آنها

The Persian word آنها (pronounced 'ānhā') is the standard third-person plural pronoun in the Persian language, equivalent to the English words 'they' and 'them'. At its most fundamental level, it is a compound word formed by the distal demonstrative pronoun آن (ān), meaning 'that', and the plural suffix ها (hā). In the Persian grammatical system, pronouns do not change based on gender, meaning آنها is used universally for groups of men, groups of women, or mixed-gender groups. This lack of grammatical gender is a hallmark of Persian, making the initial learning curve for pronouns relatively straightforward compared to Romance or Germanic languages.

Grammatical Function

It serves as both the subject and the object of a sentence. Unlike English, which distinguishes between 'they' (subject) and 'them' (object), Persian uses the same base form, often adding the post-positional marker 'rā' when it functions as a direct object.

While آنها is the standard written form, it is crucial for learners to understand its sociolinguistic variations. In spoken Persian, particularly the Tehrani dialect which serves as the prestige variety, the word is almost always shortened to اونها (unhā) or even more commonly to اونا (unā). This phonetic shift from 'ā' to 'u' is a systemic feature of colloquial Persian. When you are reading a formal newspaper, a legal document, or a classical poem, you will encounter آنها. However, if you are sitting in a cafe in Tehran or watching a contemporary Iranian film, you will hear اونا. Understanding this distinction is vital for achieving natural-sounding fluency.

Historically, the use of آنها was primarily reserved for human beings. In classical Persian grammar, inanimate objects were typically pluralized using the singular pronoun آن or the plural demonstrative آن‌ها was used sparingly. However, in modern Persian, آنها is frequently used for both animate and inanimate plurals, though اینها (these) and آنها (those/they) often maintain their demonstrative roots. When referring to people with a high degree of respect or formality, speakers might opt for ایشان (ishān) instead of آنها. ایشان is strictly for humans and conveys a level of politeness often found in administrative contexts or when speaking about elders and respected figures.

Distal vs. Proximal

Persian distinguishes between 'these' (اینها - inhā) and 'those/they' (آنها - ānhā). 'Anha' refers to a group that is physically or metaphorically distant from the speaker.

In terms of syntax, آنها usually precedes the verb, as Persian follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order. Because Persian verbs are highly inflected—meaning the verb ending tells you who the subject is—the pronoun آنها is often omitted in casual conversation unless the speaker wants to emphasize exactly who they are talking about or to clarify a change in subject. This 'pro-drop' nature of Persian means that while آنها می‌روند (they go) is grammatically perfect, simply saying می‌روند is often sufficient and more natural in context.

Usage in Media

In news broadcasts, 'Anha' is the standard way to refer to groups, organizations, or foreign entities, maintaining a neutral and objective tone.

Finally, it is worth noting that آنها can also function as a demonstrative adjective meaning 'those' when followed by a noun, such as آنها کتاب‌ها (those books), though in modern usage, آن کتاب‌ها (that books - using the singular demonstrative for plural nouns) is actually more common and grammatically preferred in many contexts. This nuance highlights the flexibility and historical evolution of the word from a simple pointer to a full-fledged personal pronoun.

Using آنها correctly requires an understanding of Persian verb conjugation and the use of the object marker. Since آنها is the third-person plural, it must always be paired with a verb ending in -and (in the present tense) or -and (in the past tense). For example, the verb 'to eat' (khordan) becomes می‌خورند (mikhorand) when paired with آنها. If you use a singular verb with this plural pronoun, the sentence will sound broken and incorrect to a native speaker, unless you are referring to a collective noun, which is a different grammatical rule entirely.

Subject Position

When 'Anha' is the subject, it typically starts the sentence. Example: آنها دانشجو هستند (They are students).

When آنها functions as a direct object, you must append the marker را (rā). This changes the word to آنها را (ānhā rā). In spoken Persian, this often contracts to اونا رو (unā ro). For instance, 'I saw them' is من آنها را دیدم. Without the 'rā', the sentence would mean 'I saw those', which is incomplete. The placement of آنها را is usually after the subject and before the verb, following the standard SOV pattern. If there is an indirect object or a prepositional phrase, آنها را usually stays close to the subject or moves for emphasis.

