Iranian Persian / Farsi
Perso-Arabic scriptCurrent starter baseline; formal and colloquial forms differ.
Language practice
Choose a language, then practise its grammar, vocabulary, culture or writing.
WORKSPACEPick a task before a language tab. Choose the language you want to use, then work on one small task. Reading a script, learning a grammar rule and responding in conversation need different practice.
How to use this
- Need to speak today?
Choose a language and start with Survival. Practise the reply as well as the phrase you say first.
- Need to read?
Use Writing systems for recognition, Pronunciation for spelling-to-sound rules, and Kanji + Hanzi for character and word study.
- Need to build sentences?
Read a grammar rule, work through its example, then answer without looking. Check Vocabulary and Culture to see how the words are used.
Try this: Choose German. Find a survival exchange and say both parts aloud. Change one noun using the grammar explanation instead of memorizing a second whole sentence.
You should get: You can make one small variation and explain why the form changes. If you cannot, revisit that rule before adding more phrases.
Know the limit: Track depth varies. A chart is a reference, and recognizing an answer is not the same as producing it in a conversation.
Start with pronunciationMandarin Chinese / Taiwan
Bopomofo / Zhuyin
注音符號A set of phonetic symbols used to show Mandarin pronunciation. Syllables are assembled from an initial, a medial or final, and a tone.
The first version was created in 1913 and released in 1918. It remains a practical reading, dictionary, and keyboard tool in Taiwan.
- SYMBOLS
- 37
- TONES
- 5
- ALSO CALLED
- Zhuyin / Zhuyin Fuhao
Initials
21Medials
3Finals
13Tones
5Pronunciation: sounds, reading rules, stress, tone & practice →
All 47 pronunciation chapters & the IPA sound key →
All 47 pronunciation chapters & the IPA sound key →
PUBLISHED · FOUNDATION 01 · 15 SEPTEMBER 2026
Farsi / Persian: start here
Perso-Arabic, right to left; پ چ ژ گ extend the Arabic inventory.
Track direction: Iranian Persian first, with Dari and Tajik comparisons.
Published below: one grammar rule, worked example, exercise with an answer, introductory words and expressions. Planned next: sound contrasts, wider grammar and guided reading/listening. This is the start of the course.
Persian across standards
Persian includes major standards in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Local names, pronunciation, writing and vocabulary matter.
Dari
Afghanistan; Perso-Arabic scriptA standard with regional varieties and distinct pronunciation/vocabulary.
Tajik
Tajikistan; predominantly CyrillicA related standard with a different writing system and contact history.
Try it: Does knowing Persian script automatically let you read a Tajik newspaper?
Show the answer
No. Modern Tajik commonly uses Cyrillic; you need the alphabet and spelling correspondences.
References: UT Austin Persian ↗
FARSI / PERSIAN / FOUNDATION 01
فارسی
Iranian Persian first, with Dari and Tajik comparisons.
The words for everyday life.
Find a situation, read the phrase, or show the native text. Learn common replies as well as questions.
Pronunciation & how to use these phrases
Perso-Arabic, right to left; پ چ ژ گ extend the Arabic inventory. Device speech, when available, is only a model for that installed voice; historical and unsupported varieties have no automatic voice here.
Published: a first rule with a worked example and answer, introductory vocabulary, and basic expressions. Next: sound contrasts → inflection and sentence patterns → connected reading/listening → independent use. Taarof affects offers and politeness. Do not assume an initial offer or refusal has the same force in every situation; confirm practically and courteously. Spoken Iranian forms can differ markedly from formal written ones.
6 phrases
Basics & communication
Further reading & cultural sources
Iranian Persian first, with Dari and Tajik comparisons.
Ezafe links a noun to a following adjective or possessor: noun-e modifier. After many vowel-final words it is -ye. The short vowel is usually unwritten, so add it when reading a noun phrase aloud.
کتابِ من · ketāb-e manmy book
Explain why the answer follows the rule. Then return to the example and identify the unchanged part. This first unit is published; the full grammar sequence remains in development.
Try it yourself
1 / 1 · 0 correctApply the rule.
ketāb-___ man
All words · vocabulary quiz
1 / 6 · 0 correctChoose the English meaning.
آب
آبwater · āb
آبwater · āb
نانbread · nān
نانbread · nān
منI / me · man
منI / me · man
کتابbook · ketāb
کتابbook · ketāb
بلهyes · bale
بلهyes · bale
نهno · na
نهno · na
Between the words
Taarof affects offers and politeness. Do not assume an initial offer or refusal has the same force in every situation; confirm practically and courteously. Spoken Iranian forms can differ markedly from formal written ones.
سلام
Hello · salāmTaarof affects offers and politeness. Do not assume an initial offer or refusal has the same force in every situation; confirm practically and courteously. Spoken Iranian forms can differ markedly from formal written ones.
سلام
A short foundation is not a complete conversation course. Follow the named language variety and source recordings.
Read the situation
1 / 1 · 0 correctRecall the first expression or reading form.
Practice scores last for this visit.Farsi / Persian audio is unavailable on this device. All exercises work without audio.