Learning Farsi: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Farsi course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Farsi is like
Persian is Indo-European — grammatically close to Hindi/Urdu and far simpler than Arabic, despite the shared script. No grammatical gender, no cases, regular plurals (add -hā), and the verb goes last. 'I tea want' = چای میخواهم. You'll recognise a huge amount of vocabulary.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Persian reads right-to-left in the Arabic script, but it's far simpler than Arabic — and full of words you know.
- ↤ RTL — Persian reads right-to-left (Arabic script), as in start from the right.
- خ kh — like the 'ch' in Scottish loch, as in khodāhāfez (bye).
- ق gh/q — a throaty g/k from the back, as in qahve (coffee).
- آ ā — a long 'aa' as in father, as in āb (water) = aab.
- و — sometimes 'v', sometimes 'oo', as in do (two).
- ه h — a soft h, often silent at the end, as in qahve.
- چ / پ / گ / ژ — the four letters Persian adds to Arabic: ch, p, g, zh, as in چای chāy (tea).
- stress — stress usually falls on the last syllable, as in sal-ĀM.
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Farsi | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| سلام | salām | hello |
| ممنون | mamnun | thank you |
| لطفا | lotfan | please |
| بله | bale | yes |
| نه | na | no |
| خداحافظ | khodāhāfez | goodbye |
| ببخشید | bebakhshid | sorry / excuse me |
| یک | yek | 1 |
| دو | do | 2 |
| سه | se | 3 |
| ده | dah | 10 |
| صد | sad | 100 |
| آب | āb | water |
| چای | chāy | tea |
| نان | nān | bread |
| حساب | hesāb | the bill |
| خوشمزه | khoshmaze | delicious |
| کجا؟ | kojā | where? |
| چپ | chap | left |
| راست | rāst | right |
| دستشویی | dastshui | toilet |
| فرودگاه | forudgāh | airport |
| کمک! | komak | Help! |
| نمیفهمم | nemifahmam | I don't understand |
| دکتر | doktor | doctor |
| پلیس | polis | police |
How the Farsi course is structured
The course has 31 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings — سلام · ممنون · خداحافظ
- I want" میخواهم — میخواهم · چای · چند
- Numbers — یک to ده
- Food — نان · حساب
- Getting around — کجا · چپ/راست
- I have / do you have" دارم — دارم · دارید · هست · ندارم
- Talking about the past — رفتم · خوردم · دیدم
- Mine & yours — اسم من · مال من
- Time & when — الان · امروز
- Question words — چی · کجا
- Where things are — اینجا · نزدیک
- Need & can — لازم دارم · میتوانم
- Joining ideas — چون · اما · هم
- Help & emergencies — کمک · پلیس
- Shopping & bargaining — چند است · گران
- Family & people — مادر · پدر
- Colours & describing — رنگ · بزرگ
- At the restaurant — منو · صورتحساب
- Days, dates & months — روزهای هفته
- Weather & small talk — گرم · سرد
- Transport — اتوبوس · قطار
- Money & prices — هزار · پول
- Hotel & booking — اتاق · رزرو
- Phone & internet — وایفای · رمز
- How I feel — خوشحال · خسته
- Everyday routines — بیدار · میخوابم
- At the doctor — مریض · درد
- Countries & languages — اهل کجا · صحبت
- Making plans — برویم؟ · باشه
- Politeness & survival — لطفاً · ببخشید
- Final scene — put it all together — a capstone scene: no new words, just everything you've built
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings
Key pieces: سلام · ممنون · خداحافظ
Persian is full of words you already know. Tap each and copy the sound.
- سلام (salām) — hello Memory hook: ≈ salaam (Urdu/Hindi).
- ممنون (mamnun) — thank you
- خداحافظ (khodāhāfez) — goodbye Memory hook: ≈ khuda hafiz!.
To say “Hello” in Farsi: سلام (salām). Built from سلام = hello. you already say this.
To say “Thank you” in Farsi: ممنون (mamnun). Built from ممنون = thanks.
'Yes' is بله (bale), 'no' is نه (na), 'please' is لطفا (lotfan).
To say “Please” in Farsi: لطفا (lotfan). Built from لطف = kindness; -ا = adverb.
To say “Goodbye” in Farsi: خداحافظ (khodāhāfez). Built from khodā = God; hāfez = protector. khuda hafiz — exactly the Urdu phrase.
I want" میخواهم
Key pieces: میخواهم · چای · چند
'I want' is میخواهم (mikhāham). And tea is چای (chāy) — chai!
