ArabicPersian

ArabicPersian is not a single language but a term used to describe the historical and linguistic interrelationship between Arabic and Persian. It encompasses the exchange of vocabulary, translation practices, religious and scholarly discourse, and cultural influence that has shaped both languages over many centuries.

Historically, Arabic exerted a strong influence on Persian after the Arab conquests in the 7th century. Arabic became the language of religion, science, law, and administration, introducing a large number of loanwords into Persian. Persian, in turn, contributed literary prestige and cultural exchange that influenced Arabic literature and thought, especially in the medieval Islamic world. The two languages often coexisted within empires where Persian served as a court or literary language and Arabic remained the language of ritual and high scholarship.

Linguistically, the Arabic-Persian relationship is characterized predominantly by lexical borrowing. Persian grammar and core vocabulary remained largely native, while Arabic supplied technical, religious, and philosophical terms. Some Arabic phrases entered Persian discourse, and Persian scholarly works were frequently translated into Arabic or quoted in Arabic sources, further blending the two linguistic spheres.

Script and writing systems reflect their interaction. Both languages use a version of the Arabic script; Persian adds four letters—پ, چ, ژ, گ—creating the Perso-Arabic script. Persian calligraphy, especially Nastaliq, influenced literary presentation, while Arabic script variants such as Naskh are common in Arabic texts.

In modern times, ArabicPersian studies focus on historical contact, bilingualism, and cultural exchange in Iran, Afghanistan, the Arab world, and the wider Middle East. The term highlights how Arabic and Persian have shaped each other within religious, literary, and intellectual contexts.