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پانزده

A1 numeral #4,100 most common 8 min read

پانزده

panzdah Top 4,100

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips پانزده in 30 Seconds

Explanation پانزده in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'پانزده' (pānzdah) is one of the essential numbers you learn right after 1-10. It is used for basic counting, telling your age, and simple shopping. You should focus on the fact that the noun following it is singular (e.g., پانزده سیب). You will also learn to recognize the Persian digits ۱ (1) and ۵ (5) which make up ۱۵. At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex idioms, just focus on clear pronunciation and basic sentence structures like 'I have fifteen...' or 'It is fifteen...'. Practice saying it clearly without confusing it with 'panjāh' (50).

At the A2 level, you begin using 'پانزده' in more varied contexts like telling time (e.g., ساعت چهار و پانزده دقیقه) and understanding basic directions or bus numbers. You should also become comfortable with the colloquial pronunciation 'pounzdah' which you will hear in movies or from native speakers. You'll start using the ordinal form 'pānzdahom' for dates (e.g., پانزدهم فروردین). You should also be able to handle larger numbers where fifteen is a component, like 115 (sad o pānzdah) or 1500 (hezār o pānsad - note the slight phonetic change in 500).

By B1, you are expected to use 'پانزده' fluently in narratives. You might describe a trip that lasted fifteen days or talk about a historical event on the 15th of a certain month. You should understand how the number functions in more complex grammar, such as being the subject of a sentence or part of an object phrase. You will also encounter the word in more formal contexts like news reports or business transactions. You should be aware of the cultural significance of the 15th of the month in the lunar calendar and how it affects social life in Iran.

At the B2 level, you should be able to understand 'پانزده' in idiomatic expressions and more abstract discussions. You might read articles about 'The 15th of Khordad' uprising and understand the political nuances. You should be comfortable with the number appearing in literature or poetry where it might have symbolic meaning. Your pronunciation should naturally shift between formal and informal registers depending on the situation. You should also be able to explain the mathematical properties of the number or use it in statistical contexts without hesitation.

At the C1 level, 'پانزده' is used in academic and professional settings. You might analyze data sets where 15% (پانزده درصد) is a key figure. You should understand subtle linguistic shifts and archaic uses of the number in classical Persian texts. You can handle complex financial discussions involving millions or billions where 'pānzdah' is a part of the figure. You are also expected to know the historical etymology of the word, tracing it back to Middle Persian and understanding how the 'n' and 'z' sounds evolved over centuries.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'پانزده' is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You can use it in high-level puns, literary analysis, and complex legal or scientific documents. You understand the rhythm and meter of Persian poetry where 'pānzdah' might be used to fit a specific 'vazn' (meter). You can discuss the nuances of different Persian dialects (Dari, Tajiki, Tehrani) and how they each treat the pronunciation and usage of this number. You are also aware of the most obscure idioms and historical references associated with the number fifteen.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

پانزده in 30 Seconds

The Persian word for the number fifteen, written as پانزده and numerically as ۱۵.
Commonly used for age, time (15 minutes), and counting any items in daily life.
Requires a singular noun following it, unlike English which uses the plural form.
Has a common informal pronunciation 'pounzdah' used in Tehrani and casual speech.

The Persian word پانزده (pronounced pānzdah) is the cardinal number representing the quantity fifteen. In the Persian numbering system, it occupies a crucial position as it marks the midpoint between ten and twenty and is frequently used in daily life, from telling time to discussing ages and prices. Understanding this word is fundamental for any beginner (A1 level) because it appears in almost every basic conversation involving measurement or quantification.

Literal Meaning: The word is historically derived from 'panj' (five) and 'dah' (ten), though phonetically it has evolved into 'pānzdah' in modern Persian. It represents the integer 15.

من پانزده سیب دارم.

(I have fifteen apples.)

