و، یا، اما، ولی
And, Or and but
اما and ولی mean the same, and a Persian comma comes before them.
How It Works
Four small words link what you say. Each one sits between the two parts it joins.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| و | and | چای و نان |
| یا | or | چای یا آب |
| اما | but | خسته استم، اما خوشحال استم |
| ولی | but | سرد است، ولی خوب است |
و is a word of its own, so write a full space on both sides. یا offers a choice, so it is the word for questions like شیرچای یا چای سبز؟
اما and ولی are twins, so pick either one. Put the Persian comma ، before them.
In a list of three or more, use ، between the first items and و before the last one: سیب، انگور و انار.
Examples (5)
- چای و نان اینجا استند.
The tea and the bread are here.
و joins two nouns.
- شیرچای یا چای سبز؟
Milk tea or green tea?
یا offers a choice.
- من خسته استم، اما خوشحال استم.
I am tired, but I am happy.
اما joins two parts that pull apart.
- چای گرم، ولی نان سرد است.
The tea is hot, but the bread is cold.
ولی works like اما.
- مریم و لیلا دوست استند.
Maryam and Leila are friends.
و joins two names, and the verb is plural.
Common Mistakes
Joining و to the word before it, the way it sounds in speech.
چایو نانچای و نانIn writing, و is its own word with a space on both sides.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- همAlso with هم
هم adds one more person or thing, like also.
Level 1 - هم … هم، نه … نه، یا … یاBoth, Neither and Either
هم … هم, نه … نه and یا … یا pair these words in a longer pattern.
Level 3 - Yes or No Questions
A question with یا asks you to pick one of two things, and a yes or no question asks for بلی or نه.
Level 1 - چون، زیرا، به خاطرGiving Reasons
چون and زیرا join a reason to a result.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice و، یا، اما، ولی in Bubblegum
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