Table of Contents
In Persian, most letters change shape when they connect to the letter before or after them. In this chapter, you will learn how letters join and how to start simple writing practice. You already know the alphabet from the previous chapter, so here we focus on connection and flow, not on re‑teaching all the letters.
Positions of a Letter in a Word
Each Persian letter can appear in up to four positions: isolated, at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a word.
Important rule:
A letter may have up to four forms:
- Isolated (alone)
- Initial (at the beginning, connected on the right only)
- Medial (in the middle, connected on both sides)
- Final (at the end, connected on the right)
Example with the letter ب (b):
Isolated: ب
Initial: بـ …
Medial: ـبـ
Final: … ـب
In the word بابا (bābā, “dad”):
بـا بـا
ba bā
The first ب is initial (connected to the following ا), the second ب is medial between two letters.
Letters That Connect and Letters That Do Not
Most letters in Persian connect to both sides when they are in the middle of a word. A small group of letters only connect on the right side. They “break” the word on their left.
Important rule:
These letters connect only to the right, not to the left:
ا (alef), د (dāl), ذ (zāl), ر (re), ز (ze), ژ (zhe), و (vāv).
After these letters, the next letter starts as if it were at the beginning of a word.
Example: بار (bār, “load”)
ب + ا + ر
Written: بار
Here, ب connects to ا on the left, but ا does not connect to ر, so ر starts as a new shape.
Another example: روز (ruz, “day”)
ر + و + ز
Written: روز
Each of these letters is of the “non‑connecting on the left” type, so they appear as separate shapes, only joined to the right where possible.
Seeing Connection Inside Words
Let us look at a few simple words and see how letters change shape.
- بابا (bābā, “dad”)
Letters: ب + ا + ب + ا
First ب is initial (بـ), middle ب is medial (ـبـ), the ا letters do not connect to the left.
- مادر (mādar, “mother”)
Letters: م + ا + د + ر
م is initial and connects to ا on its left. After ا, the letter د cannot connect on the left, so it is written as a new shape. The same for ر. You see two connection groups: ما and در.
- ایران (Irān, “Iran”)
Letters: ا + ی + ر + ا + ن
ا at the beginning is isolated. ی connects on both sides, but ر cannot connect on its left, so here it only connects to ی on the right. The last ن appears in final form.
When you read a word, you should always think of the underlying letters, not the shapes. With practice, the shapes become natural.
Direction of Writing and Letter Flow
Persian is written from right to left, but the letters inside a word also flow from right to left. When you write a new word, start on the right side of the paper.
Example: نان (nān, “bread”)
Think: ن + ا + ن
Write right to left:
First ن (initial), then connect to ا, then final ن.
When you practice, say the letters in order in your mind, but move your hand from right to left as you join them.
Basic Stroke Habits
You do not need artistic calligraphy now, but it is important to develop good writing habits.
- Keep letters on an invisible base line. The “body” of most letters sits on this line. Some parts go below or above, but you always return to the line.
- Write letters in one or two smooth strokes, not many separate small lines.
- Do not lift your pen between connected letters. Lift only when a new connection group starts, for example after د or ر.
Important rule:
Inside one connected group of letters, write without lifting your pen. Lift your pen only when the connection naturally breaks, for example after ا, د, ر, ز, ژ, ذ, و.
If you write in a lined notebook, let the base of letters sit on one line. Letters like ی and ن may dip slightly below, but keep them consistent.
Practice with Simple Chains
Before writing full words, practice small chains of the same letter, starting with letters that connect on both sides.
Example: the letter ب
Write: ببببب across the page.
Try to connect each one smoothly. You get a wave‑like shape.
Then practice two‑letter combinations to feel the connection.
Example combinations:
با (bā)
بو (bu)
بی (bi)
Here ب is initial, then you attach the second letter.
You can do the same with other letters that connect on both sides, for example ن, م, س.
Writing Your First Simple Words
Now you are ready to write a few very common simple words. Focus on connection and shape, not on speed.
- بابا (bābā, “dad”)
Think: ب + ا + ب + ا
Write from right to left, connecting the first two letters, then connecting the next two.
- ما (mā, “we”)
Letters: م + ا
م is initial, connects to ا. The word is one smooth shape.
- من (man, “I”)
Letters: م + ن
Here both letters connect, so your pen does not leave the paper. م is initial, ن is final.
- آن (ān, “that”)
Letters: آ + ن
آ is a special form of ا with a small mark. It does not connect to the left, so ن is in initial position although it is the second letter in writing.
- ایران (Irān, “Iran”)
Letters: ا + ی + ر + ا + ن
Notice where connection stops: between ی and ر, because ر cannot connect on its left.
Write each word slowly several times. Say the word and then its letters in your mind as you write.
From Block Writing to Flowing Writing
At the very beginning, your letters may look separate and “blocky”. This is fine. Gradually, as you respect the connection rules, your hand will learn the flowing shapes.
A useful method is:
- First, write a word with each letter clearly separated but in the correct order from right to left.
- Then, on the next line, try to join the letters that should connect.
- Compare the two lines and notice how the connected version looks more like real Persian handwriting or print.
Over time, you will start to recognize entire word shapes, not only the individual letters.
Vocabulary Used in This Section
Below is a list of Persian words that appeared in this chapter. The focus here is writing, but these words are also useful as basic vocabulary.
بابا (bābā) – dad, father (informal)
مادر (mādar) – mother
روز (ruz) – day
ایران (Irān) – Iran
نان (nān) – bread
ما (mā) – we
من (man) – I
آن (ān) – that