The Persian Language: Ancient, Beautiful, and Still Alive

The Persian language is one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful languages, with a history that stretches back thousands of years. Still spoken by millions today, Persian is a rich and poetic language that connects cultures, countries, and generations. If your child is learning Persian or you’re exploring it as a family, discovering the story of this language can make it even more exciting.

What Do Persian Speakers Call Their Language?

In English, we say “Persian,” but native speakers often call it Fārsī, which is the Arabic version of “Parsi.” Persian is part of the Indo-European language family, which means it is distantly related to languages like English, Spanish, and Hindi.

Where Is Persian Spoken?

Persian is mainly spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, with about 130 million speakers worldwide. However, there are also many Persian-speaking communities in countries such as:

• Uzbekistan

• Iraq

• Turkey

• Azerbaijan

• Bahrain

• Turkmenistan

• Kuwait

• United Arab Emirates

• Oman

• Yemen

• Israel

• United States

In Afghanistan, Persian is known as Dari, and in Tajikistan, it is called Tajiki. These are all forms of Persian but have some regional differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.

Other Languages in Iran

Persian is the main language of Iran, but it’s not the only one. Many people also speak:

• Azeri

• Kurdish

• Arabic

• Balochi

• Turkmen

This makes Iran a diverse country with many languages and cultures living together.

How Has Persian Been Written?

Over time, Persian has been written in many different scripts. Some of these include:

• Old Persian Cuneiform

• Pahlavi

• Aramaic

• Avestan

• Cyrillic

• Latin alphabet

• Arabic script (used in modern Persian today)

After the Islamic conquest of Persia in 642 AD, Arabic became the language of religion and government. However, Persian remained strong and developed into modern Persian during the 9th century. Today, Persian uses a version of the Arabic script, but it has its own unique sounds and letters.

There are also two Latin-based systems used to write Persian, often for teaching or when using technology.

Persian Around the World

Did you know that Persian was once the language of government and poetry in Turkey, Central Asia, and India? It remained important in many of these places for centuries and was used officially in parts of India until the early 1900s.

Many famous poets, including Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, and Ferdowsi, wrote in Persian. Their poems are still read, sung, and loved by people of all ages today.

Learning Persian as a Child

Learning Persian gives children access to a world of poetry, culture, and history. It’s also a fun and unique way to learn a new alphabet and experience different sounds. Children can start by learning simple words for animals, numbers, colors, and family—then move on to songs, stories, and everyday phrases.

Learn Persian with Dinolingo

If you’re looking for a fun, effective way for children to learn Persian, Dinolingo is a great option. Designed for kids ages 2 to 14, Dinolingo includes interactive lessons, videos, games, and printable materials. Children can learn at their own pace through web, iOS, or Android apps. There’s even a parent dashboard to track progress, plus one subscription works for up to six users!

Whether your child is learning Persian for family reasons, school, or curiosity, Dinolingo makes the journey exciting and easy to follow.