Speak / Lesson 47

How to Discuss Breakfast

In this lesson, we learn to talk about one of the most important parts of Persian culture- breakfast. We learn how to talk about breakfast- including a list of breakfast foods and important breakfast drinks.

GREETINGS:

salām
hello
سَلام
chetor-ee
how are you?
چِطوری؟

Note: In Persian, as in many other languages, there is a formal and an informal way of speaking. We will be covering this in more detail in later lessons. For now, however, chetor-ee is the informal way of asking someone how they are, so it should only be used with people that you are familiar with. hālé shomā chetor-é is the formal expression for ‘how are you.’

Spelling note: In written Persian, words are not capitalized. For this reason, we do not capitalize Persian words written in phonetic English in the guides.


ANSWERS:

khoobam
I’m well
خوبَم

Pronunciation tip: kh is one of two unique sounds in the Persian language that is not used in the English language. It should be repeated daily until mastered, as it is essential to successfully speak Persian. Listen to the podcast for more information on how to make the sound.

Persian English
salām hello
chetor-ee how are you?
khoobam I’m well
merci thank you
khayli very
khayli khoobam I’m very well
khoob neestam I’m not well
man me/I
bad neestam I’m not bad
ālee great
chetor-een? how are you? (formal)
hālé shomā chetor-é? how are you? (formal)
hālet chetor-é? how are you? (informal)
khoob-ee? are you well? (informal)
mamnoonam thank you
chetor peesh meeré? how’s it going?
ché khabar? what’s the news? (what’s up?)
testeeeee

Leyla: Hello and welcome to Learn Persian with Chai and conversation!

Matt: As you know, we’re in Unit 5 of the program, and we are calling this our power series. We’re learning grammar and vocabulary that will help you to communicate like a pro!

Leyla: And the is the third episode in our ‘kitchen persian’ series. In this lesson, we’re going to literally take you into the kitchen and talk about one of my favorite topics, and that is, breakfast!

Matt: Breakfast is a very important part of any Iranian’s day, and a very consistent one at that. It’s not as heavy as an American breakfast, especially, but it’s a great time for family to come together and have a light, delicious meal and chai of course before everyone separates and goes about their days.

Leyla: So we are going to get right on with the program. Are you ready to being Matt?

Matt: Ready!

 

Leyla: Great, then let’s begin to learn Persian with Chai and Conversation.

 

Breakfast

 

 

sobhaneh

 

 

Ok, so in this lesson we’re actually going to begin with a conversation, and go over the words we learn in the conversation afterwards.

 

sobhaneh khordee?

na hanooz

chai bezaram dorost besheh

basheh. khordanee chee dareem?

noon o paneer, mesleh hameesheh.

aaliyeh.

 

gozasthan- to put.

 

 

So now let’s go over the most common breakfast foods.

noon o paneer o kareh

noon lavash

noon barbari

noon sangak

haleem

asal

tokhmeh morgh

kaleh pacheh

sheer berenj

moraba

 

This is, of course, by no means the only breakfast foods Iranians eat, but definitely the most common. Generally, Iranians like to have a nice spread of different things. They will always have a type of bread though, and paneer.

 

Now, let’s learn the drinks commonly served at breakfast

ab ba leemoo

sheer

ab portoghal

ghahveh

ghahveh ba kerem va sheekar

 

and last but not least:

chai

chai ba sheer

 

ghooree

too ghooree chai hast?

 

Leyla: And we’re going to keep this lesson short and sweet and end it there!

Matt: Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the lesson about Persian breakfast, and hopefully you’re listening either while not too hungry, or while you have quick access to a kitchen.

Leyla: We want to remind you if you haven’t already to like us on our facbeook page at www.chaiandconversation.com/learnpersian. That’s the best way to keep up with what we’re doing, and to join the conversation.

Matt: And until the next lesson, khodahafez from Matt.

Leyla: and beh omeedeh deedar from Leyla.