Persian has two registers. Books, news and signs use the formal written language; conversation, especially in Tehran, uses a relaxed spoken form. They are the same language, and a few regular changes explain most of the difference.
The main changes
| Written to spoken | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| ان ← ون | ân becomes un | nân → nun (bread), khâne → khune (house), Tehrân → Tehrun (very informal) |
| است ← ـه | ast becomes -e | khub ast → khube (it’s good) |
| را ← رو / و | râ becomes ro or o | ketâb râ → ketâbo (the book, as an object) |
| ـند ← ـن | -and becomes -an | dârand → dâran (they have) |
| میخواهم ← میخوام | verbs shorten | mikhâham → mikhâm, miravam → miram, miguyam → migam |
| او ← اون | u becomes un | he or she; ânhâ → unâ (they) |
Which should you learn?
Both, eventually. Use the spoken forms in conversation, or you will sound like a newsreader; learn to recognise the written forms for signs, menus and forms. This course has given you the spoken form first wherever the two differ.
Don’t try to sound more Tehrani than you are. Speaking the standard language clearly is always understood and always respected.
Where to go next
- Practise every day, even for five minutes: read signs, count change and greet people.
- Listen to Persian radio, podcasts and music, and watch Iranian films with subtitles.
- Find a language exchange partner: many Iranians want to practise English.
- Use our phrasebooks for taarof, emergencies and everyday admin.
Practise
- Turn these written forms into spoken ones: nân, khub ast, mikhâham.
- How would a Tehrani say “Tehran” in very casual speech?
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