از سوی

The Persian phrase از سوی (az su-ye) is a sophisticated and versatile prepositional construction that translates most directly to "from the side of," "on behalf of," or simply "by" when indicating agency in formal contexts. At its core, the word سو (su) means side, direction, or quarter. When combined with the preposition از (az - from) and the Ezafe particle (the short 'e' sound linking it to the following noun), it creates a functional unit used to attribute actions, communications, or origins to a specific entity. In modern Iranian Persian, while از طرف (az taraf) is perhaps more common in daily conversation, از سوی holds a prestigious position in journalism, legal documents, and official announcements. It suggests a level of formality and structural clarity that is essential for professional communication. For instance, when a government spokesperson issues a statement, the news will report it as being issued از سوی دولت (by the government). This usage helps to clearly define the source of an action without necessarily using a passive verb structure, although it often accompanies them. Understanding this phrase is a significant milestone for learners reaching the B1 level because it marks the transition from simple, direct sentences to more nuanced, administrative, and literary Persian. It allows the speaker to distance the action from the immediate subject and place the focus on the institutional or representative origin of the event.

Literal Meaning

From the direction or side of a specific person or organization.

Functional Meaning

Used as an agentive marker to show who initiated an action or provided an item.

Beyond simple attribution, از سوی is frequently used in the context of "on the part of." If there is a misunderstanding, one might say there was no bad intention از سوی من (on my part). This subtle shift in meaning allows for a more precise description of responsibility. In the realm of international relations, you will constantly hear phrases like از سوی سازمان ملل (by the United Nations). It provides a sense of officiality that the English word "from" sometimes lacks. Furthermore, it is important to note that سو is an ancient Persian word with roots in Indo-European languages, relating to the concept of a point or a side. In classical poetry, it was used more literally to describe physical directions (e.g., towards the sky), but in contemporary prose, its figurative use as an agentive marker has become its primary function in formal registers.

Register

Primarily formal, journalistic, and academic; rarely used in casual street slang.

Using از سوی correctly requires an understanding of the Ezafe construction and the logical flow of Persian sentences. The phrase functions as a compound preposition. This means it consists of a simple preposition (از), a noun (سو), and the Ezafe link (-e). The structure is almost always: [Verb/Action/Noun] + از سوی + [Agent/Origin]. For example, if you want to say "The book was published by the author," you would say کتاب از سوی نویسنده منتشر شد. Notice how از سوی sits between the object/action and the person responsible. One of the most common patterns is using it with passive verbs. In Persian, the passive is often formed with the auxiliary verb شدن (to become). While the agent in a passive sentence can be introduced with توسط (tavasot), از سوی is preferred when the agent is a source of authority or a collective entity. It provides a more elegant flow to the sentence, especially in writing.

Structure 1: Attribution

[Noun] + از سوی + [Person/Group]. Example: پیام از سوی او (The message from him).

Another advanced use of از سوی is in the construction از سوی دیگر, which means "on the other hand." This is a vital transitional phrase for essays and arguments. It literally means "from the other side," showing how the word سو maintains its spatial meaning while functioning as a logical connector. When using از سوی to mean "by," it is often interchangeable with از جانب (az jāneb), but از سوی feels more modern and less archaic. It is also worth noting that you can attach pronominal suffixes to سوی, though it is more common to use the full pronoun. For example, از سوی من (from my side) is standard, whereas از سویم is rare and poetic. In formal correspondence, if you are writing a letter on behalf of a company, you might start a sentence with از سوی شرکت.... This establishes your authority and the source of the message immediately. Learners should practice replacing the simpler از with از سوی in formal writing to instantly elevate their Persian style.

Structure 2: Transitions

از سوی دیگر... (On the other hand...). Used to introduce a contrasting point.

Structure 3: Responsibility

خطایی از سوی تیم ما رخ داد. (An error occurred on the part of our team.)

If you turn on a Persian news broadcast like BBC Persian, Iran International, or the national IRIB news, you will hear از سوی within the first five minutes. It is the bread and butter of journalistic reporting. News anchors use it to attribute quotes, report on government actions, or describe international developments. For example, a headline might read: تحریم‌های جدید از سوی اتحادیه اروپا (New sanctions by the European Union). In this context, it functions as a formal marker of agency. You will also find it extensively in the "About Us" or "Terms of Service" pages of Iranian websites. If a service is provided by a specific company, they will use this phrase to denote their responsibility. In academic settings, professors use از سوی دیگر to transition between different theories or perspectives during a lecture. It is a sign of an educated speaker. While you might not hear a teenager use it while playing football, you will certainly hear it if that same teenager is giving a formal presentation in class or writing a letter to the school principal.

