In This Guide
- How to read Persian signs — script conventions, reading direction, common formats
- Airport signs in Farsi — arrivals, departures, passport control, baggage
- Street and road signs — directional signs, warnings, no-entry, speed limits
- Shop, market and restaurant signs — open, closed, prices, menus
- Hospital, pharmacy and emergency signs in Persian
- Metro and bus signs in Farsi — the Tehran metro system
- Mosque and religious space signs — dress code, prayer times, gender-separated areas
- Religious phrases commonly found on Iranian public signs
Signs and Notices in Farsi: How to Read Persian Signs in Iran
Persian public signs are your first encounter with the Farsi script in a real-world context — and they are everywhere. From the moment you land at an Iranian airport, the language is all around you: on signs, notices, directions, warnings, menus, and public announcements. Even if you cannot yet read Persian script fluently, understanding how Iranian signs are structured — what to look for, where to look, and what the most common signs say — makes navigation dramatically easier.
This guide covers real signs encountered in real locations across Iran — organised by the places you are most likely to encounter them — with the actual Persian text, its pronunciation, its meaning, and cultural context where relevant.
Before You Start: Reading Persian Signs
A few conventions make reading Persian signs much easier once you know them:
1
Persian is written and read right-to-left
When you see a Persian sign, start reading from the right side. Multi-word signs flow right to left. Bilingual signs (Persian + English) typically put Persian on the right and English on the left — which mirrors the reading directions of each language.
2
Signs use formal Persian, not colloquial speech
Persian signs consistently use formal, written Persian rather than the colloquial spoken forms. The word for exit on a sign is خروج (khoruj — formal) not بیرون (birun — colloquial “outside”). This matters because colloquial Persian and formal written Persian can differ significantly. The vocabulary in this guide matches what you will see on actual signs — not everyday conversation.
3
Religious openings on signs
Many official signs, public notices, and formal announcements in Iran open with بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم (Bismillāh ir-Rahmān ir-Rahīm — In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful). This phrase appears at the top of government documents, formal notices, exam papers, and public announcements. It signals an official or religious context.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
4
The Iranian calendar on signs
Dates and hours on Iranian signs use the Solar Hijri (Shamsi) calendar — Iran’s official calendar. The year is approximately 621 years behind the Gregorian calendar. Signs with dates or hours may show the Iranian year (e.g. ۱۴۰۳ = 2024/2025 Gregorian). Persian numerals are used on most formal signs: ۱۲۳۴۵۶۷۸۹۰ correspond to 1234567890.
Can’t read the Persian script yet? Even without reading ability, knowing what common signs look like as shapes — the distinctive arch of مترو (metro), the vertical strokes of خروج (exit) — helps you navigate. Learning the Persian alphabet first makes all of this much faster. Start with the Persian alphabet guide →
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Airport Signs
فرودگاه — Forudgāh
Iranian airports — particularly Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) near Tehran — are generally well-signed with Persian and English, but the Persian signs appear first and are often larger. These are the signs you encounter in sequence from landing to exit:
فرودگاه
Forudgāh
Airport
فرود = landing + گاه = place. Seen on road signs approaching airports.
ورودی
Vorudi
Entry / Arrivals / Entrance
From وارد شدن (to enter). The standard entrance sign in all contexts.
خروجی
Khoroji
Exit / Departures / Way out
The universal exit sign — seen in airports, metro, buildings, everywhere.
کنترل گذرنامه
Kontrol-e gozarnāme
Passport Control
گذرنامه (gozarnāme) = passport — literally “travel document”
گمرک
Gomrok
Customs
From Arabic/Turkish. The standard customs sign at Iranian border crossings.
تحویل بار
Tahvil-e bār
Baggage Claim
تحویل = delivery/hand-over + بار = load/baggage
پروازهای داخلی / بینالمللی
Paravāz-hāye dākheli / bein-ol-melali
Domestic / International Flights
پرواز (paravāz) = flight. داخلی = internal/domestic. بینالمللی = international.
