When we want to express that actions or events are happening continuously without interruption, we use the adverb پشت سر هم (posht-e sar-e ham). It literally translates to "behind one another," painting a vivid picture of things following closely, one right after the other.
Think of it as a sequence where each item immediately succeeds the last. For example, if someone calls you multiple times without a break, you could say they called you پشت سر هم.
پشت سر هم في 30 ثانية
- one after another
- in succession
- consecutively
دليل النطق
- Not pronouncing the 'e' at the end of 'پشت' (posht-e) and 'سر' (sar-e) as a short vowel sound, which links the words together.
- Confusing 'هم' (ham) with other words that sound similar but have different meanings.
أمثلة حسب المستوى
بچهها پشت سر هم وارد اتاق شدند.
The children entered the room one after another.
او پشت سر هم سه کتاب خواند.
He read three books consecutively.
ماشینها پشت سر هم حرکت میکردند.
The cars were moving in succession.
ما پشت سر هم از پلهها بالا رفتیم.
We went up the stairs one after another.
او پشت سر هم سوال میپرسید.
He was asking questions consecutively.
پرندهها پشت سر هم پرواز کردند.
The birds flew one after another.
درسها پشت سر هم سختتر میشوند.
The lessons are getting harder in succession.
آنها پشت سر هم به خانه آمدند.
They came home one after another.
بچهها پشت سر هم وارد کلاس شدند.
The children entered the classroom one after another.
او دو کتاب پشت سر هم منتشر کرد.
He published two books in succession.
چند روز پشت سر هم باران بارید.
It rained for several consecutive days.
سربازها پشت سر هم رژه رفتند.
The soldiers marched one after another.
من سه شب پشت سر هم خواب بد دیدم.
I had bad dreams for three nights in a row.
پشت سر هم سؤال پرسید و اجازه نداد جواب بدهم.
He asked questions consecutively and didn't let me answer.
ما پشت سر هم از پلهها بالا رفتیم.
We went up the stairs one after another.
او سه بار پشت سر هم برنده شد.
He won three times in succession.
يُخلط عادةً مع
This is a direct, descriptive way to say 'one after another' and is very similar in meaning to 'پشت سر هم,' often interchangeable in many contexts.
Meaning 'in order' or 'sequentially.' While related, it emphasizes the orderliness rather than necessarily each item directly following the last without a gap.
Meaning 'tidy' or 'in order.' While it implies an arrangement, it doesn't carry the sense of 'one after another' like 'پشت سر هم' does. It's about organization, not sequence of events.
سهل الخلط
This phrase literally translates to 'behind each other's head,' which can be confusing for English speakers trying to understand its idiomatic meaning.
It is an adverbial phrase meaning 'one after another' or 'in succession.' It doesn't refer to physical positioning behind someone's head.
بچهها پشت سر هم وارد کلاس شدند. (Bachcheha posht-e sar-e ham vāred-e kelās shodand.) - The children entered the classroom one after another.
Similar in meaning to 'پشت سر هم,' it can be hard to differentiate the nuances.
While also meaning 'consecutively' or 'repeatedly,' 'پیاپی' often implies a continuous or unbroken sequence, sometimes with a sense of regularity or quick succession. It's generally more formal than 'پشت سر هم.'
او پیاپی چند کتاب خواند. (U peyāpey chand ketāb khānd.) - He read several books consecutively (one after another in a continuous manner).
Another word for 'consecutive,' which might lead to overlap with the others.
'متوالی' is a more formal and sometimes more technical term for 'consecutive' or 'sequential.' It emphasizes an unbroken order or series.
این سومین بار متوالی است که او برنده میشود. (In sevvomin bār-e motevālli ast ke u barande mishavad.) - This is the third consecutive time that he wins.
Literally 'one by one,' it can seem identical to 'پشت سر هم.'
While 'یک به یک' also means 'one after another,' it specifically highlights the individuality of each item or person in a sequence. It often implies a more deliberate or separate action for each unit, rather than just the order.
او میوهها را یک به یک از سبد برداشت. (U mive-hā rā yek be yek az sabad bar dāsht.) - He picked the fruits one by one from the basket.
This is a shorter phrase that shares components with 'پشت سر هم' but has a different meaning.
'پشت سر' means 'behind' (a physical location) or 'after' (in time or sequence, but without the emphasis on 'one after another'). It lacks the 'هم' which signals the consecutive nature.
ماشین پشت سر من پارک کرد. (Māshin posht-e sar-e man pārk kard.) - The car parked behind me.
نصائح
Literal Meaning Breakdown
پشت سر هم literally breaks down to 'behind head also' (پشت = behind, سر = head, هم = also/together). This can help you remember the concept of things following one another.
Common Usage in Sentences
You'll often hear this phrase when talking about actions or events that occur sequentially without interruption. For example, 'او پشت سر هم سه کتاب خواند' (He read three books one after another).
Think of a Line
Imagine people standing in a line. Each person is 'پشت سر هم' – one behind the head of the other. This visual can reinforce the meaning.
Synonyms in English
Good English equivalents are 'one after another,' 'in a row,' 'consecutively,' or 'successively.' Pick the one that resonates most with you.
