The Persian Alphabet
32 letters, written right to left, no capital forms.
Persian uses a modified Arabic script with four extra letters (پ، چ، ژ، گ) for sounds Arabic doesn't have. Most letters connect to neighbours and change shape depending on position in the word.
Quick Facts About the Script
Read right to left
Persian books open from what English speakers think of as the back. Numbers go left to right inside Persian text.
No capital letters
There's no equivalent to capital/lowercase. Letters change shape based on position in the word instead.
Four positions per letter
Most letters have an initial, medial, final, and isolated form. Seven letters never connect to the left (ا د ذ ر ز ژ و).
Short vowels are often invisible
Persian usually omits short vowels (a, e, o) in writing. You learn pronunciation through exposure, not letters.
Four extra letters
Persian added پ (p), چ (ch), ژ (zh), and گ (g) to the Arabic alphabet for Persian sounds Arabic doesn't have.
Numbers are different
Persian numerals (۰ ۱ ۲ ۳ ۴ ۵ ۶ ۷ ۸ ۹) look different from Arabic numerals. Many Persians use both interchangeably.
How Long Does It Take?
Most learners can recognise all 32 letters within a week of daily practice. Reading short words confidently takes 2 to 4 weeks. Reading full sentences smoothly takes 2 to 3 months.
The script feels intimidating at first because the shapes are unfamiliar. Once you spend a few hours with them, the system clicks. The hardest letters are the ones that look similar but differ in dots, like ب پ ت ث.