سرهنگ

Persian

Etymology

Inherited from Middle Persian 𐫘𐫡𐫍𐫗𐫃 (srhng /⁠sarhang⁠/, “commander”) from Proto-Iranian *θanǰáyati (“to pull”). By surface analysis, (sar / sar, “head; chief”) +‎ (āhang / âhang, “leading, out pulling”, deverbal noun from (āhīxtan / âhixtan, “to lead, pull out”)). Cognate with Sogdian ܣܪܬܢܓ (srθng), 𐼼𐽀𐼹𐼰𐼻𐼸 (srδʾnk), 𐫘𐫡𐫔𐫗𐫗𐫃 (srδnng /⁠sarθang⁠/, “chief”) Compare with Latin archidux and German Erzherzog.

Pronunciation

(Classical Persian) IPA^(key): /saɾ.ˈhanɡ/

(Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [säɾ.häŋɡ]
- (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾäŋɡ]
- (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [sä.ɾäŋɡ̥]

(Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [sæɹ.hæɲɡʲ̥]

(Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [säɾ.häŋɡ]

Readings
Classical reading^?	sarhang
Dari reading^?	sarhang
Iranian reading^?	sarhang
Tajik reading^?	sarhang

Noun

سرهنگ • (sarhang) (plural سرهنگ‌ها (sarhang-hā / sarhang-hâ), or سرهنگان (sarhangān / sarhangân), Tajik spelling сарҳанг)

(archaic) captain, chief, commander
(military, Iran) colonel

Derived terms

هنگ (hang / hang, “regiment”)

Descendants

→ Azerbaijani: sərhəng

References

Dehkhoda, Ali-Akbar (1931–) “سرهنگ”, in Dehkhoda Dictionary Institute, editors, Dehkhoda Dictionary (in Persian), Tehran: University of Tehran Press