To say “I want tea” in Farsi: چای میخواهم (chāy mikhāham). Built from چای = tea; میخواهم = I want. چای = chai.
Water is آب (āb), coffee is قهوه (qahve).
To say “I want water” in Farsi: آب میخواهم (āb mikhāham). Built from آب = water; میخواهم = I want. āb = water, as in Urdu.
'This' is این (in); 'how much is it?' is چند است؟ (chand ast).
To say “How much is this?” in Farsi: این چند است؟ (in chand ast). Built from این = this; چند = how much; است = is.
'I don't want' is نمیخواهم (nemikhāham).
To say “I don't want” in Farsi: نمیخواهم (nemikhāham). Built from نمی = not; میخواهم = I want.
Numbers
Key pieces: یک to ده
Persian numbers are very close to Hindi/Urdu — listen!
- یک (yek) — 1
- دو (do) — 2 Memory hook: = do!.
- سه (se) — 3
- چهار (chahār) — 4 Memory hook: ≈ chār.
- پنج (panj) — 5 Memory hook: = panj/paanch.
- شش (shesh) — 6 Memory hook: ≈ chhe.
- هفت (haft) — 7 Memory hook: ≈ saat.
- هشت (hasht) — 8 Memory hook: ≈ aath.
- نه (noh) — 9
- ده (dah) — 10 Memory hook: = das/dah.
To say “two” in Farsi: دو (do). Built from دو = 2. identical to Hindi do.
One hundred is صد (sad).
To say “one hundred” in Farsi: صد (sad). Built from صد = 100.
Food
Key pieces: نان · حساب
- غذا (ghazā) — food
- نان (nān) — bread Memory hook: = naan!.
- آب (āb) — water
To say “The menu, please” in Farsi: منو لطفا (menu lotfan). Built from منو = menu; لطفا = please.
'I don't eat meat' is گوشت نمیخورم (gusht nemikhoram) — gusht ≈ gosht!
To say “I don't eat meat” in Farsi: گوشت نمیخورم (gusht nemikhoram). Built from گوشت = meat; نمیخورم = I don't eat. گوشت gusht ≈ gosht.
To say “Delicious” in Farsi: خوشمزه (khoshmaze). Built from خوش = good; مزه = taste.
The bill is حساب (hesāb) — hisaab!
To say “The bill, please” in Farsi: حساب لطفا (hesāb lotfan). Built from حساب = bill; لطفا = please. حساب hesāb ≈ hisaab.
Getting around
Key pieces: کجا · چپ/راست
'Where?' is کجا (kojā). Bathroom is دستشویی (dastshui).
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Farsi: دستشویی کجاست؟ (dastshui kojāst). Built from دستشویی = bathroom; کجاست = where is.
- چپ (chap) — left Memory hook: ≈ chap (Hindi).
- راست (rāst) — right Memory hook: ≈ raast.
- مستقیم (mostaghim) — straight
To say “To the right” in Farsi: به راست (be rāst). Built from به = to; راست = right.
To say “Where is the airport?” in Farsi: فرودگاه کجاست؟ (forudgāh kojāst). Built from فرودگاه = airport; کجاست = where is.
To say “I want a taxi” in Farsi: تاکسی میخواهم (tāksi mikhāham). Built from تاکسی = taxi; میخواهم = I want.
If lost: 'I don't understand' is نمیفهمم (nemifahmam).
I have / do you have" دارم
Key pieces: دارم · دارید · هست · ندارم
'I have' is دارم (dāram); 'do you have?' is دارید؟ (dārid). These are close to Hindi/Urdu 'rakhnā/dāram'.
To say “I have a question (سوال)” in Farsi: سوال دارم (soʾāl dāram). Built from سوال = question; دارم = I have. soʾāl ≈ sawāl (Hindi/Urdu).
To say “Do you have tea?” in Farsi: چای دارید؟ (chāy dārid). Built from چای = tea; دارید = do you have.
'There is' is هست (hast); 'I don't have' is ندارم (nadāram).
To say “Is there wifi?” in Farsi: وایفای هست؟ (wifi hast). Built from وایفای = wifi; هست = is there.
To say “I don't have time (وقت)” in Farsi: وقت ندارم (vaght nadāram). Built from وقت = time; ندارم = I don't have. vaght ≈ waqt.
Talking about the past
Key pieces: رفتم · خوردم · دیدم
Persian past is beautifully regular: take the past stem and add -am for 'I'. رفتن (raftan, to go) → رفتم (raftam, I went). Very close to Hindi!
