Yes, absolutely. While some beginner resources use Latin transliteration (Romanization), learning the script is essential for true fluency. All authentic Persian materials—books, news, social media, and even street signs—are written in the Perso-Arabic script. Relying solely on transliteration will limit you to a small subset of learning materials and prevent you from reading the vast and rich body of Persian literature and media.
Two ways to conquer the script. If you want to fall in love with the language while you learn it, start with Listen to the Reed — free through September 2026, thanks to the DhunAnand Foundation. If you’d rather master it fast and systematically, The Persian Alphabet, Decoded gets you reading in 22 hours with 120+ exercises and guided handwriting worksheets.