Persian Numbers 0-10 (yek, do, seh)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Mastering Persian numbers 0-10 is the foundation for everything from buying bread to telling time.
- Zero is 'sefr' (۰).
- Numbers 1-10 are 'yek' (۱) through 'dah' (۱۰).
- Persian numbers are written from left to right, even within RTL text.
Overview
Mastering Persian numbers from zero to ten is a foundational pillar for any A1 learner. These eleven basic numerals (sefr to dah) are not merely standalone words but are the building blocks for all higher numbers and complex numerical expressions. A solid grasp of their form, pronunciation, and usage is indispensable for everyday communication, from exchanging contact information to shopping, telling time, and discussing quantities.
Unlike many Indo-European languages that inflect numbers for gender, case, or animacy, Persian numbers remain invariant. This simplifies the learning process significantly, as you do not need to memorize multiple forms for a single number. Once you learn the basic form, it applies universally to all nouns, regardless of their nature.
This consistency is a hallmark of Persian numerical grammar and a considerable advantage for beginners.
Persian utilizes its own unique set of numerical symbols, distinct from the Western (Arabic) numerals commonly used in English. Familiarity with these symbols is as crucial as learning their spoken equivalents, as they are ubiquitous in all forms of written Persian, from digital displays to price tags and official documents. This chapter will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of these essential numbers, preparing you for more advanced counting and numerical concepts.
How This Grammar Works
do ketâb (دو کتاب), literally "two book." The number itself conveys the plurality, rendering any plural marking on the noun redundant and grammatically incorrect in this context.tâ (تا). While often omitted in formal written contexts or when numbers are used abstractly (e.g., in mathematics), tâ acts as a general unit or piece indicator, placed between the number and the singular noun. For instance, "three apples" becomes seh tâ sib (سه تا سیب).seh sib (سه سیب) is grammatically correct and used in some formal or poetic registers, seh tâ sib is overwhelmingly preferred in colloquial conversation and lends authenticity to your spoken Persian. Think of tâ as reinforcing the idea of discrete units being counted.yek dâneshjoo(یک دانشجو) – one student (formal/neutral)do ketâb(دو کتاب) – two books (formal/neutral)panj tâ moshteri(پنج تا مشتری) – five customers (colloquial, withtâ)
dâneshjoo, ketâb, and moshteri all remain singular, even when referring to multiple items. The number yek (one) can also function as an indefinite article, similar to "a" or "an" in English, signifying a single, unspecified item: yek mard (یک مرد) means "a man" or "one man," depending on context.Formation Pattern
sefr | like "safar" without the second 'a' | Used for zero, empty |
yek | like "yeck" | Also means "a/an" |
do | like "do" in "dough" | |
seh | like "say" without the 'y' sound, short 'e' | |
chahâr | like "chah-har" | Accent on second syllable |
panj | like "punj" (u as in "cup") | Symbol looks like a small heart |
shesh | like "shesh" | Colloquially often shish |
haft | like "huft" (u as in "cup") | |
hasht | like "husht" (u as in "cup") | |
noh | like "no" but with a soft 'h' at the end | Can be confused with na (no/not) |
dah | like "dah" | |
sefr functions identically to zero in English, indicating an absence of quantity. It is crucial in phone numbers and mathematical contexts. Notice the dot (or hollow circle) for its symbol.
yek frequently serves as the indefinite article "a" or "an." For example, yek mard (یک مرد) can mean "one man" or "a man." The distinction often relies on context and emphasis. If you stress yek, it more clearly means "one" versus other numbers.
do is a simple and common number. Its pronunciation is similar to the English word "dough."
ch sound, which is like 'ch' in 'church'. The stress typically falls on the second syllable, ha, and the final r is often softly rolled or tapped.
shesh, in everyday spoken Persian, it is almost universally pronounced shish (شیش). Both are understood, but shish sounds more natural in casual settings. The symbol (۶) is also quite unique.
haft in vowel sound. The sh sound is like in 'she'.
na (نه), which means "no" or "not." Context usually clarifies, but paying attention to the distinct vowel and the soft final 'h' of noh is helpful.
dah is essential as it forms the basis for the tens (e.g., bist for 20, si for 30, but also combining directly for 11-19 as you will learn later). Its symbol is simply 1 (۱) and 0 (۰) together.
