A1 Nouns & Pronouns 16 min read Easy

Persian Days of the Week (Shanbe to Jome)

Master the numbers 1-5 and the word 'Shanbe' to name almost every day in the Persian week.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Persian days start on Saturday (Shanbe) and end on Friday (Jome), which is the weekend.

  • The week starts on Saturday: شنبه (Shanbe).
  • Friday is the weekend: جمعه (Jome).
  • Days are treated as nouns and often used with 'on' (dar) or alone for time markers.
Saturday (Shanbe) + Sunday (Yek-shanbe) + ... + Friday (Jome)

Overview

Learning the days of the week in Persian is fundamental for daily communication and understanding the rhythm of life in Persian-speaking cultures, particularly Iran. Unlike many Western calendars where the week begins on Sunday or Monday, the Persian week (هفته‌ی فارسی - hafte-ye fârsi) officially commences on Saturday. This distinction is crucial, as it impacts everything from business schedules to social gatherings.

Consequently, the weekend in Iran typically falls on Thursday afternoon and all of Friday.

At the A1 beginner level, grasping this basic structure is your first step. The Persian naming convention for the days is remarkably logical and largely arithmetic, making it straightforward to learn once you understand the underlying pattern. Except for Friday, all days are constructed around the word شنبه (shanbe), meaning 'Saturday.' This system provides a consistent framework that simplifies memorization, distinguishing it from the more varied naming conventions found in many other languages.

How This Grammar Works

The grammar of Persian days of the week operates on a numerical system, treating شنبه as the foundational day. Each subsequent weekday is formed by attaching the Persian ordinal number (or cardinal number used as an ordinal) to شنبه. This creates a clear, sequential pattern from Sunday through Thursday.
Friday, however, is a singular exception with its own distinct name, جمعه (jome), which carries significant cultural and religious meaning.
These day names function as nouns in Persian. Unlike languages with grammatical gender, Persian nouns do not have gender, nor do they inflect for case. This means the form of the day name remains constant regardless of its role in a sentence.
For instance, whether شنبه is the subject or object of a verb, its form does not change. This inherent simplicity eliminates a layer of complexity often found in other Indo-European languages, allowing learners to focus on vocabulary acquisition and sentence structure without concern for gender agreement or case endings.
For example, to say "Saturday is a holiday," you would use شنبه تعطیل است (shanbe ta'til ast). If you were to say "I like Saturdays," it would be من شنبه‌ها را دوست دارم (man shanbe-hâ râ dust dâram), where شنبه retains its base form and the plural marker ها (-hâ) is added, without any internal change to the word itself. This invariant nature is a hallmark of Persian noun grammar, which you will find consistently applied across most vocabulary categories.

