der Perser
Persian
A male inhabitant of Persia, modern-day Iran, or a person of Persian descent.
EXAMPLE
Mein Nachbar ist Perser und hat mir beigebracht, wie man Safranreis kocht.
My neighbor is Persian and taught me how to cook saffron rice.
der Perser
Persian
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Meanings
der Perser
Persian cat
Short form for a Persian cat, a domestic cat breed known for its long, dense fur and flat face.
EXAMPLE
Ihre weiße Perserkatze muss jeden Tag sorgfältig gebürstet werden.
Her white Persian cat has to be carefully brushed every day.
der Perser
Persian rug
Short form for a Persian rug, a hand-knotted rug from Iran known for its elaborate patterns and high quality.
EXAMPLE
Im Wohnzimmer liegt ein wertvoller alter Perser, den sie geerbt hat.
There is a valuable old Persian rug in the living room that she inherited.
Usage tips
Context clue
This word has three common meanings: a person, a cat, or a rug. You can only tell which meaning is intended from the context of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Der junge Perser studiert Medizin in Berlin.
The young Persian is studying medicine in Berlin.
Word structure
The ending '-er' is often used to refer to a male inhabitant from a country or city. 'Der Perser' (the Persian) is derived from the historical country name 'Persien' (Persia).
EXAMPLE
Er ist Perser und spricht fließend Farsi.
He is Persian and speaks fluent Farsi.
Context for 'cat'
When a cat is being discussed, words such as 'Fell' (fur), 'schnurren' (to purr), 'Haare' (hair), or 'Rasse' (breed) indicate that 'Perser' is being used as a short form for 'Perserkatze' (Persian cat).
EXAMPLE
Der Perser hat ein besonders weiches Fell.
The Persian cat has especially soft fur.
Context for 'rug'
When it is about a rug, words such as 'Boden' (floor), 'liegen' (to lie/be located), 'Muster' (pattern), 'geknüpft' (knotted), or 'wertvoll' (valuable) often appear in the sentence. Here, 'Perser' is the short form for 'Perserteppich' (Persian rug).
EXAMPLE
Der schwere Perser dämpft die Geräusche im Raum.
The heavy Persian rug muffles the sounds in the room.
Compare with
Perser vs Iraner
Iranian
Iraner refers to a man from present-day Iran or one with Iranian citizenship. Perser can also refer to a resident of present-day Iran, but it often emphasizes Persian ancestry or a historical connection to Persia. Both terms can therefore apply to the same man.
Perser
Reza ist Perser, denn seine Familie ist persischer Abstammung.
Reza is Persian because his family is of Persian descent.
Iraner
Reza ist Iraner, denn er stammt aus dem heutigen Iran.
Reza is Iranian because he comes from present-day Iran.
In real life
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