When To Use It
- 1Counting Concrete Nouns: This is the most direct application. As established, use the structure Number + (tâ) + Noun (singular).
do ketâb(دو کتاب) – two books (formal context, e.g., on a library list)do tâ ketâb(دو تا کتاب) – two books (colloquial, requesting in a bookstore)chahâr sib(چهار سیب) – four apples (formal, e.g., a recipe ingredient)chahâr tâ sib(چهار تا سیب) – four apples (colloquial, asking for them at a market)
- 1Phone Numbers and Codes: When reciting phone numbers, national ID codes (
kode-meli), or other numerical sequences, each digit is typically read individually from left to right. This is one of the few instances where Persian numbers are not read right-to-left like the script.
- Phone number
09123456789:sefr, noh, yek, do, seh, chahâr, panj, shish, haft, hasht, noh(صفر، نه، یک، دو، سه، چهار، پنج، شیش، هفت، هشت، نه) - Password
1234:yek, do, seh, chahâr(یک، دو، سه، چهار)
- 1Telling Basic Time: For simple hours (e.g., 1 o'clock, 7 o'clock), these numbers are directly used with
sâ'at-e(ساعتِ) and the number. More complex time expressions involve additional vocabulary.
sâ'at-e yek(ساعتِ یک) – 1 o'clocksâ'at-e haft(ساعتِ هفت) – 7 o'clock
- 1Stating Age: To express one's age, you combine the number with
sâl(سال - year) and the appropriate verb conjugation for "to have" (dâshtan).
man panj sâl dâram(من پنج سال دارم) – I am five years old (literally: I have five years)oo dah sâl dârad(او ده سال دارد) – S/he is ten years old
- 1Mathematical Operations: For fundamental arithmetic, these numbers are essential.
yek be alâveh do mishe seh(یک به علاوه دو میشه سه) – One plus two equals threehasht menhây-e panj mishe seh(هشت منهای پنج میشه سه) – Eight minus five equals three
- 1Dates (Day of the Month): When referring to specific days of the month, the number precedes the month name.
do-ye Farvardin(دو فروردین) – Second of Farvardin (a Persian month)haft-e Tir(هفت تیر) – Seventh of Tir
- 1Expressing Quantity Without a Specific Noun: When the noun is understood from context, or you're simply asking "how many?" and responding, you use the number, often with
tâ.
chand tâ dâri? do tâ.(چند تا داری؟ دو تا.) – How many do you have? Two (of them).yek dâdand(یک دادند) – They gave one.
Common Mistakes
- Pluralizing the Noun After a Number: This is, without a doubt, the most frequent and significant error. As discussed, Persian numbers act as quantifiers, and the noun they modify remains singular. Adding the plural suffix
-hâ(ها) or using an irregular plural form after a number is grammatically incorrect and makes your speech sound very unnatural. - Incorrect:
seh tâ dokhtar-hâ(سه تا دخترها) – three girls (with plural suffix) - Correct:
seh tâ dokhtar(سه تا دختر) – three girls - Incorrect:
panj mardân(پنج مردان) – five men (using irregular pluralmardân) - Correct:
panj mard(پنج مرد) – five men - Why this happens: English speakers are accustomed to
two books. The direct transfer of this rule to Persian is the source of the mistake. Remember, the number itself indicates multiplicity.
- Omitting
tâin Spoken Persian (for concrete nouns): While grammatically optional in formal writing, omittingtâwhen counting discrete items in casual conversation can make your Persian sound stiff or even incomplete to a native speaker. It's a key marker of natural, colloquial speech. - Less natural:
do sib mikhâm(دو سیب میخوام) – I want two apples - More natural:
do tâ sib mikhâm(دو تا سیب میخوام) – I want two apples
- Confusing Persian Numerical Symbols: The visual similarity between some Persian digits can be confusing.
- ۰ (sefr) and ۵ (panj): The zero is a simple dot/circle, while five is a more elaborate, almost heart-shaped symbol. Do not mix them up.
- ۴ (chahâr) and ۶ (shesh): While distinct, their shapes can initially be tricky for learners accustomed to Western digits. Pay close attention to their unique forms.
- Pronunciation Difficulties: Specific sounds can pose challenges.
chahâr(چهار) vs.shesh(شش): The initialchsound (as in 'church') ofchahârversus theshsound (as in 'she') ofsheshcan be hard to differentiate in rapid speech or noisy environments. Focus on distinct articulation.noh(نه) vs.na(نه):noh(9) has a slightly longer, more rounded 'o' sound and a subtle final 'h' compared tona(no/not). Context is usually the strongest differentiator, but mindful pronunciation helps.
- Reading Numbers Right-to-Left: Despite Persian text being written and read from right to left, numerical sequences are read and written from left to right, just like in English. This is a crucial exception to the general script directionality.