Formation Pattern

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The formation of Persian days of the week, from Sunday to Thursday, follows a precise numerical additive pattern. The base word is شنبه (shanbe), which itself means 'Saturday.' For the days that follow, you simply prefix شنبه with the Persian cardinal number corresponding to its position in the week, starting with یک (one) for Sunday. This creates a highly predictable and systematic structure.
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Here is the detailed breakdown:
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1. Saturday (The Base Day):
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Persian Script: شَنْبِه
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Transliteration: shanbe
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Meaning: Saturday. This is the starting point of the Persian week and does not have a numerical prefix. It stands alone as the root from which other weekdays are derived.
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2. Sunday (One-Shanbe):
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Persian Script: یِکْ‌شَنْبِه
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Transliteration: yek-shanbe
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Meaning: Sunday. Formed by یک (yek - one) + شنبه (shanbe). It is the first day after Saturday.
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Example: یک‌شنبه می‌بینمت. (yek-shanbe mi-binamet.) - I'll see you on Sunday.
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3. Monday (Two-Shanbe):
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Persian Script: دوشَنْبِه
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Transliteration: do-shanbe
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Meaning: Monday. Formed by دو (do - two) + شنبه (shanbe). It is the second day after Saturday.
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Example: دوشنبه کلاس دارم. (do-shanbe kelâs dâram.) - I have class on Monday.
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4. Tuesday (Three-Shanbe):
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Persian Script: سِه‌شَنْبِه
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Transliteration: se-shanbe
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Meaning: Tuesday. Formed by سه (se - three) + شنبه (shanbe). It is the third day after Saturday.
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Example: قرارمان سه‌شنبه است. (gharâremân se-shanbe ast.) - Our appointment is on Tuesday.
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5. Wednesday (Four-Shanbe):
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Persian Script: چهارشَنْبِه
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Transliteration: chahâr-shanbe
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Meaning: Wednesday. Formed by چهار (chahâr - four) + شنبه (shanbe). It is the fourth day after Saturday.
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Example: چهارشنبه وقت خالی دارم. (chahâr-shanbe vaght-e khâli dâram.) - I have free time on Wednesday.
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6. Thursday (Five-Shanbe):
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Persian Script: پَنْج‌شَنْبِه
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Transliteration: panj-shanbe
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Meaning: Thursday. Formed by پنج (panj - five) + شنبه (shanbe). It is the fifth day after Saturday.
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Example: پنج‌شنبه عصر بازار می‌روم. (panj-shanbe asr bâzâr mi-ravam.) - I go to the market on Thursday afternoon.
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7. Friday (The Exception):
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Persian Script: جُمْعِه
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Transliteration: jome
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Meaning: Friday. This day breaks the numerical pattern. The word جمعه is of Arabic origin, meaning 'gathering' or 'congregation.' It is designated as the holy day of the week in Islam and is the primary day off in Iran, akin to Sunday in many Western countries. It is never referred to as 'six-shanbe.'
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Example: جمعه تعطیل است. (jome ta'til ast.) - Friday is a holiday.
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Table: Persian Days of the Week
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| Day | Persian Script | Transliteration | Literal Construction | English Equivalent |
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| :-------- | :------------- | :-------------- | :------------------- | :----------------- |
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| Saturday | شَنْبِه | shanbe | Base Day | Saturday |
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| Sunday | یِکْ‌شَنْبِه | yek-shanbe | One-Saturday | Sunday |
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| Monday | دوشَنْبِه | do-shanbe | Two-Saturday | Monday |
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| Tuesday | سِه‌شَنْبِه | se-shanbe | Three-Saturday | Tuesday |
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| Wednesday | چهارشَنْبِه | chahâr-shanbe | Four-Saturday | Wednesday |
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| Thursday | پَنْج‌شَنْبِه | panj-shanbe | Five-Saturday | Thursday |
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| Friday | جُمْعِه | jome | Gathering | Friday |
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Notice the consistent use of the half-space (‌) between the number and شنبه (e.g., یک‌شنبه). This is not a full space but a zero-width non-joiner (ZWNJ) character, which visually separates the components while linguistically keeping them as a single compound word. Using a full space (یک شنبه) or no space (یکشنبه) is grammatically incorrect and can impact readability, although native speakers may sometimes use full spaces informally in digital communication.

Gender & Agreement

One of the most straightforward aspects of Persian grammar, particularly beneficial for A1 learners, is the absence of grammatical gender. Unlike languages such as French, Spanish, German, or Arabic, Persian nouns, including the days of the week, are not assigned masculine or feminine gender. This means you do not need to worry about articles, adjectives, or verbs changing their forms to agree with the gender of the day.
Consequently, the days of the week, like all other nouns in Persian, remain invariant in their form. You will not encounter different forms of شنبه (shanbe) based on whether it is perceived as male or female, or if it is the subject or object of a sentence. This greatly simplifies sentence construction and reduces a common point of difficulty for learners whose native languages are heavily gendered.
For example, to describe a "long Friday," you would simply say جمعه‌ی طولانی (jome-ye tulâni). The adjective طولانی (tulâni - long) does not change its form to match جمعه. Similarly, if you say "every Monday," you use هر دوشنبه (har do-shanbe) where هر (har - every) precedes the day without any gender-based modification.
This consistent lack of gender and associated agreement rules makes the integration of the days of the week into sentences very accessible for beginners.

