|
Alone |
Final |
Medial |
Initial |
Transliteration |
Remarks |
|
ب آب |
ﺐ تب |
ﺒ تنبل |
ﺑ ببر |
b |
Pronounced like its English equivalent in "baby." Articulate it fully: "tiger" babr ببر = ﺑ + ﺒ + ﺮ "shoes" but بوت = ﺑ + ﻮ + ت In informal speech, the sound b often changes into u: "night" shab - shau شب = ﺷ + ﺐ "green" sabz - sauz سبز = ﺳ + ﺒ + ﺰ When the sound b follows aa, it changes into u and makes the long aa short a: "water" aab - au آب = آ + ب "sun" aaftaab - aftau آفتاب = آ + ﻓ + ﺘ + ﺎ + ب |
|
پ چاپ |
ﭗ پمپ |
ﭙ تپه |
ﭘ پاک |
p |
Pronounced like its English equivalent in "paper." Articulate it fully: "clean" paak پاک = ﭘ + ﺎ + ک "pump" pamp پمپ = ﭘ + ﻤ + ﭗ |
|
ت مات |
ﺖ است |
ﺘ دسته |
ﺗ تا |
t |
See also ط below. ت and ط differ slightly from the English t, which is alveolar. The Persian t is softer than in English: "handle" dasta دسته = د + ﺳ + ﺘ + ﻪ "till, to" taa تا = ﺗ + ﺎ |
|
ث ارث |
ﺚ بعث |
ﺜ کثر |
ﺛ ثبت |
s |
See also س and ص below. Pronounced like its English equivalent in "sit," never as in "as": "registration" sabt ثبت = ﺛ + ﺒ + ﺖ "heritage" ers ارث = ا + ر + ث |
|
ج ارج |
ﺞ حج |
ﺠ بجه |
ﺟ جا |
j |
Pronounced as j in the English word "John": "place" jaa جا = ﺟ + ﺎ "pilgrimage" haj حج = ﺣ + ﺞ |
|
چ ماچ |
ﭻ مچ |
ﭽ بچه |
ﭼ چای |
ch |
Pronounced as ch in the English word "cheese": "tea" chaai چای = ﭼ + ﺎ + ی "boy" bachcha بچه = ﺑ + ﭽ + ﻪ Sometimes is called chim. |
|
ح روح |
ﺢ فتح |
ﺤ امحا |
ﺣ حل |
h |
Pronounced as h in the English word "hotel." Be careful to give h its full value in any position: "solution" hall حل = ﺣ + ﻞ "limited" mahdud محدود = ﻣ + ﺤ + ﺪ + و + د "morning" sobh صبح = ﺻ + ﺒ + ﺢ |
|
خ کاخ |
ﺦ یخ |
ﺨ تخار |
ﺧ خیر |
kh |
Pronounced like the German sound ch and the ch in the Scottish word "loch." It must never be pronounced as k. On the other hand, avoid the opposite extreme of h: "ice" iakh یخ = ﻳ + ﺦ "palace" kaakh کاخ = ﻛ + ﺎ + خ |
|
د داد |
ﺪ ابد |
ﺪ جدا |
ﺩ دانش |
d |
Differs from the English d, which is alveolar. Dari d is softer than in English: "pain" dard درد = د + ر + د "step" qhadam قدم = ﻗ + ﺪ + م This letter is not joined to the letters following but to the preceding letters-if the preceding letter is not one of this kind: "handle" dasta دسته = د + ﺳ + ﺘ + ﻪ "limited" mahdud محدود = ﻣ + ﺤ + ﺪ + و + د In the following word, the letters are not joined to each other because all of them are not joined to the following letter (as was mentioned above): "pain" dard درد = د + ر + د |
|
ذ استاذ |
ﺬ اخذ |
ﺬ لذت |
ذ ذات |
z |
Seeز , ض and ظ below. Pronounced like its English equivalent in "zero." Articulate it fully: "pleasure" lazzat لذت = ﻟ + ﺬ + ت "absorption" jazb جذب = ﺟ + ﺬ + ب This letter is not joined to the letters following it, but is joined to the preceding letters (if the preceding letter is not one of this kind): "pleasure" lazzat لذت = ﻟ + ﺬ + ت In the following word, the letters are not joined to each other because the first and the second letters are not joined to the following letter (as was mentioned above): "atom" zarra ذره = ذ + ر + ه |
