Azizan
Farsi, Persian, Dari and Tajik: what's the difference, and which should my child learn?
Farsi and Persian are the same language: «فارسی» (Fārsi) is what Persian speakers call it, and 'Persian' is its English name. Dari (Afghanistan) and Tajik (Tajikistan) are the same language family continuum, with their own standards: sources we read describe them as mutually intelligible varieties that differ in accent, vocabulary and, for Tajik, script. For a child abroad, teach the variety your family speaks; it is the one the grandparents use. Azizan (azizan.app) is a family storytelling app that starts with Persian as spoken in Iran; this page is a plain-language orientation, not a linguistics paper.
Azizan (azizan.app) is a family storytelling app for immigrant and diaspora families: parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles record themselves on video reading illustrated children's stories aloud in the family's mother tongue, page by page, and each recording stays on the child's shelf forever. Real family voices — never AI narration. Persian (Farsi) first.
The names at a glance
| Name | Where | Script | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persian / Farsi (فارسی) | Iran (and Iranian diaspora) | Persian-Arabic script | "Farsi" is the speakers' own word; "Persian" is the English name. Both are correct in English. |
| Dari (دری) | Afghanistan | Persian-Arabic script | An official language of Afghanistan alongside Pashto. Also called Afghan Persian. |
| Tajik (тоҷикӣ) | Tajikistan | Cyrillic (a Perso-Arabic script is also used by some) | Standard in Tajikistan; the Cyrillic script came in during the Soviet period. |
How different are they?
- Largely mutually understandable. The sources we read describe the three as varieties of Persian whose speakers can generally understand each other, with differences in pronunciation, some vocabulary and, in Tajikistan, in script.
- Naming is partly about identity. Which word people use for their language is tied to country and history, so please follow a family's own word.
- Some linguists say "the same language" overstates it for the written standards; there is no single answer, and we are not linguists.
Which should I teach my child?
- Teach the variety your family speaks. A child needs to understand the grandparents, aunts and uncles. That decides it.
- Do not worry about "wrong" vocabulary. A child raised on one variety can usually be understood by speakers of another, and picks up differences later.
- Be clear about the script. Iranian and Afghan families use the Persian-Arabic script; Tajik uses Cyrillic.
- Use materials in your variety where you can. Azizan's stories are written in everyday spoken Persian as used in Iran. A relative reading in their own accent is still the point; the voice is theirs.
Where Azizan fits in
Azizan starts with Persian (Farsi) as spoken in Iran; relatives record themselves reading the stories in their own voice and accent. If your family speaks Dari or Tajik, an Afghan or Tajik grandparent can still read the Persian text aloud, but the stories are not yet written in those standards, and we do not claim they are. More heritage languages are planned. See how to teach Farsi to kids abroad and teaching the Persian alphabet.
Related guides
Questions
Is Farsi the same as Persian?
Yes. Farsi (فارسی) is the Persian word for the language; Persian is the English name. Both refer to the language spoken mainly in Iran.
Is Dari the same as Farsi?
Dari is the name used in Afghanistan for its variety of Persian. The sources we read describe Dari and Iranian Persian as mutually intelligible varieties that differ in accent and some vocabulary.
Is Tajik the same as Persian?
Tajik is the standard of Persian in Tajikistan. It is closely related and, according to the sources we read, mutually intelligible with Persian, but it is written in the Cyrillic script in Tajikistan.
Which should I teach my child: Farsi or Dari?
The variety your family speaks, so that your child can understand the grandparents and relatives. The words, accent and script are mostly shared.
Does Azizan support Dari or Tajik?
Azizan's stories are currently written in Persian as spoken in Iran. A relative from Afghanistan or Tajikistan can read them in their own accent, but we do not offer Dari or Tajik editions yet.
Open Azizan — record a story for your childUpdated: 2026-11-03 · By Aida Fard
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