The spelling of the word "Persians" can be tricky due to the multiple ways it can be pronounced. The correct way to pronounce it is /ˈpɜːʃənz/ (puhr-shuhns) with the stress on the first syllable. The tricky part lies in the "s" at the end, which can be pronounced as either /z/ or /s/ depending on the speaker's accent. However, the correct pronunciation would be /z/ due to the existence of the letter "s" in the singular form, "Persian."
Persians typically refer to the people, language, or culture associated with Persia, an ancient and historical region situated in southwestern Asia. The Persians are an ethnic group who primarily inhabit Iran, a country that was formerly known as Persia. They are said to have descended from the ancient Persians who founded the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE and subsequently ruled over a vast territory that extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indus River.
The term "Persians" can also be used to describe the Persian language, which belongs to the Indo-European language family and is primarily spoken in Iran. Persian serves as the official language of Iran and is widely spoken in several neighboring countries. It is admired for its rich literary tradition, with works of renowned poets such as Ferdowsi, Rumi, and Hafez forming an integral part of world literature.
Moreover, Persians encompasses the culture, customs, and traditions of the Persian people. Persian culture is deeply rooted in a long history marked by various dynasties, including the Achaemenids, Parthians, and Sassanians, as well as influences from Islamic civilizations. Persian arts, such as calligraphy, miniature painting, and rug weaving, have gained international recognition. Additionally, Persians are known for their contributions to science, mathematics, and philosophy, from scholars like Avicenna and Al-Khwarizmi in the Islamic Golden Age to contemporary figures in various fields worldwide.
Overall, Persians represent a significant ethnic group, language, and culture that have played a substantial role in shaping the history, literature, and various aspects of human civilization.
In arch., sculptured male figures used instead of columns.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "Persians" is derived from the Old Persian term "Pārsa" which referred to the region known as Persis in ancient times. Persis was the southernmost province of the Achaemenid Empire, which was one of the major empires in ancient Persia. Over time, the term "Pārsa" became "Fārs" in Middle Persian and eventually developed into "Persia" in English. "Persians" is the plural form of "Persian", referring to the people or the language of Persia.