Hazar

Hazar is a term with multiple meanings in language, onomastics, and geography. In Persian and Dari, the word هزار (hezār) means "thousand" and is used in counting and dates; Latin transliterations vary, producing hazar or hazār. As a proper noun, Hazar can appear as a given name or as part of place names in several regions.

In ethnography, Hazara (often transliterated Hazārā) refers to an ethnic group primarily in Afghanistan. In some texts, Hazar is used as a variant spelling. The Hazara speak Hazaragi, a Dari-based dialect continuum related to Persian, and are predominantly Shia Muslims, including Ismaili communities. They primarily inhabit central Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, with diasporas in Pakistan, Iran, and other countries. Hazara culture includes distinctive music, dress, and crafts; their modern history includes periods of persecution, political advocacy, and efforts toward greater rights and representation.

Geographically, there are places named Hazar in several countries, typically small towns, villages, or districts. The toponymic use often derives from local languages or from the historical Persian word for “thousand.”

As a given name, Hazar is used in Turkish-speaking communities and in other regions, for both men and women. The breadth of its usage reflects the word’s linguistic reach across Central and South Asia and its diasporas.