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Top 100 Persian Proverbs For Intermediate to Advanced Persian Learners
Top 100 Persian Proverbs: For Intermediate to Advanced Persian Learners explains 100 well-known Persian proverbs and expressions, one at a time, from آش شله قلمکار to سایه‌تان از سر ما کم نشود. Each entry says, in Persian, when the saying is used, then tells the story or history behind it, with English meanings of harder words in footnotes. 131-page PDF by Reza Nazari and Somayeh Nazari.
Read the first 14 pages free (PDF).
Learn 100 Persian proverbs through the stories that explain them
A proverb makes sense once you know where it came from. Why does a Persian speaker say شتر دیدی، ندیدی (you saw a camel, you didn’t) to mean “keep it to yourself”? Top 100 Persian Proverbs answers that kind of question for 100 sayings, each on its own page or two, so you remember the saying with its story.
Of the three idiom and proverb books on this site, this one has the fewest entries and the most reading. Each entry has three parts: the proverb with short-vowel marks, a paragraph in Persian on when people use it, and a short story headed داستان ضرب‌المثل (the story of the proverb). The story behind آش شله قلمکار, for example, is about a vow kept by the Qajar king Naser al-Din Shah.
At a glance
What’s inside
Every entry is a short reading lesson as well as a proverb.
100 proverbs and expressions
Classic proverbs, such as چاه‌کن ته چاه است (the well-digger ends up at the bottom of the well), and everyday expressions, such as کلاه گذاشتن (to cheat someone).
When to use it
A paragraph in Persian on the situations the saying fits, for example آش نخورده و دهن سوخته for someone blamed for something they did not do.
The story behind it
A short tale or piece of history for each saying, from Luqman and his donkey to the shrine of Shah Abdol-Azim south of Tehran.
English footnotes
Numbered footnotes give English meanings for hard words in each story, such as نذر (vow) and اشراف (nobility).
Vowel marks on the proverbs
Each proverb is written with short-vowel marks in the heading, so you can read it correctly before you meet it in the story.
Sample proverbs from the book
Five of the 100 entries. The book explains each one in Persian; the pronunciations, literal meanings and English meanings below are ours.
| Proverb | Pronunciation | Literally | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| آش نخورده و دهن سوخته | âsh nakhorde o dahan sukhte | soup not eaten, yet a burned mouth | blamed for something you did not do |
| شتر دیدی، ندیدی | shotor didi, nadidi | you saw a camel, you didn’t see it | keep what you saw to yourself |
| گرگ باران‌دیده | gorg-e bârân-dide | a wolf that has seen rain | a seasoned, experienced person |
| اشک تمساح می‌ریزد | ashk-e temsâh mirizad | he or she sheds crocodile tears | fakes sorrow |
| تعارف شاه عبدالعظیمی | ta’ârof-e shâh abdol’azimi | a Shah Abdol-Azim courtesy | an invitation not meant to be accepted |
The story of the camel: a boy describes a lost camel so exactly that its owner takes him to a judge, who tells him that from now on, “you saw a camel, you didn’t see it.” More sayings are explained in English in the free Persian idioms and proverbs section.
Contents
The 100 entries, in the book’s order:
- Description and مقدمه (introduction in Persian)
- 1 to 20, including آش شله قلمکار, صبر ایوب, اشک تمساح می‌ریزد and آب زیر کاه
- 21 to 40, including ستون به ستون فرج است, دروازه را می‌توان بست ولی دهان مردم را نمی‌توان بست and مرغ از قفس پرید
- 41 to 60, including مثل کبک سرش را زیر برف می‌کند, گرگ باران‌دیده, آش نخورده و دهن سوخته and یک کلاغ چهل کلاغ
- 61 to 80, including حرف مفت می‌گوید, کلاه گذاشتن, چاه‌کن ته چاه است and شتر دیدی، ندیدی
- 81 to 100, including سیبیلش را چرب کرد, تعارف شاه عبدالعظیمی and سایه‌تان از سر ما کم نشود
How to study with this book
- Read the proverb aloud using the vowel marks, then read the usage paragraph.
- Read the story once for the plot, then again with the footnotes for the new words.
- Retell the story in your own words, in Persian if you can, and finish with the proverb.
- Take one or two proverbs a day; the stories are short enough to read in a few minutes.
- Check yourself with the free Persian idioms quiz.
Who this book is for
A good fit if you
- read Persian at an intermediate level or above and want reading practice with a point
- remember sayings better when you know the story behind them
- want to understand the cultural references in everyday Iranian speech
- prefer 100 well-explained proverbs over a long list
Look elsewhere if you
- need English translations of the explanations; 300 Farsi Idioms with Their English Equivalents pairs each idiom with an English saying
- want as many idioms as possible in one reference; Essential Idioms in Farsi lists more than 1,600
Use it with
- Ta’ârof: Persian politeness: the custom behind sayings like تعارف شاه عبدالعظیمی.
- Laugh and Learn Farsi: Mulla Nasreddin Tales: more short Persian stories at a similar level.
Common questions
Is the book in English?
No. The explanations and stories are in Persian. English appears only in the footnotes, which give the meaning of harder words.
How is it different from the other idiom and proverb books?
It has the fewest entries, 100, but explains each one at length with its story. Essential Idioms in Farsi lists more than 1,600 idioms in one line each, and 300 Farsi Idioms gives English equivalents.
What level do I need?
Intermediate to advanced. You should read Persian script comfortably; the footnotes help with less common words.
Is it Iranian Persian?
Yes. The proverbs and stories come from Iranian Persian and culture.
What do I get after I buy?
A 131-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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