Word for the Travel Wise (05/24/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Last week during dinner, a few friends of mine decided to play a game of questions and one of them started with a question I ask myself everyday, “What three countries are the top three on your travel list?” If you’ve paid close attention to some of my darkest wishes over the last year, you’d be shouting out “Iran,” and I’m also sure there are several of you who have rolled your eyes, hoping I’d give up the dream, but my desire to go stays with me. Despite all the negative media attention Iran receives on a daily basis I always seem to get reports back from an occasional adventurous soul who dared find out for themselves. Until my day comes I’ll stick to practicing the language.

Today’s word is a Farsi (Persian) word used in Iran:

tazeh – new

Excellent sites for learning Persian online include a personal favorite called Easy Persian and Farhangsara. Both sites have an excellent beginner’s guide into the language and use images, sound and music to assist you in the process. Check out Lonely Planet’s Farsi (Persian) Phrasebook for a shorthand guide at the ancient lingo.

Past Farsi words: be salamati, toot farangee, kheyli golabi

Word for the Travel Wise (05/12/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

It seems we haven’t covered much on wonderful Tajikistan so I suppose it’s time I kick things off with a word or two and some pretty cool Tajik links. The reasons for my taking notice are really unimportant at this point, but let’s say I’m cookin’ up a trip to the country sometime this year. Otherwise Tajikistan seems like a pretty hot destination spot if you’re into things like hiking and/or mountaineering in unique, remote places. The TJ tourism site is on the money at providing information to help get your travel planning started. Also worth checking into is this Tajikistan blog with incredible pictures of both people and beautiful architecture. That’s all for now, but trust me when I say there is more to come in the future on this lesser traveled country.

Today’s word is a Tajik word used in Tajikistan:

rohi safed – safe journey

Tajik is the official language of the country and is closely related to the Persian (Farsi) language spoken in Iran. According to Wiki the most important Tajik-speaking cities of Central Asia are Samarkand and Bukhara which are located in present-day Uzbekistan. In addition to giving interested language learners a taste at some commonly used words and phrases, the Great Game Travel Company has excellent info and short trips for touring the city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Be sure to check out the list of words first. If you’re near the University of Washington look into their Near Eastern Language Programs. Lonely Planet has a pocket-sized phrasebook on Central Asian lingos worth packing along and several other book picks can be found by clicking here.

Word for the Travel Wise (04/05/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

With Erik blogging earlier about paddling in Iran I felt compelled to create another Farsi
lesson for today’s course. For one, many people will probably frown on the idea of paddling Iran, thinking they’ll
stick to waters in safer countries. Secondly, this is my own opinion, but the Persian lang is something we can never
get enough of – a little French, a little Arabic and a whole lot more Parsi equals the perfect blend for a beautiful
language.

Today’s word is a Farsi (Persian) word
used in Iran:

kheyli golabi – (very pear) a piece
of cake, a cake walk, something very easy to do, no sweat involved

Kheyli in Farsi
means very and golabi means pear. The expression as a whole means something similar to being a piece of cake.
I’m sure paddling the white water of the Sezar River, let alone telling your friends you’re going to what is considered
one of the axis of evil to do it is no easy task. Then again, if you’ve made your mind up to do it already telling your
friends and family should be a cake walk or kheyli golabi.

Excellent sites for learning Persian
online include a personal favorite called Easy Persian and Farhangsara. Both sites have an excellent beginner’s guide into the
language and use images, sound and music to assist you in the process. Check out Lonely Planet’s Farsi
(Persian) Phrasebook for a shorthand guide at the ancient lingo.

Past
Farsi words: be salamati, toot farangee