Skip to content
Persian Adjectives — 80 Common Farsi Describing Words with Script & Examples
Persian adjectives are among the most practical vocabulary you can learn in Farsi — they let you describe people, places, food, emotions, and situations. The good news: Persian adjective grammar is simple. Unlike French or German, Persian adjectives do not change based on gender. And unlike English, they typically come after the noun they describe. Learn the position rule once, and you can use all 80 adjectives immediately.
Most useful Persian adjectives — at a glance
| خوب | Khub | Good |
| بد | Bad | Bad |
| بزرگ | Bozorg | Big / Great |
| کوچک | Kuchek | Small / Little |
| زیبا | Zibā | Beautiful |
| خوشحال | Khoshhāl | Happy |
Persian Adjective Grammar — The One Rule You Need
Position: adjective AFTER the noun in Persian
In English you say "a beautiful city." In Persian you say "a city beautiful" — شهر زیبا (shahr-e zibā). The noun comes first, then the adjective. The two words are connected by the ezāfe — a short "-e" or "-ye" sound added to the end of the noun.
Formula: Noun + -e + Adjective
کتاب جالب (ketāb-e jāleb) — an interesting book. خانه بزرگ (khāne-ye bozorg) — a big house. دوست خوب (dust-e khub) — a good friend.
💡 No gender, no agreement
Persian adjectives never change form. خوب (khub — good) is خوب whether you are describing a man, woman, object, or idea. This makes Persian adjectives far easier than French, Spanish, German, or Arabic — one form works everywhere.
Size & Quantity — بزرگ، کوچک، خیلی...
| Farsi | Romanisation | English | Example use |
|---|---|---|---|
| بزرگ | Bozorg | Big / Large / Great | Also used for "great" people — آدم بزرگ (a great person) |
| کوچک | Kuchek | Small / Little | کوچولو (kuchulu) is the affectionate form for children |
| خیلی | Kheyli | Very / A lot | Intensifier — خیلی خوب (very good) |
| کم | Kam | Little / Few / Less | کم آب (little water) |
| زیاد | Ziād | A lot / Many / Much | خیلی زیاد (very much) |
| کافی | Kāfi | Enough / Sufficient | کافی نیست (not enough) |
| بیشتر | Bishtar | More / Most | بیشتر دوستت دارم (I love you more) |
| کمتر | Kamtar | Less / Fewer |
Essential Opposites — صفات متضاد
Persian learners often find it easiest to learn adjectives in pairs. Here are the most useful opposite pairs:
Appearance & Beauty — ظاهر و زیبایی
| Farsi | Romanisation | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| زیبا | Zibā | Beautiful | Formal and literary — also a common name |
| خوشگل | Khoshgel | Pretty / Good-looking | Everyday casual — the word most Persians actually use |
| قشنگ | Ghashang | Lovely / Pretty | Warm and affectionate — used for people, places, and things |
| جذاب | Jazzāb | Attractive / Charming | Used for people and ideas |
| بامزه | Bāmaze | Funny / Cute / Amusing | Literally "with taste" — used for charming, funny things |
| نازنین | Nāznin | Sweet / Delicate / Dear | Also a popular Persian name |
| لاغر | Lāghar | Thin / Slim | Can be neutral or a concern — context matters |
| چاق | Chāgh | Fat / Plump | More direct than in English — used neutrally in Persian |
| بلند | Boland | Tall / High / Long | بلند قد (boland-ghad) — tall of stature |
| کوتاه | Kutāh | Short / Low | کوتاه قد (kutāh-ghad) — short of stature |
زیبا vs خوشگل vs قشنگ — which one to use?
All three mean beautiful or pretty, but carry different weight. زیبا (zibā) is formal and literary — the word used in poetry and written Persian. خوشگل (khoshgel) is the everyday word people actually say — calling someone خوشگل is a natural compliment. قشنگ (ghashang) is warmer and broader — it can describe a beautiful sunset, a lovely gesture, or a charming person. When in doubt, use خوشگل for people and قشنگ for places and things.
