Verbs in Persian

107 words on the topic

• می‌خواهم

  mi-khâham

  I want

  The present stem of khastan plus -am: one word says "I want". No pronoun needed — mikhaham already carries the I
• نوشیدن

  nâshidan

  to drink

  The dictionary form. Speech uses the stem nush — mi-nusham, I drink. From the same root as nushidani, any drinkable thing
• خوردن

  khârdan

  to eat

  The dictionary form, from the stem khor. It doubles as "to consume": sandal mikhore — it eats the wood, it corrodes
• دوست دارم

  duste dârâm

  I like

  Literally "I hold [you as] a friend": dus is friend, daram I hold. Love here is stated as friendship held in the hand
• رفتن

  râftan

  to go

  The dictionary form; the present stem is ro — miram, I go. Walking and riding are the same verb here
• داشتن

  dâshtan

  to have

  Having is holding: vaqt daram — I have time, literally "I hold time". No verb rises to say it twice
• زندگی کردن

  zendegi kân

  to live

  Literally "to do life": zendegi life + kardan to do. Living somewhere takes no preposition — dar Tehran zendegi mikonam
• کار کردن

  kâr kân

  to work

  To do work — the compound that says half of everyday activity. Dar resturan kar mikonam: I work at a restaurant
• یاد گرفتن

  yâd gereftan

  to learn

  Literally "to take into memory": yad memory + gereftan to take. Learning is taking, teaching is yad dadan — giving
• انتخاب کردن

  entekhâb kân

  to choose

  Entekhab is choice — mive entekhab mikonam: I choose fruit. The verb of the market and of elections alike
• دیدن

  didan

  to see

  To see — and to visit: did-o bazdid, seeing and revisiting. Khane mibinam: I see the house
• شنیدن

  shânidan

  to hear

  To hear — mishnavi? do you hear? The same root sits in shenidani-ha, hearsay, things heard
• خوابیدن

  khâbidan

  to sleep

  From khab, sleep: shab mikhabam — at night I sleep. The verb and its noun differ by one letter
• بردن

  bârdan

  to carry

  To carry away — kise mibaram: I am carrying the bag. The same verb wins games: bordan, to win
• گذاشتن

  gâzâshtan

  to put

  To place, to let pass — chay inja migozaram: I put the tea here. The past stem gozasht also means "last (week)"
• شکستن

  shekestan

  to break

  To break — a watch, a record, a promise. Bache saat mishkanad: the child breaks the clock
• ساختن

  sâkhtan

  to build

  To build, to make — pedar khane misazad: father builds a house. The built thing is the sakhteman you know
• گرم کردن

  gârm kân

  to warm up

  Garm is warm; kardan makes it so: chay garm mikonam — I warm the tea. Food is warmed, never "heated"
• درس خواندن

  dars khândan

  to study

  Literally "to read the lesson": dars khandan. In the evening I study, says the example
• حفظ کردن

  hefz kân

  to memorize

  Hefz is keeping-by-heart — memorize it, please, says the example. Knowledge you hold, not just know
• چمدان بستن

  chamedân bastan

  to pack

  Literally "to tie the suitcase": chamedaan bastan. Tonight I pack, says the example
• آب‌تنی کردن

  âb-teni kân

  to swim, bathe

  Literally "to do water with the body". The helper verb kon is the same one as in "to live". The children are in, says the example
• شنا کردن

  shenâ kân

  to swim

  To move through the water. On Caspian beaches swimming days are separate for men and women — good to know, says the example
• آفتاب گرفتن

  âftâb gereftan

  to sunbathe

  Literally "to take sun". After noon in the south it is an act of courage, not rest, says the example
• ماهی گرفتن

  mâhi gereftan

  to fish

  Literally "to take fish". gereftan is the same verb as in "to learn" — to take in, says the example
• آب دادن

