The Two Base Demonstratives
Persian keeps demonstratives beautifully simple. You need exactly two words: in (این. this) and ân (آن. that). Everything else. plurals, emphasis forms, spoken shortcuts. builds from these two roots. For a deeper look, see Persian demonstratives on Wikipedia.
This post is part of the Persian Grammar series.
in (این) = this, these (near the speaker)
ân (آن) = that, those (away from the speaker)
If you’re coming from a language with gendered demonstratives (like French or Arabic), breathe easy. Persian demonstratives don’t change for gender, case, or anything else (see UT Austin’s Persian reference). “In” means “this” whether you’re pointing at a book, a car, or a concept. Same with “ân.”
Where it gets interesting is what happens to “ân” in spoken Farsi. Spoiler: it essentially vanishes, replaced by “un” (MSU’s Persian textbook covers this shift in detail). and that one vowel shift changes the sound of half the sentences you’ll hear in Tehran.
As Pronouns vs As Adjectives
Demonstratives in Farsi pull double duty. they work as both pronouns (standing alone) and adjectives (modifying a noun).
As adjectives (before a noun):
in ketâb (این کتاب) = this book
ân mâshin (آن ماشین) = that car
in khâne (این خانه) = this house
ân âdam (آن آدم) = that person
As pronouns (standing alone):
in râ mikhâham (این را میخواهم) = I want this one
ân khub ast (آن خوب است) = That one is good
in mâl-e man-e (این مال منه) = This is mine
ân chieh? (آن چیه؟) = What’s that?
Notice that when demonstratives are adjectives, they go before the noun. which is unusual for Persian, since most modifiers (adjectives, possessors) come after. Demonstratives are one of the few things that precede the noun, along with numbers and superlatives.
Also notice: there’s no ezafe between the demonstrative and the noun. You say “in ketâb” not “in-e ketâb.” The demonstrative sits directly before the noun with no connector.
Hamin and Hamân. “This Very” and “That Very”
When you need emphasis. “THIS one, not that one”. Persian adds ham- (هم) to the demonstrative:
hamin (همین) = this very one, exactly this
hamân (همان) = that very one, exactly that
Hamin ketâb râ mikhâham = I want THIS book (not another)
Hamân âdam bud = It was THAT person (the specific one we discussed)
Hamin-e! = That’s it! Exactly! (very common expression)
“Hamin” is especially useful in conversation. When someone explains something and you want to say “Exactly! That’s what I mean!”. you say “hamin-e!” (همینه). You’ll hear it constantly in Iranian speech as a confirmation/agreement marker.
“Hamân” in spoken Farsi becomes “hamun”. following the same ân→un shift that affects everything. “Hamun ârâ mikhâm” = I want that exact one.
Plural Demonstratives
To make demonstratives plural, add the standard plural suffix -hâ:
inhâ (اینها) = these
ânhâ (آنها) = those
Inhâ mâl-e man-e = These are mine
Ânhâ khub hastand = Those are good
Inhâ râ bebin! = Look at these!
In spoken Farsi, the plurals compress predictably:
inhâ → inâ (ایناً) = these
ânhâ → unâ (اوناً) = those
“Unâ” is one of the most common words in Tehrani speech. it covers “those,” “them,” and “they” depending on context. “Unâ raftand” → “unâ raftan” = they went / those people went.
Remember from pronouns: “ânhâ” (آنها) is also the formal word for “they.” So the demonstrative plural and the third-person plural pronoun are the same word. Context tells you whether “ânhâ” means “those things” or “they/them.”
Street Persian: ân→un, ânhâ→unâ
This is the single biggest sound shift between written and spoken Persian, and it affects demonstratives more than almost anything else.
In formal/written Farsi: ân (آن)
In spoken Tehrani Farsi: un (اون)
This isn’t slang. It’s not informal. It’s how every single Iranian speaks, from university professors to taxi drivers. “Ân” is exclusively written/literary. If you say “ân” in a conversation in Tehran, people will understand you but it will sound like you’re reading from a book.