Adverbial Nature
Remember that 'پشت سر هم' is an adverbial phrase. It describes how something happens, usually modifying a verb. For example, 'They ate quickly one after another' (آنها پشت سر هم تند غذا خوردند).
Practice with Simple Actions
Try forming sentences about everyday actions: 'I drank two coffees one after another' (من پشت سر هم دو قهوه خوردم). 'She called me three times consecutively' (او پشت سر هم سه بار به من زنگ زد).
Opposite Concept
Consider the opposite: events happening randomly or with pauses. This contrast can highlight the specific meaning of 'پشت سر هم'.
Listen for It
As you listen to Persian (movies, music, podcasts), pay attention to when 'پشت سر هم' is used. This active listening will help solidify your understanding in context.
Flashcard Practice
Create a flashcard. On one side, write 'پشت سر هم'. On the other, write 'one after another; consecutively' and a simple example sentence. Review regularly.
Connect to Numbers
This phrase often pairs with numbers when describing a series of items or events. 'پنج روز پشت سر هم' means 'five days in a row'.
اختبر نفسك 18 أسئلة
آنها ___ بدون توقف کار کردند تا پروژه را تمام کنند.
The phrase 'پشت سر هم' means 'one after another' or 'in succession,' which fits the context of working continuously to finish a project.
او ___ سه کتاب از این نویسنده خوانده است.
Here, 'پشت سر هم' implies reading three books consecutively, indicating a series of actions.
مسافرین ___ وارد فرودگاه شدند.
This sentence suggests that passengers entered the airport one after another, in a continuous flow.
این تیم ___ دو بازی را برد و به فینال رسید.
Winning two games 'پشت سر هم' means winning them consecutively, leading to reaching the finals.
ساعت ها ___ باران بارید و هوا را خنک کرد.
Rain falling 'پشت سر هم' implies it rained continuously for hours.
او ___ چند فنجان چای نوشید تا بیدار بماند.
Drinking several cups of tea 'پشت سر هم' means consuming them consecutively to stay awake.
Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies the use of "پشت سر هم" (one after another)?
The phrase 'پشت سر هم' implies a sequence of events or items following directly after one another, as in the dominoes.
In a formal report, which English phrase would be the most suitable translation for 'پشت سر هم' when describing consecutive events?
'Sequentially' accurately conveys the idea of events occurring one after another in a precise order, fitting a formal context.
Consider the sentence: 'او سه روز پشت سر هم کار کرد.' (He worked three days one after another.) Which of the following sentences has a similar meaning?
'بدون وقفه' (without interruption) most closely reflects the continuous nature implied by 'پشت سر هم' (one after another) in this context.
The phrase 'پشت سر هم' can be used to describe two unrelated events happening at the same time.
'پشت سر هم' specifically denotes events or items following one another in a sequence, not simultaneous occurrences.
If a speaker says 'باران پشت سر هم بارید', they mean it rained continuously without stopping.
When referring to rain, 'پشت سر هم بارید' implies that the rain fell in a continuous, uninterrupted succession.
When someone says they had 'چندین امتحان پشت سر هم' (several exams one after another), it implies they had breaks between each exam.
'پشت سر هم' signifies that the exams occurred consecutively, implying little to no break between them.
This sentence means 'The buses stood one after another in a line.' It tests the correct placement of 'پشت سر هم' (one after another) within a sentence structure.
This sentence translates to 'He created short stories consecutively.' The exercise ensures understanding of how 'پشت سر هم' modifies the verb 'خلق کرد' (created) and its position relative to the object 'داستانهای کوتاه' (short stories).
This sentence means 'She got ready for consecutive meetings.' The exercise checks the proper arrangement of the phrase 'پشت سر هم' when used with a noun like 'جلسات' (meetings) to indicate succession.
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use پشت سر هم to describe things happening continuously or in a sequence.
- one after another
- in succession
- consecutively
Literal Meaning Breakdown
پشت سر هم literally breaks down to 'behind head also' (پشت = behind, سر = head, هم = also/together). This can help you remember the concept of things following one another.
Common Usage in Sentences
You'll often hear this phrase when talking about actions or events that occur sequentially without interruption. For example, 'او پشت سر هم سه کتاب خواند' (He read three books one after another).
Think of a Line
Imagine people standing in a line. Each person is 'پشت سر هم' – one behind the head of the other. This visual can reinforce the meaning.
Synonyms in English
Good English equivalents are 'one after another,' 'in a row,' 'consecutively,' or 'successively.' Pick the one that resonates most with you.
محتوى ذو صلة
عبارات ذات صلة
مزيد من كلمات general
عادتوار
C1As a matter of habit; habitually.
عادی
A1Conforming to the usual or standard type; normal or ordinary.
عافیت
B2Well-being; the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
عاجل
B2Requiring immediate attention or action; urgent.
عاقبت
C1The outcome or result of an action or event.
عاقل
A1Having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment; wise.
عالمگیر
C1Universal, worldwide, or affecting all parts of the world.
عالی
A1Excellent; extremely good or outstanding.
عام
B1General, common, public.
اعم از
B2Including; whether (used to introduce options).
