ما
mâ/ˈmaː/
The Persian word for "we" is ما (mâ). Wiktionary also lists مَا (mā).
Meaning: generic we (the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether it's the person being addressed) (pron)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ما | mâ | /ˈmaː/ (Classical Persian) |
| مَا | mā |
ما is a generic pronoun used to refer to the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether the person being addressed is included in that group.
Which one should you use?
The pack provides two forms: مَا (mā) and ما (mâ).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is mâ. The IPA is /ˈmaː/.
Did you know?
- While ما is the standard word for 'we', some linguists suggest its sound may be onomatopoeic, mimicking a natural vocalization used to draw attention to a group.
- The word ما can also function as a relative pronoun meaning 'that which' or 'what' in specific literary contexts, entirely separate from the pronoun for 'we'.
- The Persian word ما shares a distant common ancestor with the English word 'we', both tracing back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.
Examples in context
- ما بالغ شده ایم.We have matured.This sentence shows how to use ما to describe a state of being.Tatoeba #12779996 by manelie, translation #4493756 by CC
- ما وقت کافی نداریم.We don't have enough time.This sentence demonstrates using ما to indicate a lack of something.Tatoeba #888591 by mahdiye, translation #426269 by CM
- ما به توافق رسیدیم.We agree.This sentence shows ما being used to describe an action or achievement.Tatoeba #4746433 by mahdiye, translation #628230 by CK
- ما عاشقانه به هم نگاه می‌کنیم.We look at each other lovingly.
- ما گروهی برای حل مسئله بسیار خوب همکاری می‌کنیم.We as a group collaborate very well to solve problems.
- 183 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding where to eat lunch.
- رضا Rezaما گرسنه هستیم. کجا بریم؟mā gorosne hastim. kojā berim?We are hungry. Where should we go?
- نیلوفر Niloufarمی‌شود به آن رستوران جدید برویم؟mishavad be ān restorān-e jadid beravim?Can we go to that new restaurant?
- رضا Rezaبله، ما قبلاً آنجا بوده‌ایم.bale, mā ghablan ānjā būde-im.Yes, we have been there before.
- نیلوفر Niloufarپس همین الان برویم.pas hamin alān beravim.Then let's go right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “we” translations and entries ما, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ما, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
