Dari is the Persian language as it is spoken and written in Afghanistan. It uses the same 32-letter alphabet as Iranian Persian (Farsi), and speakers of the two understand each other. The differences are mostly in pronunciation, some everyday words and informal grammar.
This section is for learners who want to talk with Afghan family, friends, colleagues or students. It explains what changes when you move from Iranian Persian to Dari, and gives you phrase lists, numbers and teaching material.
What is Dari?
Dari (دری, dari) is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan, alongside Pashto. Linguistically it is a variety of Persian, not a separate language. Britannica describes it as the Afghan form of Persian, with syntax that is close to that of Iranian Persian. The name Dari became the official name for Persian in Afghanistan in 1964, and many Afghans still simply call their language Farsi.
Standard written Dari follows the same spelling and grammar as written Persian in Iran. The spoken standard is based largely on the speech of Kabul, which is why our Dari pages use common Kabul forms.
Where is Dari spoken?
- Afghanistan. Dari is the main shared language (lingua franca) of the country. It is the first language of Tajik, Hazara and Aimaq communities, and many speakers of Pashto, Uzbek and other languages use it as a second language. Estimates of the number of native speakers vary widely, so we do not quote a single figure.
- The Afghan diaspora. Large Afghan communities live in Iran, Pakistan, Europe, North America and Australia, and Dari is the home language in many of these families.
How Dari relates to Iranian Persian
Think of Dari and Iranian Persian as you would American and British English: the same language, with a different accent and some different everyday words. A Dari speaker and a Tehrani speaker can hold a conversation, read the same books and enjoy the same poetry (Rumi, Hafez and Saadi belong to both).
| Feature | Dari (Afghanistan) | Iranian Persian (Farsi) |
|---|---|---|
| Script | Same 32-letter Perso-Arabic alphabet | Same 32-letter Perso-Arabic alphabet |
| Vowels | Keeps old long vowels e and o: شیر sher (lion) vs شیر shir (milk) | Both words are شیر shir |
| Letter و | Pronounced w: وطن watan (homeland) | Pronounced v: وطن vatan |
| ق and غ | Two different sounds, q and gh | Usually the same sound |
| Verb endings (spoken) | -om: هستم hastom (I am) | -am: هستم hastam |
| Present prefix (spoken) | me-: mefahmom (I understand) | mi-: mifahmam |
| Polite address | شما shomâ + plural verb, spoken ending -in: chetor hastin? | شما shomâ + plural verb, spoken ending -in / written -id |
| Thank you | تشکر tashakor | ممنون mamnun, مرسی mersi |
| Car | موتر motar | ماشین mâshin |
| Loanwords | More English and Hindi-Urdu words (lift, tikit, chawki) | More French words (مرسی mersi, آسانسور âsânsor) |
For a full list with examples, read Dari vs Farsi: key differences. For how Dari fits alongside Farsi and Tajik, see Farsi vs Persian vs Dari vs Tajik.
Start here: Dari guides
Over 40 everyday phrases in Dari, each with its Iranian Persian equivalent.
How Afghans pronounce numbers, plus tens, hundreds, thousands and telling the time.
Vowels, consonants, grammar and 30+ everyday vocabulary differences.
The 32 letters with Dari sound notes and tips for teaching Afghan newcomer students.
An honest note: what our lessons teach
The free lessons and books on Learn Persian Online teach standard Iranian Persian. We do not offer a separate Dari course. Most of what you learn here still carries over to Dari:
- Transfers fully: the alphabet and spelling, reading and writing, core grammar (verbs, the ezafe, word order), formal and written vocabulary, and classical poetry.
- Transfers with small changes: verb conjugation (Dari speech says -om and me- where Tehran says -am and mi-), numbers and greetings.
- Needs separate practice: pronunciation (vowels and the w sound), a few dozen common everyday words, and colloquial Kabul grammar. Our Dari pages cover the most useful of these.
If you need spoken Dari for work or family, combine our materials with a native Dari-speaking tutor. See our online Persian tutors page.
How to learn Dari step by step
- Learn the alphabet. Start with our Persian alphabet guide; it is the same script.
- Learn greetings in the Dari form. Use the Dari phrase list from day one, so you sound natural to Afghan speakers.
- Build core vocabulary. Our vocabulary lessons and the 101 most common Persian words are shared almost entirely with Dari. Swap in the Dari words from our differences table.
- Learn verbs. Use how to conjugate Persian verbs and the verb conjugator, then adjust the spoken endings as shown on the differences page.
- Listen to Afghan speakers. Afghan radio, TV, music and family conversations will tune your ear to Dari pronunciation.
Books that work for Dari learners too
Our books teach Iranian Persian, but the script, grammar and most vocabulary are shared with Dari.
- Read and Write Persian Language in 7 Days – the script is identical in Dari, so this workbook works for both
- 101 Most Common Persian Words – core words, most of them shared with Dari
- Learn Farsi in 100 Days – a full beginner course in Iranian Persian
Sources
- Wikipedia, “Dari” (accessed 30 Oct 2026). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dari
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Dari language”. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dari-language
- Adam Baker (2016), “Dari (Afghan Persian)”, Journal of the International Phonetic Association 46(2): 229–234. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-international-phonetic-association/article/dari-afghan-persian/E6FE187B387C9A3C2C2B79A3278BC697
- Rawan Farhadi and John R. Perry (2009), “Kāboli” [Kabuli colloquial Persian], Encyclopaedia Iranica. https://iranicaonline.org/articles/kaboli-colloquial-persian
- Wikipedia, “Persian language” (accessed 30 Oct 2026). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language
FAQ
Is Dari the same language as Farsi?
Yes, in the sense that Dari is the name used in Afghanistan for the Persian language. Written Dari and written Iranian Persian are nearly identical, and speakers understand each other. The main differences are in pronunciation, some everyday words and colloquial grammar.
Can I learn Dari with Iranian Persian materials?
Mostly yes. The alphabet, spelling, core grammar and most vocabulary transfer directly. You will need to adjust pronunciation and learn a few dozen common words that differ, such as motar (car) instead of mâshin.
Does Learn Persian Online teach Dari?
Our lessons and books teach standard Iranian Persian. This Dari section explains the differences so that you can use what you learn here with Afghan speakers.
Is Dari harder than Iranian Persian?
Neither is harder. Some learners find Dari pronunciation easier to match to spelling, because Dari keeps vowel distinctions such as sher (lion) and shir (milk) that Iranian Persian has merged.
Why is Persian called Dari in Afghanistan?
The Afghan government made Dari the official name for Persian in Afghanistan in 1964. Many Afghans still call their language Farsi in everyday speech.