Noun + ـی + که
Persian has one relative word, که, for "who", "which", "that" and "where". The noun it describes takes an ـی to announce that a clause is coming.
- مردی که آنجا نشسته است، معلم من است. — The man who is sitting there is my teacher.
- کتابی که خریدم گران بود. — The book I bought was expensive.
- خانهای که در آن زندگی میکنیم کوچک است. — The house we live in is small.
After silent ه the marker is written ای after a half-space (خانه → خانهای); after ا or و it becomes یی (دانشجو → دانشجویی).
A proper name or a noun that is already fully identified takes no ـی: مریم، که دیروز آمد، خواهر من است.
که is never left out
| English | Persian |
|---|---|
| the book that I bought | کتابی که خریدم |
| the book I bought | کتابی که خریدم |
| the man who came | مردی که آمد |
| the day when we met | روزی که همدیگر را دیدیم |
The returning pronoun
When the noun plays a role inside the clause other than subject or direct object, a pronoun stays behind to fill that slot. English moves the preposition; Persian leaves a pronoun with it.
- مردی که با او صحبت کردم — the man I spoke to.
- شهری که در آن زندگی میکنم — the city I live in.
- کتابی که جلد*ش قرمز است* — the book whose cover is red.
- دوستی که به او زنگ زدم — the friend I called.
For a plain direct object no pronoun is needed: کتابی که خریدم.
را and که
If the whole phrase is the specific object of the main verb, را comes immediately after the noun, before که:
- کتابی را که خریدم خواندم. — I read the book I bought.
- مردی را که دیدی میشناسم. — I know the man you saw.
Watch out as an English speaker
- English can drop "that"; Persian cannot: ✗ کتابی خریدم گران بود. / ✓ کتابی که خریدم گران بود.
- A preposition never ends the clause: ✗ مردی که صحبت کردم با / ✓ مردی که با او صحبت کردم.
- There is no word for "who", "which" or "whose": ✗ مرد کی آنجا است / ✓ مردی که آنجاست.
- را never comes directly after که: ✗ کتابی که را خریدم / ✓ کتابی را که خریدم. Putting it after the whole clause (کتابی که خریدم را) is also common and correct.
Example dialogue
آن آقایی که کنار در ایستاده کیست؟ — Who is that man standing by the door?
همان کسی است که دیروز دربارهاش حرف زدم. — He is the person I talked about yesterday.
همان که در بیمارستان کار میکند؟ — The one who works at the hospital?
بله، دوستی که با او به مدرسه میرفتم. — Yes, the friend I went to school with.