Farsi vs. Arabic: A Comprehensive Comparison
Arabic is the fifth most-spoken language in the world, and yet many people still confuse it with Farsi. They are not the same language. While Farsi and Arabic are both spoken in the same region of the world, there are some key differences between them.
There are some parts of the Farsi and Arabic language that overlap including the alphabet, geographic location, overall vocabulary, and relation to the Islamic religion. However, the Farsi language also has many of its own unique characteristics that make it distinct from Arabic.
Below we have provided a comprehensive guide of Arabic vs. Farsi. We have detailed the key differences and similarities between the two languages and how they compare to each other.
Which Countries Speak Arabic?
Arabic is mainly spoken in the geographical location of the Middle East. The following countries speak Arabic and have it as the official language:
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Chad
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Yemen
All of these are located within the Middle East. However, notice that there is one country from that location that is missing from this list. Iran does not speak Arabic. The people of Iran speak Farsi, or more commonly known as Persian.
How Old is the Arabic Language?
The Arabic language has been around for over 2,500 years. While the dialects have varied, the vocabulary and language basics have remained the same over this time.
This is one of the main similarities when comparing Arabic to the Persian language. Persian has also been around for over 2,500 years in its respective regions. Since they developed at the same time and are in the same global region, it is no wonder people commonly confuse these two languages.
Where is Farsi Spoken?
Farsi is the official language of Iran. It is rarely heard outside of this context because it is so isolated within the borders of the Iran nation.
Is Farsi Arabic?
Farsi is not Arabic. They are two different languages. The Farsi language has many overlaps with the Arabic language, but also has its own distinctions.
What Language is Farsi?
Farsi is also known as Persian. They are the same language so to compare Farsi vs. Persian would be useless. Especially if you are looking for translations of documents, Farsi does not need to be translated to Persian.
The Farsi language origin is in Iran, originally developing in 525BCE. Since then, the language has developed and evolved, including adopting the Arabic alphabet, into the Farsi that you can hear today.
Persian Vs. Arabic: The Alphabet
Many people think that since Persian and Arabic are different languages then they must have different alphabets. This is not true. In fact, when comparing the alphabets of Persian vs. Arabic, the letters are exactly the same.
The similarities carry through much of the vocab as well. To say hello in the Arabic language is the same as to say hello in the Persian language. This is what makes it so easy to translate from Arabic to Persian because much of it is the same.
How Many Letters in the Arabic Alphabet and Persian Alphabet?
There are 28 letters in the Arabic alphabet. In the Persian alphabet there are 32 letters meaning there are 4 extras. Despite the 4 extra letters found in the Persian alphabet, the scripts are the same. Arabic writing looks the exact same as Persian writing.
The 4 extra letters in the Farsi alphabet help contribute to a few extra vocab words and spellings of Arabic words.
Arabic and Canada
In Canada the large majority of the Arab population lives in either Ontario or Quebec. These are linguistically diverse hotspots in the country where many people claim to not have English or French as their only language.
The congregation of Arab-Canadians also makes it easier for them to find their community within the vast country that is Canada. In this way they can share culture and language with people who are similar to them.
Final Thoughts
Arabic and Farsi are not the same language. While they may be sister languages and share an alphabet, the common heard term of Persian Arabic is not correct. Instead, Farsi (also known as Persian) is spoken almost exclusively within the Iran borders and population. Arabic can be found everywhere else in the Middle East and some parts of Canada.