Another important aspect is the use of آنها with prepositions. Persian prepositions like با (with), برای (for), and از (from) precede the pronoun. So, 'with them' is با آنها, 'for them' is برای آنها, and 'from them' is از آنها. In these cases, the word does not take the 'rā' marker because it is the object of a preposition, not a direct object. In spoken Persian, these would sound like باهشون (bāheshun), براشون (berāshun), and ازشون (azesun), where the pronoun is replaced by a pronominal suffix -eshun. Learning both the formal آنها and the suffix -eshun is key to understanding different registers of the language.

Possessive Use

To say 'their', you use the Ezafe construction: 'کتابِ آنها' (ketāb-e ānhā). Alternatively, the suffix '-eshān' can be used: 'کتابشان' (ketābeshān).

In complex sentences involving relative clauses, آنها can act as the antecedent. For example, 'Those who study will succeed' can be translated as آنها که درس می‌خوانند موفق می‌شوند. Here, آنها provides the necessary plural base for the relative marker که (ke). This usage is quite common in formal writing and philosophical texts. It's also worth noting that in very formal or archaic Persian, you might see آنان (ānān) instead of آنها. آنان is the human-only plural of 'ān' and is considered highly literary.

Emphasis

Because Persian verbs indicate the subject, using 'Anha' explicitly often adds emphasis. 'Anha raftand' means 'THEY went' (as opposed to someone else).

Finally, when using آنها in questions, the word order remains the same as in statements, but the intonation rises at the end. For example, آنها کجا هستند؟ (Where are they?). The pronoun آنها stays at the beginning or near the beginning, followed by the question word and then the verb. This consistency makes it one of the most reliable words for beginners to master as they build their foundational sentence structures in Persian.

The word آنها is a linguistic chameleon, shifting its form based on the environment. If you are listening to the BBC Persian service or Voice of America (VOA) Persian, you will hear the crisp, formal pronunciation: 'ānhā'. News anchors use this form because it is considered the standard, educated register. It provides a sense of distance and objectivity. For example, when reporting on international relations, a journalist might say, آنها بر سر توافق جدید مذاکره کردند (They negotiated over a new agreement). In this context, using the colloquial 'unā' would sound unprofessional and overly casual.

In the Classroom

Teachers and professors use 'Anha' when explaining concepts or referring to historical figures. It is the language of instruction and formal education.

However, the moment you step out of a formal setting and into a domestic one, آنها transforms. In Iranian households, you are much more likely to hear اونا (unā). If a mother is asking where her children are, she might say, اونا کجان؟ (unā kojān? - Where are they?). The 'ā' in 'ānhā' shifts to 'u', and the 'h' is often swallowed entirely. This is the 'real' Persian that people live their lives in. For a learner, hearing 'unā' for the first time can be confusing if they have only studied from formal textbooks, but it is the same word at its core.

In the world of Persian literature and poetry, آنها and its more poetic cousin آنان (ānān) are ubiquitous. Classical poets like Saadi or Rumi used these forms to refer to groups of people, often with philosophical or moral undertones. In modern Persian literature, authors use the choice between آنها and اونها to establish the 'voice' of a character. A character using آنها in a casual setting might be portrayed as stiff, highly educated, or perhaps even arrogant, while اونا signals a more down-to-earth, relatable personality.

Social Media

On platforms like Instagram or Twitter (X), Iranians often write phonetically. You will see 'اونا' (unā) written out just as it is spoken.

You will also hear آنها in legal and administrative settings. If you are dealing with the Iranian bureaucracy or reading a contract, آنها will be used to refer to 'the parties' or 'the individuals' mentioned previously. In these contexts, precision is key, and the formal pronoun provides that. Similarly, in religious sermons or formal speeches by public officials, the word is used to maintain a certain gravitas. Understanding these different environments allows a learner to not just know the word, but to know the *culture* of the word.

Movies and TV

Dialogue in modern Iranian cinema is almost exclusively colloquial. Expect to hear 'Una' 99% of the time in movies by directors like Asghar Farhadi.

In summary, while the dictionary tells you آنها, the street tells you اونا. A successful learner navigates both worlds, using the formal version for writing and official business, and the colloquial version for building relationships and everyday communication. This duality is one of the most rewarding aspects of mastering Persian pronouns.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using آنها is failing to match the verb ending correctly. In English, 'they' always goes with 'are' or 'were', but in Persian, the verb must end in -and. A common error is saying آنها هست (ānhā hast) instead of آنها هستند (ānhā hastand). This is because learners sometimes treat آنها as a single collective unit rather than a plural pronoun. Always remember: if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

The 'Rā' Omission

Forgetting to add 'rā' when 'Anha' is a direct object. 'I saw them' is NOT 'Man anha didam'; it must be 'Man anha RA didam'.

