In This Guide

70+ Farsi words for toys, play, and children’s activities
Toy vocabulary by category: dolls, vehicles, building, outdoor, creative
Playground words and outdoor play vocabulary in Persian
7 traditional Persian children’s games — what they are and how to play them
How to say “play,” “turn,” “win,” and “let’s play” in Farsi
Phrases for parents to use at home while playing with their children in Farsi

Farsi Vocabulary for Toys, Play and Children’s Games — Complete Guide

Play is one of the most natural contexts for language learning — children acquire vocabulary fastest when it is embedded in activities they enjoy. For diaspora families raising children with Farsi, playtime is one of the highest-value windows for language exposure: the vocabulary is concrete and immediate, the emotional association is positive, and the child is fully engaged.

This guide covers all the Farsi vocabulary your child needs for toys, playground activities, games, and play — plus seven traditional Persian children’s games that connect language learning with cultural heritage in a way that no toy-list can.

For parents: Research on heritage language acquisition shows that children learn vocabulary most effectively in high-engagement, emotionally positive contexts. Playing with your child in Farsi — naming toys, giving instructions, celebrating wins — produces more language retention per minute than formal study. This guide is designed for exactly that use: vocabulary you can reach for during play, not memorise at a desk.

Core Play Vocabulary — بازی کردن

Farsi Script	Pronunciation	English	Notes
بازی	Bāzi	Game / Play	The fundamental word — both “a game” and “play” as an activity
بازی کردن	Bāzi kardan	To play	The verb — “let’s play” = بیا بازی کنیم (biā bāzi konim)
اسباب بازی	Asbāb bāzi	Toy	Literally “play equipment” — the standard Persian word for any toy
بازیکن	Bāzikon	Player	—
نوبت	Nowbat	Turn	نوبت توئه (nowbat tu’e) = it’s your turn
برنده	Barandé	Winner	برنده شدن = to win
بازنده	Bāzandé	Loser	بازنده شدن = to lose
تیم	Tim	Team	From English — used in modern Persian
قوانین بازی	Ghavānin-e bāzi	Rules of the game	—
تقلب	Taghalab	Cheating	تقلب نکن! (taghalab nakon!) = don’t cheat!
سرگرمی	Sargarmi	Fun / Entertainment	Literally “head-warmth” — being entertained, engaged
مسابقه	Mosābeghe	Competition / Race	—

Toy Vocabulary — اسباب بازی‌ها

Dolls and Soft Toys

Farsi Script	Pronunciation	English	Notes
عروسک	Arusak	Doll	Also means “puppet” — same word covers both
عروسک پارچه‌ای	Arusak-e pārche’i	Rag doll / Cloth doll	Traditional Persian dolls were cloth — عروسک پارچه‌ای
خرس عروسکی	Khers-e arusaki	Teddy bear	Literally “toy bear”
عروسک پولیشی	Arusak-e pulishi	Stuffed animal / Plush toy	پولیشی = plush/fluffy
خانه عروسک	Khāne-ye arusak	Dollhouse	Literally “doll house”

Vehicles and Action Toys

Farsi Script	Pronunciation	English	Notes
ماشین اسباب بازی	Māshin-e asbāb bāzi	Toy car	The most popular toy category for boys in Iran
قطار اسباب بازی	Ghatār-e asbāb bāzi	Toy train	—
هواپیما اسباب بازی	Havāpeymā-ye asbāb bāzi	Toy airplane	—
کشتی اسباب بازی	Kashti-ye asbāb bāzi	Toy boat	—
ربات	Robāt	Robot	From English — widely used in modern Persian
تفنگ آب	Tofang-e āb	Water gun / Super soaker	Literally “water gun” — a summer favourite

