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How to learn Farsi Language: Learning Farsi from Scratch – A Beginners Guide to Learning Farsi

Do you want to learn Farsi language? Are you looking for a shortcut to Farsi fluency? Are you overwhelmed with limitless Farsi learning resources and products available, unsure of which are valuable?

If your answer is yes, then you are in the right place.

First, I’d like to congratulate you on deciding to learn Farsi, this beautiful language. This is probably the biggest step you could take, and if you approach learning Farsi in the right way you’ll love a successful journey to fluency.

You’ll broaden your world, be able to communicate with more than 110 million people across the world and connect with rich Persian culture. In this guide, I’ll provide you with a primer for everything you need to get started with Farsi language.

I’ve been teaching Farsi language for over a decade now and I’ve worked with hundreds, or should I say thousands, of Farsi learners of all nationalities, from beginners to advanced. In this post, I share my experience with others who want to learn Farsi effectively and in less time.

I receive A LOT of emails from Farsi learners around world about how to begin learning Farsi, the best way of learning Farsi, best Farsi learning books and resources, and about how to become fluent in Farsi.

Regardless of your reasons to learn Farsi, you can learn the language on your own and at your own speed. In this guide I will walk you through the best ways to learn Farsi, from where to begin and how to approach the language, I’ll provide you with everything you need to know about learning Farsi.

First, let me review some common questions about learning Farsi.

What is the difference between Farsi and Persian? Is Persian and Farsi the same thing?

There are three modern varieties of standard Persian language: Farsi (or Iranian Persian) is spoken in Iran.

Dari language (or Afghan Persian) is spoken in Afghanistan. Tajiki language (Tajik Persian) is spoken in Tajikistan and some parts of Uzbekistan.

 

How different are Farsi and Arabic?

Farsi language and Arabic language are two completely different languages. While they share the same alphabet (Farsi uses Arabic alphabet plus four more letters), but they are from two language groups. Farsi language is in the Indo-European family while Arabic is in the Afro-Asiatic family. Since these two languages live side by side for thousands of years, they both influence each other. For example, more than 30 percent of words in Farsi originated in Arabic.

 

How difficult is it to learn Farsi?

Well, it depends! Farsi is an Indo-European language similar to English, German, French, and etc. And it has a lot of words from Latin, English, French, and Portuguese. Farsi grammar is easier than many other languages. But, something that makes Farsi learning more difficult is its alphabet and script which is very different from English and other western languages. Learning Farsi for those who already learned similar languages like Urdu, Kurdish and Hindi is rather easy. For English speakers, Farsi is among average languages to learn (not so easy and not so hard).

 

How long will it take for me to learn Farsi language?

To get to intermediate level, it usually requires 300 to 600 hours of active study. For fluency, about 1000 hours of study is necessary.

 

Do I need to learn the Farsi Alphabet?

No! If you only want to learn how to communicate in Farsi, you don’t need to learn the alphabet. In fact, anyone can learn to speak Farsi language without reading its script. I have had many Farsi students who are able to speak Farsi at the intermediate level, but they are not able to read Farsi. If you want to avoid learning Farsi alphabet, then you need to use transliterate system for writing Farsi words and sentences.

I explained it more in this article: Can you learn Farsi language without learning the Farsi alphabet?

 

How much does it cost to learn Farsi?

There are countless FREE Farsi learning resources on the internet. Therefore, you don’t need to spend even a penny for learning Farsi. If you prefer to use textbooks, software, or you want to work with a Farsi tutor, then you should spend some money for learning Farsi. I’ll review all of your options in this blog post.

 

If I learn Persian, will it help me with any other language?

Persian is part of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. Therefore, learning some Persian will certainly assist with Arabic, Kurdish, Urdu and Hindi.

 

What is the best way to learn Farsi?

My answer is that there is not one single best method for everyone.

Remember, no language can be learned overnight, and obviously, there is no magic fix. It takes commitment, motivation, and a hard work and you surely need to maintain a positive approach.

 

How can I learn Farsi Fast?

Here are 3 tips for learning Farsi faster.

First, just realize that everyone has a different way of learning things. Some people are visual learners. Some people learn by listening, and some by reading. So, first of all, Figure Out Your Learning Style! You need to try different tactics and methods for learning Farsi language to find the method that works for you.

The second and most important thing is incredible passion.  You must have tremendous emotional power to learn super-fast. Why?  Because you must study for 300 to 600 hours (or up to 1000 hours to get to advanced level) and every hour you must be interested and energetic. So, find your real and key motivation for learning Farsi, and then focus on that.

The third key to fast learning is to focus on Farsi INPUT. 

Remember this: Do not waste time studying solely vocabulary or grammar rules. Don’t waste time trying to speak and say anything that comes to your mind. That’s a waste of time. Believe me! In the beginning of your Farsi learning journey, you should spend all of your time either listening or reading. Focusing on these two passive language skills can help you save a lot of time and energy. This is the fastest and most efficient method for speaking Farsi language fluently. Read, read, read! This is the key to learn Farsi fast!

 

I have put together a few ideas for how you can learn Farsi fast in these two articles:

Top 10 Tips to Learn Persian Language Fast

How do you learn Farsi fast?

 

In this video, I explain how to improve your Farsi Faster:

How to learn Farsi fast? And what are the best resources to learn Farsi language?

Ok! Now, this brings us to the next question.

 

What are the best resources for learning Farsi?

Unlike other popular languages, the resources for learning Farsi are limited. During last 10 years, I have prepared and published more than 60 Farsi learning books. Following is the list of the best Farsi learning resources I’ve prepared. There are two types of books.

