Persian Direction Prepositions: To and From (be, az)
به before your destination and از before your starting point.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'be' for destination (to) and 'az' for origin (from) to describe movement in Persian.
- Use 'be' (به) before a place to mean 'to': 'be Tehran' (to Tehran).
- Use 'az' (از) before a place to mean 'from': 'az Shiraz' (from Shiraz).
- These particles always precede the noun they modify.
Overview
Mastering the prepositions of direction is fundamental for any Persian learner, especially at the A1 level. The Persian prepositions بِه (be), meaning 'to' or 'towards', and اَز (az), meaning 'from' or 'out of', are critical for expressing movement, origin, destination, and even certain relationships between entities. These short words act as the navigational tools of the Persian language, guiding your listener or reader through the spatial and temporal landscape of your sentences.
Understanding their precise usage ensures clarity when you articulate where something is going, where it came from, or to whom it is directed. Both بِه and اَز are invariable, meaning their form does not change based on the gender, number, or case of the noun or pronoun they precede, simplifying their application for beginners.
How This Grammar Works
بِه (be) primarily indicates a destination, a recipient, or a point in time/space.بِه specifies to whom the book is given. اَز (az), conversely, signals an origin, a source, or a starting point.اَز identifies where you started.بِه is typically pronounced be (like 'beh' in 'bet'). However, in rapid, colloquial speech, particularly when followed by certain verbs like رفتن (raftan - to go), it can sometimes be reduced to a very short e sound, or even omitted entirely. For A1 learners, it is always recommended to include and pronounce بِه clearly to establish correct grammatical habits.اَز is generally pronounced az (like 'az' in 'haze'), maintaining a consistent sound across various contexts. Neither بِه nor اَز participates in the ezafe construction, which means they directly precede the noun without an intervening ـِ (e) sound, simplifying their connection to the following word.Formation Pattern
بِه (be) and اَز (az) is consistent and follows a clear structure. The preposition is placed directly before the noun or pronoun it governs, and the verb typically appears at the end of the sentence. This word order is fundamental to Persian syntax.
بِه (be) for Destination or Recipient:
بِه is used to indicate movement to a specific location or to specify the recipient of an action.
مَن بِه تهران میروم. | man be Tehrān miravam. | I go to Tehran. |
کتاب را بِه دوستَم دادم. | ketāb rā be dustam dādam. | I gave the book to my friend. |
ماشین بِه سمتِ دَر حرکت کرد. | māshin be samt-e dar harekat kard. | The car moved towards the door. |
بِه is used with personal pronouns, the structure is straightforward. Remember to use the correct formal or informal pronoun based on context.
بِه with Personal Pronouns:
بِه مَن | be man | to me |
بِه تو | be to | to you (informal) |
بِه او | be u | to him/her/it |
بِه ما | be mā | to us |
بِه شُما | be shomā | to you (formal/plural) |
بِه آنها | be ānhā | to them |
این پیام بِه شماست. (in payām be shomāst.) – This message is for you (or to you).
لطفاً بِه او زنگ بزنید. (lotfan be u zang bezanid.) – Please call him/her.
اَز (az) for Origin or Source:
اَز is used to indicate movement from a specific location, the source of something, or the starting point of an action.
او اَز شیراز آمد. | u az Shirāz āmad. | S/he came from Shiraz. |
من اَز دوستَم پول گرفتم. | man az dustam pul gereftam. | I got money from my friend. |
جلسه اَز ساعت ده شروع شد. | jaleseh az sā'at-e dah shoru' shod. | The meeting started from ten o'clock. |
اَز combines directly with personal pronouns.
اَز with Personal Pronouns:
اَز مَن | az man | from me |
اَز تو | az to | from you (informal) |
اَز او | az u | from him/her/it |
اَز ما | az mā | from us |
اَز شُما | az shomā | from you (formal/plural) |
اَز آنها | az ānhā | from them |
این نامه اَز پدرم است. (in nāme az pedaram ast.) – This letter is from my father.
اَز شما تشکر میکنم. (az shomā tashakkor mikonam.) – I thank you (literally, 'I do thanks from you').
When To Use It
بِه and اَز are highly versatile and appear in a wide array of contexts beyond simple physical movement. Understanding their extended applications is crucial for comprehensive communication in Persian.بِه (be):- Directing Movement to a Destination: This is the most common use.
بِهclarifies the endpoint of a journey or movement. من بِه خانه میروم.(man be khāne miravam.) – I am going to the house.آنها بِه اصفهان سفر کردند.(ānhā be Esfahān safar kardand.) – They traveled to Isfahan.
