Table of Contents
Why Formal and Informal Persian Matter
Persian has two main ways of speaking and writing: a more formal style and a more informal, everyday style. You will hear both all the time, often in the same conversation. From the beginning, it is important to recognize them so you can speak politely when needed and still understand natural speech with friends and in movies.
In this course we mainly teach standard Tehrani-style spoken Persian, and we always explain when something is specifically formal or informal.
Where You Use Formal Persian
Formal Persian is used when there is distance, respect, or an official situation. You will meet it in these contexts:
In news, speeches, and official announcements, you will hear a careful, more complete style of Persian. Sentences tend to be a bit longer and closer to written grammar. The vocabulary often includes more Arabic-based words and fewer slang forms.
At work, in emails, and in letters to unknown people or people of higher status, you usually choose a more formal style. This can mean more polite greetings, full forms of verbs, and avoiding slang words or very casual expressions.
In university, in written homework, and in exams, you are expected to write in a standard, mostly formal language. Spoken in-class language can be relaxed, but written work is rarely in full informal style.
With older people, teachers, and strangers, you often show respect by using more formal or at least semi-formal language. This is especially important in Iran with elders and people in authority.
You will also find formal style in religious texts, classical literature, and legal or administrative documents. At A1 level, you only need to recognize that this style will look and sound more complex, and that it is normal if you do not understand every word yet.
Where You Use Informal Persian
Informal Persian is the language of everyday life. This is what friends and family usually speak at home, what you hear on many TV series and in many movies, and what younger people use online and in messages.
In daily conversations with friends, classmates, close colleagues, and family members of the same generation, you will mostly hear informal speech. Verbs are often shortened, some endings are dropped, and the tone is relaxed.
On social media, in chats, and in text messages, people write closer to the way they speak. This is often informal spoken Persian written in the Persian script. You will see many shortened forms here.
Even in shops, taxis, and on the street, speech is mostly informal, especially in big cities. People may switch to a bit more formal style if they want to be extra polite, but the base is still informal spoken Persian.
For your communication at A1 level, informal spoken Persian is essential, because it is what you will hear the most. We will often present informal spoken forms first, and then show you the more formal equivalent when it is useful.
Grammar: Same System, Different Choices
Formal and informal Persian are not two different languages. They share the same grammar, the same basic verb system, and the same word order. What really changes is the choice of words, the length of sentences, and some endings or pronouns.
Spoken informal Persian tends to:
Use shorter verb forms and drop some sounds.
Prefer simple words where formal language might choose more complex or learned words.
Use very common everyday phrases that may not appear in textbooks or in news language.
Formal Persian tends to:
Keep full verb endings and clearer pronunciation.
Use more abstract or bookish vocabulary in writing.
Avoid certain slang or very casual expressions.
You will learn details of pronouns, verb forms, and polite formulas in later chapters. Here you only need to understand that many differences are predictable, and you do not need to memorize two complete systems from zero.
“You”: Formal and Informal Address
One very important difference is how you say “you.” Persian has two basic pronouns for “you”: a singular and a plural. The plural form can also be used as a polite form for one person.
The singular informal “you” is used with friends, people your age or younger, family members you are close to, and children. The plural or polite “you” is used with strangers, elders, teachers, and in more formal situations.
This is similar to “tu / vous” in French or “du / Sie” in German. The choice shows how much distance or respect you want to express, not just number. You will learn the full list of personal pronouns in a later chapter, but already keep in mind that Persian uses this contrast and that it affects how respectful or intimate you sound.
When in doubt, it is safer to choose the more polite option with someone you do not know well, especially older people. If they want a more informal tone, they may invite you to switch.
Verbs: Full Forms and Short Forms
Another important contrast between formal and informal speech is in verb forms. In colloquial spoken Persian many common verbs are shortened. At A1 level you do not need rules yet, but you should expect that a form you learn in a simple, clear way might sound slightly different in real conversations.
Formal-style verbs usually keep their full endings and clearer vowels. Informal speech often drops some vowels or consonants, and auxiliary elements can merge with the verb.
Because this difference is so frequent, in this course we will usually:
Teach you the clear basic form first, so you understand the grammar.
Show you the common spoken, more informal variant that you are likely to hear.
Later, when you study the verb “to be” and other common verbs in their own chapters, you will see how this works in practice. Here, you only need to recognize that a shorter spoken form does not mean a completely different verb; it is usually just an informal version of the same thing.
Politeness without Complexity
Formal and informal in Persian are not only about grammar. Tone of voice, choice of greetings, and small polite words also carry meaning. You will learn specific phrases such as greetings and polite expressions in later chapters. For now, keep these general ideas:
Politeness can be added by using the polite “you,” using fuller, less shortened forms, and adding certain respectful words and phrases.
Informal does not automatically mean rude. Between friends, informal language is normal. It only becomes rude if used in situations where respect is expected.
In many real conversations, people mix levels. Someone may start formally and then gradually switch to a more relaxed style as they become more comfortable.
At A1 level, you will mostly practice simple neutral forms that are safe in many situations, plus some clearly polite phrases that work with strangers and elders.
Reading: Written vs Spoken Forms
When you read, most texts for learners, news, and official websites are closer to formal written Persian. When you listen, most conversations around you are in informal spoken Persian. This creates a gap between what you read and what you hear.
To manage this from the beginning:
Expect that subtitles, official signs, and news will look a bit more “book-like.”
Expect that speech at home and in the street will sound more “relaxed” and shorter.
Understand that you do not need to copy all informal shortcuts in your writing. As a learner, you can write in a simple, clear, slightly more formal style and still be understood.
Later levels in this course will help you move more easily between written and spoken language. At A1, your main goal is to recognize that this difference exists and not to be surprised by it.
How This Course Handles Formal and Informal
In every chapter of this course, we will clearly mark when a word or phrase is formal or informal. The basic approach is:
If a form is very common and neutral, we simply teach it.
If a form is specifically informal, we explain that and usually also give the more formal equivalent.
If a form is specifically formal or written, we mark it as such, so you know it is not typical in everyday conversation.
You do not have to memorize both styles for every single word at this level. Focus first on understanding. When you can recognize that something is formal or informal, you are already taking an important step toward real communication.