Farsi · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "کیف" in Farsi?

Say "keef", with a long, clear 'ee' vowel, like English 'leaf' but starting with 'k'.

کیف [kiːf]

kif

Single syllable; the vowel must stay a fully long 'ee', not shortened as in English 'kit'.

Listen: کیف

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Sound it out

کی ک is a hard 'k'; ی here is a long 'ee' vowel like in 'see'.

ف ف is 'f' as in 'fit', closing the word.

Hear it in a sentence

کیفم را جا گذاشتم.

Kif-am rā jā gozāshtam.

I left my bag behind.

Listen: کیفم را جا گذاشتم.

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"Kif-am rā jā gozāshtam" attaches the possessive -am to کیف and marks it with را as the definite object of جا گذاشتم, a set phrase (literally 'placed in place') that idiomatically means 'left behind' for objects, distinct from فراموش کردم used for abstract things like appointments.

Where English speakers slip

Because this word looks like it could rhyme with English 'if' or 'life', learners sometimes shorten the vowel; in Persian کیف needs a fully long 'ee', not a short 'i' as in English 'kit'.