In colloquial speech, especially in Tehran and central Iran, the pronunciation often shifts. You will frequently hear people say پونزده (punzdah) instead of the formal pānzdah. This 'ā' to 'u' shift is a hallmark of the Tehrani dialect and is something learners should recognize even if they choose to speak formally. Whether you are at the bazaar buying fifteen kilograms of rice or telling someone that the bus arrives in fifteen minutes, this word is your primary tool for expressing this specific quantity.

Time Usage: It is used to indicate the 15-minute mark, often replaced by 'ربع' (rob - quarter) in casual conversation, but 'پانزده دقیقه' is perfectly correct and very common in formal contexts like news or schedules.

ساعت چهار و پانزده دقیقه است.

(It is four fifteen.)

Culturally, fifteen is also significant as it marks the middle of the lunar month. In Persian poetry and classical literature, the 'moon of the fifteenth night' (ماه شب چهارده or گاه پانزده) is a standard metaphor for perfect beauty, though technically the full moon is associated with the 14th, the 15th represents the start of the waning phase or the peak of the lunar cycle in general discourse.

Age and Milestones: In Iran, fifteen is a significant age as it relates to the 'Senn-e Taklif' (age of religious responsibility) for boys, and it is a common age for students transitioning in their educational journey.

برادرم پانزده ساله است.

(My brother is fifteen years old.)

Using پانزده in sentences requires an understanding of basic Persian syntax. The most important rule for English speakers to unlearn is pluralization. In English, we say 'fifteen cats' (plural). In Persian, we say pānzdah gorbe (singular). The number itself acts as the quantifier, making the plural suffix unnecessary and technically incorrect in standard grammar.

Counting Objects: When counting, simply place the number before the noun. If you want to be more specific, you can use a 'classifier' or 'counter' like 'tā' (تا) for general objects or 'dāne' (دانه) for small items.

من پانزده تا مداد خریدم.

(I bought fifteen pencils - informal with 'tā'.)

In the context of time, pānzdah is used for both the hour and the minute. If it is 3:15, you say se o pānzdah daqiqe. If it is 15:00 (3 PM in 24-hour format, common in official schedules), you say sā'at-e pānzdah. It is also vital for dates. The 15th of the month is pānzdahom (the ordinal form), but in quick conversation, people often just use the cardinal number.

Currency and Prices: Prices in Iran often involve large numbers, but fifteen appears in '15,000' (pānzdah hezār) or '15,000,000' (pānzdah miłyun). Knowing this word helps you navigate the complex world of Tomans and Rials.

قیمت این نان پانزده هزار تومان است.

(The price of this bread is fifteen thousand Tomans.)

When expressing age, the structure is '[Subject] [Number] [sāle] [Verb]'. For example, 'He is fifteen years old' becomes u pānzdah sāle ast. Note how 'sāle' (year-old) is attached or follows the number. In informal speech, this might shorten to pānzdah sāl-eshe.

Mathematics: In basic math: ده به اضافه پنج می‌شود پانزده (10 plus 5 becomes 15). It is a composite number, divisible by 1, 3, 5, and 15.

اگر پانزده را بر سه تقسیم کنیم، پنج می‌شود.

(If we divide fifteen by three, it becomes five.)

You will encounter پانزده in a variety of real-world scenarios in Iran or Persian-speaking communities. One of the most frequent places is the public transport system. Metro announcements, bus drivers, and taxi passengers use this number constantly to refer to stops, times, and fares. For instance, a shared taxi (Sāvari) driver might shout the price of a route as 'Pānzdah toman!' (meaning 15,000 Tomans in common parlance).

The Marketplace (Bazaar): In the bazaar, weight is everything. You will hear customers asking for 'Pānzdah kilo' (15 kilograms) of fruit or rice. Shopkeepers will use the number to give change or total up a bill.

آقا، پانزده گرم زعفران چند است؟

(Sir, how much is fifteen grams of saffron?)

Radio and television news broadcasts are another primary source. News anchors use the formal pānzdah when reporting on dates, such as 'The 15th of Khordad' (پانزده خرداد), which is a significant political anniversary in Iran. Weather reports also use it for temperatures: 'The temperature in Tehran today is 15 degrees Celsius' (دمای هوای تهران پانزده درجه است).

