The interrogative pronoun "who" in Persian has two main forms: کی (ki) and که (ke), each serving different grammatical functions. کی (ki) is used in direct questions asking about the identity of a person, while که (ke) functions as a relative pronoun meaning "who/that/which" in relative clauses.
In Persian, "who" as an interrogative pronoun is کی (ki), pronounced like "key" in English. When "who" functions as a relative pronoun (as in "the person who came"), Persian uses که (ke), pronounced like "keh" with a short 'e' sound. This dual system differs significantly from English, where "who" serves both functions.
Question: What does "who" mean in Persian? Answer: "Who" in Persian is expressed as کی (ki) for questions and که (ke) for relative clauses. کی asks about identity ("Who is that?"), while که connects clauses ("The person who came").
Throughout this lesson, we'll explore both forms of "who" in Persian through varied sentence structures. You'll see کی in interrogative sentences and که in relative clauses, demonstrating their distinct grammatical roles and helping you master this essential pronoun pair.
Subject: Persian Language Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate Topic: Interrogative and Relative Pronouns Focus: Understanding and using که/کی (who) in Persian Learning Type: Self-study/Autodidactic
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Persian has two words for "who": کی (ki) for questions and که (ke) for relative clauses -
کی (ki) always begins a question about a person's identity -
که (ke) connects two parts of a sentence, like "who/that/which" in English -
Word order changes significantly between English and Persian when using these pronouns -
Understanding this distinction is crucial for proper Persian communication
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44.1 کی who (ki) این this (in) کتاب book (ketāb) را (object marker) (rā) خرید؟ bought (kharid)?
44.2 مردی man-the (mard-i) که who (ke) دیروز yesterday (diruz) آمد came (āmad) معلم teacher (mo'allem) است is (ast).
44.3 کی who (ki) میخواهد wants (mi-khāhad) با with (bā) من me (man) بیاید؟ come (bi-āyad)?
44.4 دختری girl-the (dokhtar-i) که who (ke) شما you (shomā) دیدید saw (didid) خواهر sister (khāhar) من my (man) است is (ast).
44.5 کی who (ki) این this (in) نامه letter (nāme) را (object marker) (rā) نوشت؟ wrote (nevesht)?
44.6 کسی person-the (kas-i) که who (ke) جواب answer (javāb) میداند knows (mi-dānad) دست hand (dast) بلند raise (boland) کند do (konad).
44.7 کی who (ki) اول first (avval) رسید؟ arrived (resid)?
44.8 پسری boy-the (pesar-i) که who (ke) در in (dar) باغ garden (bāgh) بازی play (bāzi) میکند does (mi-konad) دوست friend (dust) من my (man) است is (ast).
44.9 از from (az) کی who (ki) این this (in) را (object marker) (rā) شنیدید؟ heard (shenidid)?
44.10 آنها those (ānhā) که who (ke) دیر late (dir) میآیند come (mi-āyand) نمیتوانند cannot (nemi-tavānand) وارد enter (vāred) شوند become (shavand).
44.11 کی who (ki) میتواند can (mi-tavānad) به to (be) من me (man) کمک help (komak) کند؟ do (konad)?
44.12 زنی woman-the (zan-i) که who (ke) آنجا there (ānjā) نشسته sitting (neshaste) مادر mother (mādar) او his/her (u) است is (ast).
44.13 به to (be) کی who (ki) این this (in) پول money (pul) را (object marker) (rā) دادید؟ gave (dādid)?
44.14 همه all (hame) کسانی people-those (kasān-i) که who (ke) امتحان exam (emtehān) دادند gave (dādand) قبول pass (qabul) شدند became (shodand).
44.15 کی who (ki) در at (dar) خانه home (khāne) است؟ is (ast)?
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44.1 کی این کتاب را خرید؟ Who bought this book?
44.2 مردی که دیروز آمد معلم است. The man who came yesterday is a teacher.
44.3 کی میخواهد با من بیاید؟ Who wants to come with me?
44.4 دختری که شما دیدید خواهر من است. The girl who you saw is my sister.
