From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parthian is a now-extinct ancient Northwestern Iranian language that originated in Parthia (a region in north-east of modern Iran and the Greater Khorasan, including southern part of what is today known as Turkmenistan) and was the official language of the Parthian Empire under the Arsacid Dynasty (248 BC - 224 AD).

Contents 1 Origin and etymology 2 Written Parthian 3 Extinction 3.1 A Comparison Table of the Iranian Languages 4 See also 5 References

Parthian was the eastern most of the Western Middle Iranian languages. This feature made Parthian retain many archaic Eastern Iranian features. This retention was probably due to the fact that the Parthian dynasty was founded by the Parni tribe. The Iranian tribe had migrated from the steppes of Central Asia into Parthia. The Parni or Parnae originally were speakers of an Northeastern Iranian language closely related with other languages of the area such as Scythian, Sogdian and Bactrian. The study of the Indo-Iranian tribes reveal that it was not uncommon for the tribes to adopt the local language, beliefs and customs of the peoples among whom they had settled whether through migration or conquest. This was especially true of the nomadic steppe tribes who formed the core of the Indo-Iranian world. The eastern Iranian speech of the Parthians is distinguished from the western Iranian speech by referring to the former as Parnian.^{[citation needed]}

Main article: Pahlavi

The Parthian language was rendered using the Pahlavi writing system, which had two essential characteristics: First, its script derived from Aramaic, the script (and language) of the Achaemenid chancellery (i.e. Imperial Aramaic). Second, it had a high incidence of Aramaic words, rendered as ideograms or logograms, that is, they were written Aramaic words but understood as Parthian ones (See Arsacid Pahlavi for details).

The main sources for Parthian are the few remaining inscriptions from Nisa and Hecatompolis, Manichean texts, Sasanian multi-lingual inscriptions, and remains of Parthian literature in the succeeding Middle Persian. Among these, the Manichean texts, composed shortly after the demise of the Parthian power, play an important role for reconstructing the Parthian language.

In 224 AD, Ardashir I, the local ruler of Pars, deposed and replaced Artabanus IV, the last Parthian Emperor, and founded the fourth Iranian dynasty, and the second Persian dynasty, the Sassanian Empire. Parthian was then succeeded by Middle Persian, which when written is known as Sasanian Pahlavi. Parthian did not die out immediately, but remains attested in a few bi-lingual inscriptions from the Sasanian era.

