Yes/No questions (âyâ)

Forming Yes/No Questions

In Farsi, the word order for a yes/no question is exactly the same as a normal statement. To mark a sentence as a formal question, simply place the question particle آیا at the beginning.

whether (question particle)
آیاâyâ

Notice how the rest of the sentence structure remains unchanged:

Answering Yes or No

To answer, begin your response with بله (yes) or نه (no).

For a negative answer, remember to use a negative verb:

Spoken Farsi and Intonation

In casual spoken Farsi, the word آیا is usually dropped. Instead, you simply use a rising tone of voice at the end of a regular statement to signal that it is a question—much like in casual English ("You're tired?").

You will encounter آیا constantly in written Farsi, making it essential for reading and formal communication.