بله
bale[bǽ.le]
The English word 'yes' is translated into Persian as بله (bale). Wiktionary also lists آری (ārē) and بَلی (balē).
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Ways to say it
| Persian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| بله | bale | [bǽ.le] (Iran, formal, narrow) | |
| آری | ārē | /ˈaː.reː/ (Classical Persian) | |
| بَلی | balē | ||
| آه | āh | /ˈʔaːh/ (Classical Persian) | colloquial |
| آره | âre | [ʔɒː.ɹé] (Iran, formal, narrow) |
In Persian, these words serve as particles to indicate agreement or acceptance.
Which one should you use?
While بله is the standard form, آری is a highly formal version primarily used in literature or very old-fashioned contexts. For everyday spoken Persian, آره is the common informal or colloquial way to say yes. The form آه is a colloquial variation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
بله is the standard polite and formal way to say yes. In contrast, آره is a casual way to say 'yes' among friends and relatives. If you wish to emphasize your agreement or add enthusiasm in informal settings, you can repeat the word as آره، آره.
How do you pronounce it?
bale
Did you know?
- In Iranian culture, a subtle upward tilt of the head can act as a non-verbal بله even when the speaker remains silent.
- The informal 'yes' آه sounds remarkably similar to the colloquial 'yes' in both Arabic آه and Japanese ああ.
- Persian speakers may use بله as a 'backchannel' response to show they are listening, even if they are not necessarily agreeing with the statement.
Examples in context
- بله، من یک ایده ی خوب دارم.Yes, I have a good idea.This sentence shows how to use بله to express agreement.Tatoeba #1020241 by mahdiye, translation #433804 by CK
- بله، من هم کرد هستم.Yes, I'm also Kurdish.Tatoeba #13611722 by Adelpa, translation #10780754 by ajje
- بله، اتفاق افتاد اما نه در امسال.Yes, it did happen, but not in this year.Tatoeba #1766000 by AsliAbbasi, translation #1435883 by caspian
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ali is asking Maryam if she is ready to leave.
- علی Aliمریم، آمادهای برویم؟Maryam, amadeh-i beravim?Maryam, are you ready to go?
- مریم Maryamبله، من کاملاً آمادهام.Bale, man kamelan amadeh-am.Yes, I am completely ready.
- علی Aliپس برویم به سمت ماشین.Pas beravim be samte mashin.Then let's go toward the car.
- مریم Maryamبسیار خب، برویم.Besyar khob, beravim.Alright, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries بله, آری, آه, آره, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries آری, آه, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
