The possessive pronoun "his" in Persian is expressed through the suffix ـش (-esh/-ash) attached to nouns, or through the construction او (u) when used independently. This lesson explores how Persian expresses possession differently from English, using a suffix system rather than separate possessive pronouns.
Definition: In Persian, "his" is not a standalone word but rather a possessive suffix ـش (-esh after consonants, -ash after vowels) that attaches to the end of nouns. When needed independently, the pronoun او (u) meaning "he/him" can be used with additional constructions.
FAQ Schema: Q: What does "his" mean in Persian? A: "His" in Persian is expressed by the suffix ـش (-esh/-ash) attached to nouns. For example, "his book" is کتابش (ketāb-esh), literally "book-his."
Usage in This Lesson: This lesson will demonstrate how the possessive suffix ـش functions in various contexts, showing its attachment to different types of nouns and in different sentence positions. You'll learn both the suffixed form and alternative constructions using او.
Educational Schema: -
Subject: Persian Language Learning -
Level: Beginner to Intermediate -
Topic: Possessive Pronouns - "his" -
Learning Type: Self-Study Reading Lesson -
Target Audience: English Speakers Learning Persian
Key Takeaways: -
Persian uses suffixes rather than separate words for possessive pronouns -
The suffix ـش (-esh/-ash) attaches directly to nouns -
Vowel harmony affects the pronunciation (-esh vs -ash) -
Word order in Persian possessive constructions differs from English -
Context often clarifies possession without explicit markers
29.1 Ali علی (Ali) saw دید (did) his ـش (-esh) friend دوست (dust) at در (dar) the - market بازار (bāzār)
29.2 His ـش (-esh) car ماشین (māshin) is است (ast) very خیلی (kheyli) expensive گران (gerān)
29.3 The - teacher معلم (mo'allem) praised تعریف کرد (ta'rif kard) his ـش (-esh) work کار (kār)
29.4 Hassan حسن (Hasan) forgot فراموش کرد (farāmush kard) his ـش (-esh) keys کلیدها (kelid-hā) at در (dar) home خانه (khāne)
29.5 His ـش (-esh) mother مادر (mādar) cooks میپزد (mi-pazad) delicious خوشمزه (khosh-maze) food غذا (ghazā)
29.6 Yesterday دیروز (diruz) I من (man) met ملاقات کردم (molāghāt kardam) his ـش (-esh) brother برادر (barādar)
29.7 His او (u) opinion نظر (nazar) about درباره (dar-bāre-ye) this این (in) matter موضوع (mowzu') is است (ast) important مهم (mohemm)
29.8 The - boy پسر (pesar) lost گم کرد (gom kard) his ـش (-esh) book کتاب (ketāb) in در (dar) the - park پارک (pārk)
29.9 His ـش (-esh) house خانه (khāne) has دارد (dārad) a یک (yek) beautiful زیبا (zibā) garden باغ (bāgh)
29.10 Ahmad احمد (Ahmad) loves دوست دارد (dust dārad) his ـش (-esh) family خانواده (khānevāde) very much خیلی (kheyli)
29.11 His ـش (-esh) voice صدا (sedā) was بود (bud) tired خسته (khaste) after بعد از (ba'd az) the - meeting جلسه (jalase)
29.12 The - man مرد (mard) sold فروخت (forukht) his ـش (-esh) old قدیمی (ghadimi) bicycle دوچرخه (do-charkhe)
29.13 His ـش (-esh) coffee قهوه (ghahve) became شد (shod) cold سرد (sard) while در حالی که (dar hāli ke) he او (u) was بود (bud) reading میخواند (mi-khānd)
29.14 Reza رضا (Rezā) finished تمام کرد (tamām kard) his ـش (-esh) homework تکلیف (taklif) before قبل از (ghabl az) dinner شام (shām)
29.15 His ـش (-esh) eyes چشمها (cheshm-hā) are هستند (hastand) like مثل (mesl-e) his ـش (-esh) father's پدر (pedar) eyes چشمها (cheshm-hā)
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29.1 علی دوستش را در بازار دید. Ali saw his friend at the market.
