The Jewish Dialects of Persian Just like other Iranians, the Jews of Isfahan have developed their own unique Persian dialect, based on the region or city where they reside. This dialect, along with the dialects of the Jews of Yazd, Tuyserkan, Arak, Kerman, Shiraz, Hamadan, Mashhad, Kashan, Borujerd, Malayer, Nahavand, Astarabad, Khansar, Khomein, Golpaygan, and the Kurdish dialect, more or less, form the collection of Judeo-Persian or Laturi (non-Torah) dialects spoken across the geographical expanse of Persian-speaking Iran, as well as Afghanistan and some North Asian republics. It is said that today in Israel, more than 65,000 Iranian immigrants speak these in this collection of dialects. Jewish Isfahanis Preserving Ancient Persian The dialect of the Jews of Isfahan is among the long-lasting dialects that possess relatively ‎precise linguistic characteristics and incorporates many words from the Pahlavi language, which ‎is the language of ancient Iran. Interestingly, the Jews of Isfahan in the past, while writing the ‎Persian language in Hebrew script, also produced their literary works in this dialect and in ‎Hebrew script. The role of the Jews of Isfahan in Judeo-Persian literature, namely works in the ‎Persian language and Hebrew script in religious fields, reached its peak during the Ilkhanate era ‎‎(1256 -1380 AC).‎ Jews of Jobareh Although the Jews residing in all three regions of Dardasht, Golbahar, and the Jobareh neighborhood spoke Persian — the official language of the country — the dialect of Isfahan Jews, which has many similarities and common words with the Pahlavi language, was only spoken by the Jews living in the Jobareh neighborhood until three decades ago. Currently, the use of this dialect has extended beyond the city of Isfahan and is also spoken in some surrounding areas, including Gaz and Sedeh or Homayounshahr. Of course, it is said that the people of these two cities were among the last group of the larger Isfahan Jewish community who were forced to change their religion and become Muslims centuries ago. Hebrew Words in the Isfahani Dialect In the dialect of Isfahan Jews, as in other dialects of Iranian Jews in other cities of the country, there are also several Hebrew words related to ceremonies, occasions, and Jewish religious terms. These include: • "Masa" (unleavened bread) which is consumed during the "Pesah" holiday (at the beginning of spring); • "Shabbat": the seventh day of the week or Saturday; • "Berakha": blessing or prayer before enjoying or consuming; • "Kasher": halal and legal based on the laws and commandments of the Torah; • "Sukkot": the Feast of Tabernacles in early autumn around Mehrgan; • "Moed": holiday, festival. Linguistic Classification The dialect spoken by Isfahan Jews classified as “Southwester Dialects” along with "Kafroni, Gazi, Varzaneh, and Seded", which are all fall within the scientific grouping of Central Iranian dialects in terms of homogeneity. Linguistic Studies of the Dialect In general, the exploration of Isfahan dialects, including those spoken by the Jewish community, began in the 19th century AD by Western linguists. These studies reached their zenith in the 1960s with advancements in linguistics and the active involvement of Iranian scholars in this domain. Examining select family and everyday terms in the Isfahan Jewish dialect can provide insights into the lexical and phonetic transformations vis-à-vis Persian and other non-Toratic dialects of Jewish communities across Iran. Isfahani dialect Transliteration Persian Transliteration Meaning بُووا Boowa پدر Pedar Father ماز Maaz مادر Madar Mother خُخ Khokh خواهر Khaahar Sister بزار Bezar برادر Baradar Brother پیر Pir پسر Pesar Boy دُت Dot دختر Dokhtar Girl وِچه Vecheh فرزند Farzand Child باخاجِه Bakahjeh پدربزرگ Pedar Bozorg Grandfather بُوسوره Busooreh پدرزن Pedar Zan Wife’s father مازجَن Mazjan مادرزن Madar Zan Wife’s mother جَن Jan زن Zan Wife مِره Mereh شوهر Showhar Husband اُو Ow آب Aab Water جَندگی Jandegi زندگی Zendegi Life اُزون Ozun زبان Zaban Tongue پِرِه Pereh پریشب Parishab Two days ago شِو Show شب Shab Night اِم شِو Em Show امشب Emshab Tonight اِی شِو Ei Show دیشب Dishab Last night پَس سِبا Pas Seba پسفردا Pasfarda Two days from now اِزِری Ezeri دیروز Diruz Yesterday دَس Das دست Dast Hand شَلبِت Shalbet شربت Sharbat Syrup زوماز Zumaz داماد Daamaad Son in law آریس Aris عروس Aroos Daughter in law تاجه آریس Tajeh Aris تازه عروس Taazeh Aroos New bride Adopted from the book “the Culture of the Jews of Isfahan, Ayub Ibrahimi