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Persian Lesson 1 – The Alphabet, Short Vowels, Letters B, P & T

This is the first Farsi lesson. For those who are, to some extent, familiar with these basics of Persian language, it might seem redundant. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, we are going to learn Persian from the very scratch that I think will be more helpful. Little by little, we will make great progress to begin advanced Persian that will let you communicate with others in Persian in both oral and written. In near future, you will find yourself speaking, reading, and even writing in Persian. These all can only be achieved through practicing these simple steps, which make learning as easy as possible.

Lesson 1 (Start from the very beginning!)

Like anything else, you’ll have to learn some basics first, and it’s inevitable! In these lessons, I have tried hard to simplify the rules as much as possible. However, it’s a new language for you and requires at least a little bit of effort if not very much! All you have to do is be patient and follow the instructions one by one. In the meantime, we are going to learn the Persian letters and the way they are pronounced and of course we will do it step by step to make sure that everything is quite clear. After you got a little familiarity with some basics you would see that it’s really as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Unlike western languages, Persian is written and read from right to left.

2. Persian consists of 32 letters. Some of them have small and big form like A / a in English while others have only one form. You don’t need to memorize all of them now. Just be patient enough to learn it one by one. In the end you’ll see your progress.

3. As you know, English words cannot be pronounced without these five letters: A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y as in BY. These are called vowels. In Persian, however, there are no letters considered as vowels. Instead, we put some sounds on or under the letters to make them readable. There are six main sounds in Persian recognized as vowels, three short vowels and three long vowels. Remember that these are not letters. These are sounds that come with letters and make them pronounceable. Today we will learn short vowels.

The representatives (symbols) of these sounds (vowels) are as follows:

1-   Do you see the small symbol on A? If this sign sits on a letter, the letter will be pronounced as /æ/ in dad.

2-  If this sign, which is exactly written in the same way as in number one, sits under a letter, it will be pronounced as /e/ in set.

3-  If this sign, which has a circle on his head, sits on a letter, it will be pronounced as /o/ in border.

Note: this sign sits on the letters only.

These three sounds are called short vowels.

Now that you are familiar with these three short vowels you are ready to learn a couple of letters to practice with these sounds.

Today we are going to learn three big letters as well as their small forms.

1-  This is the big letter ‘B’ in Persian. In the meantime, you don’t need to learn how to write it. We are just trying to pronounce it with the help of those three short vowels above. Ready? Don’t worry. I’ll write it for you. All you have to do is pronounce it.

This is /bæ/ as in battery.

This one is /be/ as in bed.

This one is /bo/ as in border.

Try to repeat it for a couple of times.

2-  This one is the small letter ‘b’ in Persian. Now try to pronounce this letter in the same way. Don’t forget to read from right to left. You will say. 

Don’t be afraid! It’s not that much difficult. Don’t believe me? Click here to listen.

B letters

Note: big letters come at the end of the words and may stand either attached or separated from other letters (they are separable), while the small letters come at the beginning or in the middle of the words and are attached to some other letters (they are inseparable). There is only one exception that will be explained later.

3- This one is the big letter ‘P’ in Persian. Try to pronounce it with the short vowels.

as /pæ/ in pad.

as /pe/in pet.

as /po/in pork.

4-   This one is the small letter ‘p’ in Persian. Try to pronounce it. Don’t forget to read from right to left. You will say:  

Need help? Click here to listen.

P letters

5-  This one is big letter ‘T’ in Persian. Try to pronounce it with the short vowels.

as /tæ/ in tab.

as /te/ in tennis.

as /to/ in torn.

6-  This is the small letter ‘t’. Don’t forget to read from right to left. Try to pronounce it. 

Still need help? Click here.

T letters

Ok. With this we come to the end of lesson one. I hope you have enjoyed it. Make sure to check the Useful drills now. Don’t forget to visit this page every weekend. This site is updated weekly.

That’s it for today. Feel tired? Hit me

Click here if you want to write in Persian.

Lesson 1

241 Comments

  1. Kashif Syed
    January 18, 2013 @ 6:16 pm

    Its very useful website for persian language but Farsi(Dari) is quite different due to grammar and routine way of communication or slang.

  2. yehya
    January 20, 2013 @ 7:07 pm

    who is want to learn Kurdish? Kurdish is my language but I now Persian very well . and i write Persian poem.
    هه ر که س له ره کورده ریپله ی کاته وه .