|
ر بار |
ﺮ ببر |
ﺮ مرد |
ر روز |
r |
Dari r is softer than in English. It must be trilled. It is always pronounced: چرم charm as in "leather," not cham. "man" mard مرد = ﻣ + ﺮ + د "day" rooz روز = ر + و + ز This letter is not joined to the letters following it, but is joined to the preceding letters (if the preceding letter is not one of this kind): "heritage" ers ارث = ا + ر + ث "tiger" babr ببر = ﺑ + ﺒ + ﺮ The word, "day" is a special case. Each letter is in stand alone form. This is because each letter is one of the special Dari letters that do not join the letter following it. "day" rooz روز = ر + و + ز |
|
ز باز |
ﺰ طنز |
ﺰ عزا |
ز زرد |
z |
See ذ above, ض and ظ below. Pronounced like its English equivalent in "zero." Articulate it fully: "yellow" zard زرد = ز + ر + د "green" sabz سبز = ﺳ + ﺒ + ﺰ This letter is not joined to the letters following it, but is joined to the preceding letters (if the preceding letter is not one of this kind): "crow" zaagh زاغ = ز + ا + غ "greens" sabzi سبزی = ﺳ + ﺒ + ﺰ + ی The word "yellow" is another special case. Each letter is in stand along form. This is because each letter is one of the special Dari letters to do no join the letter following it. "yellow" zard زرد = ز + ر + د |
|
ژ دژ |
ﮋ کژ |
ﮋ مژه |
ژ ژاله |
zh |
Pronounced like the English s in "pleasure" and j in the French word "jour": "stronghold" dezh دژ = د + ژ "eyelash" mozha مژه = ﻣ + ﮋ + ه This letter is not joined to the letters following it, but is joined to the preceding letters (if the preceding letter is not one of this kind): "hail" zhaala ژاله = ژ + ا + ﻟ + ﻪ "curve" kazh کژ = ﻛ + ﮋ In the following word, the letters are not joined to each other because the first and the second ones are not joined to the following letter (as mentioned above): "parade" rezhaر + ژ + ه رژه= |
|
س راس |
ﺲ کس |
ﺴ مسی |
ﺳ سال |
s |
See ث above and ص below. Pronounced like its English equivalent in "sit," never as in "as": "year" saal سال = ﺳ + ﺎ + ل "person" kas کس = ﻛ + ﺲ |
|
ش آش |
ﺶ نیش |
ﺸ میشی |
ﺷ شال |
sh |
Pronounced like sh in the English word "show": "salty" shoor شور = ﺷ + ﻮ + ر "layer" qheshr قشر = ﻗ + ﺸ + ﺮ |
|
ص خاص |
ﺺ رقص |
ﺼ قصر |
ﺻ صبح |
s |
See ث and س above. Pronounced like its English equivalent in "sit," never as in "as": "intention" qhasd قصد = ﻗ + ﺼ + ﺪ "peace" solh صلح = ﺻ + ﻠ + ﺢ |
|
ض فرض |
ﺾ مریض |
ﻀ قضا |
ﺿ ضد |
z |
See ذ and ز above and ظ below. Pronounced very much as its English equivalent in "zero." Articulate it fully: "judge" qhaazi قاضی = ﻗ + ﺎ + ﺿ + ﻰ "width" arz عرض = ﻋ + ﺮ + ض |
|
ط لوط |
ﻂ ربط |
ﻄ مطیع |
ﻃ طاق |
t |
See ت above. Differs slightly from the English t, which is alveolar. The Persian t is somewhat softer than in English: "room" otaaqh اطاق = ا + ﻃ + ﺎ + ق "connection" raabeta رابطه = ر + ا + ﺑ + ﻄ + ﻪ |
|