When To Use It

Knowledge of the Persian days of the week is essential for virtually all daily interactions involving time. You will use these terms constantly to schedule, plan, reminisce, and discuss events. Here are the primary contexts and nuances of their usage:
1. Scheduling and Appointments: This is the most direct application. Whether you are arranging a meeting, booking a flight, or setting a date for a social event, you will use the specific day names.
The Saturday-to-Wednesday workweek in Iran, with Thursday often being a half-day or optional workday, and Friday as the full weekend, is critical context.
  • Example: وقت دکتر چهارشنبه است. (vaght-e doktor chahâr-shanbe ast.) - The doctor's appointment is on Wednesday.
  • Example: باید شنبه بروم. (bâyad shanbe beravam.) - I must go on Saturday.
2. Expressing Frequency: To indicate that something occurs regularly on a certain day, you can use هر (har - every) before the day name.
  • Example: هر دوشنبه فوتبال بازی می‌کنم. (har do-shanbe futbâl bâzi mi-konam.) - I play football every Monday.
  • Example: کلاس فارسی هر سه‌شنبه است. (kelâs-e fârsi har se-shanbe ast.) - Persian class is every Tuesday.
3. Referring to Past or Future Days: To specify whether you mean the upcoming or previous instance of a day, you can use آینده (âyande - future/next) or گذشته (gozashte - past/last).
  • Example: پنج‌شنبه‌ی آینده می‌آیم. (panj-shanbe-ye âyande mi-âyam.) - I'm coming next Thursday.
  • Example: یک‌شنبه‌ی گذشته چه کار کردی؟ (yek-shanbe-ye gozashte che kâr kardi?) - What did you do last Sunday?
4. Cultural and Social Contexts: Friday (جمعه) holds particular significance. Phrases like جمعه مبارک (jome mobârak - Blessed Friday) are common greetings or social media hashtags, reflecting its status as a holy and rest day. Businesses are typically closed, and families often gather.
  • Example (Social Media): #جمعه_مبارک - #BlessedFriday
5. Omitting روز (ruz - day): In spoken Persian and informal writing, it is very common to omit the word روز (ruz) when referring to a specific day of the week, especially when followed by a verb indicating action on that day. The day name itself often suffices to convey "on [day]."
  • Formal/Complete: روز شنبه می‌روم. (ruz-e shanbe mi-ravam.) - I go on Saturday.
  • Informal/Common: شنبه می‌روم. (shanbe mi-ravam.) - I go on Saturday.
However, روز is often used when the day name is the subject or object of a sentence, or for emphasis, or when using modifiers like هر (har).
  • Example: روز جمعه بهترین روز است. (ruz-e jome behtarin ruz ast.) - Friday is the best day.
Understanding when to include or omit روز comes with exposure, but as an A1 learner, you can generally use the day name directly for "on [day]" contexts without significant error, especially in informal settings.

Common Mistakes

Beginners often encounter specific pitfalls when learning Persian days of the week, primarily due to direct translation from their native language or misinterpreting the numerical pattern. Awareness of these common errors can significantly accelerate your learning.
1. The شنبه (shanbe) and یک‌شنبه (yek-shanbe) Mix-up: The most frequent error for speakers of languages where the week starts on Sunday or Monday is confusing Saturday and Sunday. In Persian, شنبه is Saturday, the first day of the week. یک‌شنبه is Sunday, the second day.
  • Incorrect: Thinking یک‌شنبه is Saturday because یک means 'one' and Saturday is the 'first' day in many cultures.
  • Correct: شنبه (Saturday) is the base, یک‌شنبه (Sunday) is literally 'one-Shanbe' and follows it.
2. Misapplication of the Numerical Pattern to Friday: Learners sometimes attempt to apply the numerical pattern to Friday, forming شش‌شنبه (shesh-shanbe - six-Shanbe). This is incorrect.
  • Incorrect: Using شش‌شنبه for Friday.
  • Correct: Friday is uniquely جمعه (jome). The numerical pattern strictly applies only from Sunday (یک‌شنبه) to Thursday (پنج‌شنبه). جمعه has an independent, non-numerical origin.
3. Incorrect Spacing for Compound Days: When writing the compound day names (Sunday to Thursday), the use of a half-space (‌, ZWNJ) is standard and correct. Using a full space or no space can be considered a typographical error in formal contexts.
  • Incorrect: یک شنبه (full space) or یکشنبه (no space).
  • Correct: یک‌شنبه (half-space).
  • The half-space (‌) links the number and شنبه visually and linguistically as a single unit without merging them into an unreadable string. While informal messages might overlook this, mastering the ZWNJ improves your written Persian substantially.
4. Pronunciation of ن before ب: In compounds like شنبه (shanbe) and پنج‌شنبه (panj-shanbe), the ن (n) sound often assimilates to an م (m) sound when it precedes ب (b). While writing شنبه with ن is correct, pronunciation often sounds more like شَمبِه (shambe) and پَنْج‌شَمبِه (panj-shambe).
  • Incorrect: Over-articulating the ن sound in شنبه and پنج‌شنبه to sound like a distinct n and then b.
  • Correct: Allowing the ن to naturally morph towards an m sound, which is a common phonological process in Persian. Aim for a smooth transition, not a forced n sound.
5. Overuse or Underuse of روز (ruz): While often optional, knowing when to include روز can refine your speech.
  • Underuse (in formal contexts or where clarity is needed): Saying شنبه تعطیل است when you mean "The day Saturday is a holiday," instead of روز شنبه تعطیل است.
  • Overuse (in casual conversation): Saying من روز دوشنبه می‌روم when a simple من دوشنبه می‌روم suffices in a casual setting.
  • Guideline: In general conversation, omit روز unless it adds clarity, emphasis, or is part of a larger structure like روزهای هفته (ruz-hâ-ye hafte - days of the week).

