The Persian word او (u) corresponds to the English pronoun "he." This third-person singular masculine pronoun is one of the most fundamental words in Persian, essential for everyday communication. Unlike English, Persian pronouns do not distinguish gender - او can mean "he" or "she" depending on context.
او (u) is the third-person singular pronoun in Persian, used to refer to a person (male or female) who is not present in the conversation. While English distinguishes between "he" and "she," Persian uses the same pronoun for both genders, relying on context to clarify the person's gender.
Question: What does "he" mean in Persian? Answer: "He" in Persian is او (u). This pronoun is gender-neutral and can refer to both males and females, unlike English which has separate pronouns for each gender.
In this lesson, we will explore 15 varied examples showing how او functions in different sentence positions and contexts. You'll see how Persian word order differs from English, how the pronoun interacts with verbs, and how context determines meaning.
Course: Persian for English Speakers Level: Beginner Topic: Personal Pronouns - Third Person Singular Learning Objective: Master the use of او in various contexts and sentence structures
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او (u) means both "he" and "she" in Persian -
Persian word order is typically Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) -
The pronoun او can be dropped in many contexts where the subject is understood -
Verb conjugations in Persian already indicate the person, making pronouns optional in many cases -
Context is crucial for understanding gender when او is used
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16.1 او he (u) کتاب book (ketāb) میخواند reads (mi-khānad)
16.2 دیروز yesterday (diruz) او he (u) به to (be) مدرسه school (madrese) رفت went (raft)
16.3 آیا whether/question marker (āyā) او he (u) اینجا here (injā) است is (ast)?
16.4 مادر mother (mādar) به to (be) او him (u) گفت said (goft) که that (ke) بخوابد sleep (bekhābad)
16.5 کتاب book (ketāb) او his (u) روی on (ru-ye) میز table (miz) است is (ast)
16.6 فردا tomorrow (fardā) او he (u) به to (be) تهران Tehran (Tehrān) خواهد will (khāhad) رفت go (raft)
16.7 او he (u) همیشه always (hamishe) زود early (zud) بیدار awake (bidār) میشود becomes (mi-shavad)
16.8 دوست friend (dust) من my (man) با with (bā) او him (u) صحبت conversation (sohbat) کرد did (kard)
16.9 وقتی when (vaghti) او he (u) آمد came (āmad)، همه everyone (hame) خوشحال happy (khoshhāl) شدند became (shodand)
16.10 او he (u) در in (dar) دانشگاه university (dāneshgāh) پزشکی medicine (pezeshki) میخواند studies (mi-khānad)
16.11 برادر brother (barādar) او his (u) بسیار very (besyār) مهربان kind (mehrabān) است is (ast)
16.12 امروز today (emruz) او he (u) نامهای a letter (nāme-i) نوشت wrote (nevesht)
16.13 معلم teacher (mo'allem) از from (az) او him (u) سؤال question (so'āl) پرسید asked (porsid)
16.14 غذای food (ghazā-ye) او his (u) خیلی very (kheyli) خوشمزه delicious (khoshmaze) بود was (bud)
16.15 او he (u) هر every (har) روز day (ruz) ورزش exercise (varzesh) میکند does (mi-konad)
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16.1 او کتاب میخواند. He reads a book.
16.2 دیروز او به مدرسه رفت. Yesterday he went to school.
16.3 آیا او اینجا است؟ Is he here?
16.4 مادر به او گفت که بخوابد. Mother told him to sleep.
16.5 کتاب او روی میز است. His book is on the table.
16.6 فردا او به تهران خواهد رفت. Tomorrow he will go to Tehran.
16.7 او همیشه زود بیدار میشود. He always wakes up early.
16.8 دوست من با او صحبت کرد. My friend talked with him.
16.9 وقتی او آمد، همه خوشحال شدند. When he came, everyone became happy.
16.10 او در دانشگاه پزشکی میخواند. He studies medicine at university.
