Indefinite Nouns with Adjectives
When you want to talk about "a" or "an" unspecified item in Farsi, you attach the indefinite suffix ی to the end of the noun. But what happens when you want to describe that noun, like ordering a cold appetizer or talking about a kind host?
When an adjective modifies an indefinite noun, the suffix ی hops to the very end of the phrase. You still link the noun and adjective together using the Ezafe, but the indefinite suffix attaches directly to the adjective.
Structure: Noun + Ezafe + Adjective + ی
| A kind waiter brought the menu for us. | گارسون مهربانی منو را برای ما آورد.gârson-e mehrabâni menu râ barâye mâ âvard. |
| He is a kind host. | او میزبان مهربانی است.u mizbân-e mehrabâni ast. |
Describing Your Meal
This pattern is common when dining out to describe food, hunger levels, or a tip.
| We ordered a cold appetizer without seeing the waiter. | ما بدون اینکه گارسون را ببینیم، پیشغذای سردی سفارش دادیم.mâ bedun-e inke gârson râ bebinim, pish-ghazâ-ye sardi sefâresh dâdim. |
| He had a big appetite, so he wanted a large dessert. | او اشتهای زیادی داشت، پس دسر بزرگی خواست.u eshtehâ-ye ziyâdi dâsht, pas deser bozorgi khâst. |
Adjectives Ending in a Vowel
If the adjective ends in a silent ه (like خوشمزه for "delicious"), you cannot simply add another ی. Instead, the indefinite suffix is written as ای to separate the sounds.
(Note: If the noun itself ends in a vowel, like *پیتزا, it uses the ی form of the Ezafe to connect to the adjective.)*
| I am looking for a delicious pizza, but this menu does not have pizza. | من دنبال پیتزای خوشمزهای میگردم، اما این منو پیتزا ندارد.man donbâl-e pitzâ-ye khoshmaze-i migardam, ammâ in meno pitzâ nadârad. |
Ordering Multiple Items
If you are describing or ordering more than one indefinite item, you must apply the entire "Noun + Ezafe + Adjective + ی" structure to each item individually.
| I want both a warm sandwich and a cold soda. | من هم ساندویچ گرمی میخواهم هم نوشابهی سردی.man ham sândevich garmi mikhâham ham nushâbe-ye sardi. |
| The customer wanted a cheap appetizer and gave a small tip. | مشتری پیشغذای ارزانی خواست و انعام کمی داد.moshtari pish-ghazâ-ye arzâni khâst o en'âm-e kami dâd. |
