Learn Farsi: نوجوانی همان زمانی است که ما دوستان صمیمی داشتیم. - Adolescence is that very time when we had close friends.

The -i suffix here marks the noun that the relative clause is about. In Farsi, when you say 'the time when' or 'the time that', you add this -i to the noun before ke. It signals to the listener that you are about to describe or define that specific time.

Why is the verb æst placed in the middle of the sentence instead of at the very end?

In Farsi, the relative clause (ke mâ dustân-e sæmimi dâshtim) usually directly follows the noun it describes. Because the main sentence is simply 'Adolescence is that very time' (nojævâni hæmân zamâni æst), the verb æst finishes that main idea. The descriptive ke clause is then tacked on at the end so the sentence does not become uncomfortably top-heavy.

What exactly does hæmân mean before zamâni?

hæmân means 'that same' or 'that very'. When paired with zamâni ke, it adds emphasis, pointing to a specific, recognized period in life. Instead of just saying 'a time when', it makes the meaning 'that exact time when'.

Could I say dust-hâ instead of dustân for 'friends'?

Yes, absolutely! dust-hâ is the standard regular plural. dustân uses the suffix -ân, which is an alternative plural for living things (animate nouns). It sounds a bit more elegant, but it is extremely common to hear even in everyday conversation.