Religious and Social Events: The 15th of the month of Sha'ban (نیمه شعبان) is a major public holiday in Iran celebrating the birth of the 12th Imam. During this time, the word 'pānzdah' or 'nime' (half) is everywhere in decorations and announcements.

جشن پانزده شعبان بسیار بزرگ است.

(The celebration of the 15th of Sha'ban is very large.)

Finally, in sports, especially football (soccer), which is incredibly popular in Iran, you will hear the commentator mention the '15th minute' of the match or a player wearing the number 15 jersey. The word is ubiquitous and essential for following any narrative involving sequences or quantities.

For English speakers, the most frequent mistake when using پانزده is pluralizing the noun. English logic dictates 'fifteen apples' (plural), but Persian logic says 'fifteen apple' (pānzdah sib). Saying pānzdah sib-hā is a common 'foreign' error that sounds very unnatural to native ears.

Pronunciation Pitfalls: The 'z' sound in the middle (panZdah) is soft but distinct. Some learners confuse it with 's' (pansdah), which is incorrect. Also, don't confuse 'pānzdah' (15) with 'panjāh' (50). This is a classic mistake for beginners, as both start with the 'panj' root.

اشتباه: پانزده کتاب‌ها. درست: پانزده کتاب.

(Wrong: 15 books (plural). Right: 15 book (singular).)

Another mistake involves the colloquial shift. While saying pānzdah is always correct, if you are trying to be informal and say pounzdah, you might accidentally mispronounce it as ponzdah. The vowel is specifically a long 'u' sound (as in 'moon') in the Tehrani accent. However, for a learner, sticking to the formal pānzdah is safer until you are very comfortable with the dialect.

Writing the Numeral: Learners often mix up the Persian digit ۵ (5) with the English 0 or a heart shape. In ۱۵, the second digit is five. Also, ensure you write from left to right for numbers, even though Persian text is right to left.

در فارسی عدد ۱۵ از چپ به راست نوشته می‌شود.

(In Persian, the number 15 is written from left to right.)

Lastly, be careful with the word order in complex numbers. While 15 is simple, if you are saying 'one hundred and fifteen' (sad o pānzdah), the 'o' (and) is mandatory. Some students forget this connector when building larger numbers using 15 as a component.

While پانزده is the standard word for fifteen, there are several related terms and alternatives depending on the context. The most common alternative in a time-telling context is ربع (rob), which means 'a quarter'. Instead of saying 'four fifteen', many people say 'a quarter past four'.

Pānzdah vs. Rob: Use 'pānzdah' for precision (digital clocks, schedules) and 'rob' for casual conversation (analog time).

ساعت چهار و ربع است.

(It is a quarter past four.)

Another related term is پانزدهم (pānzdahom), the ordinal version meaning 'fifteenth'. This is used for dates, rankings, or floors in a building. For example, the 15th of the month is always pānzdahom. There is also the word نیم (nim), meaning 'half'. Since 15 is half of 30, in contexts like a 'half-month', you might see nim-māh used instead of 'pānzdah ruz' (fifteen days).

Comparison: 15 vs 50: Learners often confuse 'Pānzdah' (15) with 'Panjāh' (50). Note that 15 ends in '-dah' (ten-based) while 50 ends in '-jāh'.

من پانزده تومان دارم، نه پنجاه تومان.

(I have fifteen Tomans, not fifty Tomans.)

In formal or mathematical writing, you might see the Arabic numeral '۱۵' used exclusively. In very formal literary contexts, the number might be written out as 'ده و پنج' (ten and five), though this is archaic. In modern Persian, pānzdah is the undisputed king of this quantity.

Related: Panj (5): The root 'panj' is found in 'panjsanbe' (Thursday - the 5th day of the week) and 'panjere' (window - historically 'five-openings').

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"تعداد شرکت‌کنندگان پانزده نفر اعلام شد."

Neutral

"من پانزده سال در این شهر زندگی کرده‌ام."

