The Persian pronoun آنها (ānhā) corresponds to the English word "they" and is used to refer to multiple people or things. This third-person plural pronoun is essential for basic communication in Persian and appears frequently in both spoken and written Persian.
Definition: آنها (ānhā) is the third-person plural pronoun in Persian, meaning "they" in English. It refers to multiple people, animals, or objects that are not present in the immediate conversation.
FAQ Schema: Q: What does "they" mean in Persian? A: "They" in Persian is آنها (ānhā). It is used to refer to multiple people or things in the third person, similar to its use in English.
How this word will be used: Throughout this lesson, you'll encounter آنها in various sentence positions and contexts, from simple subject positions to more complex grammatical structures. The examples progress from basic statements to more sophisticated uses, helping you understand how Persian sentence structure differs from English.
Educational Schema: -
Subject: Persian Language Learning -
Level: Beginner to Intermediate -
Topic: Third-person plural pronoun آنها (they) -
Lesson Type: Reading comprehension with grammar explanation -
Target Audience: English-speaking autodidacts
Key Takeaways: -
آنها (ānhā) is the standard form of "they" in Persian -
Persian verbs conjugate differently for third-person plural -
Word order in Persian is more flexible than in English, though SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) is standard -
آنها can be shortened to اونا (oonā) in colloquial speech -
Understanding آنها is crucial for discussing groups and plural subjects
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25.1 آنها they (ānhā) در in (dar) پارک park (pārk) بازی play (bāzi) میکنند do/are doing (mi-konand)
25.2 دیروز yesterday (diruz) آنها they (ānhā) به to (be) سینما cinema (sinemā) رفتند went (raftand)
25.3 کتابهای books (ketāb-hā-ye) آنها their (ānhā) روی on (ru-ye) میز table (miz) است is (ast)
25.4 آیا whether/do (āyā) آنها they (ānhā) فارسی Persian (fārsi) صحبت speak (sohbat) میکنند do (mi-konand)?
25.5 همه all (hame) میدانند know (mi-dānand) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) دوست friend (dust) هستند are (hastand)
25.6 وقتی when (vaqti) آنها they (ānhā) آمدند came (āmadand)، من I (man) خانه home (khāne) نبودم was not (nabudam)
25.7 معلم teacher (mo'allem) از from (az) آنها them (ānhā) سؤال question (so'āl) پرسید asked (porsid)
25.8 آنها they (ānhā) همیشه always (hamishe) با with (bā) هم together (ham) غذا food (ghazā) میخورند eat (mi-khorand)
25.9 ماشین car (māshin) آنها their (ānhā) آبی blue (ābi) رنگ color (rang) است is (ast)
25.10 فردا tomorrow (fardā) آنها they (ānhā) به to (be) مسافرت trip (mosāferat) خواهند will (khāhand) رفت go (raft)
25.11 برای for (barāye) آنها them (ānhā) هدیه gift (hadiye) خریدم I bought (kharidam)
25.12 آنها they (ānhā) در in (dar) دانشگاه university (dāneshgāh) تحصیل study (tahsil) میکنند do (mi-konand)
25.13 خانه house (khāne) آنها their (ānhā) نزدیک near (nazdik) دریا sea (daryā) است is (ast)
25.14 هر every (har) روز day (ruz) آنها they (ānhā) ورزش exercise (varzesh) میکنند do (mi-konand)
25.15 من I (man) فکر think (fekr) میکنم do (mi-konam) آنها they (ānhā) خوشحال happy (khoshhāl) هستند are (hastand)
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25.1 آنها در پارک بازی میکنند. They are playing in the park.
25.2 دیروز آنها به سینما رفتند. Yesterday they went to the cinema.
25.3 کتابهای آنها روی میز است. Their books are on the table.
25.4 آیا آنها فارسی صحبت میکنند؟ Do they speak Persian?
