Meaning
To pose an inquiry.
Cultural Background
In Iranian schools, asking too many questions can sometimes be seen as challenging the teacher's authority, though this is changing in modern urban centers. In Dari (Persian of Afghanistan), 'so'āl kardan' is often more common than 'so'āl porsidan' in daily speech. Tajik Persian uses the Cyrillic script, so the phrase is written as 'Савол пурсед'. The usage remains very similar to Iranian Persian. In the diaspora (Tehrangeles, London), you might hear 'finglish' where people say 'Question porsidan' or 'Question kardan'.
The 'Az' Rule
Always remember 'Az' (from). You don't ask a person, you ask *from* a person. This is the #1 marker of a fluent speaker.
Polite Prefixes
Before asking a question to a stranger, always start with 'Bebakhshid' (Excuse me) to be polite.
Meaning
To pose an inquiry.
The 'Az' Rule
Always remember 'Az' (from). You don't ask a person, you ask *from* a person. This is the #1 marker of a fluent speaker.
Polite Prefixes
Before asking a question to a stranger, always start with 'Bebakhshid' (Excuse me) to be polite.
Don't say 'So'āl Begid'
Avoid saying 'Say a question'. It sounds very unnatural in Persian.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'porsidan'.
لطفاً از معلم سوال ____. (Please ask the teacher a question.)
The standard verb for asking a question is 'porsidan'.
Which preposition is used with 'so'āl porsidan'?
____ من سوال بپرس.
In Persian, you ask a question *from* (az) someone.
Complete the dialogue.
دانشجو: ببخشید استاد، میتوانم ____؟ استاد: بله، بفرمایید.
The student is asking for permission to ask a question.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to tell a group of people to ask you anything on social media.
'So'āl beporsid' is the standard invitation for questions.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesلطفاً از معلم سوال ____. (Please ask the teacher a question.)
The standard verb for asking a question is 'porsidan'.
____ من سوال بپرس.
In Persian, you ask a question *from* (az) someone.
دانشجو: ببخشید استاد، میتوانم ____؟ استاد: بله، بفرمایید.
The student is asking for permission to ask a question.
You want to tell a group of people to ask you anything on social media.
'So'āl beporsid' is the standard invitation for questions.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with friends (informal: bepors) or in a formal setting (beporsid).
Yes, 'Beporsid' alone often implies 'Ask [a question]'.
'So'āl' is more common in daily life; 'porsesh' is more formal and literary.
Say: 'Mishavad yek so'āl beporsam?' or 'Ejāze hast yek so'āl beporsam?'
Generally, Iranians are quite open, but it's best to avoid very personal questions about income or religion unless you are close friends.
Related Phrases
جواب دادن
contrastTo answer
سوال داشتن
similarTo have a question
تحقیق کردن
specialized formTo research/investigate
پرسوجو کردن
builds onTo inquire around
