بردن

The Persian verb بردن (bordan) is a fundamental pillar of the Persian language, serving two primary semantic functions that, while distinct in English, are deeply intertwined in the Persian psyche: the act of physical transport (to take or carry away) and the act of competitive triumph (to win). At its core, bordan implies a movement from point A to point B, or a transition from a state of contest to a state of victory. For an English speaker, it is helpful to think of the word as 'carrying off'—whether you are carrying off a heavy suitcase to the car or carrying off the first-place trophy in a wrestling match. This duality makes it one of the most frequently used verbs in daily conversation, literature, and sports broadcasting.

Physical Movement

In this context, it means to move something from the current location to another. It is the opposite of âvardan (to bring). If you are at home and taking a gift to a party, you use bordan.

Victory and Success

In games, sports, or legal battles, bordan signifies winning. It is used intransitively (we won) or transitively (we won the game).

Understanding the nuance between 'taking' and 'winning' requires looking at the context. If the object is a physical item like a bag, it's 'taking'. If the context involves a score or a rival, it's 'winning'. However, Persian also uses bordan in abstract ways, such as 'taking someone's heart' (falling in love) or 'taking a profit' (making money). This versatility is why A1 learners must master it early. It is also the base for many compound verbs, which are the backbone of modern Persian vocabulary. For instance, az yâd bordan literally means 'to take from memory,' which is the poetic way to say 'to forget'.

Furthermore, the verb undergoes a significant stem change between the past and present. The past stem is برد (bord), while the present stem is بر (bar). This is a common feature of irregular Persian verbs. When you want to say 'I am taking,' you use the present stem: mi-bar-am. When you say 'I took,' you use the past stem: bord-am. Mastering this shift is crucial for fluency. In colloquial Tehrani Persian, the pronunciation might soften, but the core meaning remains steadfast across all dialects, from Mashhad to Kabul.

Abstract Usage

It is used in expressions like rany bordan (to suffer/take pain) and lazat bordan (to enjoy/take pleasure).

Using بردن (bordan) correctly involves understanding its transitivity and its relationship with the object marker râ. When you are 'taking' a specific object, you must use râ. For example, 'I took the key' is man kelid râ bordam. Without the râ, the sentence feels incomplete or refers to an unspecified object, which is less common with this verb. In the context of winning, bordan can be used without a direct object if the context of the game is already understood, similar to saying 'We won' in English.

The Present Tense

Formed by: mi + bar (stem) + personal ending. Example: mibaram (I take), mibarad (he/she takes).

The Past Tense

Formed by: bord (stem) + personal ending. Example: bordam (I took), bordand (they took).

One of the most complex aspects for learners is the use of bordan in compound verbs. In Persian, many concepts are expressed by combining a noun or adjective with a 'light verb' like kardan (to do) or bordan. When bordan acts as a light verb, its literal meaning of 'taking' is often bleached, and it instead contributes to a sense of 'carrying out' or 'experiencing' an action. For instance, haml bordan (to carry/transport) or goman bordan (to suspect/suppose). In these cases, the entire phrase functions as a single unit of meaning.

In formal writing, bordan is often replaced by more specific verbs like enthighâl dâdan (to transfer) or piruz shodan (to become victorious). However, in the spoken register, bordan is the king of versatility. If you are taking a taxi, you might hear the driver ask, Kojâ mibarid? (Where are you taking [me/the car]?), though more commonly they ask where you want to go. If you are carrying a heavy load, someone might offer help by saying Begozâr man bebaram (Let me carry it).

Imperative Form

The command 'Take!' is bebar. The negative command 'Don't take!' is nabar.

You will encounter بردن (bordan) in almost every corner of Iranian life. In the bustling Grand Bazaar of Tehran, you'll hear porters shouting to clear the way as they 'take' goods from one stall to another. In the modern cafes of North Tehran, you'll hear young people talking about who 'won' the latest football match between Persepolis and Esteghlal. The word is as common as bread and water. It is also a staple of Iranian news broadcasts, especially in the sports and political sections where 'victory' is a frequent topic.

In the Kitchen

Mothers often tell their children: Ghazâ râ barâye pedarat bebar (Take the food to your father).

In Sports

Commentators scream Bordand! Bordand! (They won! They won!) during the final seconds of a wrestling match.

