third-person singular, notably in questions with “kojâ” (where). Instead of kojâ ast, speakers may use ku:

• ketâbam kojâst? → ketâbam ku? (Where is my book?)

How FarsiMonde Supports Persian Language Learners

As a very usful refrence for learning Persian at FarsiMonde, we provide structured guidance to learners of all levels. We offer Coursebooks and learning materials that are designed to simplify Persian grammar and sentence structure. Moreover, our online lessons are led by experienced Persian tutors, tailored to different proficiency levels. Our instructors are available to answer questions and provide insights into the Persian language and culture.

For more information or assistance with Persian learning, explore our courses or reach out with your inquiries.