The Western Iranian languages or Western Iranic languages are a branch of the Iranian languages, attested from the time of Old Persian (6th century BC) and Median.

Languages

The traditional Northwestern branch is a convention for non-Southwestern languages, rather than a genetic group. The languages are as follows:Erik Anonby, Mortaza Taheri-Ardali & Amos Hayes (2019) The Atlas of the Languages of Iran (ALI). Iranian Studies 52. [https://docs.google.com/document/d/13HM6ElEb3cPqf4FWxYVc8LqRrvFsyu0mGXXqaawgXWk/pub#ftnt142 A Working Classification]Gernot Windfuhr, 2009, "Dialectology and Topics", The Aryanic Languages, Routledge, pp. 12–15.{{glotto|nort3177|Northwestern Aryan}}
{{glotto|sout3157|Southwestern Aryan}}

= Old Iranian period =

Northwest: Median†, etc.
Southwest: Old Persian†, etc.

= Middle Iranian period =

Northwest: Parthian†, etc.
Southwest: Middle Persian†, etc

= Modern period (Neo-Iranian) =

Northwestern Iranian
Caspian
Gorgani†
Daylami†
Gilaki (incl. Rudbari)
Mazandarani (incl. Tabari, Shahmirzadi, Ilikaei, katuli)
Semnani
Semnani
Sangisari
Lasgerdi-Sorkhei (incl. Aftari)
Adharic (Azaric)
Old Adhari†
Tatic
Talysh (north-central)
Gozarkhani (Alamuti)
North: Harzandi, Karingani (Kalasuri, Khoynarudi)
Kho'ini
South
Alviri-Vidari (Alviri, Vidari)
Ashtiani (Amora’i, Kahaki, Tafreshi), Vafsi
Razajerdi, Eshtehardi, Takestani (Ramandi, Kharaqani)
Central
Khalkhalic: Kajali, Koresh-e Rostam (Karani), Shahrudi (incl. southern Talysh)
Maraghei
Upper Taromi, Kabatei
Kurdic (acc. Anonby){{citation |title=Atlas of the Languages of Iran A working classification |url=http://iranatlas.net/index.html?module=module.classification |website=Languages of Iran |access-date=25 May 2019|last=Anonby |first=Erik John|date=2021}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-16 |title=Western Iranian Languages, Development of the Persian Language |url=https://www.destinationiran.com/western-iranian-languages.htm |website=Destination Iran}}
Kurdish
Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji)
Central Kurdish (Sorani)
Southern Kurdish
Laki
Kurdali
Zaza–Gorani
Zazaki
Gorani (incl. Hawrami, Sarli, Shabaki, Bajalani)
Balochi
Western Balochi (Rakhshani)
Southern Balochi (Makrani)
Eastern Balochi
Koroshi
Khuri (Kavir)

Central Plateau
Sivandi
Judeo-Hamadani, Judeo-Borujerdi
NW = Khunsari (Judeo-Khunsari, Judeo-Khomeini, Vanishani, Mahallati, Vanishani, Judeo-Golpaygani, etc.)
NE = Kashanic: Soi (incl. Abuzaydabadi), Natanzi
SW = Gazi (many dialects)
Southeastern: Zoroastrian Dari (Zoroastrian Yazdi, Judeo-Kermani), Nayini

Southwestern Iranian
Persian (dialects: Iranian Persian & Judeo-Persian, Dari (incl. Madaglashti), Tajik & Judeo-Bukharic, Hazaragi, Aimaq, Sistani, Pahlavani Persian†)
Persid
Shushtari–Dezfuli
Luri (incl. Bakhtiari)
Kuhmareyi (incl. Davani)
(see also Persid dialects of Khuzestan)
Bashkardi (Southern Bashkardi)
Garmsiri (Bandari) (Northern Bashkardi, Bandari, Minabi/Minowi–Hormozi: Hormozgan) Borjian, Habib, “Kerman Languages”, Encyclopaedia Iranica. Volume 16, Issue 3, 2017, pp. 301–315.

[https://www.academia.edu/24297004/Kermans_Languages_1._Persian_2._Garmsiri_Language_type_]

Kumzari
Achomi (Larestani)
Caucasian Tat (SW Tat): Tat, Judeo-Tat
Fars (numerous SW Fars dialects: Heshnizi, Gavbandi, Dashtini, Kangani, Jami, Bardesuni (Bardestani), Khenesiri, Bordekhuni, Dashtiyati (Dashti), Tangesiri (incl. Delvari), Khormuji, Khayizi, Ahrami, Bushehri, Bandar Rig (Fars of Bandar Rig), Genaveyi, Deylami (Liravi)†, Dashtesuni (Dashtestani), Judeo-Shirazi, etc.)

There is also a recently described, and as yet unclassified, Batu'i language that is presumably Western Iranian. Extinct Deilami is sometimes classified in the Caspian branch.

An Iranian Khalaj language has been claimed, but does not exist; the Khalaj speak a Turkic language.

Many of the languages and dialects spoken in Markazi and Isfahan provinces are giving way to Persian in the younger generations.[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/central-dialects Central dialects], Gernot Windfuhr, Encyclopedia Iranica

It is to note that the Caspian languages (incl. Adharic), the central dialects, and the Zaza-Gorani languages are likely descended from a later form of Median with varying amounts of Parthian substrata,Borjian, Habib (2019) Journal of Persianate Studies 2, Median Succumbs to Persian after Three Millennia of Coexistence: Language Shift in the Central Iranian Plateau, p. 70 whereas the Semnani languages were likely descended from Parthian.Pierre Lecoq. 1989. "Les dialectes caspiens et les dialectes du nord-ouest de l'Iran," Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum. Ed. Rüdiger Schmitt. Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, p. 297

References

Bibliography

Pierre Lecoq. 1989. "Les dialectes caspiens et les dialectes du nord-ouest de l'Iran," Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum, ed. Rüdiger Schmitt. Wiesbaden: L. Reichert Verlag, 1989; p. 99.

Western Iranian languages#Talysh