Meaning
To inquire or pose a query.
Cultural Background
Asking about someone's salary or age is not considered as rude as it is in the West. It is often seen as a way to build rapport. Students are traditionally expected to wait for a pause before asking a question, often using 'Bebakhshid' (Excuse me) to show respect. In religious discussions, asking questions (Istifta) is a formal process of seeking a ruling from a scholar. The 'Ask Me a Question' sticker on Instagram is translated as 'از من سؤال بپرسید' in Persian-speaking circles.
The 'Had' Trick
Use 'so'āl dāshtam' (I had a question) instead of 'dāram' (I have) to sound more polite and less demanding.
Preposition Alert
Always use 'az' (from) for the person you are asking. Using 'be' (to) is a common beginner mistake.
Meaning
To inquire or pose a query.
The 'Had' Trick
Use 'so'āl dāshtam' (I had a question) instead of 'dāram' (I have) to sound more polite and less demanding.
Preposition Alert
Always use 'az' (from) for the person you are asking. Using 'be' (to) is a common beginner mistake.
Light Verb Choice
Use 'so'āl kardan' in casual conversation and 'so'āl porsidan' in slightly more formal or educational settings.
Don't be Shy
Iranians generally appreciate questions about their language and culture; it's seen as a sign of respect.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'porsidan'.
من دیروز از او یک سؤال ___.
The sentence uses 'دیروز' (yesterday), so the past tense 'پرسیدم' is required.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct sentence:
In Persian, you ask a question 'from' (az) someone.
Complete the dialogue politely.
شاگرد: ببخشید، میتوانم یک ___ بپرسم؟
The context of 'asking' (beporsam) implies a 'question' (so'āl).
Match the phrase to the situation.
Which phrase fits a job interview?
Asking about salary is a common and appropriate use of the phrase in an interview.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs Informal
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن دیروز از او یک سؤال ___.
The sentence uses 'دیروز' (yesterday), so the past tense 'پرسیدم' is required.
Choose the correct sentence:
In Persian, you ask a question 'from' (az) someone.
شاگرد: ببخشید، میتوانم یک ___ بپرسم؟
The context of 'asking' (beporsam) implies a 'question' (so'āl).
Which phrase fits a job interview?
Asking about salary is a common and appropriate use of the phrase in an interview.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, 'porsidan' alone means 'to ask', but 'so'āl porsidan' is more common when referring to a specific question.
Yes, it's a very common synonym, slightly more informal than 'so'āl porsidan'.
You can say: 'Ejāze hast so'āli beporsam?' or 'May-tavānam so'āli matrah konam?'.
In Persian logic, you are taking an answer *from* someone, hence the preposition 'az'.
Yes, it's culturally more acceptable than in many Western countries, but still use your judgment!
You can say: 'Inghadr so'āl napors!' or 'So'āl-picham nakon!'.
The plural is 'so'āl-hā' or the Arabic plural 'so'ālāt'.
Yes, 'gheymat porsidan' is the standard way to ask how much something costs.
Yes, 'porsesh' is the Persian word for 'question', while 'so'āl' is Arabic. 'Porsesh' is more formal.
We ask: 'mā so'āl miporsim'. We asked: 'mā so'āl porsidim'.
Start with 'Bebakhshid, mi-tavānam ye so'āl beporsam?'.
In some philosophical contexts, it can mean 'request' or 'begging', but 99% of the time it's just 'question'.
Related Phrases
جواب دادن
contrastTo answer
پرسوجو کردن
specialized formTo investigate/inquire around
سوالپیچ کردن
specialized formTo grill someone
احوالپرسی کردن
similarTo ask how someone is
استنطاق کردن
specialized formTo interrogate
