The English preposition "on" translates to Persian primarily as روی (rūy) or بر (bar), though the usage patterns differ significantly from English. In Persian, "on" typically indicates a position above and in contact with a surface, but Persian speakers conceptualize spatial relationships differently than English speakers.
Definition for the autodidact student: The Persian equivalents of "on" - روی (rūy) and بر (bar) - indicate position upon or above something. روی is more common in everyday speech, while بر appears more frequently in formal or literary contexts. Both can translate to "on," "upon," or "on top of" in English.
FAQ Schema: Q: What does "on" mean in Persian? A: "On" in Persian is primarily expressed as روی (rūy) or بر (bar). Both indicate position upon a surface, with روی being more colloquial and بر more formal. The choice between them depends on context, formality level, and sometimes regional preferences.
How this topic word will be used: This lesson presents 15 varied examples demonstrating how روی and بر function in natural Persian sentences. You'll encounter both prepositions in different contexts - from everyday situations to more formal expressions - helping you understand when to use each one.
Educational Schema: -
Subject: Persian Language Learning -
Level: Beginner to Intermediate -
Topic: Prepositions - "on" (روی/بر) -
Lesson Type: Self-study reading comprehension -
Learning Objectives: Understanding spatial relationships in Persian, proper usage of روی and بر, cultural context of preposition usage
Key Takeaways: -
Persian uses two main words for "on": روی (rūy) and بر (bar) -
روی is more common in everyday speech -
بر appears more in formal or literary contexts -
Word order in Persian differs from English when using these prepositions -
Understanding context is crucial for choosing the right preposition
18.1 کتاب (ketāb) book روی (rūy) on میز (mīz) table است (ast) is
18.2 گربه (gorbe) cat بر (bar) on بام (bām) roof خانه (khāne) house نشسته (neshaste) sitting است (ast) is
18.3 او (ū) he/she نام (nām) name خود (khod) self را (rā) [object marker] روی (rūy) on کاغذ (kāghaz) paper نوشت (nevesht) wrote
18.4 بشقاب (boshqāb) plate غذا (ghazā) food بر (bar) on روی (rūy) on سفره (sofre) tablecloth قرار (qarār) placed دارد (dārad) has
18.5 پرنده (parande) bird روی (rūy) on شاخه (shākhe) branch درخت (derakht) tree نشسته (neshaste) sitting بود (būd) was
18.6 عکس (aks) picture بر (bar) on دیوار (dīvār) wall آویزان (āvīzān) hanging است (ast) is
18.7 بچهها (bachche-hā) children روی (rūy) on چمن (chaman) grass بازی (bāzī) play میکنند (mī-konand) do
18.8 قطار (qatār) train بر (bar) on روی (rūy) on ریل (reyl) rail حرکت (harakat) movement میکند (mī-konad) does
18.9 مادرم (mādaram) my-mother دست (dast) hand را (rā) [object marker] روی (rūy) on شانهام (shāne-am) my-shoulder گذاشت (gozāsht) put
18.10 کفشهایت (kafsh-hāyat) your-shoes را (rā) [object marker] بر (bar) on فرش (farsh) carpet نگذار (nagozār) don't-put
18.11 خورشید (khorshīd) sun بر (bar) on کوهها (kūh-hā) mountains میتابد (mī-tābad) shines
18.12 نامه (nāme) letter روی (rūy) on میز (mīz) desk من (man) I/me باقی (bāqī) remaining مانده (mānde) stayed است (ast) is
18.13 برف (barf) snow بر (bar) on زمین (zamīn) ground نشسته (neshaste) settled بود (būd) was
18.14 لیوان (līvān) glass آب (āb) water را (rā) [object marker] روی (rūy) on میز (mīz) table بگذار (bogzār) put [imperative]
18.15 ماه (māh) moon بر (bar) on آسمان (āsemān) sky میدرخشد (mī-derakhshad) shines
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18.1 کتاب روی میز است. The book is on the table.
18.2 گربه بر بام خانه نشسته است. The cat is sitting on the roof of the house.
