Getting to Know Iran
What is the official language of the people of Iran?
Farsi
In which countries is Persian an official language?
Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan
How many letters are there in the Persian alphabet?
32 letters
What are the two main forms in Persian literature?
Persian poetry and Persian prose
Read this line of poetry by Saadi:
هر که دلارام دید، از دلش آرام رفت
What is the population of Iran?
More than 90 million people
How many Persian speakers are there worldwide?
More than 120 million people
What was the writing system of Old Persian?
Cuneiform
When does the history of the Persian language date back to?
Ancient times
Read this couplet by Saadi:
Where is Iran located and what is its capital city?
Western Asia – Tehran
What are the four classical languages of the world, and how is Persian different from them?
Persian, Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit – Persian is the only living classical language with a large number of speakers.
What are four important features of the Persian script?
It is written from right to left, it uses dots, the letters are connected, and short vowels are usually not written.
What is the global significance of Persian literature?
Persian literature is one of the richest literary heritages in the world and has produced the largest number of well-known classical poets globally.
Read this two-line verse by Saadi:
What is Iran historically important for?
Iran is one of the largest and oldest civilizations in the world.
Why is Persian considered one of the four classical languages of the world?
Because of its ancient roots, its rich and distinguished literature, and the fact that it has undergone very little change over the centuries (more than a thousand years).
What is the difference between the Persian and Arabic alphabets?
The Persian alphabet includes four letters—p (پ), zh (ژ), g (گ), and ch (چ)—which do not exist in the Arabic alphabet.
Which six Iranian poets have had a profound impact on world literature?
Saadi Shirazi, Hafez Shirazi, Nezami, Rumi, Ferdowsi, Omar Khayyam of Nishapur
Read this couplet by Saadi:
مقدار یار همنفس چون من نداند هیچ کس ,ماهی که بر خشک اوفتد قیمت بداند آب را
How many tangible historical sites of Iran have been registered by UNESCO as of 2025? Name three of them.
Is the Persian alphabet derived from the Arabic alphabet?
No – these two languages belong to different language families. Persian is part of the Indo-European language family, while Arabic belongs to the Semitic language family.
What are four styles of Persian calligraphy?
Ta'liq, Nasta'liq, Shekasteh Nasta'liq, and Mo'alla
What is the most influential prose work in Persian literature?
Golestan by Saadi
Read this prose by Saadi: