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The Iranian peoples (Old Iranian: Arya, Middle Iranian: Eran, Modern Iranian languages: Modern Persian: Iraniyan or Irani-ha, Kurdish: Êraniyekan or gelên Êranî, Mazandarani: Iransi Benevaran) are a collection of ethnic groups defined by their usage of Iranian languages and their descent from ancient Iranian peoples.[1][2] The Iranian peoples live chiefly in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus and parts of the Indian subcontinent, though speakers of Iranian languages were once found throughout Eurasia, from the Balkans to western China.[3][4] As Iranian peoples are not confined to the borders of the current state of Iran, the term Iranic peoples is sometimes used to avoid confusion with the citizens of Iran.