Emotions & Feelings — احساسات
| Farsi | Romanisation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| خوشحال | Khoshhāl | Happy / Pleased | خوشحالم (I am happy) |
| شاد | Shād | Joyful / Cheerful | Slightly more joyful and celebratory than خوشحال |
| ناراحت | Nārāhat | Unhappy / Upset / Uncomfortable | ناراحتم (I am upset) |
| غمگین | Ghamgin | Sad / Sorrowful | Deeper sadness than ناراحت |
| خسته | Khaste | Tired / Exhausted | خستهام (I am tired) — said constantly |
| عصبانی | Asabāni | Angry / Irritated | عصبانی شدم (I got angry) |
| ترسیده | Tarsideh | Scared / Frightened | ترسیدم (I got scared) |
| آرام | Ārām | Calm / Peaceful / Quiet | آرام باش (calm down) |
| هیجانزده | Hayajānzade | Excited | Literally "struck by excitement" |
| دلتنگ | Deltang | Missing someone / Longing | دلتنگتم (I miss you) — literally "my heart is tight for you" |
Character & Personality — شخصیت
| Farsi | Romanisation | English |
|---|---|---|
| مهربان | Mehrabān | Kind / Caring / Warm-hearted |
| باهوش | Bāhush | Clever / Intelligent |
| صادق | Sādegh | Honest / Sincere |
| شجاع | Shojā' | Brave / Courageous |
| تنبل | Tanbal | Lazy |
| کوشا | Kushā | Hardworking / Diligent |
| خجالتی | Khejālati | Shy / Bashful |
| بیادب | Bi-adab | Rude / Impolite |
| محترم | Mohtaram | Respected / Honourable |
| صبور | Sabur | Patient |
| بامزه | Bāmaze | Funny / Amusing |
| جدی | Jeddi | Serious |
Quality & Condition — کیفیت
| Farsi | Romanisation | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| عالی | Āli | Excellent / Amazing | The most common compliment in Persian — "عالیه!" = It's amazing! |
| خوب | Khub | Good | Most versatile adjective in Farsi |
| بد | Bad | Bad | بد نیست (bad nist) = not bad, quite good |
| جالب | Jāleb | Interesting | جالبه! = That's interesting! |
| مهم | Mohem | Important | مهم نیست = it doesn't matter |
| راحت | Rāhat | Comfortable / Easy / At ease | راحت باش = make yourself at home |
| سنگین | Sangin | Heavy / Serious / Weighty | Also used for serious/solemn topics |
| سبک | Sabok | Light / Easy / Casual | Opposite of سنگین |
| تازه | Tāze | Fresh / New / Recent | تازه رسیدم = I just arrived |
| کثیف | Kasif | Dirty / Filthy | |
| تمیز | Tamiz | Clean / Neat | |
| خوشمزه | Khoshmaze | Delicious | Literally "good-tasting" — essential for food culture |
Comparatives & Superlatives — مقایسه
How to compare in Persian — تر and ترین
Comparative (-er): Add تر (tar) to the adjective. بزرگ (big) → بزرگتر (bigger). خوب (good) → بهتر (better — irregular). سریع (fast) → سریعتر (faster).
Superlative (-est): Add ترین (tarin) to the adjective. بزرگ (big) → بزرگترین (biggest). خوب (good) → بهترین (best — irregular). زیبا (beautiful) → زیباترین (most beautiful).
Key irregular: خوب (khub — good) → بهتر (behtar — better) → بهترین (behtarin — best). This one is used constantly — memorise it early.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| خوب (Khub — good) | بهتر (Behtar — better) | بهترین (Behtarin — best) |
| بزرگ (Bozorg — big) | بزرگتر (Bozorgtar — bigger) | بزرگترین (Bozorgtarin — biggest) |
| زیبا (Zibā — beautiful) | زیباتر (Zibātar — more beautiful) | زیباترین (Zibātarin — most beautiful) |
| سریع (Sari' — fast) | سریعتر (Sari'tar — faster) | سریعترین (Sari'tarin — fastest) |
| کوچک (Kuchek — small) | کوچکتر (Kuchektar — smaller) | کوچکترین (Kuchetkarin — smallest) |
Use Persian Adjectives in Real Conversation
Adjectives in a table teach you the words. A native tutor teaches you how خوشگل differs from زیبا in tone, when عالی sounds natural, and how to describe people warmly in Persian culture without saying the wrong thing.
Book a Free Trial Lesson →Free trial · From £10/session · Native Persian tutors
Frequently Asked Questions
How do adjectives work in Persian?
In Persian, adjectives come after the noun they describe, connected by the ezāfe (a short "-e" sound). So "a good book" is کتاب خوب (ketāb-e khub — book good). Adjectives never change form based on gender — one form works for everything.
How do you say "beautiful" in Farsi?
There are three main words. زیبا (zibā) is formal and literary. خوشگل (khoshgel) is the everyday word most Persians actually use when complimenting someone. قشنگ (ghashang) is warm and versatile — used for people, places, and things. In conversation, خوشگل and قشنگ are both natural choices.
How do you say "good" in Farsi?
Good in Farsi is خوب (khub). It is the most versatile adjective in the language — خوبم means "I am good/well", خوب بود means "it was good", and بهتره means "it is better." The comparative is بهتر (behtar — better) and the superlative is بهترین (behtarin — best).
How do you make comparatives in Persian?
Add تر (tar) to the adjective: بزرگ (big) → بزرگتر (bigger). For superlatives, add ترین (tarin): بزرگترین (biggest). The main irregular: خوب (good) → بهتر (better) → بهترین (best).
What does عالی mean in Farsi?
عالی (āli) means excellent, amazing, or fantastic. It is one of the most common compliments in everyday Persian — Iranians say عالیه (ālie — it's amazing!) constantly to express enthusiasm about food, news, ideas, and experiences. If something is really good, عالی is the word.
