The Persian word همه (hameh) corresponds to the English word "all" and is one of the most fundamental quantifiers in the Persian language. This versatile word can function as a pronoun, determiner, or part of compound expressions, making it essential for expressing totality, completeness, and universality in Persian.
Definition: همه (hameh) means "all," "everyone," "everything," or "the whole" depending on context. It indicates the complete quantity or entirety of something being discussed.
FAQ Schema: Q: What does "all" mean in Persian? A: "All" in Persian is همه (hameh). It's used to indicate totality or completeness, similar to English "all," "everyone," or "everything."
How this word will be used: In this lesson, you'll encounter همه in various positions within sentences - as a subject, object, and modifier. The examples demonstrate its flexibility in expressing universal concepts, making generalizations, and emphasizing completeness in everyday Persian conversation.
Educational Schema: -
Subject: Persian Language Learning -
Level: Beginner to Intermediate -
Focus: Quantifier همه (all) -
Lesson Type: Grammar and Vocabulary -
Learning Method: Interlinear glossing with cultural context
Key Takeaways: -
همه (hameh) is the primary way to express "all" in Persian -
It can refer to people (everyone) or things (everything) -
Word order is more flexible than in English -
Often combined with other words to create specific meanings -
Essential for making generalizations and expressing totality
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43.1 همه all (hameh) دانشآموزان students (dānesh-āmūzān) در in (dar) کلاس class (kelās) حاضر present (hāzer) هستند are (hastand)
43.2 او he/she (ū) همه all (hameh) کتابها books (ketāb-hā) را (object marker) (rā) خواند read (khānd)
43.3 آیا (question marker) (āyā) همه all (hameh) غذا food (ghazā) را (object marker) (rā) خوردید ate-you (khordid) ؟ ?
43.4 در in (dar) بازار bazaar (bāzār) همه all (hameh) چیز thing (chiz) گران expensive (gerān) است is (ast)
43.5 همه all (hameh) مردم people (mardom) این this (in) فیلم film (film) را (object marker) (rā) دوست like (dust) دارند have (dārand)
43.6 من I (man) همه all (hameh) جا place (jā) را (object marker) (rā) گشتم searched (gashtam)
43.7 معلم teacher (mo'allem) از from (az) همه all (hameh) سؤال question (so'āl) پرسید asked (porsid)
43.8 همه all (hameh) روزه every-day (rūzeh) ورزش exercise (varzesh) میکنم do-I (mi-konam)
43.9 بچهها children (bachche-hā) همه all (hameh) با with (bā) هم together (ham) بازی play (bāzi) کردند did (kardand)
43.10 همه all (hameh) اینها these (in-hā) مال property (māl) شما you (shomā) است is (ast) ؟ ?
43.11 دیروز yesterday (dirūz) همه all (hameh) کارها works (kār-hā) را (object marker) (rā) تمام finished (tamām) کردم did-I (kardam)
43.12 پدرم my-father (pedaram) همه all (hameh) چیز thing (chiz) را (object marker) (rā) میداند knows (mi-dānad)
43.13 در in (dar) جشن celebration (jashn) همه all (hameh) خوشحال happy (khosh-hāl) بودند were (būdand)
43.14 همه all (hameh) پنجرهها windows (panjereh-hā) باز open (bāz) هستند are (hastand)
43.15 آنها they (ān-hā) همه all (hameh) پول money (pūl) را (object marker) (rā) خرج spent (kharj) کردند did (kardand)
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43.1 همه دانشآموزان در کلاس حاضر هستند. All students are present in class.
43.2 او همه کتابها را خواند. He/She read all the books.
43.3 آیا همه غذا را خوردید؟ Did you eat all the food?
43.4 در بازار همه چیز گران است. Everything in the bazaar is expensive.
43.5 همه مردم این فیلم را دوست دارند. All people like this film.
43.6 من همه جا را گشتم. I searched everywhere.
43.7 معلم از همه سؤال پرسید. The teacher asked everyone a question.
43.8 همه روزه ورزش میکنم. I exercise every day.
43.9 بچهها همه با هم بازی کردند. The children all played together.
43.10 همه اینها مال شما است؟ Are all these yours?
43.11 دیروز همه کارها را تمام کردم. Yesterday I finished all the work.
43.12 پدرم همه چیز را میداند. My father knows everything.
43.13 در جشن همه خوشحال بودند. Everyone was happy at the celebration.
43.14 همه پنجرهها باز هستند. All the windows are open.
43.15 آنها همه پول را خرج کردند. They spent all the money.
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43.1 همه دانشآموزان در کلاس حاضر هستند.
43.2 او همه کتابها را خواند.