Common Collocations

Collocations are words that frequently go together, and mastering them makes your Persian sound more natural. Days of the week often appear in set phrases that are crucial for daily communication.
**`روز [Day] (ruz + [Day]`) ** While روز is often optional in casual speech, it forms a common collocation when emphasizing the 'day of' or for more formal contexts.
  • Example: روز شنبه (ruz-e shanbe) - on Saturday.
  • Example: کتاب‌خانه روز سه‌شنبه باز است. (ketâb-khâne ruz-e se-shanbe bâz ast.) - The library is open on Tuesday.
**`هر [Day] (har + [Day]`) ** This construction means 'every [day]' and is used to express habitual actions or regular occurrences.
  • Example: هر دوشنبه به باشگاه می‌روم. (har do-shanbe be bâshgâh mi-ravam.) - I go to the gym every Monday.
  • Example: او هر پنج‌شنبه کار می‌کند. (u har panj-shanbe kâr mi-konad.) - He works every Thursday.
**`[Day] آینده ([Day] + âyande`) ** To refer to the next instance of a particular day.
  • Example: جلسه پنج‌شنبه‌ی آینده است. (jalse panj-shanbe-ye âyande ast.) - The meeting is next Thursday.
  • Example: یک‌شنبه‌ی آینده می‌آیی؟ (yek-shanbe-ye âyande mi-âyi?) - Are you coming next Sunday?
**`[Day] گذشته ([Day] + gozashte`) ** To refer to the last instance of a particular day.
  • Example: شنبه‌ی گذشته به تهران رفتم. (shanbe-ye gozashte be tehrân raftam.) - I went to Tehran last Saturday.
  • Example: دوشنبه‌ی گذشته خیلی خسته بودم. (do-shanbe-ye gozashte kheyli khaste budam.) - I was very tired last Monday.
  • از [Day1] تا [Day2] (az [Day1] tâ [Day2]): This means 'from [Day1] to [Day2],' commonly used for work schedules or periods of time.
  • Example: من از شنبه تا چهارشنبه کار می‌کنم. (man az shanbe tâ chahâr-shanbe kâr mi-konam.) - I work from Saturday to Wednesday.
  • Example: بانک از یک‌شنبه تا پنج‌شنبه باز است. (bânk az yek-shanbe tâ panj-shanbe bâz ast.) - The bank is open from Sunday to Thursday.
**`[Day] morning/afternoon/evening/night` ** Combining days with parts of the day is also very common.
  • صبح (sobh) - morning
  • ظهر (zohr) - noon
  • عصر (asr) - afternoon/evening
  • شب (shab) - night
  • Example: سه‌شنبه صبح بیدار شدم. (se-shanbe sobh bidâr shodam.) - I woke up Tuesday morning.
  • Example: جمعه شب مهمانی داریم. (jome shab mehmâni dârim.) - We have a party Friday night.

Real Conversations

Observing how native speakers use the days of the week in authentic dialogues provides invaluable context. Here are a few scenarios, showcasing both formal and informal usage.

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Scenario 1

Casual Planning Between Friends

- Ali: سلام سارا، خوبی؟ این هفته وقت داری بریم بیرون؟

- salâm Sârâ, khubi? in hafte vaght dâri berim birun?

