بع بع کردن in 30 Seconds
- The Persian word for the sound sheep and goats make (bleating).
- A compound verb consisting of 'بع بع' (the sound) and 'کردن' (to do).
- Commonly used in children's stories, farm descriptions, and rural contexts.
- Important to distinguish from 'ما ما کردن' (the sound of a cow).
The Persian verb بع بع کردن (ba’ ba’ kardan) is a quintessential example of an onomatopoeic compound verb. In linguistic terms, onomatopoeia refers to words that phonetically imitate, resemble, or suggest the sound that they describe. In the case of Persian, the sound 'Ba' Ba'' is the universal representation of the sound made by sheep and goats, much like 'Baa Baa' in English. This verb is primarily used in literal contexts—specifically in agriculture, nature descriptions, and children's literature. However, its simplicity belies its importance in the Persian language's phonetic landscape.
- Literal Definition
- To produce the vocalization characteristic of ovine (sheep) or caprine (goat) species. It is a compound verb consisting of the noun/interjection 'بع بع' and the auxiliary verb 'کردن' (to do/make).
- Onomatopoeic Logic
- Persian speakers perceive the sheep's sound as a sharp 'Ba' followed by a slight glottal stop or a repetition. This differs slightly from the English 'Baa', which is often elongated. In Persian, the repetition 'Ba’ Ba’' captures the rhythmic nature of a flock bleating together.
بچهها وقتی گوسفند را دیدند، شروع کردند به تقلید صدای او و بع بع کردن.
Beyond the literal farmyard context, this verb appears frequently in Iranian folklore and nursery rhymes. For instance, the famous Persian nursery rhyme 'Baa Baa Boozghaleh' (Bleat, Bleat, Little Goat) uses this sound to engage children with animal names. Culturally, sheep hold a significant place in Iranian life, from the nomadic traditions of the Bakhtiari and Qashqai tribes to the religious significance of sacrifice during Eid al-Adha. Consequently, the sound of bleating is a familiar auditory backdrop in rural Iran.
صدای بع بع کردن برهها از دور به گوش میرسید.
Using بع بع کردن correctly requires an understanding of Persian compound verb conjugation. Since 'کردن' is the active element, all tense, person, and number changes happen to 'کردن', while 'بع بع' remains static. However, in certain literary or poetic contexts, words might be inserted between the two parts, though this is rare for this specific onomatopoeic verb.
- Present Continuous
- To say 'the sheep is bleating', you use the present stem 'کن' with the prefix 'می-'. Example: 'گوسفند دارد بع بع میکند' (Gousfand dārad ba’ ba’ mikonad).
- Past Simple
- To describe a past event: 'دیروز گوسفندان تمام روز بع بع کردند' (Yesterday, the sheep bleated all day long).
چرا این بره انقدر بع بع میکند؟ شاید گرسنه است.
One interesting aspect is the use of this verb in figurative speech. While not as common as 'vagh vagh kardan' (to bark/talk nonsense), 'ba' ba' kardan' can occasionally be used to describe someone who follows others blindly without thinking, mimicking the stereotypical behavior of sheep. In this sense, it implies a lack of agency or intelligence, though this is quite informal and can be offensive.
او فقط بلد است پشت سر رئیسش بع بع کند و هر چه او میگوید تایید نماید.
You are most likely to encounter بع بع کردن in specific environments. In modern, urban Tehran, you might rarely hear it except in children's television programming like 'Kolah Ghermezi' or 'Pahlevanan', where animal characters are common. However, the moment you step into the rural provinces—Lorestan, Fars, or Khorasan—this word becomes part of the daily lexicon of pastoral life.
- Children's Media
- Cartoons and storybooks for toddlers are the primary 'natural' habitat for this word in cities. It is used to teach children the sounds of nature.
- Agricultural Contexts
- Farmers and shepherds use it to describe the health or state of their livestock. A lamb that is 'ba' ba' kardan' excessively might be sick or lost.
در روستاهای شمال، سپیدهدم با صدای بع بع کردن گوسفندان آغاز میشود.
Another unique context is during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha (Ghorban). Families often purchase a sheep for sacrifice. For a day or two before the ritual, the sheep might be kept in a courtyard or a neighborhood lot. During this time, the sound of 'ba' ba' kardan' becomes a familiar, albeit bittersweet, sound in urban neighborhoods, signaling the upcoming festival and the subsequent distribution of meat to the poor.
