This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
Persian
Vocabulary
علاقه مند شدن

A2 verb #4,000 most common 9 min read

علاقه مند شدن

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips علاقه مند شدن in 30 Seconds

Explanation علاقه مند شدن in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the basic meaning of 'alāqe-mand shodan'. Think of it as the way to say 'I started to like something'. Even though it's an A2 word, you can use it simply. Remember the 'be' (به). For example, 'I became interested in Persian' = 'Man be Fārsi alāqe-mand shodam'. It's a long word, but if you break it down into 'alāqe' (interest) and 'shodan' (to become), it's easier. You use it for simple things like food, colors, or sports. Don't worry about complex grammar yet; just use it in the past tense to talk about your hobbies.

At the A2 level, you are expected to use 'alāqe-mand shodan' to describe your personal history and changes in your life. You should be able to conjugate the auxiliary verb 'shodan' in the simple past (shodam, shodi, shod, etc.) and the present tense (mi-shavam, mi-shavi, etc.). You should also start using adverbs like 'kamee' (a little) or 'kheyli' (very) to describe your level of interest. This verb helps you move beyond basic 'I like' sentences and allows you to explain *how* and *when* your interests began. It is an essential tool for social introductions.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'alāqe-mand shodan' in more complex sentence structures, including those with conjunctions like 'chon' (because) or 'vaqti' (when). You should also be able to use the present perfect form ('alāqe-mand shodeh-am') to describe interests that started in the past and continue to be relevant now. You should understand the difference between this verb and its synonyms like 'alāqe peydā kardan'. You might also start using the causative form 'alāqe-mand kardan' (to make someone interested) when discussing how a teacher or a book influenced you.

At the B2 level, you should use 'alāqe-mand shodan' to discuss more abstract topics such as social trends, political movements, or scientific developments. You should be able to use it in the subjunctive mood (e.g., 'Momken ast alāqe-mand shavam') and in conditional sentences. You should also be aware of the noun form 'alāqe-mandān' (fans/interested parties) and how it relates to the verb. Your usage should be fluid, and you should be able to use the verb to describe nuanced emotional or intellectual shifts in a narrative or an argument.

At the C1 level, 'alāqe-mand shodan' is used with precision in academic and professional contexts. You should be able to distinguish it from more formal alternatives like 'rāgheb shodan' or 'motamāyel shodan' and choose the correct register based on your audience. You should be able to use the verb in complex passive constructions and understand its role in formal Persian prose. You can also use it to describe historical shifts in public opinion or the psychological process of engagement in a detailed, analytical way.

At the C2 level, you have mastered the use of 'alāqe-mand shodan' and its various synonyms across all registers, including classical literature and modern legal or technical Persian. You can use it metaphorically or within idiomatic expressions. You understand the deep etymological roots of 'alāqe' and can use the verb to express subtle shades of meaning that reflect a deep understanding of Persian culture and thought. You can discuss the evolution of the term and its usage in various historical periods of the Persian language.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

علاقه مند شدن in 30 Seconds

Means 'to become interested in'.
Requires the preposition 'be' (به).
A compound verb using 'shodan' (to become).
Used for hobbies, careers, and people.

The Persian verb علاقه مند شدن (pronounced alāqe-mand shodan) is a compound verb that translates literally to "to become possessing interest." In practical English, it means to become interested in or to get interested in something or someone. This verb is foundational for learners because it describes the transition from a state of neutrality to a state of engagement. Unlike the static state of 'liking' (علاقه داشتن), this verb focuses on the process of change. It is commonly used when discussing hobbies, academic subjects, career paths, or romantic attractions.

The Prepositional Link: Crucially, this verb is almost always paired with the preposition به (be), which translates to 'to' or 'in'. For example, 'I became interested in music' is 'به موسیقی علاقه مند شدم'.

من از کودکی به نقاشی علاقه مند شدم.
(I became interested in painting since childhood.)

In Persian culture, expressing interest is often done with a degree of poetic flair or formality. While 'liking' (doost dāshtan) is common, using 'alāqe-mand shodan' suggests a deeper, more intentional intellectual or emotional spark. It is frequently heard in interviews when people describe their career trajectories or in social settings when discussing a new book or movie that caught one's attention. The word 'alāqe' itself comes from the Arabic root for 'attachment' or 'relation', implying that when you become interested, you are forming a new connection with the subject.

Morphological Breakdown: The word is composed of: 1. Alāqe (Interest) + 2. Mand (Suffix meaning 'full of' or 'possessing') + 3. Shodan (To become).

