Numerical Approximation
When estimating quantities in English, we usually connect numbers with "or" or "to" (like "two or three"). In Farsi, you simply place two numbers right next to each other with no conjunction.
As with exact numbers, the noun that follows this estimated range must always be singular.
| There are two or three flower shops in this street. | در این خیابان دو سه گلفروشی است.dar in khiyâbân do se gol-forushi ast. |
| I bought four or five stems of white flowers. | من چهار پنج شاخه گل سفید خریدم.man chahâr panj shâkhe gol sefid kharidam. |
| Tie three or four colorful ribbons to the basket. | سه چهار روبان رنگارنگ به سبد ببند.se chahâr rubân rangârang be sabad beband. |
Estimating Larger Quantities
This juxtaposition works for larger ranges and round numbers as well.
| He buys ten to fifteen boxes of wholesale flowers every week. | او هر هفته ده پانزده جعبه گل عمده میخرد.u har hafte dah pânzdah ja'be gol omde mikharad. |
| They ordered twenty or thirty carnation stems. | آنها بیست سی شاخه میخک سفارش دادند.ânhâ bist si shâkhe-ye mikhak sefâresh dâdand |
Counting Flowers
When ordering flowers, you will frequently hear the word شاخه used to count individual stems.
| stem / branch (also a classifier for flowers) | شاخهshâkhe |
| Bring me five or six stems of red roses. | پنج شش شاخه رز قرمز برای من بیاور.panj shesh shâkheye roz ghermez barâye man biyâvar. |
| Seven or eight withered stems fell on the ground. | هفت هشت شاخهی پژمرده روی زمین افتاد.haft hasht shâkhe-ye pazhmorde ruye zamin oftâd |
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