Short and Long Vowels

Vowels in Persian: The Big Picture

Persian has two main types of vowels: short vowels and long vowels. They affect both how a word sounds and how it is written. At this level you only need a clear basic picture so you can start reading and pronouncing simple words correctly.

Persian is written from right to left. In this chapter, whenever you see Persian words, read them from right to left, but the explanations are in normal English order.

At this point you have met some consonant letters of the alphabet. Short vowels are usually not written as full letters in normal texts, while long vowels are written with letters.

In this chapter we will focus on how these six vowel sounds work and how they appear in writing.

Short Vowels: a, e, o

Short vowels are quick sounds. In everyday Persian writing (books, websites, signs) they are usually not written. Beginners often see only consonant letters and must know which short vowels to pronounce.

The three short vowels are:

1. $a$ similar to the “a” in English “cat”
2. $e$ similar to the “e” in English “bed”
3. $o$ similar to the “o” in English “box”

In traditional Persian grammar and in fully vocalized texts (like in beginners’ books or dictionaries), these short vowels are shown with small marks above or below a consonant. These marks are called “vowel signs” and they sit on the consonant letter, not as separate letters. In normal modern Persian writing, these signs are usually omitted, but you should know that they exist.

For now, focus on the sound of each short vowel.

Short vowel $a$:
You open your mouth and say a short “a” like in “cat.” It is not like the English “car.” It is shorter and more central.

Example word:
“man” (I)
Persian script: من
Pronunciation: /man/
Here “a” is short.

Short vowel $e$:
A short “e” like in “bed.”

Example word:
“tehran” (Tehran, the capital of Iran)
Persian script: تهران
Pronunciation: /tehrān/
The first vowel is a short “e.”

Short vowel $o$:
A short “o” like in “box,” not like “go.”

Example word:
“doktor” (doctor)
Persian script: دکتر
Pronunciation: /doktor/
The first vowel is short “o.”

At this level, it is enough to recognize and pronounce these three basic short sounds $a$, $e$, $o$.

Long Vowels: ā, i, u

Long vowels are held a bit longer than short vowels. They are also more “pure” and stable. The important practical point: in standard Persian spelling, long vowels are represented by letters.

There are three long vowels:

1. $ā$ like the “a” in English “father” but even clearer and steady
2. $i$ like the “ee” in English “see”
3. $u$ like the “oo” in English “food”

In traditional descriptions each long vowel is connected with a specific consonant letter of the alphabet that acts as a vowel carrier. At this point, you only need the idea that long vowels are written with letters, so you will see them on the page.

Long vowel $ā$:
This sound is long, like holding “a” in “father.” In writing, it is shown with a specific letter that looks a bit like an extended “alef.” You will learn its exact shape in the writing chapters.

Examples:
“mā” (we)
Persian script: ما
Pronunciation: /mā/

“bābā” (dad)
Persian script: بابا
Pronunciation: /bābā/

Long vowel $i$:
This sound is like English “ee” in “see.” It is written with a letter that also represents the consonant “y” in other positions, but here it represents the long vowel $i$.

Examples:
“bī” (without, as a prefix)
Persian script: بی
Pronunciation: /biː/

“mīz” (table)
Persian script: میز
Pronunciation: /miz/

Long vowel $u$:
This is like “oo” in “food.” It is written with a letter that can also represent the consonant “v” or “w” in some contexts, but here it is a long vowel.

Examples:
“mū” (hair)
Persian script: مو
Pronunciation: /muː/

“dūst” (friend)
Persian script: دوست
Pronunciation: /dūst/

Hearing the Difference: Short vs Long

At the absolute beginner level, focus on two ideas: length and quality.

Length:
A long vowel is held a bit longer than a short vowel. For example, compare a quick “a” in “cat” with a longer “aa” in “father.” In Persian this difference can change meaning.

Quality:
Long vowels are often more “stable” and clear. For example, $i$ is always like “ee” and $u$ is always like “oo.” Short vowels are slightly more relaxed and central.

