PersoArabische

PersoArabische refers to the Perso-Arabic script, the Arabic script adapted to write Persian and several related languages. In common usage it is known as the Perso-Arabic or Persian script and is used for Persian (Farsi) and Dari, with broader variants also employed for Urdu and other languages in South and Central Asia. The script combines the Arabic base with a set of additional letters and orthographic conventions to represent Persian phonology.

Historically, the Persian form of the Arabic script emerged after the 7th–9th centuries as Islam spread in the region. Over time, letters were added to represent sounds not found in Arabic, most notably the four letters پ (pe), چ (che), ژ (zhe), and گ (gaf). The result is a 32-letter alphabet used in Iran and Afghanistan, among other places, with spelling conventions that differ from Arabic in certain phonological and typographic rules. Short vowels are typically not written, which can affect readability for learners.

The script is written from right to left and is highly context-sensitive in its letter shapes, depending on position within a word. Persian fonts often emphasize forms such as Nastaliq for calligraphy and copying, or Naskh for print. In modern times, the Perso-Arabic script is encoded in Unicode and supported by standard input methods, enabling digital publishing and telecommunications in Persian-speaking communities.

Beyond Persian, the Perso-Arabic script has influenced orthographies for other languages in the region and remains a central element of literary and daily written culture in Iran and Dari-speaking communities.