ایرانی هستی؟
irani hasti?/ʔeː.raː.ˈniː has.ˈtiː/word by word
The phrase "are you persian?" in Persian is ایرانی هستی؟ (irani hasti?).
This phrase is used to ask if someone is from Iran or of Iranian descent. It is important to note that while the English word "Persian" can refer to an ethnicity or a language, the Persian word irani specifically refers to being from the nation of Iran.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of irani (Iranian) and hasti (you are), literally meaning "Are you Iranian?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form ایرانی هستی? is informal and should be used with friends, peers or people younger than you. For a formal way to ask the question, use Shoma Irani Hastid?
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask "are you Persian?" more politely or when addressing more than one person, use the form irani hastid?
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ʔeː.raː.ˈniː has.ˈtiː/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
When do people say it?
If someone asks you this question, a common way to answer "Yes, I am" is bale, hastam. To answer "No, I am not", you can say na, nistam.
Did you know?
- The word irani shares a deep linguistic root with the English word 'Aryan'. Both derive from the Proto-Indo-Iranian word *Áryas, which historically meant 'noble'.
- While English speakers often use 'Persian' to identify someone's background, using the term farsi to describe a person would be incorrect, as farsi refers strictly to the language.
- When asking ایرانی هستی؟, the question is indicated by a rising intonation at the end rather than a change in word order, as the structure is identical to the statement 'You are Iranian'.
Examples in context
- ببخشید، ایرانی هستی؟bebaxšid, irāni hasti?Excuse me, are you Persian?
- میخواستم بدونم، ایرانی هستی؟mixāstam bedūnam, irāni hasti?I wanted to know, are you Persian?
Example conversation
Two students meet for the first time at a university.
- مریم Maryamسلام، من مریم هستم. ایرانی هستی؟Salam, man Maryam hastam. Irani hasti?Hello, I am Maryam. Are you Persian?
- علی Aliبله، من علی هستم و ایرانی هستم.Bale, man Ali hastam vo irani hastam.Yes, I am Ali and I am Persian.
- مریم Maryamخیلی خوشحالم که تو را دیدم.Kheyli khoshhalama ke to ra didam.I am very glad to meet you.
- علی Aliمن هم همینطور، مریم.Man ham hamintor, Maryam.Me too, Maryam.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ایرانی, هستی) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ایرانی, CC BY-SA 4.0.