While بع بع کردن is a simple verb, learners often make a few distinct errors. The most common is confusing the onomatopoeia with other animals. In Persian, cows don't 'moo'; they 'ma' ma' kardan' (ما ما کردن). Because 'ba' and 'ma' sound similar to non-native ears, students often swap them, leading to humorous situations where a cow is bleating or a sheep is lowing.
- Mistake 1: Confusing Animals
- Using 'بع بع کردن' for a cow or 'ما ما کردن' for a sheep. Remember: B is for bleat (sheep), M is for Moo (cow - though Persian uses 'Ma').
- Mistake 2: Incorrect Compound Structure
- Attempting to use 'بع بع' as a standalone verb without 'کردن'. You cannot say 'گوسفند بع بعید' (The sheep bleated - incorrect). It must always be 'بع بع کرد'.
❌ گاو داشت در مزرعه بع بع میکرد.
Another mistake involves the spelling of 'Ba' (بع). The letter 'Ayin' (ع) at the end of 'بع' is crucial. It represents a glottal stop that gives the sound its clipped, authentic quality. Learners often forget the 'Ayin' and write it as 'به به' (Bah Bah), which actually means 'Bravo' or 'Wonderful'! Confusing these two can change a sentence from 'The sheep bleated' to 'The sheep said bravo', which is quite a different image!
While بع بع کردن is the standard term, there are other ways to describe the sounds or actions of sheep depending on the level of formality or the specific nuance you wish to convey. Persian, being a language with a rich poetic tradition, often has more descriptive or archaic terms for common actions.
- ناله کردن (Nāle Kardan)
- Meaning 'to moan' or 'to wail'. This is used in literature to personify a lamb's bleating as a sad or soulful cry, especially when it is separated from its mother.
- فریاد زدن (Faryād Zadan)
- Meaning 'to shout'. While sheep don't shout, a shepherd might say 'گوسفند فریاد میکشد' to indicate a very loud, urgent bleat caused by fear or a predator.
- صدا کردن (Sedā Kardan)
- The generic 'to make a sound' or 'to call'. Used when the specific 'ba' ba'' sound isn't the focus, but rather the fact that the animal is making noise.
بره کوچک برای مادرش ناله میکرد.
In a technical or zoological context, you might see the word 'بانگ' (Bāng), which means 'cry' or 'call'. For example, 'بانگ گوسفند' (the cry of the sheep). This is much more formal and usually found in classical poetry or scientific texts. For daily conversation and B1 level proficiency, stick to 'بع بع کردن' as it is the most natural and universally understood term.
How Formal Is It?
"در متون ادبی، بع بع کردن بره نمادی از معصومیت است."
"گوسفندان در آغل بع بع میکنند."
"بسه دیگه، انقدر مثل گوسفند بع بع نکن!"
"ببین بره کوچولو چطوری بع بع میکنه!"
"طرف فقط بع بع میکنه، هیچی حالیش نیست."
Fun Fact
In ancient Persian texts, animal sounds were often described with more complex verbs, but 'بع بع' has remained the standard folk representation for centuries.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'بع' as 'Beh' (like the word for 'good').
- Omitting the glottal stop (Ayin) entirely.
- Misplacing the stress on the 'Ba' part.
- Pronouncing 'کردن' as 'kirdan' (archaic/dialectal).
- Stressing the first syllable 'BÁ-ba'.
Difficulty Rating
Easy to recognize due to repetitive structure.
Requires remembering the 'Ayin' (ع).
Easy onomatopoeia, simple conjugation.
Distinctive sound, hard to miss.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Compound Verb Conjugation
بع بع میکنم، بع بع کردی، بع بع کرد.
Onomatopoeic Nouns as Verbs
Using 'Noun + Kardan' for sounds.
Plurality in Animals
Gousfandan ba' ba' mikonand (Plural agreement).
Glottal Stop (Ayin) usage
The role of 'ع' in phonetic spelling.
Present Continuous with 'Dashtan'
Daram ba' ba' mikonam (I am bleating - metaphorical).
Examples by Level
گوسفند بع بع میکند.
The sheep bleats.
Simple present tense.
بره کوچک بع بع کرد.
The little lamb bleated.
Simple past tense.
آیا گوسفند بع بع میکند؟
Does the sheep bleat?
Question form.
من صدای بع بع کردن را دوست دارم.
I like the sound of bleating.
Gerund/Infinitival use.
گوسفند سیاه بع بع میکند.
The black sheep bleats.
Adjective + Noun subject.
بیا بع بع کنیم!
Let's bleat!
Imperative/Suggestion.
