Did you previously think that Iranians were Arabs?

[Anonymous]

First of all, I'm warning you in advance. Please don't write political comments. I'm only asking a cultural question.

As for my question, Iranians are not Arabs, they are Persians. Also, there is a Turkic population in Iran that is almost as large as the Persian population. I am a young Turk living in Türkiye.

In Türkiye, the Arabic alphabet was used until 1928, after which the Latin alphabet was adopted. We still use the Latin alphabet today. However, the Arabic alphabet is still used in Iran. As a child, I thought Iranians were Arabs because they used the Arabic alphabet. That was until I did some research. When I grew up and did my research, I learned that Iranians are not Arabs but Persians, that their official language is Persian, and that they only use the Arabic alphabet. Did you also think Iranians were Arabs when you were little?

Yes, I thought Iranians were Arabs.

No, I knew Iranians weren't Arabs.

[RavVid]

Quite a few people who think they are Arabs aren't. It is just Arabian is the dominant culture and Muslims kinda think they are Arabs.

Over 95% of Egyptians consider themselves Arabs but only 17% of Egyptian DNA is from the Arabian peninsula. Numbers of this type are always rubbery but the point is people might consider themselves Arabian because they Arabanized in culture and language

[Asker]

@ravvid
Interestingly, in Türkiye, the word "Ajam" has been used to describe Iranians since the Ottoman period. However, the origin of this word is Arabic, and it was used by Arabs to describe foreigners who were different from themselves.

This stems from the strong Arabic influence on the language in the Ottoman Empire. However, before the Ottomans, we Turks had established a state in Anatolia called the Seljuk Empire. This state was a continuation of the Great Seljuk Empire in the Khorasan region of Iran; we lived and established states there before coming to Anatolia. In the same regions, after accepting Islam, Turks also established states such as the Karakhanids and the Ghaznavids. The Karakhanids were the first Muslim Turkic state in the geographical region of Central Asia and Iran, and they used pure Turkish. However, in the period from the Ghaznavids to the Ottoman Empire, Persian influence began to appear in the Turkish language. During this period, until the emergence of Arabic influence in the Turkish language after the Ottoman period, Persians were never referred to as "Ajam."

By the way, please don't use the word "Ajam" when referring to an Iranian. Iranians might perceive "Ajam" as an insult, just as calling a black person "nigra" might be considered an insult by black people. I always use the word "Persian" when referring to Iranians

[RavVid]

Interesting history of which I had some touching knowledge. From memory Turkic people originated in central Asia the migrated into Persia and Anatolia.

Anatolia is an ancient cross roads. I'm curious at the multiple language influences. Is it very obvious that there are loan words in the common language spoken?

I wouldn't use Ajam and indeed would wait for the person to say Persian or Iranian or just ask.

[OneViewpoint]

Any Iranian will very quickly inform you that they are Persian. They feel a strong connection to and take pride in their Persian Empire History.

[OneViewpoint]

I went to school with a bunch of Iranians. Later on I worked with Iranians who emigrated to the US during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. LOL, the Iranian government may be theocratic but I assure you Iranians love to party and have a great sense of humor.

[Asker]

@OneViewpoint
Exactly. While I was living in the dorm at university, I met a few Iranians. They were very warm and friendly people. When I took English classes, I also had Iranian English teachers. They were very nice people too. Moreover, my paternal grandfather lost his parents as a baby and was adopted by an elderly Iranian man who was involved in trade in Anatolia and his Turkish wife. So my father had a special affection for Iranians.

[Asker]

Interestingly, in Türkiye, the word "Ajam" has been used to describe Iranians since the Ottoman period. However, the origin of this word is Arabic, and it was used by Arabs to describe foreigners who were different from themselves.

This stems from the strong Arabic influence on the language in the Ottoman Empire. However, before the Ottomans, we Turks had established a state in Anatolia called the Seljuk Empire. This state was a continuation of the Great Seljuk Empire in the Khorasan region of Iran; we lived and established states there before coming to Anatolia. In the same regions, after accepting Islam, Turks also established states such as the Karakhanids and the Ghaznavids. The Karakhanids were the first Muslim Turkic state in the geographical region of Central Asia and Iran, and they used pure Turkish. However, in the period from the Ghaznavids to the Ottoman Empire, Persian influence began to appear in the Turkish language. During this period, until the emergence of Arabic influence in the Turkish language after the Ottoman period, Persians were never referred to as "Ajam."

[Asker]

By the way, please don't use the word "Ajam" when referring to an Iranian. Iranians might perceive "Ajam" as an insult, just as calling a black person "nigra" might be considered an insult by black people. I always use the word "Persian" when referring to Iranians.

[Tamera952]

Very aware of this. Persia has an extremely interesting, rich, and colorful past. Iranians by large are a vibrant, open, creative, beautiful people—some of the most warm and welcoming people ever. Their culture and civilization is almost as old as China’s. Unfortunately they’ve been hijacked by religious extremists, in the worst way and are suffering under the current regime.

[Agape93]

No, they're persians. I still consider them arabs culturally.

[AviatorTom]

I used to work with a woman who emigrated from Iran and became a US citizen. I learned that she is Persian and that Iranians do not speak Arabic, as Arabs do. They speak Persian, also called Farsi.

[ohsheeT]

No , they are just people that live on the other side of the planet , there are no different than you and me

[BCRanger10]

No. I've known for a long time that they are ethnically Persian.

[Dargil]

I learned in the past that there is a difference in the ethnicity between Persians and semites. And make no mistake about it. Arabs are semites.

[CalmUntilAbused]

That is correct. Now... Doesn't it make the IDF... anti-semites? 🙃

[Dargil]

@CalmUntilAbused it makes IDF anti Hamas radicals.

[CalmUntilAbused]

@Dargil I wish I could believe it, but the indiscriminate shelling of civilians while having access to weapons of surgical precision does indicate a lot of ill will towards all Palestinians, not just Hamas.

[lightbulb27]

yes. is there any root of them back to Israel?

[noohair]

There is a lot of friction between Arabs and Persians.

[queenofcardio]

Nope. I always knew they are Persians

[beefcakebradybatson]

I actually though Iranians were Arabs !!!

[NathanDavis]

nope

[Anonymous]

I already knew the answer