- Indicating a Recipient or Beneficiary: When something is given, sent, or said to someone,
بِهis used. من کتاب را بِه او دادم.(man ketāb rā be u dādam.) – I gave the book to him/her.سلام بِه همه!(salām be hame!) – Greetings to everyone!
- Referring to a Specific Point in Time:
بِهcan mark a precise moment or period. بِه وقتِ تهران، ساعت ده است.(be vaqt-e Tehrān, sā'at dah ast.) – At Tehran time, it is ten o'clock.این کار را بِه موقع انجام بده.(in kār rā be mowqe' anjām bede.) – Do this work on time.
- Expressing Manner or State: In certain idiomatic phrases,
بِهdescribes how an action is performed or the state of something. بِه سختی کار کرد.(be sakhti kār kard.) – He worked with difficulty (or hard).بِه آرامی صحبت کرد.(be ārāmi sohbat kard.) – She spoke gently/slowly.
- Indicating a Rate or Measurement:
بِهcan be used to convey 'per' or 'at a rate of'. سی کیلومتر بِه ساعت.(si kilometr be sā'at.) – Thirty kilometers per hour.آنها بِه نوبت وارد شدند.(ānhā be nowbat vāred shodand.) – They entered in turns.
اَز (az):- Indicating Origin or Starting Point: This is the core function of
اَز, specifying where something or someone comes from. او اَز خانه آمد.(u az khāne āmad.) – S/he came from home.این خبر اَز رادیو بود.(in khabar az rādiyo bud.) – This news was from the radio.
- Marking the Start of a Time Period (Since/From):
اَزis used to denote the beginning of a duration. اَز دیروز منتظرم.(az diruz montazeram.) – I have been waiting since yesterday.اَز حالا شروع میکنیم.(az hālā shoru' mikonim.) – We will start from now.
- Expressing Separation or Removal: When something is taken away or separated from something else.
من کلید را اَز جیبم درآوردم.(man kelid rā az jibam dar āvardam.) – I took the key from my pocket.او اَز شرکت خارج شد.(u az sherkat khārej shod.) – S/he exited from the company.
- Used in Comparisons (Than):
اَزis essential for forming comparative structures, meaning 'than'. This is a very important use for A1 learners. این کتاب بهتر اَز آن کتاب است.(in ketāb behtar az ān ketāb ast.) – This book is better than that book.او اَز من بزرگتر است.(u az man bozorgtar ast.) – S/he is older than me.
- Indicating a Part of a Whole: When referring to a selection or a portion of a larger group.
یکی اَز دوستانم.(yeki az dustānam.) – One of my friends.چند صفحه اَز کتاب.(chand safhe az ketāb.) – A few pages from the book.
- Expressing Cause or Reason:
اَزcan sometimes indicate the cause or reason for something, particularly with emotions. اَز خوشحالی گریه کرد.(az khoshhāli gerye kard.) – S/he cried from happiness.
Common Mistakes
بِه and اَز, mainly due to interference from their native language or the multiple functions of these prepositions. Awareness of these common pitfalls can significantly accelerate your learning.- Confusing
بِه(to) withدَر(in/at): This is perhaps the most frequent error.بِهimplies movement towards a location, whileدَرindicates being present at or inside a location. You go to (بِه) a place, but you are in/at (دَر) a place. - Incorrect:
من دَر خانه میروم.(man dar khāne miravam.) (Literally: I go in the house, implying you are already there while moving.) - Correct:
من بِه خانه میروم.(man be khāne miravam.) – I go to the house. - Correct:
من دَر خانه هستم.(man dar khāne hastam.) – I am in the house.
- Omitting
بِهin Colloquial Speech: While native speakers frequently dropبِهbefore verbs of motion likeرفتن(raftan - to go) in casual conversation (e.g.,خونه میرم.– khune miram, forبِه خانه میروم.), for A1 learners, it is crucial to always include it. This ensures grammatical correctness and helps in forming a solid foundation before learning colloquial exceptions. Always aim for the full grammatical form first. - Formal/Correct:
من بِه پارک میروم.(man be pārk miravam.) – I go to the park. - Colloquial (Acceptable but learn later):
من پارک میرم.(man pārk miram.)
- Confusing
اَز(from) withبا(with): These prepositions have distinct meanings.اَزspecifies origin or source, whileباindicates accompaniment or means. Ensure you differentiate between taking something from someone and going with someone. - Incorrect:
من با مدرسه آمدم.(man bā madrese āmadam.) (Literally: I came with school, implying the institution itself accompanied you.) - Correct:
من اَز مدرسه آمدم.(man az madrese āmadam.) – I came from school. - Correct:
من با دوستم آمدم.(man bā dustam āmadam.) – I came with my friend.