گوسفند در مزرعه بع بع میکند.
The sheep bleats in the farm.
Prepositional phrase.
آن گوسفند زیاد بع بع میکند.
That sheep bleats a lot.
Adverb of quantity.
دیروز گوسفندان در دشت بع بع میکردند.
Yesterday, the sheep were bleating in the plain.
Past continuous.
وقتی گرسنه هستند، بع بع میکنند.
When they are hungry, they bleat.
Conditional/Time clause.
بچهها صدای بع بع کردن گوسفند را درآوردند.
The children made the sound of the sheep bleating.
Compound verb 'seda dar-avardan'.
این بره چرا انقدر بع بع میکند؟
Why is this lamb bleating so much?
Interrogative with 'chera'.
سگ گله پارس کرد و گوسفند بع بع کرد.
The shepherd dog barked and the sheep bleated.
Compound sentence.
ما در باغ صدای بع بع کردن شنیدیم.
We heard the sound of bleating in the garden.
Direct object with 'ra'.
گوسفندان نباید اینجا بع بع کنند.
The sheep should not bleat here.
Modal verb 'nabayad'.
او میخواست مثل گوسفند بع بع کند.
He wanted to bleat like a sheep.
Infinitive after 'khastan'.
چوپان با شنیدن صدای بع بع کردن گوسفند، به سمت دره رفت.
Hearing the sound of the sheep bleating, the shepherd went towards the valley.
Participial phrase equivalent.
اگر گرگ بیاید، گوسفندان با ترس بع بع میکنند.
If a wolf comes, the sheep bleat with fear.
Type 1 conditional.
صدای بع بع کردن برهها در کل روستا میپیچید.
The sound of the lambs bleating echoed throughout the village.
Verb 'pichidan' (to echo/wrap).
او تمام شب را به صدای بع بع کردن گوسفندان همسایه گوش داد.
He listened to the sound of the neighbor's sheep bleating all night.
Duration of time.
بع بع کردن گوسفندان نشانهی بیدار شدن طبیعت است.
The bleating of sheep is a sign of nature waking up.
Gerund as subject.
قبل از قربانی کردن، گوسفند شروع به بع بع کردن کرد.
Before being sacrificed, the sheep started to bleat.
Preposition 'ghabl az'.
فکر میکنی چرا گوسفندان امروز کمتر بع بع میکنند؟
Why do you think the sheep are bleating less today?
Embedded question.
در آن سکوت، فقط صدای بع بع کردن یک بره تنها میآمد.
In that silence, only the sound of a lone lamb bleating came.
Focusing on 'faghat' (only).
گوسفندانی که در آغل حبس شده بودند، برای آزادی بع بع میکردند.
The sheep that were locked in the pen were bleating for freedom.
Relative clause with 'ke'.
نویسنده با توصیف بع بع کردن گوسفندان، فضای روستایی را ترسیم کرد.
The author depicted the rural atmosphere by describing the bleating of the sheep.
Instrumental 'ba'.
هیچکس به بع بع کردنهای مداوم آن بره بیمار توجهی نکرد.
No one paid attention to the constant bleating of that sick lamb.
Negative subject 'hich-kas'.
گویی گوسفندان با بع بع کردن خود، ورود بهار را جشن میگرفتند.
As if the sheep, with their bleating, were celebrating the arrival of spring.
Subjunctive with 'gouyi' (as if).
صدای بع بع کردن گله، موسیقی متن زندگی عشایری است.
The sound of the flock bleating is the soundtrack of nomadic life.
Metaphorical usage.
او از اینکه گوسفندان مدام بع بع میکردند، کلافه شده بود.
He was frustrated that the sheep were constantly bleating.
Causal 'az inke'.
بع بع کردن در این داستان نمادی از بیپناهی شخصیت اصلی است.
Bleating in this story is a symbol of the main character's helplessness.
Symbolic analysis.
آیا تا به حال به تفاوت صدای بع بع کردن گوسفند و بز دقت کردهاید؟
Have you ever noticed the difference between the bleating of a sheep and a goat?
Present perfect with 'deghat kardan'.
در اشعار کلاسیک، بع بع کردن بره مظهر استغاثه و نیاز به درگاه معشوق است.
In classical poetry, the bleating of a lamb is the manifestation of supplication and need before the beloved.
Academic/Literary register.
طنین بع بع کردن گوسفندان در کوهسار، حسی از نوستالژی را برمیانگیزد.
The resonance of sheep bleating in the mountains evokes a sense of nostalgia.