29.2 ماشینش خیلی گران است. His car is very expensive.
29.3 معلم از کارش تعریف کرد. The teacher praised his work.
29.4 حسن کلیدهایش را در خانه فراموش کرد. Hassan forgot his keys at home.
29.5 مادرش غذای خوشمزه میپزد. His mother cooks delicious food.
29.6 دیروز برادرش را ملاقات کردم. Yesterday I met his brother.
29.7 نظر او درباره این موضوع مهم است. His opinion about this matter is important.
29.8 پسر کتابش را در پارک گم کرد. The boy lost his book in the park.
29.9 خانهاش یک باغ زیبا دارد. His house has a beautiful garden.
29.10 احمد خانوادهاش را خیلی دوست دارد. Ahmad loves his family very much.
29.11 صدایش بعد از جلسه خسته بود. His voice was tired after the meeting.
29.12 مرد دوچرخه قدیمیاش را فروخت. The man sold his old bicycle.
29.13 قهوهاش در حالی که میخواند سرد شد. His coffee became cold while he was reading.
29.14 رضا تکلیفش را قبل از شام تمام کرد. Reza finished his homework before dinner.
29.15 چشمهایش مثل چشمهای پدرش هستند. His eyes are like his father's eyes.
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29.1 علی دوستش را در بازار دید.
29.2 ماشینش خیلی گران است.
29.3 معلم از کارش تعریف کرد.
29.4 حسن کلیدهایش را در خانه فراموش کرد.
29.5 مادرش غذای خوشمزه میپزد.
29.6 دیروز برادرش را ملاقات کردم.
29.7 نظر او درباره این موضوع مهم است.
29.8 پسر کتابش را در پارک گم کرد.
29.9 خانهاش یک باغ زیبا دارد.
29.10 احمد خانوادهاش را خیلی دوست دارد.
29.11 صدایش بعد از جلسه خسته بود.
29.12 مرد دوچرخه قدیمیاش را فروخت.
29.13 قهوهاش در حالی که میخواند سرد شد.
29.14 رضا تکلیفش را قبل از شام تمام کرد.
29.15 چشمهایش مثل چشمهای پدرش هستند.
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The possessive "his" in Persian is expressed through the suffix ـش (-esh/-ash), which attaches directly to nouns. This is fundamentally different from English, where "his" is a separate word.
Basic Rules: -
After consonants: add ـش (-esh) -
کتاب (ketāb - book) → کتابش (ketāb-esh - his book) -
دوست (dust - friend) → دوستش (dust-esh - his friend) -
After vowels: add ش (-ash) -
خانه (khāne - house) → خانهاش (khāne-ash - his house) -
صدا (sedā - voice) → صدایش (sedā-yash - his voice) -
With plural nouns: attach to the plural form -
کتابها (ketāb-hā - books) → کتابهایش (ketāb-hā-yesh - his books)
Common Mistakes: -
Using او (u) as a possessive pronoun like English "his" -
Wrong: او کتاب (u ketāb) -
Correct: کتابش (ketāb-esh) -
Forgetting to attach the suffix when translating from English -
Wrong: کتاب از او (ketāb az u - book of him) -
Correct: کتابش (ketāb-esh - his book) -
Placing the suffix on the wrong word in compound nouns -
Wrong: در خانهش (dar khāne-ash - in house-his) -
Correct: در خانهاش (dar khāne-ash - in his house)
Comparison with English: -
English: Separate word "his" before the noun -
Persian: Suffix attached to the end of the noun -
English: "his beautiful car" -
Persian: ماشین زیبایش (māshin-e zibā-yesh) - literally "car beautiful-his"
Step-by-Step Guide: -
Identify the noun that belongs to "him" -
Check if the noun ends in a consonant or vowel -
Add -esh after consonants, -ash after vowels -
If the noun has adjectives, the suffix goes on the noun, not the adjective -
In compound constructions, the suffix attaches to the head noun
Grammatical Summary: The possessive suffix ـش (-esh/-ash) is: -
Invariable (doesn't change for gender or number) -
Always attached to the possessed noun -
Pronounced differently based on the preceding sound -
Used with all types of nouns (concrete, abstract, singular, plural) -
Can be combined with other suffixes (e.g., plural markers)
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Understanding possessive constructions in Persian reflects deeper cultural values about relationships and ownership. In Persian culture, possessive expressions often carry emotional weight and intimacy that may not be apparent in direct translation.