ظ حفاظ |
ﻆ حافظ |
ﻈ عظیم |
ﻇ ظهر |
z |
See ز, ذ and ض above: "protection" hefz حفظ = ﺣ + ﻔ + ﻆ "oppression" zolm ظلم = ﻇ + ﻠ + ﻢ |
|
ع نوع |
ﻊ تابع |
ﻌ تعلق |
ﻋ عین |
' |
Does not occur in English. It corresponds to the check in the voice (silent initially, with a glottal stop medially and finally). Between two vowels it does no more than separate them: "hour," "watch" saa,at ساعت = ﺳ + ﺎ + ﻋ + ﺖ Between a vowel and a consonant, it indicates a slight slurring of the vowel: "building" ta,mir = taamir تعمیر = ﺗ + ﻌ + ﻤ + ﻴ + ﺮ "actual" fe,ly = feely فعلی = ﻓ + ﻌ + ﻠ + ﻰ "concerning" raaje, = raajee راجع = ر + ا + ﺟ + ﻊ Following a consonant at the end of a word, it is barely pronounced; however, it has the effect of lengthening the preceding vowel: "quarter" rob, = roob ربع = ر + ﺑ + ﻊ In informal speech, [ ' ] sometimes changes into the short a at the end of a word: "interruption" qhat,- qhata قطع = ﻗ + ﻄ + ﻊ "plus" jam,- jama جمع = ﺟ + ﻤ + ﻊ |
|
غ زاغ |
ﻎ تیغ |
ﻐ مغرور |
ﻏ غار |
gh |
Does not occur in English. It is a "gargled" sound, with something of the quality of the French guttural r and of the German g in "Wagen." It is formed by the back of the tongue coming into contact with the rearmost part of the soft palate: "cave" ghaar غار = ﻏ + ﺎ + ر "crow" zaagh زاغ = ز + ا + غ It is a "voiced" equivalent of ق q, (see below). |
|
ف معاف |
ﻒ صنف |
ﻔ صفا |
ﻓ فارس |
f |
Pronounced like its English equivalent in "face." Articulate it fully. "clean" safaa صفا = ﺻ + ﻔ + ﺎ "negative" manfi منفی = ﻣ + ﻨ + ﻔ + ﻰ |
|
ق اطاق |
ﻖ خالق |
ﻘ بقا |
ﻗ قاری |
qh |
Does not occur in English. It is pronounced deep in the throat. "power" qhova قوه = ﻗ + ﻮ + ه "sensible" aaqhel عاقل = ﻋ + ﺎ + ﻗ + ﻞ In informal speech, it is usually pronounced as kh in the middle of a word: "time" vaqht - vakht وقت = و + ﻗ + ﺖ "dance" raqhs - rakhs رقص = ر + ﻗ + ﺺ It is a '"voiceless" equivalent of غ gh, see above. |
|
ک پاک |
ﮏ لک |
ﮑ مکه |
ﮐ کمپ |
k |
It differs slightly from its English equivalent, but has its English equivalent before the Dari vowels aa,o,oo,u: "work" kaar کار = ﻛ + ﺎ + ر "all" koll کل = ﻛ + ﻞ It is "palatalized," that is articulated much further forward in the mouth before the vowels a,e,ii,i: "person" kas کس = ﻛ + ﺲ "bananas" kiila کیله = ﻛ + ﻴ + ﻠ + ﻪ and in a final position: "clean" paak پاک = ﭘ + ﺎ + ک In the final position it is sometimes written ك . It is a voiceless equivalent of گ |
|
گ رگ |
ﮓ سنگ |
ﮕ مگر |
ﮔ گرگ |
g |
It is always hard, as in "garden," never as in "gem": "wolf" gorg گرگ = ﮔ + ﺮ + گ "stone" sang سنگ = ﺳ + ﻨ + ﮓ "gas" gaaz گاز = ﮔ + ﺎ + ز It is the voiced equivalent of ک See ک above. |
|
ل مال |
ﻞ میل |
ﻠ بیلر |
ﻟ لفظ |
l |
Must be enunciated very clearly, as in "leaf," even at the end of a word. The English tendency to "swallow" it (hall, bowl, real) must be avoided: "property" maal مال = ﻣ + ﺎ + ل "intention" mayl میل = ﻣ + ﻴ + ﻞ ل followed by ا a is written لا : "truck" laari لاری = لا + ر + ی "auction" lilaam لیلام = ﻟ + ﻴ + ﻼ + م |