25.5 همه میدانند که آنها دوست هستند. Everyone knows that they are friends.
25.6 وقتی آنها آمدند، من خانه نبودم. When they came, I was not home.
25.7 معلم از آنها سؤال پرسید. The teacher asked them a question.
25.8 آنها همیشه با هم غذا میخورند. They always eat together.
25.9 ماشین آنها آبی رنگ است. Their car is blue.
25.10 فردا آنها به مسافرت خواهند رفت. Tomorrow they will go on a trip.
25.11 برای آنها هدیه خریدم. I bought a gift for them.
25.12 آنها در دانشگاه تحصیل میکنند. They study at the university.
25.13 خانه آنها نزدیک دریا است. Their house is near the sea.
25.14 هر روز آنها ورزش میکنند. Every day they exercise.
25.15 من فکر میکنم آنها خوشحال هستند. I think they are happy.
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25.1 آنها در پارک بازی میکنند.
25.2 دیروز آنها به سینما رفتند.
25.3 کتابهای آنها روی میز است.
25.4 آیا آنها فارسی صحبت میکنند؟
25.5 همه میدانند که آنها دوست هستند.
25.6 وقتی آنها آمدند، من خانه نبودم.
25.7 معلم از آنها سؤال پرسید.
25.8 آنها همیشه با هم غذا میخورند.
25.9 ماشین آنها آبی رنگ است.
25.10 فردا آنها به مسافرت خواهند رفت.
25.11 برای آنها هدیه خریدم.
25.12 آنها در دانشگاه تحصیل میکنند.
25.13 خانه آنها نزدیک دریا است.
25.14 هر روز آنها ورزش میکنند.
25.15 من فکر میکنم آنها خوشحال هستند.
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Basic Usage: آنها (ānhā) is the third-person plural pronoun in Persian. Unlike English, Persian pronouns do not distinguish gender, so آنها is used for all groups regardless of whether they are male, female, or mixed.
Verb Conjugation: When آنها is the subject, verbs take the third-person plural ending: -
Present tense: میکنند (mi-konand) - they do -
Past tense: کردند (kardand) - they did -
Future tense: خواهند کرد (khāhand kard) - they will do
Possessive Form: To show possession, آنها can be used with the ezāfe construction: -
کتاب آنها (ketāb-e ānhā) - their book -
خانه آنها (khāne-ye ānhā) - their house
Object Form: When آنها is the object of a verb or preposition, it remains the same: -
به آنها (be ānhā) - to them -
از آنها (az ānhā) - from them -
برای آنها (barāye ānhā) - for them
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Forgetting verb agreement: English speakers often forget to conjugate the verb for third-person plural. Remember: آنها requires plural verb endings. -
Wrong: آنها میکند (uses singular ending) -
Correct: آنها میکنند (uses plural ending) -
Word order confusion: While Persian is generally SOV (Subject-Object-Verb), the word order is more flexible than English. However, the verb typically comes at the end. -
English: They eat food -
Persian: آنها غذا میخورند (literally: They food eat) -
Colloquial vs. formal usage: In spoken Persian, آنها is often shortened to اونا (oonā). Be aware of this in conversation but use آنها in formal writing. -
Ezāfe construction: English speakers often forget the ezāfe (-e or -ye) when showing possession: -
Wrong: کتاب آنها -
Correct: کتاب آنها (ketāb-e ānhā) - Note: the ezāfe is often not written but is pronounced
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Identify the subject: Determine if you're referring to multiple people or things -
Choose the correct verb form: Use third-person plural conjugation -
Consider word order: Place آنها before the verb in simple sentences -
Add objects or complements: These typically come between the subject and verb -
Check agreement: Ensure all elements agree with the plural subject
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Gender neutrality: Unlike some European languages, Persian آنها doesn't change based on gender -
No case system: آنها remains the same whether it's subject or object (unlike English they/them) -
Verb placement: The verb typically comes at the end in Persian, unlike English SVO order -
Flexibility: Persian word order is more flexible for emphasis, while English relies more on fixed order
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Understanding the use of آنها in Persian culture involves appreciating the social dynamics of group reference in Iranian society. Persian speakers often use pronouns to maintain respectful distance or show familiarity, and آنها plays a crucial role in these interactions.
