Word
بفرمایید، این چایِ شما است.
Meaning
Here you are, this is your tea.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of بفرمایید، این چایِ شما است.
شما
you (plural)
این
this
چایchâi
tea
بفرماییدbefarmâyid
here you are; please, go ahead
Questions & Answers about بفرمایید، این چایِ شما است.
I have seen بفرمایید (befarmāyid) translated as 'please' before. Why does it mean 'here you are' in this sentence?
The word بفرمایید is a very common, all-purpose polite word in Farsi. Its exact meaning changes based on the physical action you are doing. If you gesture to an open door, it means 'after you' or 'please come in.' Because you are handing someone a cup of tea in this sentence, it translates perfectly to 'here you go' or 'please take this.'
Why is there an 'e' sound connecting چای (chāy) and شما (shomā) even though it isn't written as a separate word?
This is the ezafe rule, which is how Farsi shows possession or links adjectives. By adding a short 'e' sound to the end of چای (tea), you link it to شما (you) to create 'your tea'. Even though this short vowel sound is usually invisible in the Farsi script, you must always pronounce it to connect the words.
Why does the sentence use شما (shomā) instead of the informal word for 'you', تو (to)?
It is all about keeping the level of politeness consistent! The sentence starts with بفرمایید, which is a highly respectful and formal verb. To match that polite tone, you must use the formal pronoun شما. Mixing a formal verb with an informal pronoun sounds unnatural in Farsi.
Do native speakers actually say the full word است (ast) at the end of a sentence like this?
In textbooks, reading, or formal speech, yes! However, in everyday casual conversation, native Farsi speakers almost always shorten است to a quick 's' or 'e' sound. If you hear this sentence in a real Iranian home or cafe, it will likely sound like 'in chāy-e shomā-s'.