او پس از دیدن آن فیلم، به تاریخ ایران علاقه مند شد.
(After seeing that movie, he became interested in Iranian history.)

The verb is versatile across all CEFR levels. At the A2 level, it allows you to describe how your hobbies started. As you move to B1 and B2, you use it to describe motivations and inspirations. In C1 and C2 contexts, it appears in academic discourse regarding psychological states or historical trends where a population 'becomes interested' in a new ideology or technology. It is a 'state-change' verb, which in Persian grammar involves the auxiliary 'shodan' (to become).

چطور به یادگیری زبان فارسی علاقه مند شدی؟
(How did you become interested in learning the Persian language?)

Register and Tone: While perfectly fine for daily conversation, this verb carries a slightly more sophisticated weight than 'khosham āmad' (I liked it). It implies a more lasting or serious interest rather than a passing whim.

بسیاری از جوانان به تکنولوژی‌های نوین علاقه مند شده‌اند.
(Many young people have become interested in modern technologies.)

امیدوارم شما هم به این موضوع علاقه مند شوید.
(I hope you also become interested in this subject.)

Using علاقه مند شدن correctly requires understanding its structure as a compound verb and its requirement for the preposition 'به'. The formula is: [Subject] + به + [Object/Topic] + علاقه مند + [Conjugated form of Shodan]. This structure is consistent across tenses, whether you are talking about the past, present, or future. Because it describes a change of state, it is frequently used in the past tense (Preterite) or the present perfect to describe how one's interests have evolved over time.

The Past Tense (Simple Past): To say 'I became interested', use 'علاقه مند شدم'. Example: 'من به آشپزی علاقه مند شدم' (I became interested in cooking).

آنها پس از سفر به شیراز، به معماری ایرانی علاقه مند شدند.
(They became interested in Iranian architecture after traveling to Shiraz.)

When using the present continuous tense, you are describing a process currently happening. 'I am becoming interested in yoga' would be 'دارم به یوگا علاقه مند می‌شوم'. This suggests a growing fascination rather than a completed realization. In academic writing, you might see the passive or impersonal forms, such as 'ممکن است دانش‌آموزان به این رشته علاقه مند شوند' (Students might become interested in this field).

Negation: To negate the verb, add the prefix 'na-' to the auxiliary 'shodan'. Example: 'من به این کتاب علاقه مند نشدم' (I did not become interested in this book).

چرا به ورزش علاقه مند نشدی؟
(Why didn't you become interested in sports?)

In more formal or literary contexts, the word 'علاقه مند' can be replaced with 'شایق' (shāyeq) or 'راغب' (rāgheb), but 'alāqe-mand' remains the most versatile and universally understood term. It is also important to note that when the object is a person, 'علاقه مند شدن به کسی' can imply falling in love or developing a crush, though it is slightly more clinical than 'āsheq shodan' (falling in love).

کم‌کم دارم به زندگی در اینجا علاقه مند می‌شوم.
(I am gradually becoming interested in living here.)

The Future Tense: Formal: علاقه مند خواهم شد. Informal: علاقه مند می‌شم. Example: 'مطمئنم به این موسیقی علاقه مند خواهی شد' (I'm sure you will become interested in this music).

او به زودی به این پروژه علاقه مند خواهد شد.
(He will soon become interested in this project.)

One final nuance is the use of adverbs. You can use 'خیلی' (very), 'کمی' (a little), or 'به شدت' (intensely) before 'alāqe-mand' to modify the degree of interest. 'او به شدت به عکاسی علاقه مند شد' (He became intensely interested in photography). This adds depth to your descriptions and allows for more precise communication of feelings.

آیا هیچ‌وقت به یادگیری رقص علاقه مند شده‌ای؟
(Have you ever become interested in learning dance?)

You will encounter علاقه مند شدن in a variety of settings, ranging from intimate personal conversations to formal television broadcasts. In the context of education and career, teachers often use it to encourage students or to describe a student's progress. For instance, 'How can we make students become interested in science?' (چطور می‌توانیم دانش‌آموزان را به علوم علاقه مند کنیم؟ - note: here 'kardan' is used to 'make someone interested'). But when the student themselves speaks, they use 'shodan'.

In Media and Interviews: Talk show hosts frequently ask guests: 'چه شد که به این حرفه علاقه مند شدید؟' (What happened that you became interested in this profession?). This is the standard way to ask about someone's origin story or passion.

بسیاری از مردم پس از این اتفاق به سیاست علاقه مند شدند.
(Many people became interested in politics after this event.)