To say “I went” in Farsi: رفتم (raftam). Built from رفت = went; -am = I.
To say “I ate” in Farsi: خوردم (khordam). Built from خورد = ate; -am = I.
To say “I saw” in Farsi: دیدم (didam). Built from دید = saw; -am = I.
'You went' is رفتی (rafti). Add a place with به (be = to).
To say “I went to the airport” in Farsi: به فرودگاه رفتم (be forudgāh raftam). Built from به = to; فرودگاه = airport; رفتم = I went.
Mine & yours
Key pieces: اسم من · مال من
The easiest 'my' is … من (… -e man), 'of me'. اسم من (esm-e man) = my name; کتاب من = my book.
To say “my name” in Farsi: اسم من (esm-e man). Built from اسم = name; من = my (of me).
To say “my book (کتاب)” in Farsi: کتاب من (ketāb-e man). Built from کتاب = book; من = my. ketāb ≈ kitaab.
To say “your name” in Farsi: اسم شما (esm-e shomā). Built from اسم = name; شما = your (polite).
To say “my friend (دوست)” in Farsi: دوست من (dust-e man). Built from دوست = friend; من = my. dust = friend (≈ dost).
Time & when
Key pieces: الان · امروز
Persian time words are short and go early in the sentence. Learn a handful and you can pin any action to now, today or tomorrow.
- الان (al-AAN) — now
- امروز (em-ROOZ) — today
- فردا (far-DAA) — tomorrow
- دیروز (dee-ROOZ) — yesterday
- کِی (KEY) — when
- حالا (haa-LAA) — now / at this point
To say “I want to go now.” in Farsi: الان میخواهم بروم. (al-AAN mee-khaa-HAM be-ra-VAM). Built from الان = now; میخواهم = I want; بروم = (that) I go.
To say “When do you come?” in Farsi: کِی میآیی؟ (KEY mee-AA-yee). Built from کِی = when; میآیی = you come.
To say “Today I am here.” in Farsi: امروز اینجا هستم. (em-ROOZ EEN-jaa HAS-tam). Built from امروز = today; اینجا = here; هستم = I am.
To say “Tomorrow I go.” in Farsi: فردا میروم. (far-DAA mee-RA-vam). Built from فردا = tomorrow; میروم = I go.
Question words
Key pieces: چی · کجا
Persian question words usually sit right where the answer would go, and the sentence order barely changes. Master these five and you can ask almost anything: what, where, who, why, how.
- چی (CHEE) — what (spoken)
- کجا (ko-JAA) — where
- کی (KEE) — who
- چرا (che-RAA) — why
- چطور (che-TOR) — how
- چند (CHAND) — how many / how much
To say “What is this?” in Farsi: این چیست؟ (EEN CHEEST). Built from این = this; چیست = what-is.
To say “Where are you?” in Farsi: کجا هستی؟ (ko-JAA HAS-tee). Built from کجا = where; هستی = you are.
To say “Who are you?” in Farsi: شما کی هستید؟ (sho-MAA KEE has-TEED). Built from شما = you (polite); کی = who; هستید = you are.
To say “Why not?” in Farsi: چرا نه؟ (che-RAA NA). Built from چرا = why; نه = no.
Where things are
Key pieces: اینجا · نزدیک
Position words let you say where things sit. In Persian the place word comes before the verb است (is).
- اینجا (EEN-jaa) — here
- آنجا (AAN-jaa) — there
- نزدیک (naz-DEEK) — near
- دور (DOOR) — far
- داخل (DAA-khel) — inside
- بیرون (bee-ROON) — outside
To say “It is here.” in Farsi: اینجاست. (EEN-jaast). Built from اینجا = here; -است = is.
To say “The hotel is near.” in Farsi: هتل نزدیک است. (ho-TEL naz-DEEK ast). Built from هتل = hotel; نزدیک = near; است = is.
To say “It is far.” in Farsi: دور است. (DOOR ast). Built from دور = far; است = is. opposite of نزدیک.
To say “Is it inside?” in Farsi: داخل است؟ (DAA-khel ast). Built from داخل = inside; است = is.
Need & can
Key pieces: لازم دارم · میتوانم
Three power verbs: need, can and must. They let you make requests and state obligations politely.
