Gorani

Gorani refers to a small group of Northwestern Iranian languages and to the Kurdish-speaking communities that traditionally use them. In linguistic terms, Gorani is considered part of the Northwestern Iranian branch of the Iranian languages, sometimes described as a distinct Kurdish subcategory within the broader Kurdish language continuum. The Gorani varieties are generally treated as a single language with regional dialects rather than a single monolithic tongue.

Geographically, Gorani varieties are spoken mainly in the Zagros mountain areas of western Iran and northern Iraq. The core regions include the Hawraman (Oraman) area along the Iran–Iraq border, with-speaking communities also found in the Iranian provinces of Kermanshah and Ilam and in parts of Iraqi Kurdistan. Estimates of the number of speakers vary widely, ranging from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand, with many Gorani speakers bilingual in Persian or other Kurdish varieties such as Kurmanji or Sorani.

Dialects and varieties traditionally associated with Gorani include Hawrami (Horami) and Bajelani (Bejlani), among others. These varieties share core features but differ in phonology, lexicon, and certain grammatical elements, reflecting gradual divergence over time.

Historically, Gorani played a significant role in Kurdish literary and religious traditions, particularly during the medieval period, contributing to Kurdish literary history and scholarship. In the modern era, language shift toward Sorani and Kurmanji, as well as Persian in Iran, has reduced Gorani’s domains of use, especially in education and media. Today, Gorani is considered endangered in many communities, though it remains an important marker of regional identity for its speakers and persists in oral tradition and community life.