Evocative vocabulary ('tanin', 'noosthalzhi').
پژوهشگران در حال بررسی الگوهای صوتی بع بع کردن برای تشخیص بیماریهای دامی هستند.
Researchers are examining the acoustic patterns of bleating to diagnose livestock diseases.
Scientific register.
این فیلم با صدای اضطرابآور بع بع کردن گوسفندان در تاریکی آغاز میشود.
The film begins with the anxious sound of sheep bleating in the dark.
Adjective 'ezterab-avar'.
بع بع کردنهای مکرر، واکنش غریزی حیوان به تغییرات محیطی است.
Repeated bleating is the animal's instinctive reaction to environmental changes.
Pluralized gerund.
او چنان در افکارش غرق بود که حتی صدای بع بع کردن گله را هم نمیشنید.
He was so drowned in his thoughts that he didn't even hear the sound of the flock bleating.
Result clause 'chonan... ke'.
در گویشهای مختلف، واژههای متفاوتی برای توصیف دقیقتر بع بع کردن وجود دارد.
In different dialects, there are different words to describe bleating more precisely.
Dialectal reference.
سکوت دشت با بع بع کردن ناگهانی یک بره از میان رفت.
The silence of the plain vanished with the sudden bleating of a lamb.
Passive-like construction 'az miyan raft'.
واکاوی پدیدارشناسانه صدای بع بع کردن در ادبیات شبانی، ابعاد تازهای از رابطه انسان و طبیعت را میگشاید.
A phenomenological analysis of the sound of bleating in pastoral literature opens new dimensions of the human-nature relationship.
Highly formal/Academic.
شاعر با ظرافتی بینظیر، بع بع کردن بره را به مویهی غریبانه تشبیه کرده است.
With unique delicacy, the poet has likened the lamb's bleating to a strange wailing.
Literary devices (simile).
تعدد واژگانی در حوزهی اصوات دامی، از جمله بع بع کردن، گویای غنای فرهنگ دامداری در فلات ایران است.
The lexical plurality in the field of livestock sounds, including bleating, speaks to the richness of pastoral culture in the Iranian plateau.
Sociolinguistic analysis.
او در رسالهی خود به بررسی تطبیقی آنوماتوپی بع بع کردن در زبانهای هندواروپایی پرداخته است.
In his dissertation, he has dealt with a comparative study of the onomatopoeia of bleating in Indo-European languages.
Comparative linguistics.
صدای بع بع کردن، در این سمفونی مدرن، به عنوان نمادی از بدویت و اصالت به کار رفته است.
The sound of bleating, in this modern symphony, has been used as a symbol of primitivism and authenticity.
Artistic/Critical register.
هر بع بع کردن، در آن فضای وهمآلود، گویی پیامی رمزگذاری شده از اعماق تاریخ بود.
Every bleat, in that eerie atmosphere, was as if a coded message from the depths of history.
Mystical/Metaphorical.
تقلیل مفاهیم پیچیده به بع بع کردنهای میانتهی، از ویژگیهای بارز پوپولیسم است.
Reducing complex concepts to hollow 'bleatings' is one of the prominent features of populism.
Political metaphor.
ساختار واجشناختی بع بع کردن، تعادلی میان انسداد چاکنایی و واکههای باز برقرار میکند.
The phonological structure of 'ba' ba' kardan' establishes a balance between glottal stops and open vowels.
Phonological technicality.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To bleat like a sheep (often used to mock someone).
چرا مثل گوسفند بع بع میکنی؟
— Don't bleat! (Stop making that noise/Stop complaining).
انقدر بع بع نکن و کارت را انجام بده.
Often Confused With
Means 'to praise' or say 'bravo'. Very different!
The sound of a cow (mooing).
Often used interchangeably with 'ba' ba'' but sometimes refers specifically to goats.
Idioms & Expressions
— To follow someone blindly like a sheep.
او فقط بلد است پشت سر رئیسش بع بع کند.
Informal/Disparaging— A wolf in sheep's clothing that bleats (hypocrite).
مراقب او باش، او مثل گرگی است که بع بع میکند.
Literary— His bleating (complaining) has deafened the heavens.
انقدر شکایت کرد که صدای بع بعش گوش فلک را کر کرد.
Exaggerated— To beg for something basic/essential.
او برای یک لقمه نان بع بع میکند.
Informal— Neither bleating nor wagging tail (complete indifference).
او هیچ واکنشی نداشت، نه بع بع کرد و نه دم تکان داد.
Colloquial— The cry of the sacrificial lamb (helplessness).
