In Persian writing system, only consonants have a dedicated letter. Vowels and diphthongs are indicated with other means. Vowel marking can be divided into two sections based on vowel length. The long vowels “â”, “î” and “û” are always marked with consonant letters. The short vowels “a”, “e” and “o” are partially marked with consonant letters. They can be precisely marked with diacritics. Overall, the consonants ⟨ آ ⟩, ⟨ ا ⟩, ⟨ ی ⟩, ⟨ و ⟩, ⟨ ه ⟩, the diacritics “zîr” ⟨ ــِـ ⟩, “zebar” ⟨ ـَـ ⟩, “pîš” ⟨ ـُـ ⟩ and the pairs ⟨ ای ⟩, ⟨ او ⟩ are used in vowel marking.

Long Vowel “â”

The vowel “â” is always marked. It is denoted with ⟨ آ ⟩ at word initial and with a bare ⟨ ا ⟩ in all other positions.

Word Pronunciation Meaning
آب âb water
باد bâd wind
باران bârân rain
آوا âvâ sound

Long Vowel “î”

The vowel “î” is always marked. It is denoted with ⟨ ای ⟩ at word initial and with the consonant ⟨ ی ⟩ in all other positions.

Word Pronunciation Meaning
ایران îrân Iran
سیب sîb apple
فیلم fîlm movie, film
بازی bâzî game

Long Vowel “û”

The vowel “û” is always marked. It is denoted with ⟨ او ⟩ at word initial and with the consonant ⟨ و ⟩ in all other positions.

Word Pronunciation Meaning
او û he, she
خوب xûb good
ابرو abrû eyebrow

Short Vowel “a”

The vowel “a” is denoted with the consonant ⟨ ه ⟩ at word final. In other positions, it can be denoted by placing the diacritic ⟨ ــَـ ⟩ over the preceding consonant. This diacritic is called زبر (“zebar”) or فتحه (“fathe”).

Word Pronunciation Meaning
اَبر abr cloud
آتَش âtaš fire
نَه na no

In standard Iranian Persian, final "a" has transformed into “e”. In standard Afghan and Tajik Persian as well as many dialects inside Iran, final “a” of classical Persian has been preserved:

Word Modern Pronunciation Classical Pronunciation
خانه xâne xâna
بسته baste basta

Short Vowel “e”

The vowel “e” is partially denoted with ⟨ ا ⟩ at word initial and with the consonant ⟨ ه ⟩ at word final. It can be precisely denoted by placing the diacritic ⟨ ــِـ ⟩ below the preceding consonant. This diacritic is called زیر (“zîr”) or کسره (“kasre”).

Word Pronunciation Meaning
اِمروز emrûz today
پِدر pedar father
خانِه xâne house

Short Vowel “o”

The vowel “o” is partially denoted with ⟨ ا ⟩ at word initial and with the consonant ⟨ و ⟩ at word final and sometimes, in medial positions as well. It can be precisely denoted by placing the diacritic ⟨ ــُـ ⟩ over the preceding consonant. This diacritic is called پیش (“pîš”) or ضمه (“zamme”).

Word Pronunciation Meaning
اُمید omîd hope
خُشک xošk dry
رادیو râdiyo radio
مانتو mânto manteau

Summary

The following table summarizes vowel marking in different word positions.

Vowel Word Initial Word Medial Word Final
â آ ا ا
a اَ ــَـ ه
e اِ ــِـ ه
î ای ی ی
o اُ ــُـ و
û او و و