In formal Persian, آنها is sometimes used to refer respectfully to a single person of high status, similar to the royal "we" in English. This usage, while less common today, can still be encountered in very formal or traditional contexts. For example, when referring to elderly religious figures or in classical Persian literature, you might see آنها used for a single honored individual.
The distinction between written and spoken Persian is particularly relevant with آنها. In casual conversation, Iranians frequently use اونا (oonā) instead of آنها. This colloquial form is perfectly acceptable in everyday speech but should be avoided in formal writing, academic work, or professional contexts. Understanding when to use each form is an important aspect of Persian sociolinguistic competence.
In Persian poetry and literature, آنها often carries symbolic weight, representing distant beloveds, divine entities, or abstract concepts. Classical Persian poets like Hafez and Rumi frequently used plural pronouns to create ambiguity and depth in their mystical verses, where آنها might simultaneously refer to earthly friends and spiritual guides.
Modern Persian media and literature maintain the standard use of آنها, though young Iranians increasingly blend formal and informal registers in digital communication. Text messages and social media posts might use either آنها or اونا depending on the relationship between communicators and the formality of the topic.
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From "The Little Prince" (شازده کوچولو) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, translated by Ahmad Shamloo:
آنها they (ānhā) فقط only (faqat) به to (be) اعداد numbers (a'dād) علاقه interest (alāqe) دارند have (dārand). وقتی when (vaqti) از about (az) دوست friend (dust) جدیدی new (jadidi) برایشان for them (barāye-shān) حرف talk (harf) میزنی you speak (mi-zani)، هرگز never (hargez) نمیپرسند they don't ask (nemi-porsand): «صدایش his voice (sedā-yash) چگونه how (chegune) است؟» is (ast)
آنها فقط به اعداد علاقه دارند. وقتی از دوست جدیدی برایشان حرف میزنی، هرگز نمیپرسند: «صدایش چگونه است؟»
They are only interested in numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask: "What does his voice sound like?"
آنها فقط به اعداد علاقه دارند. وقتی از دوست جدیدی برایشان حرف میزنی، هرگز نمیپرسند: «صدایش چگونه است؟»
This passage brilliantly demonstrates several uses of آنها and related pronouns: -
آنها as subject: The passage begins with آنها as the main subject, criticizing adults' preoccupation with quantifiable facts. -
Verb agreement: Note how دارند (dārand - they have) and نمیپرسند (nemi-porsand - they don't ask) both use the third-person plural ending -and. -
Compound pronoun: برایشان (barāye-shān) combines برای (for) with the suffix -شان (their/them), creating "for them." -
Negative construction: هرگز نمیپرسند shows the negative نمی- prefix with the adverb هرگز (never) for emphasis. -
Embedded question: The quoted question «صدایش چگونه است؟» demonstrates Persian question formation within narrative text.
This excerpt from Shamloo's masterful translation captures the essence of Saint-Exupéry's critique of adult thinking, using آنها to create a sense of distance between the narrator and the adults being described.
