List of Iranian languages
Encyclopedia
The Iranian languages
include some 84 (SIL
estimate) languages and dialects spoken by many people in Asia
. This language family is a part of the Indo-Iranian language family. Each subfamily in this list contains subgroups and individual languages.
(† indicates extinct languages)
Iranian languages
The Iranian languages form a subfamily of the Indo-Iranian languages which in turn is a subgroup of Indo-European language family. They have been and are spoken by Iranian peoples....
include some 84 (SIL
SIL International
SIL International is a U.S.-based, worldwide, Christian non-profit organization, whose main purpose is to study, develop and document languages, especially those that are lesser-known, in order to expand linguistic knowledge, promote literacy, translate the Christian Bible into local languages,...
estimate) languages and dialects spoken by many people in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. This language family is a part of the Indo-Iranian language family. Each subfamily in this list contains subgroups and individual languages.
(† indicates extinct languages)
Northeastern
- Avestan
- Chorasmian† (KhwarezmianKhwarezmianThe name Khwarezmian may refer to:* Khwarezm, a series of states in what is now known as Greater Iran...
) - BactrianBactrian languageThe Bactrian language is an extinct Eastern Iranian language which was spoken in the Central Asian region of Bactria. Linguistically, it is classified as belonging to the middle period of the East Iranian branch...
† - SogdianSogdian languageThe Sogdian language is a Middle Iranian language that was spoken in Sogdiana , located in modern day Uzbekistan and Tajikistan ....
† (dialects: Christian, Buddhist, Manichaean), YaghnobiYaghnobi languageThe Yaghnobi language is a living East Iranian language . Yaghnobi is spoken in the upper valley of the Yaghnob River in the Zarafshan area of Tajikistan by the Yaghnobi people... - ScythianScythian languagesScythian languages refers to all the languages spoken by all the peoples of a vast region of Eurasia named Scythia extending from the Vistula river in East Europe to Mongolia during ancient times. Included also are some languages of eastern Iran and the Central Asian subcontinent...
†, SarmatianScythian languagesScythian languages refers to all the languages spoken by all the peoples of a vast region of Eurasia named Scythia extending from the Vistula river in East Europe to Mongolia during ancient times. Included also are some languages of eastern Iran and the Central Asian subcontinent...
†, AlanianScythian languagesScythian languages refers to all the languages spoken by all the peoples of a vast region of Eurasia named Scythia extending from the Vistula river in East Europe to Mongolia during ancient times. Included also are some languages of eastern Iran and the Central Asian subcontinent...
†, OssetianOssetic languageOssetian , also sometimes called Ossete, is an East Iranian language spoken in Ossetia, a region on the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains....
(dialects: Iron, Digor), JassicJassic dialectJassic is a dialect of the Ossetian language and the name of a nomadic tribe settled in Hungary in the 13th century.The Jassic people came to Hungary together with the Cumanians, chased by the Mongol-Tatars. They were admitted by the Hungarian king Béla IV, hoping that they would assist in...
†
Southeastern
- Pamiri languages: Munji, SanglechiSanglechi languageSanglechi is an Iranian language spoken in Afghanistan. It is also spoken in Tajikistan, where it is called Sanglich.It is sometimes considered a separate language, but at other times it, Ishkashmi and Zebaki are considered dialects of one language....
, IshkashimiIshkashimi languageThe Ishkashimi language is one of the Pamir languages of the Southeastern Iranian language group. Its distribution is in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan, Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan and Chitral region of Pakistan....
, ZebakiZebaki languageZebaki is an Iranian language spoken in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It is also known as Zebak.It is sometimes considered a separate language, but at other times it, Ishkashmi and Sanglechi are considered dialects of one language....
, Sarikoli, ShughniShughni languageShughni is one of the Pamir languages of the Southeastern Iranian language group. Its distribution is in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan and Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan....
, RushaniRushani languageThe Rushani language is a dialect of Shughni language, a Pamir language.-Literature:*Zarubin, I.I.. Bartangskie i rushanskie teksty i slovar. Moskva : Izd-vo Akademii nauk SSSR, 1937....