 

Including Farsi Alphabet

If you want to learn the Alphabet, then you can use these books:

 

- Read and Write Persian Language in 7 Days: A Workbook and Step-by-Step Guide:

If your ultimate goal is to be fluent in Farsi, then you need to learn the Farsi alphabet. This book can help you learn how to write and read in Farsi Language in a fast and fun way. You can quickly begin to read, pronounce and write in Farsi. The book proceeds step-by-step through all the letters of the Persian alphabet, displaying the sounds they stand for and how they are written in words. In addition to the alphabet, you’ll learn basic grammar, sentence structures, and pronunciation. Beyond grammar and alphabet lessons, you will also find comprehensive listings of most common Persian words as well as useful tables that you can use as quick references to speed up your mastery of the language.

- Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

This book my bestselling Farsi learning book. In this book (and its workbook) my colleague and I offered our winning formula and powerful method for learning to speak Farsi quickly. In a series of YouTube videos, I review all pages of this book. I strongly encourage you to watch the videos along with the book.

You can watch videos at: goo.gl/hjur2Q

- Farsi Grammar in Use: For Beginners

- Farsi Grammar in Use: For intermediate students

These two user-friendly Farsi learning books include simple explanations of grammar and useful examples to help students of all ages improve their Farsi. For anyone who wants to understand the major rules and subtle guidelines of Farsi grammar and usage, Farsi Grammar in Use offers comprehensive, straightforward instruction. It covers a wide range of subjects as they are taught in many language schools around the world.  

 

- Farsi - English Dictionary: The Most Trusted Farsi - English Dictionary

Designed for people interested in learning standard Persian, this comprehensive dictionary of the Farsi - English languages contains more than 12,000 entries and definitions as well as pronunciation guides, word types, Current phrases, slangs, idioms, scientific terms and other features.

The Dictionary is fully updated with the latest lexical content. It’s a unique database that offers the fullest, most accurate picture of the Farsi language today. Hundreds of new words cover technology, computing, ecology, and many other subjects.

 

- 200 Absolutely Essential Persian Verbs:

200 Essential Persian Verbs is the only reference you need to master Persian most common verbs. This book will help you learn verb conjugating, usage, phrasal verbs, and even the roots of verbs, both present and past.  

 

Without Farsi Alphabet

If you don’t want to learn the Alphabet, or you don’t want to learn it first, then you can use these books:

 

- Learn to Speak Farsi in 30 Days: The Only Essential Book You Need to Start Speaking Farsi

In this book, you will learn that it’s perfectly possible to reach a good conversational level without being able to read in Farsi. Many Farsi speakers use the Roman alphabet when writing in their dialect. This book uses the same method. You would technically be illiterate in Farsi, but you could learn to speak and listen. 

 

- Farsi Conversations: Learn the Most Common Words and Phrases Farsi Speakers use Every Day

In this unique guide, you will be able to practice your spoken Farsi with FREE YouTube videos. It is an ideal tool for learners of Farsi at all levels, whether at school, in evening classes or at home, and is a ‘must have’ for business or leisure.

- Easy Persian Phrasebook: Essential Expressions for Communicating in Persian

Designed as a quick reference and study guide, this comprehensive phrasebook offers guidance for situations including traveling, accommodations, healthcare, emergencies and other common circumstances. A phonetic pronunciation accompanies each phrase and word.

- Transliterated Dictionary of the Farsi Language: The Most Trusted Farsi-English Dictionary

Designed for Farsi learners, this comprehensive and innovative dictionary of the Farsi-English languages makes Farsi language more accessible to students by removing the formidable barrier of the Farsi alphabet. Since it is alphabetized according to the transliterated English spelling, locating words is easy.

The Dictionary is fully updated with the latest lexical content. It’s a unique database that offers the fullest, most accurate picture of the Farsi language today. Hundreds of new words cover technology, computing, ecology, and many other subjects.

Most Common Myths and Excuses About Learning Farsi

Here are some of the most popular myths that you might create to justify your procrastination when it comes to learning Farsi language.

 

I’m ‘too old’ to learn Farsi language.

This is a universal language learning myth: it is much harder to learn a new language as an adult. While this myth is widely believed and many people think that it is easier for children to learn a new language, new researches proved that this is untrue.

In fact, adults are better at self-directed learning than young people. This means that adults are better at teaching themselves and finding the best ways to learn Faster. Also, there isn’t any research that suggests there’s an age at which learning abilities disappear. So, it’s time to put this myth to rest and start learning Farsi! It's never too late to learn Farsi!

 

I'm not good with languages

So many people use this excuse for not staring the process of learning Farsi. They usually say "Oh, I cannot learn it", "It’s too difficult for me” or “I don't have the language gene". While some people learn Farsi faster, it is obviously not because of a “language gene”. Learning a language like Farsi is similar to any other skill: you only need to immerse yourself in it and practice enough. Anytime you begin learning a new skill it will be challenging, but with practice, it gets easier and easier. If you keep pushing through the barriers and disappointments you face along the way you'll be rewarded with progress.

 

“I don’t have enough time to learn Farsi.”

If you're thinking that you just don't have the time for learning Farsi, maybe it's just not a priority for you. Don’t use time limit as your excuse. Even as little as 20 minutes a day to start with can help you make progress in Farsi learning. Just begin with a good Farsi learning book and spend few minutes every day. You can also incorporate your Farsi language learning into another activity you usually do. For example, just listen to Farsi learning audios while driving or exercising.

 

Taking a Farsi language course is too expensive

Learning Farsi language doesn't have to be expensive. If you're on a budget, there are plenty of free or low-cost options to choose from. You can find FREE Farsi learning material online, or just download a free Farsi learning app, or hire a Farsi tutor. Another idea is to look for a language exchange with others who want to learn your native language.

Learning Farsi language can be affordable if you spend a little time researching your best options first.

No matter what your excuse is, you alone have the power to break free from all your fears and doubts. Think about of all the positive things that will result from you learning Farsi. Think of all the people you will be able to meet and communicate with. Learning Farsi is a very gratifying process, but you won’t be able to experience it if you keep making excuses! Just remember that learning Farsi language is a lot of fun. With the new tools and online resources now available, there has never been a better time to learn Farsi language. Let’s move beyond the myths and start enjoying the benefits of being multilingual.

