What does dari mean?
Dari is the variety of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan, where it holds status as one of the country's two official languages alongside Pashto. Often referred to as Afghan Persian, it is closely related to — and largely mutually intelligible with — the Persian (Farsi) spoken in Iran, though the two differ noticeably in pronunciation, vocabulary, and idiomatic usage. The name derives from the Persian word for 'court', reflecting the language's historical association with the royal courts of the region. Dari serves as a lingua franca among Afghanistan's diverse ethnic groups and is used extensively in government, education, broadcasting, and everyday commerce, particularly in the capital, Kabul. For learners, Dari offers access to a rich literary tradition and to communication across Central Asia, and it remains an important language for diplomacy, journalism, and humanitarian work in the region.
nounDari is a variety of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan, where it serves as one of the country's two official languages alongside Pashto. It is often called Afghan Persian and is mutually intelligible with Iranian Persian.
- The variety of Persian spoken in Afghanistan and one of its two official languages.
"She learned Dari while working with aid organizations in Kabul."
"Radio broadcasts in Afghanistan are produced in both Dari and Pashto."
"His grandmother still speaks Dari at home, though he grew up speaking English."
The word 'Dari' traces back to 'dar', meaning 'court' — it was literally the Persian of the royal court, and today it's one of Afghanistan's two official languages.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dari
The name Dari comes from the Middle Persian term associated with 'dar', meaning 'court', and originally denoted the Persian of the royal court. The language itself descends from Old Persian through Middle Persian and has been spoken in the region of present-day Afghanistan for many centuries. Its closest relatives are Farsi, the Persian of Iran, and Tajik, spoken in Tajikistan; all three descend from the same Persian literary tradition.
How dari is actually used
Dari is a proper noun referring to a language and is always capitalized in English. It should not be treated as a countable ordinary noun.
Easily confused with dari
Farsi refers to the Persian of Iran, while Dari is the Persian variety official in Afghanistan; the two are mutually intelligible but differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some conventions.