Informal

"پونزده تومن بهش بده."

Child friendly

"بیا پانزده تا ستاره بشماریم!"

Slang

"کارش پونزدهه!"

Fun Fact

The 'j' in 'panj' (five) shifted to an 'n' sound before the 'd' in 'dah' (ten) over centuries, creating the 'pānz' sound we hear today.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /pɒːnzˈdæh/

US /pɑːnzˈdæh/

On the second syllable: pānz-DAH.

Rhymes With

dah (ten) yāzdah (eleven) davāzdah (twelve) sizdah (thirteen) chahārdah (fourteen) shānzdah (sixteen) hefdah (seventeen) hejdah (eighteen)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ā' as a short 'a' (panzdah). It should be long.
Dropping the final 'h' completely. While soft, it should be slightly audible.
Confusing 'z' with 's'.
Mixing up 'pānzdah' with 'panjāh' (50).
Applying English stress patterns.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

The word is easy to read if you know the alphabet. The numerical form ۱۵ is also simple.

Writing 2/5

Requires remembering the 'z' and 'h' at the end. Writing ۱ is easy, but ۵ can be confused.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but the 'ā' sound needs to be long.

Listening 2/5

Must distinguish from 'panjāh' (50) and recognize the colloquial 'pounzdah'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

یک (1) پنج (5) ده (10) عدد (Number) ساعت (Clock/Hour)

Learn Next

شانزده (16) بیست (20) پنجاه (50) پانصد (500) پانزدهم (15th)

Advanced

کسر (Fraction) درصد (Percentage) نیمه (Half) ربع (Quarter) دهه (Decade)

Grammar to Know

Noun Singularity after Numbers

پانزده کتاب (Correct) vs پانزده کتاب‌ها (Incorrect).

Use of Classifiers (Tā, Nafar)

پانزده تا سیب / پانزده نفر مهمان.

Ordinal Suffix -om

پانزده + ام = پانزدهم (15th).

Compound Number Connector 'o'

صد و پانزده (115).

Age Construction

[Number] + ساله (Adjective) or [Number] + سال + [Verb].

Examples by Level

من پانزده سال دارم.

I am fifteen years old.

Subject + Number + sāl + dāram (to have).

پانزده سیب روی میز است.

There are fifteen apples on the table.

Note the singular 'sib' (apple) after the number.

این کتاب پانزده صفحه دارد.

This book has fifteen pages.

Number + Noun (singular).

او پانزده تومان به من داد.

He gave me fifteen Tomans.

Currency unit follows the number.

ساعت پنج و پانزده دقیقه است.

It is five fifteen.

Time format: Hour + 'o' (and) + Minute.

پانزده دانش‌آموز در کلاس هستند.

There are fifteen students in the class.

Plural verb 'hastand' used with a plural subject count.

من پانزده تا مداد می‌خواهم.

I want fifteen pencils.

Informal use of 'tā' as a classifier.

شماره خانه ما پانزده است.

Our house number is fifteen.

Number used as a predicate.

اتوبوس پانزده دقیقه دیگر می‌رسد.

The bus arrives in fifteen minutes.

Duration: Number + unit + digar (more/later).

امروز پانزدهم ماه است.

Today is the fifteenth of the month.

Ordinal number 'pānzdahom' used for dates.

قیمت این پیراهن پانزده دلار است.

The price of this shirt is fifteen dollars.

Foreign currency units also follow the number.

او پانزده بار به تهران سفر کرده است.

He has traveled to Tehran fifteen times.

Frequency: Number + 'bār' (times).

این جعبه پانزده کیلو وزن دارد.

This box weighs fifteen kilos.

Weight: Number + unit + vazn dārad.

ما پانزده نفر هستیم.

We are fifteen people.

'Nafar' is the classifier for people.

او در طبقه پانزدهم زندگی می‌کند.

He lives on the fifteenth floor.

Ordinal number for floors.

پانزده روز تعطیل خواهیم بود.

We will be on holiday for fifteen days.

