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