- Hello Sara, how are you? Do you have time this week for us to go out?

- Sara: سلام علی، ممنون. آره، دوشنبه یا چهارشنبه خوبه.

- salâm Ali, mamnun. âre, do-shanbe yâ chahâr-shanbe khube.

- Hello Ali, thanks. Yes, Monday or Wednesday is good.

- Ali: پس دوشنبه عالیه. ساعت شش عصر؟

- pas do-shanbe âli-ye. sâ'at-e shesh asr?

- Monday is great then. At six in the evening?

- Sara: باشه، دوشنبه شش عصر. می‌بینمت!

- bâshe, do-shanbe shesh asr. mi-binamet!

- Okay, Monday six evening. See you!

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Scenario 2

Formal Appointment Setting (Doctor's Office)

- Receptionist: سلام، روز بخیر. کلینیک دکتر پناهی.

- salâm, ruz be kheyr. kilinik-e doktor Panâhi.

- Hello, good day. Dr. Panahi's clinic.

- Patient: سلام. برای فردا وقت خالی دارید؟

- salâm. barâ-ye fardâ vaght-e khâli dârid?

- Hello. Do you have an open appointment for tomorrow?

- Receptionist: بله، برای سه‌شنبه صبح یک وقت داریم. ساعت ده.

- bale, barâ-ye se-shanbe sobh yek vaght dârim. sâ'at-e dah.

- Yes, we have an appointment for Tuesday morning. At ten o'clock.

- Patient: متشکرم. سه‌شنبه ده صبح مناسب است.

- motashakkeram. se-shanbe dah sobh monâseb ast.

- Thank you. Tuesday ten AM is suitable.

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Scenario 3

Discussing Weekend Plans

- Father: جمعه چه برنامه‌ای داری؟

- jome che barnâme-i dâri?

- What plans do you have for Friday?

- Daughter: هیچی بابا. جمعه می‌خوام استراحت کنم.

- hichi bâbâ. jome mi-khâm esterâhat konam.

- Nothing, Dad. I want to rest on Friday.

- Father: پس پنج‌شنبه عصر بریم خرید؟

- pas panj-shanbe asr berim kharid?

- So, shall we go shopping Thursday afternoon?

- Daughter: آره، پنج‌شنبه عصر خوبه.

- âre, panj-shanbe asr khube.

- Yes, Thursday afternoon is good.

These dialogues illustrate the natural flow of conversation, the optional nature of روز, and the integration of days with times and activities. Pay attention to the subtle differences in formality, often conveyed by verb choices rather than the day names themselves.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions that A1 learners often have about Persian days of the week.
Q1: What day does the week start on in Iran?
A: The official and cultural start of the week in Iran is Saturday (شنبه). This is a key difference from many Western countries where Sunday or Monday marks the beginning of the week. Sunday (یک‌شنبه) is thus the second day of the week in the Persian calendar.
Q2: Which days are the weekend in Iran?
A: The primary weekend day in Iran is Friday (جمعه). Government offices, schools, and most businesses are closed on Fridays. Thursday (پنج‌شنبه) is often considered a half-day or a semi-weekend day, with many workplaces operating for a shorter duration or not at all, especially in the afternoon.
Therefore, the weekend generally extends from Thursday afternoon through Friday.
Q3: Do I always need to use روز (ruz - day) before the day name?
A: No, not always. In everyday spoken Persian and informal writing, روز is often omitted when the day name clearly functions as an adverb of time (e.g., "on Monday"). For instance, دوشنبه می‌آیم (do-shanbe mi-âyam) means "I'm coming on Monday." However, روز can be used for clarity, emphasis, or in more formal contexts (e.g., روز دوشنبه).
It is also typically used when the day name is the subject or object of a sentence, or as part of a fixed phrase like روزهای هفته (ruz-hâ-ye hafte - days of the week).
Q4: Is it possible to say "six-Shanbe" for Friday?
A: No, absolutely not. Friday has its unique name, جمعه (jome), which is derived from Arabic and means 'gathering.' Attempting to apply the numerical Number + Shanbe pattern to Friday by saying شش‌شنبه (shesh-shanbe) would be incorrect and would sound unnatural to native speakers. The numerical pattern only applies from Sunday (یک‌شنبه) to Thursday (پنج‌شنبه).
Q5: How do I say "next" or "last" for a specific day?
A: To refer to the next instance of a day, you add آینده (âyande - future/next) after the day name, like شنبه‌ی آینده (shanbe-ye âyande - next Saturday). To refer to the last instance, you add گذشته (gozashte - past/last) after the day name, such as یک‌شنبه‌ی گذشته (yek-shanbe-ye gozashte - last Sunday). Remember to use the ی (-ye) euphonic suffix (also known as ezafe) between the day and the adjective.
Q6: Are there formal and informal ways to refer to the days of the week?
A: The day names themselves (شنبه, جمعه, etc.) remain constant across formal and informal contexts. The level of formality is typically conveyed through the accompanying verbs, pronouns, and other grammatical structures in the sentence, rather than by altering the day names themselves. For example, asking سه‌شنبه میای؟ (se-shanbe mi-âyi? - Are you coming Tuesday?) is informal, while آیا روز سه‌شنبه تشریف می‌آورید؟ (âyâ ruz-e se-shanbe tashrif mi-âvarid? - Will you grace us with your presence on Tuesday?) is highly formal.

