فارسی دری, Fārsī-yi Darī
Native Speakers: 15 million; L2: 18 million
Afghanistan
Official: Afghanistan
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Persian
One of the two official languages of Afghanistan, is a variety of Persian (Farsi) and exhibits many of the same core linguistic features as its Iranian counterpart. It is an Indo-Iranian language with a subject–object–verb (SOV) word order and a relatively rich morphological system, including suffix-based inflection for tense, aspect, mood, and possession. Dari uses the Arabic script with some modifications and has a phonological system characterized by clear vowel distinctions and the preservation of certain consonants—such as /q/ and /ʁ/—that have merged or softened in Iranian Persian. It also retains older vocabulary and grammatical structures, making it more conservative in some respects. Dari features enclitic personal pronouns, formal and informal registers, and a system of evidentiality, especially in colloquial speech.
Includes several regional dialects spoken throughout Afghanistan, with the most prominent being the Kabuli dialect, which serves as the standard variety used in media, education, and government. Other notable dialects include Herati (spoken in the west), Mazar-i-Sharifi (in the north), and Badakhshani (in the northeast). These dialects differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some grammatical features, though they remain mutually intelligible. For example, the Herati dialect shows greater influence from Iranian Persian, while northern dialects may incorporate elements from Turkic and other regional languages. Despite these variations, the high degree of mutual intelligibility helps maintain Dari’s role as a lingua franca across diverse ethnic and geographic regions of Afghanistan.
Persian alphabet
In the U.S., Dari is spoken primarily within Afghan immigrant communities in states like California, Virginia, New York, and Texas. While the U.S. Census groups Dari with other Persian dialects, Afghan community data shows about 30% speak Dari, alongside Pashto and Iranian Persian. Dari remains a key cultural link for many families, supported by community centers, Dari-language media, and home instruction. However, it is often grouped with broader language categories in official statistics, making precise numbers difficult to track.
At Latitude Prime, we offer Dari translation, Dari interpretation, and Dari localization services in numerous specialized subject areas and multiple dialects. Whether you need to translate immigration documents from Dari into English, need a Dari interpreter for a business meeting in Kabul, or want to localize your website into Dari to market your products or services in Afghanistan, Latitude Prime has the customized language solution to meet all your Dari language needs.