اتباع خارجی
Atbā’-e khāreji
Foreign Nationals
The queue sign for non-Iranian passport holders at immigration
🚦
Street and Road Signs
علائم راهنمایی — Alāem-e rāhnamāyi
ورود ممنوع
Vorud mamnu’
No Entry
ممنوع (mamnu’) = forbidden/prohibited. Appears on its own or with other prohibitions.
توقف ممنوع
Tavagof mamnu’
No Stopping / No Parking
توقف = stop/halt. Found on urban streets throughout Iran.
آهسته برانید
Āheste borānid
Drive Slowly / Slow Down
آهسته = slowly/gently. برانید = drive (formal imperative). Found near schools, hospitals.
خیابان
Khiyābān
Street / Avenue
The standard word for a named street — appears on all Iranian street signs
میدان
Meydān
Square / Roundabout
The primary navigation landmark in Iranian cities. میدان انقلاب = Enghelab Square (Tehran).
کوچه
Kache
Alley / Side street
Small streets off the main road. Essential for giving and following directions.
خروج اضطراری
Khoruj-e eztarāri
Emergency Exit
اضطراری = emergency. Found in tunnels, underpasses, and public buildings.
🛍️
Shops, Markets and Restaurants
مغازه / بازار / رستوران
باز / بسته
Bāz / Baste
Open / Closed
The most fundamental shop signs. باز = open (literally “free/open”). بسته = closed/fastened.
تخفیف
Takhfif
Discount / Sale
One of the most important shopping signs. درصد تخفیف = percentage discount.
فروش ویژه
Forush-e vizhe
Special Sale / Special Offer
فروش = sale/selling. ویژه = special. A common promotional sign.
قیمت
Gheymat
Price
Found on price tags and menus. قیمت ثابت = fixed price (no bargaining).
نقد / کارت
Naghd / Kārt
Cash / Card
Signs indicating accepted payment methods. Many Iranian shops are cash-only or card-only.
خوش آمدید
Khosh āmadid
Welcome
The standard welcome sign on shop entrances and public buildings across Iran.
سلفسرویس
Self-servis
Self-Service
From English — found in cafeterias and fast-food restaurants throughout Iran.
رزرو
Rezerv
Reserved
From French — used on reserved tables in restaurants.
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Metro and Public Transport
مترو / اتوبوس — Metro / Otobus
Tehran has a comprehensive metro system with 7 lines, and Mashhad and Isfahan have their own metro networks. Metro signage is standardised and includes both Persian and English on most key signs — but knowing the Persian helps significantly in quieter stations.
مترو
Metro
Metro / Underground
From French — the word is borrowed and identical to European metro signs visually.
ایستگاه
Istgāh
Station / Stop
ایستگاه مترو = metro station. ایستگاه اتوبوس = bus stop.
بانوان
Bānovān
Ladies / Women’s carriage
The first carriage on Tehran metro trains is reserved for women. بانوان = ladies (formal).
مشترک
Moshtarak
Mixed / Shared carriage
The remaining carriages where men and women can travel together.
خط
Khatt
Line
خط یک = Line 1. خط also means “writing/script” — the same word for both.
دربهای خودکار
Darhāye khodkār
Automatic doors
خودکار = automatic (literally “self-working”) — also means ballpoint pen.
🏥
Hospital, Pharmacy and Emergency
بیمارستان / داروخانه / اورژانس
اورژانس
Orzhāns
Emergency / A&E
From French urgence. Emergency number in Iran: ۱۱۵ (115).
داروخانه
Dārukhāne
Pharmacy / Chemist
Green cross signs — pharmacies are abundant in Iranian cities. دارو = medicine.
نوبتدهی
Nowbat-dehi
Appointments / Queue management
نوبت = turn/queue. Found at hospital departments and government offices.
اتاق انتظار
Otāgh-e entezār
Waiting Room
اتاق = room. انتظار = waiting. The standard waiting room sign.
آزمایشگاه
Āzmāyeshgāh
Laboratory / Blood test facility
Found as standalone labs (very common in Iran) and within hospitals.
🕌
Mosque and Religious Spaces
مسجد — Masjed
Mosques and shrines (آستان — āstān) in Iran have signs governing dress code, behaviour, and access. Understanding these before entering prevents inadvertent offence:
حجاب اجباری
Hejāb ejbāri
Hijab required / Head covering compulsory
Required for women entering mosques and shrines. اجباری = compulsory.