The suffix system for possession in Persian creates a more integrated expression of ownership than English's separate pronouns. This linguistic feature mirrors the collectivist aspects of Persian culture, where relationships and belongings are expressed as extensions of the person rather than separate entities.
In formal Persian, speakers sometimes avoid direct possessive constructions when referring to respected individuals, using phrases like "the house of the gentleman" rather than "his house." This reflects the importance of respect and formality in Persian social interactions.
Family relationships with possessive markers are particularly significant. Phrases like مادرش (mādar-esh - his mother) or پدرش (pedar-esh - his father) carry deep emotional resonance and are often used in literature and poetry to evoke familial bonds.
The possessive construction also appears frequently in Persian proverbs and idioms, where ownership metaphors convey wisdom about life, relationships, and morality. Understanding these possessive forms is essential for grasping the nuanced meanings in Persian literature and everyday communication.
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From Sohrab Sepehri's "The Footsteps of Water" (صدای پای آب):
Life زندگی (zendegi) is است (ast) a - pleasant خوش (khosh) tradition رسم (rasm). Life زندگی (zendegi) has دارد (dārad) wings بال (bāl) and و (va) expanse وسعت (vos'at) to به (be) the - extent اندازه (andāze) of - death مرگ (marg). Life زندگی (zendegi) is است (ast) a - jump جست (jast) to به (be) the - size اندازه (andāze) of - love عشق (eshgh). Life زندگی (zendegi) is است (ast) not نیست (nist) something چیزی (chizi) that که (ke) on بر (bar) the - shelf طاقچه (tāghche) of - habit عادت (ādat) we ما (mā) forget فراموش کنیم (farāmush konim) it آن را (ān rā).
زندگی رسمی خوش است. زندگی بال و وسعت دارد به اندازه مرگ. زندگی جستی است به اندازه عشق. زندگی چیزی نیست که بر طاقچه عادت، آن را فراموش کنیم.
Life is a pleasant tradition. Life has wings and expanse to the extent of death. Life is a jump to the size of love. Life is not something that we forget on the shelf of habit.
زندگی رسمی خوش است. زندگی بال و وسعت دارد به اندازه مرگ. زندگی جستی است به اندازه عشق. زندگی چیزی نیست که بر طاقچه عادت، آن را فراموش کنیم.
This passage from Sepehri demonstrates the use of possessive and relational constructions in Persian poetry. While not directly using the suffix ـش, it shows how Persian expresses relationships between concepts. The phrase آن را (ān rā - it) in the last line could be replaced with a possessive construction in other contexts. The text uses the verb دارد (dārad - has) to express possession, showing an alternative to the suffix system. The poetic structure demonstrates how Persian can express complex philosophical ideas about life's possessions and attributes through various grammatical constructions.
