Farsi vs Arabic: What Language Should I Learn?

Key takeaways:

• Arabic and Farsi are two distinct languages.
• The Arabic language is spoken in many countries across the Middle East and North Africa, while Farsi is spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.
• Learning Farsi is easier for English speakers, but learning Arabic may be more useful in terms of career and travel opportunities.

If you’re interested in the Middle East, learning a language commonly spoken in the region is a great way to connect more deeply with its people and culture. But which language should you choose?

In this article, we’re going to look at Arabic and Farsi, two of the most common languages spoken in the Middle East. We’ll examine their many similarities and differences, go over the pros and cons of learning each language, and give you some advice on how to pick the right language for you to learn.

What are the key differences between Farsi and the Arabic language?

Knowing the difference between Farsi and Arabic can be difficult for those who have never dived deeper into either language. Some people assume that Farsi and Arabic are the same. Others think that there are some differences, but the languages are still mutually intelligible.

Let’s clear things up and take a look at some of the key differences between Farsi and Arabic.

Cultural and geographical contexts

Arabic is the 5th most commonly spoken language in the world, with almost 335 million speakers around the globe. In this case, we’re talking about Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) specifically. This is the formal, written version of Arabic that is used universally across the Middle East and North Africa.

Spoken Arabic has many dialects, including Egyptian Arabic (Egypt), Peninsular Arabic (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar), and Maghrebi Arabic (Morocco, Algeria, Libya). These dialects often overlap in basic grammar and vocabulary, but the deeper you go, the more differences you’ll notice.

Farsi, also known as Persian, is spoken by about 127 million people worldwide. There are three mutually intelligible versions of the language, which you’ll find in Iran (Iranian Persian), Afghanistan (Dari), and Tajikistan (Tajik). 

While Farsi is not as commonly spoken as Arabic, it has a rich culture and history. Many great Sufi poets wrote in Persian, including Rumi, Hafez, and Shams Tabrizi.

Writing systems: Arabic script and the Persian alphabet

Arabic and Farsi may be two distinct languages, but they use a very similar alphabet. The main difference is that Farsi has four additional letters and a more complex dotting system. 

This similarity is due to the historical expansion of Islam into countries across Persia. The Quran itself is written in Arabic script, which later influenced the Persian writing system.

The Arabic alphabet is considered difficult for English speakers to learn. The script is quite different from the Latin alphabet, with most letters changing shape depending on their position in a word.

Another thing that makes the Arabic alphabet challenging is that it’s written from right to left, just like Hebrew. So, if you’re reading the Quran in its original form, you’ll have to read from the opposite direction than you might be used to.

Grammar and vocabulary differences

The alphabet is where most of the similarities between Arabic and Farsi end. While both languages are spoken in the same region, their origins are quite different. They even come from completely distinct language families.

Arabic is a Central Semitic language that belongs to the Afroasiatic language family, alongside Somali, Hausa, and Oromo. On the other hand, Farsi is an Indo-Iranian language from the Indo-European language family. This means that it shares a family with English, French, and Spanish.

As a result, Farsi and Arabic have very different grammar rules. For example, Arabic grammar is root-based and has complex gender rules, while Farsi mostly uses prefixes and suffixes and has no grammatical gender. This makes Farsi much easier for English speakers to learn, as the system is closer to that of English.

Farsi does have many loanwords from Arabic, especially in formal and religious contexts. However, the vocabulary of each language is still very distinct, and these loanwords do not make Farsi and Arabic mutually intelligible.

Learning Arabic vs learning Farsi

Now that you know what the main differences between Arabic and Farsi are, it’s time to decide which language you should learn. To make that choice, you need to consider several factors. These include:

1. Learning goals

Do you want to learn a language for better career opportunities? If so, then Arabic might be the better choice for you, as it’s a much more commonly spoken language. Additionally, countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia may provide better business opportunities than Iran or Afghanistan.

If you’re mainly interested in tourism, then Arabic may still be the more suitable option. Travelling to Iran often comes with many restrictions, especially for citizens of the US, UK, or Canada. On the other hand, there are many popular tourist destinations where people speak Arabic, including Egypt and Morocco.

However, if your goal is to communicate with someone specifically from Iran, Afghanistan, or Tajikistan, you should learn Farsi instead. For example, if you work in journalism, academia, or NGOs, knowing Persian could be very useful.

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2. Personal interests

Learning a language is not a quick and easy process. It requires a lot of time, patience, and dedication. For that reason, it’s important to try to enjoy the language you’re learning. Forcing yourself to memorize the grammar of a language you’re not even remotely interested in won’t get you very far.

Before choosing between Farsi and Arabic, think about what you enjoy. For example, if you’re interested in Islam, Arabic is the language for you. However, if you’re a poetry and literature lover, you may be interested in learning Farsi instead. It’s a beautiful language with a fascinating culture and a long history.

3. Language difficulty

While all languages come with their unique challenges, some are more difficult than others for English speakers to learn. Because Farsi is an Indo-European language like English, parts of its grammar and vocabulary will seem more familiar to you than the same words and structures in Arabic.

Arabic also comes with the additional challenge of its many dialects. While it is generally recommended to start with MSA, if you also want to learn spoken Arabic, you’ll have to dive into a specific dialect, too, which may come with more challenges.

How to learn Arabic and Farsi for English speakers

Once you’ve picked which language you’d like to learn, you should come up with a good learning strategy. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Set your goals

Think about why you’re learning your chosen language. Is it to read books and news stories? To be able to order a nice cup of coffee abroad? Or to reconnect with your distant family members?

The answer will help you figure out which area to focus on. If you want to learn Arabic to read the news, mastering MSA should be your priority. However, if you’re simply hoping to have small talk with your aunt from Saudi Arabia, looking into some basic phrases from Peninsular Arabic might be enough to get you by.

2. Learn the alphabet

Whether you’re learning Farsi or Arabic, you’ll have to master the alphabet eventually. The Arabic alphabet may seem challenging, but there is no getting around it. The sooner you get started, the better.

If you need help, check out this useful YouTube video:

3. Find good resources

To learn a new language, you need to find a reliable source of information that will work for you and your learning style. If you’re new to language learning, here are some resources you can look into:

• Language apps: Language apps are easy, user-friendly, immersive, and great for learning on the go. If you’re learning Arabic, you can check out apps like Promova or Duolingo.
• Tutors and classes: If you’re nervous about learning a language on your own, you can sign up for a class or hire a tutor. You can do this in person or online.
• Language podcasts: For those of you who love listening to podcasts and audiobooks, Spotify might just be your secret weapon. For Farsi, try the Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation podcast. If you’re learning Arabic, check out Learn Arabic with LinguaBoost.

Learn Arabic with Promova

Are you serious about learning Arabic? If so, then you should check out Promova. With our Arabic language app and regularly updated blog, you’ll have all the necessary resources to get you started.

The Promova app comes with many perks, including daily challenges, bite-sized lessons, AI practice, progress tracking, and personalized learning plans. You can learn Arabic anywhere, anytime, and in any way that works for you!

Try Promova today to get one step closer to your Arabic language goals!

Farsi vs Arabic: Final thoughts

Arabic and Farsi are both beautiful languages, but they’re very different from one another. Depending on your learning goals, future plans, and personal preference, you may choose to learn either one or both languages.