ArabPersian

ArabPersian is a term used to describe the historical and cultural interconnections between Arab and Persian peoples and societies. It is not a formal ethnonym; rather it denotes patterns of exchange, hybridity, and shared institutions across regions where Arabs and Persians have interacted, from the early Islamic era onward.

Historically, the Abbasid Caliphate and the broader Persianate world featured significant cross-cultural exchange. Persian bureaucratic practices, literature, philosophy, and science helped shape the Arabic-speaking worlds, while Arabic contributed to trade, scholarship, and Islamic administration in Persian-speaking lands. Many elites were bilingual and blended aesthetics, court ceremonial, and architectural styles.

Linguistically, Persian and Arabic have exchanged vocabulary and literary forms. Persian often served as the language of high culture in Islamic courts across the region, while Arabic remained the liturgical and scholarly language. The result was a shared sphere of intellectual life that extended across modern Iran, Iraq, the Levant, and the Gulf coast.

In modern times, "ArabPersian" may refer to individuals or communities of mixed Arab and Persian heritage, or to discussions of intertwined histories. It is not a fixed identity, and contemporary usage varies with context and personal identification.

Related concepts include the Persianate world, the Arab world, the Persian language, and the Arabic language.