  âb dâdan

  to water

  Literally "to give water". House flowers drink a lot: the heat eats water fast, says the example
• پوشیدن

  pushidan

  to put on

  To put on — about clothes. The command bepoosh, "put it on", is short and polite at once, says the example
• پرو کردن

  pâr kân

  to try on

  To try on. The polite request is "may I try it?" — the very phrase of the shop floor, says the example
• خندیدن

  khândidan

  to laugh

  To laugh. The spoken present laughs right in the endings: mi-khandam, mi-khandi — the children are at it, says the example
• گریه کردن

  gerie kân

  to cry

  Literally "to do crying". You will hear it in every yard: the child is crying, says the example
• ترسیدن

  târsidan

  to fear

  To fear. What you fear comes with az: the child fears the dog, says the example
• تعجب کردن

  taadzheb kân

  to be surprised

  Literally "to do surprise". "Do not be surprised!" — you will hear it and understand it, says the example
• امیدوارم

  âmidvârâm

  I hope

  I hope. Omid is hope, and -am puts the "I" inside the word. Hope tomorrow is good, says the example
• بحث کردن

  bahs kân

  to argue, discuss

  To argue and to discuss: the debate word with the helper verb, as in "to live". Friends are at it, says the example
• قول دادن

  gâl dâdan

  to promise

  Literally "to give word". A given word is held firmly here: a promise is a matter of honor. I promise to come tomorrow, says the example
• دعوا کردن

  dâva kân

  to quarrel

  To quarrel. You hear it from childhood: children quarrel and make peace several times a day. They are at it, says the example
• بغل کردن

  bâgâl kân

  to hug

  Literally "to take under the arm" — to hug. Close people are hugged firmly and often here. Mother hugged the child, says the example
• آشپزی کردن

  âshpezi kân

  to cook

  Literally "to do kitchen". Who cooks, runs the whole evening — the word covers it all. Tonight it is me, says the example
• شستن

  shâstan

  to wash

  To wash. "Wash it!" is the request heard at the sink every day — the fruits too, says the example
• جوشاندن

  dzhâshândan

  to boil

  Literally "to bring to boiling" — to boil, to cook in water. Water, soup, everything hot starts with it. I brought the water to a boil, says the example
• سرخ کردن

  sârkh kân

  to fry

  Literally "to make red": the red crust on the potato is the very meaning of the word. Fry it, says the example
• پختن

  pâkhtan

  to bake, cook

  Baking and boiling packed in one verb: bread cooks and soup cooks, the verb is the same, the food is different. Mother bakes bread, says the example
• خرد کردن

  kherd kân

  to chop, dice

  Literally "to make small" — to chop, to crumble. "Chop the onion" is the first command of the kitchen, says the example
• چشیدن

  cheshedan

  to taste, try

  To taste. "Try it!" is the invitation sounded at every table. Try the food, says the example
• سفارش دادن

  sefâresh dâdan

  to order

  Literally "to give an order". Said of food and of a taxi alike — I am ordering, says the example
• زنگ زدن

  zang zadan

  to call, ring

  Literally "to strike the bell": the same bell as in the doorbell. "Call me" is one verb — strike! Call my mother, says the example
• دانلود کردن

  dânlâd kardan

  to download

  The borrowed word plus the helper "do". Half of the modern verbs are built so: a borrowed word plus doing. I downloaded the film, says the example
• فرستادن

  fârestâdan

  to send

  Everything is sent here: a parcel, a letter and a child to the shop. The past and the command have their own short shapes. Sent the photo, seen it? says the example
• دریافت کردن

  deryaft kardan

  to receive

  The polite "receive": so receipts and delivery statuses write. In speech the plain "take" is more frequent. Got yours, says the example
• جواب دادن

  dzhâvâb dâdan

  to answer, reply

  Literally "to give an answer" — an answer is "given" here. Works for everything: a message and a question alike. Answer mine, says the example
• روشن کردن

  râshân kardan

  to turn on

  Light is the same word as bright: to turn on is "to make light". The same word lives in names meaning "bright". Turn on the light, says the example
• خاموش کردن

  khâmâsh kardan

  to turn off

  The pair of turning on: dark and extinguished. A candle is put out and a television turned off by the same word. Turn off the computer, says the example
• تعمیر کردن

  tammir kardan

  to repair, fix

  The repair word, which the neighboring languages long divided but the meaning holds in common. "Fix the bicycle" is said with it. Fix mine, says the example
• عوض کردن