Persian Days Formation

Day Persian Meaning
Saturday
شنبه
Shanbe
Sunday
یکشنبه
Yek-shanbe
Monday
دوشنبه
Do-shanbe
Tuesday
سه‌شنبه
Se-shanbe
Wednesday
چهارشنبه
Chahar-shanbe
Thursday
پنج‌شنبه
Panj-shanbe
Friday
جمعه
Jome

Meanings

The seven days of the week in the Persian solar calendar, used for scheduling and daily life.

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Calendar Days

Naming the specific day of the week.

“شنبه”

“دوشنبه”

Reference Table

Reference table for Persian Days of the Week (Shanbe to Jome)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Day + ast
شنبه است
Negative
Day + nist
شنبه نیست
Question
Day + ast?
شنبه است؟
Plural/Habitual
Day + ha
شنبه‌ها

Formality Spectrum

Formal
امروز چه روزی است؟

امروز چه روزی است؟ (Asking the date)

Neutral
امروز چندشنبه است؟

امروز چندشنبه است؟ (Asking the date)

Informal
امروز چیه؟

امروز چیه؟ (Asking the date)

Slang
امروز چه روزیه؟

امروز چه روزیه؟ (Asking the date)

Persian Week Cycle

هفته

Work Days

  • شنبه Saturday
  • یکشنبه Sunday

Weekend

  • جمعه Friday
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Examples by Level

1

امروز شنبه است.

Today is Saturday.

2

فردا یکشنبه است.

Tomorrow is Sunday.

3

دوشنبه کلاس دارم.

I have class on Monday.

4

جمعه تعطیل است.

Friday is a holiday/off.

1

ما سه‌شنبه به سینما می‌رویم.

We are going to the cinema on Tuesday.

2

چهارشنبه خیلی شلوغ هستم.

I am very busy on Wednesday.

3

پنج‌شنبه عصر چه کار می‌کنی؟

What are you doing on Thursday evening?

4

جمعه‌ها من استراحت می‌کنم.

I rest on Fridays.

1

آیا دوشنبه آینده وقت داری؟

Do you have time next Monday?

2

جلسه ما به چهارشنبه موکول شد.

Our meeting was moved to Wednesday.

3

من معمولاً پنج‌شنبه‌ها به خرید می‌روم.

I usually go shopping on Thursdays.

4

جمعه روز خانواده است.

Friday is family day.

1

برنامه‌ریزی برای سه‌شنبه کمی دشوار است.

Planning for Tuesday is a bit difficult.

2

تا چهارشنبه باید پروژه را تمام کنم.

I must finish the project by Wednesday.

3

شنبه‌ها معمولاً ترافیک سنگین است.

Saturdays are usually heavy traffic.

4

جمعه‌ها فرصت خوبی برای مطالعه است.

Fridays are a good opportunity for study.

1

در تقویم ایرانی، هفته از شنبه آغاز می‌شود.

In the Iranian calendar, the week begins on Saturday.

2

قرار ملاقات ما به یکشنبه موکول گردید.

Our appointment was postponed to Sunday.

3

پنج‌شنبه‌ها در ایران نیمه‌تعطیل محسوب می‌شوند.