, TangshewiDari (Eastern Persian)Dari or Fārsī-ye Darī in historical terms refers to the Persian court language of the Sassanids. In contemporary usage, the term refers to the dialects of modern Persian language spoken in Afghanistan, and hence known as Afghan Persian in some Western sources. It is the term officially recognized...
, YazgulyamYazgulyam languageThe Yazgulyam language is a member of the Pamir subgroup of the Iranian languages, spoken by ca. 4,000 native speakers along the Yazgulyam River, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan. Together with Shugni, it is classified as the Shugni-Yazgulami subgroup of the Pamir languages...
, WakhiWakhi languageWakhi is an Indo-European language in the branch of Eastern Iranian language family and is intimately related to other Southeastern Iranian languages in the Pamir languages group.-Classification and Distribution:...
, YidghaYidghaThe Yidgha language is a Pamir language spoken in the Upper Lutkuh Valley of Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa west of Garam Chashma in Pakistan...
, Khufi. - SakaSaka languageSaka or Sakan is a Middle Iranian language attested from the medieval Buddhist kingdoms of Khotan and Tumxuk in what in now Xinjiang, China. Both dialects share features with modern Wakhi and Pashto. Many Prakrit terms were borrowed from Khotanese into the Tocharian languages.Khotanese is attested...
† (dialects: Khotanese and Tumshuqese) - Ormuri, Parachi
- PashtoPashto languagePashto , known as Afghani in Persian and Pathani in Punjabi , is the native language of the indigenous Pashtun people or Afghan people who are found primarily between an area south of the Amu Darya in Afghanistan and...
, Waneci, Waziri
Northwestern
- Azari† (the original Azeri language)Ancient Azari languageAzari is the name used for the Iranian language composed of groups of dialects which were spoken in Azerbaijan at one time. Some linguists have also designated the southern Tati dialects of Azerbaijan like those spoken by the Tats around Khalkhal, Harzand and Keringan as a remnant of Azari...
- Dialects of Central IranDialects of Central IranCentral Iranian, or Central Iran, is a group of Western Iranian languages spoken in villages and towns of central Iran, mostly in Markazi and Isfahan provinces...
:- Tafresh: Ashtiani, Amora’i, Kahaki, VafsiVafsi languageVafsi, is an Iranian language spoken in the Vafs village and surrounding area in the Markazi province of Iran. Vafsi belongs to a branch of Iranian languages called the Central Dialects...
, Judeo-Hamadani, Judeo-Borujerdi, Judeo-Nahavandi, Alviri, Vidari - Northwestern: Mahallati, Khomeyni, Vanishani, KhunsariKhunsari languageKhunsari dialect is a Central dialect within the South Median branch of Northwestern Iranian languages, spoken in Khansar, a town in the west of Isfahan Province of Iran. Some of the oldest isoglosses include the development of Aryan palatals to fricatives: OIr...
(Khwanshari), Judeo-GolpayganiJudeo-Golpaygani languageJudæo-Golpaygani was a language spoken by the Jewish community living in Golpaygan, in western Isfahan, western Iran. The first records of Jewish communities in this region date to approximately 750 BC....
, Judeo-Khunsari - Northeastern: Arani, Bidgoli, Delijani, Nashalji, AbuzaydabadiAbuzaydabadi languageAbuzaydabadi is the language of people in Abuzaydabad, a city in central Iran. The language is called [Abuzaydabadi] by Persians, and it is called Bizovoy or Bizovoyja in Abuzaydabadi language itself....
, Qohrudi, Badrudi, Kamu’i, Jowshaqani, Meyma’i, Abyana’i, Farizandi, Yarandi (Yarani), Soi (Sohi), Badi, Natanzi, Kasha’i, Tari, Tarqi, Judeo-Kashani - Southwestern: Gazi, Sedehi, Ardestani, Nohuji, Sajzi, Jarquya’i, Rudashti, Kafrudi, Kafruni, Judeo-Esfahani
- Southeastern: DariDari (Zoroastrian)Dari is a Northwestern Iranian ethnolect spoken as a first language by an estimated 8,000 to 15,000 Zoroastrians in and around the cities of Yazd and Kerman in central Iran...
(Yazdi), Kermani, Nayini (Na’ini), Zefra’i, Anaraki, Varzenei, Judeo-Yazdi, Judeo-Kermani, Tudeshki, Keyjani, Abchuya’i - Kavir: Khuri, Farvi, Farroki, Mehrjani
- Sivandi: SivandiSivandi languageSivandi is an Iranian language spoken in Fars Province, Iran by around 7000 people.- External links :...
