Tat people (Iran)

The Tat people of Iran (Tati: Irünə Tâtün, ایرون تاتون) are an Iranian people living in northern Iran, especially in Qazvin province.

Tats of Iran are mainly Shia Muslim and number about 300,000.

Etymology
Starting from the Middle Ages, the term Tati was used not only for the Caucasus but also for northwestern Iran, where it was extended to almost all of the local Iranian languages except Persian and Kurdish.

Language
Tats of Iran use the Tati language, a group of northwestern Iranian dialects which are closely related to the Talysh language. Persian and Azerbaijani are also spoken.

Currently, the term Tati and Tati language is used to refer to a particular group of north-western Iranian dialects (Chali, Danesfani, Hiaraji, Hoznini, Esfarvarini, Takestani, Sagzabadi, Ebrahimabadi, Eshtehardi, Hoini, Kajali, Shahroudi, Harzani) in Iranian Azerbaijan, as well as south of it in the provinces of Qazvin and Zanjan. These dialects have a certain affinity to the Talysh language, Mazanderani language and are descendants of the Old Azari language.

Notable Tat people

 * Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Iranian footballer who plays for Iran and Feyenoord