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Common English mistakes Persian speakers make, and how to fix them

If your first language is Persian (Farsi, Dari or Tajik), your English mistakes follow Persian grammar and sounds — one pronoun for he and she, no plural after numbers, no /w/, and no words that start with two consonants. Transfer, not carelessness, and each one has a clear fix.

The big ones. 1) A vowel before s-clusters: "estudent", "eschool", "esport" → start straight on the /s/. 2) He/she mixed ("u" is gender-neutral): "My sister… he" → "she". 3) "I have 30 years" (si sāl dāram) → "I'm 30". 4) "I am agree" (movāfeqam) → "I agree". 5) No plural after numbers (se ketāb): "three book" → "three books". 6) Missing articles: "I am teacher" → "a teacher"; "I saw film" → "a film" / "the film". 7) "Since" for "for" and present for present perfect: "I live here since two years" → "I've lived here for two years". 8) "Make" for everything (kardan): "make exercise", "make a call" → do exercise, make a call (that one's fine!), "make a question" → ask. 9) "Explain me", "discuss about", "answer to the question" → "explain to me", "discuss", "answer the question"; "very much" before verbs (kheyli) → "I really like it". 10) Sounds: /w/ as /v/ ("vater", "vould"), "th" as /t/, /d/ or /s/ ("tink", "dis"), and stress on the last syllable, Persian-style ("comPUTER" → "comPUter").

A list won't fix these; making them out loud and being corrected in the moment will. Airi is built for that: she hears the pattern, fixes the one mistake that matters in her reply, and keeps the conversation going. Speak with her daily and these stop being habits within a few weeks. Free to start, no card.

A quick example with Airi

My sister is estudent, he has 22 years and he is agree to move to Canada with me.

Four Persian-to-English classics! Try: "My sister is a student — she's 22, and she agrees to move to Canada with me."

My sister is a student, she's 22, and she agrees to move to Canada with me.

Perfect. Now 'student' — straight onto the 's', no 'e' before it: s-s-student.

How to get the most from it

Start on the /s/

Student, school, sport, Spain — no vowel in front.

She or he — decide first

'U' has two English words. Pick one before you speak.

Numbers take plurals

Three books, five people, ten minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

Why do Persian speakers say 'estudent'?

Persian words can't begin with two consonants, so a vowel gets added. It's transfer, and a few minutes of out-loud practice a day removes it.

Is 'I am agree' wrong?

Yes — in English 'agree' is a verb: I agree, she agrees. Persian 'movāfeq' is an adjective, which causes the transfer.

Is Airi available in Iran?

Airi runs on Google's Gemini, whose availability in Iran is restricted; it works normally for Persian speakers elsewhere in the world.

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