Future tense with a duration.

پانزده درصد از مردم در این انتخابات شرکت کردند.

Fifteen percent of the people participated in this election.

'Darsad' means percent.

او پانزده سال پیش به این شهر آمد.

He came to this city fifteen years ago.

Time ago: Number + sāl + pish.

ما باید پانزده کیلومتر دیگر پیاده‌روی کنیم.

We have to walk another fifteen kilometers.

Distance measurement.

این ساختمان پانزده متر ارتفاع دارد.

This building is fifteen meters high.

'Ertefā' means height.

او در سن پانزده سالگی شروع به نوشتن کرد.

He started writing at the age of fifteen.

'Sen-ne ... sālegi' is a formal way to express age.

پانزده دقیقه وقت دارید تا امتحان را تمام کنید.

You have fifteen minutes to finish the exam.

Time limit expression.

او پانزده جلد کتاب درباره تاریخ خرید.

He bought fifteen volumes of books about history.

'Jald' is the classifier for books.

دمای هوا پانزده درجه بالای صفر است.

The temperature is fifteen degrees above zero.

Temperature description.

قیام پانزده خرداد نقطه عطفی در تاریخ ایران بود.

The June 5th (15th of Khordad) uprising was a turning point in Iranian history.

Historical reference.

او پانزده اثر هنری خود را در گالری به نمایش گذاشت.

He exhibited fifteen of his artworks in the gallery.

'Asar' means artwork/effect.

این قرارداد برای پانزده سال تنظیم شده است.

This contract is set for fifteen years.

Legal/Business context.

پانزده نفر از کاندیداها به مرحله نهایی راه یافتند.

Fifteen of the candidates made it to the final stage.

Formal selection process.

او پانزده زبان مختلف را به خوبی می‌فهمد.

He understands fifteen different languages well.

Hyperbolic or impressive quantity.

این پروژه پانزده ماه طول کشید تا به پایان برسد.

This project took fifteen months to complete.

'Tul keshidan' means to take time/last.

پانزده درصد تخفیف برای خریدهای نقدی در نظر گرفته شده است.

A fifteen percent discount is considered for cash purchases.

Commercial context.

او پانزدهمین عضو خانواده ما است.

He is the fifteenth member of our family.

Ordinal number for sequence.

پانزده سطر اول این شعر به توصیف طبیعت می‌پردازد.

The first fifteen lines of this poem deal with describing nature.

Literary analysis.

در پانزده سال اخیر، تکنولوژی تغییرات شگرفی کرده است.

In the last fifteen years, technology has undergone tremendous changes.

Academic observation.

پانزده مورد از این بیماری در منطقه گزارش شده است.

Fifteen cases of this disease have been reported in the region.

Medical/Scientific reporting.

او پانزده مقاله علمی در مجلات معتبر منتشر کرده است.

He has published fifteen scientific articles in reputable journals.

Professional achievement.

پانزده دقیقه تأخیر در این جلسه غیرقابل قبول است.

A fifteen-minute delay in this meeting is unacceptable.

Formal workplace standards.

این نظریه پانزده فرضیه مختلف را در بر می‌گیرد.

This theory encompasses fifteen different hypotheses.

Theoretical discussion.

پانزده سال زندان برای این جرم پیش‌بینی شده است.

Fifteen years in prison is predicted/prescribed for this crime.

Legal terminology.

او پانزده هزار بیت شعر در حافظه دارد.

He has fifteen thousand verses of poetry in his memory.

Cultural mastery.

ظرافت‌های هنری این بنا در پانزده بخش مجزا تحلیل شده است.

The artistic delicacies of this building have been analyzed in fifteen distinct sections.

High-level architectural analysis.

پانزده قرن تاریخ در این موزه نهفته است.

Fifteen centuries of history are hidden/contained within this museum.

Historical sweep.

این فیلسوف پانزده رساله در باب اخلاق نگاشته است.

This philosopher has written fifteen treatises on ethics.

Scholarly language.

پانزده نوع گویش مختلف در این استان شناسایی شده است.