In social circles, when friends are discussing new trends—like a new cafe, a crypto-currency, or a Netflix series—you'll hear 'alāqe-mand shodan' used to describe the viral nature of the trend. 'Everyone has become interested in this new game' (همه به این بازی جدید علاقه مند شده‌اند). It implies a collective shift in attention. It's also common in dating when someone describes how they started to like their partner: 'I gradually became interested in her' (کم‌کم به او علاقه مند شدم).

In Literature and Blogs: Self-help books and blogs often use this verb to discuss personal growth. Phrases like 'How to become interested in reading' (چگونه به مطالعه علاقه مند شویم) are common titles for articles aiming to improve habits.

او در دانشگاه به فلسفه علاقه مند شد.
(He became interested in philosophy at university.)

من به تازگی به یادگیری نجوم علاقه مند شده‌ام.
(I have recently become interested in learning astronomy.)

In the business world, this verb is used in marketing and sales. 'Our goal is to make the customer become interested in our product' (هدف ما این است که مشتری به محصول ما علاقه مند شود). It describes the psychological journey of a lead becoming a prospect. You might also hear it in news reports about international relations: 'Other countries have become interested in investing in the region' (کشورهای دیگر به سرمایه‌گذاری در منطقه علاقه مند شده‌اند).

Spoken Colloquialisms: In very casual speech, you might hear 'pay-e' (پایه) used for being 'up for' something, but 'alāqe-mand shodan' remains the standard for expressing a burgeoning interest.

وقتی بچه بودم به فوتبال علاقه مند شدم.
(When I was a kid, I became interested in football.)

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers learning Persian is confusing the preposition. In English, we say 'interested IN', but in Persian, you must use به (be), which literally means 'TO'. Using 'dar' (in) is a common mistake that sounds unnatural. For example, saying 'من در موسیقی علاقه مند شدم' is incorrect; it must be 'من به موسیقی علاقه مند شدم'.

Mistake 1: Static vs. Dynamic: Confusing 'علاقه داشتن' (to have interest/to like) with 'علاقه مند شدن' (to become interested). Use 'dāshtan' for a state you are already in, and 'shodan' for the moment the interest started.

Incorrect: من به کتاب علاقه مند هستم.
Correct (State): من به کتاب علاقه دارم. / Correct (Change): من به کتاب علاقه مند شدم.

Another error involves the conjugation of 'shodan'. Since it's a compound verb, only the 'shodan' part changes. Beginners sometimes try to pluralize 'alāqe-mand' (e.g., 'alāqe-mandān'), which is only done when using it as a noun (meaning 'the interested ones' or 'fans'). In the verb form, 'alāqe-mand' stays constant regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural.

Mistake 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Incorrect: ما به فیلم علاقه مندان شدیم. (Wrong pluralization)
Correct: ما به فیلم علاقه مند شدیم. (Correct)

آنها به تدریج به یکدیگر علاقه مند شدند.
(They gradually became interested in each other.)

A third common mistake is forgetting the 'mand' suffix. Sometimes learners just say 'alāqe shodan'. While 'alāqe' is interest, 'alāqe shodan' is not a standard verb. You must use the adjective 'alāqe-mand' with 'shodan'. Alternatively, you can use the construction 'به ... علاقه پیدا کردن' (to find interest in...), which is also very common and synonymous.

Mistake 3: Omitting the Suffix: Incorrect: من به هنر علاقه شدم.
Correct: من به هنر علاقه مند شدم.

هیچ‌کس به حرف‌های او علاقه مند نشد.
(No one became interested in his words.)

Lastly, be careful with the word order. The prepositional phrase 'be [something]' should ideally come after the subject and before the 'alāqe-mand' part. While Persian word order is flexible, putting it elsewhere can sound poetic or slightly disjointed in standard conversation.

من به این ایده علاقه مند شدم.
(I became interested in this idea.)

While علاقه مند شدن is the most common way to express becoming interested, Persian offers several other nuances depending on the intensity and context of the interest. Understanding these alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to express a wider range of emotions.

1. مجذوب شدن (Majzoob Shodan): This means 'to be fascinated' or 'to be attracted'. It implies a stronger, more magnetic pull than just interest. Example: 'او مجذوب زیبایی طبیعت شد' (He was fascinated by the beauty of nature).

من مجذوب شخصیت او شدم.
(I became fascinated by his personality.)

2. علاقه پیدا کردن (Alāqe Peydā Kardan): Literally 'to find interest'. It is almost identical to 'alāqe-mand shodan' but is slightly more common in informal, everyday speech. Example: 'کم‌کم به ورزش علاقه پیدا کردم' (I gradually found interest in sports).

