Formal "You" in Persian (Farsi): Shoma

Shoma in a sentence

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

1. Shoma chetorin?

   How are you? (formal)

   Module 1, lesson 4

2. Salam! Shoma chetorin?

   Hi! How are you?

   Module 2, lesson 4

3. Shoma ahle koja-yin?

   Where are you from? (formal)

   Module 2, lesson 9

4. You say

   Ahle Iran-am. Shoma ahle koja-yin?

   I'm from Iran. Where are you from?

   Module 2, lesson 10

5. Nommi, your friend

   Salam! Na, khoobam. Shoma chetorin?

   Hi! No, I'm good. How are you?

   Module 15, lesson 7

When to say Shoma

Use it with grandparents, elders and strangers. With friends and younger cousins, say To.

The usual mix-up with Shoma

Friend form and respectful form swapped

For a friend: To. For an elder: Shoma. The polite line changes to to shoma.

More about Shoma

Shoma is the polite you, used with grandparents, elders and strangers. Friends and younger cousins get To instead. Choosing between the two is the first register choice in Persian, and the course teaches both in Module 1, lesson 4 so you can feel the difference. Shoma usually travels with the polite -in ending: Shoma chetorin?, Shoma ahle koja-yin? The hook in the course sums it up: respect that still sounds warm. Anyone who is not a friend gets Shoma, so it is the one to reach for when you are talking to someone you want to respect.

Questions people ask about Shoma