Which Farsi words can kids use at Nowruz and Yalda?
Start with familiar holiday words: sal-e no means new year, sib means apple, and anar means pomegranate. This list gives 8 Farsi words and phrases for Nowruz and Yalda, with Persian script, transliteration and English meanings. Say them together while pointing to real objects, then invite your child to try the words aloud.
Last updated: 2026-11-04
Which words belong at the Nowruz table?
Nowruz marks the Persian new year. Haft-sin refers to a table setting traditionally featuring seven items whose Persian names begin with the letter sin. The Smithsonian’s haft-sin guide identifies sib as apples and sabzeh as sprouts.
| Farsi | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| سال نو | sal-e no | new year |
| هفتسین | haft-sin | seven-sin table setting |
| سیب | sib | apple |
| سبزه | sabzeh | sprouts / fresh green shoots |
Which words can we say on Yalda night?
Yalda is a family gathering associated with the longest night of the year. Pomegranates, watermelon and Hafez poetry are familiar parts of the celebration. See Five College LangMedia’s Iranian Yalda transcript.
| Farsi | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| شب یلدا | shab-e yalda | Yalda night |
| انار | anar | pomegranate |
| هندوانه | hendevaneh | watermelon |
| فال حافظ | faal-e hafez | divination through Hafez’s poetry |
Transliteration is a pronunciation aid; spellings in Latin letters vary. Faal-e hafez refers to seeking an omen or guidance through Hafez’s poetry.
How can families practice these words?
Point to an apple and say sib, then let your child repeat it or name it for a relative. Use your own family’s pronunciation. Farsi Kids includes Nowruz and Yalda settings among its 30 lessons; this vocabulary list is a family activity, not a list of guaranteed app prompts.