Tajik

Tajik is a term with several related uses in Central Asia. It most often denotes a Persian-speaking ethnic group, a language closely related to Persian, or things associated with Tajikistan. It is also used as an adjective for matters related to Tajikistan.

Tajiks are a Persian-speaking ethnic group concentrated in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and communities in Uzbekistan and Iran. In Tajikistan they form the largest ethnic group and are predominantly Sunni Muslims. Tajik culture and language share ties with the broader Persian-speaking world, including literature, music, and oral traditions.

Tajik language: Tajik is a variety of Persian. In Tajikistan it is an official language alongside Russian and is written in a Cyrillic script; in Afghanistan the local Persian variety is typically referred to as Dari. Tajik and Dari are closely related and largely mutually intelligible, with differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some usage.

Tajikistan: A landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and China. Its capital is Dushanbe. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Tajikistan has pursued political and economic reforms, developed its hydroelectric resources, and maintained a multiethnic society with Tajiks as a major population group.