How to overcome Farsi learning barriers and where do I start?

Learning Farsi language can be daunting and confusing, especially if you decided to study on your own. Where to begin? What are the best Farsi learning materials? How to learn the alphabet? Or should I really learn it?

Before taking a look at what you should do in the beginning of your Farsi learning journey, you need to think about your motivation for learning Farsi. If you just want to communicate with friends and family in Farsi, you need to choose a different approach than when you want to learn how to read Persian poems. If your ultimate goal is to be able to read Rumi, Hafez, and Saadi poems in Farsi, then you have to learn the alphabet.

In Farsi, there is a difference between Formal language (written language) and informal language (spoke language). But, there is connection between these two. So, for travel purposes, learning a handful of Farsi characters can help you to read signs and menus in Farsi, but there is no reason to get too serious about writing if you only need Farsi for travel.

To get you started with Farsi language, here are some steps that show how to learn by yourself.

How to learn Farsi on your own?

Step 1: Decide about your ultimate goal

If you want to learn Farsi at advanced level, then you need to learn Farsi alphabet first. Otherwise, learning how to read and write in Farsi is not necessary in the beginning.

Step 2: Figure Out Your Learning Style!

Try some different types of Farsi learning resources. Watch some videos and review some textbooks to find your learning style. Learning Farsi effectively may depend on your specific learning style. Your learning style influences the way you learn vocabulary, grammar and speaking.

There are three primary learning styles:

  • Visual
  • Auditory
  • Tactile

Many Farsi learners use a combination of learning styles, whereas others learn best by using just one.

Step 3: Decide about the way you want to learn Farsi

There are a variety of ways to study Farsi language:

 

In the Classroom

Participating in a Farsi learning classroom with a teacher and other students is the most traditional approach to learning Farsi language. Many Farsi learners use this way, although not always with the best results. Many people who are motivated to become fluent in Farsi find Farsi classes helpful to get a chance to listen and speak.

The problem with this method is that there aren’t Farsi classes everywhere and usually you need to travel. Normally, your choice of classes is significantly narrowed by location. If you live in small cities (or even in some big cities), it can be really challenging to find a Farsi class that matches your schedule.  

 

Private Tutor

Learning one-on-one with a tutor can provide you with more opportunities to practice speaking and learn Faster. Compared to a classroom where the teacher has to split attention among several Farsi learners, private tutoring usually yields quicker results. However, private Farsi tutoring doesn’t come free and you’ll need to be prepared to pay an hourly rate for a Farsi tutor. The amount it costs to work with a Farsi tutor can be as cheap as $8 USD per hour to $50 per hour.

 

Audio Courses and apps

For those who are on a budget or don’t want to spend money for Farsi learning, Multimedia courses are a good alternative – whether you can practice listening and speaking with CDs in the car, or use interactive courses on your home PC or tablet. Using mobile apps is another way for learning Farsi.

 

Online Farsi Courses

Online learning has made massive progress in the last few years and has become a viable alternative to more traditional forms of instruction. There are many free and paid online Farsi learning course.

I have prepared many online Farsi courses on YouTube. Here is the list of some of them:

 

 

Step 4: Find a Good Textbook and Choose a Good Farsi Program

This step sounds like a no-brainer: if you’re going to learn Farsi effectively, you’re going to need some good study material. For those who want to learn Farsi at advanced level, I use this textbook for my Farsi students:

Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

You can purchase the book on Amazon at: https://goo.gl/13HnWK

There is also a workbook for learning the Farsi alphabet and improving your writing. Purchase the Workbook at: https://goo.gl/auQPAB

You can download the first part of the book at: https://goo.gl/vzbGr1

On YouTube, I reviewed the whole book here: https://goo.gl/hjur2Q

Those who don’t want to learn the alphabet can use this book:

Learn to Speak Farsi in 30 Days: The Only Essential Book You Need to Start Speaking Farsi

You can purchase the book on Amazon at: https://goo.gl/yKhoYm

 

Step 5: Make a Schedule and Stick to It

Now that you have practical material to get you started on your Farsi language journey, it’s time to make a schedule for it.

Learning Farsi language, like learning any other new languages, isn’t just about preparing the right materials such as textbooks, dictionaries, and apps, it’s also about making a long-term commitment. To learn Farsi effectively, you must spend some time everyday reading, writing, speaking, and listening and watching Farsi learning videos.

 

Step 6: Lay a solid foundation

I’m often asked if Farsi learners can just skip the boring beginning part and learn the most common and useful phrases to begin speaking. Well, if you just want to grab some basic greetings phrases to warm up the meeting with Farsi speakers, then yes, you can easily learn some greetings phrases and sentences. However, these basic phrases won’t take you far. If you are a serious Farsi learner who wants to learn Farsi effectively, then, a solid foundation of the Farsi language is a “must” to help you make progress faster and make your Farsi learning easier. In short, a good beginning is half the battle.

You can begin with the Farsi alphabet or with most common Farsi words and phrases. (depending on your ultimate goal)

 

Step 7: Have fun learning Farsi!

The things we do best in life are the things we really enjoy doing. If you aren't having fun learning Farsi, then, obviously you're not studying the right way! You can be a serious Farsi learner who has a lot of fun at the same time. Make up your own program to help you stay on track.

 

Step 8: Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes

This is perhaps the most crucial step to learn Farsi effectively: don’t be afraid to take risks and make mistakes.

Learning Farsi language can be challenging even with the best materials and schedule. Always try your best, but also be open to the idea that you’re going to make a lot of mistakes—especially when you try to open up conversations with native Farsi speakers. However, never let your fear and anxiety stop you from learning this beautiful language.

I hope you enjoy learning Farsi, this beautiful language! Please let me know how your studies turn out. I'd like to know what Farsi learning resources worked for you.

