Learn Farsi: مادربزرگ من می‌گوید که عدد سیزده نحس است. - My grandmother says that the number thirteen is unlucky.

مادربزرگ من می‌گوید که عدد سیزده نحس است.mâdar-bozorg-e man miguyad ke adad-e sizdah nahs ast.

My grandmother says that the number thirteen is unlucky.

Breakdown of مادربزرگ من می‌گوید که عدد سیزده نحس است.

Questions & Answers about مادربزرگ من می‌گوید که عدد سیزده نحس است.

Why do we use که after the verb می‌گوید?

The word که translates to "that". We use it to connect a verb of speaking, like می‌گوید (says), to the idea being expressed. Here, it links the action of saying to the statement about the number thirteen being unlucky.

Can I leave out که in Farsi, just like we sometimes drop "that" in English?

Yes! In spoken and informal Farsi, که is often dropped. However, keeping که is very common in written or slightly more formal Farsi, just like the sentence shown here.

How do we connect the word for "number" (عدد) and "thirteen" (سیزده) here?

We use the ezafe vowel, which is a short "e" sound added to the end of the first word. You pronounce it as adad-e sizdah. This links the general category "number" to the specific number "thirteen".

Is the word نحس used for general bad luck, or something specific?

The word نحس specifically means "ominous" or "unlucky" in a superstitious or cosmic sense, which is why it is used for the number thirteen. For a person who is simply having a run of bad luck, you would use a different word like بدشانس.

Why does this sentence use مادربزرگ من instead of the attached ending مادربزرگم?