Learn Farsi: ترم اول خیلی سخت است. - The first semester is very hard.

The word اول (avval) means first and is an exception. While a regular Farsi word with the -om suffix does exist (یکم or yekom), اول is the standard word you will hear almost everywhere for first.

Why does اول (avval) come after the noun ترم (term)?

This lesson teaches Type 1 ordinal numbers, which act like regular adjectives. In Farsi, adjectives come after the noun they describe. Because it follows the noun, you must connect them using the Ezafe.

Where is the Ezafe in this sentence and how is it pronounced?

The Ezafe connects ترم (term) and اول (avval) and is pronounced as term-e avval. You don't see it written in the Farsi script here because ترم ends in a consonant, so the linking short e sound is just spoken.

Is the word ترم (term) an English loanword?

Yes! In Farsi, ترم (term) is the standard borrowed word used for an academic semester or school term.