Pahlavi Alphabet Chart
Pahlavi scripts were used to write Middle Persian and related languages. This page lists the core Inscriptional Pahlavi letters.
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Understanding Pahlavi Letters
Pahlavi refers to a family of historic scripts used in Iran for Middle Iranian languages. This page focuses on Inscriptional Pahlavi, a right-to-left script used in monumental contexts.
Historic scripts often reuse shapes and rely on context. That means learning Pahlavi is less about “fast reading” and more about accurate recognition and careful comparison of letterforms.
Use the chart above as your clean reference. Once the shapes feel familiar, it becomes easier to recognize them in inscriptions and scholarly transliteration work.
Reading Pahlavi Right to Left
Direction is the first skill: start on the right and move left. Keep your place while you practice sequences from the chart.
Some letters can look very similar. When that happens, do not guess. Compare directly on the chart and learn one anchor detail that distinguishes the two shapes.
Practice by reading short strings and repeating them. Familiarity comes from repetition, especially with compact historic letterforms.
How to Write Pahlavi Letters Properly
Inscriptional Pahlavi does not use uppercase and lowercase. Your handwriting goal is consistent proportions and clear strokes so letters remain distinct.
Write right to left so your hand learns the natural flow. Start with individual letters, then move to short groups to build rhythm.
Practice look-alike letters as contrast pairs. Alternate them on one line and read them back until the difference feels automatic.
Use the worksheet for repetition and recall. Copy a small set today, then rewrite it tomorrow from memory.
Learning Tips for Pahlavi Script
Learn in small sets and review daily. Historic scripts become easier once shapes feel familiar.
Use strong visual anchors. A short description of a letter’s “signature stroke” can help memory a lot.
Aim for recognition first. Once you can identify each letter on the chart, working with real inscriptions becomes much more manageable.
Practice Pahlavi With Downloads
Use the PDF as a printed chart, the image for quick reference, and the worksheet for handwriting drills. Offline practice helps you focus on direction and shape detail.
Pick a small set of letters today, practice them well, and expand gradually. Pahlavi becomes approachable once recognition is automatic.