Breakdown of تولدت مبارک، دوستِ من!
من
I
دوستdust
friend
تولدtavallod
birthday
مبارکmobârak
blessed (used in congratulations)
Questions & Answers about تولدت مبارک، دوستِ من!
How does the word تولدت mean "your birthday"?
It uses the attached pronoun ending (enclitic) ـَت (-at) added to the noun تولد (tavallod, meaning birth or birthday). While your current lesson focuses on attaching these endings to prepositions, remember they are also very commonly attached directly to nouns to show ownership.
Why isn't there a verb like "is" in this sentence?
In common Farsi greetings and well-wishes, the "to be" verb است (ast, meaning "is") is almost always dropped. The literal translation of تولدت مبارک is "Your birthday blessed," but it is understood as "Your birthday is blessed."
Why do we use an attached ending for "your" birthday, but a separate word for "my" friend?
Both methods show possession and are grammatically correct! You could absolutely say دوستم (doost-am) using an attached ending for "my friend." However, using the separate pronoun من (man) to make دوستِ من (doost-e man) adds a bit of warmth and emphasis, which is perfect for addressing someone affectionately.
How do I pronounce the connection between the words in دوستِ من?
You use the ezafe vowel, which sounds like "e". Even though it usually isn't written out as a full letter in the Farsi alphabet, you pronounce the phrase as "doost-e man". This grammatical link connects the noun to its owner, literally translating to "friend of me."
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