Learning Persian Language

Persian, which you might also know as Farsi, is a language almost as beautiful as its region of origin. It is unique, poetic and influential. It opens the door to one of the most distinctive Middle Eastern cultures.

In this page, you’ll discover many reasons to consider Persian for your next foreign language project – as well as few myths about its supposed difficulty. You'll also find some useful resources and tips to help you learn Persian effectively and enjoyably.

Did you know that over 130 million people speak Persian? The majority live in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, though many live in Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Israel, Turkmenistan, Oman, Yemen, the UAE, and the United States.

Persian has remained unchanged for centuries, so unlike in many other languages, you can experience world-famous Persian literature in the exact language it was written. You can read the works of Rumi, Hafez, Khayyam, Ferdowsi and many more in their original form.

Persian is also easier than you think. It has a simple grammar that doesn't have gender or cases. It has a lot of shared vocabulary with Arabic and English. It has a phonetic alphabet that is easy to learn. And it has a melodic intonation that makes it sound pleasant to the ear.

So how can you get started with learning Persian? Here are some suggestions:

• Get a phrasebook or a language guide that teaches you the basics of Persian pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. For example, you can try the Lonely Planet ‘Persian’ pocket phrasebook¹, which also contains a basic dictionary.
• Use digital learning aids that help you memorize words and phrases with flashcards and quizzes. For example, you can use Anki or Memrise to create your own decks or use pre-made ones based on the Lonely Planet phrasebook².
• Take a course or find a tutor that teaches you Persian from beginner to advanced level. For example, you can use online platforms like italki or Preply to find native speakers who can teach you Persian via Skype or Zoom.
• Expose yourself to Persian-language culture by watching movies, listening to music, reading books and following podcasts. For example, you can watch Iranian films like A Separation or The Salesman with subtitles, listen to Persian pop songs by artists like Googoosh or Ebi, read translated novels by authors like Marjane Satrapi or Khaled Hosseini and follow podcasts like Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation or Persian Pod101.
• Practice your speaking skills with real-life conversations with native speakers. For example, you can join language exchange apps like Tandem or HelloTalk to find partners who want to learn your language while teaching you Persian. You can also join online communities like Reddit's r/farsi or Discord's Learn Farsi server to chat with other learners and native speakers.

Learning Persian is not only rewarding but also fun. You will discover a rich and diverse culture that spans thousands of I meant to say thousands of years of history and civilization.