i want to learn persian language just for hobby, how to start?

Question

Answer

Here’s a step-by-step guide in English for an English speaker starting to learn Persian (Farsi), designed to be practical, encouraging, and culturally insightful:

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### **Step 1: Master the Persian Alphabet & Script**  
**Why?** Persian uses the Arabic script with 32 letters (4 extra letters: پ/چ/ژ/گ).  
**How to start:**  
- **Focus on these 8 easy letters first:**  
  ا (like "a" in *father*) • د (like "d") • س (like "s") • م (like "m")  
  ت (like "t") • ل (like "l") • ک (like "k") • ی (like "y" or long "ee")  
- **Use apps:** "PersianPod101" (YouTube) or "Drops" (app) for visual letter drills.  
- **Tip:** Write each letter 10x while saying its sound aloud.

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### **Step 2: Nail Key Pronunciation Challenges**  
**English speaker pitfalls:**  
- **ق (ghayn):** Gargle-like "gh" (practice with "غروب" *ghorub* = sunset).  
- **خ (khe):** Harsh "kh" like *loch* ("خوب" *khoob* = good).  
- **ع (ayn):** Throaty "a" ("سلام" *salaam* = hello).  
- **Short vowels:** Often unwritten! Listen to words on **Forvo.com**.

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### **Step 3: Learn 20 Survival Phrases** (Use romanization first):  
| Persian (Romanized) | English |  
|---------------------|---------|  
| **Salâm!** | Hello! |  
| **Chetori?** | How are you? |  
| **Man khoobam.** | I’m fine. |  
| **Mamnoon.** | Thank you. |  
| **Lotfan.** | Please. |  
| **Bebakhshid.** | Excuse me. |  
| **Naame shomâ chieh?** | What’s your name? |  
| **Man ... hastam.** | I am ... |  
| **Man nemifahmam.** | I don’t understand. |  
| **Aghâ / Khânum** | Mr. / Ms. |

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### **Step 4: Grammar Hacks for English Speakers**  
- **No gender/gendered pronouns:** Only **او (u)** = he/she/it. 🎉  
- **Verb "to be" is suffix-based:**  
  - *Man **-am*** (I am) • *To **-i*** (you are) • *U **-ast*** (he/she is).  
- **Word order = Subject-Object-Verb:**  
  > "I an apple eat" = **Man sib mikhoram**.  
- **Ezâfe (ـِ):** Connects nouns (e.g., **ketâb** *e* **mamān** = Mom’s book).

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### **Step 5: Build Vocabulary Str

Verpassen Sie nicht die Gelegenheit, bequem von zu Hause aus eine Sprache zu lernen. Stöbern Sie in unserer Auswahl an erfahrenen Sprachlehrern und melden Sie sich jetzt zu Ihrer ersten Unterrichtsstunde an!