1.3 Persian alphabet

” الفبا فارسی “

Persian alphabet with images on wooden blocks
“Dr. Bashi Persian alphabet wood blocks” by Dr. Bashi Multilingual Toys is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Learning Objectives

  • You will learn Persian alphabets and additional sounds.

 

Alef ” آ “

Alef (ا) is the first Persian letter and a non-connector. It has only independent and final shapes. It appears with three different diacritics as shown below. We usually review vowels with the letter Alef first:

Sound Letter Name
a ا alef
a اَ Alef with zebar
e اِ Alef with zir
o اُ Alef with pish

Let’s see a few more examples of these vowels with a letter be ( ب ):

Example in English Name Persian example
ab zebar اَب
ib zir اِب
ub pish اُب

 

Here we are going explain each letter in group base on their similarity in shapes:

Alef ” آ “


Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Awesome آب ا ا آ Non- connector Vowel a alef ا

B “ب” Group

All the letters of the ب series have similar shape in their independent, initial, medial, and final positions. They can only be differentiated by dots and diacritics.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Bee بابا ب بـ بـ Connector Consonant /b/ be ب

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Pam پدر پ پـ پـ Connector Consonant /p/ pe پ

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Tom توت ت تـ تـ Connector Consonant /t/ te ت

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Sam تریا ث ثـ ثـ Connector Consonant /s/ se ث

Here you see examples of the ب series in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

Initial Middle Final
ب ا ر = بار س ب ب = سبب ج ب = جب
پ ا ر = پار چ پ ر= چپر ج پ = جپ
ت ا ر = تار ب ت ا = بتا ج ت = رات
ٹ ا ر = ٹار ب ٹ ن = بٹن چ ا ٹ = چاٹ

CH1.3 Exercise 1

Content: Please note that these words are for practice only and not all words will have meanings.

Jim ” ج “ Group

Persian letters of the jimج” group look alike, but the placement of dots distinguishes them. Please learn the shape and the placement of the dots. Letters of the jim ج series are also connectors. They join the following letters in words. Like other connectors, letters of the jim ج series look different at the initial and middle positions. However, the final position and the full form of ج jim series look alike.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Jim جوجه ج جـ جـ Connector Consonant /j/ jim ج

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Chat چمن چ چـ چـ Connector Consonant /ch/ che چ

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Hat حوله ح حـ حـ Connector Consonant /h/ he ح

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
not in English خانه خ خـ خـ Connector Consonant /kh/ khe خ

Here you see examples of the ج series in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

Final Middle Initial Letter
حج اجر جا ج
گچ آچر چا چ
داح احمد حا ح
چخ آ خر خا خ

Please join the letters to form a word. Please note that these words are for practice and not all words will have meanings.

Ch.-1.3 Exercise 2 خ group

Daal “د” & Re  “ر” Group

These letters in Persian are non-connectors and do not join with following letters in the word. However, these letters will join with the preceding letters in words. Also, notice the difference in shapes of dal and re groups.

As dal and re groups do not connect with following letter, they do not change their shapes in the initial, middle, and final positions.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Dad داریوش د د د Non- connector Consonant /d/ dal د

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Zoo ذرت ذ ذ ذ Non-connector Consonant /z/ zal ذ

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Rose رایانه ر ر ر Non- connector Consonant /r/ re ر

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Zoo زنبور ز ز ز Non- connector Consonant /z/ ze ز

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Garage ژاله ژ ژ ژ Non-connector Consonant /zhe/ zhe ژ

Ch.1.3 Exercise 3 د , ر group

 

Please join the letters to form a word. Please note that these words are for practice and not all words will have meanings.