English	Zazaki	Kurdish	Pashto	Balochi	Mazandarani	Tajik	Persian	Middle Persian	Parthian	Old Persian	Avestan
beautiful	rind	rind/delal/cûwan	shkulay, xkulay	sharr, soherâ		zebo	zibâ/ xubchehreh	hučihr, hužihr	hužihr	naiba	vahu-, srîra
blood	gûn	xwîn	wina	hon	xin	xun	xūn	xōn	xōn		vohuni
bread	nûn	nan	ḍoḍəy/roṭəy (from Indic)	nân, nagan	nân	non	nân	nân	nân
bring	ârdena	anîn/hênan	rāwṛəl	âvardan	biyârden	ovardan	âvardan	âwurdan, āwāy-, āwar-, bar-	āwāy-, āwar-, bar-	bara-	bara, bar-
brother	birâ	bira	wror	barādar	birâr	barodar	barādar	brād, brâdar	brād, brādar	brâtar	brâtar-
come	amaena	hatin	rātləl	áhag, âmadan	enen	omadan	âmadan	âmadan, awar	awar, čām	ây-, âgam	âgam-
cry	bermayish	girîn	žāṛəl	taukh	bərmə/ qâ	giristan	geristan	griy-, bram-
dark	târî	tarî	tiārə	thár	siyo	torîk	târîk	târīg/k	târīg, târēn		sâmahe, sâma
daughter	kena	keç/kîj/kenîşk/dot	lūr	mind	kijâ/ dether	duxtar	doxtar	duxtar	duxt, duxtar		duxδar
day	roc	roj	wradz	roshe	rez/ reoj	rûz	rûz	rōz		raucah-
do	kerdena	kirin/kirdin	kawəl	khandagh	hâkerden	kardan	kardan	kardan	kartan	kạrta-	kәrәta-
door	ber	derge/derî	war	gelo	bəli	dar	dar	dar	dar, bar	duvara-	dvara-
die	merdena	mirin	mṛəl/məṛedəl	mireg	bamirden	murdan	murdan	murdan		mạriya-	mar-
donkey	her	ker	xar	her	xar	xar	xar	xar
egg	hak	hêk	hagəy	heyg	merqâna	tuxm	toxm	toxmag, xâyag	taoxmag, xâyag		taoxma-
earth	êrd (Arabic)	herd/erd (Arabic)	zməka/mzəka	zemin	zemi	zamin	zamin	zamīg	zamīg	zam-	zãm, zam, zem
evening	shund	êvar/êware	māshām, māxām	nəmâshun	begáh	begoh, shom	sarshab	êbêrag
eye	chım	çav	stərga	ch.hem, chem		chashm	chashm	chašm	chašm	čaša-	čašman-
father	pi	bav/bawk	plār	pyt, abbâ	piyer	padar	pedar	pidar	pid	pitar	pitar
fear	ters	tirs	wera	terseg	təshəpash	tars	tars	tars	tars	tạrsa-	tares-
fiancé	washte	dezgîran, destgirtî		nām zād		nomzad	nâm-zad	-	-
fine	wesh	xweş/baş	sha, xa	hosh		naghz, xub	xub	dârmag			srîra
finger	gisht	til/qamik	gūta/gwəta	lenkwk, mordâneg	angoos	angusht	angosht	angust			dišti-
fire	âdır	agir	or	âch, âs	tesh	otash	âtash, âzar	âdur, âtaxsh	ādur	âç-	âtre-/aêsma-
fish	mâse	masî	kab/māhī	mâhi		mohi	mâhi	mâhig	mâsyâg		masyô, masya
food / eat	werdena	xwarin	xwāṛa/xoṛəl	warag, vereg		xurok / xurdan	xorâk / xordan	parwarz / xwâr, xwardīg	parwarz / xwâr		hareθra / ad-, at-
go	shiyaena	çûn	tləl	jwzzegh	shunen / burden	raftan	raftan	raftan, shudan	ay-	ai-	ay-, fra-vaz
god	homâ	xwedê	xwdāy	hwdâ		xudo	xodâ	bay, abragar		baga-	baya-
good	hol	baş, çak	sha, xa	jawáin, šarr	xâr	naghz, xub, neku	xub / neku	xūb, nêkog		vahu-	vohu, vaŋhu-
grass	vash	giya, riwek, şênkatî	wāshə, wāxə	rem		sabza, giyoh	sabzeh, giyâh	giyâ	dâlūg		urvarâ
great	gırd / pil	gir, mezin, gewre	stər	mastar	belang, pila	buzurg	bozorg	wuzurg, pīl		vazạrka-	uta-, avañt
hand	dest	dest/lep	lās	dast	dess	dast	dast	dast	dast	dasta-	zasta-
head	ser	ser	sar	saghar	kalə	sar, kalla	sar, kalleh	sar
heart	zerri	dil	zṛə	dil, hatyr	dil	dil	del	dil	dil		aηhuš
horse	estoar	hesp	ās (masc.), aspa (fem.)	asp	istar	asp	asb, astar	asp, stōr	asp, stōr	aspa	aspa-
house	ke(ye)	mal	kor	log	səre	xona	xâneh	xânag			demâna-, nmâna-
hunger	vêyshan	birçîtî/birsiyetî	lwaža	shudhagh	veyshna	gurusnagi	gorosnegi	gursag, shuy
language	ziwan / zun	ziman	žəba	zevân	ziwân	zabon	zabân	zuwân	izβân	hazâna-	hizvâ-
laugh	huyaena	kenîn	xandəl	khendegh, hendeg		xandidan	xandidan	xandīdan		karta	Syaoθnâvareza-
life	jewiyaena	jiyan/jîn	žwand	zendegih		zindagi	zendegi	zīndagīh, zīwišnīh	žīwahr, žīw-		gaêm, gaya-
man	merd	mêr/piyaw	saṛay	merd	merd	mard	mard	mard	mard	martiya-	mašîm, mašya
moon	ashmê	heyv/mang	spožməy/spogməy	máh	mithra	moh	māh	māh	māh	mâh-	måŋha-
mother	mae	dayik	mor	mât, mâs	mâr	modar	mādar	mādar	mādar	mâtar	mâtar-
mouth	fek	dev/dem	xwla	daf		dahon	dahân	dahân, rumb			åŋhânô, âh, åñh
name	nâme	nav	num	num	num	nom	nâm	nâm		nâman	nãman
night	shewe	şev	shpa	shaw, šap	sheow	shab	shab	shab		xšap-	xšap-
open	rakerdena	vekirin	prānistəl/prānatəl	božagh	vâ-hekârden	kushodan, boz kardan	bâz-kardan	abâz-kardan		būxtaka-	būxta-
peace	kotpy	aştî	rogha	ârâm		oshti, oromish	âshti, ârâmeš	âštih, râmīšn	râm, râmīšn	šiyâti-	râma-
pig	xoz	beraz	xug	xug	xi	xuk	xūk	xūk			varâza (wild pig)
place	ja	cih/şûn	dzāy	hend		joy, jo	jâ	gâh	gâh	gâθu-	gâtu-, gâtav-
read	wendena	xwendin	lwastəl	wánagh	baxinden	xondan	xândan	xwândan
say	vatena	gotin/wutin	wayəl	gushagh	baotena	guftan	goftan	guftan, gōw-, wâxtan	gōw-	gaub-	mrû-
sister	wae	xweşk	xor	gwhâr	xâxer	xohar	xâhar	xwahar
small	qıch	piçûk	ləž, ləg/woṛ/kuchnay	lekem	pətik, bechuk, perushk	xurd	kuchak, kam	kam, rangas	kam	kamna-	kamna-
son	qıj	kur	zway, zuy	pisar, phusagh	pisser	pisar	pesar	pur, pusar	puhr	puça	pūθra-
soul		giyan	rūh (Arabic), sā	rūh (Arabic)		ravon	ravân	rūwân, gyân	rūwân, gyân		urvan-
spring	wusar	bihar	psarlay		wehâr	bahor	bahâr	wahâr		vâhara-	θūravâhara-
tall	berz	bilind/berz	lwaṛ	bwrz		baland	boland / bârez	buland, borz	bârež		barez-
three	hire	sê	dre	se	se	se	se	sê	hrē	çi-	θri-
village	dew	gund, dê	kəlay	helk	deh	deh, rusto	deh	wiž	dahyu-	vîs-, dahyu-
want	wastena	xwestin/wîstin	ghwāṛəl	lotagh	bexanen	xostan	xâstan	xwâstan
water	awe	av	obə	âf	ab	ob	âb	âb	âb	âpi	avô-
when	key	kengê	kəla, či	ked		kay	kay	kay	ka		čim-
wind	va	ba	bād	gwáth	wâ	bod	bâd	wâd			vâta-
wolf	verg	gur	līwə	gurkh	varg, gəorge	gurg	gorg	gurg		varka-	vehrka
woman	jeniye	jin/afret	shədza, xəza	jan	zəna	zan	zan	zan	žan		hâīrīšī-, nâirikâ-
year	serre	sal	kāl	sâl		sol	sâl	sâl		θard	ýâre, sarәd
yes / no	ya / ne	erê / na	ho, wo / na	ere / na		ha / ne	âri / na	hâ / ney	hâ / ney	yâ / nay, mâ	yâ / noit, mâ
yesterday	vizêr	duh/dwênê	pərun	zí	direz	dina, diruz	diruz	dêrûž

