تو را می‌خواهم
to ra mikham
In Persian, "I want you" is expressed as تو را می‌خواهم (to ra mikham).
The phrase is used to express a strong romantic or sexual desire for another person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of to (you), ra (the direct object marker) and mikham (I want).
Which one should you use?
While تو را می‌خواهم uses the singular to, you can use شما را می‌خواهم (shoma ra mikham) by replacing it with the plural or formal shoma. This changes the phrase from an intimate expression to a more formal or respectful one, although the romantic intent remains highly direct. Additionally, in spoken, colloquial Persian, the formal object marker ra is often shortened to ro, resulting in the form تو رو می‌خوام.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
تو رو می‌خوام is the informal, spoken version used in colloquial Persian.
How do you pronounce it?
to ra mikham
Did you know?
- In many Persian songs, the phrase is replaced by دلتنگم (del-tang-am), which literally means 'my heart is narrow'. It expresses the 'wanting' of someone as a physical constriction of the heart due to longing.
- While تو را می‌خواهم is direct, Persian culture often utilizes 'Taarof', a system of extreme politeness, which makes such a blunt expression of desire particularly shocking and powerful.
- The word to shares a common ancestor with the English word 'thou', both descending from the Proto-Indo-European root *túh₂.
Examples in context
- من فقط تو را می‌خواهم.man faghat to rā mikhāham.I only want you.
- باید بدانی که تو را می‌خواهم.bāyad bedāni ke to rā mikhāham.You should know that I want you.
Example conversation
A couple sharing an intimate moment.
- سارا Saraعلی، من تو را می‌خواهم.Ali, man to ra mikhaham.Ali, I want you.
- علی Aliمن هم تو را می‌خواهم، سارا.Man ham to ra mikhaham, Sara.I want you too, Sara.
- سارا Saraخیلی دلم برایت تنگ شده بود.Kheyli delam barayat tang shode bud.I missed you so much.
- علی Aliمن همیشه مال تو هستم.Man hamishe male to hastam.I am always yours.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries تو, را, CC BY-SA 4.0.