44.5 کی این نامه را نوشت؟ Who wrote this letter?
44.6 کسی که جواب میداند دست بلند کند. The person who knows the answer should raise their hand.
44.7 کی اول رسید؟ Who arrived first?
44.8 پسری که در باغ بازی میکند دوست من است. The boy who is playing in the garden is my friend.
44.9 از کی این را شنیدید؟ From whom did you hear this?
44.10 آنها که دیر میآیند نمیتوانند وارد شوند. Those who come late cannot enter.
44.11 کی میتواند به من کمک کند؟ Who can help me?
44.12 زنی که آنجا نشسته مادر او است. The woman who is sitting there is his/her mother.
44.13 به کی این پول را دادید؟ To whom did you give this money?
44.14 همه کسانی که امتحان دادند قبول شدند. All those who took the exam passed.
44.15 کی در خانه است؟ Who is at home?
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44.1 کی این کتاب را خرید؟
44.2 مردی که دیروز آمد معلم است.
44.3 کی میخواهد با من بیاید؟
44.4 دختری که شما دیدید خواهر من است.
44.5 کی این نامه را نوشت؟
44.6 کسی که جواب میداند دست بلند کند.
44.7 کی اول رسید؟
44.8 پسری که در باغ بازی میکند دوست من است.
44.9 از کی این را شنیدید؟
44.10 آنها که دیر میآیند نمیتوانند وارد شوند.
44.11 کی میتواند به من کمک کند؟
44.12 زنی که آنجا نشسته مادر او است.
44.13 به کی این پول را دادید؟
44.14 همه کسانی که امتحان دادند قبول شدند.
44.15 کی در خانه است؟
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1. کی (ki) - Interrogative Pronoun -
Used only in questions -
Always asks about a person's identity -
Can be combined with prepositions: از کی (from whom), به کی (to whom), با کی (with whom) -
Pronunciation: "key" - rhymes with English "key"
2. که (ke) - Relative Pronoun -
Connects two clauses -
Means "who," "that," or "which" -
Follows the noun it modifies -
Pronunciation: "keh" - short 'e' sound
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Using کی instead of که in relative clauses -
Wrong: مردی کی آمد (mard-i ki āmad) -
Correct: مردی که آمد (mard-i ke āmad) - "the man who came" -
Forgetting the indefinite suffix -ی before که -
Wrong: مرد که آمد (mard ke āmad) -
Correct: مردی که آمد (mard-i ke āmad) -
Using English word order -
English: "Who did you see?" -
Persian: "You who saw?" = شما کی را دیدید؟ (shomā ki rā didid?) -
Omitting را with direct objects after کی -
Wrong: کی دیدید؟ (ki didid?) -
Correct: کی را دیدید؟ (ki rā didid?) - "Whom did you see?"
English: -
One word "who" for both questions and relative clauses -
Word order: Who + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb? -
Example: "Who did you see?"
Persian: -
Two distinct words: کی for questions, که for relative clauses -
Word order: Subject + object + کی + verb? -
Example: شما کی را دیدید؟ (You whom saw?)
For Questions with کی: -
Start with کی if it's the subject: کی آمد؟ (Who came?) -
Place کی after prepositions: با کی رفتید؟ (With whom did you go?) -
Use را after کی for direct objects: کی را دیدید؟ (Whom did you see?)
For Relative Clauses with که: -
Add -ی to the noun: مرد → مردی (a man) -
Follow with که: مردی که (a man who) -
Complete the relative clause: مردی که آمد (a man who came) -
Add the main clause: مردی که آمد معلم است (The man who came is a teacher)
کی (ki) Forms: -
کی (ki) - who (subject) -
کی را (ki rā) - whom (direct object) -
به کی (be ki) - to whom -
از کی (az ki) - from whom -
با کی (bā ki) - with whom -
برای کی (barāye ki) - for whom
که (ke) Usage: -
Always follows a noun with -ی ending -
Creates relative clauses -
Can refer to people, things, or situations -
Sometimes can be omitted in colloquial speech (but not recommended for learners)
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In Persian culture, the distinction between کی and که reflects a broader pattern of grammatical precision that characterizes the language. Persian speakers are particularly attentive to the proper use of these pronouns, as they carry social implications.