For more academic or formal settings, you might use 'راغب شدن' (rāgheb shodan), which suggests becoming inclined or willing to do something. It's often used when talking about investment, participation, or taking action. Another formal alternative is 'متمایل شدن' (motamāyel shodan), meaning 'to become inclined' or 'to lean towards'.

3. شایق شدن (Shāyeq Shodan): A very formal/literary term meaning 'to become eager' or 'desirous'. You will see this in classical literature or high-level journalism.

او به یادگیری علوم غریبه شایق شد.
(He became eager to learn the occult sciences.)

In a negative sense, if you want to say you lost interest, you would use 'دلسرد شدن' (delsard shodan - literally 'to become cold-hearted') or 'بی‌علاقه شدن' (bi-alāqe shodan - to become uninterested). Understanding these pairs helps in building a balanced vocabulary.

او نسبت به کارش بی‌علاقه شده است.
(He has become uninterested in his work.)

4. کنجکاو شدن (Konjkāv Shodan): Meaning 'to become curious'. This is often the precursor to becoming interested. You might become curious about a secret before becoming interested in the topic itself.

همه کنجکاو شدند که او چه می‌گوید.
(Everyone became curious about what he was saying.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root 'A-L-Q' is the same one used in the Quranic term 'Alaq' (clot/attached thing), referring to an embryo. Thus, 'interest' in Persian etymologically means being 'attached' to a topic.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ælæːˈɢe mend ʃoˈdæn/

US /ɑːlɑːˈɡeɪ mend ʃoʊˈdɑːn/

Stress is on the last syllable of 'alāqe' and the last syllable of the conjugated 'shodan'.

Rhymes With

روشن (Roshan) گلشن (Golshan) جوشن (Joshan) دشمن (Doshman - partial) سوزن (Soozan - partial) لندن (Landan) کشتن (Koshtan) رفتن (Raftan)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'alāqe' as 'alake'. The 'q' (غ/ق) is deeper in the throat.
Misplacing the stress on 'mand'.
Treating 'alāqe-mand' and 'shodan' as one word without a short break.
Pronouncing 'shodan' like 'show-dan'. It's a short 'o'.
Confusing the 'a' sounds; Persian has 'short a' (as in cat) and 'long ā' (as in ball).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to the common word 'alāqe'.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the 'mand' suffix and compound verb structure.

Speaking 3/5

The 'q' sound in 'alāqe' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Very common in interviews and podcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

علاقه شدن به داشتن من

Learn Next

علاقه مند کردن اشتیاق جذب شدن سرگرمی رشته

Advanced

تمایل پیدا کردن شیفتگی مسحور شدن انگیزه پیگیری

Grammar to Know

Compound Verbs with 'Shodan'

خوشحال شدن، بیدار شدن، علاقه مند شدن

Preposition 'Be' for Interest

علاقه به هنر

Present Continuous with 'Dāshtan'

دارم علاقه مند می‌شوم

Causative Compound Verbs

علاقه مند کردن (to make interested)

Adjective Suffix '-mand'

ثروتمند، هنرمند، علاقه مند

Examples by Level

من به گربه ها علاقه مند شدم.

I became interested in cats.

Simple past tense.

او به کتاب علاقه مند شد.

He became interested in books.

Third person singular.

آیا به غذا علاقه مند شدی؟

Did you become interested in food?

Question form.

ما به این رنگ علاقه مند شدیم.

We became interested in this color.

First person plural.

آنها به بازی علاقه مند شدند.

They became interested in the game.

Third person plural.

من به باغبان علاقه مند شدم.

I became interested in the gardener (or gardening).

Noun as object.

تو به موسیقی علاقه مند شدی.

You became interested in music.

Second person singular.

او به مدرسه علاقه مند نشد.

She did not become interested in school.

Negative past tense.

من پارسال به عکاسی علاقه مند شدم.

I became interested in photography last year.

Time adverb 'parsal' used.

چرا به یادگیری زبان علاقه مند شدی؟

Why did you become interested in learning a language?

Interrogative 'cherā'.

او کم‌کم به آشپزی علاقه مند شد.

He gradually became interested in cooking.

Adverb 'kam-kam' (gradually).

ما به فرهنگ ایران علاقه مند شدیم.

We became interested in Iranian culture.

Compound object.

آیا تو به این فیلم علاقه مند شدی؟

Did you become interested in this movie?

Demonstrative 'in'.

