Farsi, spoken in Iran, and Dari, spoken in Afghanistan, are varieties of the same language: Persian. They share the same grammar and the same script, and speakers usually understand each other well. The differences lie mainly in vocabulary, often in the most ordinary words.

Same language, different words

  • Hospital: بیمارستان in Iran, شفاخانه in Afghanistan
  • University: دانشگاه in Iran, پوهنتون in Afghanistan
  • School: مدرسه in Iran, مکتب in Afghanistan
  • Car: ماشین in Iran, موتر in Afghanistan
  • Toilet: دستشویی in Iran, تشناب in Afghanistan

Different month names

Iranian documents, and most Afghan ones, are dated in the Solar Hijri calendar, but the months have different names. The first month is Farvardin (فروردین) in Iran and Hamal (حمل) in Afghanistan; the last is Esfand (اسفند) or Hut (حوت). A translator has to recognise both sets to convert dates correctly.

Why the right wording matters

On official documents, these words carry weight. An Afghan degree certificate will usually say پوهنتون rather than دانشگاه, and its dates may use Afghan month names. When I translate into English, I read Afghan terms as they are meant. When I translate into Dari, say a letter or leaflet for Afghan families, I use Afghan words so the text feels natural rather than Iranian.

Interpreting works the same way. I am a native speaker of Farsi and also work in Dari, following Afghan usage. Familiar words put people at ease and help avoid small misunderstandings.

Common questions

Can a Farsi interpreter work with a Dari speaker?

Often, yes, because Farsi and Dari are the same language. But Afghan clients usually feel more at ease with Afghan words and accents, so when you book, ask for Dari, and check whether the person prefers Pashto.

Do Afghan documents use Dari or Pashto?

Often both. Official Afghan documents, such as the tazkira, may contain Pashto as well as Dari. I translate Dari but not Pashto, so send a photo of the whole document first.

Will a translation into Dari sound Iranian?

It should not. When I translate into Dari, I use Afghan vocabulary and official terms, such as پوهنتون for university and ولایت for province, so the text reads naturally to Afghan readers.