Building, Puzzles and Creative Toys

Farsi Script	Pronunciation	English	Notes
لگو	Lego	Lego / Building blocks	Brand name used generically in Persian
مکعب	Moka’ab	Block / Cube	The geometric term used for building blocks
پازل	Pāzal	Puzzle / Jigsaw	From English/French — universally used
خمیر بازی	Khamir-bāzi	Play dough / Modelling clay	Literally “dough play” — خمیر = dough
رنگ	Rang	Paint / Colour	نقاشی کردن (naghāshi kardan) = to paint/draw
مداد رنگی	Madād-e rangi	Coloured pencil / Crayon	—
نقاشی	Naghāshi	Drawing / Painting	نقاشی کشیدن = to draw a picture

Outdoor Toys

Farsi Script	Pronunciation	English	Notes
توپ	Top	Ball	One of the most common children’s words in Persian
بادبادک	Bādbādak	Kite	A beautiful Persian compound — literally “wind-wind-thing.” Kite-flying is a beloved Iranian tradition
تاب	Tāb	Swing	تاب بازی = playing on the swing
سرسره	Sarsare	Slide	—
الاکلنگ	Alākolang	See-saw / Seesaw	A wonderful Persian word — fun to say and to play on
دوچرخه	Docharkhe	Bicycle	Literally “two-wheel” — the standard word
اسکوتر	Eskuter	Scooter	—
طناب بازی	Tanāb-bāzi	Jump rope / Skipping	Literally “rope play” — a playground staple

Playground Vocabulary — زمین بازی

Farsi Script	Pronunciation	English	Notes
زمین بازی	Zamin-e bāzi	Playground	Literally “play ground”
پارک	Pārk	Park	The most common outdoor play venue in Iranian cities
شن بازی	Shan-bāzi	Playing in sand / Sandpit	شن = sand — شن بازی کردن = to play in the sand
آب بازی	Āb-bāzi	Water play	A specific term for water-related play — very common in hot Iranian summers
دویدن	Davidan	Running	—
پریدن	Paridan	Jumping	—
پنهان شدن	Penhān shodan	Hiding	Used in قایم موشک (hide and seek)

Traditional Persian Children’s Games — بازی‌های سنتی ایرانی

Iranian children’s games have a history stretching back hundreds of years — and many are still played today, both in Iran and in diaspora communities. Teaching these games to your child gives them Farsi vocabulary embedded in cultural heritage, which is far more memorable than vocabulary from a list.

The Persian version of hide and seek — literally “hiding mouse.” One child covers their eyes and counts (یک، دو، سه — yek, do, se) while the others hide. When the seeker finds someone, they call out their name. The game teaches number counting, verbs like پنهان شدن (to hide) and پیدا کردن (to find), and the phrase آماده‌اید؟ (āmādeid? — are you ready?).

A traditional Persian bat-and-ball game with ancient roots — considered one of the oldest Persian sports. Players use a large stick (الک — alak) and a smaller stick (دولک — dulak). One player flips the small stick and the other tries to hit it. A predecessor to cricket and possibly connected to ancient ball games of the Iranian plateau. Beautiful vocabulary: چوب (chub — stick), ضربه (zarbe — hit), دور (dur — round/turn).

A team game played with seven flat stones stacked in a tower and a ball. One team tries to topple the stone tower with the ball while the other team tries to rebuild it before being hit. Vocabulary: سنگ (sang — stone), برج (borj — tower), هدف گرفتن (hadaf gereftan — to take aim), فرار کردن (farār kardan — to run away). Still played in schoolyards across Iran.

A Persian version of “What’s the time, Mr Wolf?” — literally “I’m the wolf in the air.” One child is the wolf; the others approach chanting گرگم به هوا (gorgem be havā — I’m the wolf in the air). The wolf gives a time and the children scatter when it’s time to eat. Wonderful vocabulary for time phrases and animal names: گرگ (gorg — wolf), فرار کردن (farār kardan — to run away), گرفتن (gereftan — to catch).