• A Comparison Table of Parthian-Pahlavi with other Iranian Languages
• Parthia and Parthian
• Arsacid Dynasty
• Indo-Parthian Kingdom
• Iranian languages
• Iranian peoples

• Lecoq, Pierre. (1983). "Aparna". Encyclopedia Iranica 1. Cosa Mesa: Mazda Pub.
• "Parthia". Encyclopaedia Britannica 20: 871. (1911). Ed. Hugh Chisholm. London: Cambridge University Press.
• Boyce, Mary (1979). "Review: R. Ghirshman's L'Iran et la Migration des Indo-Aryens et des Iraniens" 99 (1): 119-120. 

Iranian Languages
Eastern Iranian
Old Iranian	Avestan † | Scythian (including Saka)† | Sogdian†
Middle Iranian	Bactrian† | Khwarezmian† | Khotanese† (possibly a Saka dialect) | Ossetic | Sacian†
Modern Iranian	Bartangi | Hidukush Group | Ishkashmi | Karakoram Group | Khufi | Munji | Oroshori | New Ossetic | Parachi | Pashto | Roshani (Roshni) | Sanglechi | Sarikoli | Shughni | Wakhi | Vanji † | Waziri | Yaghnobi | Yidgha | Yazgulami | Zebaki
Western Iranian
Old Iranian	Median† | Old Persian (Aryan)†
Middle Iranian	Parthian Pahlavi† | Sasanian Pahlavi†
Modern Iranian	Alviri (Vidâri) | Ashtiani | Azari† | Baluchi | Bashkardi | Central Iran | Persian Dari | Dari (Zoroastrian) | Gilaki | Gorani | Harzani | Judeo-Persian | Kurdish Kurmanji | Laki | Luri | Bakhtiari Lori | Mazandarani | Ormuri | Sangsari | Parachi | New-Persian | Sorani (Kurdish) | Tajik | Taleshi | Tat | Tati | Vafsi | Zazaki
Extinct †