- Overusing
بِه سَمتِ(be samt-e - towards): Whileبِه سَمتِcorrectly means 'towards,'بِهalone is often sufficient and more natural for general direction, especially at an A1 level.بِه سَمتِimplies a less direct or more general orientation. For instance,بِه دریا میروم.(I go to the sea) is more common thanبِه سَمتِ دریا میروم.(I go towards the sea) unless you are emphasizing the direction rather than the ultimate destination.
- Incorrect Pronoun Usage with Politeness (Ta'arof): While the prepositions themselves do not change for politeness, the personal pronouns that follow them certainly do. Using
تو(to - informal 'you') instead ofشما(shomā - formal/plural 'you') in formal contexts afterبِهorاَزcan be considered impolite. Always be mindful of your relationship with the person you are addressing. - Informal:
بِه تو گفتم.(be to goftam.) – I told you (informal). - Formal:
بِه شُما گفتم.(be shomā goftam.) – I told you (formal).
- Misunderstanding
اَزin Comparisons: Learners sometimes forget thatاَزserves as 'than' in comparative sentences. This is a vital function. - Incorrect:
این بزرگتر است آن.(in bozorgtar ast ān.) - Correct:
این بزرگتر اَز آن است.(in bozorgtar az ān ast.) – This is bigger than that.
Real Conversations
In everyday Persian, بِه and اَز are ubiquitous. They appear in everything from simple directions to expressing opinions and feelings. Observing their usage in natural contexts helps internalize their meaning and function.
- Asking and Giving Directions:
- کُجا میری؟ (kojā miri?) – Where are you going?
- بِه بازار. (be bāzār.) – To the bazaar.
- اَز کجا اومدی؟ (az kojā umadi?) – Where did you come from?
- اَز دانشگاه. (az dāneshgāh.) – From the university.
- Texting and Social Media: Colloquial Persian, often reflected in texts and social media, might see the بِه dropped more frequently, but اَز typically remains.
- رسیدم بِه خونه. (residam be khune.) – I arrived home.
- صبح بخیر اَز شیراز! (sobh bekhayr az Shirāz!) – Good morning from Shiraz!
- منتظرتم بِه کافه بیای. (montazeretam be kāfe biyāy.) – I'm waiting for you to come to the cafe.
- Making Requests or Reporting News:
- لطفاً این را بِه علی بده. (lotfan in rā be Ali bede.) – Please give this to Ali.
- خبرِ خوبی اَز پُست داشتم. (khabar-e khubi az post dāshtam.) – I had good news from the mail.
- چیزی اَزش شنیدی؟ (chizi azash shenidi?) – Did you hear anything from him/her?
- Expressing Opinions and Comparisons:
- این غذا بهتر اَز اونِ. (in ghazā behtar az un-e.) – This food is better than that one.
- اَز نظرِ من، درست نیست. (az nazar-e man, dorost nist.) – In my opinion (from my perspective), it's not right.
These examples demonstrate that بِه and اَز are not confined to formal language; they are integral to the dynamic, everyday communication of native Persian speakers. While some colloquialisms exist (like dropping بِه), understanding the standard grammatical usage first will always allow you to communicate effectively and be understood.
Quick FAQ
بِه and اَز, providing clarity on nuanced aspects of their usage.- Q: Does
بِهchange its form before vowels or consonants? - A: No,
بِهremains invariant regardless of the initial sound of the word that follows it. You will always see it written and generally pronounced asبِه(be). For example,بِه اُمید(be omid - to hope) andبِه پارک(be pārk - to the park) both use the same form.
- Q: Can
بِهalso mean 'at' in certain contexts? - A: Yes, particularly when referring to general locations or times,
بِهcan function similarly to 'at'. Whileدَر(dar) is explicitly 'in' or 'at,'بِهcan indicate being at a place as a destination or a point of reference. For instance,بِه دانشگاه.(be dāneshgāh.) can mean 'at the university' (as a place one goes to or is currently associated with), whileدَر دانشگاه.(dar dāneshgāh.) definitively means 'inside the university.' Similarly,بِه وقتِ تهران(be vaqt-e Tehrān - at Tehran time) usesبِهfor a temporal 'at'.
- Q: Is
اَزonly used for physical origin? - A: No,
اَزhas broader applications. Besides physical origin (اَز خانه- from home), it is crucial for comparisons (بهتر اَز- better than), indicating a starting point in time (اَز امروز- from today), expressing a source of information or emotion (اَز رادیو- from the radio,اَز خوشحالی- from happiness), and for indicating a part of a whole (یکی اَز آنها- one of them).
