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101 Most Common Farsi Proverbs and Their Best English Equivalents For Advanced Farsi Learners
101 Most Common Farsi Proverbs collects 101 proverbs and idiomatic sayings heard in everyday Iranian speech, such as بادآورده را باد می‌برد (Easy come, easy go). Each saying is printed in Persian with the English proverb closest to it and a one-line explanation of its meaning in Persian. Written for advanced learners. 65-page PDF by Reza Nazari.
Understand the proverbs Iranians drop into everyday conversation
Iranians lean on proverbs in conversation, in the news and in films, and a literal translation rarely tells you what a saying really means. 101 Most Common Farsi Proverbs gives you 101 of the most familiar ones, set two to a page, each matched with the English proverb or idiom that does the same job.
Every entry has three parts: the Persian saying, its English equivalent, and a short explanation headed معنی (ma’ni, meaning) in simple Persian. For example, تخم‌مرغ دزد شتر دزد می‌شود is paired with “the thin end of the wedge” and explained as a warning that small wrongdoing leads to bigger crimes.
At a glance
What each entry gives you
The book is a straight collection, with no chapters to work through, so you can open it anywhere.
Everyday proverbs
Familiar sayings such as نابرده رنج گنج میسر نمی‌شود (Nothing ventured, nothing gained) and بی‌خبری خوش‌خبری است (No news is good news).
Idiomatic expressions
Alongside the proverbs are common verb idioms, such as سر به سر کسی گذاشتن (sar be sar-e kasi gozâshtan, to tease someone) and مته به خشخاش گذاشتن (mate be khashkhâsh gozâshtan, to split hairs).
English equivalents
Each saying is matched to an English proverb or idiom with a similar sense rather than a word-for-word translation, so you learn when to use it.
Explanations in Persian
A short معنی line restates the meaning in plain Persian, which doubles as reading practice at the advanced level.
Two per page
Entries are laid out two to a page with a clear divider, which suits a few minutes of review at a time.
Six sayings from the book
Each of these appears in the book with the English equivalent shown here. The transliteration is added on this page only:
| Persian | Pronunciation | English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| بادآورده را باد می‌برد | bâdâvarde râ bâd mibarad | Easy come, easy go |
| نابرده رنج گنج میسر نمی‌شود | nâborde ranj ganj moyassar nemishavad | Nothing ventured, nothing gained |
| بی‌خبری خوش‌خبری است | bikhabari khoshkhabari ast | No news is good news |
| کار نیکو کردن از پر کردن است | kâr niku kardan az por kardan ast | Practice makes perfect |
| خواهی نشوی رسوا همرنگ جماعت شو | khâhi nashavi rosvâ hamrang-e jamâ’at sho | When in Rome, do as the Romans do |
| آب رفته به جوی باز نمی‌آید | âb-e rafte be juy bâz nemiâyad | Things past cannot be recalled |
Find more sayings, with explanations, in the free Persian idioms and proverbs section.
How to study with this book
- Read two entries a day. Cover the English line and guess the meaning from the Persian first.
- Read the معنی explanation aloud; it is short, plain Persian and good practice for reading speed.
- Write one sentence of your own for each saying, describing a situation where you would use it.
- Listen for the sayings in Iranian films, podcasts and conversation, and tick the ones you hear.
- Check yourself with the free Persian idioms quiz.
Who this book is for
A good fit if you
- already read Persian comfortably and want to sound more natural
- keep hearing sayings in conversation or the media that you cannot decode
- learned Persian outside Iran and want the expressions people use at home
- translate between Persian and English and need the matching proverb
Look elsewhere if you
- are still learning to read; the entries have no transliteration, so start with Learn Farsi in 100 Days
- want a larger collection of expressions; 300 Farsi Idioms with Their English Equivalents has three times as many
Use it with
- Top 100 Persian Proverbs: a second set of proverbs for intermediate to advanced learners.
- Essential Idioms in Farsi: idioms for advanced learners, to go beyond the proverbs.
- 11 Farsi idioms that have no equivalent in English: sayings where no English match exists.
Common questions
What level is this book for?
Advanced. The sayings and their explanations are printed only in Persian script, with no transliteration, so you should already read Persian comfortably.
Are the explanations in English?
No. Each saying has an English equivalent, but the explanation of its meaning (معنی) is written in Persian.
Is it Iranian Persian?
Yes. The sayings are the ones used in everyday speech in Iran. Some are classical proverbs and some are informal expressions.
What do I get after I buy?
A 65-page PDF you can download right after checkout and read on a phone, tablet or computer, or print.
Is there a paperback?
Yes, the paperback is sold on Amazon. The PDF here is the digital edition.
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