43.3 آیا همه غذا را خوردید؟
43.4 در بازار همه چیز گران است.
43.5 همه مردم این فیلم را دوست دارند.
43.6 من همه جا را گشتم.
43.7 معلم از همه سؤال پرسید.
43.8 همه روزه ورزش میکنم.
43.9 بچهها همه با هم بازی کردند.
43.10 همه اینها مال شما است؟
43.11 دیروز همه کارها را تمام کردم.
43.12 پدرم همه چیز را میداند.
43.13 در جشن همه خوشحال بودند.
43.14 همه پنجرهها باز هستند.
43.15 آنها همه پول را خرج کردند.
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The Persian quantifier همه functions differently from English "all" in several important ways:
Basic Usage: -
همه can stand alone as a pronoun meaning "everyone" or "everything" -
When used with nouns, it typically precedes them: همه کتابها (all books) -
With direct objects, the را particle follows the noun phrase: همه کتابها را (all the books - as object)
Position in Sentences: Unlike English where "all" must directly precede its noun, Persian همه has more flexibility: -
Before noun: همه مردم (all people) -
As standalone: همه آمدند (all/everyone came) -
With possessives: همه دوستان من (all my friends)
Common Combinations: -
همه جا (everywhere) - literally "all place" -
همه چیز (everything) - literally "all thing" -
همه کس (everyone) - literally "all person" -
همه روزه (every day) - literally "all day-ish"
Common Mistakes: -
Word Order Error: English speakers often place همه after the noun -
Wrong: کتابها همه -
Correct: همه کتابها -
Forgetting را with Direct Objects: -
Wrong: من همه کتابها خواندم -
Correct: من همه کتابها را خواندم -
Using همه with Singular Nouns: Unlike English "all," همه typically requires plural nouns or is used alone -
Wrong: همه کتاب -
Correct: همه کتابها or تمام کتاب -
Confusion with هر (har): -
همه = all (collective) -
هر = each/every (distributive)
Comparison with English:
English "all" vs Persian همه: -
English: All students came / Students all came -
Persian: همه دانشآموزان آمدند (only one natural order)
English requires different words for "everyone," "everything," "everywhere" Persian uses compounds with همه: -
Everyone = همه / همه کس -
Everything = همه چیز -
Everywhere = همه جا
Step-by-Step Guide for Using همه: -
Identify what you want to quantify (people, things, places) -
If it's a noun, make it plural (add ها) -
Place همه before the noun -
If the phrase is a direct object, add را after the noun -
Continue with the rest of your sentence
Example construction: -
I saw [all students] -
Step 1: students = دانشآموزان -
Step 2: Already plural -
Step 3: همه دانشآموزان -
Step 4: Add را for direct object: همه دانشآموزان را -
Step 5: من همه دانشآموزان را دیدم
Grammatical Summary: -
Part of speech: Quantifier/Determiner/Pronoun -
Position: Pre-nominal (before nouns) -
Requires: Plural nouns or standalone use -
Object marking: Requires را when phrase is direct object -
Can form compounds: همه جا، همه چیز، همه کس
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Understanding همه in Persian culture goes beyond grammar. This word reflects important cultural concepts about collectivity and totality in Persian-speaking societies.
Social Implications: In Persian culture, همه often appears in expressions of hospitality and inclusion. The phrase "همه خوش آمدید" (everyone is welcome) embodies the Persian tradition of inclusive hospitality. This reflects a cultural value of ensuring no one feels excluded from social gatherings.
Religious Context: In Islamic and Persian mystical poetry, همه frequently appears in spiritual contexts. The concept of "همه از اوست" (all is from Him) reflects monotheistic beliefs about divine unity and creation. Sufi poets use همه to express the unity of existence.
Proverbs and Expressions: -
همه کاره و هیچ کاره (jack of all trades, master of none) - literally "all-work and no-work" -
همه چیز تمام شد (it's all over) - expressing finality -
همه با هم (all together) - emphasizing unity and cooperation
Modern Usage: In contemporary Persian, همه has taken on new dimensions with technology and social media. Phrases like "همه میدانند" (everyone knows) reflect the information age where knowledge is assumed to be universal.
Politeness Considerations: When making requests or giving instructions, Persians often soften the use of همه to avoid sounding too demanding. Instead of "همه بیایید" (everyone come), one might say "اگر ممکن است همه تشریف بیاورید" (if possible, everyone please come).
