persisch

Persisch is the German term used to denote things related to Persia, the historical region that largely corresponds to modern Iran, or to the Persian language and its cultural sphere. In German usage, it can describe language, literature, ethnicity, and cultural heritage connected with Persian-speaking communities.

Language: The Persian language, also called Farsi in Iran, is part of the Western branch of the Indo-Iranian group in the Indo-European family. Modern Persian has three standard varieties: Persian (Iran), Dari (Afghanistan), and Tajik (Tajikistan). It is written in a variant of the Arabic script from right to left, with distinct letters and diacritics. Earlier stages include Old Persian and Middle Persian.

Culture and literature: Persian literature has a long tradition, featuring classical poets such as Ferdowsi, Rumi, Hafez, and Omar Khayyam, as well as contemporary writers. Persian culture encompasses art, architecture, music, and culinary traditions associated with Iran and the broader Persian-speaking world.

People and terminology: Persians are an Iranian people traditionally linked to the Persian-speaking heartland. Iran is multiethnic, and the adjective Persisch does not necessarily denote ethnicity but cultural and linguistic affiliation. The term can be distinguished from Iranisch in some contexts.

Other uses: Persisch also appears in non-linguistic contexts, such as the Persian cat (Perserkatze) and references to Persian art, design, and cuisine. The term reflects historical links to Persia and contemporary Iran.