کفشها را دربیاورید
Kafsh-hā rā darbiyāvarid
Remove your shoes
Required before entering the prayer hall of any mosque or shrine.
ورود غیرمسلمانان ممنوع
Vorud-e gheyr-e mosalmānān mamnu’
Non-Muslims not permitted to enter
Found at some shrines — particularly the inner sanctuaries of major pilgrimage sites like Mashhad.
ساعات نماز
Sā’āt-e namāz
Prayer times
Posted at mosque entrances. Business hours sometimes adjust around prayer times in Iran.
بانوان / آقایان
Bānovān / Āghāyān
Women / Men
Gender separation signs for prayer areas, ablution facilities, and some public spaces.
Common Public Notices and Warning Signs
| Farsi Script | Pronunciation | English | Where seen |
|---|
| توجه | Tavajjoh | Attention / Notice | The standard opener for public announcements — equivalent to “Please note” or “Attention:” |
| خطر | Khatar | Danger | On hazard warnings — construction sites, electrical equipment, restricted areas |
| ممنوع | Mamnu’ | Forbidden / Prohibited | The key word for any prohibition — combined with the action: عکاسی ممنوع = no photography |
| عکاسی ممنوع | Akkāsi mamnu’ | No Photography | Common at government buildings, military areas, some religious sites |
| سیگار کشیدن ممنوع | Sigār keshidan mamnu’ | No Smoking | Iranian no-smoking signs — increasingly common in public spaces |
| اطلاعات | Ettelā’āt | Information | Information desks in airports, hotels, and public buildings |
| صندوق پستی | Sandugh-e posti | Post box / Mailbox | Iran’s postal service signs |
| دستشویی / سرویس بهداشتی | Dastshu’i / Servis-e behdāshti | Toilet / WC | دستشویی is the common word; سرویس بهداشتی is more formal on public signs |
| آسانسور | Āsānsor | Lift / Elevator | From French ascenseur — the standard lift sign in all Iranian buildings |
| پله برقی | Pelle-ye barghi | Escalator | Literally “electric stairs” |
| دوربین مداربسته | Durbin-e madār-baste | CCTV / Security camera in operation | Increasingly common in Iranian public spaces |
| آتشنشانی | Ātashneshāni | Fire brigade / Fire exit | آتش = fire + نشانی = address/indication. The fire service / fire safety sign. |
Read Persian — Not Just Signs
Go Beyond Signs: Learn to Read Persian Fluently
Understanding signs is the beginning. Danaa School’s native tutors teach you the Persian script and reading comprehension from the first lesson — so that every street, every menu, every notice becomes readable. Book a free trial.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does ممنوع mean on Persian signs?
ممنوع (mamnu’) means “forbidden” or “prohibited” — the key prohibition word on Iranian signs. It always combines with the prohibited action: ورود ممنوع (no entry), توقف ممنوع (no stopping/parking), عکاسی ممنوع (no photography), سیگار کشیدن ممنوع (no smoking). Whenever you see ممنوع, something is prohibited.
How do you say “exit” in Farsi on signs?
Exit on Iranian signs is خروجی (khoroji) or خروج (khoruj). Both are used — خروجی is slightly more common on directional signs. For emergency exit specifically: خروج اضطراری (khoruj-e eztarāri). The word comes from خارج شدن (to exit/leave) and is universally recognised on signs across Iran.
What does توجه mean at the start of Iranian notices?
توجه (tavajjoh) means “attention” or “notice” — it is the standard opener for public announcements, written notices, and official communications in Farsi, equivalent to “Please note:” or “Attention:” in English. When you see توجه at the start of a sign or document, important information follows. It is also used in speech: توجه کنید = please pay attention.
Are Iranian signs also in English?
In major airports (Imam Khomeini International, Mashhad, Isfahan), metro systems, and tourist areas, signs are generally bilingual in Persian and English. In smaller cities, rural areas, and non-tourist contexts, signs are almost exclusively in Persian. Even in bilingual areas, the Persian sign is typically larger and appears first — from right to left, consistent with the writing direction.
Related Vocabulary Guides
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