The Western Iranian languages are a branch of the Iranian languages, attested from the time of Old Persian (6th century BC) and Median.
The traditional Northwestern branch is a convention for non-Southwestern languages, rather than a genetic group. The languages are as follows:
Old Iranian
Southwest: Old Persian†
Northwest: Median†
Middle Iranian
Southwest: Middle Persian†
Northwest: Parthian†
Neo-Iranian
Northwestern I (dialects of Kurds)
Kurdish: Central Kurdish, Northern Kurdish, Southern Kurdish, Laki
Zaza–Gorani
Zaza (dialects: Kirmanjki, Dimli)
Gorani (dialects: Hawrami, Bajelan)
? Shabak, Sarli
Northwestern II
Balochi: Balochi, ?Koroshi
Khuri (Kavir)
Tatic
Talysh
Tati/Azari: Old Azeri†, Harzandi, Karingani, Kho'ini, Khalkhal, Upper Taromi, Rudbari, Southern Tati, Eshtehardi, dialects N/NE of Qazvin
? (Talysh? Tati?): Gozarkhani, Kajali, Koresh-e Rostam, Maraghei, Razajerdi, Shahrudi
Tafresh (transitional): Ashtiani (Amora’i, Kahaki), Vafsi, Alviri-Vidari (Alviri, Vidari), ?Judeo-Hamadani
Central / Central Plateau (Kermanic)Northwestern: Khunsari, Mahallati, Vanishani, Judeo-Golpaygani
Southwestern: Gazi, Sedehi, Ardestani, Nohuji, Sajzi, Jarquya’i, Rudashti, Kafrudi, Kafruni, Judeo-Esfahani
Northeastern: Arani, Bidgoli, Delijani, Nashalji, Abuzaydabadi, Qohrudi, Badrudi, Kamu’i, Jowshaqani, Meyma’i, Abyana’i, Soi, Badi, Natanzi, Kasha’i, Tari, Tarqi, Judeo-Kashani
Southeastern: Zoroastrian Dari, Nayini, Zefra’i, Varzenei, Tudeshki, Keyjani, Abchuya’i
Northwestern III
Semnani: Semnani, Sangisari, Lasgerdi-Sorkhei (incl. Aftari)
Caspian: Gilaki (incl. Taleqani), Mazandarani, Gorgani†, ?Deilami
Southwestern (cf. dialects of Fars)
Persian (dialects: Iranian Persian, Dari Persian (Madaglashti), Tajik Persian, Hazaragi Persian, Aimaq, Sistani, Pahlavani Persian†, Dzhidi Persian (Judeo-Persian), Judeo-Bukharic), Muslim/Christian Tat, Judeo-Tat
Persid
Khuzestani/Dezfuli
Luri (dialects: Luri, Mamasani, Kohkiluyeh, Bakhtiari)
Sivandi
Northwestern Fars
Kuhmareyi (incl. Davani)
Larestani–Gulf
Lari (Larestani), Judeo-Shirazi
Gulf: Bashkardi, Kumzari, Bandari, Minabi
An Iranian Khalaj language has been claimed but does not exist; the Khalaj speak a Turkic language.
The dialects of Central Iran are a geographic rather than genetic grouping. They are spoken mostly in Markazi and Isfahan provinces. Many of them are giving way to Persian in the younger generations.
