Farsi, also called Persian, is spoken by around 110 million people around the world and is the official language of Iran, Afghanistan (where it is called Dari) and Tajikistan (where it is called Tajik). It is also spoken in neighboring countries, such as Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, as well as throughout the Arab world. If you want to learn this language, start with the simplest greetings and conversations. By learning the basic vocabulary, you will also be able to understand it better. If you need to travel to a place where Farsi is spoken, you will also need to learn how to ask for help. Movafagh bashed! (Good luck!)
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Have Basic Conversation
Step 1. Use salam (سلام) to say hello in almost any situation
The word "salam" literally translates to "peace" and is used throughout the Muslim world to greet greetings. You can use it with anyone and at any time of the day.
- Another common greeting in Farsi is dorood (درود). It is older and more traditional and means "hello".
- If you greet a person who enters the house, you might as well say Khosh amadid! (! خوش آمدید), which means "welcome".
Greetings at Special Moments of the Day:
Good morning: sobh bekheyr! (! صبح بخیر)
Good evening: asr bekheyr! (! عصر بخیر)
Goodnight: shab bekheyr! (! شب بخیر)
Step 2. Do you use the expression Haleh shoma chetor ast? (حال شما چطور است؟) to say "How are you?" (plural of courtesy)
After greeting, usually in Persian culture one asks the interlocutor how he is. If you get this question, you might answer Man khoobam (.من خوبم), which means "I'm fine".
If you are talking to a close friend or someone your age or younger, could you say Halet chetore? (چطوری?), Which means "How are you?" (second person singular) and is very informal
Step 3. Introduce yourself by saying: Esme man… ast (.اسم من است)
To say your name, say Esme man followed by your name and finally ast. For example, if your name is Sara, you could say Esme man Sara ast. To ask the interlocutor what his name is, pronounce Esme shoma chist?.
When the other person tells you their name, you can reply Az molaaghat and shoma khosh-bakhtam (.از ملاقات شما خوشبختم), which means "Nice to meet you". You can also just say khoshbakhtam
Step 4. Explain that you don't speak Farsi very well
If you have recently started learning this language but still want to have a conversation, you could say Farsim xub nist (فارسیم خوب نیست), which means "I don't speak Persian / Farsi well". If you have trouble understanding your interlocutor, you could also ask Mishe ahesteh tar sohbat konid?, or "Could you please speak slower?" (plural of courtesy).
- You can add nemifahmam (نمي فهمم), which means "I don't understand".
- If you feel more comfortable speaking in English, try asking Engelisi yâd dâri? (انگلیسی یاد داری?), Or "Do you speak English?".
Step 5. Express your gratitude by saying mamnūnam (ممنونم)
It's a formal way of saying "thank you". The Persians also say "goods", like the French. However, it is considered a more colloquial expression.
- If the interlocutor thanks you, answer khahesh mikonam (خواهش مي كنم), which means "please".
- Other commonly used expressions include moteassefam (sorry), lotfan (please) and bebakhshid (sorry).
Step 6. End the conversation with bedrood (بدرود)
It's a very simple way to say "goodbye" when you're ready to say goodbye. You could also say khoda hafez (خدا حافظ), which also means "goodbye".
- In the morning you might as well say Rooze khoobi dashteh bashid!, which means "Have a nice day!"
- If the interlocutor continues to talk, you could say Man bayad beravam, which means "I have to go away".
Method 2 of 3: Expanding the Basic Vocabulary
Step 1. Start with baleh and nakheyr to say "yes" and "no"
These are two very important words in any language, so it is essential that you know them if you are traveling to an area where Farsi is spoken. If someone offers you something, add "thank you" at the end of the speech by saying nakheyr, mamnūnam.
Be careful to use these words if you don't understand what the interlocutor said. You could say man nemidânam (I don't know) or nemifahmam (I don't understand).}
Advise:
When talking conversationally with people you know or who are your age, you can shorten nakheyr to na.
Step 2. Learn the days of the week
If you travel, you need to know the days of the week so you know when you need to be somewhere or leave your accommodation.
- Sunday: yek-shanbe یکشنبه;
- Monday: do-shanbe دوشنبه;
- Tuesday: she-shanbe سه شنبه;
- Wednesday: chehār-shanbeh چهارشنبه;
- Thursday: panj-shanbeh پنج شنبه;
- Friday: jom'e جمعه;
- Saturday: shanbe شنبه.
Step 3. Choose other words to indicate dates and times
You don't always use the days of the week to tell when something happened. You could use deeRooz (yesterday), emRooz (today) or farda (tomorrow).
- The word for day is rooz (روز.) If something happens in the "morning", use the word sobh (صبح). The word for "evening" is asr (عصر), while shab (شب) is used to say "night".
- You could also use hālā (حالا), which means "now", or ba'dan (بعدا), which means "after".
Step 4. Count to 10
Generally, it is one of the first things to learn when studying a foreign language. Numbers 1 to 10 in Persian are: yek, do, se, chahaar, panj, shesh, haft, hasht, noh, dah.
Ordinals are also important, especially when talking about dates. Nokhost (نخست) means "first", doovom (در) means "second" and sevom (سوم) means "third"
Method 3 of 3: Ask for Help
Step 1. Start with Bebakgshid to get someone's attention
It means "Excuse me" and is a polite way of getting someone's attention before asking them a question. Then you might add: Aya mitavanid be man komak konid?, which means "Can you help me?" (plural of courtesy).
You could also say Man ahle inja nistam which means "I'm not from around here"
Step 2. Use Man komak niaz daram to ask for help
It literally means "I need help", so by saying this sentence, you will warn your interlocutor that you have a problem. However, you should be prepared to explain to him in Farsi what it is, otherwise ask Aya shama Engilisi?, or "Do you speak English?" (plural of courtesy).
You could even say Komakam kon!, which means "Help me!". Use this phrase in more serious situations, not when you simply need to ask for directions or find the bathroom
Step 3. Ask for directions if you are lost
It is not easy to move to a place you do not know, especially when all the signs are in a language you have recently begun to learn. Say Man gom shodeham to say that you are lost. Then, show where you want to go - a name written on a piece of paper, a map or a photo can help.
- If the place you are looking for is nearby, could you say Aya mitavanid be man neshan dahid?, which means "Can you tell me?" (plural of courtesy).
- If you just want to know where the bathroom is, ask Dashtshuee kojast?. Generally, it's a good idea to ask someone of the same sex as you.
Step 4. Pronounce Man mariz hastam (من مریض هستم) if you feel bad
With this sentence you will make it clear to those around you that you are not feeling well. If your health condition is serious, you could also say Man be doktor niaz daram ", which means" I need a doctor ".
In an emergency you could say Doktor ra seda konid! ("Call a doctor!") Or Ambulance ra seda konid! ("Call an ambulance!")
Advise:
If in a situation of serious risk you find it difficult to express your needs in Farsi, try saying Injâ kasi engelisi midânad?, which means "Is there anyone here who speaks English?".