Sin “س” Group

These two letters “s” and “sh” have only one difference: “sh” (ش) is written with three dots on the top of the “s” (س). These are connectors and like most connectors, letters in the Sin س group take the variant in the initial and medial positions, and the full form in the final position.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Sam سارا س سـ سـ Connector Consonant /s/ sin س

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
shoes شام ش شـ شـ Connector Consonant /sh/ shin ش

Saad “ص” Group

Saad and zaad are similar-looking letters, except that zaad has a dot. Please also note that the letters س and ص are homophonous and give the sound of “s” as in English sample. ض is also homophonous with  ذ and ز and gives the sound of “ze” as in English zero.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Sam صابون ص صـ صـ Connector Consonant /s/ saad ص

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Zoo قرض ض ضـ ضـ Connector Consonant /z/ zaad ض

Here you see examples of the س series and ص Series in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

Initial Medial Final
ص ا ف = صاف ح ا ص ل = حاصل ش خ ص = شخص
ض ر و ر = ضرور ح ض ر ت = حضرت ب ی ا ض = بیاض
س ی ب = سیب ر س ت ا = رستا پ ا س = پاس

Ch.1.3 Exercise 4 Groupس , ص

Ta “ط” & Za ” ظ” Group

ط and ظ are each homophonous with different letters of the Persian alphabets. They remain the same in all positions.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Tom خط ط ط ط Connector Consonant /t/ taa ط

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Zoo ظرف ظ ظ ظ Connector Consonant /z/ zaa ظ

Here you see examples of the ط & ظ series in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

Initial Medial Final
ط و ر = طور س ل ط ن ت = سلطنت ق ح ط = قحط
ظ ا ل م = ظلم ن ظ ر = نظر ا ل ف ا ظ = الفاظ

Ch.-1.3-Exercise-5 Group ص

Eiyn ” ع “ group

Eiyn ( ع ) and ghain ( غ ) are similar-looking letters. However, Eiyn gives vowel sounds whereas ghain is a voiced velar fricative consonant sound. Both have different shapes at initial,

middle, and final position.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sounds Name Persian Letter
عمو ع عـ عـ Connector Consonant Eyin ع

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sounds Name Persian Letter
دماغ غ غـ غـ Connector Consonant /gh/ Ghayn غ

 

Here you see examples of the غ & ع series in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

 

Initial Middle Final
ع ا د ت =عادت م ع ل و م = معلوم م ق ط ع = مقطع
غ م = غم م غ ا ل ط ہ= مغالطہ ب ا غ = باغ

Ch.1.3-Exercise-6 Group ع

Fe ” ف “ Group

Letters in the ف group have different full forms. The variants are identical and only distinguishable by the number of dots above the letter.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
Foot فردا ف فـ فـ Connector Consonant /f/ fe ف

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Sound Name Persian Letter
مشق ق قـ قـ Connector Consonant gaff ق

 

Here you see examples of the ق & ف series in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

Initial Medial Final
ف و ت = فوت ل ف ظ = لفظ ا ل ف = الف
ق ر ی ب = قریب و ق ت =وقت ف ر ق = فرق

Ch.1.3-Exercise-7 Group ف

Kaafک ” & gaff ” گ “

Kaaf and gaff look similar except gaff has two strokes connected to the right side. They are connectors and have the different shapes at the initial, middle, and final positions.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Kodak کمک ک کـ کـ Connector Consonant /k/ kaaf ک

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Gang گچ گ گـ گـ Connector Consonant /g/ gaff گ

 

Here you see examples of the گ & ک series in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

 

Initial Medial Final
ک ا ر = کار ف ک ر = فکر ٹ ا ک = ٹاک
گ و ل = گول ب گ ل = بگل پ ا گ = پاگ

Ch.-1.3 Exercise 8 group ک , گ

Laam “ل” & Mim “ م” & Noon “ن “

ل , م , and ن are three distinct letters. They do not belong to the same group. Variants of  ن are similar to ب group variants and follow the same rule.

