What is the language of the people of Zanjan?

The language of the people of Zanjan Province during the Parthian, Sassanian, and Islamic periods was Persian. In the Parthian era, the northern Pahlavi language was prevalent in this region, while in the Sassanian era, the southern Pahlavi language became widespread. With the emergence of Islam and the Arab conquests, southern Pahlavi continued to be widely used.

After the settlement of Turkic tribes in Zanjan and the migration of Azeri Turks to this region, a blend of Chagatai Turkish, Azeri Turkish, and Persian emerged, which also incorporated Kurdish vocabulary. Currently, the majority of the people in this province speak Turkish, with many Persian words incorporated into their language.

More than 90% of the population speaks Turkish, while about 10% speak Persian or other languages.

The language of the region’s inhabitants, much like their ethnicity, has not been homogenous. However, it is certain that before the Mongol invasion, the local language of the region was Persian.

In Ṣūrat al-Aqālīm, it is written, “Their (Zangan’s) language is pure Pahlavi.” Esteemed scholar Jalal Homayuni notes in his History of Literature: “The people of Hamedan and Zanjan, who have extensively composed poetry in Pahlavi, are more excused in their metrical errors than the followers of Bandār, as their language and dialect are closer to Dari than Pahlavi.” After the establishment of Turkic peoples in the region and the migrations of Azeri Turks, a mixture of languages including Chagatai Turkish, Azeri Turkish, and Persian (alongside Kurdish vocabulary) formed in this area.

Recently, due to frequent interactions with Persian-speaking areas and the proximity of the region to Tehran, Persian has become more common in families, leading to the use of Persian words in everyday conversations.

Parthian Pahlavi was widely used during the Parthian era, while southern or Sassanian Pahlavi became the norm during the Sassanian period. The royal inscriptions after the Sassanian era were written in this language, and it remained the official and prevalent language of Iranians, particularly in Iraq-e Ajam, Fars, and Khamsa, during the advent of Islam and the Arab conquests.

Currently, the majority of the province’s population speaks Turkish, with many Persian words incorporated into their language.

More than 90% of the province’s population speaks Turkish, while about 10% speaks Persian or other languages.

In some areas of the province, due to proximity to Persian-speaking cities or the migration of people to Persian-speaking areas like Tehran, and frequent interactions with these areas, residents have developed a preference for speaking Persian. They often see it as a mark of superiority over others.

For example, in the Abhar region, most families speak Persian with their children, who learn Persian as their first language and then become acquainted with Turkish.

Here are some commonly used words among the people in this region:

Qonaq: Guest
Eshak: Donkey
Yashmaq: Scarf
Olmakh: To die
Di: Say
Ata: Father
Yalançoni: Liar
Dime: Don’t say
Yel: Wind

People and Language

Today, the language spoken by the people of Zanjan is Azerbaijani Turkish, with a Zanjani accent. Culturally and linguistically, they are akin to other Azerbaijani-speaking cities in Iran. Persian is also commonly spoken in some families. Currently, the use of Persian vocabulary has become typical in the daily conversations of Zanjan’s people, who speak Persian in government offices, schools, and public spaces, while using Turkish with a Zanjani accent in everyday and local interactions.

In Nuzhat al-Qulub (written in 740 AH / 1339 AD), Hamdallah Mustawfi mentions the languages of Zanjan, Maragheh, and Talesh as Pahlavi, stating, “Their language is Pahlavi, linked to Gilani,” referring to the various dialects of the Tat languages.

Khoein-Deli Dialect

In some parts of Azerbaijan, the Pahlavi language has survived, but in Zanjan Province, the people of Khoein village still speak the Khoein-Deli dialect, confirmed by linguistic studies as a remnant of the Pahlavi language. “Deli” means “language” in Turkish, and it refers to the Khoein language. Linguists officially recognize it as the Khoein-Deli dialect, and after anthropological and linguistic research, it has been nationally registered as intangible cultural heritage under entry number 166.

This dialect is a mix of words from Turkish, English, Tat, Gilaki, Spanish, and other languages. Researchers like Manouchehr Sotoudeh and Kasravi have identified it as a remnant of the Pahlavi language. Although Khoein village is seasonally inhabited, about 70 families from this village live in the nearby village of Sefid-Kamar.

The primary characteristic of this dialect is its vitality; in the neighboring village of Sefid-Kamar, everyone from two-year-old children to the elderly speaks it. This village is located in Ijrud County in Zanjan Province, between the town of Halb and Khoein village.

Dejmand Fortress

In ancient times, villagers and townspeople would build fortresses to secure their living areas. In mountainous villages, these fortresses were constructed on mountain peaks, and in plains, they were built around the settlement. In Khoein village of Zanjan Province, the Dejmand Fortress was built beneath the village and includes corridors, tunnels, and small rooms where villagers would take refuge in times of danger.