You can share your experience below this post. 

 

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Can you learn Farsi language without learning the Farsi alphabet?

Or Can you learn Farsi language without learning how to read and write in Farsi language?

The short answer to this common question is “Yes”! You can learn how to speak Farsi fluently without learning its script.  In fact, anyone can learn to speak Farsi language without reading its script. I have had many Farsi students who are able to speak Farsi at the intermediate level, but they have no idea what Farsi script looks like!

I have received a lot of emails from people around the world telling me that they have spent a lot of time in a Farsi (Persian) class and the only thing they learned was the Farsi script. They are frustrated and have no idea how to improve their Farsi.

That’s why in my Farsi lessons for beginners, I usually don’t begin by teaching the Farsi script for a very good reason!

Should Farsi students start with learning the Farsi Alphabet?

It depends! It goes without saying that learning a new language like Farsi requires considerable time and effort. It needs hard work and perseverance and therefore motivation plays a key role in pursuing your goals. A key element of motivation is the feeling of achievement in your pursuit. This, in turn, initiatives stronger enthusiasm to work harder.

For some Farsi learners, who want to use the language as soon as possible, focusing on the Farsi script is not a good idea.

Furthermore, learning the Farsi script can put students off and frighten them.

The key point here is that when you begin with only the Farsi alphabet, it usually hampers your motivation and you feel you don’t progress fast enough. This may cause frustration and hindrance.

So, what about the Farsi script? Is it important? Yes! Of course, it is vital!

Throughout of my beginners Farsi lessons, I usually use Transliteration for writing the Farsi words. (Using English letters for pronunciation) You need to learn the Farsi script to develop academically, to read, to write, and to use Farsi learning resources. But if you want to speak Farsi on a holiday or to communicate with your Persian family and friends in Farsi, you don’t need to learn the alphabet, at least in the beginning.

For transliteration, I use a simple spelling system to show pronunciation of Farsi words, using the symbols listed below.

Symbol

Example

Symbol

Example

a

hat /hat

m

move /muv

â

cut / cât

n

need /nid

âi

time /tâim

o

gorgeous /gorjes

ch

church /cherch

ô

coat/ côt

d

dog /dâg

u

mood /mud

e

men /men

p

park /park

ei

name /neim

r

rise /râiz

f

free /fri

s

seven /seven

g

get /get

n

nation /neishen

h

his /hiz

t

train /trein

i

feet /fit

v

vary /vari

iyu

cute /kiyut

y

yet /yet

j

jeans /jinz

z

zipper /ziper

k

key /ki

zh

measure /mezher/

kh

loch /lakh

‘

sounds like a slight pause between two letters.

l

loss /lâs

sh 

shoes/shuz

gh

sound “r” in French word “Paris”

    

 

 

 

 

The problem here is that there are few resources for learning Farsi without its script. Some of my students asked me about such books. I reviewed many Farsi learning resources and I couldn’t find a good book to refer to them. Therefore, I decided to invest some time and prepare more Farsi books for students who only want to improve their listening and speaking skills.

In the last few months, I’ve spent a lot of time preparing Farsi learning books that don’t use the alphabet.

Finally, some of them have been prepared and published!

Let’s review some of Farsi learning books here.

  • Learn to Speak Farsi in 30 Days is my recent book. In this book, you will learn that it’s absolutely possible to reach a good conversational level without being able to read in Farsi. Many Farsi speakers use the Roman alphabet when writing in their dialect. I used the same method. You would technically be illiterate in Farsi, but you could learn to communicate in Farsi language. 
  • Transliterated Dictionary of the Farsi Language: The Most Trusted Farsi-English Dictionary: This comprehensive Farsi – English dictionary makes Farsi language more accessible to students by removing the formidable barrier of the Farsi alphabet. Since it is alphabetized according to the transliterated English spelling, locating words is easy. The book covers more than 15,000 Farsi entries.

I hope you enjoy learning Farsi, this beautiful language! Please let me know how your studies turn out. I'd like to know what Farsi learning resources worked for you.

You can share your experience below this post. 

 

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Persepolis: The Ancient City of Persia

Persepolis: A part of Persian culture

The Persian history is also known as the Iranian history has its roots spread in the Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Damascus, etc. The city of Persepolis is the cultural heritage of the Persian culture because it found its roots in King Darius period. It is an architectural heritage.

History of Persepolis:

Persepolis is among the world’s most acknowledged and renowned architectural sites. It was the capital of the ancient King Achaemenian dynasty and was considered as the gem of the architectural sites of that time.  

UNESCO took the site under its world heritage in 1979. It is situated about 30miles northeast from the city of Shiraz.

Name of the city:

Its earliest name was Parsa in the ancient Persian, while the modern name translated in English means the city of Persia.

There is a belief that a mythological figure named as Jamshid built it and it was named at Takht-e- Jamshid on his behalf.

History of the palace:

Its history dates back to 515 BC. A French archeologist has proposed a theory that the place for the construction of the palace was chosen by Cyrus the great, but the palaces and terrace were built originally in the Darius I Era.

He ordered the construction of the town hall and the terrace. A large staircase was later built in the era of Darius I’s son. The staircase opened into a yard and was believed to be the stairway that could be used by the nobles and the dignitaries while they are riding on their horseback.

The material used in the construction along with stone was the gray limestone. The sewage system consisted of tunnels dug deep down with the help of a rock.

The water storage tank was built at the eastern foot of the mountain. There is a belief that they have built three walls for the defense purposes, though there are no remains of these walls now.

Destruction of the palace and terrace:

The destruction of the palace came when it was attacked by Alexander the Great and his army. At the first attack, they were defeated. After 30 days, another attack was done and this time they conquered. Some say that the alternate route of the palace was given by a tribal leader who was under arrest by the Alexandrian forces. The palace was set on fire and its ruins were discovered and identified later by the historians. It is believed that the fire was revenge from Xerxes, I who burned the Athens about 150 years ago before the burning of Persepolis.

