Persian
Persian (adjective) means relating to Persia (modern Iran), its people, or its culture. Example: “The museum has a stunning collection of Persian rugs.”
How to use Persian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Iran/Persia, its people, culture, or language.
Word forms
more Persian comparative, more Persian comparative, most Persian superlative, most Persian superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum has a stunning collection of _____ rugs.
Etymology
From Middle English Persien, from Middle French persien, from Italian persiano, from Medieval Latin Persiānus, from Persia (itself from Persēs/Persa (“Persian man”) [from Ancient Greek Πέρσης (Pérsēs), itself from Old Persian 𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿 (p-a-r-s /Pārsa/, “Persian”)] + -ia (suffix forming country names)) + -iānus. Equivalent to Pers(ia) + -ian. Compare Early Classical Persian پارس (pārs) or modern Iranian Persian فارس (fârs), where the shift p > f.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Persian
See all rhymes for Persian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Persian” mean?
The word “Persian” means relating to Persia (modern Iran), its people, or its culture. In plain terms, relating to Iran/Persia, its people, culture, or language.
How do you pronounce “Persian”?
“Persian” is pronounced PUR-zhuhn (/ˈpɝʒən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Persian” in a sentence?
Here is “Persian” used in a sentence: “The museum has a stunning collection of Persian rugs.”
What part of speech is “Persian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Persian” can be an adjective and a proper noun.
Is “Persian” a common word?
“Persian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Persian” have?
“Persian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Persia (modern Iran), its people, or its culture.
Should Persian be capitalized?
Yes, Persian is always capitalized because it is a proper adjective and proper noun derived from the place name Persia. This applies whether you are describing something as Persian (the adjective) or referring to the Persian language itself.
Is Persian the same as Farsi?
Persian and Farsi refer to the same language, the one spoken mainly in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. "Farsi" is the name used by native speakers in Iran, while "Persian" is the more common term in English for the language and for anything relating to Persia and its culture.
Is Persian a language or a nationality?
Persian can describe both. As an adjective it relates to Persia (modern Iran), its people, or its culture, while as a proper noun it names the specific language spoken across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.