Lessons for English speakers
Learn to read Farsi
A short, active path into reading Farsi: learn the Persian script in useful groups, decode words before revealing their pronunciation, follow the verb to the end, and read a small story before opening your first book.
13 core sections · ≈ 31 min + 4 optional lookups · ≈ 44 min with everything
16
A new reading: try it before revealing help
≈ 2 min
What you'll learn
- This time the pronunciation and English begin hidden.
- Aim for the scene, not a perfect translation.
- Find the final verb first if a line feels scrambled.
- If you understand who did what, you are ready for the first book, which deliberately uses a smaller vocabulary.
Two new clues; everything else has appeared before
| روزیruzi“one day” |
| رویru-ye“on; on top of” |
روزیruzi also uses the ـی-i ending you just met. And Persian puts a bird on a tree — روی درختru-ye derakht — where English would say “in the tree.” The English below follows English.
A fox and a bird
Read each line aloud, say what you think happened, then reveal.
- روزی روباه کوچکی در جنگل بود.
one day · fox-e small · in forest · was
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روزی روباه کوچکی در جنگل بود.ruzi rubâh-e kucheki dar jangal bud“One day there was a small fox in the forest” - روباه پرندهای را روی درخت دید.
The final action is دیدdid“saw”.
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روباه پرندهای را روی درخت دید.rubâh parande-i râ ru-ye derakht did“The fox saw a bird in the tree” - روباه گفت: «سلام.»
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روباه گفت: «سلام.»rubâh goft: “salâm.”“The fox said, “Hello.”” - پرنده گفت: «خداحافظ.» و به خانه رفت.
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پرنده گفت: «خداحافظ.» و به خانه رفت.parande goft: “khodâhâfez.” o be khâne raft“The bird said, “Goodbye,” and went to the house”