خواهرم به پیانو علاقه مند شده است.

My sister has become interested in the piano.

Present perfect tense.

آنها به فوتبال علاقه مند نیستند.

They are not interested in football.

Present state (negative).

من دارم به هنر علاقه مند می‌شوم.

I am becoming interested in art.

Present continuous.

وقتی به موزه رفتم، به تاریخ علاقه مند شدم.

When I went to the museum, I became interested in history.

Complex sentence with 'vaqti'.

او به دلیل معلم خوبش به ریاضی علاقه مند شد.

He became interested in math because of his good teacher.

Causal phrase 'be dalil-e'.

ممکن است به این پروژه علاقه مند شوید.

You might become interested in this project.

Subjunctive mood.

او پس از مطالعه کتاب، به نجوم علاقه مند شد.

After reading the book, she became interested in astronomy.

Prepositional phrase 'pas az'.

من همیشه دوست داشتم به چیزی علاقه مند شوم.

I always wanted to become interested in something.

Infinitive construction.

آنها به تدریج به مسائل محیط زیست علاقه مند شده‌اند.

They have gradually become interested in environmental issues.

Present perfect with adverb.

اگر بیشتر بدانی، به این کار علاقه مند می‌شوی.

If you know more, you will become interested in this work.

Conditional sentence.

چطور می‌توان یک کودک را به مطالعه علاقه مند کرد؟

How can one make a child interested in reading?

Causative form (kardan).

بسیاری از سرمایه‌گذاران به بازار بورس علاقه مند شده‌اند.

Many investors have become interested in the stock market.

Professional context.

او به جای پزشکی، به مهندسی علاقه مند شد.

Instead of medicine, he became interested in engineering.

Contrastive 'be jā-ye'.

جامعه به تازگی به حقوق حیوانات علاقه مند شده است.

Society has recently become interested in animal rights.

Societal subject.

من به محض دیدن او، به شخصیتش علاقه مند شدم.

As soon as I saw him, I became interested in his personality.

Adverbial phrase 'be mahz-e'.

او سعی کرد مرا به موسیقی کلاسیک علاقه مند کند.

He tried to make me interested in classical music.

Causative 'kardan' with 'sā'i kardan'.

آیا فکر می‌کنی او به این پیشنهاد علاقه مند شود؟

Do you think he will become interested in this proposal?

Interrogative with subjunctive.

ما به دنبال راهی هستیم تا مردم به ورزش علاقه مند شوند.

We are looking for a way so that people become interested in sports.

Purpose clause with 'tā'.

او پس از سال‌ها به ریشه‌های خود علاقه مند شد.

After years, he became interested in his roots.

Abstract noun 'risheh-hā'.

پژوهشگران به بررسی تأثیرات اقلیمی علاقه مند شده‌اند.

Researchers have become interested in investigating climate impacts.

Academic register.

نویسنده در فصل دوم به موضوعات فلسفی علاقه مند می‌شود.

The author becomes interested in philosophical topics in the second chapter.

Literary analysis.

دولت باید جوانان را به کارآفرینی علاقه مند سازد.

The government must make young people interested in entrepreneurship.

Formal causative 'sākhtan'.

او به گونه‌ای به این علم علاقه مند شد که تمام وقتش را صرف آن کرد.

He became interested in this science in such a way that he spent all his time on it.

Result clause 'be gooneh-i... ke'.

منتقدان به رویکرد جدید کارگردان علاقه مند شده‌اند.

Critics have become interested in the director's new approach.

Artistic register.

باید دید که آیا نسل جدید به سنت‌ها علاقه مند خواهد شد یا خیر.

It remains to be seen whether the new generation will become interested in traditions or not.

Formal speculation.

او در اواخر عمر به عرفان علاقه مند شد.

In his later years, he became interested in mysticism.

Biographical context.

این مقاله به تحلیل چرایی علاقه مند شدن افراد به شایعات می‌پردازد.

This article analyzes why individuals become interested in rumors.

Gerundive usage.

تحولات اخیر موجب شد که نخبگان به بازنگری در ساختارها علاقه مند شوند.

Recent developments caused the elite to become interested in revising the structures.

High-level political/sociological register.

او چنان به ادبیات کلاسیک علاقه مند شد که گویی در آن دوران زندگی می‌کند.

He became so interested in classical literature that it was as if he lived in that era.

Intensive 'chonān... ke'.

علاقه مند شدن به حقیقت، نخستین گام در مسیر دانایی است.

Becoming interested in truth is the first step on the path of wisdom.

Philosophical maxim.

