Farsi Print E-mail

Farsi, also called “Persian,” is the official language of Iran. Farsi is written in the same script as Arabic, but it is not the same language as Arabic. This is similar to the way Spanish and English are written using the same letters, but they are different languages.

 

The government of Iran fears that Muslims who hear the gospel in their own language will become Christians. Christian ethnic groups that speak other languages are not as much of a problem to the government.

 

Officials make life difficult for pastors who deliver sermons in Farsi. “Pastors who preach in Farsi are ordered to give a weekly report to the government,” said an Iranian Christian. “Also, it is a well-known fact that the government sends spies into the Farsi-speaking churches to take pictures and evaluate the activities of the church. The churches cannot do anything to stop the spies from coming.”

 

Farsi is read from right to left instead of left to right like English. Look at the chart below to learn how to pronounce some Farsi words and phrases. (Pronunciations are approximate.)

English

How to say it in Farsi

Praise the Lord

KHOH-dah-rah SHOH-kr

Jesus loves you

EE-saw doos-taht DAH-reh

Mother

Mah-DAR

Father

Pay-DAR

Yes

BAH-lay

No

Nah

Please

LOHT-fan

Thank you

Mam-NOON-ahm

Good bye

KHOH-dah hah-fehz