Learn Farsi: خواهر شما چند بچه دارد؟ - How many children does your sister have?

In Farsi, after the quantity word چند (how many), you must always use a singular noun. So instead of saying how many children, Farsi literally asks how many child (چند بچه).

How does خواهر شما translate to your sister?

Farsi uses an invisible linking sound called the ezafe (an e sound) to show possession. It connects خواهر (sister) directly to شما (you). If you read it out loud, it sounds like khahar-e shoma, which literally means sister of you.

Why isn't the question word چند at the very beginning of the sentence?

In English, question words jump to the front of the sentence. In Farsi, the word order usually stays the same as a regular statement. The subject خواهر شما (your sister) comes first, followed by چند بچه (how many child), and the verb دارد (has) always sits at the very end.

Why does the verb دارد end with the letter د?

The subject of this sentence is خواهر شما (your sister), which is a she. In Farsi, present tense verbs for he, she, or it (the third-person singular) almost always end with the letter د (the -d sound). Here, دارد means she.