18.3 او نام خود را روی کاغذ نوشت. He/She wrote his/her name on the paper.
18.4 بشقاب غذا بر روی سفره قرار دارد. The food plate is placed on the tablecloth.
18.5 پرنده روی شاخه درخت نشسته بود. The bird was sitting on the tree branch.
18.6 عکس بر دیوار آویزان است. The picture is hanging on the wall.
18.7 بچهها روی چمن بازی میکنند. The children are playing on the grass.
18.8 قطار بر روی ریل حرکت میکند. The train moves on the rail.
18.9 مادرم دست را روی شانهام گذاشت. My mother put her hand on my shoulder.
18.10 کفشهایت را بر فرش نگذار. Don't put your shoes on the carpet.
18.11 خورشید بر کوهها میتابد. The sun shines on the mountains.
18.12 نامه روی میز من باقی مانده است. The letter has remained on my desk.
18.13 برف بر زمین نشسته بود. Snow had settled on the ground.
18.14 لیوان آب را روی میز بگذار. Put the glass of water on the table.
18.15 ماه بر آسمان میدرخشد. The moon shines on the sky.
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18.1 کتاب روی میز است.
18.2 گربه بر بام خانه نشسته است.
18.3 او نام خود را روی کاغذ نوشت.
18.4 بشقاب غذا بر روی سفره قرار دارد.
18.5 پرنده روی شاخه درخت نشسته بود.
18.6 عکس بر دیوار آویزان است.
18.7 بچهها روی چمن بازی میکنند.
18.8 قطار بر روی ریل حرکت میکند.
18.9 مادرم دست را روی شانهام گذاشت.
18.10 کفشهایت را بر فرش نگذار.
18.11 خورشید بر کوهها میتابد.
18.12 نامه روی میز من باقی مانده است.
18.13 برف بر زمین نشسته بود.
18.14 لیوان آب را روی میز بگذار.
18.15 ماه بر آسمان میدرخشد.
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The Persian prepositions روی (rūy) and بر (bar) both translate to "on" in English, but their usage follows specific patterns that differ from English grammar.
Basic Structure: -
[Object] + روی/بر + [Surface] + [Verb] -
Example: کتاب روی میز است (The book is on the table)
Key Differences Between روی and بر: -
روی (rūy): -
More common in everyday spoken Persian -
Used for physical placement on surfaces -
Often combined with other prepositions: بر روی (bar rūy) -
Originally means "face" or "surface" -
بر (bar): -
More formal and literary -
Used in fixed expressions and formal writing -
Can mean "on," "upon," or "against" -
Preferred in poetic or elevated language
Word Order Differences: Unlike English, where "on" comes before the noun ("on the table"), Persian places the object first, then the preposition and location: -
English: The book is on the table -
Persian: کتاب روی میز است (literally: book on table is)
Common Mistakes: -
Using only one preposition: English speakers often stick to روی and ignore بر, missing the formal/informal distinction. -
Wrong word order: Placing the preposition before the object as in English structure. -
Overusing بر روی: While this combination exists, it's often redundant in casual speech. -
Confusing با (bā - with) and بر (bar - on): These look similar but have different meanings. -
Forgetting the ezāfe construction: When describing what's on something, you need the ezāfe (-e/-ye) connection.
Step-by-Step Guide: -
Identify what is "on" something (the subject) -
Identify the surface (the location) -
Choose between روی (informal) or بر (formal) -
Structure: Subject + روی/بر + Location + Verb -
Add any additional descriptors using ezāfe
Grammatical Summary: -
No gender or number agreement needed -
The prepositions don't change form -
Can be combined: بر روی (more emphatic) -
Some verbs require specific prepositions -
در (dar) is sometimes used instead of روی/بر for certain contexts
Comparison with English: -
English uses "on" for many contexts where Persian might use different prepositions -
Persian distinguishes between formal and informal usage -
Word order is reversed compared to English -
Persian may use other prepositions (در، به) where English uses "on"
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Understanding the use of روی and بر in Persian requires appreciation of Persian cultural and linguistic sensibilities. The distinction between these two prepositions reflects the Persian language's rich tradition of formal and informal registers.
