بازیابی پارسی ناب — استعمارزدایی از زبان فارسی
For centuries after the Arab conquest of Persia (633–654 AD), Arabic vocabulary was imposed on the Persian language. Today, an estimated 30-40% of modern Farsi words have Arabic origins — but for every Arabic loanword, there exists an older, purer Persian equivalent rooted in Old Persian, Avestan, or Middle Persian.
The movement to reclaim pure Persian vocabulary is a form of linguistic decolonization. By consciously choosing Persian words over Arabic replacements, speakers reconnect with their ancient linguistic heritage. For example: 'sepâs' (سپاس) instead of Arabic 'shokr' for 'thank you', or 'dorud' (درود) instead of Arabic 'salâm' for 'hello'.
Ferdowsi's Shahnameh was the first and greatest act of Persian language preservation — 60,000 verses written in deliberately pure Persian. Today, Free Iran continues this tradition with a vocabulary education section featuring 120 word cards, each showing the pure Persian word alongside its Arabic replacement.
After the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century, Arabic was imposed as the language of government, religion, and scholarship. Over centuries, Arabic vocabulary seeped into everyday Persian usage.
Some examples: 'sepâs' (thank you) vs Arabic 'shokr'; 'dorud' (hello) vs Arabic 'salâm'; 'bâmdâd' (morning) vs Arabic 'sobh'; 'dâneshgâh' (university) vs Arabic 'jâme'eh'.