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29.16 Hamid حمید (Hamid) lived زندگی میکرد (zendegi mi-kard) with با (bā) his ـش (-esh) parents والدین (vāledeyn) in در (dar) Tehran تهران (Tehrān)
29.17 His ـش (-esh) father پدر (pedar) worked کار میکرد (kār mi-kard) as به عنوان (be onvān-e) an یک (yek) engineer مهندس (mohandes) and و (va) his ـش (-esh) mother مادر (mādar) was بود (bud) a یک (yek) teacher معلم (mo'allem)
29.18 Every هر (har) morning صبح (sobh) his ـش (-esh) grandmother مادربزرگ (mādar-bozorg) prepared آماده میکرد (āmāde mi-kard) his ـش (-esh) favorite مورد علاقه (mored-e alāghe) breakfast صبحانه (sobhāne)
29.19 His ـش (-esh) younger کوچکتر (kuchektar) sister خواهر (khāhar) always همیشه (hamishe) borrowed قرض میگرفت (gharz mi-gereft) his ـش (-esh) books کتابها (ketāb-hā) without بدون (bedun-e) asking پرسیدن (porsidan)
29.20 On در (dar) weekends آخر هفتهها (ākhar-e hafte-hā) his ـش (-esh) uncle عمو (amu) took میبرد (mi-bord) him او را (u rā) to به (be) his ـش (-esh) shop مغازه (maghāze) in در (dar) the - bazaar بازار (bāzār)
29.21 His ـش (-esh) grandfather پدربزرگ (pedar-bozorg) told تعریف میکرد (ta'rif mi-kard) stories داستانها (dāstān-hā) about درباره (dar-bāre-ye) his ـش (-esh) youth جوانی (javāni) in در (dar) the - village روستا (rustā)
29.22 His ـش (-esh) cousin پسرعمو (pesar-amu) taught یاد داد (yād dād) him به او (be u) how چطور (chetor) to - ride سوار شدن (savār shodan) his ـش (-esh) new جدید (jadid) bicycle دوچرخه (do-charkhe)
29.23 During در طول (dar tul-e) Nowruz نوروز (Nowruz) his ـش (-esh) family خانواده (khānevāde) visited دیدن کردند (didan kardand) his ـش (-esh) relatives اقوام (aghvām) in در (dar) Isfahan اصفهان (Esfahān)
29.24 His ـش (-esh) aunt عمه (amme) sent فرستاد (ferestād) his ـش (-esh) favorite مورد علاقه (mored-e alāghe) sweets شیرینیها (shirini-hā) from از (az) Yazd یزد (Yazd)
29.25 His ـش (-esh) brother برادر (barādar) helped کمک کرد (komak kard) with با (bā) his ـش (-esh) math ریاضی (riāzi) homework تکلیف (taklif) every هر (har) evening عصر (asr)
29.26 His ـش (-esh) best بهترین (behtarin) friend دوست (dust) lived زندگی میکرد (zendegi mi-kard) in در (dar) his ـش (-esh) neighborhood محله (mahalle) near نزدیک (nazdik-e) his ـش (-esh) school مدرسه (madrese)
29.27 His ـش (-esh) mother's مادر (mādar) cooking آشپزی (āshpazi) reminded یاد میانداخت (yād mi-andākht) him او را (u rā) of از (az) his ـش (-esh) childhood کودکی (kudaki) memories خاطرات (khāterāt)
29.28 His ـش (-esh) father's پدر (pedar) advice نصیحت (nasihat) guided راهنمایی کرد (rāhnamāyi kard) his ـش (-esh) decisions تصمیمات (tasmimāt) throughout در طول (dar tul-e) his ـش (-esh) life زندگی (zendegi)
29.29 His ـش (-esh) nephew برادرزاده (barādar-zāde) played بازی میکرد (bāzi mi-kard) with با (bā) his ـش (-esh) old قدیمی (ghadimi) toys اسباببازیها (asbāb-bāzi-hā) in در (dar) his ـش (-esh) room اتاق (otāgh)
29.30 His ـش (-esh) family's خانواده (khānevāde) traditions سنتها (sonnat-hā) shaped شکل دادند (shekl dādand) his ـش (-esh) values ارزشها (arzesh-hā) and و (va) his ـش (-esh) character شخصیت (shakhsiyat)
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29.16 حمید با والدینش در تهران زندگی میکرد. Hamid lived with his parents in Tehran.
29.17 پدرش به عنوان مهندس کار میکرد و مادرش معلم بود. His father worked as an engineer and his mother was a teacher.
29.18 هر صبح مادربزرگش صبحانه مورد علاقهاش را آماده میکرد. Every morning his grandmother prepared his favorite breakfast.
29.19 خواهر کوچکترش همیشه بدون پرسیدن کتابهایش را قرض میگرفت. His younger sister always borrowed his books without asking.
29.20 در آخر هفتهها عمویش او را به مغازهاش در بازار میبرد. On weekends his uncle took him to his shop in the bazaar.