Social Hierarchy and Respect: When asking "who" in formal situations, Persians often soften the directness of کی by adding polite phrases. Instead of simply asking کی آمد؟ (Who came?), one might say ببخشید، کی تشریف آوردند؟ (Excuse me, who honored us with their presence?). The verb تشریف آوردن (tashrif āvardan) is a respectful way of saying "to come."
Literary and Poetic Usage: In Persian poetry, که appears frequently as both a relative pronoun and a conjunction. The famous poet Hafez often uses که to create flowing, connected verses that mirror the interconnectedness of mystical concepts. This has influenced everyday Persian, where که sometimes appears more frequently than might seem necessary to English speakers.
Indirect Communication: Persian culture values indirect communication, and this extends to questions with کی. Rather than directly asking "Who did this?" (کی این کار را کرد؟), Persians might phrase it more indirectly: "Would it be possible to know who did this?" (ممکن است بدانیم کی این کار را کرده است؟).
Common Expressions: -
کی گفته؟ (ki gofte?) - "Who said so?" (expressing doubt) -
هر که (har ke) - "whoever" -
آن که (ān ke) - "the one who"
These expressions are deeply embedded in daily conversation and reflect Persian ways of thinking about identity and relationships.
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From Hafez's Ghazal 1:
الا یا ایها الساقی ادر کاسا و ناولها که عشق آسان نمود اول ولی افتاد مشکلها
"Alā yā ayyohā's-sāqi ader kā'san wa nāwelhā Ke eshq āsān nemud avval vali oftād moshkelhā"
که that/because (ke) عشق love (eshq) آسان easy (āsān) نمود seemed (nemud) اول first/at-first (avval) ولی but (vali) افتاد fell/occurred (oftād) مشکلها difficulties (moshkel-hā)
که عشق آسان نمود اول ولی افتاد مشکلها "For love seemed easy at first, but difficulties arose"
This line from Hafez demonstrates که functioning as a causal conjunction meaning "for/because." While not directly meaning "who," this usage shows the versatility of که in Persian literature. The structure که + subject + verb creates a subordinate clause explaining the reason for the poet's request for wine in the previous line.
In this poetic context: -
که introduces a causal clause (because/for) -
The word order remains subject-object-verb: عشق (subject) + آسان (predicate adjective) + نمود (verb) -
نمود is past tense, third person singular of نمودن (to seem/appear) -
مشکلها uses the Arabic plural suffix ها added to مشکل (difficulty)
This classical usage of که shows how the word extends beyond its function as "who" to serve as a versatile connector in Persian prose and poetry.
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44.16 خبرنگاری reporter-a (khabar-negār-i) که who (ke) این this (in) گزارش report (gozāresh) را (object marker) (rā) تهیه prepare (tahiye) کرده has-done (karde) جایزه prize (jāyeze) گرفت received (gereft).
44.17 کی who (ki) میداند knows (mi-dānad) انتخابات elections (entekhābāt) چه what (che) زمانی time-when (zamān-i) برگزار held (bar-gozār) خواهد will (khāhad) شد؟ be (shod)?
44.18 وزیری minister-a (vazir-i) که who (ke) استعفا resignation (este'fā) داد gave (dād) سالها years (sāl-hā) در in (dar) دولت government (dowlat) خدمت service (khedmat) کرده had-done (karde) بود was (bud).
44.19 کی who (ki) مسئول responsible (mas'ul) این this (in) تصمیم decision (tasmim) مهم important (mohem) است؟ is (ast)?
44.20 شاهدانی witnesses-those (shāhed-ān-i) که who (ke) حادثه incident (hādese) را (object marker) (rā) دیدند saw (didand) به to (be) پلیس police (polis) اطلاع information (ettelā') دادند gave (dādand).
44.21 از from (az) کی who (ki) باید must (bāyad) درباره about (dar-bāre-ye) این this (in) موضوع subject (mowzu') بپرسیم؟ ask (be-porsim)?
