Pashto (پښتو) is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan and the mother tongue of over 50 million Pashtuns in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the diaspora. It is written with an Arabic-Persian alphabet enriched with specific letters. With this kit, you have the bare essentials to find your way, greet people and show respect in a society where honour is a pillar.
Pashto (پښتو, pakhto or pashto depending on the region) is an Eastern Iranian language spoken by approximately 50 to 60 million people, mostly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with a significant diaspora in the Middle East, Europe and North America. It is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan alongside Dari, and the mother tongue of the Pashtuns, a people structured by the Pashtunwali code of honour.
Pashto is written with an Arabic-Persian alphabet enriched with specific letters to render sounds absent in Arabic or Persian, such as retroflexes (ړ, ډ, ټ) and particular aspirated consonants. The language presents a rich dialectology: there is a more conservative south-western dialect (Kandahar) and a more open north-eastern dialect (Peshawar, Khyber). The grammar combines grammatical cases inherited from Old Iranian and a complex gender system.
Travelling in Pashtun areas means entering a society where honour, hospitality and the given word matter more than anything. The codes of Pashtunwali govern social relations: melmastia (hospitality), nanawatai (refuge), badal (retributive justice) and nang (honour) are central concepts. The poetry of Rahman Baba and Khushal Khan Khattak constitutes a national heritage valued by every interlocutor. This kit gathers the bare essentials to greet properly, find your way through a bazaar, share tea, signal pain and take your leave with respect. You will also find cultural tips to respect gender separation, Sunni Islam and hospitality rules. Memorise these phrases before leaving and you will immediately earn the trust of your hosts.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You arrive at a border post or airport in a Pashtun area. The officer greets you with As-salamu alaykum, and you reply with the proper response. After a brief polite exchange, you ask how he is.
The driver loads your bags and asks where you are going. You give your guesthouse near the bazaar, mentioning you want to go past the school and the central mosque to get your bearings. He nods and drives off.
You enter a tea house (chaikhana) in the early evening. The owner sits you on a carpet and hands you the menu. You order bread (doday), water, tea and a portion of grilled meat with naan.
You need medical help after a fall. You ask for help by pointing to your head, hand, foot and eye to describe your injuries. Your host understands the situation and calls a local doctor.
On the morning of departure, you ask your host one last time how he is, then thank him warmly with mananah and the stronger expression. You bid farewell with Khoday paaman, which means may God protect you.
What you need to know before travelling to a pashto-speaking country.
The greeting As-salamu alaykum (peace be upon you) is universal and is always answered with Wa alaykum as-salam. It is the basic formula: pronouncing it correctly opens every door in Pashtun society.
The Pashtunwali code of honour governs the daily life of Pashtuns. Its pillars are hospitality (melmastia), refuge granted to whoever asks (nanawatai) and justice (badal). These values shape social relations far more than written law.
Hospitality is sacred: a guest, even a stranger, is fed and protected unconditionally. Refusing offered food or tea may be seen as an offence. Accept and thank with mananah.
Gender separation (purdah) is observed in many regions, especially rural. Address men first and avoid offering your hand directly to a woman unless she initiates the gesture. Women travellers should pack a headscarf and loose clothing.
Green tea (chai) is central to every social interaction. It is drunk throughout the day, sweetened, sometimes with cardamom. It is offered to guests, customers and negotiators. Accept at least one glass.
Sunni Islam is the dominant cultural and religious framework. The five daily prayers punctuate the day, and Friday is the holy day. Dress modestly, remove your shoes before entering a mosque or a home.
Pashto is spoken in difficult political contexts: post-2021 Afghanistan, Pakistani border areas (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Check travel advisories before any trip and avoid sensitive political topics such as the Taliban, NATO or the Durand Line.
Poetry is highly valued: Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba are national references. Quoting a verse or expressing admiration for Pashtun poetry is an excellent way to build a warm connection.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
مهرباني وکړئ
please
بخښنه غواړم
excuse me, I beg pardon
هو
yes
نه
no
جوړ
well, fine, healthy
ښه راغلاست
welcome
کول
to do, to make
لرل
to have
تلل
to go
راتلل
to come
A hundred words, thirty key phrases, as a printable PDF. Instant download, also sent by e-mail.
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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