|
م دام |
ﻢ نیم |
ﻤ همه |
ﻣ مار |
m |
Pronounced like its English equivalent in "medicine." Articulate it fully: "snake" maar مار = ﻣ + ﺎ + ر "half" nim نیم = ﻧ + ﻴ + ﻢ |
|
ن نان |
ﻦ من |
ﻨ سنگ |
ﻧ نور |
n |
Pronounced like its English equivalent in "name," but it is generally nasalized before g and k: "ring" zang سنگ = ﺳ + ﻨ + ﮓ "tank" taanki تانکی = ﺗ + ﺎ + ﻧ + ﻜ + ﻰ Before b in the same word it becomes m: "Monday" dushambe دوشنبه= د + و + ﺷ + ﻨ + ﺒ + ﻪ "cotton" pamba پنبه = ﭘ + ﻨ + ﺒ + ﻪ |
|
و دو |
ﻮ دیو |
ﻮ موزه |
و وادی |
v |
Represents v as in "verb." When it is a consonant and appears after an initial خ in Persian words, it is not pronounced: "to want" khaastan ﺧ + ﻮ + ا + ﺳ + ﺘ + ﻦ خواستن= "sister" khaahar خواهر = ﺧ + ﻮ + ا + ﻫ + ﺮ The only exceptions are with the vowel و (See Vowels): "good" khub خوب = ﺧ + ﻮ + ب "pig" khuk خوک = ﺧ + ﻮ + ک "cluster" khusha خوشه = ﺧ + ﻮ + ﺷ + ﻪ In informal speech, at the end of a word, it has a tendency towards w: "follower" payrav - payraw پیرو = ﭘ + ﻴ + ﺮ + و When و is preceded by the consonant at the end of the word, it is generally followed by a: "abolition" laghv -laghva لغو = ﻟ + ﻐ + ﻮ "destruction" mahv -mahva محو = ﻣ + ﺤ + ﻮ Separately written, it represents و va "and."
This letter is not joined to the letters following it, but is joined to the preceding letters (if the preceding letter is not one of this kind): "power" qhova قوه = ﻗ + ﻮ + ه "salty shur شور = ﺷ + ﻮ + ر In the following word, the letters are not joined to each other because all of them are not joined to the following letter (as was mentioned above): "day" rooz روز = ر + و + ز |
|
ه راه |
ﻪ ته |
ﻬ بهار |
ﻫ هر |
h |
Pronounced as h in the English word "hotel." See ح above. In informal speech, its articulation is weak. At the beginning of the word, it can be fully omitted: "seven" haft - aft هفت = ﻫ + ﻔ + ﺖ "constantly" hamiisha - amiisha ﻫ + ﻤ + ﻴ + ﺸ + ﻪ همیشه= When followed by a consonant, it makes the preceding short vowel long: "town" shahr - shaar شهر = ﺷ + ﻬ + ﺮ "guest" mehmaan - miimaan = ﻣ + ﻬ + ﻤ + ﺎ + ن مهمان When followed by ی i, it is usually pronounced like the semivowel y: "warrior" sepaahi - sepaayi ﺳ + ﭙ + ﺎ + ﻫ + ﻰ سپاهی = "road-fork" duraahi -duraayi د + و + ر + ا + ﻫ + ﻰ دوراهی = When h is omitted, it often causes the assimilation of the adjoining vowels: "four" chahaar - chaar چهار = ﭼ + ﻬ + ﺎ + ر "mouth" dahaan - daan دهان = د + ﻫ + ﺎ + ن "drum" dohol - dool دهل = د + ﻫ + ﻞ |
|
ی دی |
ﻰ طی |
ﻴ بیان |
ﻳ یاد |
y |
Like English y in "year": "memory" yaad یاد = ﻳ + ﺎ + د "many" besyaar بسیار = ﺑ + ﺴ + ﻴ + ﺎ + ر The same letter can represent vowel i , diphthong ay (see vowels), a combination of a vowel and a consonant iy: "come" biyaa بیا = ﺑ + ﻴ + ﺎ Represents the Ezafa (see below) in certain contexts and is pronounced ye: "good place" jaa-ye khub جای خوب |
See Also: