برای

For with برای

Level 2

A pronoun can join it as an ending, so برای من and برایم both mean for me.

How It Works

برای means for. It stands before the person who gets something, or before the goal of an action. Nothing else in the sentence moves.

SeparateJoinedMeaning
برای منبرایمfor me
برای توبرایتfor you
برای اوبرایشfor him or her
برای مابرایمانfor us
برای شمابرایتانfor you (polite, or more than one)
برای آن‌هابرایشانfor them

The joined endings are the same ـم، ـت، ـش endings you use for my, your, his and her. Both columns are correct.

برای does not cover every English for. A price takes به: به ۵۰۰ افغانی خریدم (I bought it for 500 afghanis). A length of time takes no extra word: دو سال در هرات بودم (I was in Herat for two years). A place you travel to takes به: به کابل می‌روم.

Examples (5)

  1. این تحفه برای مادرم است.

    This gift is for my mother.

    برای stands before the person who gets the gift.

  2. او برای ما چای می‌آورد.

    She brings tea for us.

    برای ما means for us; او is he or she, and here she.

  3. این کلچه برایت است.

    This cookie is for you.

    برایت joins برای and the ending ـت.

  4. برای درس خواندن به کتابخانه می‌روم.

    I go to the library to study.

    برای before an action gives the reason for doing it.

  5. این پول برای کرایهٔ موتر است.

    This money is for the car fare.

    برای names what the money is for.

Common Mistakes

  • Using برای for a price.

    آن را برای ۵۰۰ افغانی خریدم.
    آن را به ۵۰۰ افغانی خریدم.

    A price takes به. Keep برای for people and purposes.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

برایLevel 2For with برای

Learn This First

برای works like the other small words.

Words in This Pattern

برای