Understanding how to talk about time in any language is essential for daily communication, and Persian (Farsi) is no different. If you’re interested in learning Persian or improving your language skills, knowing how to talk about time is crucial. Whether you need to ask for the time, arrange meetings, or discuss past and future events, learning time-related vocabulary and expressions is foundational.

At Danaa School, we emphasize teaching Persian in a practical, accessible way. Our lessons on time will equip you to confidently use Farsi in everyday situations, and we make it easier to grasp the intricacies of time expressions in the language.

Talking About Time in Persian

Time in Persian is expressed using a combination of specific vocabulary for hours, minutes, parts of the day, days, and even months. It may seem challenging at first, but with some practice and exposure, it becomes second nature. From asking “what time is it?” to describing your schedule, learning these expressions will help you sound more natural and fluent in Farsi.

Basic Time Vocabulary in Persian

Understanding the basic time vocabulary in Persian is the first step to fluency. Here are some of the key words and phrases you’ll need:

• • Time: zamān (زمان)

• • Hour: sā’at (ساعت)

• • Minute: daqiqe (دقیقه)

• • Second: sāniye (ثانیه)

• • Morning: sobh (صبح)

• • Afternoon: zohr (ظهر)

• • Evening: asr (عصر)

• • Night: shab (شب)

• • Day: rooz (روز)

• • Yesterday: diruz (دیروز)

• • Today: emruz (امروز)

• • Tomorrow: fardā (فردا)

These basic terms allow you to structure sentences around when things are happening. The word for “time” itself in Farsi is zamān, and sā’at refers to both “hour” and “clock.”

See best ways to learn vocabulary more effectively.

How to Ask for the Time in Persian

One of the first questions any language learner needs to know is how to ask for the time. In Persian, asking “what time is it?” is straightforward:

• • What time is it? – Sā’at chand ast? (ساعت چند است؟)

Alternatively, in casual speech, you may hear:

• • Sā’at chand e? (ساعت چنده؟)

Now that you know how to ask, let’s move on to telling time in Farsi.

Telling Time in Persian

When it comes to telling time in Persian, you’ll need to know how to express both the hour and the minutes, which can vary slightly depending on how precise you want to be. Here’s how it works:

For full hours, the format is simple:

• • Sā’at yek ast (ساعت یک است) – It’s one o’clock.

• • Sā’at haft ast (ساعت هفت است) – It’s seven o’clock.

To add minutes, you’ll say the hour first, then the number of minutes:

• • Sā’at yek-o daqiqe panj (ساعت یک و دقیقه پنج) – It’s 1:05.

• • Sā’at haft-o daqiqe dah (ساعت هفت و دقیقه ده) – It’s 7:10.

For quarter past and half past the hour, use these phrases:

• • Quarter past: Rob’-e sā’at (ربع ساعت)
    Example: Sā’at yek rob’-e (ساعت یک ربع) – It’s a quarter past one.

• • Half past: Nim sā’at (نیم ساعت)
    Example: Sā’at do nim (ساعت دو نیم) – It’s half past two.

For times approaching the next hour (e.g., “ten to two”), use the following structure:

• • Dah daghighe be do (ده دقیقه به دو) – Ten minutes to two.

This is where Farsi differs slightly from English. Instead of saying “two minus ten,” you express it as “ten minutes to two.”

Parts of the Day in Persian

Understanding the divisions of the day in Persian will help you describe your schedule or talk about your daily routine. Here are some essential time-related expressions based on parts of the day:

• • Morning: Sobh (صبح)
    Sā’at haft sobh ast (ساعت هفت صبح است) – It’s 7 in the morning.

• • Noon: Zohr (ظهر)
    Sā’at do zohr ast (ساعت دو ظهر است) – It’s 2 in the afternoon.

• • • Afternoon: Asr (عصر)
      Sā’at chār asr ast (ساعت چهار عصر است) – It’s 4 in the afternoon.

• • Night: Shab (شب)
    Sā’at noh shab ast (ساعت نه شب است) – It’s 9 at night.

Being able to talk about specific times of the day will make your conversations in Persian much smoother and more natural.

Days of the Week in Persian

Just like in any language, knowing the days of the week is essential for making plans or talking about past or future events. Here’s a list of the days of the week in Persian:

• • Saturday: Shanbeh (شنبه)

• • Sunday: Yek-shanbeh (یک‌شنبه)

• • Monday: Do-shanbeh (دوشنبه)

• • Tuesday: Se-shanbeh (سه‌شنبه)

• • Wednesday: Chahār-shanbeh (چهارشنبه)

• • Thursday: Panj-shanbeh (پنج‌شنبه)

• • Friday: Jom’eh (جمعه)

Notice that the week in Iran begins on Saturday (shanbeh), with Friday (jom’eh) considered the weekend or day of rest.

Talking About the Future in Persian

When talking about future events, Persian uses specific phrases and verb tenses to indicate actions that will take place. Here are some useful expressions:

• • Tomorrow: Fardā (فردا)
    Man fardā be madrese miravam (من فردا به مدرسه می‌روم) – I’m going to school tomorrow.

• • Next week: Hafte-ye āyande (هفته آینده)
    Man hafte-ye āyande be safar miravam (من هفته آینده به سفر می‌روم) – I’m going on a trip next week.

• • In the future: Dar āyande (در آینده)
    Dar āyande behtar mishavad (در آینده بهتر می‌شود) – It will be better in the future.

These expressions will help you arrange future plans and talk about upcoming events in Farsi.

Understanding Time in Persian Culture

Persian culture has a unique relationship with time, balancing punctuality with a flexible approach to scheduling. Social interactions and appointments can sometimes follow a more relaxed pace. In business settings, punctuality is expected, but in more casual scenarios, there’s an understanding that time can be fluid.

The Persian calendar, or Jalāli calendar, is also different from the Gregorian calendar used in most Western countries. It starts on the first day of spring and is a solar calendar, meaning it aligns more closely with the natural seasons.