Find Your Persian Tutor Online
Iranian Farsi, Afghan Dari, or Tajik — taught by expert teachers with backgrounds in Persian literature, formal writing, and conversational fluency. Trial from $1.
Farsi vs Dari vs Tajik: Which Persian Should You Learn?
Persian is one language with three major national standard forms. The right choice depends on where you plan to use it.
Iranian Farsi
Anyone with ties to Iran, those pursuing Persian literature, business in Iran
Perso-Arabic (right to left)
Afghan Dari
Those working in Afghanistan, humanitarian workers, NGO professionals
Perso-Arabic (right to left, same as Farsi)
Tajik
Central Asia region focus, Silk Road studies, heritage learners
Cyrillic alphabet (since Soviet era)
Persian Script vs Arabic Script: Same Alphabet, Completely Different Language
Persian uses the Arabic alphabet (with 4 extra letters added for Persian sounds), but Persian and Arabic are completely unrelated languages. Arabic is Semitic; Persian is Indo-European — more closely related to English, French, and Hindi than to Arabic.
Learning to read Persian script does not mean you can read Arabic, and vice versa. The grammar, core vocabulary, and sentence structure are entirely different. If you already know Arabic script, you have a head start on Persian reading — but the language itself requires learning from scratch.
How to Choose the Right Persian Teacher
Iranian Farsi vs Afghan Dari
Confirm which variety your teacher specialises in. Farsi and Dari are mutually intelligible but have differences in accent, some vocabulary, and formal register. A teacher who only knows one variety may struggle to teach the other.
Script Teaching Method
Persian script (Perso-Arabic) runs right to left and has 32 letters. The script is the same for both Farsi and Dari. Ask how many weeks the teacher dedicates to script before advancing to reading literary texts.
Poetry and Classical Literature
Persian has one of the richest literary traditions in the world — Rumi, Hafez, Sa'di, Omar Khayyam. If reading classical poetry is your goal, seek a teacher with formal Persian literature training (adabiyat).
Formal vs Conversational Persian
Formal written Persian differs significantly from spoken colloquial Farsi (which drops many grammatical endings). Make sure your teacher understands your goals — formal writing requires a different focus than everyday speech.
Diaspora Background
Many excellent Persian teachers live in diaspora communities (Los Angeles, Toronto, London). Their Farsi may have some vocabulary shifts from life outside Iran. Confirm they keep up with contemporary Iranian usage if that is your goal.
Meet Our Persian Teachers
Iranian Farsi & Persian literature
Afghan Dari & formal writing
Conversational Farsi & heritage speakers
CEFR Proficiency Guide for Persian
Greetings, numbers, basic questions and answers
Simple conversations, basic script recognition
Independent communication, basic reading in Persian script
Formal writing, news media, literary texts with support
Advanced Persian, classical poetry with guidance
Near-native mastery, full literary access
Simple, Transparent Pricing
- ✓Persian script basics
- ✓Conversational Farsi/Dari
- ✓Pronunciation & pronunciation
- ✓Session notes
- ✓Full script reading & writing
- ✓Formal vs colloquial register
- ✓Cultural context & poetry intro
- ✓Structured lesson plan
- ✓Homework & review
- ✓Classical poetry (Rumi, Hafez)
- ✓Advanced literary Persian
- ✓Business Farsi & formal register
- ✓CEFR exam preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Persian (Farsi) related to Arabic?
No — Persian and Arabic are completely different language families. Persian is an Indo-European language (related to English, French, and Hindi), while Arabic is Semitic. Persian uses a modified Arabic alphabet and has borrowed many Arabic words, but the grammar, core vocabulary, and pronunciation are entirely different.
How mutually intelligible are Dari and Farsi?
Very. A Tehran Farsi speaker and a Kabul Dari speaker can understand each other clearly in conversation, similar to how British and Australian English speakers communicate. The differences are mainly in accent, some vocabulary choices, and formal register vocabulary. A single teacher may teach both, but should be transparent about which is their primary variety.
How long does it take to learn to read Persian script?
Most learners can read basic Persian script (connecting letters, distinguishing short vs long vowels) within 4–6 weeks of focused practice. Reading fluently — fast enough to enjoy texts — takes another 2–3 months. Persian script is more learner-friendly than Arabic because vowels are more consistently marked in modern printed texts.
Can I read Rumi in the original Persian?
Rumi's Masnavi is written in classical Persian (12th–13th century). A modern Farsi speaker can read it with effort, similar to how an English speaker reads Shakespeare. Most learners reach the point where they can enjoy Persian poetry with some teacher guidance at around CEFR B2. A teacher with a Persian literature background will give you access to the original much faster than self-study.
Are there large Persian-speaking communities I can practise with?
Yes — the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles (known as Tehrangeles) is one of the largest Persian-speaking communities outside Iran. Toronto, London, Stockholm, and Dubai also have large communities. Many online conversation partners and teachers come from these diaspora communities.
Find your Persian teacher today
Farsi, Dari, or Tajik — script, conversation, and classical poetry. Expert teachers. Trial from $1.