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- Core direction words in Farsi — left, right, straight, north, south
- How to ask for directions in Persian — with polite phrasing
- How to give directions step by step in Farsi
- Distance and location vocabulary
- City places and landmarks in Persian
- Real dialogue examples: asking directions on the street in Iran
Giving Directions in Farsi: Navigation, Places and City Vocabulary
Navigating in a Persian-speaking city — or helping a Persian speaker find their way — requires a specific vocabulary that textbooks often skip. This guide covers everything you need: the core direction words, how to ask for and give directions politely, distance vocabulary, and city landmarks in Persian.
| Farsi Script | Pronunciation | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| راست | Rāst | Right | Also means “correct/true” — context determines meaning |
| چپ | Chap | Left | — |
| مستقیم | Mostaqim | Straight ahead | — |
| برگردید | Bargardid | Turn back / U-turn | Formal — برگرد (informal) |
| بپیچید به راست | Bepichid be rāst | Turn right | — |
| بپیچید به چپ | Bepichid be chap | Turn left | — |
| شمال | Shomāl | North | شمال = north AND north Tehran — very common geographic reference |
| جنوب | Jonub | South | — |
| شرق | Shargh | East | — |
| غرب | Gharb | West | — |
| روبهرو | Ru-be-ru | Opposite / Facing | روبهروی بانک = opposite the bank |
| کنار | Kenār | Next to / Beside | کنار مسجد = next to the mosque |
| پشت | Posht | Behind | — |
| جلو | Jelo | In front of / Ahead | — |
| بالا | Bālā | Up / Uphill / Upstairs | In Tehran: بالا = north (uphill); پایین = south (downhill) |
| پایین | Pāyin | Down / Downhill / Downstairs | — |
Tehran’s unique direction system: In Tehran, locals use بالا (above) and پایین (below) as geographic directions as much as north and south — because Tehran is built on the slopes of the Alborz mountains. Uphill (north) is بالا; downhill (south) is پایین. Many Tehranis will say “go up two streets” or “it’s down from here” rather than giving compass directions. This is essential local knowledge for navigating the city.
| Farsi Script | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ببخشید، … کجاست؟ | Bebakhshid, … kojāst? | Excuse me, where is …? |
| میتوانید کمکم کنید؟ | Mitavānid komakam konid? | Can you help me? |
| چطور میتوانم به … برسم؟ | Chetor mitavānam be … resam? | How can I get to …? |
| راه … را بلدید؟ | Rāh-e … rā baladid? | Do you know the way to …? |
| نزدیکترین مترو کجاست؟ | Nazdiktarin metro kojāst? | Where is the nearest metro station? |
| چقدر پیادهروی طول میکشد؟ | Cheghadr piyāderavi tul mikeshad? | How long is it on foot? |
| Farsi Script | Pronunciation | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| چهارراه | Chahārrāh | Crossroads / Intersection | Literally “four roads” — the most important navigation landmark |
| میدان | Meydān | Square / Roundabout | Major navigation reference in Iranian cities — میدان انقلاب, میدان آزادی |
| خیابان | Khiyābān | Street / Avenue | The standard word for a named street |
| کوچه | Kache | Alley / Side street | Small streets off the main road — کوچه is essential for giving precise directions |
| بلوار | Bolvar | Boulevard | From French — used for wide main roads |
| پارک | Pārk | Park | — |
| مسجد | Masjed | Mosque | The most common landmark for giving directions in Iran |
| بازار | Bāzār | Market / Bazaar | Every Iranian city has a bāzār — always a reliable navigation anchor |
| ایستگاه مترو | Istgāh-e metro | Metro station | Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad have metro systems |
| ایستگاه اتوبوس | Istgāh-e otobus | Bus stop | — |
| بیمارستان | Bimārestan | Hospital | A major landmark used in directions |
| دانشگاه | Dāneshgāh | University | — |
Practice Directions and Travel Conversations with a Native Tutor
Danaa School tutors practise real-world navigation scenarios with you — so giving and receiving directions in Persian feels natural before you need it. Book a free trial.
Book a Free Trial →Left is چپ (chap) and right is راست (rāst). “Turn left” = بپیچید به چپ (Bepichid be chap — formal) or بپیچ به چپ (Bepich be chap — informal). “Turn right” = بپیچید به راست. Note: راست also means “correct/true” — so context is important.
The basic structure is … کجاست؟ (… kojāst? — where is …?). With a polite opener: ببخشید، … کجاست؟ (Bebakhshid, … kojāst? — Excuse me, where is …?). For “where is the nearest pharmacy?” = نزدیکترین داروخانه کجاست؟ (Nazdiktarin dārukhāne kojāst?).
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