- Q: How do I express 'from X to Y'?
- A: To express movement or range from one point to another, you combine both prepositions:
اَز X بِه Y. For example,اَز تهران بِه مشهد.(az Tehrān be Mashhad.) – From Tehran to Mashhad. This is a very common and useful construction for directions and journeys.
- Q: Why do I sometimes hear
ب(b) instead ofبِه(be) in fast speech? - A: In very informal and rapid colloquial Persian, especially with verbs of motion,
بِهcan be phonetically reduced to just aب(b) sound or even disappear entirely, becoming almost silent. For instance,بِه خانه میروم(be khāne miravam) might sound likeب خونه میرم(b khune miram) or even justخونه میرم(khune miram). While this is common among native speakers, it is a feature of advanced colloquialism. As an A1 learner, always articulateبِهfully to ensure clarity and correctness.
- Q: Are there more formal alternatives to
بِهandاَز? - A: Yes, for
بِه, you might encounterبِه سَوی(be say-e) meaning 'towards' (e.g.,بِه سَوی نور- towards the light), which carries a more poetic or formal tone. Forاَز, you might seeاَز ناحیه(az nāhie - from the region/direction of) orمِن بابِ(men bāb-e - from the perspective of), though these are much less common and more literary or formal. For everyday A1 communication,بِهandاَزare perfectly sufficient and preferred.
- Q: Does
اَزhave anything to do with time duration, like 'for X hours'? - A: While
اَزindicates a starting point in time (اَز دیروز- since yesterday), for a duration like 'for X hours,' Persian typically usesمدتِ(moddat-e - duration of) or similar constructions, or simply states the duration without a preposition when the context is clear (e.g.,دو ساعت منتظر بودم.- I waited two hours). Do not useاَزto express a period of time, only the starting point from which time is counted.
- Q: How does politeness (Ta'arof) interact with these prepositions?
- A:
بِهandاَزthemselves are neutral in terms of politeness. However, the choice of personal pronoun that follows them is critically important in observing Ta'arof, the Persian system of etiquette. Always useشما(shomā - formal/plural 'you') when addressing elders, superiors, or anyone you wish to show respect to. Only useتو(to - informal 'you') with close friends, family, or children.
بِه and اَز is not just about memorizing their definitions but appreciating their nuanced roles in shaping meaning and navigating social interactions within the Persian linguistic landscape. With consistent practice and attention to these rules, you will confidently express yourself in a multitude of situations.Directional Preposition Usage
| Preposition | Meaning | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
be
|
to/towards
|
Destination
|
be Tehran
|
|
az
|
from
|
Origin
|
az Tehran
|
|
be
|
to (person)
|
Indirect Object
|
be man
|
|
az
|
than
|
Comparison
|
az man
|
|
be
|
at/in (time)
|
Time/State
|
be zoodi
|
|
az
|
since
|
Time
|
az diruz
|
Meanings
These are the two fundamental directional prepositions in Persian used to indicate movement toward a destination or away from an origin.
Destination
Movement towards a location or person.
“به مدرسه میروم (I go to school)”
“به تو فکر میکنم (I think of you)”
Origin
Movement away from a location or starting point.
“از خانه میآیم (I come from home)”
“از ایران آمدم (I came from Iran)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
be + Location
|
be park miravam
|
|
Affirmative
|
az + Location
|
az park mi-ayam
|
|
Negative
|
be + Location + na-
|
be park nemiravam
|
|
Negative
|
az + Location + na-
|
az park nemi-ayam
|
|
Question
|
be + Location + ?
|
be park miravi?
|
|
Question
|
az + Location + ?
|
az park mi-ayi?
|
|
Short Answer
|
be + Place
|
be Tehran
|
|
Short Answer
|
az + Place
|
az Tehran
|
Formality Spectrum
به فروشگاه میروم (Daily errand)
به مغازه میروم (Daily errand)
دارم میرم مغازه (Daily errand)
دارم میرم اونجا (Daily errand)
Directional Flow
Destination
- be to
Origin
- az from
Examples by Level
من به تهران میروم
I am going to Tehran
او از خانه میآید
He is coming from home
به مدرسه میروم
I go to school
از ایران آمدم
I came from Iran
به من نگاه کن
Look at me
از این کار متنفرم
I hate this job
به دوستش گفت
He said to his friend
از کجا میآیی؟
Where are you coming from?
