Learning Persian can seem intimidating at first—but you’ll be surprised by how many familiar words you already know.
Although Persian uses a completely different alphabet, many everyday words sound remarkably similar to their English equivalents. Words like keyk, tishert, sandewich and bâlkon are instantly recognizable.
Why are these words so similar?
There are several reasons why English and Persian share familiar vocabulary :
• A shared Indo-European heritage: English and Persian both belong to the Indo-European language family. While they evolved along different branches, they ultimately share the same linguistic ancestor, which explains some historical similarities.
• International vocabulary: Over the past two centuries, Persian has adopted many international words, especially in fields such as science, technology, medicine, transportation, and food. Many of these words also exist in English, making them easy to recognize.
• Global cultural exchange: Trade, education, media, and globalization have helped spread thousands of words across languages. Today, many international terms are understood in countries all over the world.
Familiar words make learning easier
Recognizing familiar vocabulary is one of the quickest ways to build confidence when learning Persian.
These words are easier to remember, improve listening comprehension, and help learners feel comfortable with the language from the very beginning.
Be careful with false friends!
Not every similar-looking word has exactly the same meaning.
Some words have developed different meanings or are used differently in Persian. For example, mâshin literally means “machine,” but in everyday Persian it usually means “car“.
Always check how a word is actually used before adding it to your vocabulary.
20 Persian words you’ll recognize instantly
Everyday life:
Apartment → Âpârtemân
Balcony → Bâlkon
Pyjamas → Pijameh
Garage → Gârâj
Lamp → Lâmp
Toilet → Tuâlet
T-shirt → Tishert
Mobile → Mobâil
Computer → Komputer
Food & Dining :
Avocado→ Âvokado
Biscuit → Biskuit
Chocolate → Shokolât
Pizza → Pitzâ
Restaurant → Resturân
Sandwich → Sândewich
Soup → Sup
Spaghetti → Spâgeti
Lime → Limu
Sauce → Sos
Cake → Keyk
A bridge between languages
These shared words show how languages evolve and influence one another over time. Some come from English, others from French or other European languages before eventually becoming part of modern Persian.
Learning them isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary—it’s about discovering familiar words that make Persian feel less intimidating and much easier to learn.
Coming next
This article is the first part of a series exploring similarities between English and Persian.
In the next articles, we’ll cover more shared vocabulary from different fields:
→ Part 2: Transportation, Cities, Arts & Culture
→ Part 3: Science, Medicine & Government
Want to go further?
If you’d like to learn Persian in a clear, structured, and engaging way, I offer personalized online lessons adapted to your level and your goals..
📩 Or feel free to contact me directly at farsikhuneh@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help you on your Persian learning journey.
