Persian Alphabet
Persian alphabet: 32 letters, RTL writing, 4 extra letters (پ چ ژ گ)
I can read and write Persian script.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
پدر من معلم است.
My father is a teacher.
این چای خیلی خوب است.
This tea is very good.
ایران کشور زیبایی است.
Iran is a beautiful country.
سلام! من علی هستم.
Hello! I am Ali.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
The Persian Alphabet
Persian uses a modified Arabic script with 32 letters, written right-to-left (RTL). Four letters are unique to Persian: پ (pe), چ (che), ژ (zhe), گ (ge).
Key Features
- Connected script: Letters change form based on position (initial, medial, final, isolated)
- Short vowels (a, e, o) are usually NOT written — you learn to read without them!
- Long vowels (ā, i, u) ARE written: ا (ā), ی (i), و (u)
Letters English Speakers Already Know
Many Persian sounds exist in English: b, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, z. The new sounds are: خ (kh — like German 'ch' in 'Bach'), غ/ق (gh/q — guttural), ع (ʿ — glottal).
Not connecting letters in handwriting. Writing left-to-right. Confusing similar-looking letters (ب/پ/ت/ث). Expecting short vowels to be written.
Common Error Patterns
Writing left-to-right
Persian is ALWAYS right-to-left. Start from the right margin.
Confusing ب/پ/ت/ث (differing only in dots)
Count the dots: ب(1 below), پ(3 below), ت(2 above), ث(3 above).
پدر من معلم است.
My father is a teacher.
پ (pe) is unique to Persian — doesn't exist in Arabic! پدر (pedar) = father.
این چای خیلی خوب است.
This tea is very good.
چ (che) — another Persian-only letter! چای (châi) = tea. خ (khe) sounds like German 'ch'.
ایران کشور زیبایی است.
Iran is a beautiful country.
ایران (Irân) starts with alef (ا). کشور (keshvar) = country. زیبا (zibâ) = beautiful.
سلام! من علی هستم.
Hello! I am Ali.
سلام (salâm) = hello. Written right-to-left. Letters connect within words.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises