Pahlavi
/ˈpɑːl.ə.vi/noun
A Middle Iranian language and script used in the Sasanian period, and later a literary and religious language of Zoroastrian texts.
Did you know?The name Pahlavi ultimately goes back to the Parthians, so even the word for this later Persian writing tradition preserves the memory of an older imperial power.
Etymological Timeline
Old Persian
OPers
Parθava
“Parthia; the Parthian people and their land”
Middle Persian
MPers
pahlaw
“Parthian; a Parthian noble or hero”
Middle Persian
MPers
pārsīg / pahlavīg
“Persian / Parthian, later used for the script and literary language”
Early Islamic Period
Arabic/Persian
fahlavī
“Pertaining to the old northwestern Iranian speech and its written tradition”
Modern English
English
Pahlavi
“The Middle Persian language and script, especially in historical and Zoroastrian contexts”