Ruin and remains today:

Since the building was under construction at the time of setting the fire, a lot of remains found are unfinished. Fifteen pillars are found and some more were discovered in 1970. The great hall is known as the entrance of the palace and it has a square yard and four pillars. The apadana is the greatest palace that was built on the orders of Xerxes I. It took 30 years to complete and was built to interact with the audiences. It is also a part of the ruins and a statue of Persian mastiff was taken from the palace to the heritage museum of Iran.   

Museums containing displays from Persepolis:

The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, London contains the remains of the Persepolis Empire and is an attraction for the tourists and the historians as well. Oriental Institute has the gold objects display in the University of Chicago. Louvre also has a set of bull capital from the Persepolis displayed in the museum.

Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

The goal of this book is simple. It will help you incorporate the best method and the right strategies to learn Farsi FAST and EFFECTIVELY.

Learn Farsi in 100 days helps you learn speak Farsi faster than you ever thought possible. You only need to spend about 90-120 minutes daily in your 100-day period in order to learn Farsi language at advanced level. Whether you are just starting to get in touch the Farsi language, or even if you have already learned the basics of the language, this book can help you accelerate the learning process and put you on the right track.

Learn Farsi in 100 days is the only book you'll ever need to master Farsi language! It can be used as a self-study course - you do not need to work with a teacher. (It can also be used with a teacher).

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Persian Traditions: Sizdah Bedar – 13th Day of Nowrouz

From the ancient times different cultures used to celebrate their New Year in different days other than 1st of January. Likewise, Persian New year is known as “Nowrouz” which is starting on March 2oth and celebrations goes until the beginning of April. “Sizdah bedar” is the thirteenth day of New Year which is also the last day of New Year holiday. “Bedar” means getting rid of something and therefore “Sizdah bedar” gives the meaning of “Getting Rid of Thirteen” which is usually treated as an unlucky number.

Source: http://www.panoramio.com

On this so called “unlucky” day Persian people leave their home and spend their time outdoors in picnic style with families and friends.  Since this is the last day of New Year celebrations and holiday, Iranians love to entertain themselves by dancing, singing, playing around and enjoying the specially prepared foods together. These fun makings and laughter is believed as a way of clearing their “evil thoughts” for the started new year. Also on this special day people get a chance to enjoy the fresh smell of spring before returning to their schools or work on the following day onwards and therefore it is also called as the “Nature Day”.

Source: http://www.padida.ir

Most Popular Tradition on this Day ...

“Kahoo Sekanjabin” is one of the special crisp prepared for this special day. “Sekanjabin” is a drink made using Vinegar and Honey and by combining it with crispy lettuce, “kahoo Senkanjabin” is prepared which makes a perfect crisp for enjoying hot weather.

One of the tradition on this day is to throw away “Sabzeh” from their specially prepared New Year table called “Haftsin”. People grow this wheat sprout or lentils sprout which is called “Sabzeh” for New Year table and throw them away at the end of thirteenth day believing that they have thrown away all the sorrows, pains and illnesses of coming new year. Therefore, they refrain from touching someone else’s Sabzeh as they think they have picked others pains with these sprouts.

Another tradition of this day is to tie a knot of grass and make a wish for their future partners. This is usually performed by young girls and boys and once they open the knot they believe that they have opened the luck as well. This knot represents the bond between a men and woman. Young married couples also tend to perform this ritual making a wish for babies or other things they want to achieve.

Time to Pray!

Apart from getting rid of “bad luck” this day is treated as a special day to ask for a Rain. From history, Iranians had their own calendar and everyday had a different name and had allocated for a different angel believing that they belongs to the particular day. This thirteenth day of “Nowrouz” or “Farvardin” month is believed to be owned by the “Angel of Rain” who represents by drawing a horse. Therefore they make this request for rain by organizing competitive games which are usually horses involved and celebrated the victory of horse as a victory of their request.  

Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

The goal of this book is simple. It will help you incorporate the best method and the right strategies to learn Farsi FAST and EFFECTIVELY.

Learn Farsi in 100 days helps you learn speak Farsi faster than you ever thought possible. You only need to spend about 90-120 minutes daily in your 100-day period in order to learn Farsi language at advanced level. Whether you are just starting to get in touch the Farsi language, or even if you have already learned the basics of the language, this book can help you accelerate the learning process and put you on the right track.

Learn Farsi in 100 days is the only book you'll ever need to master Farsi language! It can be used as a self-study course - you do not need to work with a teacher. (It can also be used with a teacher).

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Life of Rumi: America’s most-read poet

Persian literature is rich with poetry, art, and paintings. It is one of the oldest civilizations of the world that has its roots in the Iran, Iraq, Turley, and Damascus etc. The poetry of this era flourished in the hands of Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, Ferdowsi, etc. who their expressed emotions in the form of words. The mystic and Sufi themes were mostly presented in these poetic verses. Rumi, as the role model for the Sufis, is an iconic mystic figure for all of us today as well. Let’s throw some light on his life and work.

Rumi’s birth and early life

Known as Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi, Maulana Rumi was born to a native Persian speaking couple who were originally from Balkh. Balkh was the capital of culture in those days. Rumi found his inspirations in the air of Balkh that were rich with Sufism. Along with his father who also was a jurist and a scholar, he found his inspiration in the poetry of Sinai and Attar. He has, on several occasions, given their references in his poetry.

Workings  

Teaching

Rumi’s teachings aim at the central point of Islam that is the belief in Oneness of Allah. He wrote a lot about it in his books. The Mathnawi sketches all the aspects of everyday life which are beautifully illustrated with the Quranic verses and examples. Rumi had a strong believe that one can reach God through Sufism, music, and poetry. He laid a lot on emphasis on the destruction and resurrection of one’s soul. The new one would be the purest as compared to the old one. He made the followers seek for the spiritual journey and return to the world with all the passions and love to serve the humanity.

