Tea in Persian (Farsi): Chai

Chai in a sentence

Real lines from the course, said by the people you meet in it.

1. Maman Bozorg, your grandma

   Salam! Chai?

   Hi! Tea?

   Module 1, lesson 5

2. Sara, a family friend

   Salam! Chahar ta chai, lotfan.

   Hi! Four teas, please.

   Module 3, lesson 2

3. Bijan, the barber

   Khoobam, merci. Chai, lotfan.

   I'm good, thanks. Tea, please.

   Module 3, lesson 3

4. Ameer, your friend

   Haft ta chai, lotfan!

   Seven teas, please!

   Module 3, lesson 5

5. Nommi, your friend

   Salam! Noh ta chai, lotfan.

   Hi! Nine teas, please.

   Module 3, lesson 6

When to say Chai

Ask for it with lotfan: Chai, lotfan. A host will often offer twice.

More about Chai

Chai means tea, and you may already know it. What the course adds is how it is used: hosts often offer more than once, so a kind no first is normal. That is why Chai appears so early, in Module 1, lesson 5, next to Baleh, Na and Lotfan. You hear it in the offer, Salam! Chai?, in the order, Chai, lotfan, and with a count, Chahar ta chai, lotfan (four teas, please). Notice that chai never changes: the number goes in front and ta sits between them, so the word itself stays the same however many cups you want.

Questions people ask about Chai