Word Building Suffixes
A1Β·BeginnerLearn common suffixes to build new words in Farsi
Lesson Overview
12 exercises Β· Level 2
Grammar Explanation
Word Building Suffixes in Farsi
Farsi uses many suffixes to create new words from existing ones.
Diminutive: -che (small/little)
Add "-che" to make something smaller or cuter:
| Root | With -che | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| daftar | daftar-che | little notebook |
| baagh | baagh-che | small garden (from baagh, orchard) |
| sandogh | sandogh-che | little box (from sandogh, chest) |
Place Suffix: -gah or -estaan
"-gah" creates a place: daanesh (knowledge) β daanesh-gah (university) aamoozesh (learning) β aamoozesh-gah (institute)
"-estaan" creates a land or place full of something:
bimaar (patient) β bimaar-estaan (hospital)
gol (flower) β gol-estaan (flower garden)
kooh (mountain) β kooh-estaan (mountains, highlands)
With/Without: baa- / bi-
"baa-" means with: adab (etiquette) β baa-adab (polite/with manners) namak (salt) β baa-namak (cute, lit. with salt)
"bi-" means without: adab β bi-adab (impolite/without manners) kaar β bi-kaar (unemployed/without work)
Person Suffix: -gar, -chi, -kaar
These endings occur in established words for people associated with a job or activity. Learn each complete word: the suffixes are not freely interchangeable, and adding one to any noun does not necessarily produce a real word.
| Suffix | Root | Complete word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -gar | kaar (work) | kaar-gar | worker |
| -gar | aahan (iron) | aahan-gar | blacksmith |
| -chi | shekaar (hunting) | shekaar-chi | hunter |
| -chi | post (mail) | post-chi | postal worker |
| -kaar | varzesh (sport) | varzesh-kaar | athlete |
The hyphens show the parts for learning; these are single words. For example, varzesh + -kaar gives varzeshkaar. Aashpaz (cook) uses a different pattern and is not an example of these suffixes.
Place of Things: -khaane
"-khaane" (house) makes the building where something belongs. In speech it is said -khoone, and both spellings are correct:
| Written | Spoken | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ketaab-khaane | ketaab-khoone | library |
| kaar-khaane | kaar-khoone | factory |
| daaroo-khaane | daaroo-khoone | pharmacy |