Questions & Answers about از صفر شروع میکنیم.
The lesson is about fractions and math concepts. Is the word sefr (zero) used the same way in Farsi as in English?
Yes, sefr is used both for the mathematical number zero and in figurative phrases exactly like this one, meaning "from scratch" or "from the very beginning".
I recognize mikonim means "we do", but what does shoru' mean on its own?
Shoru' is a noun meaning "beginning" or "start". Like many verbs in Farsi, "to begin" is a compound verb made by combining a noun with a helper verb. Here, it is paired with kardan (to do/make) to form shoru' kardan (to start).
Could shoru' mikonim also translate to "we will start from zero"?
Yes! In Farsi, the present tense (indicated by the mi- prefix) is frequently used to talk about the near future or a planned action. Depending on the context, this sentence could mean "We start", "We are starting", or "We will start".
Why isn't the word for "we" (mā) at the beginning of the sentence?
Because the verb ending already tells you who is doing the action, subject pronouns are usually dropped in Farsi. The -im ending on mikonim makes it perfectly clear that "we" are the ones starting. Adding mā at the start (mā az sefr...) would just add extra emphasis, like saying "We are starting from zero."
Learn از صفر شروع میکنیم and more in Farsi
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free