Fifteen different types of dialects have been identified in this province.

Sociolinguistic research.

او با پانزده واسطه به خاندان سلطنتی متصل است.

He is connected to the royal family through fifteen intermediaries.

Genealogical complexity.

پانزده لایه محافظ برای امنیت این سیستم طراحی شده است.

Fifteen protective layers have been designed for the security of this system.

Technical expertise.

این ارکستر پانزده قطعه از آثار بتهوون را اجرا کرد.

This orchestra performed fifteen pieces of Beethoven's works.

Musicology context.

پانزده دقیقه سکوت به احترام قربانیان اعلام شد.

Fifteen minutes of silence was announced in honor of the victims.

Diplomatic/Ceremonial usage.

Common Collocations

پانزده دقیقه

پانزده سال

پانزده درصد

پانزده روز

پانزده هزار

پانزده خرداد

پانزده متر

پانزده نفر

پانزده کیلو

پانزده جلد

Common Phrases

یک ربع به پانزده

— A quarter to fifteen (in 24-hour time, 2:45 PM).

قرار ما یک ربع به پانزده است.

پانزده سال تمام

— Exactly fifteen years old.

او پانزده سال تمام دارد.

هر پانزده روز یک بار

— Once every fifteen days (fortnightly).

این گیاه را هر پانزده روز یک بار آب بده.

پانزده دقیقه وقت اضافی

— Fifteen minutes extra time (often in sports).

داور پانزده دقیقه وقت اضافی گرفت.

پانزده درجه سانتی‌گراد

— Fifteen degrees Celsius.

دمای اتاق پانزده درجه است.

پانزده صفحه اول

— The first fifteen pages.

پانزده صفحه اول را بخوان.

پانزده متری

— A 15-meter wide street (common in Iranian addresses).

او در خیابان پانزده متری زندگی می‌کند.

پانزده برابر

— Fifteen times (multiplied by fifteen).

قیمت پانزده برابر شده است.

پانزده روزه

— Lasting fifteen days.

یک دوره پانزده روزه آموزشی.

پانزده تایی

— A set of fifteen.

بسته‌های پانزده تایی مداد.

Often Confused With

پانزده vs پنجاه (50)

Both start with 'panj' but 50 is 'panjāh' and 15 is 'pānzdah'.

پانزده vs پانصد (500)

500 is 'pānsad'. Note the 's' instead of 'z' and 'sad' instead of 'dah'.

پانزده vs پانزدهم (15th)

The ordinal form used for dates and orders.

Idioms & Expressions

"ماه شب چهارده (و پانزده)"

— Referring to the full moon, used to describe someone extremely beautiful.

صورتش مثل ماه شب پانزده می‌درخشد.

Poetic

"پانزده روزه شدن"

— To reach the halfway point of a month or a specific period.

ماه پانزده روزه شد.

Neutral

"از ده تا پانزده"

— Vague range, indicating something is between ten and fifteen.

تعدادشان از ده تا پانزده نفر بود.

Informal

"پانزده خرداد"

— Not just a date, but an idiom for a significant political upheaval.

او از نسل پانزده خرداد است.

Political

"نمره پانزده"

— Metaphor for something that is good but not perfect (since 20 is perfect).

کارش نمره پانزده می‌گیرد.

Informal

"نیمه شعبان (۱۵ شعبان)"

— Idiomatic reference to a time of celebration and light.

همه جا برای پانزده شعبان چراغانی بود.

Religious

"پانزده دقیقه شهرت"

— Borrowed from '15 minutes of fame'.

او هم پانزده دقیقه شهرتش را داشت.

Modern/Journalistic

"پانزده تا یکی"

— Doing something fifteen times for one result (inefficiency).

پانزده تا یکی نکن، درست کار کن.

Informal/Rare

"پانزده سال حبس"

— A common 'heavy' sentence in legal discussions.

قاضی پانزده سال حبس برید.

Legal/Informal

"پانزده روز خوشی"

— Referring to the Nowruz holidays which last about 15 days.