این از آن بهتر است
This is better than that
به نظر من خوب است
In my opinion it is good
از دیدن شما خوشحالم
I am happy to see you
به زودی میبینمت
I will see you soon
به جای تو میروم
I will go instead of you
از ترس لرزید
He trembled from fear
به محض رسیدن تماس بگیر
Call as soon as you arrive
از این به بعد
From now on
به رغم مشکلات ادامه داد
He continued despite the problems
از قضا او را دیدم
As it happened, I saw him
به کار بستن دانش
Applying knowledge
از سر ناچاری
Out of necessity
به دیده منت
With pleasure (archaic/formal)
از قبیل این موارد
Such as these cases
به غایت زیبا
Extremely beautiful
از فرط خستگی
Due to extreme fatigue
Easily Confused
Learners confuse 'be' (to) with 'ba' (with).
Learners confuse 'az' (from) with 'dar' (in).
Learners use 'be' for direct objects.
Common Mistakes
Man Tehran miravam
Man be Tehran miravam
Be Tehran amadam
Az Tehran amadam
Tehran be miravam
Be Tehran miravam
Az miravam
Az Tehran miravam
Be man goft
Be man goft
Az man miravam
Az man door mishavam
Be koja amadi?
Az koja amadi?
Behtar az man
Behtar az man
Az nazaram
Be nazaram
Be didan-e man amad
Be didan-e man amad
Az rooye man
Be rooye man
Be sabaq-e
Az sabaq-e
Sentence Patterns
من ___ ___ میروم.
او ___ ___ میآید.
این ___ ___ بهتر است.
___ ___ گفتم که بیاید.
Real World Usage
be khane residam
be hotel miravam
az sherkat-e qabli amadam
be in address befrestid
az safar-e Iran
be chap bepichid
Don't overthink
Watch the order
Listen for them
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always pair 'be' with verbs of motion like 'raftan'.
Always pair 'az' with verbs like 'amadan'.
Use 'az' to link the two things being compared.
Use 'be' to introduce the recipient of your words.
Pronunciation
Vowel length
The 'e' in 'be' is short. The 'a' in 'az' is short.
Question
az koja? ↑
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Be is for 'Be-coming' to a place, Az is for 'Away' from a place.
Visual Association
Imagine a blue arrow (be) pointing to a house, and an amber cloud (az) drifting away from that same house.
Rhyme
To go to a place, use 'be' in your case; to come from the start, 'az' plays the part.
Story
Ali wants to go to the park. He says 'be park'. He meets his friend there. When he leaves, he says 'az park' to describe his departure.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences describing your day using 'be' and 'az' for every location you visited.
Cultural Notes
In colloquial Tehrani, 'be' often becomes 'be' but is pronounced very quickly, almost like a prefix.
Shirazi speakers might lengthen the vowels in these particles for emphasis.
In poetry, these are used with extreme precision to maintain rhythm.
Both 'be' and 'az' are ancient Indo-Iranian particles that have remained remarkably stable.
Conversation Starters
امروز به کجا میروی؟
از کجا میآیی؟
به نظر تو، این بهتر است یا آن؟
از چه زمانی فارسی میخوانی؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Man ___ Tehran miravam.
O amadam ___ Shiraz.
Find and fix the mistake:
Man az madrese miravam.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I am coming from the store.
Answer starts with: Man...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use 'be' and 'khane'.
Man az Tehran ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesMan ___ Tehran miravam.
O amadam ___ Shiraz.
Find and fix the mistake:
Man az madrese miravam.
Tehran / be / miravam / man
I am coming from the store.
be / az
Use 'be' and 'khane'.
Man az Tehran ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesمیروم / به / من / دانشگاه
From my friend
Match the pairs:
شما ___ کجا هستید؟
Choose the correct form:
کتاب به میز است.
I am going to work.
او یک کادو ___ من خرید.
آمد / از / او / مدرسه
Match destination vs origin:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Yes, 'be zoodi' means 'soon' (to soon).
No, it's also used for comparisons and time.
No, they stay the same.
Use 'be' (e.g., 'be Ali goftam').
'ba' means 'with', not 'to'.
Sometimes, but it's better to keep it for clarity.
The usage is the same, but pronunciation varies.
Use 'be koja?'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
a / de
Spanish prepositions often contract with articles (al, del), while Persian does not.
à / de
French requires gender agreement for articles, unlike Persian.
zu / von
German prepositions trigger specific grammatical cases (Dative), while Persian does not.
ni / kara
Japanese is a post-positional language; the particle comes after the noun.
ila / min
Arabic prepositions often change the case of the following noun.
dào / cóng
Chinese is an isolating language; these are often treated as verbs or coverbs.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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