- لازم دارم (laa-ZEM DAA-ram) — I need
- میتوانم (mee-taa-VAA-nam) — I can
- باید (BAA-yad) — must / have to
- کمک (ko-MAK) — help
- آب (AAB) — water
To say “I need water.” in Farsi: آب لازم دارم. (AAB laa-ZEM DAA-ram). Built from آب = water; لازم دارم = I need.
To say “Can I help?” in Farsi: میتوانم کمک کنم؟ (mee-taa-VAA-nam ko-MAK ko-nam). Built from میتوانم = I can; کمک = help; کنم = (that) I do.
To say “I must go.” in Farsi: باید بروم. (BAA-yad be-ra-VAM). Built from باید = must; بروم = (that) I go.
To say “I need help.” in Farsi: کمک لازم دارم. (ko-MAK laa-ZEM DAA-ram). Built from کمک = help; لازم دارم = I need.
Joining ideas
Key pieces: چون · اما · هم
Small joining words turn simple phrases into real sentences: because, but, also and and. Add خیلی (very) for emphasis.
- چون (CHOON) — because
- اما (am-MAA) — but
- هم (HAM) — also / too
- و (VA) — and
- خیلی (khey-LEE) — very / a lot
To say “I want tea and coffee.” in Farsi: چای و قهوه میخواهم. (chaay VA gah-VE mee-khaa-HAM). Built from چای = tea; و = and; قهوه = coffee; میخواهم = I want.
To say “It is good but expensive.” in Farsi: خوب است اما گران است. (KHOOB ast am-MAA ge-RAAN ast). Built from خوب = good; است = is; اما = but; گران = expensive.
To say “Because I am tired.” in Farsi: چون خسته هستم. (CHOON khas-TE HAS-tam). Built from چون = because; خسته = tired; هستم = I am.
To say “I want it too.” in Farsi: من هم میخواهم. (MAN HAM mee-khaa-HAM). Built from من = I; هم = also; میخواهم = I want.
Help & emergencies
Key pieces: کمک · پلیس
Emergency words are short and loud: کمک! (help!), پلیس (police) and بیمارستان (hospital). Say نمیفهمم if you don't understand.
- کمک (ko-MAK) — help
- پلیس (po-LEES) — police (≈police)
- بیمارستان (bee-maa-res-TAAN) — hospital
- نمیفهمم (ne-mee-fah-MAM) — I don't understand
- خطر (kha-TAR) — danger
To say “Help!” in Farsi: کمک! (ko-MAK). Built from کمک = help.
To say “Call the police!” in Farsi: پلیس را خبر کنید! (po-LEES raa kha-BAR ko-need). Built from پلیس = police; را = (object marker); خبر = notify; کنید = (you) do.
To say “Where is the hospital?” in Farsi: بیمارستان کجاست؟ (bee-maa-res-TAAN ko-JAAST). Built from بیمارستان = hospital; کجا = where; -است = is.
To say “I don't understand.” in Farsi: نمیفهمم. (ne-mee-fah-MAM). Built from نمی = not; میفهمم = I understand.
Shopping & bargaining
Key pieces: چند است · گران
In the bazaar you need to ask the price and push back. چند است؟ means how much, and you can call things گران (expensive) or ارزان (cheap).
- چند است (CHAND ast) — how much is it
- گران (ge-RAAN) — expensive
- ارزان (ar-ZAAN) — cheap
- کمتر (kam-TAR) — less
- قیمت (ghey-MAT) — price
To say “How much is it?” in Farsi: چند است؟ (CHAND ast). Built from چند = how much; است = is.
To say “It is expensive.” in Farsi: گران است. (ge-RAAN ast). Built from گران = expensive; است = is.
To say “Do you have something cheaper?” in Farsi: ارزانتر دارید؟ (ar-zaan-TAR daa-REED). Built from ارزان = cheap; -تر = more (comparative); دارید = you have.
To say “A little less, please.” in Farsi: کمی کمتر، لطفاً. (KA-mee kam-TAR lot-FAN). Built from کمی = a little; کمتر = less; لطفاً = please.
Family & people
Key pieces: مادر · پدر
Persian family words are close cousins of English: مادر≈mother and برادر≈brother. Add -م (-am) to say my.
- خانواده (khaa-ne-vaa-DE) — family
- مادر (maa-DAR) — mother (≈mother)
- پدر (pe-DAR) — father
- برادر (be-raa-DAR) — brother (≈brother)
- خواهر (khaa-HAR) — sister
- همسر (ham-SAR) — spouse
To say “This is my family.” in Farsi: این خانوادهام است. (EEN khaa-ne-vaa-DE-am ast). Built from این = this; خانواده = family; -ام = my; است = is.