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25.16 دانشمندان scientists (dāneshmandān) میگویند say (mi-guyand) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) راه way (rāh) جدیدی new (jadidi) برای for (barāye) درمان treatment (darmān) سرطان cancer (saratān) پیدا found (peydā) کردهاند have done (karde-and)
25.17 آنها they (ānhā) اعلام announcement (e'lām) کردند made (kardand) که that (ke) این this (in) روش method (ravesh) میتواند can (mi-tavānad) جان life (jān) هزاران thousands (hezārān) نفر person (nafar) را [object marker] (rā) نجات save (nejāt) دهد give (dehad)
25.18 مقامات officials (maqāmāt) دولتی governmental (dowlati) گفتند said (goftand) آنها they (ānhā) برنامههای plans (barnāme-hā-ye) جدیدی new (jadidi) برای for (barāye) کاهش reduction (kāhesh) آلودگی pollution (āludegi) هوا air (havā) دارند have (dārand)
25.19 وزیر minister (vazir) اقتصاد economy (eqtesād) توضیح explanation (towzih) داد gave (dād) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) تا until (tā) پایان end (pāyān) سال year (sāl) نرخ rate (nerkh) تورم inflation (tavarrom) را [object marker] (rā) کنترل control (kontrol) خواهند will (khāhand) کرد do (kard)
25.20 شهروندان citizens (shahrvandān) نگران worried (negarān) هستند are (hastand) اما but (ammā) آنها they (ānhā) امیدوارند hope (omidvārand) که that (ke) اوضاع situation (owzā') بهتر better (behtar) شود become (shavad)
25.21 رهبران leaders (rahbarān) جهان world (jahān) اعلام announcement (e'lām) کردند made (kardand) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) برای for (barāye) مقابله confronting (moqābele) با with (bā) تغییرات changes (taghyirāt) اقلیمی climate (eqlimi) همکاری cooperation (hamkāri) خواهند will (khāhand) کرد do (kard)
25.22 کارشناسان experts (kārshenāsān) پیشبینی prediction (pish-bini) میکنند make (mi-konand) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) تا by (tā) ده ten (dah) سال year (sāl) آینده future (āyande) واکسن vaccine (vāksan) جدیدی new (jadidi) تولید production (towlid) کنند do (konand)
25.23 مردم people (mardom) منتظرند are waiting (montazerand) تا until (tā) ببینند see (bebinand) آیا whether (āyā) آنها they (ānhā) به to (be) وعدههایشان their promises (va'de-hā-yeshān) عمل action (amal) میکنند do (mi-konand) یا or (yā) نه no (na)
25.24 سازمان organization (sāzmān) ملل nations (melal) اعلام announcement (e'lām) کرد made (kard) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) کمکهای aids (komak-hā-ye) بیشتری more (bishtari) به to (be) کشورهای countries (keshvar-hā-ye) نیازمند needy (niyāzmand) ارسال sending (ersāl) خواهند will (khāhand) کرد do (kard)
25.25 محققان researchers (mohaqqeqān) دانشگاه university (dāneshgāh) تهران Tehran (Tehrān) گفتند said (goftand) آنها they (ānhā) موفق successful (movaffaq) به to (be) کشف discovery (kashf) داروی medicine (dāru-ye) جدیدی new (jadidi) شدهاند have become (shode-and)
25.26 وزیر minister (vazir) بهداشت health (behdāsht) اطمینان assurance (etminān) داد gave (dād) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) تمام all (tamām) تلاش effort (talāsh) خود self (khod) را [object marker] (rā) برای for (barāye) بهبود improvement (behbud) سیستم system (sistem) درمانی medical (darmāni) انجام performing (anjām) میدهند give (mi-dahand)
25.27 کارگران workers (kārgarān) اعتصاب strike (e'tesāb) کردند did (kardand) زیرا because (zirā) آنها they (ānhā) خواستار demanding (khāstār) افزایش increase (afzāyesh) حقوق salary (hoquq) هستند are (hastand)
25.28 مسئولان officials (mas'ulān) شهری city (shahri) قول promise (qowl) دادند gave (dādand) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) مشکل problem (moshkel) ترافیک traffic (terāfik) را [object marker] (rā) حل solve (hal) خواهند will (khāhand) کرد do (kard)
25.29 دانشآموزان students (dānesh-āmuzān) اعتراض protest (e'terāz) کردند did (kardand) چون because (chon) آنها they (ānhā) با with (bā) سیستم system (sistem) جدید new (jadid) آموزشی educational (āmuzeshi) موافق agreeing (movāfeq) نیستند are not (nistand)
25.30 کشاورزان farmers (keshāvarzān) نگران worried (negarān) هستند are (hastand) که that (ke) آنها they (ānhā) امسال this year (emsāl) محصول crop (mahsul) کمتری less (kamtari) خواهند will (khāhand) داشت have (dāsht)
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25.16 دانشمندان میگویند که آنها راه جدیدی برای درمان سرطان پیدا کردهاند. Scientists say that they have found a new way to treat cancer.