16.11 برادر او بسیار مهربان است. His brother is very kind.
16.12 امروز او نامهای نوشت. Today he wrote a letter.
16.13 معلم از او سؤال پرسید. The teacher asked him a question.
16.14 غذای او خیلی خوشمزه بود. His food was very delicious.
16.15 او هر روز ورزش میکند. He exercises every day.
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16.1 او کتاب میخواند.
16.2 دیروز او به مدرسه رفت.
16.3 آیا او اینجا است؟
16.4 مادر به او گفت که بخوابد.
16.5 کتاب او روی میز است.
16.6 فردا او به تهران خواهد رفت.
16.7 او همیشه زود بیدار میشود.
16.8 دوست من با او صحبت کرد.
16.9 وقتی او آمد، همه خوشحال شدند.
16.10 او در دانشگاه پزشکی میخواند.
16.11 برادر او بسیار مهربان است.
16.12 امروز او نامهای نوشت.
16.13 معلم از او سؤال پرسید.
16.14 غذای او خیلی خوشمزه بود.
16.15 او هر روز ورزش میکند.
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Basic Function: او is the third-person singular pronoun in Persian, equivalent to both "he" and "she" in English.
Pronunciation: The word او is pronounced as a single syllable "u" (like "oo" in "boot" but shorter).
Gender Neutrality: Unlike English, Persian does not distinguish between masculine and feminine in pronouns. Context determines whether او refers to a male or female.
Word Order: Persian follows Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order, different from English's Subject-Verb-Object (SVO): -
English: He reads a book -
Persian: او کتاب میخواند (He book reads)
Possessive Form: When او follows a noun with ezāfe (ـِ or ی), it means "his/her": -
کتاب او (ketāb-e u) = his/her book -
خانهی او (khāne-ye u) = his/her house
Object Form: او remains the same whether used as subject or object: -
او آمد (u āmad) = he came (subject) -
من او را دیدم (man u rā didam) = I saw him (object)
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Gender Confusion: English speakers often struggle with the lack of gender distinction. Remember that context clarifies whether او means "he" or "she." -
Overuse of Pronouns: Persian often drops pronouns when the subject is clear from verb conjugation. English speakers tend to overuse او where native speakers would omit it. -
Word Order Errors: Placing او in English word order positions. Remember Persian is SOV, not SVO. -
Pronunciation: Pronouncing او as two syllables (o-u) instead of one (u). -
Object Marker: Forgetting to use را (rā) after او when it's a direct object: -
Incorrect: من او دیدم -
Correct: من او را دیدم (I saw him/her)
English: -
Distinguishes gender: he/she -
Fixed word order: SVO -
Pronouns always explicit -
Different forms for subject/object (he/him)
Persian: -
No gender distinction: او -
Flexible word order (typically SOV) -
Pronouns often dropped -
Same form for subject/object (او)
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Identify the person you're referring to (third person, singular) -
Use او regardless of gender -
Place it before the object in most sentences -
Add را if او is a direct object -
Consider omitting if the subject is clear from context
Form: او (invariable) Function: Third-person singular pronoun Gender: Neutral (context-dependent) Case: Same form for nominative and accusative Possessive: Noun + ezāfe + او With prepositions: Preposition + او (به او، از او، با او)
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In Persian culture, the gender-neutral nature of او reflects a linguistic tradition that differs significantly from Indo-European languages like English. This characteristic extends beyond pronouns to many aspects of Persian grammar, where gender plays a minimal role.
Formal and Informal Usage: While او is the standard third-person pronoun, Persian speakers often use honorific forms when referring to respected individuals: -
ایشان (ishān) - formal "he/she/they" -
آن جناب (ān jenāb) - that gentleman/lady
Literary Tradition: In classical Persian poetry, او takes on mystical dimensions, often referring to the beloved (معشوق ma'shuq) or the divine. The ambiguity of gender in او allows poets to maintain mystery about their subject.
Modern Usage: In contemporary Persian, especially in formal writing, some writers use او/وی (u/vey) to distinguish between informal and formal registers, though this distinction is not as rigid as in languages like French or German.
Cross-Cultural Communication: When Persians speak English, they sometimes mistakenly use "he" for "she" or vice versa, not due to sexism but because their native language doesn't make this distinction. Understanding this helps avoid misunderstandings.
Respectful Reference: In Persian culture, directly using او to refer to someone present is considered somewhat rude. Instead, titles or names are preferred when the person is within earshot.
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From the Gulistan of Sa'di (13th century):
یکی one person (yeki) را (object marker) (rā) دیدم I saw (didam) که that (ke) بر on (bar) لب edge (lab) دریا sea (daryā) نشسته seated (neshaste) بود was (bud). گفتم I said (goftam) او he (u) را to him (rā): از from (az) دریا sea (daryā) چه what (che) آموختی did you learn (āmukhti)? گفت said (goft): آموختم I learned (āmukhtam) که that (ke) هرگز never (hargez) بر on (bar) کشتی ship (kashti) شکسته broken (shekaste) تکیه reliance (tekye) نکنم not do (nakonam).
یکی را دیدم که بر لب دریا نشسته بود. گفتم او را: از دریا چه آموختی؟ گفت: آموختم که هرگز بر کشتی شکسته تکیه نکنم.
I saw someone who was sitting by the seashore. I said to him: "What did you learn from the sea?" He said: "I learned never to rely on a broken ship."
یکی را دیدم که بر لب دریا نشسته بود. گفتم او را: از دریا چه آموختی؟ گفت: آموختم که هرگز بر کشتی شکسته تکیه نکنم.
This passage from Sa'di's Gulistan demonstrates the elegant use of او in classical Persian literature. Note how: -
او را (u rā) shows the accusative use with the direct object marker -
The pronoun او could refer to either a man or woman - Sa'di leaves this ambiguous -
The word order follows classical Persian patterns -
The metaphorical meaning transcends gender - the wisdom applies universally
The passage exemplifies Persian literary style where pronouns create intimacy without specifying unnecessary details about the person's identity.
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16.16 صبح morning (sobh) او he (u) زود early (zud) از from (az) خواب sleep (khāb) بیدار awake (bidār) شد became (shod) و and (va) به to (be) حمام bathroom (hammām) رفت went (raft)
16.17 بعد after (ba'd) از from (az) صبحانه breakfast (sobhāne)، او he (u) لباس clothes (lebās) پوشید wore (pushid) و and (va) کیف bag (kif) خود self (khod) را (object marker) (rā) برداشت picked up (bardāsht)
16.18 او he (u) به to (be) ایستگاه station (istgāh) اتوبوس bus (otobus) رسید arrived (resid) اما but (ammā) اتوبوس bus (otobus) رفته gone (rafte) بود was (bud)
16.19 ناچار forced (nāchār) او he (u) تاکسی taxi (tāksi) گرفت took (gereft) تا until/to (tā) به to (be) محل place (mahall) کار work (kār) برسد arrive (beresad)
16.20 وقتی when (vaghti) او he (u) به to (be) دفتر office (daftar) رسید arrived (resid)، همکاران colleagues (hamkārān) او his (u) مشغول busy (mashghul) کار work (kār) بودند were (budand)
16.21 رئیس boss (ra'is) از from (az) او him (u) خواست requested (khāst) که that (ke) گزارش report (gozāresh) دیروز yesterday (diruz) را (object marker) (rā) تمام complete (tamām) کند do (konad)
16.22 او he (u) پشت behind (posht) میز desk (miz) خود self (khod) نشست sat (neshast) و and (va) شروع start (shoru') به to (be) کار work (kār) کرد did (kard)