  âvaz kardan

  to replace, change

  Change, exchange: a battery and an opinion are changed by the same word. "Change the battery" — so, says the example
• بردن

  bârdan

  to win

  The same win as on the chessboard: here one "carries off" a victory. The past is short: our team carried it, says the example
• باختن

  bâkhtan

  to lose

  The pair of winning: the loss, and "to lose" in general — keys, time, anything. About one’s own team it is said unwillingly, like everywhere. Ours lost, says the example
• دویدن

  dâvidan

  to run

  The same root as in the two-wheeled bicycle. "I run in the mornings" — and the mornings word is the familiar morning in the plural. So, says the example
• پریدن

  pâridan

  to jump

  From the feather, the flight: to jump here is almost "to fly". The child on the bed lives in this verb. The child jumps, says the example
• نشستن

  neshâstan

  to sit

  Hence "sit down" — the word a host says first, and a standing guest hears it at once. Sit here, says the example
• ایستادن

  iystâdan

  to stand

  The same root as in the station — the place where one stands. "Stand here" is heard more often than it seems. So, says the example
• خوابیدن

  khâbidan

  to lie, be lying

  One word for lying and sleeping: the child "lies" and the child "has fallen asleep" are the same phrase. The talk decides which. The child is lying, says the example
• بلند کردن

  bâland kardan

  to lift, raise

  High and loud in one word: a box is lifted and a sound made louder by the same verb. "Lift this" — so, says the example
• انداختن

  ândâkhtan

  to throw

  Everything is thrown here: a ball, trash and a glance. "Throw me the ball" is the first phrase of any yard game. To me, says the example
• گرفتن

  gereftan

  to catch

  The same taking as in taking a photo and taking a parcel: to catch is to take. Took the ball, says the example
• افتادن

  âftâdan

  to fall

  A thing falls here rather than a person: "my phone fell to the floor". The faller is marked by a little ending of its own. So, says the example
• خواندن

  khândan

  to sing

  The same word as "to read": singing here is reading aloud, in chant. One verb does both. He sings the song, says the example
• رقصیدن

  ragsidan

  to dance

  No wedding happens without it. The past "we" is heard right in the verb: at the wedding we danced, says the example
• بازی کردن

  bâzi kardan

  to play

  To play is "to do a game" — the doing helper at work again. The children play football — so, says the example
• نقاشی کردن

  neggashi kardan

  to draw

  Drawing here comes from the painter’s workshop word plus "do". The child draws — so, says the example
• عکس گرفتن

  aks gereftan

  to take a photo

  Both words you already know: to take a shot. "On the square we took photos" — and a memory for life, says the example
• قدم زدن

  gadam zadan

  to stroll, walk

  Literally "to strike steps": the step plus the strike verb you know from the bell. In the park people stroll in the evenings — so, says the example
• استراحت کردن

  âstârahat kardan

  to rest, relax

  A long word for rest that lives everywhere: in hotels and in notices. One rests after work. After work I rest, says the example
• ازدواج کردن

  ezdâvâzh kân

  to marry, get married

  One verb for the man and the woman — who became what to whom, the talk says. "A year ago we married" — short and to the point, says the example
• دعوت کردن

  devat kardan

  to invite

  The invitation word, from the same polite circle as "obliged". One invites someone somewhere: friends — to the wedding. So we invited them, says the example
• دعا کردن

  dâa kardan

  to pray

  To pray is "to do a prayer" — the same doing helper as in working and downloading. Grandmother prays — and the house goes quiet for a minute. So, says the example
• روزه گرفتن