Regional Variations: While همه is standard across all Persian dialects, some regions have additional terms: -
In Afghan Persian (Dari): تمام (tamām) is sometimes preferred -
In Tajik Persian: ҳама (hama) with slight pronunciation differences
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From the Gulistan of Sa'di (13th century):
بنیآدم human-beings (bani-ādam) اعضای members (a'zā-ye) یک one (yek) پیکرند body-are (peykar-and) که that (ke) در in (dar) آفرینش creation (āfarinesh) ز from (ze) یک one (yek) گوهرند essence-are (gohar-and) چو when (cho) عضوی member-a (ozvi) به to (be) درد pain (dard) آورد brings (āvarad) روزگار time (rūzegār) دگر other (degar) عضوها members (ozv-hā) را (object marker) (rā) نماند not-remains (na-mānad) قرار rest (qarār)
بنیآدم اعضای یک پیکرند که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند چو عضوی به درد آورد روزگار دگر عضوها را نماند قرار
Human beings are members of one body, for in creation they are of one essence. When time brings pain to one member, the other members cannot remain at rest.
This famous verse from Sa'di's Gulistan, though not containing the word همه directly, expresses the concept of "all humanity" through the metaphor of body parts. The implicit "all" in "human beings" (بنیآدم) and "members" (اعضا) demonstrates how Persian literature often conveys universality without explicitly using همه. This passage adorns the entrance to the United Nations building, representing the universal message of human unity.
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بنیآدم functions as a collective noun meaning "all humans" -
The plural markers in اعضا and عضوها indicate totality -
The structure "یک پیکرند" (are one body) emphasizes unity of all -
The negative construction "نماند قرار" applies to all other members -
This demonstrates how Persian can express "all" through context and collective nouns
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43.16 همه all (hameh) مدارس schools (madāres) فردا tomorrow (fardā) تعطیل closed (ta'til) خواهند will (khāhand) بود be (būd)
43.17 رئیسجمهور president (ra'is-jomhūr) با with (bā) همه all (hameh) وزیران ministers (vazirān) جلسه meeting (jalseh) داشت had (dāsht)
43.18 همه all (hameh) بلیطهای tickets (belit-hā-ye) کنسرت concert (konsert) فروخته sold (forūkhteh) شد became (shod)
43.19 پلیس police (polis) همه all (hameh) راهها roads (rāh-hā) را (object marker) (rā) بست closed (bast)
43.20 در in (dar) زلزله earthquake (zelzeleh) همه all (hameh) ساختمانها buildings (sākhtmān-hā) آسیب damage (āsib) دیدند saw/received (didand)
43.21 همه all (hameh) شهروندان citizens (shahrvandān) باید must (bāyad) کارت card (kārt) شناسایی identification (shenāsāyi) داشته have (dāshteh) باشند be (bāshand)
43.22 دولت government (dowlat) همه all (hameh) مالیاتها taxes (māliyāt-hā) را (object marker) (rā) افزایش increase (afzāyesh) داد gave (dād)
43.23 همه all (hameh) فروشگاهها stores (forūshgāh-hā) ساعت hour (sā'at) هشت eight (hasht) بسته closed (basteh) میشوند become (mi-shavand)
43.24 در in (dar) انتخابات election (entekhābāt) همه all (hameh) میتوانند can (mi-tavānand) رأی vote (ra'y) بدهند give (bedahand)
43.25 همه all (hameh) دانشگاههای universities (dāneshgāh-hā-ye) کشور country (keshvar) آنلاین online (ānlāyn) شدند became (shodand)
43.26 بانک bank (bānk) همه all (hameh) وامها loans (vām-hā) را (object marker) (rā) متوقف stopped (motevaqef) کرد did (kard)
43.27 همه all (hameh) بیمارستانها hospitals (bimārestān-hā) پر full (por) هستند are (hastand)
43.28 شهردار mayor (shahrdār) همه all (hameh) پروژهها projects (prožeh-hā) را (object marker) (rā) بررسی review (barresi) کرد did (kard)
43.29 همه all (hameh) هواپیماها airplanes (havāpeymā-hā) با with (bā) تأخیر delay (ta'khir) پرواز flight (parvāz) کردند did (kardand)
43.30 دادگاه court (dādgāh) همه all (hameh) مدارک documents (madārek) را (object marker) (rā) بررسی examination (barresi) خواهد will (khāhad) کرد do (kard)
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43.16 همه مدارس فردا تعطیل خواهند بود. All schools will be closed tomorrow.
43.17 رئیسجمهور با همه وزیران جلسه داشت. The president had a meeting with all ministers.
43.18 همه بلیطهای کنسرت فروخته شد. All concert tickets were sold.
43.19 پلیس همه راهها را بست. Police closed all roads.
43.20 در زلزله همه ساختمانها آسیب دیدند. In the earthquake, all buildings were damaged.
43.21 همه شهروندان باید کارت شناسایی داشته باشند. All citizens must have identification cards.
