Treating words of other parts of speech as a noun is called nominalization. For example, in Persian, an adjective can be nominalized and function exactly like a noun. Nominalized adjectives can even take plural suffix and have plural form. Both “-hâ” and “-ân” can be added to other parts of speech to pluralize them. The suffix “-ân” can indicate the animacy of the plural form. Nominalization is very common and productive in Persian.

Adjectives

In English, adjectives are nominalized with the definite article: “the poor”. However, they are not completely treated as a noun and do not take plural suffix: “the poors” is incorrect in English. In the following examples, nominalized adjectives are in singular form:

خوب، بد، زشت
⟨xub, bad, zešt⟩
the good, the bad, and the ugly
دارا و ندار
⟨dârâ vo nadâr⟩
the rich and the poor

However, English does not have an exact equivalent for plural adjectives such as ⟨خوبها⟩ and ⟨داراها و ندارها⟩. The following table demonstrates more examples from singular and plural nominalized adjectives.

Singular
Nominalized Adjective
Plural
Nominalized Adjective
زخمی
⟨zaxmi⟩
the wounded
زخمیها
⟨zaxmihâ⟩
زخمیان
⟨zaxmiyân⟩
the wounded
بیکار
⟨bikâr⟩
the unemployed
بیکارها
⟨bikârhâ⟩
بیکاران
⟨bikârân⟩
the unemployed
سوئدی
⟨Suedi⟩
the Swedish, Swede
سوئدیها
⟨Suedihâ⟩
سوئدیان
⟨Suediyân⟩
the Swedish, Swedes

Participles

Participles of a verb can function as a noun as well. The following examples are from past active participle.

Singular
Nominalized Participle
Plural
Nominalized Participle
گفته
⟨gofte⟩
statement
(literally: the said)
گفته‌ها
⟨goftehâ⟩
statements
شنیده
⟨šenide⟩
rumor
(literally: the heard)
شنیده‌ها
⟨šenidehâ⟩
rumors
خواسته
⟨xwâste⟩
desire, wish
(literally: the wanted)
خواسته‌ها
⟨xwâstehâ⟩
desires, wishes

Infinitives

The infinitive of a verb can function as a noun and even have a plural form. Since English verbs do not have an exact infinitive form, it is not possible to give a close literal translation for the following examples (to-go-es = going-s).

همه‌ی رفتنها بد نیست
⟨hame-ye raftanhâ bad nist⟩
Not all goings (i.e. departures) are bad

Part of a poem from Saadi in which, infinitives accept possessive adjectives, just like a noun.

تا رفتنش ببینم و گفتنش بشنوم
⟨tâ raftan-aš bebinam o goftan-aš bešnavam⟩
To see his/her going and hear his/her talking
(to see him/her go and hear him/her talk)
از پای تا به سر همه سمع و بصر شدم
⟨az pây tâ be sar, hame samø o basar šodam⟩
I became all ears and eyes

Practice Examples

The following examples are mainly useful for advanced learners.