پانزده روز خوشی تمام شد.

Cultural

Easily Confused

پانزده vs پنجاه

Phonetic similarity.

Pānzdah is 15 (10+5), Panjāh is 50 (5x10).

قیمت پانزده تومان است، نه پنجاه تومان.

پانزده vs پانصد

Phonetic similarity.

Pānsad is 500. It uses 'sad' (hundred) as a suffix.

پانصد صفحه کتاب خواندم.

پانزده vs دوازده

Both are teen numbers.

Davāzdah is 12, Pānzdah is 15.

ساعت دوازده است، نه پانزده.

پانزده vs سیزده

Rhyming ending.

Sizdah is 13, Pānzdah is 15.

سیزده عدد نحسی است، اما پانزده نه.

پانزده vs شانزده

Sequential numbers.

Shānzdah is 16, Pānzdah is 15.

او شانزده ساله است، برادرش پانزده ساله.

Sentence Patterns

من [Number] [Noun] دارم.

من پانزده سیب دارم.

ساعت [Hour] و [Minute] است.

ساعت دو و پانزده دقیقه است.

او [Number] ساله است.

او پانزده ساله است.

امروز [Ordinal] ماه است.

امروز پانزدهم ماه است.

[Number] درصد از [Noun]...

پانزده درصد از دانش‌آموزان غایب بودند.

حدود [Number] [Noun] وجود دارد.

حدود پانزده خانه در این کوچه وجود دارد.

این [Noun] [Number] سال طول کشید.

این جنگ پانزده سال طول کشید.

در [Number] سال اخیر...

در پانزده سال اخیر، اقتصاد تغییر کرد.

Word Family

Nouns

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high, as it is a core number.

Common Mistakes

پانزده کتاب‌ها → پانزده کتاب
Nouns after numbers must be singular in Persian.
پنجاه (when meaning 15) → پانزده
Confusing 50 with 15 is a common phonetic error.
Writing ۵۱ for 15 → ۱۵
Numbers are written left-to-right (1 then 5).
ساعت چهار و پانزده (in formal writing) → ساعت چهار و پانزده دقیقه
In formal contexts, adding 'daqiqe' (minutes) is preferred.
Using 'pānzdah' for dates → پانزدهم
Ordinal numbers should be used for specific dates of the month.

Tips

Singular Nouns

Always keep the noun singular. It's the most common mistake for English speakers. Say 'pānzdah ruz' (15 day).

Long Vowel

The first 'ā' is long. If you make it short, it sounds like a different word or simply wrong.

Full Moon

The 15th of the lunar month is the peak of the moon. Use this context to understand poetic references to beauty.

Colloquialism

Listen for 'pounzdah' in movies. It will help you understand native speakers much better.

Digit Direction

Even though Persian is RTL, numbers like ۱۵ are written LTR. Start with the ۱ on the left.

Pawn-Zap-Dah

Use the mnemonic 'Pawn Zap Dah' to remember the sounds of the syllables.

Ordinal Dates

Always use 'pānzdahom' for dates in a formal context. It makes you sound more educated.

Simple Math

Practice saying 10 + 5 = 15 in Persian: 'dah be ezāfe-ye panj mishavad pānzdah'.

Teen Ending

The '-dah' ending is common for all numbers from 11 to 19. Learn them as a group.

Quarter vs 15

Use 'rob' for time and 'pānzdah' for everything else to sound more natural.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Pawn' (pān) in chess that is 'Zapped' (z) 'Dah' (ten) times to get to 15.

Visual Association

Imagine a clock showing 3:15, where the hand is pointing straight at the 3, representing a quarter (rob) or fifteen (pānzdah) minutes.

Word Web

پنج (5) ده (10) ۱۵ (15) پونزده (Colloquial) پانزدهم (15th) ساعت (Clock) سن (Age) عدد (Number)

Challenge

Try to count items in your room and stop exactly at پانزده. Say the word out loud every time you reach a multiple of five.