In Persian culture, the choice between روی and بر can signal your educational level, social awareness, and the formality of the situation. Using بر in casual conversation might sound overly formal or pretentious, while using روی in formal writing might seem too colloquial.
The concept of "on" in Persian also extends metaphorically in ways that differ from English. For example, Persians say someone has "dust on their head" (خاک بر سر) as an expression of mourning or misfortune. The preposition بر is specifically used in this idiom, never روی.
Persian poetry extensively uses بر for its rhythmic qualities and formal tone. Classical poets like Hafez and Ferdowsi preferred بر in their verses, establishing it as the literary choice. This tradition continues in modern formal Persian writing.
In religious contexts, بر appears more frequently, especially in prayers and religious texts. This reflects the formal, reverent tone appropriate for spiritual matters.
The combination بر روی (literally "on-on") might seem redundant to English speakers, but it serves to emphasize placement or can be used for rhythmic purposes in speech. It's particularly common in giving directions or instructions.
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شازده (shāzde) prince کوچولو (kūchūlū) little بر (bar) on سیارهای (sayyāre-ī) a-planet بسیار (besyār) very کوچک (kūchak) small زندگی (zendegī) life میکرد (mī-kard) did که (ke) that آنقدر (ān-qadr) so-much کوچک (kūchak) small بود (būd) was که (ke) that فقط (faqat) only جا (jā) space برای (barāye) for یک (yek) one صندلی (sandalī) chair کوچک (kūchak) small روی (rūy) on آن (ān) it وجود (vojūd) existence داشت (dāsht) had
شازده کوچولو بر سیارهای بسیار کوچک زندگی میکرد که آنقدر کوچک بود که فقط جا برای یک صندلی کوچک روی آن وجود داشت.
The Little Prince lived on a very small planet that was so small that there was only room for a small chair on it.
This passage demonstrates both بر and روی in literary context. The formal بر is used for the prince's residence on the planet (بر سیارهای), establishing the mythical, storybook tone. Later, روی appears in the more concrete description of the chair's placement (روی آن), showing how even in literary texts, روی is preferred for everyday physical placement.
-
بر سیارهای: Uses بر for the formal, poetic sense of living "upon" a planet -
روی آن: Uses روی for the physical placement of the chair -
The ezāfe construction connects the adjectives: سیارهای بسیار کوچک -
که (that/which) introduces relative clauses -
Word order follows Persian syntax with the verb at the end
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18.16 صبح (sobh) morning زود (zūd) early مادر (mādar) mother صبحانه (sobhāne) breakfast را (rā) [object marker] روی (rūy) on میز (mīz) table آشپزخانه (āshpazkhāne) kitchen چید (chīd) arranged
18.17 پدرم (pedaram) my-father عینک (eynak) glasses خود (khod) self را (rā) [object marker] همیشه (hamīshe) always بر (bar) on روی (rūy) on اخبار (akhbār) newspaper میگذارد (mī-gozārad) puts
18.18 خواهرم (khāharam) my-sister لباسهای (lebās-hāye) clothes تمیز (tamīz) clean را (rā) [object marker] روی (rūy) on تخت (takht) bed مرتب (moratab) orderly کرد (kard) did
18.19 گلهای (gol-hāye) flowers تازه (tāze) fresh بر (bar) on میز (mīz) table ناهارخوری (nāhārkhūrī) dining زیبا (zībā) beautiful میدرخشند (mī-derakhshand) shine
