Reciprocal Pronouns
When you want to express that two or more people are doing an action to or with "each other," you use a reciprocal pronoun. In Persian, there are two main words for this:
| each other | همدیگرhamdigar |
| each other | یکدیگرyekdigar |
Both words mean exactly the same thing and are used interchangeably. همدیگر is more common in everyday spoken conversation, while یکدیگر can sound slightly more formal and is frequently used in writing or professional settings.
As Direct Objects
When "each other" is the direct receiver of an action (like seeing or knowing each other), the pronoun must be followed by the direct object marker را.
| They know each other very well. | آنها خیلی خوب همدیگر را میشناسند.ânhâ kheyli khub hamdigar râ mishenâsand. |
| We saw each other at the company yesterday. | ما دیروز یکدیگر را در شرکت دیدیم.mâ dirooz yekdigar râ dar sherkat didim. |
With Prepositions
Many verbs and interactions require specific prepositions, such as working with each other or trusting in each other. In these cases, the reciprocal pronoun simply comes directly after prepositions like با (with), به (to/at), or از (from/of).
| The colleagues cooperate with each other in the team. | همکاران در تیم با یکدیگر همکاری میکنند.hamkârân dar tim bâ yekdigar hamkâri mikonand. |
| We must trust each other. | ما باید به همدیگر اعتماد کنیم.mâ bâyad be hamdigar e'temâd konim. |
| Those friends supported each other for success. | آن دوستان برای موفقیت از یکدیگر حمایت کردند.ân doostân barâye movaffaghiyat az yekdigar hemâyat kardand. |
| The students ask each other questions in the class. | دانشجویان در کلاس از یکدیگر سوال میپرسند.dâneshjuyân dar kelâs az yekdigar so'âl miporsand. |
Expressing Possession
You can also use these pronouns to talk about "each other's" things, such as "each other's opinions." Just like linking any two nouns to show possession in Persian, you link the noun and the reciprocal pronoun using the Ezafe vowel connector.
| You and I respect each other's opinion. | من و تو به نظر همدیگر احترام میگذاریم.man o to be nazar-e hamdigar ehterâm migozârim. |
| We respect each other's opinion and support each other. | ما به نظر یکدیگر احترام میگذاریم و از همدیگر حمایت میکنیم.mâ be nazar-e yekdigar ehterâm migozârim va az hamdigar hemâyat mikonim. |
