Numbers

1. یک

   Yek

   1 (one)

   Usage

   The number 1. Persian also uses its own numeral script (۱).

   Grammar Note

   Persian numbers: yek (1), do (2), se (3), chahar (4), panj (5). Persian numerals (۱۲۳...) are also used daily.

2. دو

   Do

   2 (two)

   Usage

   The number 2. "Do ta" = two pieces/items.

   Grammar Note

   "Do" shares the same Indo-European root as English "two", Latin "duo", and Greek "duo".

3. سه

   Se

   3 (three)

   Usage

   The number 3. "Se-shanbeh" = Tuesday (literally "day three").

   Grammar Note

   Persian days of the week use numbers: shanbeh (Sat), yek-shanbeh (Sun), do-shanbeh (Mon), se-shanbeh (Tue), etc.

4. چهار

   Chahār

   4 (four)

   Usage

   The number 4. Related to English "four" and Latin "quattuor" — all from the same Indo-European root.

   Grammar Note

   "Chahar-rah" = intersection (four roads). "Char-shanbeh" = Wednesday (day four).

5. پنج

   Panj

   5 (five)

   Usage

   The number 5. Used like "panj angosht" (five fingers).

   Grammar Note

   English "punch" (the drink) comes from Hindi "paanch" (five ingredients) — same root as Persian "panj".

6. شش

   Shesh

   6 (six)

   Usage

   The number 6. Used in Iranian backgammon (takhteh-nard) for the highest dice value.

   Grammar Note

   "Shesh dang" (six units = everything) is an idiom meaning full ownership, used in real estate.

7. هفت

   Haft

   7 (seven)

   Usage

   The number 7. "Haft-sin" (seven S's) is the Nowruz (Iranian New Year) table with 7 items starting with "s".

   Grammar Note

   "Hafte" means "week" (seven days). "Haft-sin" — seven symbolic items starting with "sin" (س) — is a key Nowruz tradition.

8. هشت

   Hasht

   8 (eight)

   Usage

   The number 8. "Hasht-zel'i" = octagon (eight-sided).

   Grammar Note

   Cognate with other Indo-European words for 8: English "eight", German "acht", Sanskrit "ashtau".

9. نه

   Noh

   9 (nine)

   Usage

   The number 9. "Noh" (nine) sounds like "nah" (no) — distinguished by context and pronunciation.

   Grammar Note

   "Nah" = no; "Noh" = nine. Same spelling, different pronunciation and meaning — context clarifies.

10. ده

    Dah

    10 (ten)

    Usage

    The number 10. English "decade" shares the same Indo-European root for 10.

    Grammar Note

    "Dah" cognates with English "ten", Latin "decem". Persian uses the same decimal system as other Indo-European languages.

11. صد

    Sad

    100 (one hundred)

    Usage

    The number 100. "Sad toman" = 100 tomans.

    Grammar Note

    "Sad" uses Arabic script but is native Persian. Iranian currency: 1 toman = 10 rials. Prices are often quoted in toman.

12. هزار

    Hezār

    1000 (one thousand)

    Usage

    The number 1000. Iran's prices in rials often run in the tens of thousands, so "hezar" is frequently used.

    Grammar Note

    "Yek milion" = 1,000,000. "Yek milyārd" = 1,000,000,000.

13. بیست و هفت سال دارم

    Bist-o haft sāl dāram

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer "chand sālet-e?" (how old are you?). Persian expresses age as "having N years".

    Grammar Note

    For 21-99 the ten comes first, joined by "-o": "bist-o haft". Age uses "number + sāl + dāshtan (to have)", and "sāl" stays singular.

14. امسال بیست و هشت ساله می‌شوم

    Emsāl bist-o hasht sāle mishavam

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Used in the year your age changes. "Sāle shodan" (to turn N years old) is the set phrase.

    Grammar Note

    "Emsāl" = "em-" (this) + "sāl" (year). To say one turns an age, "sāl" takes the suffix "-e" ("sāle") and is followed by "shodan" (to become) — a different frame from "sāl dāram" (to be N years old).

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