16.23 ساعت hour/time (sā'at) دوازده twelve (davāzdah)، او he (u) با with (bā) دوستان friends (dustān) خود self (khod) برای for (barāye) ناهار lunch (nāhār) رفت went (raft)
16.24 آنها they (ānhā) در in (dar) رستوران restaurant (resturān) نزدیک near (nazdik)، غذای food (ghazā-ye) ایرانی Iranian (irāni) خوردند ate (khordand) و and (va) او he (u) چلوکباب chelow kabab (chelo-kabāb) سفارش order (sefāresh) داد gave (dād)
16.25 بعد after (ba'd) از from (az) ناهار lunch (nāhār)، او he (u) به to (be) دفتر office (daftar) برگشت returned (bargasht) و and (va) کار work (kār) خود self (khod) را (object marker) (rā) ادامه continuation (edāme) داد gave (dād)
16.26 عصر evening (asr)، مادر mother (mādar) او his (u) تماس contact (tamās) گرفت took (gereft) و and (va) او he (u) قول promise (ghol) داد gave (dād) که that (ke) امشب tonight (emshab) به to (be) خانه house (khāne) آنها their (ānhā) برود go (beravad)
16.27 ساعت hour (sā'at) شش six (shesh)، او he (u) کار work (kār) را (object marker) (rā) تمام finished (tamām) کرد did (kard) و and (va) از from (az) دفتر office (daftar) خارج exit (khārej) شد became (shod)
16.28 او he (u) سوار riding (savār) مترو metro (metro) شد became (shod) و and (va) در in (dar) راه way (rāh) کتاب book (ketāb) میخواند was reading (mi-khānd)
16.29 وقتی when (vaghti) او he (u) به to (be) خانه house (khāne) پدر father (pedar) و and (va) مادر mother (mādar) رسید arrived (resid)، آنها they (ānhā) منتظر waiting (montazer) او him (u) بودند were (budand)
16.30 او he (u) شام dinner (shām) را (object marker) (rā) با with (bā) خانواده family (khānevāde) خورد ate (khord) و and (va) بعد after (ba'd) همه all (hame) با with (bā) هم together (ham) چای tea (chāy) نوشیدند drank (nushidand)
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16.16 صبح او زود از خواب بیدار شد و به حمام رفت. In the morning, he woke up early and went to the bathroom.
16.17 بعد از صبحانه، او لباس پوشید و کیف خود را برداشت. After breakfast, he got dressed and picked up his bag.
16.18 او به ایستگاه اتوبوس رسید اما اتوبوس رفته بود. He arrived at the bus stop but the bus had already left.
16.19 ناچار او تاکسی گرفت تا به محل کار برسد. He had to take a taxi to get to work.
16.20 وقتی او به دفتر رسید، همکاران او مشغول کار بودند. When he arrived at the office, his colleagues were busy working.
16.21 رئیس از او خواست که گزارش دیروز را تمام کند. The boss asked him to complete yesterday's report.
16.22 او پشت میز خود نشست و شروع به کار کرد. He sat at his desk and started working.
16.23 ساعت دوازده، او با دوستان خود برای ناهار رفت. At twelve o'clock, he went to lunch with his friends.
16.24 آنها در رستوران نزدیک، غذای ایرانی خوردند و او چلوکباب سفارش داد. They ate Iranian food at a nearby restaurant, and he ordered chelow kabab.
16.25 بعد از ناهار، او به دفتر برگشت و کار خود را ادامه داد. After lunch, he returned to the office and continued his work.
16.26 عصر، مادر او تماس گرفت و او قول داد که امشب به خانه آنها برود. In the evening, his mother called and he promised to go to their house tonight.
16.27 ساعت شش، او کار را تمام کرد و از دفتر خارج شد. At six o'clock, he finished work and left the office.
16.28 او سوار مترو شد و در راه کتاب میخواند. He got on the metro and read a book on the way.
16.29 وقتی او به خانه پدر و مادر رسید، آنها منتظر او بودند. When he arrived at his parents' house, they were waiting for him.