25.17 آنها اعلام کردند که این روش میتواند جان هزاران نفر را نجات دهد. They announced that this method can save thousands of lives.
25.18 مقامات دولتی گفتند آنها برنامههای جدیدی برای کاهش آلودگی هوا دارند. Government officials said they have new plans to reduce air pollution.
25.19 وزیر اقتصاد توضیح داد که آنها تا پایان سال نرخ تورم را کنترل خواهند کرد. The economy minister explained that they will control the inflation rate by the end of the year.
25.20 شهروندان نگران هستند اما آنها امیدوارند که اوضاع بهتر شود. Citizens are worried but they hope that the situation will improve.
25.21 رهبران جهان اعلام کردند که آنها برای مقابله با تغییرات اقلیمی همکاری خواهند کرد. World leaders announced that they will cooperate to confront climate change.
25.22 کارشناسان پیشبینی میکنند که آنها تا ده سال آینده واکسن جدیدی تولید کنند. Experts predict that they will produce a new vaccine within the next ten years.
25.23 مردم منتظرند تا ببینند آیا آنها به وعدههایشان عمل میکنند یا نه. People are waiting to see whether they will fulfill their promises or not.
25.24 سازمان ملل اعلام کرد که آنها کمکهای بیشتری به کشورهای نیازمند ارسال خواهند کرد. The United Nations announced that they will send more aid to needy countries.
25.25 محققان دانشگاه تهران گفتند آنها موفق به کشف داروی جدیدی شدهاند. Researchers at Tehran University said they have succeeded in discovering a new medicine.
25.26 وزیر بهداشت اطمینان داد که آنها تمام تلاش خود را برای بهبود سیستم درمانی انجام میدهند. The health minister assured that they are making every effort to improve the medical system.
25.27 کارگران اعتصاب کردند زیرا آنها خواستار افزایش حقوق هستند. Workers went on strike because they are demanding a salary increase.
25.28 مسئولان شهری قول دادند که آنها مشکل ترافیک را حل خواهند کرد. City officials promised that they will solve the traffic problem.
25.29 دانشآموزان اعتراض کردند چون آنها با سیستم جدید آموزشی موافق نیستند. Students protested because they do not agree with the new educational system.
25.30 کشاورزان نگران هستند که آنها امسال محصول کمتری خواهند داشت. Farmers are worried that they will have less crop this year.
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25.16 دانشمندان میگویند که آنها راه جدیدی برای درمان سرطان پیدا کردهاند.
25.17 آنها اعلام کردند که این روش میتواند جان هزاران نفر را نجات دهد.
25.18 مقامات دولتی گفتند آنها برنامههای جدیدی برای کاهش آلودگی هوا دارند.
25.19 وزیر اقتصاد توضیح داد که آنها تا پایان سال نرخ تورم را کنترل خواهند کرد.
25.20 شهروندان نگران هستند اما آنها امیدوارند که اوضاع بهتر شود.
25.21 رهبران جهان اعلام کردند که آنها برای مقابله با تغییرات اقلیمی همکاری خواهند کرد.
25.22 کارشناسان پیشبینی میکنند که آنها تا ده سال آینده واکسن جدیدی تولید کنند.
25.23 مردم منتظرند تا ببینند آیا آنها به وعدههایشان عمل میکنند یا نه.