Poetic work that was done by Rumi

Rumi’s poetry is a true depiction of the love of God. He has written a lot of poems and books. Mathnawi is believed to be the greatest Persian motivational book. It is composed of 26000 verses. It is a symbol of mystical art.

Divan-e-Shams Tabriz was written in the honor of Rumi’s master, Shams who acquainted him and showed the mystical and spiritual side to Rumi. Shams was strangled to death by Rumi’s son as per history says.

The book consisted of 90 ghazals, 35000 couplets, and 2000 Persian quatrains. Rumi has also written some books in Arabic, Turkish and mixed Persian languages.

 

Rumi and Shams Tabrizi

Shams Tabrizi, a wandering dervish was looking for his companion. He traveled to the middle-east in this search. A voice told him to go to Baghdad and meet the Rumi in Konya. Rumi’s world turned upside down when he met Shams, his spiritual companion. They talked about every single thing on this earth for months. Shams was strangled to death by Rumi’s son on allegations of destroying his father’s name and fame. Rumi set out on a journey to find Shams and in that, he found himself and the fact that Shams was within him.

Source: http://asemanparvaz.com

Legacy

A poet whose work has laid the foundation for the mystic and Sufi teachings was laid to rest on December 1273.

His books were translated into the Arabic, English and Urdu languages and were made the basis to learn the mystic and Sufi disciplines. Allama Iqbal has made Rumi an idol in his poetic journey. Rumi’s poetry has been in the USA top readers literature and is taught in the English translation as well. Rumi week is held in Iran on 26 October to 2nd November every year to make people understand his teaching and value the principles that he has given and preached throughout his life.

Top 10 Rumi’s Quotes

 

1- “What you seek is seeking you.” 

 

2- “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” 

 

3- “Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” 

 

4-“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” 

 

5- “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing 
and right doing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.” 

 

6- “Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.” 

 

7- “The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.” 

 

8- “Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious.” 

 

9- “My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there.” 

 

10- “Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.” 

The Mathnawi of Jalaluddin Rumi: Book 1: In Persian with English Translation

In this series of bilingual books, Book one of Mathnawi is provided in Persian language with English translation in three volumes. The English translation of the Mathnawi appearing in this book was prepared by one of the greatest Rumi scholars and translators in the English language, Reynold Alleyne Nicholson.  
This bilingual book can be useful for students and enjoyable for poetry lovers of any age. Not only will poems improve your Persian language, but they’ll help your understanding of Persian culture. Students will have ample opportunities to enrich their Persian learning experience and extend a range of language abilities through exploring these poems. 

Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

The goal of this book is simple. It will help you incorporate the best method and the right strategies to learn Farsi FAST and EFFECTIVELY.

Learn Farsi in 100 days helps you learn speak Farsi faster than you ever thought possible. You only need to spend about 90-120 minutes daily in your 100-day period in order to learn Farsi language at advanced level. Whether you are just starting to get in touch the Farsi language, or even if you have already learned the basics of the language, this book can help you accelerate the learning process and put you on the right track.

Learn Farsi in 100 days is the only book you'll ever need to master Farsi language! It can be used as a self-study course - you do not need to work with a teacher. (It can also be used with a teacher).

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Persian Wedding Ceremony: Everything you need to know about Persian wedding

Unlike other cultures Persian wedding is an event which is celebrated at its best from ancient times with a large assembly and feastings without sparing expenses, and still remains the same even though their culture has hugely affected by Islamic religion and traditions.  

Source: http://www.weddinghall.ir/

Persian wedding process is started from a tradition called “Khastegari” which is the process of asking the hand of a woman. In early days most marriages were arranged by families and therefore this tradition was highly practiced. Parents of the groom will take him to see the potential brides and decide the matching bride considering her wealth, family background religion etc. Even in the modern days when people are more likely to get married after love affairs, as a tradition most Iranians allow their families to make the proposal to the bride’s family showing their respect to the cultural values even though they have already taken the decision by themselves. After making the proposal families meet together and discuss the merits of bride and groom in order to confirm the proposal.

Source: http://www.weddinghall.ir/

“Baleh Boran” is another part of this pre-wedding process and both parties will announce their intention to get married to the public. In this ceremony groom’s family usually gift a ring to the bride to appreciate her willingness to join the family.

Henna night “Hanna bandoon” will be taken place before the wedding day and henna is applied to the bride’s hand. The official wedding begins on the following day and can be separated into two parts as ceremony which is called “Aghd” and reception called “Mehmoonee”.

In the “Aghd” part, the groom will sit on a bench facing guests and the bride will sit next to him in his left side showing her respect for him to stay on right side. Official marriage documents are signed and wedding vows are exchanged in this ceremony. Some females from bride’s family will hold a canopy above his head and a symbolic table called “sofreye aghd” can be seen in front of the couple.

“Sofreye aghd” has a great importance in Persian weddings and shows their uniqueness. “Sofre” is a table cloth placed on the floor or a wooden platform and those symbolic items are placed on it beautifully. Usually mother of the bride spend several months to collect those items which symbolise the new life of the married couple. They include followings

  • Mirror and candlesticks

This is the most important part of the table and they symbolise light and fire which are very important icons of Persian culture. When the bride sit next to the groom veil is removed and groom sees his wife’s reflection through the mirror.

 

  • A tray of seven multicoloured herbs and spices
  • A specially baked and decorated flatbread
  • Decorated eggs, almonds, walnuts
  • Basket of pomegranate or apples
  • A cup of rose water from Persian roses
  • A cup of honey
  • A bowl of gold
  • A bowl of crystallised sugar
  • A copy of the Holy book

Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

The goal of this book is simple. It will help you incorporate the best method and the right strategies to learn Farsi FAST and EFFECTIVELY.