44.22 نمایندگانی representatives-those (namāyande-gān-i) که who (ke) رای vote (ra'y) مثبت positive (mosbat) دادند gave (dādand) از from (az) تصمیم decision (tasmim) خود their (khod) دفاع defense (defā') کردند did (kardand).
44.23 کی who (ki) این this (in) قانون law (qānun) جدید new (jadid) را (object marker) (rā) پیشنهاد proposal (pishnahād) کرد؟ did (kard)?
44.24 کارشناسی expert-a (kār-shenās-i) که who (ke) دیروز yesterday (diruz) مصاحبه interview (mosāhebe) شد became (shod) اقتصاددان economist (eqtesād-dān) معروفی famous-a (ma'ruf-i) است is (ast).
44.25 به to (be) کی who (ki) میتوانیم can-we (mi-tavānim) برای for (barāye) اطلاعات information (ettelā'āt) بیشتر more (bishtar) مراجعه refer (morāje'e) کنیم؟ do (konim)?
44.26 مقاماتی officials-those (maqām-āt-i) که who (ke) در in (dar) کنفرانس conference (konferāns) شرکت participation (sherkat) کردند did (kardand) بیانیه statement (bayāniye) مشترکی joint-a (moshtarak-i) صادر issue (sāder) کردند did (kardand).
44.27 کی who (ki) اولین first (avvalin) بار time (bār) این this (in) خبر news (khabar) را (object marker) (rā) منتشر publish (montasher) کرد؟ did (kard)?
44.28 سخنگویی spokesperson-a (sokhan-gu-yi) که who (ke) امروز today (emruz) صحبت speech (sohbat) کرد did (kard) اطلاعات information (ettelā'āt) جدیدی new-some (jadid-i) داد gave (dād).
44.29 کی who (ki) مسئولیت responsibility (mas'uliyat) این this (in) پروژه project (prozhe) را (object marker) (rā) بر on (bar) عهده charge ('ohde) دارد؟ has (dārad)?
44.30 همه all (hame) کسانی people-those (kasān-i) که who (ke) در in (dar) این this (in) برنامه program (barnāme) همکاری cooperation (hamkāri) کردند did (kardand) تقدیر appreciation (taqdir) شدند became (shodand).
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44.16 خبرنگاری که این گزارش را تهیه کرده جایزه گرفت. The reporter who prepared this report received a prize.
44.17 کی میداند انتخابات چه زمانی برگزار خواهد شد؟ Who knows when the elections will be held?
44.18 وزیری که استعفا داد سالها در دولت خدمت کرده بود. The minister who resigned had served in the government for years.
44.19 کی مسئول این تصمیم مهم است؟ Who is responsible for this important decision?
44.20 شاهدانی که حادثه را دیدند به پلیس اطلاع دادند. The witnesses who saw the incident informed the police.
44.21 از کی باید درباره این موضوع بپرسیم؟ From whom should we ask about this matter?
44.22 نمایندگانی که رای مثبت دادند از تصمیم خود دفاع کردند. The representatives who voted in favor defended their decision.
44.23 کی این قانون جدید را پیشنهاد کرد؟ Who proposed this new law?
44.24 کارشناسی که دیروز مصاحبه شد اقتصاددان معروفی است. The expert who was interviewed yesterday is a famous economist.
44.25 به کی میتوانیم برای اطلاعات بیشتر مراجعه کنیم؟ To whom can we refer for more information?
44.26 مقاماتی که در کنفرانس شرکت کردند بیانیه مشترکی صادر کردند. The officials who participated in the conference issued a joint statement.
44.27 کی اولین بار این خبر را منتشر کرد؟ Who first published this news?
44.28 سخنگویی که امروز صحبت کرد اطلاعات جدیدی داد. The spokesperson who spoke today provided new information.
44.29 کی مسئولیت این پروژه را بر عهده دارد؟ Who has responsibility for this project?
44.30 همه کسانی که در این برنامه همکاری کردند تقدیر شدند. All those who cooperated in this program were appreciated.
