Diphthong Marking in Persian Abjad

 How are the diphthongs of “i” marked?

 How are the diphthongs of “u” marked?
 Which diphthongs are always marked?
 Which diphthongs are partially marked?

Persian diphthongs are combinations of a vowel with either "i" or "u". Therefore, their marking is
similar to vowel marking of their constituents.

Diphthong "ây"

The diphthong "ây" is made up of the vowels "â" and "i". Both of these vowels are always marked.
Thus, the diphthong "ây" is always marked in writing.

The vowel "â" is marked with ‫ آ‬at word initial and with ‫ ا‬in all other positions. The consonant ‫ی‬
marks "y" in non-initial positions. Thus, the diphthong "ây" is marked with ‫ آی‬at word initial and
with ‫ ای‬in all other positions.

Word Pronunciation Meaning

‫آﯾﻨﻪ‬ âyne mirror

‫ﭼﺎی‬ chây tea

Diphthong "ey"

The diphthong "ey" is made up of the vowels "e" and "i". The vowel "e" is partially marked and
consequently, the diphthong "ey" is partially marked in writing.

The vowel "e" is marked with ‫ ا‬at word initial. The consonant ‫ ی‬marks "y" in non-initial positions.
Thus, the diphthong "ey" is marked with ‫ ای‬at word initial and with ‫ ی‬in all other positions. To
denote "ey" clearly, the diacritic ‫( زﯾﺮ‬zir) can be placed below the preceding consonant and the
diacritic ‫( ﺳﺎﮐﻦ‬sâken) over the ‫ی‬.

Word Pronunciation Meaning

‫ای‬
‫اِی‬ ey o! (vocative)

‫ی‬
ْ ِ‫ا‬

‫اﯾﻮان‬
‫اِﯾﻮان‬ eyvân balcony

‫اِﯾْﻮان‬
 Word Pronunciation Meaning

‫ﻣﯿﺪان‬
‫ﻣِﯿﺪان‬ meydân square (street)

‫ﻣِﯿْﺪان‬

‫ﻣ‬
ِ‫ﻣ‬ mey wine

ْ ِ‫ﻣ‬

Diphthong "oy"

The diphthong "oy" is made up of the vowels "o" and "i". Both of these vowels are marked and
consequently, the diphthong "oy" is always marked in writing.

The diphthong "oy" is marked with ‫ ای‬at word initial and with ‫ وی‬in all other positions. To denote

"oy" clearly, the diacritic ‫( ﭘﯿﺶ‬pish) can be placed over the preceding consonant and the diacritic
‫( ﺳﺎﮐﻦ‬sâken) over the ‫ی‬.

Word Pronunciation Meaning

‫ﺧﻮی‬
‫ﺧُﻮی‬ khoy sweat (obsolete); name of a city

ْ ‫ﺧُﻮ‬
‫ی‬

Diphthong "uy"

The diphthong "uy" is made up of the vowels "u" and "i". Both of these vowels are always marked.
Thus, the diphthong "uy" is always marked in writing.

The vowel "u" is marked with ‫ او‬at word initial and with ‫ و‬in all other positions. The consonant ‫ی‬

marks "y" in non-initial positions. Thus, the diphthong "uy" is marked with ‫ اوی‬at word initial
and with ‫ وی‬in all other positions. Additionally, the diacritic ‫( ﺳﺎﮐﻦ‬sâken) can be place over ‫ی‬.

Word Pronunciation Meaning

‫روی‬
ruy zinc; face
‫ی‬
ْ ‫رو‬

Diphthong "ow"

The diphthong "ow" is made up of the vowels "o" and "u". Both of these vowels are marked and
consequently, the diphthong "ow" is always marked in writing.
The diphthong "ow" is marked with ‫ او‬at word initial and with ‫ و‬in all other positions. The
diacritic ‫( ﭘﯿﺶ‬pish) can be placed over the preceding consonant.

Word Pronunciation Meaning

‫اوج‬ owj highest point, culmination

‫ﻣﻮز‬ mowz banana

‫ﻧﻮ‬ now new

Summary

Diphthong Word Initial Word Medial Word Final

ây ‫آی‬ ‫ای‬ ‫ای‬

ey ‫اِی‬ ‫ﹻی‬ ‫ﹻی‬

oy ‫اُی‬ ‫وی‬ ‫وی‬

uy ‫اوی‬ ‫وی‬ ‫وی‬

ow ‫اُو‬ ُ‫و‬ ُ‫و‬

 Vowel Marking Reading Tips 