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Love لب ل لـ لـ Connector Consonant /l/ laam ل

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Mom مادر م مـ مـ Connector Consonant /m/ mim م

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
No نان ن نـ نـ Connector Consonant /n/ noon ن

 

Here you see examples of the م & ن series in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

Initial Middle Final
م ا ل = مال ن م ک = نمک ن ا م = نام
ل م ب ا = لمبا ق ل م = قلم م ا ل = مال
ن م ک = نمک چ ن د ن = چنداں خ ا ن = خان

Ch.-1.3-Exercise 9 Group ل , م , ن

Additional letters, Symbol & Vowels:    ه -و- ی –  ً – ٍ- ٌ- ء- ّ

Ye “ ی

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Yellow یخ ی یـ ایـ connector consonant /y/ ye ی

Consonant ی and long vowel ای

The letters ی function as both long vowels and consonant. Close attention needs to be paid to the variants of these two letters, as they take different initial, middle, and final forms.

 

Here you see examples of the ای & ی in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

Initial Middle Final Name
د ی ن ی =دینی ع ئ س = عیس ای ر ا ن = ایران long vowel ای
ی خ = یخ و ز ی ر = وزیر چ ا ی = چای Consonant ی

Ch.-1.3 Exercise 10 Group ی

Vaav “و ” varies

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Victor وام و و و Non – Connector consonant /v/ vaav و

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
similar to the K in Know/Knot خواهر و و و Connector Silent vav و

Consonant “Vaav”, Vowel O/OO and “Silent vaav”

Vaav ” و” represents two distinct sets of sounds:

  1. As a semi-vowel, it gives the sounds of “v” (as in English “vote”). Examples: آواز
  2. As a long vowel, it gives the sounds of “o” (as in English “role”), “u” (as in English “loot”/”boot”).
  3. “Silent Vav” always located after /خ/ and before vowel /aa-ا/. It is similar to “k” in word “know”. you don not pronounce it! It connect /خ/ to /aa-ا/.
    English transliteration Persian
    sister khahar خواهر script
    khahar خاهر Pronunciation

He-dow-cheshm ” ھ” & Unpronounced-he ” ه “

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Ham هوا-شاه ه هـ هـ Connector Consonant /h/ he dow cheshm هـ

 

Example in English Example in Persian Final position Medial Position Initial position Connector/ Non- connector Vowel/Consonant Phonetic Symbol Name Persian Letter
Fiancé خانه ه Non-connector Vowel /h/ Unpronounced he ه

ه / هـ

The consonant “he” and the unpronounced vowel “he” have similar shape at the final position in a word. The only difference is the consonant “he” comes after the vowel letter, whereas the unpronounced vowel “he” comes after the consonant letter.

 

Here you see examples of the ه & هـ in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

Initial Middle Final Name
ک ہ = ک / م ا ه =ماه ه unpronounced
م ا ه = ماه ب هـ ا ر = بهار هـ و ا = هوا هـ /ه

Dow cheshm

Ch.1.3-Exercise-11 Group ه

Hamzeh ” ء “

hamzeh ء indicates the occurrence of two vowels in a sequence. Hamzeh is always placed on the second vowel except for certain combinations. It is always “seated” above vowels. In other words, hamzeh ء is written with the help of a variant.

HAMZEH: Also come from Arabic language, and it can be placed on vowels:

ؤ ئ إ أ

 

Here you see examples of the ء in different positions in the the word: (keep in mind the following words are only for practice and not all words will have meanings)

ؤ إ / ئ أ ء
س ؤ ا ل =سؤال م س ا ئ ل =مسائل م أ م و ر = مأمور م أ م و ر = مأمور
ر ؤ ی ا = رؤیا ر ئ ی س = رئیس ر أ ی = رأی ا م ل ا ء =املاء

Ch.1.3 Exercise 12 ء group

TASHDID “ ّ

When two identical consonants occur in a row, one is removed and TAHDEED is inserted on top of the remaining consonant. اّ

TANVIN ”  ً  ٌ  ٍ”

This is an Arabic symbol which came to Persian Language. It produces the sound of /an/ and is always placed on top of ا (alef).
 

 

Key Takeaways

  • You can recognize, read and write Persian alphabets and additional sounds.

!سپاس

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Basic Persian Copyright © 2023 by Nahid Shiran is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book