بفرمایید
befarmâyid
please/here-you-go
imperativeA1
Quick Reference
be-far-MAA-yeed
please/here-you-go
A1 — Absolute Beginner
What it means
بفرمایید (befarmâyid) is the polite imperative of فرمودن (farmudan, “to command, to deign”). It covers “please,” “here you go,” “go ahead,” “come in,” depending on context.
One of the most-used taarof words in Persian.
How to use it
- بفرمایید تو (befarmâyid tu) “Please come in”
- بفرمایید چای (befarmâyid chây) “Please, have some tea”
- اول شما، بفرمایید (avval shomâ, befarmâyid) “You first, go ahead”
Compound structure
Single verb, polite 2pl imperative of فرمودن (farmudan).
- imperative_2sg (informal): بفرما (befarmâ) “go on”
- imperative_2pl (polite): بفرمایید (befarmâyid)
- The verb itself is honorific, used in place of گفتن or کردن when the subject is respected.
Cultural note
Befarmâyid is the verbal hinge of taarof. A host says it offering food. A guest says it letting the elder go through the door first. A driver says it waving another car ahead. Refusing the offer with تعارف نکن (don’t taarof) is the dance, befarmâyid is the opening move.
References
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Befarmâyid is the verbal hinge of taarof. A host says it offering food. A guest says it letting the elder go through the door first. A driver says it waving another car ahead. Refusing the offer with تعارف نکن (don't taarof) is the dance, befarmâyid is the opening move.Compound structure
be- (subjunctive prefix) + farmâ (stem of farmudan, "to command") + -id (2pl polite) = polite imperative "may you command/please"Connected Words