Word Origin

Derived from Middle Persian 'panč-da'. The root 'panč' means five and 'da' means ten.

Original meaning: Ten and five.

Indo-European -> Indo-Iranian -> Iranian -> West Iranian -> Persian.

Cultural Context

Be respectful when discussing the 15th of Khordad, as it is a sensitive historical/political date in Iran.

Unlike 'Sweet Sixteen' in the US, fifteen is a more common milestone in Iran for religious or educational transitions.

The 15th of Khordad Uprising (1963). Nimeh Sha'ban (15th of Sha'ban) celebrations. The 15th of the month in Persian lunar poetry.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Telling Time

ساعت پانزده دقیقه گذشته (15 minutes past...)
یک ربع به... (A quarter to...)
ساعت پانزده (15:00 / 3 PM)
پانزده دقیقه وقت داریم (We have 15 minutes)

Shopping

پانزده هزار تومان (15,000 Tomans)
پانزده درصد تخفیف (15% discount)
پانزده تا از این (15 of these)
کلاً پانزده تومان شد (It became 15 Tomans total)

Describing Age

پانزده ساله (15 years old)
در سن پانزده سالگی (At the age of 15)
وقتی پانزده سالم بود (When I was 15)
تولد پانزده سالگی (15th birthday)

Measurements

پانزده متر (15 meters)
پانزده کیلوگرم (15 kilograms)
پانزده لیتر (15 liters)
پانزده سانتی‌متر (15 centimeters)

School/Education

نمره پانزده (Grade of 15)
پانزده سوال (15 questions)
پانزده صفحه (15 pages)
درس پانزدهم (Lesson 15)

Conversation Starters

"آیا می‌دانستی که من پانزده سال در اینجا زندگی کرده‌ام؟ (Did you know I've lived here for 15 years?)"

"ساعت شما هم چهار و پانزده دقیقه است؟ (Is your watch also 4:15?)"

"می‌توانی پانزده تا میوه برای مهمانی بخری؟ (Can you buy 15 fruits for the party?)"

"چرا عدد پانزده برای تو مهم است؟ (Why is the number 15 important to you?)"

"آیا در پانزده سالگی می‌دانستی چه کاره می‌شوی؟ (Did you know at 15 what you would become?)"

Journal Prompts

درباره خاطراتی که در پانزده سالگی داشتی بنویس. (Write about the memories you had when you were fifteen.)

اگر پانزده میلیون تومان داشتی، چه کار می‌کردی؟ (If you had 15 million Tomans, what would you do?)

یک برنامه پانزده روزه برای سفر به ایران طراحی کن. (Design a fifteen-day itinerary for a trip to Iran.)

اهمیت عدد پانزده در فرهنگ خودت را توصیف کن. (Describe the importance of the number fifteen in your own culture.)

پانزده کلمه جدیدی که امروز یاد گرفتی را لیست کن و با آن‌ها جمله بساز. (List 15 new words you learned today and make sentences with them.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

You write it as ۱۵. The ۱ is a vertical line and the ۵ looks like a small inverted heart or a circle with a point at the top.

It is the formal and standard word. The informal version is 'pounzdah' (پونزده).

No, in Persian, nouns following any number greater than one remain in the singular form. For example: پانزده کتاب (fifteen book).

You add the suffix '-om' to get 'pānzdahom' (پانزدهم).

Yes, for official schedules, flights, and television programs, the 24-hour clock is very common. You would say 'sā'at-e pānzdah'.

'Pānzdah' is the number 15, while 'rob' (ربع) means 'a quarter'. In telling time, they are often interchangeable (e.g., 4:15).

It is a major historical and political anniversary in Iran, commemorating the 1963 protests against the Shah's regime.

It is a very soft, breathy sound. You don't need to force it, but don't drop it entirely like a silent letter.

Yes, but remember that in Iran, people often omit the 'thousand' or 'million'. If a coffee is 'pānzdah', it likely means 15,000 Tomans.

No, the word remains the same, but you usually add the classifier 'nafar' (پانزده نفر).