25.24 سازمان ملل اعلام کرد که آنها کمکهای بیشتری به کشورهای نیازمند ارسال خواهند کرد.
25.25 محققان دانشگاه تهران گفتند آنها موفق به کشف داروی جدیدی شدهاند.
25.26 وزیر بهداشت اطمینان داد که آنها تمام تلاش خود را برای بهبود سیستم درمانی انجام میدهند.
25.27 کارگران اعتصاب کردند زیرا آنها خواستار افزایش حقوق هستند.
25.28 مسئولان شهری قول دادند که آنها مشکل ترافیک را حل خواهند کرد.
25.29 دانشآموزان اعتراض کردند چون آنها با سیستم جدید آموزشی موافق نیستند.
25.30 کشاورزان نگران هستند که آنها امسال محصول کمتری خواهند داشت.
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Reported Speech: News reports frequently use که (that) after verbs of saying to introduce reported speech: -
گفتند که آنها... (they said that they...) -
اعلام کردند که آنها... (they announced that they...) -
توضیح داد که آنها... (he explained that they...)
Formal Register: News Persian uses more formal vocabulary and complete grammatical structures: -
مقامات (maqāmāt) instead of مسئولین (mas'ulin) -
Present perfect tense: پیدا کردهاند (have found) rather than simple past
Compound Verbs: Persian news heavily uses compound verbs (a noun + a light verb): -
اعلام کردند (made announcement = announced) -
اعتراض کردند (made protest = protested) -
اطمینان داد (gave assurance = assured)
Future Tense Construction: News reports often discuss future plans using خواهند + infinitive: -
خواهند کرد (they will do) -
خواهند داشت (they will have)
Causal Conjunctions: To explain reasons, news reports use: -
زیرا (zirā) - because (more formal) -
چون (chon) - because (less formal)
Object Marker را: In formal Persian, the direct object marker را is consistently used: -
نرخ تورم را کنترل خواهند کرد (they will control the inflation rate) -
مشکل ترافیک را حل خواهند کرد (they will solve the traffic problem)
Professional Titles and Groups: News reports frequently reference professional groups as "they": -
دانشمندان (scientists) -
کارشناسان (experts) -
مقامات (officials)
These groups are often the subject performing actions, with آنها used for subsequent references to avoid repetition.
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This lesson is part of a comprehensive language learning series developed by the Latinum Institute, utilizing the proven "construed text" method that has helped thousands of autodidacts successfully learn languages independently since 2006.
The Latinum Institute's approach, pioneered by curator Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), combines traditional philological methods with modern pedagogical insights. Each lesson features: -
Interlinear Translation: Word-by-word glossing that allows learners to understand grammar and vocabulary simultaneously -
Progressive Difficulty: Examples that gradually increase in complexity -
Cultural Context: Essential cultural information integrated into language learning -
Literary Excerpts: Authentic texts that provide real-world language exposure -
Genre Studies: Specialized vocabulary and structures for different contexts
The method draws inspiration from centuries-old techniques used in classical language education, adapted for modern autodidacts. By presenting language in a highly structured, transparent way, learners can progress at their own pace without the need for formal instruction.
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Complete Transparency: Every word is glossed, eliminating guesswork -
Natural Language Exposure: Authentic sentences provide real usage patterns -
Systematic Progression: Grammar concepts build logically upon each other -
Cultural Integration: Language and culture are taught together -
Self-Paced Learning: Designed specifically for independent study
Evan der Millner has been at the forefront of online language education since 2006, developing innovative materials for Latin, Ancient Greek, and modern languages. His work has been recognized internationally, with the Latinum Institute receiving acclaim for its effective teaching methods.
For testimonials and reviews, visit: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
For more information about the method and additional lessons, visit: -
Method explanation: https://latinum.substack.com/p/method -
Additional resources: https://latinum.org.uk
Access the complete course index and all available lessons at: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
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