Thursdays are considered half-holidays in Iran.

4

جمعه، روز نیایش و استراحت است.

Friday is the day of prayer and rest.

1

ساختار نام‌گذاری روزها در فارسی، بازتابی از نظام عددی است.

The naming structure of days in Persian is a reflection of the numerical system.

2

دوشنبه‌ها همواره یادآور آغاز هفته کاری است.

Mondays are always reminiscent of the start of the work week.

3

سه‌شنبه‌ها در فرهنگ عامه گاهی با خرافات همراه است.

Tuesdays in folk culture are sometimes associated with superstitions.

4

جمعه‌ها، سکوت خاصی بر شهر حاکم است.

On Fridays, a special silence prevails over the city.

Easily Confused

Persian Days of the Week (Shanbe to Jome) vs Numbers vs Days

Mixing up the number with the day name.

Common Mistakes

✗

Monday is Shanbe

✓

Saturday is Shanbe

L1 interference from Western calendars.
✗

Yekshanbe is Monday

✓

Yekshanbe is Sunday

Counting error.
✗

Jome-shanbe

✓

Jome

Over-applying the 'shanbe' rule.
✗

Using Friday as the start

✓

Using Saturday as the start

Cultural confusion.

Sentence Patterns

من در ___ کار می‌کنم.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

شنبه می‌بینمت.

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💡

Numerical Pattern

Just count 1-5 and add 'shanbe'.

Smart Tips

Always clarify if you mean 'this' or 'next' week.

شنبه می‌بینمت → شنبه آینده می‌بینمت

Pronunciation

shan-beh

Shanbe

Pronounced Shan-beh.

Question

شنبه است؟ ↑

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Count 1 to 5 (Yek, Do, Se, Chahar, Panj) and add 'shanbe'.

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar where Saturday is the first page.

Rhyme

Shanbe, Yek, Do, Se, Chahar, Panj, Jome, the week is done!

Story

Ali starts his work on Shanbe. By Yek-shanbe he is tired. On Jome he sleeps.

Word Web

شنبهیکشنبهدوشنبهسه‌شنبهچهارشنبهپنج‌شنبهجمعه

Challenge

Write your weekly schedule in Persian.

Cultural Notes

Friday is the weekend, shops may close.

Numerical system derived from the Persian counting system.

Conversation Starters

“

امروز چه روزی است؟

Journal Prompts

Write your weekly schedule.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

امروز ___ است.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: شنبه
Saturday is a day.

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

امروز ___ است.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: شنبه
Saturday is a day.

Score: /1

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Match the English to the Persian Match Pairs

Match the days:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Monday:دوشنبه, Tuesday:سه‌شنبه, Wednesday:چهارشنبه, Thursday:پنج‌شنبه
Complete the sequence Fill in the Blank

شنبه، یک‌شنبه، ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دوشنبه
Translate to Persian Translation

I am going on Friday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: جمعه می‌روم
Put the days in order starting from Saturday Sentence Reorder

Order these: سه‌شنبه، دوشنبه، یک‌شنبه

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: یک‌شنبه، دوشنبه، سه‌شنبه
Identify the base day Multiple Choice

What is Saturday in Persian?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: شنبه
What day is 'Five-Shanbe'? Fill in the Blank

پنج‌شنبه is ___ in English.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Thursday
Fix the day name Error Correction

I have a meeting on 'Yek-Jome'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: یک‌شنبه
Translate the sentence Translation

Monday and Tuesday

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دوشنبه و سه‌شنبه
Match numbers to day prefixes Match Pairs

Match the number to the day:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1:یک, 2:دو, 3:سه, 4:چهار
Identify the holy day Multiple Choice

Which day is associated with 'gathering'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: جمعه

Score: /10

FAQ (1)

Yes, it is the main day off.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish low

Lunes, Martes...

Persian is numerical.

French low

Lundi, Mardi...

Persian is numerical.

German low

Montag, Dienstag...

Persian is numerical.

Japanese low

Getsuyobi...

Persian is numerical.

Arabic moderate

Al-Ahad...

Persian uses 'shanbe' suffix.

Chinese moderate

Xingqi yi...

Persian is a single word.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Persian Family Vocabulary: From 'Maman' to 'Amu'
Next
Persian Adverbs of Place: Here and There (injā, ānjā)

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