  ruze gereftan

  to fast

  Literally "to take a day": the fast here is a "taken day" without food till sunset. Mother fasts — and at the table she is not expected till evening. So, says the example
• تبریک گفتن

  tabrik gâftan

  to congratulate

  To congratulate is "to say a congratulation": the speaking verb you heard in "mother tells a tale". The new year is greeted exactly so. We greeted it, says the example
• جارو کردن

  dzhâru kardan

  to sweep

  The broom word — a short one heard without translation. Sweeping is done in the morning. In the morning I sweep, says the example
• لباس شستن

  lebâs shâstan

  to wash clothes

  Literally "to wash clothes": the same washing as the dishes — laundry here is also "washing". Done by hand. We wash clothes by hand, says the example
• اتو کردن

  âtâ kardan

  to iron

  The iron word plus the same verb: to iron here is "to do iron". The shirt is ironed most often. I iron the shirt, says the example
• کمک کردن

  kâmak kardan

  to help

  The help word — you shouted it back in the first lessons. Helping here is "doing help", the same doing helper. To my mother I help, says the example
• خواهش کردن

  khâhesh kardan

  to ask, request

  The request word you know from "you are welcome" — one word: the request and courtesy from one root. I asked him — so, says the example
• اجازه دادن

  edâze dâdan

  to allow, permit

  Permission, and to give it is the same giving verb as in the gift. "Allow me, I have matters" is the phrase of leaving. So, says the example
• ممنوع کردن

  mamnu' kardan

  to forbid, ban

  A cousin of "obliged": one source for both words, the meanings long parted. "He forbade it" — and the argument is closed. So, says the example
• تقلب کردن

  tagallâb kardan

  to cheat

  Cunning: to cheat is to out-sly. For this one is thrown out of the exam, and the word is heard at school often. Do not cheat on the exam! says the example
• درست کردن

  dârâst kardan

  to correct, fix

  Right is the right word: to correct is to make right. Food is prepared and things assembled by the same verb — the doing hands out roles generously. Correct the mistake, says the example
• صرفه‌جویی کردن

  sârfe-dzhuyi kardan

  to economize, save money

  Benefit is the first word: to economize is to look for benefit in every spend. About daily life, not greed: small savings are made proudly here. I save money, says the example
• خرج کردن

  khardzh kardan

  to spend

  The spending word, a relative of the expenses from the neighboring lesson, truly so. Spending much is much-spending — already a talk for the family. I spend much money, says the example
• پس‌انداز کردن

  pas-ândâz kardan

  to save up, put money aside

  Back plus store: to save is to store behind, for reserve. The savings themselves go by the same word — only the verb differs. I put money aside, says the example
• بیمه کردن

  bime kardan

  to insure

  To make insured: a car, a house and health are insured by one verb. The insurance company is the same word. I insured the house, says the example
• عطسه کردن

  atâse kardan

  to sneeze

  The sneeze itself; after it health is wished here just as at home. In spring, the pollen season, the word sounds on every street. I sneeze often, says the example
• مریض شدن

  mâriz shâdan

  to fall ill

  Sick plus become: to fall ill is to become sick. The becoming verb you will meet everywhere something becomes something. I fell ill, says the example
• خوب شدن

  khub shâdan

  to recover, get well

  Good plus become: to recover here is "to become good". The recovered one is greeted with "have you become good?" Soon I will, says the example
• هماهنگ کردن

  hamâhang kardan

  to arrange, coordinate

  Same-directed: to arrange is to tune in unison, like instruments before playing. Schedules are coordinated by the same word. I arranged with a colleague, says the example
• استعفا دادن

  estefâ dâdan

  to resign, quit

  A resignation: to leave is to hand in a resignation, as ministers in old books. Given in writing — and the two weeks are worked to the end. I resigned, says the example
• اخراج کردن