  3. Afzal Aziz
    January 22, 2013 @ 8:31 am

    If any one have a complete course for persian then kindly send me

  4. na.
    January 23, 2013 @ 5:45 pm

    Hi every one,
    I was searching for a web-site to learn Persian for some one who wants to learn as a second language and I found this website but I think for someone who has completely different alphabet may be first idea would be just start learning talking with English alphabet and later on start learning to read and write. Is it possible in this way to learn in this website or juts one have to start with Alphabet?
    Thanks,na.

  5. Gulistan M. Malik
    January 27, 2013 @ 8:54 pm

    Good &helpful Web sit Thanks

  6. Delband
    February 7, 2013 @ 6:35 pm

    يكى از آرزو هاى من هميشه اين بود كه مردمى از بقيه كشور ها بخواهندفارسى ياد بگيرند
    Guys i am a native persian speaker and i studied( adabiat farsi )in school & it will be my honor to help you, so any problem or question dont think about it, just ask me:)
    Yahoo: [email protected]
    Skype: delband.behdadfar

  7. Isabella
    February 10, 2013 @ 7:30 pm

    KHeili Kheili MAMnun,
    Thnaks a lot, keep up the good work!

  8. Nancy
    February 11, 2013 @ 4:44 pm

    I’m a lesbian and I was wondering if there are any ways I can communicate with Iranian lesbians while in Iran for my trip. Are there special words I should know? Thanks!

    • WHoCarEs?
      August 11, 2013 @ 9:07 pm

      Watch your words ,, as a friend i want to give you an advice ,, unfortunately iran isnt a free country right now,, and the regim is islamic with islamic rules so any kind of homosexuality do does have strong punishments , so if you want to travel to iran be careful and forget about lesbian things:) just have fun with beautiful places and nice people;)

  9. mohamed anees
    February 13, 2013 @ 12:40 pm

    thank you so much dear sir,
    it is really helpful for all kind of people.now i am very much interested to learn persian.

  10. Rueka
    February 20, 2013 @ 10:39 pm

    Thank you so much for the first lesson. Learning Farsi was fun and I know it will continue to be. I think I can do this!

    R

  11. Samana
    March 2, 2013 @ 7:47 pm

    I always had a desire to learn parsian, but didn’t know how? We get chance to watch some nice persian serials with english sub title & through this i have learned few words, it’s so interesting. Also got the opportunity to visit Iran,went for ziyarat, it’s an amazing country with such sweet people. Infact didn’t feel like coming back to my country. And fortunately I come across this very helpful website. Today is my 1st day here but I learned quite good. Thanks! And hope to continue.

  12. malik javed
    March 4, 2013 @ 8:48 am

    Thanks, good and helpfull web.

  13. Herri
    March 6, 2013 @ 6:27 am

    this is the best site i ever visited, more than youtube

  14. Georg Huber, Germany
    March 11, 2013 @ 10:34 am

    Aghaye Hassan – Almani hastam —-and i really have some knowledge in learning languages in general and as i want to learn farsi – i got all the books —there are 3 of them – for germans to learn farsi. And of course i have your internet course. – And please let me say that from all the farsi – courses your course is the best one! Really! 1.) The big problem of using presens —with the changing of words + adding MI—sometimes- sometimes not. —This big problem is ONLY solved in your course by avoiding present tense until to a late state…..with all other books – courses – hardly i learned a new word- infinitiv – i have to change it to make it present tense—-this is enormously confusing – and not very helpfull. – 2.) The problem in learning languages is for me to learn already at an early state USEFULL words, words which i could use easily talking to “indigens”. Of course in your farsi-course too my mind reads some words in lesson 28 or 39 (only examples) where my mind says NO—-i will not learn this word….for example: To publish…..only a little example…For sure agha ye Hassan azziz, i will not need this word going to Tehroon 3 months later….FOR SURE NOT…..and thinking to all those words for “to break”……
    But, but, i just got a new book for farsi-learning for germans—-and this book has for example in lesson 4 the words dejh, aazaar, in lesson 5 the word sabab, shaadaab, dasht, dastaar, sabr, zarraab, zarar……and so on and so on…..—and dear agha ye Hassan, compared with this book and my other farsi-learning-books….you really are an IDEAL in using USEFULL words. I know that the problem with persian/arab writing forces a teacher sometimes to use a word for showing a certain letter – but, honestly, i think sometimes these authors are too lazy to find a USEFULL word for a certain letter…..and as i told you: My mind revolts and says NO—-i will not learn the word zarraab now….for sure not. –
    For sure in my experience with learning languages i saw many, many pedagogic faults – for example i am not sure if i have to learn numbers in an early state until 2 millions…..- but from these experiences – at least concerning farsi-courses…your course is FAR the best one. —And this for nothing. Thanks Mr. Hassan—-btw i read your book, Bi Parchamaan—
    Georg Huber

