Localize Your Website into Persian (Farsi)
Reach over 110 million Persian speakers across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, plus sizable diaspora communities in the US, Europe, and the Gulf. The same underlying language goes by three different official names, Farsi, Dari, and Tajik, and Tajik is written in an entirely different script. MotaWord matches native linguists to the specific variety and script your audience actually uses.
Farsi at a Glance
- 110m+ total speakers.
- 3 countries, Official status.
- 2 writing systems In Active use.
Persian-speaking markets
Each of the three countries where Persian is official calls it something different, and Tajikistan's version isn't even written in the same script as the other two.
A note on reaching Iran specifically Comprehensive US sanctions significantly restrict commercial engagement with users physically in Iran, separate from the language itself. If Iran is part of your target market, this is worth a conversation with your legal or compliance team before launch. We're not a law firm and this isn't legal advice, we just want you to know this early. Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Persian-speaking diaspora communities elsewhere don't carry this same restriction.
Tajikistan (Tajik) Official ~8-9M native
Written in Cyrillic script, left-to-right; a Farsi or Dari translation is not readable here without a full script conversion
Iran (Farsi)
Sole official, ~80M native. Perso-Arabic script, right-to-left; see the compliance note above before targeting this market directly
Afghanistan (Dari)
Co-official, ~50% of population. Co-official with Pashto, Perso-Arabic script, right-to-left; some vocabulary differs deliberately from Iranian Farsi
A large language family with a complicated map
Given the considerations above, diaspora communities and Afghanistan or Tajikistan are often the more practically addressable markets for most businesses.
1-2M in the US
Iranian-American population, concentrated around Los Angeles.
Growing Diaspora
Afghan diaspora communities across the US and Europe.
Top 20 Language
Persian ranks among the most-spoken languages in the world.
High Brand-Trust Value
Native-language content carries real cultural and brand-trust value for diaspora audiences.
Cultural and technical considerations
Beyond the compliance note above, most Persian localization mistakes come from treating the three varieties as interchangeable.
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Don't reuse Farsi content for Tajikistan
The script difference alone makes a direct reuse unreadable. This needs a dedicated Tajik translation, not a character conversion. -
Dari and Farsi are close, but not identical
Vocabulary choices in Afghanistan have diverged deliberately from Iranian Farsi. A native Dari speaker will notice Iran-specific phrasing. -
RTL layout applies to Farsi and Dari, not Tajik
Farsi and Dari need the same full right-to-left layout mirroring as Arabic. Tajik, in Cyrillic, is left-to-right like English. -
Afghanistan's infrastructure and political situation affect reach
Internet access, payment infrastructure, and stability vary significantly across the country. Diaspora audiences are often a more reliable near-term focus.
What Persian localization does for search and reach
Technical SEO setup depends heavily on which variety and script you're targeting.
Language codes differ by variety
Fa (Farsi), prs (Dari), and tg (Tajik) are distinct ISO codes. Using the wrong one in hreflang tags can cause search engines to serve the wrong variant.
RTL as a technical requirement
Farsi and Dari need full layout mirroring, the same consideration as Arabic. Broken RTL implementation affects both usability and mobile-first ranking.
Diaspora-focused targeting
For US or European diaspora audiences, geo-targeting alongside language targeting often matters more than targeting Iran directly.
Standard search engines apply
Outside mainland China-style restrictions, standard Google SEO practices work for Persian-language content in the markets where it's reachable.
What sets our Persian localization apart
Native linguists by variety
Translators matched to Farsi, Dari, or Tajik specifically, not a single generic Persian pool.
Full RTL support
The same layout mirroring capability we use for Arabic applies directly to Farsi and Dari projects.
Cyrillic-script Tajik coverage
We handle Tajik as its own project, script and all, rather than a converted Farsi file.
MotaWord Active
AI makes your website multilingual instantly. Discounted professional translation is available as an optional add-on when you want human review on the pages that matter most.
Fast Professional Proofreading Turnaround
Our collaborative translation model gets full-site projects done in hours, not the weeks a traditional agency needs.
24/7 live support
Direct access to your project team throughout, with no ticket queue.
Need Persian beyond your website?
MotaWord supports Persian beyond website localization, from official document translation to live interpretation.
- Certified Farsi translation: Live on site. USCIS-accepted certified translation for birth certificates, diplomas, transcripts, and other official Farsi and Dari documents. View certified translation →
- On-site Farsi interpretation: In-person interpreters for legal proceedings, medical appointments, school meetings, and business events. on-site interpretation services
- Video and phone Farsi interpretation: On-demand VRI and OPI interpreters for remote Farsi-language support, available 24/7. on-site vs VRI vs OPI interpretation
Translating and localizing a website into Persian
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That depends on US sanctions and export control rules that go well beyond language. We'd point you to legal or compliance counsel for that specific question rather than guess at it here.
For basic content, largely yes, given the mutual intelligibility. For marketing or brand-facing content, Dari-specific vocabulary will read more naturally to an Afghan audience.
Yes. Tajik is written in Cyrillic, not Perso-Arabic, so this requires its own translation and its own left-to-right layout rather than a converted Farsi page.
The cost of translating a website with MotaWord into Farsi depends on the workflow you choose. For file-based website localization, you send us the text, pages, or strings you want translated, and pricing is based mainly on word count and project scope. If you want a more complete website workflow, MotaWord Active runs on a subscription matched to your site. Active makes your website multilingual instantly with AI, includes multilingual SEO support, ongoing content updates, a no-code workflow, and 24/7 live support. If you want human review, discounted professional translation is available as an optional add-on.
With MotaWord Active, your website can be localized into Farsi in minutes. Full-site professional translation projects are done in hours, not the weeks a traditional agency needs.
Yes. MotaWord Active makes your website multilingual instantly, and discounted professional translation is available as an optional add-on when you want human review on the pages that matter most.
No. MotaWord Active translates your site without any coding, and we also offer plugins and integrations for platforms such as WordPress and Drupal. See how MotaWord Active works.