Words

A word is "a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed." But you can break words down further - into syllables and morphemes. Doing this will help you really understand the word. Going the other way, you can combine words together to form sentences and complex ideas. We'll explore that in "grammar". Also, you can create words. Words are coming into use and going out of use every day.

• Synonym
• You have my word
• Coining the Phrase “Simorq’anize”
• Let’s get Simorqanized!
• Creativity
• You’ve got the power a.k.a. extiAr dArid
• Persian a.k.a. Farsi
• Read Persian from right to left
• Portmanteau words
• Dictionary
• Standard
• Courtship
• Irony
• Nowruzizing Google

Synonym

Words • Vocabulary • Spelling •
by Rezwan on 07/14 at 10:32 PM
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You have my word

قول دادن

Words • Vocabulary • Products •
by Rezwan on 12/20 at 12:06 PM
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In English, to make a promise is to “give someone your word” that you will do something.  With the Persian word magnets, you can give someone your word literally!

Coining the Phrase “Simorq’anize”

Words • Creating New Words •
by Rezwan on 12/18 at 09:38 PM
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What the heck? ”Simorq-anize?" You can’t make up words like that! 

Let’s get Simorqanized!

سيمرغالنظم شويم

About • Words • Creating New Words • Creativity • Mythology •
by Rezwan on 12/18 at 08:28 PM
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Persian (a.k.a. Iranian) mythology is filled with fantastical bird stories. These stories are elaborate metaphors that have transcendental, universal implications and are relevant to our post-modern world. Here is a look at the mythic bird, Simorq.

Creativity

نو آورى، خلاقيت، آفرينندگى، ابتكار

Words • Creating New Words • Creativity •
by Rezwan on 12/17 at 10:56 PM
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In which we discuss the importance of creativity in language.  This includes taking a creative approach to language, and leveraging language to increase your own creativity, to help you make connections you may not otherwise. 

You’ve got the power a.k.a. extiAr dArid

اختيار داريد

Words • Vocabulary • Basic Communication • t'Arof • Creativity • Poetry •
by Rezwan on 12/17 at 04:09 PM
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My favorite Persian t’Arof, right up there with “step on my eyeballs” and “I am your sacrifice” is this one.  “extiAr dArid.” (Others write it as ekhtiaar, ekhtyar, ekhtyaar.  Sound it out: ecch, like yeccch, ti like tea, Ar, like are.  eccch-tea-are, d-are-eed.  extiAr dArid.  See our transliteration section).  What does it mean, and why is it the coolest t’Arof ever?

Persian a.k.a. Farsi

فارسى يا پرشن

About • Words • Vocabulary • Basic Communication • Vernacular •
by Rezwan on 12/17 at 01:39 PM
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The Raging Controversy

For some time now, the Persian Language Police in America have insisted that people refer to the Persian language as “Farsi” - even while they are speaking English. These same Language Police do not, however, insist on the reverse: that people refer to the English language as English even if they are speaking Persian. Instead, they let those Persian speakers call the English language “Ingilisi” to their heart’s content.

Read Persian from right to left

زبان فارسى از راست به چپ خوانده مى شود

Letters • Script • Words • Spelling • Grammar • Word Order • Computer Age • Type •
by Rezwan on 12/12 at 09:41 PM
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To help you visualize, the line below is “Read Persian from Right to Left” written from right to left:

Portmanteau words

كلمه هاى ادغام شده

Words • Creating New Words •
by Rezwan on 12/12 at 06:03 PM
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Words that are made by merging two other words, for example, “motel” is “motor” + “hotel”. 

Dictionary

فرهنگ، واژه نامه

Words • Roots • Morphemes • Pronunciation • Vocabulary •
by Rezwan on 12/11 at 06:58 PM
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If you want to learn a language, one of your most important tools is the dictionary. And don’t just stop at one. Each publication is different.

Many people don’t know much about how to use a dictionary, beyond looking up a word and finding what that particular dictionary says it means. But “A good dictionary is a record of a group of educated people’s adventures in tracing words’ histories and uses.”

The ajabanzabAn online dictionary is under construction.  We will be using “wiki” technology so that we can all help to build it.  While we’re working on that, here are some tips on other dictionaries out there for your use.

Standard

متداول

Words • Vocabulary • Games • Products •
by Rezwan on 12/04 at 12:16 AM
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The Standard (a.k.a. “motedAvel") magnet kit has over 600 Persian words on magnetic tiles with English on the back!  Great for all ages!  The perfect gift for everyone on your list! 
{embed=buttons/buystandard}

Courtship

خواستگارى

Words • Vocabulary • Games • Products •
by Rezwan on 12/03 at 07:58 PM
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The Courtship kit (a.k.a. xAstegAri) (a.k.a. خواستگارى) features over 600 Persian words of love, passion and insanity including particles, suffixes and prefixes for grammatical accuracy. Millions of possible romantic and inappropriate sentence combinations. The words are on magnetic word tiles. English transliteration and translation on reverse side. Both sides stick to steel surfaces. Alphabet card and instruction sheet included. For creativity, education and fun!  Great for all ages!  The perfect gift for everyone on your list! 
{embed=buttons/buycourtship}

Irony

طنز

Words • Vocabulary •
by Rezwan on 11/07 at 01:11 AM
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What is irony?  Alanis had no clue.

Nowruzizing Google

گوگل را نوروزانه كردن

Words • Creating New Words •
by Rezwan on 02/27 at 12:54 PM
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The folks at http://www.esfahanhost.com/nowrouz/ want you to pester Google to put this image on the google page for Nowruz.  Click the links to pester google!  (Note:  clicking link opens browser to maximum size.  Also, they have a few other image choices.)