او مثل گوسفند قربانی بع بع میکرد.
Cultural— Bleating in a coppersmith's market (unheard voice).
حرف او مثل بع بع کردن در بازار مسگرها بود.
Proverbial— Akhfash's goat that only bleats (nods along without understanding).
مثل بز اخفش فقط بع بع نکن!
Literary/Historical— A hollow promise or sound (useless noise).
حرفهای او فقط صدای بع بع نسیه است.
SlangEasily Confused
Both are animal sounds.
Pars kardan is for dogs only.
Sag pars mikonad, gousfand ba' ba' mikonad.
Both are livestock sounds.
Ar ar kardan is for donkeys (braying).
Khar ar ar mikonad.
Onomatopoeic compound verb.
Sound of a rooster (crowing).
Khorous ghoghouli ghoghou mikonad.
Onomatopoeic compound verb.
Sound of a chick or small bird (chirping).
Jouje jik jik mikonad.
Onomatopoeic compound verb.
Sound of a cat (meowing).
Gorbe miyo miyo mikonad.
Sentence Patterns
[Animal] [Sound] mikonad.
Gousfand ba' ba' mikonad.
Diuz [Animal] [Sound] kard.
Diruz barre ba' ba' kard.
Sedaye [Sound] az [Place] mi-ayad.
Sedaye ba' ba' kardan az daght mi-ayad.
Vaghti [Condition], [Animal] [Sound] mikonad.
Vaghti gorosne-and, ba' ba' mikonand.
[Animal] ba [Sound] kardan, [Action].
Barre ba ba' ba' kardan, madarash ra peyda kard.
[Concept] mesle [Sound] kardan ast.
Harf haye u mesle ba' ba' kardan ast.
Tanine [Sound] dar [Place], [Emotion] ra bar-mi-angizad.
Tanine ba' ba' kardan dar kuhsar, nostalgia ra bar-mi-angizad.
Hich kas be [Sound] kardan-haye u tavajjoh nakard.
Hich kas be ba' ba' kardan-haye u tavajjoh nakard.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Common in specific contexts (Nature/Children/Religion).
-
Gousfand ba' ba' goft.
→
Gousfand ba' ba' kard.
Animal sounds use 'kardan', not 'goftan' (to say).
-
Gav ba' ba' mikonad.
→
Gav ma' ma' mikonad.
Cows do not bleat; they low/moo.
-
به به کردن
→
بع بع کردن
Wrong spelling changes the meaning to 'praising'.
-
Gousfandan ba' ba' kard.
→
Gousfandan ba' ba' kardand.
Plural subjects need plural verbs when treated as individuals.
-
Ba' ba'idan
→
Ba' ba' kardan
You cannot turn the sound into a single-word verb.
Tips
The Sheep's 'B'
Remember B is for Bleat and Ba' Ba'. If you see a sheep, think of the letter B.
Auxiliary Focus
Focus all your conjugation practice on 'kardan'. The 'ba' ba'' part never changes.
Village Vibes
Associate this word with the Iranian countryside to remember its context.
The Glottal Stop
Practice the 'Ayin' (ع) by making a quick stop in your throat at the end of 'Ba'.
Cartoons
Watch Persian children's cartoons to hear this word used naturally.
Spelling Check
Don't confuse 'بع' with 'به'. One is a sheep, the other is 'good'!
Compound Power
Use this word to master the 'Sound + Kardan' pattern for all animals.
Storytelling
Tell a simple story about a farm to practice using the word in context.
Metaphor Alert
Only use the metaphorical 'blind follower' meaning with people you know well.
Daily Review
Try to identify animal sounds in Persian whenever you see them in real life.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a sheep saying 'BAA BAA' in English. In Persian, it's just 'BA' BA' with a little 'kardan' (to do) at the end. BAA + DO = Bleat.
Visual Association
Visualize a sheep with a speech bubble that says 'بع بع' (Ba' Ba'). The 'Ayin' (ع) looks like a little hook, like a sheep's ear.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to say 'Gousfand ba' ba' mikonad' five times fast without forgetting the glottal stop!
Word Origin
Purely onomatopoeic. It mimics the natural sound of the animal.
Original meaning: The sound 'Ba' Ba'.
Indo-European (Persian branch), though onomatopoeia is often universal.Cultural Context
Be careful when using it metaphorically for humans, as it can imply they are 'sheeple' or unintelligent.
