Learn Persian (Farsi) Online
One of the World's Most Poetic Languages.
One-on-one lessons with expert teachers. Farsi, Dari, Persian script, and the literature of Rumi and Hafez — all levels A1 to C2.
Farsi vs Dari vs Tajik — Which Persian?
Three mutually intelligible varieties of one language — same roots, different countries, minor differences.
| Variety | Country | Speakers | Script | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farsi (فارسی) | Iran | ~80M | Persian script (Nastaliq/Naskh, right-to-left) | Iranian Persian — the prestige standard and media language |
| Dari (دری) | Afghanistan | ~20M native, ~35M total | Same Persian script as Farsi | Afghan Persian — mutually intelligible with Farsi, some vocabulary differences |
| Tajik (Тоҷикӣ) | Tajikistan | ~8M | Cyrillic alphabet (Soviet legacy) | Mutually intelligible in speech; distinct written form |
Why Learn Persian?
110M+ Speakers
Persian is spoken by over 110 million people across Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and large diaspora communities in the USA, Europe, and Gulf states.
Persian Literature (Rumi, Hafez, Khayyam)
Persian has one of the world's great literary traditions. Rumi's Masnavi, Hafez's Divan, and Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat are vastly richer in the original than any translation.
Iran's History & Culture
One of the world's oldest civilisations — Persian Empire, Silk Road, Islamic Golden Age, Nowruz, Persian cuisine, miniature painting, and contemporary Iranian cinema and art.
Afghan Dari for Professionals
For NGO workers, journalists, diplomats, and development professionals working in Afghanistan, Dari fluency is invaluable and opens doors no interpreter can.
Business in Central Asia
Persian is a gateway language for the broader Central Asian region — useful in Tajikistan, parts of Uzbekistan, and trading relationships across the ancient Silk Road corridor.
Gateway to Arabic Vocabulary
Persian borrowed extensively from Arabic. Learning Persian gives you a 2,000-word head start on Arabic vocabulary — particularly useful for learners of both languages.
Learning Paths
Conversational Farsi (Iranian)
Everyday Persian for travel to Iran, connecting with the Iranian diaspora, and engaging with Iranian culture, cinema, and music. Focus on modern conversational Farsi.
Dari for Afghanistan
Afghan Dari — the lingua franca of Afghanistan and an official language. For NGO workers, diplomats, journalists, and business professionals working in the Afghan context.
Persian Literature & Poetry
Read Rumi, Hafez, Khayyam, and Ferdowsi in the original. Classical Persian poetry, literary vocabulary, and the rich tradition of Persian literature spanning 1,000+ years.
Iranian Diaspora Heritage
Reconnect with your Persian heritage. Reading, writing, and speaking Persian for second-generation Iranians who grew up in the USA, UK, Canada, or Europe.
Featured Persian Teachers
Shirin A.
Tehran, Iran
University of Tehran, Persian Literature · 10 yrs
Conversational Farsi & contemporary Iranian culture
Khalid R.
Kabul, Afghanistan (Dari focus)
American University of Afghanistan, Linguistics · 7 yrs
Dari for NGO/development professionals & beginners
Neda M.
Los Angeles, USA (Iranian diaspora)
UCLA Iranian Studies · 8 yrs
Heritage Persian & diaspora reconnection for adults
CEFR Level Guide for Persian
| CEFR Level | What You Can Do | Study Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A1–A2 | Greetings, numbers, alphabet recognition, basic phrases, right-to-left writing practice | 80–150 hrs |
| B1–B2 | Everyday conversation, reading modern Persian texts, past/future tense, 2,000-word vocabulary | 350–650 hrs |
| C1–C2 | Literary Persian, formal register, poetry analysis, business and diplomatic fluency | 900–1300 hrs |
4-Week Persian Starter Plan
- · Learn Persian's 32 letters
- · Right-to-left reading direction
- · Key differences from Arabic letters
- · سلام / درود (hello) and politeness forms
- · Numbers and counting
- · Family vocabulary
- · Present tense verb system
- · Ezafe construction (noun phrases)
- · Simple sentences: I am, I have, I want
- · 30-min tutor conversation session
- · Listen to Persian music or podcast
- · Introduce yourself in 5 sentences
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Farsi, Dari, and Tajik?
All three are varieties of Persian (فارسی) and are mutually intelligible in speech. Farsi refers to the Iranian variety — the most widely used internationally. Dari is the Afghan variety, with slightly different vocabulary and accent. Tajik Persian uses Cyrillic script rather than the Persian script, a legacy of Soviet rule. Learning Farsi gives you a strong foundation for understanding all three.
Is Persian script difficult to learn?
Persian script has 32 letters, is written right-to-left, and is cursive — letters connect and change shape by position. Most students can read basic Persian within 4–6 weeks with regular tutor guidance. Importantly, Persian script is NOT Arabic, even though it derives from it — Persian has 4 letters Arabic lacks (پ، چ، ژ، گ) and is phonetically more regular.
Is Persian related to Arabic?
No — Persian (Farsi) is an Indo-European language, in the same family as English, French, and Spanish. Arabic is a Semitic language in a completely different family. Persian borrowed many words from Arabic (especially after the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century) and adopted the Arabic script, but the grammar, structure, and base vocabulary are fundamentally different.
How long does it take to reach conversational Farsi?
The US Foreign Service Institute classifies Persian as a Category III language — approximately 900–1100 classroom hours to professional working proficiency. With regular tutoring at 3–4 hours per week, most learners reach conversational B1 level in 12–18 months. Heritage speakers with existing oral exposure can progress significantly faster.
Start Learning Persian Today
Expert teachers. Farsi, Dari, and Persian script. Trial lesson from $1.