    • behshid
      April 21, 2013 @ 12:28 pm

      salam :)
      I’m learning German and my German friend is willing to learn Persian. can you help me in finding some german-persian books?
      I leave my E-mail, send me a msg if you could.
      [email protected]

      Schöne Gruße auf China

  15. kainat
    March 12, 2013 @ 9:14 pm

    aslamo i am 4rm pakistan i want to understand persian language but cant understand this i even do not know a single word about persian can u help me please

    • Suhaib Khan
      May 24, 2013 @ 9:28 am

      yes I can help you and teach you persian with Urdu. this is my contact number. 03468188720. [email protected]

  16. hamid samee
    March 13, 2013 @ 5:15 am

    this is one of the best website of Persian language i have ever seen. i just need to learn it because i am fan of Mulana Romi’s Masnavi and Allama Iqbal’s writings.(Great Site)

  17. AKASH
    March 14, 2013 @ 10:56 am

    i just finished my 1st lesson in 10 minutes and i feel so good….what could be better than this..awesome.

  18. kashif
    March 18, 2013 @ 6:55 am

    Very good teaching website.thanks

  19. Samana
    March 21, 2013 @ 7:34 pm

    Can anyone help me how to say these words in Persian:- hungry, sleep,thirsty, tired, free, crying, working, work, hate, useless, useful, hurt, angry, hit, funny, demand, inside, few, more, eyes, ear, understand, listen, please, truth, pain, injury, fingers, nose, insult, get lost, fly, don’t know, i know, pay attention, reason . THis much for now. Thanks!

    • soha
      November 20, 2013 @ 1:46 pm

      Hi Samana,I’m from iran and I’d like to help you!!
      Hungry=گرسنه(gorosne)
      Sleep=خواب(khab)
      Thirsty=تشنه(teshne)
      tired=خسته(khaste)
      Free=ازاد(azad)
      crying=گریه کردن(gerie kardan)but it’s diferent to say somebody is crying
      I can help you on yahoo if you like [email protected]

  20. Shirin
    March 21, 2013 @ 7:44 pm

    thank you so much for this website – so many have benefited

  21. Samana
    March 22, 2013 @ 7:10 pm

    Waiting for help!

  22. samana
    March 22, 2013 @ 7:24 pm

    Can u help me how to say these words in Persian:- hungry, sleep,thirsty, tired, free, crying, working, work, hate, useless, useful, hurt, angry, hit, funny, demand, inside, few, more, eyes, ear, understand, listen, please, truth, pain, injury, fingers, nose, insult, get lost, fly, don’t know, i know, pay attention, reason . This much for now. Thanks!

    • yutab
      April 3, 2013 @ 2:07 am

      Hi Samana,
      Persian (in Iran) has two accents, written and dialogic. I appreciate your interest for learning my native language and proud to teach you what you’ve asked. I write the translations beside each word in both (written and dialogic) structures. The first part will be written format and the second ones will be dialogic. Hope you to learn fast and enjoy!

      Note: Some of words have same accent in written and dialogic. I’ve written them once.
      Attention: ‘a’ for (ask) and ‘à’ for (are)

      hungry: W = گرسنه (gorosne), L = گشنه (goshne)
      sleep: W & L = خواب (khàb)
      thirsty: W & L = تاریخ (tàrikh)
      tired: W & L = خسته (khaste)
      free: W & L = آزاد (àzàd)
      crying: W & L = در حال گریه کردن – یا – گریه کردن (dar hàl e gerye kardan – OR – gerye kardan)
      working: W & L = در حال کار کردن – یا – کار کردن (dar hàl e kàr kardan – OR – kàr kardan)
      work: W & L = کار (kàr)
      hate: W & L = نفرت (nefrat)
      useless: W & L = بی فایده (bi fàyde)
      useful: W & L = مفید (mofid)
      hurt: W & L = ضرر (zarar)
      angry: W & L = عصبانی (asabàni)
      hit: W & L = زدن (zadan)
      funny: W & L = خنده دار (khande dàr)
      demand: W & L = تقاضا کردن (taghàzà kardan)
      inside: W & L = داخل (dàkhel)
      few: W & L = کم (kam)
      more: W & L = بیشتر (bishtar)
      eyes: W = چشمها (cheshmhà), L = چشا (cheshà)
      ear: W & L = گوش (gush)
      understand: W & L = فهمیدن (fahmidan)
      listen: W & L = گوش کردن (gush kardan)
      please: W & L = لطفاً (lotfan)
      truth: W & L = حقیقت (haghighat)
      pain: W & L = درد (dard)
      injury: W & L = صدمه (sadame)
      fingers: W = انگشتان (angoshtàn), L = انگشتا (angoshtà)
      nose: W & L = بینی (bini)
      insult: W & L = توهین (touhin)
      get lost: W & L = گمشده (gom shode)
      fly: W & L = پرواز (parvàz)
      don’t know: W = ندانستن (nadànestan), L = ندونستن (nadunestan)
      i know: W = می دانم (midànam), L = می دونم (midunam)
      pay attention: W & L = دقت کردن (deghat kardan)
      reason: W & L = دلیل (dalil)

