Learn Persian Online | Free & Easy Farsi Lessons
At melalepersian, we have created a series of free Persian lessons that you can view. As an adult or child, you can view lessons to match your level and needs. Our lessons are organized for convenience, and it’s simple to find the correct course for you. Start learning Persian for free today and view our resources developed to make your learning enjoyable and productive.
Table of Contents
Persian Language Learning Tips: Insights from MelalePersian Experience
Persian learning may seem intimidating at first, especially with its strange grammar. Don’t worry, though, as self-learning is definitely possible! Having a teacher will definitely make it more rapidly achieved, though. We’ve assembled free courses at our Online Persian School to assist in making things easier for you. Just remember, consistency and repetition are your best friends along the way. You’ve got this!
Challenges of Learning Persian:
Unique Alphabet: Persian uses a completely different script, which can be tricky to learn at first.
Complex Grammar: Persian grammar, including verb conjugations and sentence structure, may feel complicated for beginners.
Pronunciation: Some Persian sounds don’t exist in many other languages, making pronunciation challenging.
Different Sentence Structure: Persian follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure, which is different from English.
No Articles or Gendered Nouns: Persian doesn’t use articles (like “the” or “a”) or gendered nouns, which can be confusing.
Finding Good Persian Schools is Challenging: Quality Persian schools are hard to find, and access to good learning resources can be limited.
If you’re looking for a good Online Persian school, you can refer to this article for help.
Learn Persian Online for Adults and Kids: How Teaching Persian Differs
Persian should be instructed in a different way to children and adults; children are best instructed through interactive and game-based education, while adults prefer more traditional methods with greater focus on grammar and conversation
For Adults:
Structured Learning: Adults benefit from more structured lessons that focus on grammar, sentence construction, and vocabulary.
Focus on Writing and Speaking: More time is dedicated to developing writing skills alongside speaking.
In-depth Lessons: Adults can handle longer lessons with deeper explanations and more complex materials.
For Children:
Interactive and Fun Learning: Children learn best through games, songs, and playful activities.
Focus on Speaking and Listening: Emphasis is placed on building speaking and listening skills.
Short, Engaging Lessons: Lessons are kept short and engaging to match their attention span.
Persian Alphabet with Pronunciation and Description
| Letter | Name | Pronunciation | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ا | Alef | â, a | Sounds like "a" in "car" or "apple" |
| ب | Be | b | Like "b" in "book" |
| پ | Pe | p | Like "p" in "pen" |
| ت | Te | t | Like "t" in "time" |
| ث | Se | s | Similar to "s" in "sun" (Rare) |
| ج | Jim | j | Like "j" in "jam" |
| چ | Che | ch | Like "ch" in "chair" |
| ح | He | h | Like "h" in "hat" |
| خ | Khe | kh | Similar to the Scottish "loch" |
| د | Dal | d | Like "d" in "dog" |
| ذ | Zal | z | Similar to "z" in "zebra" (Rare) |
| ر | Re | r | Rolled "r," like in Spanish |
| ز | Ze | z | Like "z" in "zoo" |
| ژ | Zhe | zh | Like "zh" in "measure" |
| س | Sin | s | Like "s" in "snake" |
| ش | Shin | sh | Like "sh" in "sheep" |
| ص | Sad | s | Similar to "s" in "sun" (Rare) |
| ض | Zad | z | Like "z" in "zebra" (Rare) |
| ط | Ta | t | Similar to "t" in "time" (Rare) |
| ظ | Za | z | Like "z" in "zoo" (Rare) |
| ع | Ain | ‘ (Glottal stop) | A deep, throat sound |
| غ | Ghain | gh | Like French "r" in "Paris" |
| ف | Fe | f | Like "f" in "fish" |
| ق | Gaf | gh / q | Similar to "g" or Arabic "qaf" |
| ک | Kaf | k | Like "k" in "kite" |
| گ | Gaf | g | Like "g" in "go" |
| ل | Lam | l | Like "l" in "light" |
| م | Mim | m | Like "m" in "moon" |
| ن | Nun | n | Like "n" in "night" |
| و | Vav | v / o / u | Like "v" in "van" or "u" in "flute" |
| ه | He | h | Like "h" in "hat" |
| ی | Ye | y / i | Like "y" in "yes" or "ee" in "tree" |
For accurate pronunciation of the letters, you can use this video.
Persian Numbers (1 to 10) with Pronunciation
| Number | Persian (Farsi) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ۱ (یک) | Yek |
| 2 | ۲ (دو) | Do |
| 3 | ۳ (سه) | Se |
| 4 | ۴ (چهار) | Chahār |
| 5 | ۵ (پنج) | Panj |
| 6 | ۶ (شش) | Shesh |
| 7 | ۷ (هفت) | Haft |
| 8 | ۸ (هشت) | Hasht |
| 9 | ۹ (نه) | Noh |
| 10 | ۱۰ (ده) | Dah |
You can use these numbers in everyday conversations, and recognizing them will help you with reading and speaking Persian.