Beyond the physical and competitive, bordan is deeply embedded in the Persian poetic tradition. Classical poets like Rumi and Hafez frequently use the verb to describe the soul being 'carried away' by divine love or the 'taking' of one's senses by the beauty of the beloved. In this literary context, bordan elevates from a simple action to a spiritual experience. When a poet says del-am râ bordi (you took my heart), they aren't just saying they like you; they are saying you have captured their essence. This romantic usage is still very much alive in modern Iranian pop songs and cinema.

In professional settings, you might hear bordan in the context of 'taking a case' to court or 'taking a proposal' to the board. It implies a proactive movement of an idea or a legal matter. Even in technology, 'taking' a file to a folder or 'taking' a backup uses this verb in colloquial tech-speak. It is a 'heavy lifting' verb that does a lot of work in the language, making it indispensable for anyone looking to move beyond basic phrases into real-world Persian communication.

Daily Errands

'I need to take the car to the mechanic' is Bâyad mâshin râ be tamirgâh bebaram.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with بردن (bordan) is confusing it with gereftan (to take/get). In English, 'take' is a broad word. We 'take' a pill, 'take' a bus, and 'take' a book from a table. In Persian, these are all different. Bordan specifically implies carrying something *away* to another place. If you are just picking something up or receiving it, you must use gereftan. For example, saying ghors râ bordam would mean you took the pill to another room, not that you swallowed it (which would be khordan or khordan/gereftan depending on context).

Bordan vs. Gereftan

Use bordan for 'taking away/winning'. Use gereftan for 'receiving/catching/taking hold of'.

Bordan vs. Âvardan

Use bordan for movement away from the speaker. Use âvardan for movement toward the speaker.

Another common error involves the present stem. Because the infinitive is bordan, many students mistakenly try to use bod or bord as the present stem. Remember: the present stem is بر (bar). Saying mibordam for 'I am taking' is wrong; that is actually the past continuous 'I was taking'. The correct present form is mibaram. This stem change is a hurdle, but once cleared, it opens up many other verbs that follow similar patterns in the Indo-European family.

Lastly, learners often struggle with the preposition 'to' when using bordan. In Persian, you take something *to* a place using be. However, when you win *from* someone, you use az. This is counter-intuitive for English speakers who 'win against' or 'beat' someone. In Persian, you 'take [the win] from' them. If you say Man bâ barâdaram bordam, it might sound like you and your brother won together, rather than you beating him.

Stem Confusion

Past: Bord (I took: Bordam). Present: Bar (I take: Mibaram).

While بردن (bordan) is a versatile 'workhorse' verb, Persian offers several more specific alternatives depending on the register and the exact nature of the action. If you are looking to sound more formal or precise, you might choose a compound verb that specifies the method of 'taking' or the nature of the 'victory'. Understanding these synonyms will help you navigate different social contexts, from a casual street conversation to a formal business meeting.

Haml Kardan (حمل کردن)

Meaning: To carry or transport. Use this when the focus is on the physical effort of moving a heavy load. It sounds more technical than bordan.

Piruz Shodan (پیروز شدن)

Meaning: To become victorious. This is the formal equivalent of bordan (to win). You will see this in news headlines and history books.

Ghalbe Kardan (غلبه کردن)

Meaning: To overcome or conquer. This is used for winning against great odds or defeating an enemy in a more significant sense than just a game.

In terms of 'taking' people, bordan is perfectly fine, but hamrâhi kardan (to accompany) is more polite if you are taking a guest somewhere. If you are 'taking' a child to school, resândan (to deliver/reach) is often used, especially if you are driving them. For example, Bache-hâ râ be madrese resândam (I dropped the kids off at school). This highlights the Persian preference for verbs that describe the result of the action (them reaching school) rather than just the process of carrying them there.

For the abstract sense of 'taking away' (like removing a stain or a doubt), you might use az bein bordan (to take out of existence/destroy) or raf' kardan (to eliminate/resolve). If you 'take' a path or a direction, you use pish gereftan (to take forward). As you can see, while bordan is the foundation, the Persian language has a rich tapestry of verbs that allow for extreme precision once you move beyond the A1/A2 levels.

Az bein bordan (از بین بردن)

Literally 'to take from between'. It means to destroy, eliminate, or kill. It's a very common compound verb.