      • yutab
        April 3, 2013 @ 2:10 am

        Correction:

        thirsty: W & L = تشنه (teshne)

  23. yasinarslan
    March 26, 2013 @ 5:17 pm

    Hi everyone :) I am looking for someone to teach me Persian. It could be English practice as well, thanks in advance. :) my Skype
    id:myasinarslan

  24. H. Hassan
    April 15, 2013 @ 6:55 am

    I have tried to learn many languages but it didn’t work for me, I will see how learning Iranian will go with me. Thank you very much for the site.

  25. Talison
    April 16, 2013 @ 9:53 pm

    Hands-down, the most patient approach towards teaching a new language. Good stuff Hassan, and thank you.

  26. sharad
    May 2, 2013 @ 7:29 pm

    Thanks for the website. It was my first day with Farsi. I am from India and would try learn the basics. It is very convenient and lesson 1, I am through with. Keep updating. Best regards.

    • Torgom Ter-Mkrtchyan
      May 5, 2013 @ 9:18 am

      so happy having found the site, being originally from Armenian I have always wanted to learn this nice language, hope I wi do it prety soon

  27. mahsa
    May 7, 2013 @ 4:05 am

    Hi all,
    I am a native speaker of Parsi living in Australia. I will be more than happy to help anyone interested in learning our language.
    Good luck to all of you :)

    • JomarGenavia
      May 7, 2013 @ 9:11 am

      Can you help me please, I want to know some of words to be specific can you give at least a list of persian words with english translation I’m having trouble finding more words, I will Appreciate It by the way this is my yahoo email [email protected] just send me some If you can, Best regards Az Doostat Jomar from philippines

  28. JP
    May 8, 2013 @ 12:04 am

    Great site, thank you! I’m a 2nd generation American Persian and can’t speak the language. Hopefully this website will help remedy that!

  29. tasneem
    May 9, 2013 @ 7:07 pm

    salam i really want to learn persian ,i hav been in search of some 1 who can teach farsi for around an year or so,is there any iranian lady who can help me out bcos i dont want to learn it wid a male

    • ali
      December 21, 2014 @ 5:55 pm

      My name is Ali ,I’m native Persian speaker .at the moment ,I’m improving my English , let’s have language exchange .I have a group on whataspp.Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss.
      Email :[email protected]

  30. louieM
    May 16, 2013 @ 4:29 am

    KHELI KHELI MAMNOON! Daste shoma dard nakhone…this SITE IS SOOOO awesome, Im american/mexican, my first language is English, second is Spanish, I work at an Adult Day Health Care Center in California, and I work with about 130+ persian patients a day (not including staff) most of them dont speak ANY english, So Im here doing research to break that language barrier even more so, Im learning rather fast as I listen to the language everyday, But this sight has a lot of good information. Thanks once again for all your work.

  31. Amir
    June 15, 2013 @ 9:44 am

    Salaam! I’m Amir
    whoever want to learn Farsi and need help can send me email.I’ll be so so proud to help people learn Farsi!
    [email protected]

  32. Iqbal
    June 22, 2013 @ 6:29 am

    I am learning Farsi for couple of years and I have a good storage of Persian words in my mind and I know well how to write in this language. I am frustrated that I still can not talk in person beyond two sentences and I get nervous. I guess I need an informal environment with Farsi speakers. If some one willing to help me please write me at [email protected].

  33. an
    June 26, 2013 @ 10:31 am

    i just started. when i saw the letters from the begining it was strange, but i liked the first lesson. waiting the second one .. :))) thank you

  34. Antonio Monteiro
    June 30, 2013 @ 9:19 pm

    It’s my firt lesson and I enjoyed very much your website; thanks a lot.

  35. Laura
    July 9, 2013 @ 9:26 pm

    I just can not get the sound to come on where it says “click here to listen” Am I doing it wrong?

  36. sfh555
    July 30, 2013 @ 1:31 pm

    Hey, I am an English speaker. I want to learn Persian from the bottom. I can understand different languages like Urdu & little bit of Arabic.

    I can teach English in return.
    my skype Id: info.fakhar
    email: [email protected]

    Thank you.
    S.Fakhar

  37. Shahed
    October 20, 2013 @ 8:15 pm

    Hi. I’m trying to learn Farsi. I want to learn like the alphabet first and then basic words. Thank you.

  38. Iris Marquela Santamaria Jurado
    October 23, 2013 @ 1:22 am

    hola,estoy contenta de haber encontrado estas lecciones ,siga dejando mas palabra y frases,quiero aprender ,gracia.Dios les bendiga

  39. joohee kim
    November 23, 2013 @ 4:41 pm

    wow. good site. thank you very so much. I’m korean. I love iran. I will work hard to learn. thanks again ^^

  40. Caleb
    November 28, 2013 @ 12:43 pm

    thanks for this. I have no idea what made me decide to learn this language, but I am already starting to make out some words in text already and I just started learning today. It’s a very easy language.

  41. Frank
    December 5, 2013 @ 1:12 am

    I ordered the DVD school children’s disk and it either is blank or has an extension that won’t open on any computer I have. Whom do I contact to redress this issue?

  42. Marie
    December 30, 2013 @ 12:53 pm

    Sâlam!
    I’m trying to learn Persian, and i’m soooooooo glad that i found this site!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you all so much for your help!!!!

  43. Farhad22
    December 30, 2013 @ 11:31 pm

    salam be hamegi===hello everybody :D
    i really like to learn English.
    i’m native FARSI speaker…so feel free and contact me at: [email protected] to exchange language’s.by the way native TURKISH,ARABIC,SPANISH speaker’s are also welcome.
    NOTICE: there is a dot between surfer and boy in my Email address.
    looking forward to see you and teach you :)
    doosetoon daram.
    khodahafez.
    REGARDS

  44. Mushtaq Solangi
    January 12, 2014 @ 7:32 pm

    Hi friends, plz enlist me also in new learners of PERSIAN. please teach and guide me in this regard. [email protected]

  45. Mushtaq Solangi
    January 12, 2014 @ 7:34 pm

    I am also at facebook with same email [email protected]

  46. Rehan Sheikh
    January 16, 2014 @ 6:12 pm

    interested in learnin’ farsi…plz help me.

    • Reza
      January 16, 2014 @ 6:19 pm

      Sure, shoot me an email and we can set up a time

  47. Kay Shields
    January 24, 2014 @ 1:16 am

    Wow, I like this… it really helped. I am now the only person in my classes that knows a foreign language! But that’s not why I learned the language… I love learning languages, and I have gone to 24 different websites who say they teach languages, but don’t. They only say how to pronounce the alphabet, and teach you a few words, then set you free into the world. It’s like sending a baby bird into the skies without teaching it how to fly. Anyway, it really helped… do you have anymore websites like this one, except on different languages?

    Thanks,
    Kay

  48. Harun Abakay
    January 27, 2014 @ 9:15 am

    Hi, im trying to learn persian, this lesson was great fro me, and i need learn specially speaking farsi for my job, i saw some words with meanings up from ” YUTAB” , can i request more words, here is my mail: [email protected]
    Thanks a lot

  49. Erik
    February 11, 2014 @ 7:39 am

    Before I begin my pursuit of learning Persian (Farsi), I would like formally thank you first for providing this thorough website. After doing a considerable amount of research, there are simply no sites that take you from scratch to a comprehensive understanding of any Middle Eastern language. Thank you again, as I will begin using your website shortly, and quite often, each and every day, and hopefully accomplish my goal of becoming fluent in the langage.

    – Erik

    • Nar Gess
      April 10, 2014 @ 1:12 pm

      Hi dear I can help you if you want :)

  50. Maral
    February 27, 2014 @ 1:13 pm

    I want to thank you so very much for this great site. I’m learning Persian only from your site, and I’d always wanted to learn it, but it’s too expensive to learn it. This is so great, thank you! Please go on like this.