16.30 او شام را با خانواده خورد و بعد همه با هم چای نوشیدند. He had dinner with his family and afterwards everyone drank tea together.
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16.16 صبح او زود از خواب بیدار شد و به حمام رفت.
16.17 بعد از صبحانه، او لباس پوشید و کیف خود را برداشت.
16.18 او به ایستگاه اتوبوس رسید اما اتوبوس رفته بود.
16.19 ناچار او تاکسی گرفت تا به محل کار برسد.
16.20 وقتی او به دفتر رسید، همکاران او مشغول کار بودند.
16.21 رئیس از او خواست که گزارش دیروز را تمام کند.
16.22 او پشت میز خود نشست و شروع به کار کرد.
16.23 ساعت دوازده، او با دوستان خود برای ناهار رفت.
16.24 آنها در رستوران نزدیک، غذای ایرانی خوردند و او چلوکباب سفارش داد.
16.25 بعد از ناهار، او به دفتر برگشت و کار خود را ادامه داد.
16.26 عصر، مادر او تماس گرفت و او قول داد که امشب به خانه آنها برود.
16.27 ساعت شش، او کار را تمام کرد و از دفتر خارج شد.
16.28 او سوار مترو شد و در راه کتاب میخواند.
16.29 وقتی او به خانه پدر و مادر رسید، آنها منتظر او بودند.
16.30 او شام را با خانواده خورد و بعد همه با هم چای نوشیدند.
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Pronoun Dropping: In daily conversation, Persian speakers frequently drop او when the subject is clear from context or verb conjugation: -
Written: او به دفتر رفت (He went to the office) -
Spoken: به دفتر رفت (Went to the office)
Possessive Constructions: Note how او combines with possessive structures: -
همکاران او (his colleagues) - literally "colleagues he" -
مادر او (his mother) - literally "mother he" -
کیف خود را (his own bag) - using خود for emphasis
Time Expressions: او often appears with time markers: -
صبح او زود بیدار شد (In the morning, he woke up early) -
عصر، مادر او تماس گرفت (In the evening, his mother called)
Compound Verbs: Many daily activities use compound verbs with او: -
تماس گرفت (made contact = called) -
قول داد (gave promise = promised) -
سفارش داد (gave order = ordered)
Sequential Actions: Notice how و (and) connects multiple actions: -
او لباس پوشید و کیف خود را برداشت -
او کار را تمام کرد و از دفتر خارج شد
Conversational Patterns: -
Past Tense Dominance: Daily narratives typically use simple past tense -
Auxiliary Verbs: بود (was/were) frequently combines with past participles -
Motion Verbs: رفت (went), آمد (came), رسید (arrived) are essential -
Temporal Markers: وقتی (when), بعد از (after), ساعت (at time)
Common Mistakes in Conversation: -
Overusing او: Native speakers drop it more than learners realize -
Wrong Tense: Using present perfect where simple past is natural -
Word Order: Placing time expressions incorrectly -
Formal vs Informal: Using written forms in casual speech
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This lesson is part of a comprehensive language learning series developed using the construed text method, as detailed at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk. This pedagogical approach, refined over years of online language instruction, breaks down authentic texts into their smallest meaningful components, allowing autodidactic learners to build understanding systematically.
The curator, Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006. His work with the Latinum Institute has helped thousands of self-directed learners master classical and modern languages through carefully structured lessons that balance grammatical precision with cultural context.
These lessons are particularly useful for autodidacts because they: -
Provide complete, untruncated content for immediate study -
Use authentic literary texts to illustrate grammar in context -
Include detailed interlinear glosses for every word -
Offer cultural insights essential for true language comprehension -
Present varied genres to develop comprehensive language skills
The construed text method allows learners to engage with real Persian literature from the beginning, building confidence through supported reading rather than artificial textbook sentences.
For more information about Evan der Millner and the Latinum Institute, see: -
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk -
Reviews and testimonials from successful autodidactic learners
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
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