Question 1

Why does مرد have a ی at the end in مردی که?

Accepted Answer

This ی is the antecedent marker used before relative clauses. When describing a noun with a phrase starting with که (who/that), you usually add ی to the noun. Here, مردی که means a man who (or the man who).

Question 2

Why is the indefinite ی attached to وفادار instead of همسر?

Accepted Answer

In Farsi, when a noun has an adjective, the indefinite suffix ی (meaning a or an) attaches to the very end of the descriptive phrase. Instead of attaching to همسر (spouse), it attaches to the adjective وفادار (loyal), making the whole phrase a loyal spouse.

Question 3

Is there a hidden sound between همسر and وفاداری?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you must use the ezāfe vowel (pronounced as -e) to link the noun to its adjective. The phrase is pronounced hamsar-e vafadari. The ezāfe is almost never written, so you have to remember to add it when speaking.

Question 4

Could وفاداری mean loyalty in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

While the exact same spelling can mean the noun loyalty in other contexts, here it is just the adjective وفادار (loyal) plus the indefinite ی (a/an). The sentence structure tells us it is an adjective describing the spouse.

مردی که صادق نیست، همسر وفاداری نیست.

Breakdown of مردی که صادق نیست، همسر وفاداری نیست.

Questions & Answers about مردی که صادق نیست، همسر وفاداری نیست.

Learn مردی که صادق نیست، همسر وفاداری نیست and more in Farsi