18.20 برادرم (barādaram) my-brother کیف (kīf) bag مدرسه (madrese) school را (rā) [object marker] روی (rūy) on صندلی (sandalī) chair گذاشت (gozāsht) put و (va) and رفت (raft) went
18.21 قوری (qūrī) teapot چای (chāy) tea داغ (dāgh) hot بر (bar) on روی (rūy) on اجاق (ojāq) stove گاز (gāz) gas قرار (qarār) placed داشت (dāsht) had
18.22 بچه (bachche) child نقاشی (naqqāshī) drawing زیبایی (zībāyī) beautiful روی (rūy) on دیوار (dīvār) wall اتاق (otāq) room کشیده (keshīde) drawn بود (būd) had
18.23 مادربزرگ (mādar-bozorg) grandmother دستمال (dastmāl) handkerchief گلدار (goldār) flowered را (rā) [object marker] بر (bar) on سر (sar) head خود (khod) self بسته (baste) tied بود (būd) had
18.24 ظرفهای (zarf-hāye) dishes کثیف (kasīf) dirty روی (rūy) on سینک (sīnk) sink آشپزخانه (āshpazkhāne) kitchen انباشته (anbāshte) piled شده (shode) become بود (būd) had
18.25 پردههای (parde-hāye) curtains نو (now) new بر (bar) on پنجره (panjare) window اتاق (otāq) room نشیمن (neshīman) living آویزان (āvīzān) hanging شد (shod) became
18.26 کودک (kūdak) child اسباببازیها (asbāb-bāzī-hā) toys را (rā) [object marker] روی (rūy) on فرش (farsh) carpet اتاق (otāq) room پخش (pakhsh) scattered کرد (kard) did
18.27 پدربزرگ (pedar-bozorg) grandfather روزنامه (rūznāme) newspaper را (rā) [object marker] بر (bar) on زانوی (zānūye) knee خود (khod) self گذاشت (gozāsht) put
18.28 سبد (sabad) basket میوه (mīve) fruit تازه (tāze) fresh روی (rūy) on میز (mīz) counter آشپزخانه (āshpazkhāne) kitchen قرار (qarār) placed داده (dāde) given شد (shod) was
18.29 تابلوی (tāblūye) painting قدیمی (qadīmī) old خانوادگی (khānevādegī) family بر (bar) on دیوار (dīvār) wall اصلی (aslī) main خانه (khāne) house نصب (nasb) installed شد (shod) was
18.30 مهمانها (mehmān-hā) guests کفشهای (kafsh-hāye) shoes خود (khod) their را (rā) [object marker] روی (rūy) on جاکفشی (jā-kafshī) shoe-rack ورودی (vorūdī) entrance گذاشتند (gozāshtand) put
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18.16 صبح زود مادر صبحانه را روی میز آشپزخانه چید. Early in the morning, mother arranged breakfast on the kitchen table.
18.17 پدرم عینک خود را همیشه بر روی اخبار میگذارد. My father always puts his glasses on the newspaper.
18.18 خواهرم لباسهای تمیز را روی تخت مرتب کرد. My sister arranged the clean clothes on the bed.
18.19 گلهای تازه بر میز ناهارخوری زیبا میدرخشند. Fresh flowers shine beautifully on the dining table.
18.20 برادرم کیف مدرسه را روی صندلی گذاشت و رفت. My brother put his school bag on the chair and left.
18.21 قوری چای داغ بر روی اجاق گاز قرار داشت. The hot tea kettle was placed on the gas stove.
18.22 بچه نقاشی زیبایی روی دیوار اتاق کشیده بود. The child had drawn a beautiful drawing on the room wall.
18.23 مادربزرگ دستمال گلدار را بر سر خود بسته بود. Grandmother had tied a flowered handkerchief on her head.
18.24 ظرفهای کثیف روی سینک آشپزخانه انباشته شده بود. Dirty dishes were piled on the kitchen sink.
18.25 پردههای نو بر پنجره اتاق نشیمن آویزان شد. New curtains were hung on the living room window.
18.26 کودک اسباببازیها را روی فرش اتاق پخش کرد. The child scattered toys on the room carpet.
18.27 پدربزرگ روزنامه را بر زانوی خود گذاشت. Grandfather put the newspaper on his knee.
18.28 سبد میوه تازه روی میز آشپزخانه قرار داده شد. A basket of fresh fruit was placed on the kitchen counter.
18.29 تابلوی قدیمی خانوادگی بر دیوار اصلی خانه نصب شد. The old family painting was installed on the main wall of the house.
18.30 مهمانها کفشهای خود را روی جاکفشی ورودی گذاشتند. The guests put their shoes on the entrance shoe rack.