Common Colors in Persian and Their Pronunciation
| Color | Persian Name | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | قرمز | Ghermez | |
| Blue | آبی | Abi | |
| Green | سبز | Sabz | |
| Yellow | زرد | Zard | |
| Black | سیاه | Siah | |
| White | سفید | Sefid | |
| Orange | نارنجی | Narenji | |
| Purple | بنفش | Banafsh | |
| Pink | صورتی | Soorati | |
| Brown | قهوه‌ای | Ghahvei | |
| Gray | خاکستری | Khakestari |
Persian Pronouns: Learn How to Use 'I', 'You', 'He/She', 'We', 'They
| Pronoun | Persian | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | من | Man | من کتاب می‌خوانم. (I am reading a book.) |
| You (singular) | تو | To | تو خیلی خوب هستی. (You are very good.) |
| He | او | Ou | او مدرس است. (He is a teacher.) |
| She | او | Ou | او دانشجو است. (She is a student.) |
| We | ما | Ma | ما در کلاس هستیم. (We are in the class.) |
| You (plural) | شما | Shoma | شما معلم هستید. (You are a teacher.) |
| They | آنها | Anha | آنها به خانه می‌روند. (They are going home.) |
Learn How to Tell Time in Persian with Half and Quarter Hours
| English | Persian | Pronunciation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| One o'clock | ساعت یک | Saa'at yek | ساعت یک است. (It is one o'clock.) |
| One thirty (1:30) | ساعت یک و نیم | Saa'at yek o nim | ساعت یک و نیم است. (It is one thirty.) |
| Two o'clock | ساعت دو | Saa'at doo | ساعت دو است. (It is two o'clock.) |
| Two fifteen (2:15) | ساعت دو و ربع | Saa'at doo o rab' | ساعت دو و ربع است. (It is two fifteen.) |
| Two thirty (2:30) | ساعت دو و نیم | Saa'at doo o nim | ساعت دو و نیم است. (It is two thirty.) |
| Three o'clock | ساعت سه | Saa'at seh | ساعت سه است. (It is three o'clock.) |
| Three fifteen (3:15) | ساعت سه و ربع | Saa'at seh o rab' | ساعت سه و ربع است. (It is three fifteen.) |
| Three thirty (3:30) | ساعت سه و نیم | Saa'at seh o nim | ساعت سه و نیم است. (It is three thirty.) |
| Four o'clock | ساعت چهار | Saa'at chahar | ساعت چهار است. (It is four o'clock.) |
| Four fifteen (4:15) | ساعت چهار و ربع | Saa'at chahar o rab' | ساعت چهار و ربع است. (It is four fifteen.) |
| Four thirty (4:30) | ساعت چهار و نیم | Saa'at chahar o nim | ساعت چهار و نیم است. (It is four thirty.) |
| Five o'clock | ساعت پنج | Saa'at panj | ساعت پنج است. (It is five o'clock.) |
| Five fifteen (5:15) | ساعت پنج و ربع | Saa'at panj o rab' | ساعت پنج و ربع است. (It is five fifteen.) |
| Five thirty (5:30) | ساعت پنج و نیم | Saa'at panj o nim | ساعت پنج و نیم است. (It is five thirty.) |
| Six o'clock | ساعت شش | Saa'at shesh | ساعت شش است. (It is six o'clock.) |
| Six fifteen (6:15) | ساعت شش و ربع | Saa'at shesh o rab' | ساعت شش و ربع است. (It is six fifteen.) |
| Six thirty (6:30) | ساعت شش و نیم | Saa'at shesh o nim | ساعت شش و نیم است. (It is six thirty.) |
Notes:
“Nim” is used for half an hour (30 minutes).
“Rob'” is used for a quarter hour (15 minutes).
Expressions like “o rob'” and “o nim” are used to specify times like 15 minutes or 30 minutes after the hour.
Days of the Week in Persian
| English | Persian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | شنبه | Shanbe |
| Sunday | یک‌شنبه | Yekshanbe |
| Monday | دوشنبه | Doshanbe |
| Tuesday | سه‌شنبه | Seshanbe |
| Wednesday | چهارشنبه | Chaharshanbe |
| Thursday | پنج‌شنبه | Panjshanbe |
| Friday | جمعه | Jom'e |
Note: In Iran, the week starts on Saturday, and Friday is the weekend holiday.
