Parthia
/ˈpɑːr.θi.ə/noun
An ancient region and empire in northeastern Iran, and the people or language associated with it.
Did you know?The Parthians became famous for the “Parthian shot,” a mounted-archery tactic so effective that their name entered history as a symbol of lethal, retreating warfare.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Gk
Parthýa
“The Parthian land/region”
Old Persian
OP
Parthava
“A Parthian or belonging to Parthia”
Achaemenid Era
Old Iranian
*Parθava-
“The Parthian people or province”
Latin
Lat
Parthia
“Parthia, the eastern Iranian region and kingdom”
Modern English
Eng
Parthia
“The ancient region and empire of Parthia”
Explore more surprising origins