چیست

Persian

Etymology

A contraction of چی (či, “what”) and است (ast, “is”)

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃiːst]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃʰiːst̪]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃʰiːst̪]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃʰi.jä], [t͡ʃʰiːs]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃʰist̪]

 

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃʰiːst̪]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃʰiːst̪]
  • (Tehrani) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃi.je]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃʰist̪]

Readings
Classical reading?	čīst
Dari reading?	čīst
Iranian reading?	čist
Tajik reading?	čist

Phrase

Dari	چیست
Iranian Persian
Tajik	чист

چیست • (čist)

1. what's (what is)

   عنوان این کتاب چیست؟

   'onvân-e in ketâb čist?

   What's the title of this book?