لطفا یک سیب بده.

Breakdown of لطفا یک سیب بده.

لطفا
please
دادن
to give
یک
a/an
سیب
apple

Questions & Answers about لطفا یک سیب بده.

How do I pronounce لطفا یک سیب بده in everyday spoken Persian?

A natural, colloquial pronunciation is:

  • lotfan ye sib bede Notes:
  • لطفا is often pronounced lotfan (the final -an is common in speech even if it’s written لطفا without the diacritic ً).
  • یک is very often reduced from yek to ye in speech.
  • بده is pronounced bede.
Why is لطفا sometimes written لطفاً? Are both correct?

Both refer to the same word (please).

  • لطفاً includes the diacritic ً (tanvīn) that hints at an -an sound: lotfan.
  • In everyday typing, diacritics are usually omitted, so people commonly write لطفا. So: لطفاً is more “fully marked,” لطفا is the common plain spelling.
Is this sentence polite, or does it sound too direct?

It’s understandable, but it’s informal and can sound a bit direct depending on context because بده is an informal imperative (give!). More polite/common options:

  • Formal/polite: لطفاً یک سیب بدهید.
  • Very common conversational request: میشه یه سیب بدی؟ (literally Can you give an apple?)
What does بده mean grammatically? What verb is it from?

بده is the imperative (command/request) form of the verb دادن (to give).

  • Infinitive: دادن
  • Imperative (informal singular): بده = give!
  • Imperative (formal / to someone you address politely): بدهید = please give
Who is the apple being given to? Why isn’t me stated?

Persian often omits obvious pronouns/recipients when context makes them clear. So لطفا یک سیب بده usually implies (to me). If you want to be explicit, you can add:

  • لطفاً به من یک سیب بده. = Please give me an apple. Very commonly in speech you might also hear:
  • لطفاً یه سیب به من بده.
Why is there no را in یک سیب بده?

را typically marks a definite/specific direct object.

  • یک سیب = an apple (indefinite), so را is usually not used. If you mean that specific apple, you can make it definite and use را:
  • اون سیب رو بده. = Give that apple.
  • سیب رو بده. (in context) = Give the apple.
Is یک exactly like a/an in English? Can I drop it?

یک often corresponds to a/an, but it also literally means one. You can drop it if you’re speaking generally or the context already implies it:

  • لطفاً سیب بده. = Please give (some) apple / an apple. But یک سیب is clearer for one apple.
Where does لطفا go in the sentence? Can it move?

Yes, لطفا/لطفاً is flexible. Common positions:

  • لطفاً یک سیب بده.
  • یک سیب لطفاً بده. (a bit like An apple, please.)
  • لطفاً بده یک سیب. (possible in casual speech, but less “neutral”)
Is the word order fixed as یک سیب بده?

The most neutral order is object + verb (Persian is typically SOV):

  • یک سیب بده. You can rearrange for emphasis, especially in speech:
  • یه سیب بده. (most common spoken form)
  • بده یه سیب. (more conversational/urgent tone)
Why is there no subject like you in the Persian sentence?

In imperatives, Persian (like English) normally doesn’t state the subject.

  • بده already implies you (informal singular) give. If you want to add the subject for emphasis, you can, but it’s marked and often sounds scolding/insistent:
  • تو بده! = You give (it)!
How do I make it plural: “Please give (me) apples” or “Please give (me) an apple” vs “some apples”?
  • One apple: لطفاً یک سیب بده.
  • Apples (plural): لطفاً سیب بده. (can mean apples in general / some apple)
  • Explicit plural: لطفاً سیب‌ها بده. = Please give the apples. (usually definite)
  • A few apples: لطفاً چند تا سیب بده. = Please give a few apples.
What’s the difference between سیب and سیب‌ها here?
  • سیب is unmarked and can be generic or indefinite depending on context.
  • سیب‌ها means the apples / apples (as a set) and often feels more definite/specific. So سیب‌ها بده tends to mean you’re referring to particular apples already known in the situation.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
What's the best way to learn Farsi grammar?
Farsi grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Farsi

Master Farsi — from لطفا یک سیب بده to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • AI tutor to answer your grammar questions