وی در پی مطالعات تطبیقی، به ادیان شرقی علاقه مند گشت.

Following comparative studies, he became interested in Eastern religions.

Archaic/Formal auxiliary 'gashtan'.

چالش‌های موجود باعث شده که جامعه جهانی به صلح پایدار علاقه مند شود.

Existing challenges have caused the global community to become interested in sustainable peace.

Global/Diplomatic context.

او به اعماق تاریخ نفوذ کرد و به کشف حقایق پنهان علاقه مند شد.

He delved into the depths of history and became interested in discovering hidden truths.

Metaphorical language.

بی‌آنکه بخواهد، به بازی‌های پیچیده قدرت علاقه مند شده بود.

Without wanting to, he had become interested in complex power games.

Literary past perfect.

این کشف دریچه‌ای نو گشود تا دانشمندان به ابعاد دیگر هستی علاقه مند شوند.

This discovery opened a new window for scientists to become interested in other dimensions of existence.

Poetic/Scientific fusion.

Common Collocations

به شدت علاقه مند شدن

کم‌کم علاقه مند شدن

ناگهان علاقه مند شدن

به تدریج علاقه مند شدن

واقعاً علاقه مند شدن

به هنر علاقه مند شدن

به سیاست علاقه مند شدن

به یادگیری علاقه مند شدن

به یکدیگر علاقه مند شدن

به پیشنهاد علاقه مند شدن

Common Phrases

چطور علاقه مند شدی؟

— How did you become interested?

چطور به این رشته علاقه مند شدی؟

خیلی زود علاقه مند شد

— He became interested very quickly.

او خیلی زود به موسیقی علاقه مند شد.

اصلاً علاقه مند نشدم

— I didn't become interested at all.

من اصلاً به آن فیلم علاقه مند نشدم.

باید علاقه مند شوی

— You must become interested.

باید به آینده‌ات علاقه مند شوی.

شاید علاقه مند شود

— Maybe he will become interested.

شاید او به این ایده علاقه مند شود.

کم‌کم داری علاقه مند می‌شی

— You are gradually becoming interested (spoken).

می‌بینم که کم‌کم داری علاقه مند می‌شی.

چه شد که علاقه مند شدید؟

— What happened that you became interested?

چه شد که به تاریخ علاقه مند شدید؟

علاقه مند شدن به کسی

— To become interested in/attracted to someone.

او به همکارش علاقه مند شد.

هرگز علاقه مند نشد

— He never became interested.

او هرگز به ورزش علاقه مند نشد.

بسیار علاقه مند شدم

— I became very interested.

من بسیار به این کتاب علاقه مند شدم.

Often Confused With

علاقه مند شدن vs علاقه داشتن

Means 'to have interest' (state), whereas 'shodan' means 'to become interested' (action).

علاقه مند شدن vs دوست داشتن

Means 'to like' or 'to love'. 'Alāqe-mand shodan' is more specific about the start of an interest.

علاقه مند شدن vs علاقه مند کردن

The causative form: 'to make someone else interested'.

Idioms & Expressions

"دل بستن"

— To lose one's heart to something/someone; to become deeply interested/attached.

او به این خانه قدیمی دل بسته است.

Literary/Poetic

"مهر کسی به دل افتادن"

— To start liking someone; for someone's love to enter one's heart.

مهر او به دلم افتاد.

Informal/Poetic

"سر ذوق آمدن"

— To become excited or inspired (often leading to interest).

با دیدن نقاشی‌ها سر ذوق آمد.

Neutral

"پایه بودن"

— To be 'up for' something (casual interest).

من پایه سفر هستم.

Slang

"قید چیزی را زدن"

— To lose interest and give up on something (Antonymic idiom).

قید آن کار را زدم.

Informal

"دل دادن به کار"

— To put one's heart into work; to become seriously interested in a task.

باید به کارت دل بدهی.

Neutral

"آتیش گرفتن (برای چیزی)"

— To be 'on fire' for something; to be extremely interested (metaphorical).

برای یادگیری گیتار آتیش گرفته.

Informal

"درگیر چیزی شدن"

— To become involved or preoccupied with something (often starting with interest).

او درگیر مسائل سیاسی شد.

Neutral

"تشنه چیزی بودن"

— To be thirsty for something (knowledge, etc.).

او تشنه یادگیری است.

Poetic

"هوایی شدن"

— To get a whim or a sudden interest in something (often distracting).

دوباره هوایی شده که بره سفر.

Informal

Easily Confused

علاقه مند شدن vs علاقه

It's just the noun.