Learn Farsi in 100 days helps you learn speak Farsi faster than you ever thought possible. You only need to spend about 90-120 minutes daily in your 100-day period in order to learn Farsi language at advanced level. Whether you are just starting to get in touch the Farsi language, or even if you have already learned the basics of the language, this book can help you accelerate the learning process and put you on the right track.

Learn Farsi in 100 days is the only book you'll ever need to master Farsi language! It can be used as a self-study course - you do not need to work with a teacher. (It can also be used with a teacher).

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Festival of Fire (Chahar Shanbeh Soori)

The eve of the last Tuesday of Iranian calendar is considered as Chahar Shanbeh Soori or Festival of Fire. People in all parts of Iran celebrate this festival with light and fire. As a result, you can see bonfires being lit up in almost all the public places. People in Iran celebrate Chahar Shanbeh Soori with fire with the hope of achieving happiness and enlightenment throughout the upcoming year.

Source: https://download.ir

First of all, it is important to have a clear understanding about how the Chahar Shanbeh Soori originated. As per the historical information, the festival of fire dates back to 1,700BC. During this time, people who lived in Iran celebrated the festival of Hamaspathmaedaya. It was celebrated throughout the last five days of the Iranian year with the objective of honoring the spirits of dead ancestors. It is now being celebrated as Farvardigan festival. However, it was replaced by Chahar Shanbeh Soori along with time and several cultural aspects were added to it.

 

Source: http://cheee.ir

Since Chahar Shanbeh Soori falls at the end of the year, people consider it as an unlucky night. They are looking forward for the arrival of longer days in the spring season soon after Chahar Shanbeh Soori. Ancient Iranian people also believed that the spirits of their ancestors visit them on this day. As a result, they tend to wrap themselves in shrouds along with children in order to reenact these visits symbolically. In addition, people tend to go around the streets while banging on pans and pots with spoons that are named as Ghashogh Zani, with the objective of beating out the last Wednesday of the Iranian year.

People in Iran try to make their wishes come true on the Chahar Shanbeh Soori as well. As a result, they tend to prepare some special foods and then distribute them among people in the neighborhood at night. Out of the food items that are being distributed in this night, Ash, which is a Persian Noodle Soup as received much attention. In addition to this soup, raisins, apricots, figs, hazelnuts, almonds, roasted chic peas, pistachios and dried nuts are also being served.

Jumping over fire is a common practice that is being followed by people on Chahar Shanbeh Soori.

People jump over the flames, shouting: 
(Sorkhiye to az man) Give me your beautiful red color
(Zardiye man az to) And take back my sickly pallor! 

The celebration starts in the evening and it goes on until the night. After creating the bonfires, people tend to jump over them throughout the evening. While jumping, people believe that the fire would take their problems, sickness and pallor. In addition, Iranians believed that the above-mentioned aspects would be replaced by energy and warmth, which can contribute towards their success on the upcoming year. Therefore, jumping over fire on Chahar Shanbeh Soori night is like purification rite.

Chahar Shanbeh Soori festival is somehow similar to the Halloween festival celebrated by people in Iran because of the trick or treating habit. This was not there at the beginning of the festival, but has been introduced as a part of Chahar Shanbeh Soori along with time.  

Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

The goal of this book is simple. It will help you incorporate the best method and the right strategies to learn Farsi FAST and EFFECTIVELY.

Learn Farsi in 100 days helps you learn speak Farsi faster than you ever thought possible. You only need to spend about 90-120 minutes daily in your 100-day period in order to learn Farsi language at advanced level. Whether you are just starting to get in touch the Farsi language, or even if you have already learned the basics of the language, this book can help you accelerate the learning process and put you on the right track.

Learn Farsi in 100 days is the only book you'll ever need to master Farsi language! It can be used as a self-study course - you do not need to work with a teacher. (It can also be used with a teacher).

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Nowruz: Persian New Year

Nowruz can be considered as the traditional Iranian festival, which is being held every year in collaboration with Persian New Year. The festival starts along with the beginning of spring. In other words, this festival is celebrated by people on 20th and 21st of March every year. The name of the festival has been derived from Avestan, which refers to a new day.

Iranians who live in every corner of the world celebrate Nowruz along with few other ethnolinguistic groups. People have been celebrating this festival for a period of more than 3,000 years. Nowruz day marks the beginning of the spring season in Northern hemisphere, which usually falls on 21st of March. An exact year is calculated when the sun moves across the celestial equator, which marks the dawn of the New Year. As a result, Iranian families get together in order to celebrate the New Year and observe traditional rituals.

As mentioned earlier, Nowruz is associated with a rich history, which dates back to over 3.000 years. As per the historical information, the world famous Persepolis Complex was built with the objective of celebrating this festival. The Emperors who lived out there in Iran supported the celebration of New Year and it was celebrated in grand scale.

People in Iran celebrate Nowruz festival in a grand style. For example, they visit houses of one another with the objective of sharing happiness. However, these visits are mostly limited to the houses of neighbors, friends and family members in today’s world. On the first day of celebrations, all the family members get together around a table. Then they wait together until the arrival of spring. During this time, they take time to exchange the gifts that they have purchased for each other as well. Visiting houses of friends, family members or neighbors take place later in the day.

Along with Nowruz, the youngsters tend to visit the homes of elders first. Then the elders would come back to the homes of youngsters. The visits are usually short because they have a list of houses to cover during the limited time. Therefore, a visit would be limited to a short time period of about 30 minutes. In order to accommodate the guests who come in, people tend to have a sufficient supply of dried fruits, fresh fruits, cookies, pastries and nuts.

The Iranians tend to throw grand parties along with Nowruz celebrations. This creates an ideal environment for friends and family members to get together and share some quality time. People tend to treat the visitors who come to these parties with kindness. Another tradition that is closely associated with Nowruz is placing something sweet outside throughout the night of the first day. Most of the people tend to keep a candy or some honey.  With this tradition, Iranian people strongly believe that they will get sweet things in their lives throughout the year.

Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

The goal of this book is simple. It will help you incorporate the best method and the right strategies to learn Farsi FAST and EFFECTIVELY.

Learn Farsi in 100 days helps you learn speak Farsi faster than you ever thought possible. You only need to spend about 90-120 minutes daily in your 100-day period in order to learn Farsi language at advanced level. Whether you are just starting to get in touch the Farsi language, or even if you have already learned the basics of the language, this book can help you accelerate the learning process and put you on the right track.

Learn Farsi in 100 days is the only book you'll ever need to master Farsi language! It can be used as a self-study course - you do not need to work with a teacher. (It can also be used with a teacher).

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50 Interesting Facts about Iran

 

There are a lot of Interesting Facts about Iran, and it was hard to choose which ones should be included in the list below. Not only is it amazingly beautiful, but it has a long and interesting history as well. I have tried to cover a full range of facts including facts about geography, art, the population, language, economy, etc.
I hope you enjoy them!

 

Iran

 

1. The earliest archaeological findings from Persia date to the Paleolithic era, 100,000 years ago. By 5000 BCE, Persia hosted sophisticated agriculture and early cities.

2. Iran is the world’s oldest continuous major civilization, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 BC.

3. The region now called Iran was occupied by the Medes and the Persians in the 1500s B.C. until the Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrew the Medes and became ruler of the Achaemenid (Persian) Empire, which reached from the Indus to the Nile at its zenith in 525 B.C.

4. In Persian language, the word Iran means “Land of the Aryans.”

5. The official name of Iran is the Islamic Republic of Iran. It became an Islamic republic since the Pahlavi monarchy was overthrown on Feb. 11, 1979.

6. The former name of Iran was Persia, which was in use till 1935.

7. Persian is the official language of Iran; it is used for educational, administrative and business purposes. Many local languages such as Azeri, Kurdish, Arabic and Armenian are also spoken in the country.

8. Persian (Farsi) is still spoken in Tajikestan and Afghanistan. It was the official court language of India for 200 years.

9. Iran is a big country. It is the 18th largest country in the world, with a total of 1,648,195 Sq km. It is three times the size of Arizona.

10. Iran is divided into thirty one provinces that are further divided into counties, and subdivided into districts and sub-districts. The provinces are governed by their respective governors.

 

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Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

The goal of this book is simple. It will help you incorporate the best method and the right strategies to learn Farsi FAST and EFFECTIVELY.

Learn Farsi in 100 days helps you learn speak Farsi faster than you ever thought possible. You only need to spend about 90-120 minutes daily in your 100-day period in order to learn Farsi language at advanced level. Whether you are just starting to get in touch the Farsi language, or even if you have already learned the basics of the language, this book can help you accelerate the learning process and put you on the right track.

Learn Farsi in 100 days is the only book you'll ever need to master Farsi language! It can be used as a self-study course - you do not need to work with a teacher. (It can also be used with a teacher).

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Best Resources For Teaching Farsi

 

 

resources

 

زبان فارسی، زبان رسمی سه کشور ایران، افغانستان و تاجیکستان است. همچنین فارسی زبانان بزرگترین اقلیت در کشور ازبکستان را تشکیل می دهند. در حال حاضر بیش از 110 میلیون نفر در سراسر جهان به زبان فارسی صحبت می کنند. امروزه این زبان به علت قدمت و ادبیات غنی، طرفداران بسیاری را در سراسر جهان به خود جذب کرده است. از این رو تعداد افرادی که به آموزش زبان فارسی علاقه مندند نیز در حال افزایش است. یکی از مشکلاتی که در آموزش زبان فارسی وجود دارد کمبود منابع آموزشی است. بویژه منابع صوتی و تصویری و نرم افزارهای آموزشی که تعداد آنها انگشت شمارند.

در ادامه به برخی از معروفترین منابع آموزش زبان فارسی می پردازیم:

books2

 

کتابها- در حالیکه منابع آموزشی بسیار متنوعی برای آموزش زبانهای مختلف وجود دارند، کتابها همچنان به عنوان یکی از بهترین منابع آموزش زبان شناخته می شوند. متاسفانه کتابهای معروف کمی  برای آموزش زبان فارسی وجود دارد که در ادامه به برخی از آنها اشاره می شود:

- "آموزش زبان و فرهنگ فارسی به غیرفارسی زبانان «نویسنده: دکتر صفارمقدم»: این کتاب در چهار جلد یکی از بهترین منابع کنونی آموزش زبان فارسی برای آموزش مقدماتی تا پیشرفته است. هر کتاب شامل 16 درس است و در مجموع در قالب 64 درس برای هر سطح زبان قابل استفاده می باشد.

 

پیمسلر برنامه های آموزشی بسیاری برای زبانهای مختلف ارائه می کند. یکی از زبانهایی که مورد توجه پیمسلر بوده، زبان فارسی است. کتاب آموزش زبان فارسی پیمسلر درسهای آموزشی بسیاری را به فراگیران این زبان ارائه می کند. هر درس بخش کوتاهی برای یادگیری کلمات جدید و تکرار آنها ارائه می کند که به فراگیران فرصت کافی برای یادگیری می دهد.

 

 

 

 

 

Learn Farsi in 100 Days: The Ultimate Crash Course to Learning Farsi Fast

The goal of this book is simple. It will help you incorporate the best method and the right strategies to learn Farsi FAST and EFFECTIVELY.

Learn Farsi in 100 days helps you learn speak Farsi faster than you ever thought possible. You only need to spend about 90-120 minutes daily in your 100-day period in order to learn Farsi language at advanced level. Whether you are just starting to get in touch the Farsi language, or even if you have already learned the basics of the language, this book can help you accelerate the learning process and put you on the right track.

Learn Farsi in 100 days is the only book you'll ever need to master Farsi language! It can be used as a self-study course - you do not need to work with a teacher. (It can also be used with a teacher).