شما کیستید؟
shomā kistid?
The phrase "who are you?" in Persian is شما کیستید؟ (shomā kistid?).
This phrase is a question used to ask for a person's identity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase شما کیستید؟ is composed of shomā (you), ki (who) and the suffix -stid (are).
Which one should you use?
Using shomā (the plural/polite 'you') makes the question respectful, whereas using to (the singular 'you') would be blunt or rude in most social settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
شما کیستید؟ is a formal way to ask for identity, often used in written or very polite spoken contexts. For a formal spoken alternative, you can use Shoma ki hastid? If you are speaking with friends, peers or people younger than you, use the informal To ki hasti? or the more relaxed and colloquial Ki hasti?
How do you pronounce it?
shomā kistid?
Did you know?
- While شما کیستید؟ is the standard way to ask 'who are you?', in many social situations, Persians avoid this direct question and instead ask شما از طرف کی هستید؟ which means 'who are you from' or 'who sent you'.
- The Persian word شما shares a common prehistoric ancestor with the English word 'you' through the Proto-Indo-European root *yúHs.
- In highly formal Persian, the phrase can be expanded to شما چه کسی هستید؟ which literally asks 'you what person are?'
Examples in context
- شما کیستید؟ من شما را نمیشناسم.shoma kistid? man shoma ra nemishenasam.Who are you? I do not know you.
Example conversation
Ali meets a stranger at the office entrance.
- علی Aliببخشید، شما کیستید؟bebakhshid, shoma kistid?Excuse me, who are you?
- نیلوفر Niloufarمن نیلوفر هستم، کارآموز جدید.man niloofar hastam, karamooze jadid.I am Niloufar, the new intern.
- علی Aliخوشبختم، من علی هستم.khoshbakhtam, man ali hastam.Nice to meet you, I am Ali.
- نیلوفر Niloufarاز آشنایی با شما خوشحالم.az ashnayi ba shoma khosh-halam.I am happy to meet you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries شما, CC BY-SA 4.0.