Another subtle mistake involves the distinction between آنها (they/those) and اینها (these). English speakers often default to آنها for everything, but Persian is very specific about physical distance. If the people or objects you are talking about are close to you, you MUST use اینها. Using آنها for something you are holding in your hand sounds very strange to a native speaker. It's like pointing to your own shoes and saying 'those shoes' instead of 'these shoes'.

Confusing آنها with the polite pronoun ایشان (ishān) is also common. While it's not 'wrong' to use آنها for respected people, using ایشان shows a higher level of cultural competence. Conversely, using ایشان for objects or animals is a major error; ایشان is strictly for humans. If you refer to a group of cats as ایشان, it will sound like you are personifying them in a humorous or fairy-tale way, which might not be your intention.

Spoken vs. Written

A common mistake for advanced learners is using the formal 'Anha' in a very casual conversation. It can make you sound like a robot or a textbook.

Learners also struggle with the placement of the 'rā' marker when آنها is part of a larger phrase. For example, if you want to say 'I saw those students', the 'rā' goes at the end of the whole phrase: آن دانشجوها را دیدم. Beginners often try to put 'rā' right after آنها, which is incorrect if آنها is acting as an adjective. However, if you say 'I saw them, the students', then آنها را، یعنی دانشجوها را، دیدم is possible but redundant. Keep it simple: if it's just 'them', use آنها را.

Pronunciation Pitfall

Don't pronounce the 'h' too heavily. In 'Anha', the 'h' is soft. In the colloquial 'Una', it disappears entirely.

Lastly, be careful with possessives. Using آنها with an Ezafe (e.g., دوستِ آنها) is perfectly fine, but in spoken Persian, people almost always use the suffix -eshun (e.g., دوستشون). If you only use the Ezafe construction, you will sound very formal. Mastering the transition between -e ānhā and -eshun is a key milestone in moving from a beginner to an intermediate level.

While آنها is the most common way to say 'they', Persian offers several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the nature of the subject. Understanding these synonyms helps you navigate different social situations and literary texts. The most important alternative is ایشان (ishān). This is the polite, formal version of 'they'. It is used exclusively for people and is the standard way to refer to someone you respect in the third person plural (even if you are only talking about one person to show respect, though that is more common with 'shomā').

ایشان (Ishān)

The height of politeness. Used for teachers, elders, or in official documents. Example: ایشان تشریف آوردند (They [respected] arrived).

Another literary alternative is آنان (ānān). This word is formed by the distal demonstrative آن and the plural suffix -ān, which is specifically for animate beings (humans and sometimes animals in literature). You will almost never hear آنان in spoken conversation; it is reserved for poetry, high literature, and very formal speeches. It carries a classical, almost epic feel. If آنها is 'they', آنان is more like 'those people' or 'they' in a grander sense.

For things that are close to the speaker, اینها (inhā) is the necessary alternative. While آنها means 'those' or 'they' (far), اینها means 'these' or 'they' (near). In English, we often use 'they' regardless of distance once the subject is established, but Persian speakers frequently switch between اینها and آنها to maintain spatial clarity. If you are talking about the books right in front of you, you would say اینها خیلی سنگین هستند (These/They are very heavy).

Comparison Table

Word	Register	Usage
آنها	Standard	General use (People/Things)
اونا	Colloquial	Everyday speech
ایشان	Formal/Polite	Respected humans only
آنان	Literary	Poetry and high prose

In some dialects or older texts, you might also encounter ایشان used as a third-person singular polite pronoun (referring to 'him' or 'her'). While this is less common in modern standard Persian, it's a useful bit of knowledge for reading older literature. Additionally, when referring to a group that includes the speaker, you would use ما (mā - we), and for a group including the listener, شما (shomā - you plural). آنها completes the set as the pronoun for the 'others'.

Demonstrative Adjectives

Remember that 'An' (that) can also be used with plural nouns to mean 'those', e.g., 'آن بچه‌ها' (those children). This is often preferred over 'آنها بچه‌ها'.

In summary, while آنها is your 'workhorse' pronoun for 'they', being aware of ایشان for politeness, اونا for the street, and آنان for literature will make your Persian sound much more sophisticated and culturally attuned.