A simple pair to feel the difference (you do not need to memorize yet, just listen to the idea):

“mā” (we) ما /mā/
“man” (I) من /man/

The first word has a long $ā$. The second has a short $a$.

Another simple contrast:

“mīz” (table) میز /miz/
“mes” (copper) مس /mes/ (short $e$)

You can feel that $i$ is longer and tighter, while $e$ is shorter and more open.

Vowels and Writing: A First Look

You already know that Persian is written with letters that are mostly consonants. Vowels work in a special way.

Short vowels:
In everyday texts, short vowels $a$, $e$, $o$ are usually not written. A single written word can be read in different ways if you do not know the word, so beginners often need guidance.

Example:
The written form “در” can be read:
“dar” (door) with short $a$
or “dar” (in, inside) with short $a$
In this case, both readings use the same vowels, but in other words different vowels give different words. You will learn them through vocabulary.

Long vowels:
Long vowels have specific letters. So you see them in the word, which helps reading.

Examples:

“mā” (we) ما
The long $ā$ is written.

“dūst” (friend) دوست
The long $u$ is written.

“mīz” (table) میز
The long $i$ is written.

At this level, when you see a word that has a long vowel letter, you should clearly pronounce that vowel as long and strong. When you see a word without a long vowel letter between consonants, you can expect short vowels.

Practicing Basic Vowel Sounds

To train your mouth and ear, practice saying the six vowel sounds in pairs. Say each sound clearly and continuously for a moment, then move to the next.

Short vs long pairs:

$a$ – $ā$
Say: a, ā, a, ā

$e$ – $i$
Say: e, i, e, i

$o$ – $u$
Say: o, u, o, u

Make sure you really feel the length of the long vowel. Do not rush it.

Now insert them with simple consonants that commonly appear in beginners’ words. For now, just use “m” and “b” mentally, even if you have not learned to write them fully.

ma – mā
me – mī
mo – mū
ba – bā
be – bī
bo – bū

Say each pair several times, listening to the length and quality.

Using Vowels in Simple Words

Here are some very basic Persian words that you will use at A1 level. Focus on their vowels and their pronunciation. Do not worry if you have not learned all the letters yet.

“man” من
Meaning: I
Vowel: short $a$

“mā” ما
Meaning: we
Vowel: long $ā$

“to” تو
Meaning: you (singular, informal)
Vowel: short $o$

“u” او
Meaning: he / she (pronounced “oo”)
Vowel: long $u$

“īn” این
Meaning: this (pronounced “in”)
Vowel: long $i$

“ān” آن
Meaning: that (pronounced “ān”)
Vowel: long $ā$

These words will be very important later. For now, pay attention to which ones have long vowels and which have short ones.

Summary of Vowel System at A1.1

At this first contact level, keep this simple picture in your mind.

Persian has 3 short vowels: $a$, $e$, $o$.
Persian has 3 long vowels: $ā$, $i$, $u$.

Short vowels are generally not written with full letters in everyday Persian. Long vowels are written with specific letters and are heard as longer sounds.

If you can hear and pronounce these 6 sounds clearly, you are ready to combine them with consonants and start pronouncing real Persian words.

Vocabulary List for This Section

Here are the important words that appeared in this chapter. The pronunciations are approximate and given with Latin letters.

man – من – /man/ – I
mā – ما – /mā/ – we
to – تو – /to/ – you (singular, informal)
u – او – /uː/ – he, she
īn – این – /in/ – this
ān – آن – /ān/ – that
Tehrān – تهران – /tehrān/ – Tehran
doktor – دکتر – /doktor/ – doctor
mīz – میز – /miz/ – table
mū – مو – /muː/ – hair
dūst – دوست – /dūst/ – friend
bābā – بابا – /bābā/ – dad
bī– – بی– – /biː/ – without (prefix)
mes – مس – /mes/ – copper