ZabanYar | Persian for Heritage Learners
The Persian learning app for people who grew up hearing the language but never formally learned it. Built by a CELTA-trained Persian tutor | not another company that ignores the alphabet.
Why ZabanYar?
Most Persian apps teach tourists a few phrases. ZabanYar is built for the heritage learner | the person whose family speaks Persian, who understands more than they can say, and who’s tired of being told “you should know this by now.”
You probably understand 30% of family conversations and freeze when you try to reply. ZabanYar starts where you actually are | not at “hello.”
Most apps skip the alphabet or treat it as optional. ZabanYar treats it as the foundation | 32 letters in 9 lessons with shape mnemonics. Read in a week, not a year.
Memory hooks that link Persian words to images you already know. Generated by AI for any word you encounter | even words you import yourself.
Not pre-scripted dialogues. A live Persian chat partner that uses the vocabulary you’ve actually learned | and gently corrects when you stumble.
What’s inside the app
Full alphabet course
32 Persian letters across 9 sequential lessons. Shape mnemonics, sound descriptions, isolated + initial + medial + final forms. Two quiz types per letter.
Spaced repetition (9 stages)
Cards adapt as words strengthen: see image → reveal word (recognition) → see word, recall meaning (recall) → see blurred image, produce word (production).
AI mnemonics + images
Every word gets an AI-generated memory hook. Words without mnemonics show a skeleton loader while AI creates them on demand.
AI conversation tutor
Live Persian chat at your level. Free conversation OR structured drill mode. [HINT] and [GIVE UP] commands so you’re never stuck.
Smart vocabulary import
Paste any Persian text | articles, song lyrics, YouTube transcripts. App extracts vocabulary, compares to frequency list, lets you pick what to add.
Real stats, not vanity metrics
Comprehension % of the top 3,000 Persian words. SRS stage distribution. Daily streak. All-time totals. The stuff that actually shows progress.
Iranian + Dari + Tajik
Pick your dialect at signup. Iranian Persian (Tehrani) is primary. Dari (Afghanistan) and Tajik also supported.
Offline-first, dark mode
Alphabet, flashcards, SRS and stats work without internet. AI features need connectivity. Dark theme tuned for evening study.
How ZabanYar compares
Who’s building this
Hi | I’m Elyar Pourabbas. I teach Persian online to heritage learners and partners of Iranians. CELTA-trained. 700+ lessons taught on Preply with a 5.0 rating.
I’m building ZabanYar because my students kept asking for an app that actually teaches the script | not one that hides Persian behind Latin letters and calls it “easier.” Heritage learners can do the alphabet in a week. They just need someone to show them how.
ZabanYar is what I wish I could give every student on day one: structured alphabet, smart review, AI help for the words they care about, and a tutor in their pocket.
— Elyar, Messina, Italy
How to join
Add your email to the waitlist
One field, no account, no credit card. You’ll get one launch email and that’s it.
Get early access when we ship
Waitlist members get priority | early-access link before the public launch, lifetime founder pricing locked in.
Start with the alphabet
32 letters in 9 lessons. Most heritage learners finish in 5–7 days. Then SRS vocabulary, AI tutor, and import any Persian text you want to study.
Ready? Join the waitlist.
The Persian app for heritage learners | built by a real Persian tutor, not a startup that thinks “Persian = Arabic 2.” Launching 2026. Free to join. Founder pricing locked in for waitlist members.
Common questions
When does ZabanYar launch?
Targeting 2026. The app is being built right now. Waitlist members get notified first and can use the app weeks before public launch.
Is it free?
Freemium. Alphabet course, Finglish onboarding, ~100 starter words, and basic spaced repetition will be free forever. AI mnemonics, AI tutor, unlimited vocabulary, and smart import will be on a paid tier (small monthly or annual). Waitlist members get founder pricing locked in.
What devices?
Built with React Native. iOS first, Android shortly after. Both launching at the same time if technically possible | waitlist members hear first.
Do I need to know the Persian alphabet to start?
No | the app starts with the alphabet. 32 letters, 9 lessons, shape mnemonics. If you can already read Persian, you can skip straight to vocabulary.
Does it teach Dari and Tajik too?
Yes. Iranian Persian (Tehrani) is the default. Dari (Afghanistan) and Tajik options are available at signup. Most vocabulary overlaps | the differences are pronunciation, a few vocabulary choices, and (for Tajik) Cyrillic script as an option.
Why an app and not just YouTube videos?
YouTube doesn’t remember which words you know. ZabanYar does. The whole point of spaced repetition is the system schedules reviews at the perfect interval | too soon wastes your time, too late and you forget. That requires software that tracks every word.
Will my data be safe?
Yes. EU servers (we’re based in Italy). GDPR-compliant. We never sell your data. Email is only used to email you about ZabanYar | unsubscribe at any time.
I have other questions / want to suggest a feature
Reply to the waitlist confirmation email | it goes straight to Elyar. Heritage learner feedback is the single most important input shaping this app.