ـها

Persian

Etymology

Inherited from Middle Persian 𐭩𐭧𐭠 (-īhā).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [.hɑː]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [.hɑː]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [.hɑː]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [.ʔɑː]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [.ʔɔː]

 

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [.hɒː]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [.hɒː]
  • (Tehrani) IPA^(key): [.ʔɒː]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [.hɔ]

Readings
Classical reading?
Dari reading?
Iranian reading?
Tajik reading?

• Note: The plural suffix always bears the primary stress in a word. گفتگو (goftogu) - گفتگوها (goftogu-hâ)

Suffix

ـها • (-hâ)

1. a suffix forming the plural of a noun; used for most nouns in colloquial language and inanimate nouns in formal language

   Synonyms: ـان (-ân), ـگان (-gân), ـیان (-yân); ـات (-ât); ـین (-in); ـون (-un)

Usage notes

Although not reflected in all writing, this suffix should not attach the ه to the preceding character, though neither should any space should be written. In computing, this is accomplished with a zero-width non-joiner. For example, while some may write the plural of شب (šab, “night”) as شبها or شب ها (typically for convenience, as many Persian keyboards do not have a ZWNJ), the preferred normal form would be شب‌ها (šab-hâ), with the ب and ه separated, but without a substantial amount of intermediary space. Though this rule is not compulsory in general, and the suffix may be joined to the preceding word or separated, if the preceding word ends in a silent ه, it must be separated.