Learning Persian can sometimes feel intimidating… but there are unexpected connections with English, especially in certain specialized fields.
After exploring words related to everyday life, food, transportation, cities, art, and culture in the previous parts, we’re now moving on to another type of vocabulary: science, medicine, administration, and institutions.
In these areas, you’ll find many words that look or sound remarkably similar across languages. Some are almost identical, while others have only slight differences in pronunciation.
Why are these words so similar?
These similarities are largely explained by the international nature of these fields.
Scientific, medical, and administrative vocabulary has spread across languages through international research, education, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. Many of these terms come from Greek, Latin, French, or other European languages and have become part of international vocabulary.
This means that, even when you’re learning Persian, some words may already sound familiar.
An advantage when learning Persian
Recognizing familiar words can save you time and help you progress faster.
You’re not starting from scratch every time you learn a new word. Instead, you can use vocabulary you already know as a reference point, making new words easier to understand and remember.
There is one thing to keep in mind, though: even when words look similar, their pronunciation, spelling, or usage can be different in Persian.
Always pay attention to the context and pronunciation before using a familiar-looking word.
20 similar words in English and Persian (Part 2)
Science and medicine:
Scientific and medical vocabulary is one of the areas where you’ll find many similarities between Persian and English.
This is partly because these fields have developed in an international environment, with scientists, doctors, universities, and institutions exchanging knowledge and terminology across countries.
Here are some examples:
Abscess → Âbseh
Allergy → Âlerji
Antibiotic → Ântibiotik
Aspirin → Âsperin
Asthma → Âsm
Bactéria → Bâkteri
Clinic → Kelinik
Doctor → Doktor
Energy → Enerji
Migraine → Migren
Skeleton→ Eskelet
Virus → Virus
Oxygen → Oxijen
Administration and institutions:
Administrative and institutional vocabulary also contains many words that are shared or very similar across languages.
This vocabulary has spread through the modernization of governments, international exchange, diplomacy, education, and the development of administrative systems.
Academic → Âkâdemik
Agency → Âjâns
Diplomacy → Diplomâsi
Police → Polis
Bank→ Bânk
These words are often used in cultural and educational contexts. Their pronunciation and form are recognizable to English speakers, making them relatively easy to learn.
Why are these categories useful?
These two areas can help you take your Persian to the next level. Unlike basic everyday vocabulary, scientific, medical, and administrative terms allow you to understand more advanced conversations and access more specialized content. You’ll encounter this type of vocabulary in news reports, documentaries, university courses, medical conversations, official documents, and many other contexts.
Once you start recognizing these familiar words, you’ll often find that you understand more than you expected—even when the rest of the sentence is still unfamiliar
The final part of the series
This article is the third and final part of our series exploring words that are shared or similar between English and Persian.
If you haven’t read the previous parts yet, you can discover them here:
I hope these lists have shown you that learning Persian doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Recognizing familiar words can give you a useful head start and make building your Persian vocabulary more enjoyable.
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.
