Type Country
Pronounced Pron. PUR-zhə(American English) PU-zhə(British English) PEHR-sya(Italian)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Latin form of Greek Περσίς (Persis), from Old Persian Parsa. This is the name used in the West for a region in western Asia, as well as several empires that were based there, including the Achaemenid Empire, Parthian Empire, and Sasanian Empire. This was also the Western name for the country of Iran until 1935, when the king requested that the native name Iran be used instead.

Related Names

Other Languages & CulturesPersië(Afrikaans) Persis(Ancient Greek) Faris(Arabic) Persien(Danish) Perzië(Dutch) Perse(French) Persien(German) Parsa(Old Persian) Pérsia(Portuguese) Persien(Swedish)
Same SpellingPérsia

Categories

Entry updated April 23, 2024