- Tafresh: Ashtiani, Amora’i, Kahaki, Vafsi
- KurdishKurdish languageKurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
(Dialects: SoraniSoranîSoranî is the name of a Kurdish language that is spoken in Iran and Iraq. Soranî is one of the main Kurdish languages, which are a branch of the Iranian languages.- Name :...
(Central Kurdish), KurmanjiKurmanjiKurmanji or Northern Kurdish is the most commonly spoken dialect of the Kurdish language.- Scripts and books :...
(Northern Kurdish), Southern KurdishSouthern KurdishSouthern Kurdish , also called Kermānšāhi, belongs to the Northwestern Iranian languages and is predominantly spoken in western Iran and eastern Iraq. In Iran, it is spoken in the provinces of Kermanshah and Ilam. In Iraq it is spoken in the region of Khanaqin , all the way to Mandali, Pehle...
), LakiLaki languageLaki is a Northwestern Iranian language. Although it is usually grouped with Southern Kurdish dialects, Ethnologue classifies it as a fourth subgroup of Kurdish.... - Gorani (Hawrami), Bajelan, KirmanjkiZazaki languageZazaki is an Indo-European language spoken primarily in eastern Turkey. According to Ethnologue, the language is a part of the northwestern group of the Iranian section of the Indo-European family. Zazaki shares many features, structures, and vocabulary with Gorani, Talyshi and other Caspian...
(Northern ZazaZazaki languageZazaki is an Indo-European language spoken primarily in eastern Turkey. According to Ethnologue, the language is a part of the northwestern group of the Iranian section of the Indo-European family. Zazaki shares many features, structures, and vocabulary with Gorani, Talyshi and other Caspian...
), DimliZazaki languageZazaki is an Indo-European language spoken primarily in eastern Turkey. According to Ethnologue, the language is a part of the northwestern group of the Iranian section of the Indo-European family. Zazaki shares many features, structures, and vocabulary with Gorani, Talyshi and other Caspian...
(Southern ZazaZazaki languageZazaki is an Indo-European language spoken primarily in eastern Turkey. According to Ethnologue, the language is a part of the northwestern group of the Iranian section of the Indo-European family. Zazaki shares many features, structures, and vocabulary with Gorani, Talyshi and other Caspian...
), ShabakShabak languageShabaki is an Indo-Iranian language of the Zaza–Gorani group spoken by the Shabak people and ethnic Kurds in Mosul, Iraq. The number of speakers of Shabaki was estimated in 1989 to be between 10,000 and 20,000.-Similarities with other languages:...
, Sarli - ParthianParthian languageThe Parthian language, also known as Arsacid Pahlavi and Pahlavanik, is a now-extinct ancient Northwestern Iranian language spoken in Parthia, a region of northeastern ancient Persia during the rule of the Parthian empire....
† - SemnaniSemnani languageThe Semnani languages are a group of Northwestern Iranian languages, spoken in Semnan province of Iran that share many linguistic features and structures with Caspian languages. These languages are also called "dialects" in some sources....
, Sangisari, Lasgerdi, Sorkhei, Aftari, Biyabanaki - MedianMedian languageThe Median language was the language of the Medes. It is an Old Iranian language and classified as belonging to the northwestern Iranian subfamily which includes many other languages such as Azari, Zazaki, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Kurdish and Baluchi.-Attestation:Median is only attested by numerous...
† - MazandaraniMazandarani languageMazandarani or Tabari is an Iranian language of the Northwestern branch, spoken mainly in Iran's Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan provinces...
(Dialects: Saravi, Baboli, AmoliAmoliAmoli is an Iranian surname and may refer to:* Abdollah Javadi-Amoli, Iranian politician* Hashem Amoli, Iranian ayatollahAmoli is also an Indian name which translates to priceless/precious in Sanskrit....
, Lafori;Salousi, Kelari, Shahsavari; GorganiGorganiGorgani is a dialect of the Tabarian language-Etymology:The dilect is named after Gorgan historical district derived from Old Persian Varkana -Continuing use:...
