Most people can spot a French or Spanish loanword in English. But there are dozens of words woven into everyday conversation that trace back to an even older source, one that many English speakers would never think to guess: Farsi.

Farsi is, after all, one of the oldest living languages in the world, surviving 3,000 years of conquests, regime changes, and cultural upheavals. It originated in the southwestern Iranian region of Parsa (modern-day Fars), which gave the language—and formerly the country—its name.

Not only are English and Farsi linguistic cousins, but during the Middle Ages, Persian words also traveled alongside goods, cultural exchanges, and scientific advancements on trade routes into Europe. Particularly, words for exotic fruits, spices, and luxury items were picked up by Arab traders, adopted into Old Spanish and Latin, and eventually translated into English. Then later, when the British Empire colonized India, many more Persian words were brought back to England. 

That long journey left an unmistakable mark on the English language. Chances are you’ve used several of these words without ever realizing they first began in Farsi.

Surprising English words that trace their roots back to Farsi:

Pajamas originated in South East Asia as loose, unisex drawstring trousers worn outside, in public during the day. The word, however, comes from the Persian phrase pāy-jāma, meaning “leg garment,” and was absorbed into Hindi and Urdu during the Mughal era in India. 

British colonists adopted them as leisurewear in the 1870s. Though it would still be some time before they were seen as sleepwear. And even longer before they were accepted in women’s fashion. 

That changed with the golden age of Hollywood, which ignited a massive cultural trend that made pajamas both practical and glamorous for everyday women. And today, they remain a global bedroom........

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