Pehlavi, also spelled Pahlavi, is a word commonly used to refer to the ancient Persian language of the Pahlavi dynasty. Its correct pronunciation can be understood through the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) notation: /pæləvi/. The first syllable "pa" is pronounced with a short "a" sound, followed by a schwa sound "lə", and finished with a "vi" sound. It's worth noting that despite the variation in spelling (P-e-h-l-a-v-i vs P-a-h-l-a-v-i), the pronunciation of this word remains consistent.
Pehlavi, also spelled Pahlavi, refers to multiple meanings depending on the context. In ancient Persian history, it was the native name of a specific dynasty, the Pahlavi dynasty, which ruled Iran from 1925 until the Iranian revolution in 1979. The Pahlavi dynasty was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi and later inherited by his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Pehlavi can also refer to a language. Pahlavi is an ancient Middle Persian language that was spoken in present-day Iran from around the 3rd century to the 10th century CE. It evolved from the earlier Old Persian language and is written using a modified Aramaic script.
Moreover, Pehlavi is often associated with the Pahlavi script, a writing system used for the Pahlavi language. This script was derived from Aramaic and was mainly used to write Middle Persian texts.
Lastly, Pehlavi can be seen as an adjective, describing things related to the Pahlavi dynasty, the Pahlavi language, or the Pahlavi script.
Overall, depending on the context, Pehlavi can refer to an ancient Persian dynasty, an ancient Middle Persian language, the writing system used for that language, or as an adjective relating to these aspects of ancient Persian history and culture.
The word "Pehlavi" is derived from the Middle Persian term "Pahlav" or "Pahlev" (پهلوان), which was initially used to refer to the Parthians, a powerful ancient Iranian dynasty that ruled over the region from 247 BCE to 224 CE. The Parthians were known for their military prowess and were considered valiant warriors. Over time, "Pahlav" came to be associated with the concept of a heroic champion or warrior.
During the Sassanian Empire, which succeeded the Parthians, the title "Pahlav" was used to denote a rank within the military hierarchy. The term eventually evolved to "Pehlavi" and referred to the language spoken during the Sassanian era. This language, also known as Middle Persian, played a significant role in ancient Iranian culture and literature.