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18.16 صبح زود مادر صبحانه را روی میز آشپزخانه چید.
18.17 پدرم عینک خود را همیشه بر روی اخبار میگذارد.
18.18 خواهرم لباسهای تمیز را روی تخت مرتب کرد.
18.19 گلهای تازه بر میز ناهارخوری زیبا میدرخشند.
18.20 برادرم کیف مدرسه را روی صندلی گذاشت و رفت.
18.21 قوری چای داغ بر روی اجاق گاز قرار داشت.
18.22 بچه نقاشی زیبایی روی دیوار اتاق کشیده بود.
18.23 مادربزرگ دستمال گلدار را بر سر خود بسته بود.
18.24 ظرفهای کثیف روی سینک آشپزخانه انباشته شده بود.
18.25 پردههای نو بر پنجره اتاق نشیمن آویزان شد.
18.26 کودک اسباببازیها را روی فرش اتاق پخش کرد.
18.27 پدربزرگ روزنامه را بر زانوی خود گذاشت.
18.28 سبد میوه تازه روی میز آشپزخانه قرار داده شد.
18.29 تابلوی قدیمی خانوادگی بر دیوار اصلی خانه نصب شد.
18.30 مهمانها کفشهای خود را روی جاکفشی ورودی گذاشتند.
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When describing daily activities and household scenes, Persian speakers use specific patterns with روی and بر that reflect cultural practices and linguistic preferences.
Common Household Collocations: -
With روی (informal/everyday): -
روی میز (on the table) -
روی تخت (on the bed) -
روی فرش (on the carpet) -
روی صندلی (on the chair) -
With بر (formal/specific contexts): -
بر دیوار (on the wall) -
بر سر (on the head) -
بر پنجره (on the window)
Verb Patterns with Spatial Prepositions:
The genre examples show common verbs used with placement: -
گذاشتن (gozāshtan) - to put/place -
چیدن (chīdan) - to arrange -
قرار دادن (qarār dādan) - to place/position -
آویزان کردن (āvīzān kardan) - to hang
Cultural Notes on Preposition Usage: -
بر سر (bar sar) is a fixed expression for head coverings, never روی سر -
بر روی often appears in formal descriptions or when emphasizing placement -
Certain rooms have preferred prepositions: usually روی for furniture surfaces
Word Order in Complex Sentences:
Daily life descriptions often include multiple elements: -
[Subject] + [Object] + را + [Location with روی/بر] + [Verb] -
Time expressions typically come first: صبح زود (early morning)
Common Mistakes in Daily Life Contexts: -
Using بر for everyday items (too formal) -
Forgetting را with definite direct objects -
Wrong placement of time expressions -
Confusion between قرار دادن (to place) and قرار داشتن (to be placed)
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This lesson is part of a comprehensive language learning series developed by the Latinum Institute, designed specifically for autodidact learners. The method, refined since 2006 by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), emphasizes deep comprehension through interlinear translation and gradual progression from supported to independent reading.
The Latinum Institute's approach, detailed at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk, focuses on: -
Construed text methodology: Breaking down texts word-by-word to build understanding -
Genre variety: Exposing learners to different registers and contexts -
Cultural integration: Understanding language through cultural context -
Self-paced learning: Materials designed for independent study
Each lesson includes: -
Granular interlinear translations for beginners -
Complete sentences in both languages -
Target language immersion sections -
Comprehensive grammar explanations -
Cultural context for deeper understanding -
Authentic literary excerpts -
Genre-specific applications
The format particularly benefits autodidacts by: -
Providing immediate comprehension support -
Building pattern recognition skills -
Offering multiple exposure contexts -
Enabling self-correction through parallel texts
Evan der Millner has been creating online language learning materials since 2006, developing resources for Latin, Greek, and various modern languages. The Institute's materials have received positive reviews, as documented at https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
This pedagogical approach combines traditional philological methods with modern self-study techniques, making challenging languages accessible to motivated independent learners worldwide.
For a complete course index and additional resources, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
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