Written: ân ketâb (آن کتاب) → Spoken: un ketâb (اون کتاب) = that book
Written: ânhâ (آنها) → Spoken: unâ (اونا) = those / they
Written: hamân (همان) → Spoken: hamun (همون) = that very one
Written: ân jâ (آنجا) → Spoken: unjâ (اونجا) = there
The “in” forms stay the same in both registers. “In” is “in” everywhere. It’s only “ân” that undergoes this vowel shift to “un.”
This shift extends to all words containing “ân”:
ânhâ → unâ (they/those)
hamântor → hamuntor (likewise)
ânjâ → unjâ (there)
ân vaght → un vaght (that time/then)
Demonstratives with Ezafe
When you want to say “this big book”. combining a demonstrative with a noun and an adjective. the demonstrative comes first, then the noun, then the adjective chain with ezafe:
in ketâb-e bozorg (این کتاب بزرگ) = this big book
ân mâshin-e ghermez (آن ماشین قرمز) = that red car
in ghazâ-ye khoshmazze (این غذای خوشمزه) = this delicious food
The demonstrative has no ezafe connecting it to the noun (“in ketâb” not “in-e ketâb”). But the noun does have ezafe connecting it to the adjective (“ketâb-e bozorg”). The demonstrative sits outside the ezafe chain.
With the râ marker: “in ketâb-e bozorg râ khândam” = I read this big book. Râ goes after the entire noun phrase, as always.
Common Patterns
These demonstrative patterns come up dozens of times per day in Persian conversation:
in-e / un-e. This is… / That is…
In-e! (اینه) = This is it!
Un-e ke goftam (اونه که گفتم) = That’s the one I mentioned
in chi-e? / un chi-e?. What’s this? / What’s that?
These are the most basic pointing-and-asking questions you’ll use from day one.
inak / unak. this one / that one (colloquial, used by some speakers instead of in/un as pronouns)
inja / unjâ. here / there
Inja biâ! (اینجا بیا) = Come here!
Unjâ boro! (اونجا برو) = Go there!
intor / untor. like this / like that
Intor kon! = Do it like this!
Untor nagard! = Don’t walk like that!
Demonstrative Rules: in (این) = this/these. ân (آن) = that/those. Spoken: ân → un everywhere. No ezafe between demonstrative and noun. Plural: inhâ / ânhâ (spoken: inâ / unâ).
ân ketâb-e bozorg
آن کتاب بزرگ
that big book
un ketâbe bozorg
اون کتابه بزرگ
that big book
“In” doubles as the default pointing word in casual speech. Iranians don’t say “ân” (that) much in conversation. they prefer “un” or just point and say “in.” Even when something is across the room, you’ll hear “in chi-e?” (what’s this?) rather than “un chi-e?” (what’s that?). The distinction between near/far demonstratives is much looser in spoken Persian than textbooks suggest. When in doubt, use “in”. it covers almost everything.
Say “this book is good” in both formal and spoken Persian.
Show answer
Formal: in ketâb khub ast (این کتاب خوب است). Spoken: in ketâb khub-e (این کتاب خوبه). The verb “ast” becomes “-e” in speech.
How do you say “those cars” in spoken Farsi?
Show answer
un mâshinâ (اون ماشینا). “ân” becomes “un,” and the plural -hâ compresses to just -â in casual speech. Formal: ân mâshinhâ.
When would you use “hamin” instead of “in”?
Show answer
Use “hamin” (همین) for emphasis. “this EXACT one.” “Hamin ketâb râ mikhâham” = I want THIS book specifically (not just any “this book”). “Hamin-e!” = That’s exactly it! It adds precision and emphasis that plain “in” doesn’t carry.
For the full grammar roadmap, head to the Persian Grammar Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are “in” and “an” in Farsi?
What’s the difference between “in” and “hamin” in Farsi?
How do spoken Farsi demonstratives differ from written?
Do demonstratives use ezafe in Persian?
How do you make plural demonstratives in Farsi?
Demonstratives click fastest through conversation practice. pointing at things and describing them in real time. Book a Preply lesson with me and we’ll do exactly that, switching between formal and spoken forms until the ân→un shift becomes second nature.
