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Persian

PUR-zhuhn
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Persian (adjective) means relating to Persia (modern Iran), its people, or its culture. Example: “The museum has a stunning collection of Persian rugs.”

adjective
1
Relating to Persia (modern Iran), its people, or its culture.
"The museum has a stunning collection of Persian rugs."
"She grew up eating Persian food at her grandmother's house."
proper noun
1
The Persian language, spoken mainly in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.
"He's fluent in both Persian and Arabic."

How to use Persian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to Iran/Persia, its people, culture, or language.

Common pairings
Persian rug Persian cat Persian language
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Word forms

Comparative
more Persian
Superlative
most Persian
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The museum has a stunning collection of _____ rugs.

Etymology

Came into English 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 ???? (p-a-r-s /⁠Pārsa⁠/, “Persian”) plus -ia, a suffix forming country names) plus -iānus. Equivalent to Pers(ia) plus -ian. Compare Early Classical Persian پارس (pārs) or modern Iranian Persian فارس (fârs), showing the shift p > f.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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farsi iranian

Related words

Iranian Farsi iranic

Rhymes for Persian

Asian radian Fabian Indian Syrian simian median Italian Russian Serbian Latvian Belgian
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.

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