Months of the Year in Persian
| English | Persian |
|---|---|
| Farvardin | فروردین |
| Ordibehesht | اردیبهشت |
| Khordad | خرداد |
| Tir | تیر |
| Mordad | مرداد |
| Shahrivar | شهریور |
| Mehr | مهر |
| Aban | آبان |
| Azar | آذر |
| Dey | دی |
| Bahman | بهمن |
| Esfand | اسفند |
Common Verbs in Persian
| English | Persian | Pronunciation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| To be | بودن | Boodan | من معلم هستم. (I am a teacher.) |
| To have | داشتن | Dāshtan | من یک کتاب دارم. (I have a book.) |
| To go | رفتن | Raftan | من به مدرسه می‌روم. (I go to school.) |
| To come | آمدن | Āmadan | او به خانه می‌آید. (He/She comes home.) |
| To eat | خوردن | Khoridan | من غذا می‌خورم. (I eat food.) |
| To drink | نوشیدن | Nushidan | من آب می‌نوشم. (I drink water.) |
| To see | دیدن | Didan | من فیلم می‌بینم. (I watch a movie.) |
| To speak | صحبت کردن | Sohbat Kardan | من فارسی صحبت می‌کنم. (I speak Persian.) |
| To work | کار کردن | Kār Kardan | من در یک شرکت کار می‌کنم. (I work at a company.) |
| To sleep | خوابیدن | Khābidan | من شب‌ها می‌خوابم. (I sleep at night.) |
Giving Directions in Persian
| English | Persian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Turn right | بپیچید به راست | Bepichid be rast |
| Turn left | بپیچید به چپ | Bepichid be chap |
| Go straight | مستقیم بروید | Mosta'mim beravid |
| Go back | برگردید | Bergardid |
| It is on your right | در سمت راست شماست | Dar samte rast shomast |
| It is on your left | در سمت چپ شماست | Dar samte chap shomast |
Now It's Time to Practice!
You have now learned the basics of the Persian language!
Now, to make sure these concepts stay in your mind, you need to practice actively. Learning a language isn’t just about reading—it’s about using it in real situations. Below, we have prepared some exercises to help you strengthen your skills.
These exercises will help you:
- Memorize Persian letters and numbers more effectively.
- Tell the time with ease.
- Review the days of the week and months of the year.
- Improve your knowledge of colors and common verbs.
- Ask for directions and explain routes confidently.
Practice Makes Perfect: Persian Exercises with Answer Key
Here you’ll find a list of exercises designed to help you practice your Persian. Each exercise comes with an answer key, so you can check your progress and see where you can improve.
Comprehensive Persian Learning Resources: Free and Easy Access
We have written several articles suitable for both children and adults. These articles include essential vocabulary for children, useful phrases for traveling to Iran, and even beginner-level Persian conversations. You can find everything you need to progress in learning Persian completely free of charge in the articles below.
Introduction The Persian Alphabet Before Islam reveals a rich linguistic heritage shaped by empires like the Achaemenids and the Sassanids. Long before the adoption of the Arabic script, Persians used
Pets in Persian Farsi English Pronunciation Animal Sound گربه Cat Gorbe Meow سگ Dog Sag Woof خرگوش Rabbit Khargoosh Thump همستر Hamster Hamster None پرنده Bird Parande Chirp طوطی Parrot
Introduction Learning Persian might seem challenging at first, but with the right methods, you can make the process easier. In this guide, you’ll learn how to learn Persian using helpful
نیلو و ماجراجویی حیوانات – داستان فارسی ۳ Message for Parents: Read this short bilingual story with your child and help them learn animal names in Persian. Use the translations
Conclusion
it is definitely possible to learn Persian on your own, but like any language, it requires practice and effort. You can possibly teach yourself the basics, but with a tutor or a program, you will actually make headway. At our Online Persian School, you can access full resources to study and master the language. We would appreciate your sharing your experiences of learning Persian in the comments so others may benefit from them. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post them in the comments, and we’ll be happy to assist you!
FAQ
How can I learn Persian on my own?
To learn Persian on your own, start by familiarizing yourself with the alphabet, numbers, and basic phrases. Online resources like books, apps, and educational videos can help. Consistent practice and using interactive resources like podcasts and online courses will help you reach a higher level.
Is learning Persian difficult?
Learning any new language has its challenges, and Persian might be a bit tricky, especially for those used to non-Indo-European languages. However, with regular practice and using the right resources, you can make great progress.
What online resources do you recommend for learning Persian?
There are many online resources and apps that can help you learn Persian. On our website, we offer free courses, articles, and other resources to help you improve your Persian skills.
How long does it take to become fluent in Persian?
The time it takes to become fluent in Persian depends on several factors, such as your learning pace, how often you practice, and how immersed you are in the language. Generally, consistent practice over several months or years can lead to fluency.
Can I learn Persian through speaking and listening alone?
While speaking and listening are essential skills, a well-rounded approach to language learning involves reading and writing as well. Combining all these skills will give you a deeper understanding of the language.