†, Delandi; Shahmirzadi, Kholardi, Firoozkoohi; Astarabadi, Katouli) - BalochiBalochi languageBalochi is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan.-Vowels:The Balochi vowel...
, Koroshi - Gilaki, Rashti
- TalyshTalysh languageThe Talyshi language is a Northwestern Iranian language spoken in the northern regions of the Iranian provinces of Gilan and Ardabil and the southern regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Historically, the language and its people can be traced through the middle Iranian period back to the ancient...
, Gozarkhani, Kabatei, Kajali, Karingani, Koresh-e Rostam, Maraghei, Razajerdi, Shahrudi, Tati (Dialects: Chali, Takestani, Eshtehardi, Khiaraji, Ebrahim-abadi, Sagz-abadi, Danesfani, Esfarvarini, Khoznini; Kho'ini, Balbavini, Sefid-kamari, Halabi, Sa'd-abadi; Khalkhali, Taromi; HarzandiHarzandi languageHarzandi is a modern Northwestern Iranian language spoken in the north of the Iranian province of East Azarbaijan, around the village of Harzand. It is closely related to the Talishi and Karingani dialects....
; Dizmari, Kuhpaya'i, Rudbari, Alamuti)
Southwestern
- Old Persian†, Middle PersianMiddle PersianMiddle Persian , indigenously known as "Pârsig" sometimes referred to as Pahlavi or Pehlevi, is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as a...
†, Modern Persian: Iranian PersianPersian languagePersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, Dari PersianDari (Persian)Dari or Fārsī-ye Darī in historical terms refers to the Persian court language of the Sassanids. In contemporary usage, the term refers to the dialects of modern Persian language spoken in Afghanistan, and hence known as Afghan Persian in some Western sources. It is the term officially recognized...
, Tajik PersianTajik languageTajik, Tajik Persian, or Tajiki, is a variety of modern Persian spoken in Central Asia. Historically Tajiks called their language zabani farsī , meaning Persian language in English; the term zabani tajikī, or Tajik language, was introduced in the 20th century by the Soviets...
, Hazaragi PersianHazaragi languageHazaragi is a dialect of the Persian language spoken by the Hazara people, most of all in an area known as the Hazarajat.- General :The primary differences between Standard Persian and Hazaragi are the accent and Hazaragi's greater array of Turkic and Mongolian loanwords...
, Dzhidi Persian (Judeo-Persian), Madaglashti Persian, Judeo-Bukharic, Khuzestani PersianKhuzestani PersianThere are a number of Khuzestani Persian dialects unique to the province of Khuzestan in southwestern Iran.There are two main regional classifications, in addition to less common varieties:-Northern region:* Behbahani* Dezfuli* Masjed Soleiman...
, AimaqAimaq languageAimaq is a dialect of the Persian language spoken west of the Hazarajat , in central northwest Afghanistan, eastern Iran, and Tajikistan. It is the dominant dialect of Persian spoken by the Aymāq people. It is very close to Khorasani and Dari dialects...
, Darwazi Persian, Dehwari Persian, Pahlavani Persian, DezfuliDezfuliDezfuli and Shushtari is a Persian dialect spoken in Dezful and Shushtar two adjacent cities of Khozestan province in Iran. Dezfuli is closely related to the dialect of Shushtar.In fact Desphili and Shushtari have no significant difference aside from accents... - Judeo-Tat, Muslim Tat
- FarsFars languageDialects of Fars are a group of southwestern and northwestern Iranian dialects spoken in the central Fars province. The southwestern dialects can be divided to three family of dialects according to geographical distribution and local names: Southwestern , South-central and Southeastern...
, Judeo-Shirazi, Lari (LarestaniLarestani languageLarestani or Lari is a group of southwestern Iranian languages related to Luri and Persian, spoken in Larestan region of Fars province and parts of Hormozgan province in the south of Iran.-The accents of Larestani language :...
), Bashkardi - LuriLuri languageLori or Luri is a collection of Southwestern Iranian languages which are mainly spoken by the Lurs and Bakhtiari people in the Iranian provinces of Loristan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and parts of Khuzestan and Esfahan province and Fars provinces...
(dialects: Luri, Mamasani, Kohkiluyeh, Bakhtiari), Kumzari