43.22 دولت همه مالیاتها را افزایش داد. The government increased all taxes.
43.23 همه فروشگاهها ساعت هشت بسته میشوند. All stores close at eight o'clock.
43.24 در انتخابات همه میتوانند رأی بدهند. In elections, everyone can vote.
43.25 همه دانشگاههای کشور آنلاین شدند. All universities in the country went online.
43.26 بانک همه وامها را متوقف کرد. The bank stopped all loans.
43.27 همه بیمارستانها پر هستند. All hospitals are full.
43.28 شهردار همه پروژهها را بررسی کرد. The mayor reviewed all projects.
43.29 همه هواپیماها با تأخیر پرواز کردند. All airplanes flew with delay.
43.30 دادگاه همه مدارک را بررسی خواهد کرد. The court will examine all documents.
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43.16 همه مدارس فردا تعطیل خواهند بود.
43.17 رئیسجمهور با همه وزیران جلسه داشت.
43.18 همه بلیطهای کنسرت فروخته شد.
43.19 پلیس همه راهها را بست.
43.20 در زلزله همه ساختمانها آسیب دیدند.
43.21 همه شهروندان باید کارت شناسایی داشته باشند.
43.22 دولت همه مالیاتها را افزایش داد.
43.23 همه فروشگاهها ساعت هشت بسته میشوند.
43.24 در انتخابات همه میتوانند رأی بدهند.
43.25 همه دانشگاههای کشور آنلاین شدند.
43.26 بانک همه وامها را متوقف کرد.
43.27 همه بیمارستانها پر هستند.
43.28 شهردار همه پروژهها را بررسی کرد.
43.29 همه هواپیماها با تأخیر پرواز کردند.
43.30 دادگاه همه مدارک را بررسی خواهد کرد.
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News-Specific Usage of همه:
In Persian news reporting, همه serves several specific functions:
Headline Usage: News headlines often start with همه for dramatic effect: -
همه مدارس تعطیل (All Schools Closed) -
همه راهها بسته شد (All Roads Were Closed)
Formal Register: News Persian uses more formal vocabulary with همه: -
همه شهروندان (all citizens) rather than همه مردم (all people) -
همه مقامات (all officials) rather than همه آنها (all of them)
Statistical Reporting: When reporting statistics, همه often pairs with numerical expressions: -
همه ۵۰ مدرسه (all 50 schools) -
همه ۱۲ استان (all 12 provinces)
Passive Voice Construction: News often uses passive voice with همه: -
همه بلیطها فروخته شد (all tickets were sold) -
همه پروژهها بررسی خواهد شد (all projects will be reviewed)
Common News Phrases with همه: -
همه جزئیات (all details) -
همه امکانات (all facilities) -
همه مسئولان (all officials) -
همه نهادها (all institutions)
Temporal Expressions: News reports often combine همه with time: -
همه روزه (daily/every day) -
در همه ساعات (at all hours) -
همه ساله (annually/every year)
Word Order in News Context: News Persian maintains strict word order with همه: -
همه + noun + را + verb (for direct objects) -
همه + noun + complement + verb (for subjects)
Common Errors in News Translation: -
Avoid literal translation of "all of the" - just use همه -
Remember را is required even in formal news style -
Don't confuse تمام، کل with همه in formal contexts
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This lesson is part of a comprehensive language learning series designed specifically for autodidacts studying Persian. The method employed in these lessons draws from the pedagogical approach developed at the Latinum Institute, combining traditional philological methods with modern language acquisition techniques.
The Construed Text Method: The interlinear glossing system used in Section A provides word-by-word analysis, allowing learners to understand the grammatical structure of Persian while building vocabulary. This approach, refined through years of online language teaching since 2006, enables independent learners to progress without formal instruction.
Course Structure: Each lesson focuses on a single high-frequency word or grammatical concept, presenting it in varied contexts through natural sentences. The progression from interlinear text (Section A) to pure target language (Section C) scaffolds learning effectively.
Cultural Integration: Sections E and F ensure learners understand not just the language but its cultural context, essential for true communicative competence. Literary citations provide authentic exposure to classical and modern Persian texts.
Genre Sections: The inclusion of specific genres (like news reporting in this lesson) prepares learners for real-world language use across different registers and contexts.
About the Curator: Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London) has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006. The Latinum Institute's approach combines rigorous academic standards with practical accessibility for self-directed learners.
For more information about the method and additional resources, visit: -
Method explanation: latinum.substack.com/method -
Main website: latinum.org.uk -
Reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
Course Index: For a complete list of available lessons and languages, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
This structured approach has proven effective for thousands of autodidacts worldwide, providing a clear path from beginner to advanced proficiency in Persian and many other languages.
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