To say “My mother is here.” in Farsi: مادرم اینجاست. (maa-DA-ram EEN-jaast). Built from مادر = mother; -م = my; اینجا = here; -است = is.
To say “I have a brother.” in Farsi: یک برادر دارم. (YEK be-raa-DAR DAA-ram). Built from یک = one/a; برادر = brother; دارم = I have.
To say “This is my sister.” in Farsi: این خواهرم است. (EEN khaa-HA-ram ast). Built from این = this; خواهر = sister; -م = my; است = is.
Colours & describing
Key pieces: رنگ · بزرگ
Adjectives in Persian usually come after the noun, linked by a small -e sound. Learn colours and the pair بزرگ (big) / کوچک (small).
- رنگ (RANG) — colour
- قرمز (gher-MEZ) — red
- آبی (AA-bee) — blue
- بزرگ (bo-ZORG) — big
- کوچک (koo-CHAK) — small
- سفید (se-FEED) — white
To say “What colour is it?” in Farsi: چه رنگی است؟ (CHE RAN-gee ast). Built from چه = what; رنگ = colour; -ی = (link); است = is.
To say “A red car.” in Farsi: یک ماشین قرمز. (YEK maa-SHEEN gher-MEZ). Built from یک = a; ماشین = car; قرمز = red.
To say “It is big.” in Farsi: بزرگ است. (bo-ZORG ast). Built from بزرگ = big; است = is.
To say “A small room.” in Farsi: یک اتاق کوچک. (YEK o-TAAGH koo-CHAK). Built from یک = a; اتاق = room; کوچک = small.
To compare: بزرگتر (bozorgtar) = bigger, بزرگترین (bozorgtarin) = biggest, از (az) = than.
- بزرگتر (bo-zorg-TAR) — bigger
- بزرگترین (bo-zorg-ta-REEN) — the biggest
- از (az) — than
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- چی (CHEE): spoken.
- پلیس (po-LEES): ≈police.
- مادر (maa-DAR): ≈mother.
- برادر (be-raa-DAR): ≈brother.
- نفر (na-FAR): counter.
- بقیه پول (ba-ghee-YE POOL): money back.
- رزرو (re-ZERV): ≈reserve.
- تلفن (te-le-FON): ≈telephone.
- دکتر (dok-TOR): ≈doctor.
- اهل (AH-le): native of.
Culture and etiquette
Taarof (ritual politeness)
Offers are made and politely refused several times before accepting. A shopkeeper may even say 'it's nothing' (ghābel nadāre) — insist gently and pay.
Lavish hospitality
Guests are deeply honoured. If invited, bring flowers or sweets, and expect to be fed generously.
Shoes off
Always remove your shoes when entering an Iranian home.
Endless chāy
Tea is offered constantly, often with sugar cubes or dates. Accepting is warm and expected.
Modest dress
Dress modestly; in Iran women cover their hair with a headscarf in public.
Nowruz
Persian New Year (around 21 March) is the great celebration — spring, family visits and the haft-sin table.
Example dialogues
Ordering tea
Server: سلام، چی میخواهید؟ (salām, chi mikhāhid) — Hello, what would you like?
You: یک چای میخواهم، لطفا. (yek chāy mikhāham, lotfan) — I'd like a tea, please.
Server: چیز دیگری؟ (chiz-e digari) — Anything else?
You: چند است؟ (chand ast) — How much is it?
Server: پنج هزار تومان. (panj hezār tomān) — Five thousand toman.
You: ممنون! (mamnun) — Thanks!
Taking a taxi
You: سلام، فرودگاه میروم. (salām, forudgāh miravam) — Hello, I'm going to the airport.
Driver: بله، بفرمایید. (bale, befarmāyid) — Yes, please get in.
You: چقدر طول میکشد؟ (cheghadr tul mikeshad) — How long does it take?
Driver: بیست دقیقه. (bist daghighe) — Twenty minutes.
You: همینجا نگه دارید. ممنون. (haminjā negah dārid, mamnun) — Stop here. Thanks.
Meeting someone
Local: سلام! اسم شما چیست؟ (salām! esm-e shomā chist) — Hello! What's your name?
You: اسم من Alex است. (esm-e man Alex ast) — My name is Alex.
Local: اهل کجا هستید؟ (ahl-e kojā hastid) — Where are you from?
You: من از هند هستم. (man az hend hastam) — I'm from India.
Local: خوش آمدید! (khosh āmadid) — Welcome!
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.