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44.16 خبرنگاری که این گزارش را تهیه کرده جایزه گرفت.
44.17 کی میداند انتخابات چه زمانی برگزار خواهد شد؟
44.18 وزیری که استعفا داد سالها در دولت خدمت کرده بود.
44.19 کی مسئول این تصمیم مهم است؟
44.20 شاهدانی که حادثه را دیدند به پلیس اطلاع دادند.
44.21 از کی باید درباره این موضوع بپرسیم؟
44.22 نمایندگانی که رای مثبت دادند از تصمیم خود دفاع کردند.
44.23 کی این قانون جدید را پیشنهاد کرد؟
44.24 کارشناسی که دیروز مصاحبه شد اقتصاددان معروفی است.
44.25 به کی میتوانیم برای اطلاعات بیشتر مراجعه کنیم؟
44.26 مقاماتی که در کنفرانس شرکت کردند بیانیه مشترکی صادر کردند.
44.27 کی اولین بار این خبر را منتشر کرد؟
44.28 سخنگویی که امروز صحبت کرد اطلاعات جدیدی داد.
44.29 کی مسئولیت این پروژه را بر عهده دارد؟
44.30 همه کسانی که در این برنامه همکاری کردند تقدیر شدند.
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1. Formal Register Requirements News Persian uses formal vocabulary and structures: -
مقامات (maqāmāt) instead of مسئولان (mas'ulān) for "officials" -
صادر کردن (sāder kardan) for "to issue" rather than دادن (dādan) -
بر عهده داشتن (bar 'ohde dāshtan) for "to be responsible for"
2. Passive Voice with که News often uses passive constructions: -
کارشناسی که مصاحبه شد (kārshenāsi ke mosāhebe shod) - "an expert who was interviewed" -
The passive is formed with the past participle + شدن (shodan)
3. Past Perfect Tense Background information uses past perfect: -
خدمت کرده بود (khedmat karde bud) - "had served" -
Structure: past participle + بود
4. Plural Forms with که News reports often discuss groups: -
نمایندگانی که (namāyandegāni ke) - "representatives who" -
شاهدانی که (shāhedāni ke) - "witnesses who" -
The suffix -ان (-ān) creates plurals, followed by -ی (-i) before که
5. Question Formation in News Context Indirect questions are common: -
کی میداند... (ki midānad...) - "Who knows..." -
This creates softer, more professional questioning
6. Compound Verbs News Persian uses many compound verbs: -
استعفا دادن (este'fā dādan) - "to resign" -
دفاع کردن (defā' kardan) - "to defend" -
اطلاع دادن (ettelā' dādan) - "to inform"
7. Time References Specific time markers are crucial: -
دیروز (diruz) - "yesterday" -
امروز (emruz) - "today" -
اولین بار (avvalin bār) - "first time"
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This lesson is part of a comprehensive language learning series developed by the Latinum Institute, following the innovative method detailed at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk. The lessons employ a unique interlinear approach that breaks down each sentence word by word, allowing autodidactic learners to build vocabulary and understand grammatical structures simultaneously.
The method, refined since 2006 by curator Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), emphasizes: -
Granular interlinear analysis - Each word is glossed individually with transliteration, enabling learners to see exact correspondences between Persian and English -
Progressive difficulty - Sentences increase in complexity while maintaining comprehensible input -
Cultural integration - Grammar is taught within cultural contexts, making the language come alive -
Genre variety - Each lesson includes a specialized genre section (news, literature, conversation, etc.) to expose learners to different registers and vocabulary domains
The construed text approach in Section A allows beginners to decode even complex sentences by seeing the direct English equivalent under each Persian word. This method has proven particularly effective for self-directed learners who want to read authentic Persian texts as quickly as possible.
These lessons are designed for dedicated autodidacts who prefer learning through reading and analysis rather than conversational drills. The complete, untruncated format ensures that each lesson serves as a standalone reference that can be studied, reviewed, and consulted repeatedly.
For testimonials and reviews of the Latinum Institute's materials, see: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
For the complete course index and additional resources, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
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