  ekhrâdzh kardan

  to fire, dismiss

  An expulsion: a hard word, said quietly. The same verb sends out of a country, which is why at work it is not loved. Fired, says the example
• اسباب‌کشی کردن

  esbâb-keshi kardan

  to move house

  The same doer verb: to move is to do the move — and it is done by the family. Much tea is drunk on moving day — from glasses found in boxes. We are moving, says the example
• بسته‌بندی کردن

  bâste-bandi kardan

  to pack

  Bundle plus tying: to pack is to tie into a bundle. Boxes are asked for at the shop free — everyone knows it. I packed the books, says the example
• بسته‌ها باز کردن

  bâste-hâ bâz kardan

  to unpack

  The opening verb: to unpack is to open the bundles — the same verb that opens a bank account. The kitchen is unpacked first: tea matters more than furniture. The boxes are unpacked, says the example
• جا افتادن

  dzhâ âftâdan

  to settle in

  Place plus falling: to settle in is to "fall into place", as life settles into a new house. In a couple of weeks they say: we have fallen into place. We have, says the example
• بودن

  budan

  to be

  The being verb of the past: dishab dar kafe budam — last night I was at the café. In the present it hides inside -am, -i, -ast
• تماشا کردن

  tamâshâ kardan

  to watch

  Tamasha is a spectacle — the same word that walked into Turkish. Film tamasha mikonim: we watch a film
• پرواز کردن

  parvâz kardan

  to fly

  Parvaz is flight — the word on every boarding pass: parvaz, flight number. The plane does flight over the city
• استفاده کردن

  estefâde kardan

  to use

  Estefade is use, benefit — and it takes az, from: az computer estefade mikonam. You use things "from" here
• بلد بودن

  balad budan

  to know how

  Bald is the know-how word — shena baldam: I know swimming, I can swim. Skill here is something you "are knowing"
• برخورد کردن

  bârkhârd kardan

  to run into

  Barkhord is a collision — a meeting with an edge. To a neighbor you barkhord: run into them on the street
• دست زدن

  dâst zadan

  to touch

  Literally "to hit with the hand": dast hand + zadan strike. Be ghazaye dagh dast nazan: do not touch the hot food

Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet

The CSV contains spelling, reading guides, translations and links to word pages. Use the browser menu to save the printable sheet as a PDF.

How it sounds in a sentence

A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.

• من قهوه می‌خواهم

  man gâghve mi-khâham

  I want coffee
• آب می‌خواهم بیاشامم

  âb mi-khâham beâshâm

  I want to drink water
• نان می‌خورم

  nân mi-khâram

  I eat bread
• چای دوست دارم

  chay duste dârâm

  I like tea
• به خانه می‌روم

  be khâne mi-râvam

  I am going home
• وقت دارم

  vâgt dârâm

  I have time

What is worth knowing about these words

می‌خواهم (mi-khâham) — I want. The present stem of khastan plus -am: one word says "I want". No pronoun needed — mikhaham already carries the I.

نوشیدن (nâshidan) — to drink. The dictionary form. Speech uses the stem nush — mi-nusham, I drink. From the same root as nushidani, any drinkable thing.

خوردن (khârdan) — to eat. The dictionary form, from the stem khor. It doubles as "to consume": sandal mikhore — it eats the wood, it corrodes.

دوست دارم (duste dârâm) — I like. Literally "I hold [you as] a friend": dus is friend, daram I hold. Love here is stated as friendship held in the hand.

Test yourself

Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

I want, I can, I am going, I know. The verb holds a sentence together: a few of the most frequent ones cover more everyday talk than a long list of nouns.

A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.

• Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many times
  Adesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
• Study spread over days wins not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many times
  Mawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.

Next

• All topics of the Persian language4017 words by topic and letter
• Greetings and goodbyes8 words
• Polite words8 words
• Numbers and counting59 words
• Food and drink176 words
• Shopping and money82 words
• Pronunciation
• From scratch
• Why a word list doesn't sticka note