Lur

Lur may refer to more than one subject, most commonly an ethnic group in Iran or a Bronze Age musical instrument. The term is used in different cultural and historical contexts, and it is important to distinguish between these uses.

Lurs are an Iranian ethnic group native to western Iran, particularly in the Zagros Mountain region and the Lorestan Province. They are traditionally nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists and farmers, though many have settled in towns and cities. Lurs speak Luri, a Western Iranian language with several dialects, and they are predominantly Shia Muslims, with minority Sunni communities. Luri culture encompasses distinct music, dance, dress, and crafts, and the Lurs have a long historical presence in the mountainous heartland of Iran, contributing to the region’s cultural and social landscape. The Lur population is spread across Iran and diaspora communities internationally.

The Luri language refers to a group of closely related Southwestern Iranian dialects spoken by the Lur people. Classified within the Iranian language family, Luri shares features with Persian but forms a distinct linguistic variety. It uses the Persian script for written communication and exists in numerous regional dialects, which can differ substantially in phonology and vocabulary. Luri is taught in some contexts and used in local media, literature, and daily life alongside Persian.

Lur also denotes a Bronze Age musical instrument, the lur, a long horn or pair of horns found in Nordic archaeological contexts, especially Gotland, Sweden. Lurs date to the Bronze Age and are notable for their length and ceremonial use; they produce natural horn tones without valves and are linked to ritual or signaling practices in prehistoric Scandinavia.

See also: Luri language, Lorestan, Gotland lurs.