Lesson 43
Hello everyone, how are you?
Before we start, we have one question to answer:
Question:
I just got done memorizing the alphabet dictated on your site, and before I proceed any further I'd like to know how much Persian differs from Arabic. I've glanced at the Arabic alphabet before and with that alone there seems to be only little difference. Is Persian similar enough to Arabic to be called a dialect of it?
And if I decide to follow through and learn the Persian on your site, would that make learning Arabic later much easier?
Answer:
Persian and Arabic are built on similar letters, yet different to some extent. As we know, there are 32 letters in Persian. However, I think, Arabic has 28 letters. The following Persian letters do not exist in Arabic: 
- 
- 
- 
. So, don't forget to ask for Bebsi if you need to drink Pepsi in Arab countries!!
Besides, the way we pronounce the letters in Persian is a bit different from their Arabic pronunciation.
These two "languages" are completely different from each other in spite of the similarity in their letters. Persian people do not understand Arabic and vice versa. However, some words, basically the Arabic ones, are common and understandable to both Iranians and the Arab people.
I am not sure if you will be able to understand Arabic through Persian. Personally, I have studied Arabic for seven years at school, yet not able to say one correct sentence in Arabic!!
Quiz:
1- Listen to the audio files first (preferably once). Repeat it for a couple of times. Write it down on a paper. Find their English equivalents. (Seen)
One
Two
Three
2- Find the Persian equivalent for the following words and make nine sentences with each of them (one in simple past tense, negative in simple past, interrogative in simple past, one in present perfect tense, negative in present perfect tense, one using 'for', and one with 'since', one in simple future tense, and negative in simple future tense).
To count
Autumn
To imprison
South
To react
To follow
3- Say these numbers in Persian:
15 - 51 - 13 - 2113 - 30010 - 10000000
Please go to Useful drills page to practice more.
Let's write page is waiting for you if you want to learn and practice Persian writings.
See you next week!