You need 'mand' and 'shodan' to make it a verb meaning 'to become interested'.

من علاقه دارم (I have interest) vs من علاقه مند شدم (I became interested).

علاقه مند شدن vs مشتاق

Means eager.

Being eager (moshtāq) is a higher intensity than just being interested (alāqe-mand).

من مشتاق دیدارم.

علاقه مند شدن vs معتاد شدن

Both imply getting 'into' something.

'Motād shodan' means becoming addicted, which is usually negative.

او به بازی معتاد شد.

علاقه مند شدن vs جذب شدن

Both mean being drawn to something.

'Jazb' is more passive (being attracted), 'Alāqe-mand' is more active/intellectual.

او جذب این ایده شد.

علاقه مند شدن vs سرگرم شدن

Both relate to activities.

'Sargarm shodan' means to be busy or entertained, not necessarily interested long-term.

او با گوشی سرگرم شد.

Sentence Patterns

من به [اسم] علاقه مند شدم.

من به گربه علاقه مند شدم.

او به [اسم] علاقه مند شده است.

او به موسیقی علاقه مند شده است.

وقتی [جمله]، به [اسم] علاقه مند شدم.

وقتی کتاب را خواندم، به تاریخ علاقه مند شدم.

سعی کردم او را به [اسم] علاقه مند کنم.

سعی کردم او را به ورزش علاقه مند کنم.

باید دید چگونه می‌توان مردم را به [اسم] علاقه مند ساخت.

باید دید چگونه می‌توان مردم را به هنر علاقه مند ساخت.

چنان به [اسم] علاقه مند گشت که...

چنان به فلسفه علاقه مند گشت که تمام کتب را خواند.

آیا به [اسم] علاقه مند شدی؟

آیا به این فیلم علاقه مند شدی؟

او اصلاً به [اسم] علاقه مند نشد.

او اصلاً به این پیشنهاد علاقه مند نشد.

Word Family

Nouns

علاقه (Interest)

علاقه مندی (Interestedness/Interests)

علاقه مندان (Fans/Interested ones)

Verbs

علاقه داشتن (To have interest)

علاقه مند کردن (To make interested)

Adjectives

علاقه مند (Interested)

بی‌علاقه (Uninterested)

اشتیاق (Enthusiasm)

تمایل (Inclination)

رغبت (Desire)

کنجکاوی (Curiosity)

جذابیت (Attractiveness)

How to Use It

frequency

Very High in both spoken and written Persian.

Common Mistakes

من در هنر علاقه مند شدم. → من به هنر علاقه مند شدم.
Using the wrong preposition 'dar' instead of 'be'.
من علاقه شدم. → من علاقه مند شدم.
Forgetting the 'mand' suffix.
ما علاقه مندان شدیم. → ما علاقه مند شدیم.
Pluralizing the adjective part of the compound verb.
من به موسیقی علاقه مند هستم. → من به موسیقی علاقه دارم.
Using 'shodan' for a current state instead of a change. 'Hastam' is okay but 'dāram' is more natural for state.
او به کتاب علاقه مند شد کرد. → او به کتاب علاقه مند شد.
Confusing 'shodan' (become) with 'kardan' (do/make).

Tips

Preposition Power

Always pair 'alāqe-mand shodan' with 'be'. Write it on a sticky note: BE + Alāqe-mand!

The 'Mand' Suffix

Remember '-mand' means 'possessing'. You are 'possessing interest' when you become interested.

Spoken Reduction

In Tehran, 'shodam' might sound like 'shodam' but 'mishavam' becomes 'misham'. Practice both.

Cultural Refinement

Using this verb shows you have a good grasp of Persian social etiquette compared to just saying 'I like'.

The 'A-L-Q' Root

Think of an 'attachment'. You are attaching your mind to a new topic.

Adverb Placement

Place adverbs like 'kheyli' right before 'alāqe-mand' for the best flow.

The 'Q' Sound

Don't confuse the 'q' in 'alāqe' with 'k'. It's a deeper, more guttural sound.

Personalize It

Think of your favorite hobby and say out loud when you became interested in it.

No 'Dar'!

Never use 'dar' (in) with this verb. It's the #1 mistake.

Causative Usage

Learn 'alāqe-mand kardan' to talk about how you influence others.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine an 'ALLIGATOR' (sounds like Alāqe) that is 'MENDING' (mand) a broken heart because it 'BECAME' (shodan) interested in a new hobby.

Visual Association

Visualize a magnet (you) being pulled toward a lightbulb (an idea). The moment of 'click' is 'alāqe-mand shodan'.

