Meanings
proper noun
alternative OPers.
- The ancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language. Attested in Old Persian cuneiform, in the period 525 B.C.E. – 300 B.C.E.
The oldest reliably dated citation is part of the Behistun inscription of Darius the Great (died 486 B.C.), which is given in transliterated Old Persian in the entry for Aryan.
2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, →DOI, page 492
Translations
Dutch Oudperzisch
- Oudperzischancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Finnish muinaispersia
- muinaispersiaancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
French vieux perse
- vieux perseancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
German Altpersisch
- Altpersischancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Hindi प्राचीन फ़ारसी
- प्राचीन फ़ारसी (prācīn fārsī)ancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Hungarian óperzsa
- óperzsaancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Japanese 古代ペルシア語
- 古代ペルシア語 (godai Perushiago)ancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Persian فارسی باستان, فارسی قدیم
- فارسی باستان (fârsi-ye bâstân)ancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
- فارسی قدیم (fârsi-ye qadim)ancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Polish staroperski
- staroperskiancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Russian древнеперсидский
- древнеперсидский (drevnepersidskij)ancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Spanish persa antiguo
- persa antiguoancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Swedish fornpersiska
- fornpersiskaancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Turkish Eski Farsça
- Eski Farsçaancestor language of Middle Persian, and via it of New Persian language
Cite this entry
APA
Old Persian. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Old%20Persian
MLA
“Old Persian.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Old%20Persian. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Old Persian,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Old%20Persian.
Source: Old Persian on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.