False Cognates between Persian and the Serbian–Bosnian–Croatian Language

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Professor, Persian Language and Literature, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

False cognates, one of the most intriguing topics in linguistics, entered academic discussion over the past century. These are words that appear identical or very similar in form within one language or across two languages but differ significantly in meaning. This semantic divergence can lead to misunderstanding and ambiguity, while also serving as a source for certain literary devices. Given the considerable influence of Persian vocabulary on South Slavic languages (Serbian–Bosnian–Croatian), it is expected that some of these borrowed terms would exhibit cases of false cognates when compared to their original Persian meanings. In this study, 100 such false cognates were identified and analyzed within the target language. The findings indicate that 88% of these false friends involve semantic expansion, while 12% reflect semantic narrowing. This suggests that most of the examined words carry meanings that differ from their standard usage in Persian. Regarding semantic relationships, proportionality occurred most frequently (46%), while contrast occurred least frequently (6%). This indicates that phonological and semantic similarities have been the primary factors contributing to the formation of false cognates.

Keywords

References

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Journal Of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies
Volume 16, Issue 42
In Progress
December 2025
Pages 29-68

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