Directly equivalent to 'bleating'. The sound 'Baa' vs 'Ba'' is the only major difference.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
On a farm
- گوسفندها گرسنهاند
- چرا بع بع میکنند؟
- آب بده بهشون
- ساکت شدند
Reading a storybook
- یکی بود یکی نبود
- بره سفید
- صدای قشنگ
- جنگل سبز
Eid al-Adha
- گوسفند قربانی
- صدای حیوان
- حیاط خانه
- نذری دادن
Nature Documentary
- حیات وحش
- گلههای وحشی
- ارتباط صوتی
- قلمرو
Classroom
- صدای حیوانات
- تقلید کنید
- بنویسید
- تکرار کن
Conversation Starters
"آیا تا به حال صدای بع بع کردن گوسفندان را از نزدیک شنیدهای؟"
"در زبان شما، گوسفند چه صدایی در میآورد؟"
"چرا بعضیها فکر میکنند بع بع کردن گوسفندان آرامشبخش است؟"
"آیا در شهر شما هم صدای بع بع کردن شنیده میشود؟"
"بهترین خاطرهای که از یک مزرعه و صدای حیوانات داری چیست؟"
Journal Prompts
چشمهایت را ببند و تصور کن در یک دشت سرسبز هستی و صدای بع بع کردن گوسفندان را میشنوی. چه حسی داری؟
درباره تفاوت زندگی شهری و روستایی بنویس و از صدای بع بع کردن به عنوان یک نماد استفاده کن.
یک داستان کوتاه درباره برهای بنویس که با بع بع کردن خود میخواست پیامی به چوپان بدهد.
فکر میکنی چرا در همه زبانها صدای گوسفند شبیه به هم (مثل بع بع یا با با) است؟
اگر میتوانستی با گوسفندی که بع بع میکند صحبت کنی، به او چه میگفتی؟
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is used for both sheep and goats, although some people use 'ma' ma'' or 'me' me'' for goats specifically in certain dialects.
Only metaphorically and usually in a negative or mocking way to suggest someone is following orders blindly.
The past tense is 'بع بع کرد' (ba’ ba’ kard) for the third person singular.
It is spelled 'بع بع'. The 'Ayin' (ع) is essential for the correct pronunciation and meaning.
In very informal speech, someone might just say 'صدای گوسفند' (sheep's voice), but the verb is the most common way.
No, animal sounds in Persian almost always use 'کردن' or 'کشیدن' (like 'shiye keshidan' for horses), not 'goftan'.
Yes, it is very similar to 'Baa Baa' in English, 'Bé' in French, and 'Mäh' in German.
It is a cute, diminutive way to say 'sheep' or 'lamb', often used by children.
It is a standard word. It's not 'slang', but it's not 'academic' either. It's just the name of the sound.
Yes, just pluralize the verb: 'گوسفندان بع بع میکنند'.
Test Yourself 63 questions
Write a sentence using 'بع بع کردن' in the present continuous tense.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
/ 63 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
بع بع کردن (ba’ ba’ kardan) is the essential Persian verb for 'to bleat'. It is onomatopoeic and conjugated like any other compound verb with 'kardan'. Example: 'Gousfand ba’ ba’ mikonad' (The sheep bleats).
- The Persian word for the sound sheep and goats make (bleating).
- A compound verb consisting of 'بع بع' (the sound) and 'کردن' (to do).
- Commonly used in children's stories, farm descriptions, and rural contexts.
- Important to distinguish from 'ما ما کردن' (the sound of a cow).
The Sheep's 'B'
Remember B is for Bleat and Ba' Ba'. If you see a sheep, think of the letter B.
Auxiliary Focus
Focus all your conjugation practice on 'kardan'. The 'ba' ba'' part never changes.
Village Vibes
Associate this word with the Iranian countryside to remember its context.
The Glottal Stop
Practice the 'Ayin' (ع) by making a quick stop in your throat at the end of 'Ba'.
Example
برهها در مزرعه بع بع میکردند.
Related Content
More animals words
عادت کردن
B1To become accustomed or adapted to a new environment or situation.
عاج
B1A hard, white substance forming the main part of the tusks of an elephant.
علفخوار
B1An animal that feeds on plants.
علنی
B1Publicly or openly; in a way that is not secret.
عرعر کردن
B1To make the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.
عظیم الجثه
B1Extremely large; gigantic.
آبزی
B1Living in or near water.
آبزیان
B1Animals that live in water, such as fish, whales, and crabs.
افسار
B1A strap or rope used for leading or tying an animal, typically a horse or dog.
آغل
B1An enclosure where livestock, especially sheep or cattle, are kept.
