Questions & Answers about کمک میخواهی؟
Where is the word 'you' in this sentence?
In Farsi, the subject is often left out because it is already built into the verb. The ending ی (i) at the end of میخواهی (mi-khaahi) tells us it means 'you want' (informal singular). You could add the word for you, تو (to), at the beginning, but it is not necessary.
How do we know this is a question if there is no word for 'Do'?
Farsi does not use helper verbs like 'do' or 'does' to ask questions. You simply use the exact same words as a regular statement, but raise the pitch of your voice at the end. Depending on your tone, کمک میخواهی can mean 'You want help' or 'Do you want help?'.
What does the می at the beginning of the verb do?
The prefix می (mi) is added to the verb stem to show that the action is happening in the present tense. While it often means an ongoing action, for the verb to want (خواستن), it just gives us the simple present tense: 'you want'.
How do you pronounce میخواهی? Is the letter 'و' silent?
Yes! When the letters خ, و, and ا appear together as خوا, the و (vav) is completely silent. It is pronounced 'khaa', not 'khwaa'. So the entire word sounds like 'mi-khaahi'.
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