A singing circle game — one of the most beloved traditional Persian children’s games. Children form a chain and the leader (عمو زنجیر باف — Uncle Chain Weaver) tries to “weave” through the chain while children sing a traditional rhyme. The game teaches turn-taking vocabulary and basic Persian rhyme — an excellent introduction to Persian musical tradition for young heritage learners.

Persian hopscotch — drawn on the ground with chalk or a stick. Children hop through the numbered squares (خانه — khāne — squares/houses) on one foot. Vocabulary: لنگ (lang — hopping on one leg), پرتاب کردن (partāb kardan — to throw), شماره (shmāre — number). Numbers 1–10 are naturally reinforced through repeated play.

Kite flying is deeply embedded in Persian culture and is particularly associated with Nowruz celebrations and spring. The Persian word بادبادک (bādbādak — kite) is a wonderful compound: باد (bād — wind) + بادک (little wind) = “wind-wind-thing.” Flying kites together is a natural context for weather vocabulary (باد — wind, آسمان — sky, ابر — cloud) alongside the play vocabulary.

Phrases to Use While Playing — جملات بازی

These are the phrases parents can use during play to build their child’s Farsi naturally — short, frequent, and embedded in the moment of play:

بیا بازی کنیم! Biā bāzi konim! Let’s play!

نوبت توئه. Nowbat tu’e. It’s your turn.

آفرین! برنده شدی! Āfarin! Barande shodi! Well done! You won!

اسباب بازی‌هایت را جمع کن. Asbāb bāzi’hāyat rā jam’ kon. Put your toys away.

با عروسکت بازی می‌کنی؟ Bā arusakat bāzi mikoni? Are you playing with your doll?

بادبادکت خیلی بالا رفت! Bādbādakat kheyli bālā raft! Your kite went really high!

توپ را به من بینداز. Top rā be man bendāz. Throw the ball to me.

Tip for parents: the language of play

The most effective approach is to narrate play as it happens. When your child picks up a toy car, say ماشین (māshin). When they build with blocks, say “بساز!” (besāz — build it!). When they throw a ball, say “پرتاب کن!” (partāb kon — throw it!). These words attach to the action and the emotion of the moment — which is exactly how children acquire vocabulary naturally. You don’t need to drill; you need to name things consistently during play.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say “toy” in Farsi?

The word for toy in Farsi is اسباب بازی (asbāb bāzi) — literally “play equipment.” The plural is اسباب بازی‌ها (asbāb bāzihā). The word for play as an activity is بازی (bāzi), and “to play” is بازی کردن (bāzi kardan).

How do you say “let’s play” in Farsi?

بیا بازی کنیم! (Biā bāzi konim!) — literally “come, let’s play.” This is the phrase children say to each other to initiate play. Biā (come) + bāzi konim (let us play). It is one of the first phrases worth teaching young children because they can use it immediately with Persian-speaking peers or family members.

How do you say “kite” in Farsi?

Kite in Farsi is بادبادک (bādbādak) — one of the most delightful words in Persian for children. It is a compound of باد (bād — wind) repeated twice with a diminutive suffix: “wind-wind-little-thing.” Kite flying (بادبادک بازی) is a beloved Iranian cultural tradition, particularly during Nowruz and spring.

What are some traditional Persian children’s games?

The most widely played traditional Persian games include: قایم موشک (ghāyem mushak — hide and seek), هفت سنگ (haft sang — seven stones), گرگم به هوا (gorgem be havā — the wolf game), لی لی (ley ley — hopscotch), الک دولک (alak dulak — the ancient Persian stick game), and عمو زنجیر باف (ammu zanjir bāf — the chain-weaver singing game). These games are still played in Iran and in diaspora communities worldwide.

How do you say “it’s your turn” in Farsi?

نوبت توئه (Nowbat tu’e) — informal, used between children. Formally: نوبت شماست (Nowbat shomāst). نوبت (nowbat) means “turn” or “time slot” — it appears constantly in children’s play, queuing, and taking turns. Teaching this word early helps children navigate group play in Farsi naturally.

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