Word Web

Interest Attachment Hobby Passion Curiosity Focus Beginning Change

Challenge

Write three things you became interested in this year using 'alāqe-mand shodam' and share them with a friend.

Word Origin

The word 'Alāqe' (علاقه) is derived from the Arabic root 'A-L-Q' (علق), which relates to hanging, attaching, or clinging. The Persian suffix '-mand' is of Indo-European origin, equivalent to '-full' or '-ous' in English.

Original meaning: The original Arabic sense implies a 'connection' or 'attachment'. In Persian, it evolved to mean emotional or intellectual attachment, i.e., interest.

Persian (Indo-European) with Arabic (Semitic) loanword component.

Cultural Context

When using this verb for people, ensure the context is clear. It can range from 'I'm interested in their work' to 'I have a romantic interest in them'.

In English, we often say 'I got into [something]'. 'Alāqe-mand shodan' is the more formal Persian equivalent of 'getting into' a hobby.

Many Persian memoirs begin with 'چه شد که به... علاقه مند شدم' (How I became interested in...) Educational programs on IRIB often use 'علاقه مندان به...' to address their audience. Modern Persian pop songs occasionally use the term to describe the start of a romance.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Hobbies

به نقاشی علاقه مند شدم
به ورزش علاقه مند شدم
به آشپزی علاقه مند شدم
به سفر علاقه مند شدم

Education

به ریاضی علاقه مند شدم
به تاریخ علاقه مند شدم
به زبان علاقه مند شدم
به علم علاقه مند شدم

Romance

به او علاقه مند شدم
به شخصیتش علاقه مند شدم
به اخلاقش علاقه مند شدم
کم‌کم علاقه مند شدم

Career

به این کار علاقه مند شدم
به تجارت علاقه مند شدم
به پزشکی علاقه مند شدم
به هنر علاقه مند شدم

Media

به این فیلم علاقه مند شدم
به این کتاب علاقه مند شدم
به این آهنگ علاقه مند شدم
به این پادکست علاقه مند شدم

Conversation Starters

"شما چطور به یادگیری زبان فارسی علاقه مند شدید؟ (How did you become interested in learning Persian?)"

"آیا تا به حال به ورزش خاصی علاقه مند شده‌اید؟ (Have you ever become interested in a specific sport?)"

"چه شد که به این شغل علاقه مند شدی؟ (What happened that you became interested in this job?)"

"به چه نوع موسیقی‌ای علاقه مند هستی؟ (What kind of music are you interested in? - Uses state)"

"دوست داری به چه موضوع جدیدی علاقه مند شوی؟ (What new subject would you like to become interested in?)"

Journal Prompts

امروز به چه موضوع جدیدی علاقه مند شدی؟ در مورد آن بنویس. (What new topic did you become interested in today? Write about it.)

داستان علاقه مند شدن خود به بهترین دوستت را بنویس. (Write the story of how you became interested in/attracted to your best friend.)

چرا بعضی از مردم به سیاست علاقه مند نمی‌شوند؟ (Why do some people not become interested in politics?)

یک لیست از پنج چیزی که در کودکی به آنها علاقه مند بودی تهیه کن. (Make a list of five things you were interested in during childhood.)

اگر می‌توانستی به یک علم جدید علاقه مند شوی، آن چه بود؟ (If you could become interested in a new science, what would it be?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, in 99% of cases, the object you are interested in must be preceded by the preposition 'به' (be). This is a strict grammatical rule in Persian.

Yes, you can say 'من به او علاقه مند شدم'. It can mean you find them interesting or that you are developing romantic feelings.

They are essentially synonymous. 'Alāqe peydā kardam' (I found interest) is slightly more common in casual conversation, while 'alāqe-mand shodam' is standard for all contexts.

Use the present root of 'shodan', which is 'shav'. So: علاقه مند می‌شوم (I become interested), علاقه مند می‌شوی, علاقه مند می‌شود, etc.

Yes, 'alāqe' is borrowed from Arabic, but the full verb 'alāqe-mand shodan' is a Persian construction.

You can say 'علاقه ای ندارم' (I don't have interest) or 'علاقه مند نیستم' (I am not interested).

No. While English says 'interested IN', Persian says 'interested TO'. Using 'dar' is a common mistake for English speakers.

Absolutely. It is the standard term used in books, newspapers, and academic papers.

The noun form is 'علاقه مندی' (interest/interestedness). For example, 'علاقه مندی های من' (my interests).

Yes, it is perfect for saying you got into reading, running, or any other habit.