The Half-Space
A full space means two words, and a half-space means one word.
How It Works
A half-space is a break that stops two letters from joining. It lives inside one word and shows as a very small gap. The space between two words stays a full space.
| Written | Parts | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| می‌روم | می + روم | I go |
| نمی‌روم | نمی + روم | I do not go |
| کتاب‌ها | کتاب + ها | books |
| خانهام | خانه + ام | my house |
Without it, می روم looks like two words, and خانهام runs the letters together. After a silent ه, the half-space stops the ه from joining the ending ام.
You will meet the half-space in present-tense verbs and in plurals.
Examples (5)
- من به مکتب می‌روم.
I go to school.
می‌روم has a half-space between می and روم.
- من چای نمی‌خورم.
I do not drink tea.
نمی‌خورم has a half-space between نمی and خورم.
- کتاب‌ها اینجا استند.
The books are here.
The plural ـها is tied to کتاب by a half-space.
- خانهام کلان است.
My house is big.
The half-space between خانه and ام keeps the ه from joining the ending.
- احمد کتاب‌های خوب دارد.
Ahmad has good books.
The half-space comes before های, so the plural stays close to کتاب.
Common Mistakes
Typing a full space inside a verb.
من به مکتب می روم.من به مکتب می‌روم.A full space makes می and روم two words. Type a half-space between them.
Typing a full space before ها.
کتاب ها اینجا استند.کتاب‌ها اینجا استند.ها is a plural ending, not a word. Tie it to the noun with a half-space.
Related Patterns
- The Present Tense
Most present-tense verbs start with می.
Level 2 - Saying No in the Present
The negative present starts with نمی.
Level 2 - ـهاPlurals with ـها
The plural ـها is tied to the noun with a half-space.
Level 1 - Letters That Join and Letters That Stay Apart
Letters that never join also leave a small gap inside a word.
Foundations
Practice The Half-Space in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Dari lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