۱۰is read asdah(10), notsefr-yek(01).۹۸۷is readnoh-hasht-haft, nothaft-hasht-noh.
Real Conversations
Understanding how numbers 0-10 are used in authentic Persian conversations is key to developing practical fluency. Here are several common scenarios:
1. Shopping at a Bazaar or Store:
Imagine you are buying fruit or asking for prices.
- You: in chand-e? (این چنده؟) – How much is this?
- Vendor: panjâ-o-do hezâr toman. (پنجاه و دو هزار تومان.) – Fifty-two thousand Toman.
- You: do kilo sib mikhâm. (دو کیلو سیب میخوام.) – I want two kilograms of apples. (Notice no tâ here because kilo is a unit of measurement already)
- You: yek bârbari lotfan. (یک باربری لطفاً.) – One loaf of bread, please. (bârbari is a type of bread.)
2. Ordering Food or Drink at a Café:
- You: do tâ chây sabz dârid? (دو تا چای سبز دارید؟) – Do you have two green teas?
- Waiter: baleh, albatteh. dige chi? (بله، البته. دیگه چی؟) – Yes, of course. Anything else?
- You: yek âb-miveh porteqâl ham lotfan. (یک آبمیوه پرتقال هم لطفاً.) – And one orange juice, please.
3. Exchanging Contact Information:
- Friend: shomâreh-ye telefon-et chi-ye? (شماره تلفنت چیه؟) – What's your phone number?
- You: sefr-noh-dah-yek-seh-chahâr-do-panj-hasht. (۰۹۱۰۱۳۴۲۵۸) – 0910134258. (Each digit read out individually)
4. Discussing Age or Personal Details:
- You: chand sâl-et-e? (چند سالته؟) – How old are you? (To someone your age)
- Other person: man bist-o-do sâl-am-e. (من بیست و دو سالمه.) – I am twenty-two years old.
- You: pedar-am panjâh-o-hasht sâl-esh-e. (پدرم پنجاه و هشت سالشه.) – My father is fifty-eight years old.
5. Social Media and Online Interactions:
Persian numbers are used extensively in comments, ratings, and casual online discourse.
- Comment: dah az dah! (ده از ده!) – Ten out of ten! (Meaning: perfect score)
- Caption: do tâ ghoroob-e zibâ! (دو تا غروب زیبا!) – Two beautiful sunsets! (Referring to two photos)
- Text message: man haft daqiqe dige miresam. (من هفت دقیقه دیگه میرسم.) – I'll arrive in seven more minutes.
These examples illustrate the natural integration of numbers 0-10 into various communicative functions. Pay attention to the subtle differences in tâ usage and the individual reading of digits for sequences.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Are Persian numbers read from Right-to-Left, like the script?
- A: No. This is a critical exception. Although the Persian script is read Right-to-Left, numerical sequences (like
۱۰for 10 or۹۱۲for 912) are always written and read from Left-to-Right, just as in English. This convention helps prevent confusion and maintains mathematical consistency.
- Q: Is the counter word
tâ(تا) always mandatory when counting? - A: In spoken Persian, especially when referring to discrete, countable objects (like apples, people, or chairs), using
tâbetween the number and the noun is highly recommended and makes your speech sound much more natural and fluent. Omitting it can make your sentence sound incomplete or overly formal. In formal written Persian or when referring to abstract numbers,tâis often omitted.
- Q: How do I distinguish
yek(یک) meaning "one" fromyekmeaning "a/an"? - A: Context is key. If you are contrasting
yekwithdo(two) orseh(three), it clearly means "one." If it precedes a noun in a general statement and isn't being emphasized for quantity, it likely functions as an indefinite article. For example,yek ketâb(یک کتاب) can be "one book" if you're specifying the quantity, or "a book" if you're introducing it generally. Stressingyekcan also emphasize its quantitative meaning.
- Q: Do Persian numbers change form for masculine or feminine nouns, or for singular/plural nouns?
- A: No, absolutely not. This is a major simplification in Persian grammar compared to many European languages. Persian numbers are invariant; they do not inflect for gender, case, or the number of the noun they modify. The noun itself always remains singular when preceded by a number (except in specific idiomatic phrases which are advanced and rare for A1).
- Q: Can
noh(۹) be confused with the Persian wordna(نه - no/not)? - A: Yes, this is a common point of confusion for beginners due to phonetic similarity.
noh(nine) typically has a slightly more rounded 'o' sound and a subtle final 'h'.na(no/not) is usually shorter and more emphatic. Crucially, context almost always clarifies which word is being used. You won't typically usenohto negate a verb, nornato count items.