29.21 پدربزرگش داستانهایی درباره جوانیاش در روستا تعریف میکرد. His grandfather told stories about his youth in the village.
29.22 پسرعمویش به او یاد داد چطور دوچرخه جدیدش را سوار شود. His cousin taught him how to ride his new bicycle.
29.23 در طول نوروز خانوادهاش اقوامش را در اصفهان دیدن کردند. During Nowruz his family visited his relatives in Isfahan.
29.24 عمهاش شیرینیهای مورد علاقهاش را از یزد فرستاد. His aunt sent his favorite sweets from Yazd.
29.25 برادرش هر عصر با تکلیف ریاضیاش کمک میکرد. His brother helped with his math homework every evening.
29.26 بهترین دوستش در محلهاش نزدیک مدرسهاش زندگی میکرد. His best friend lived in his neighborhood near his school.
29.27 آشپزی مادرش او را یاد خاطرات کودکیاش میانداخت. His mother's cooking reminded him of his childhood memories.
29.28 نصیحتهای پدرش تصمیماتش را در طول زندگیاش راهنمایی کرد. His father's advice guided his decisions throughout his life.
29.29 برادرزادهاش با اسباببازیهای قدیمیاش در اتاقش بازی میکرد. His nephew played with his old toys in his room.
29.30 سنتهای خانوادهاش ارزشها و شخصیتش را شکل دادند. His family's traditions shaped his values and his character.
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29.16 حمید با والدینش در تهران زندگی میکرد.
29.17 پدرش به عنوان مهندس کار میکرد و مادرش معلم بود.
29.18 هر صبح مادربزرگش صبحانه مورد علاقهاش را آماده میکرد.
29.19 خواهر کوچکترش همیشه بدون پرسیدن کتابهایش را قرض میگرفت.
29.20 در آخر هفتهها عمویش او را به مغازهاش در بازار میبرد.
29.21 پدربزرگش داستانهایی درباره جوانیاش در روستا تعریف میکرد.
29.22 پسرعمویش به او یاد داد چطور دوچرخه جدیدش را سوار شود.
29.23 در طول نوروز خانوادهاش اقوامش را در اصفهان دیدن کردند.
29.24 عمهاش شیرینیهای مورد علاقهاش را از یزد فرستاد.
29.25 برادرش هر عصر با تکلیف ریاضیاش کمک میکرد.
29.26 بهترین دوستش در محلهاش نزدیک مدرسهاش زندگی میکرد.
29.27 آشپزی مادرش او را یاد خاطرات کودکیاش میانداخت.
29.28 نصیحتهای پدرش تصمیماتش را در طول زندگیاش راهنمایی کرد.
29.29 برادرزادهاش با اسباببازیهای قدیمیاش در اتاقش بازی میکرد.
29.30 سنتهای خانوادهاش ارزشها و شخصیتش را شکل دادند.
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In family narratives, the possessive suffix ـش appears frequently with kinship terms. This creates a web of relationships that Persian expresses more compactly than English.
Family Terms with Possessive Suffix: -
پدرش (pedar-esh) - his father -
مادرش (mādar-esh) - his mother -
برادرش (barādar-esh) - his brother -
خواهرش (khāhar-esh) - his sister -
عمویش (amu-yesh) - his uncle (paternal) -
عمهاش (amme-ash) - his aunt (paternal)
Multiple Possessives in One Sentence: When multiple possessive constructions appear, Persian maintains clarity through word order and context. Notice how sentence 29.26 uses three instances of the possessive suffix without confusion.
Possessive Chains: Persian can create possessive chains where one possessed noun possesses another: -
نصیحتهای پدرش (nasihat-hā-ye pedar-esh) - his father's advice -
آشپزی مادرش (āshpazi-ye mādar-esh) - his mother's cooking
Cultural Note on Family Terms: Persian has specific terms for different family relationships (paternal vs. maternal uncles, for example), and these always take the possessive suffix when indicating relationships.
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Heritage learners reconnecting with ancestral languages
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