Media Usage

Extremely high frequency in news headlines and political reporting.

In the legal world, از سوی is indispensable. Court rulings, contracts, and power of attorney documents rely on it to specify which party is performing which action. If a lawyer is acting for a client, they are acting از سوی موکل (on behalf of the client). This legal precision is why the phrase has remained so stable in the language. Even in literature, contemporary novelists use it to create a sense of objective narration. Instead of saying "He felt love," a more descriptive writer might say عشقی از سوی او ابراز نشد (No love was expressed by him), which shifts the focus to the outward manifestation of the emotion. In religious contexts, you might hear about blessings coming از سوی پروردگار (from the Lord). This demonstrates the phrase's ability to span from the most mundane administrative tasks to the highest spiritual concepts. For a learner, hearing this word should be a signal to pay attention to the source or the 'who' of the sentence.

Academic Context

Used to cite sources or attribute theories to specific scholars.

One of the most common mistakes learners make with از سوی is overusing it in casual conversation. While it is perfectly correct, using it while chatting with friends about who brought the pizza can sound unnaturally stiff. In such cases, از طرف (az taraf) or even just از (az) is more appropriate. For example, instead of saying پیتزا از سوی علی بود, a native speaker would say پیتزا از طرف علی بود or علی پیتزا رو گرفت. Another frequent error is forgetting the Ezafe. Because سوی ends in a 'vowel' sound (the 'u' is followed by a silent 'y' in many transliterations, but in Persian script, it's just سوی), the Ezafe is often written with a small 'ye' or simply pronounced as a 'ye' sound. If you say "az su" without the "ye," the sentence remains incomplete and grammatically incorrect. It’s like saying "from side the government" instead of "from the side of the government."

Mistake 1: Register Mismatch

Using 'az su-ye' in informal settings where 'az taraf' is more natural.

A more subtle mistake involves confusing از سوی with به سوی. While از سوی means "from," به سوی means "towards." Learners sometimes mix these up when describing movement or direction. Remember: از is always "from" and به is always "to/towards." Additionally, some learners try to use از سوی as a direct translation for the English "by" in every context. For instance, in the sentence "I go by bus," you cannot use از سوی. You must use با (with) or به وسیله (by means of). از سوی is for human or institutional agency, not for instruments or methods. Finally, ensure you don't confuse سوی (side) with سود (profit) or سوز (burn/sting), which sound somewhat similar to a beginner's ear but have entirely different meanings and functions in a sentence.

Mistake 2: Directional Confusion

Mixing up 'az su-ye' (from) with 'be su-ye' (towards).

Persian is a language rich in synonyms, and از سوی is no exception. Understanding the subtle differences between its alternatives will help you choose the right word for the right situation. The most common alternative is از طرف (az taraf). While they are often interchangeable, از طرف is slightly more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. If you are sending greetings from a friend, you use از طرف. If you are reporting a policy change from a ministry, you use از سوی. Another formal alternative is از جانب (az jāneb). This word has an Arabic root and feels even more formal or sometimes a bit dated. It is frequently used in religious or very old-fashioned legal texts. For example, از جانب خداوند (from God) is a common religious phrase. Then there is توسط (tavasot), which is the standard word for "by" in passive sentences. While توسط is purely functional, از سوی often implies that the person or group is the source or origin of the action, rather than just the direct agent.

Comparison: از سوی vs. از طرف

'از سوی' is more formal and journalistic. 'از طرف' is common in daily speech and letters.

For indicating a physical direction, you might use از جهت (az jahat) or از ناحیه (az nāhiye). از جهت is often used to mean "from the perspective of" or "in terms of," while از ناحیه is common in medical or geographical contexts (e.g., pain from the side of the stomach). In academic writing, you might also see از منظر (az manzar), which means "from the viewpoint of." Choosing between these depends on whether you are talking about agency (از سوی), simple origin (از طرف), or a conceptual viewpoint (از منظر). For a B1 learner, mastering the distinction between از سوی and توسط is the most important step. Use توسط when you want to focus on the 'how' or the direct 'who' of a passive verb, and use از سوی when you want to emphasize the authority or the institutional source behind an action.

Comparison: از سوی vs. توسط

'توسط' is a neutral 'by'. 'از سوی' adds a layer of 'on behalf of' or 'originating from'.