- Q: How do I write the Persian symbol for zero?
- A: The Persian symbol for zero is
۰. It looks like a small circle or a dot, distinct from the Western0. It's important not to confuse it with a punctuation mark like a period. This symbol is used universally in Persian forsefr.
Persian Numbers 0-10
| Digit | Persian | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
|
0
|
۰
|
sefr
|
|
1
|
۱
|
yek
|
|
2
|
۲
|
do
|
|
3
|
۳
|
seh
|
|
4
|
۴
|
chahār
|
|
5
|
۵
|
panj
|
|
6
|
۶
|
shesh
|
|
7
|
۷
|
haft
|
|
8
|
۸
|
hasht
|
|
9
|
۹
|
noh
|
|
10
|
۱۰
|
dah
|
Meanings
Cardinal numbers used to quantify objects and indicate sequence.
Counting
Quantifying items.
“یک کتاب (yek ketāb - one book)”
“سه نفر (seh nafar - three people)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Number + Noun
|
دو کتاب (Two books)
|
|
Negative
|
Number + Noun + Nīst
|
دو کتاب نیست (There are not two books)
|
|
Question
|
Number + Noun + ? (Intonation)
|
دو کتاب؟ (Two books?)
|
|
Quantity
|
Number + Noun + Hā
|
سه کتابها (The three books)
|
Formality Spectrum
من دو تا دارم. (Casual conversation)
دو تا دارم. (Casual conversation)
دو تا دارم. (Casual conversation)
دوتا دارم. (Casual conversation)
Counting Basics
Small
- یک 1
- دو 2
Examples by Level
یک سیب
One apple
دو کتاب
Two books
سه نفر
Three people
چهار روز
Four days
من دو سیب دارم
I have two apples
او سه کتاب میخواهد
He wants three books
پنج نفر اینجا هستند
Five people are here
شش ساعت کار
Six hours of work
قیمت هفت دلار است
The price is seven dollars
هشت نفر در کلاس هستند
Eight people are in class
نه روز مانده است
Nine days remain
ده دقیقه صبر کن
Wait ten minutes
او در رتبه چهارم است
He is in fourth place
پنجاه درصد تخفیف
Fifty percent discount
شش ماه گذشت
Six months passed
هفت روز هفته
Seven days of the week
هشتاد سال پیش
Eighty years ago
نه نفر از ده نفر
Nine out of ten people
دهمین سالگرد
Tenth anniversary
سه بار تکرار کن
Repeat three times
هفت آسمان در ادبیات
Seven heavens in literature
ده فرمان اخلاقی
Ten moral commandments
پنج رکن اسلام
Five pillars of Islam
شش جهت اصلی
Six main directions
Easily Confused
Mixing up 'one' (yek) and 'first' (avval).
Common Mistakes
کتاب دو
دو کتاب
دوتا کتاب
دو کتاب
سه کتابها
سه کتاب
دهمین کتابها
دهمین کتاب
Sentence Patterns
من ___ دارم.
Real World Usage
دو کیلو سیب (Two kilos of apples)
Practice aloud
Smart Tips
Don't pluralize the noun after a number.
Pronunciation
Vowel length
Ensure 'seh' is short and 'shesh' is crisp.
Counting
Yek, Do, Seh ↑
Rising intonation for lists.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Yek, Do, Seh — think of a 'Yek' (yell) at 'Do' (door) at 'Seh' (sea).
Visual Association
Imagine a giant '۱' (yek) standing on a '۲' (do) like a circus act.
Rhyme
Yek is one, Do is two, Seh is three, I count for you.
Story
I saw one (yek) bird, then two (do) cats, then three (seh) dogs. They all ran away to the park.
Word Web
Challenge
Count your fingers in Persian right now.
Cultural Notes
Numbers are central to bargaining in bazaars.
Persian numbers are Indo-European in origin.
Conversation Starters
چند تا سیب داری؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ کتاب
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercises___ کتاب
Score: /1
Practice Bank
12 exercisesMatch the pairs
My number is 091... (___, noh, yek...)
mikhâham / châi / do / tâ / man
Seven days
Which symbol represents the number 5?
Seh ___ pizza.
I have four brothers: 'Chahâr barâdar-hâ dâram.'
Formal: Shesh. Colloquial: ___
How do you write 10 in Persian?
Memory hooks
What number is 'hasht'?
yek, do, ___, chahâr
Score: /12
FAQ (1)
Yes, it is 'sefr'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
dos libros
Spanish numbers have gender.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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