No, Pashto and Dari are two distinct languages, both co-official in Afghanistan. Dari is a variant of Persian (close to Iranian Farsi), making it a Western Iranian language. Pashto is an Eastern Iranian language, grammatically different and with a largely distinct vocabulary. Both are spoken in Afghanistan but their native speakers do not understand each other directly. Most educated Afghans are bilingual in Pashto and Dari, but not all.

Is the Pashto script difficult to learn?

It is the standard Arabic script plus 7 additional letters for sounds specific to Pashto. If you already know the Arabic script (Urdu, Dari, Arabic), the adaptation is quick, 2 to 3 weeks. For a complete beginner, the Pashto script takes 4 to 6 weeks. The main phonetic feature: Pashto has several retroflexes (sounds produced with the tongue curled toward the palate) that are absent from English.

Why learn Pashto in a humanitarian context?

Western countries have welcomed tens of thousands of Afghan refugees since 2015 and especially since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. In reception centers and asylum services, social workers and lawyers in contact with this population need Pashto (and/or Dari) basics. Speaking a few phrases in Pashto radically transforms the trust relationship with people who are often traumatized and may never have met a Westerner who speaks their language.

What's the difference between Northern Pashto (Peshawar) and Southern Pashto (Kandahar)?

Northern Pashto (Yusufzai, Peshawari) and Southern Pashto (Kandahari) are the two main variants. The differences are mainly phonetic, certain sounds pronounced differently, and lexical in everyday vocabulary. Intelligibility between speakers of the two variants is generally good. Northern Pashto is more influenced by Urdu and Punjabi, Southern Pashto by Dari. At Targumi, we teach a standard Pashto understandable on both sides.

How long does it take to hold a conversation in Pashto?

Pashto is classified as a very difficult language for Westerners, Arabic script to learn, an ergative system (subject marking differs by tense), phonetics with retroflexes and Arabic guttural sounds, and SOV word order. For an English speaker, expect 12 to 16 months with regular lessons to reach B1. For humanitarian workers targeting essential phrases, 2 to 3 months of focused lessons provide a highly effective linguistic survival kit for reception contexts.

How much do Pashto courses cost on Targumi?

Targumi offers 3 plans: monthly, quarterly, and lifetime access. All plans include live small-group classes with native teachers, interactive lessons, and the community. See full pricing on the pricing page.

Are the Pashto courses online or in person?

100% online. Live classes happen in small groups via Google Meet. You can join from anywhere in the world. The mobile and web app stay accessible 24/7 for interactive lessons.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes. Targumi offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. If you are not satisfied, just email [email protected] for a full refund.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel anytime from your profile (“My subscriptions” section) with no hidden fees. Your access stays active until the end of your paid period.

Resources

All Pashto resources

Explore our free tools to progress outside of class.

Pashto level test

Assess your CEFR level in 5 minutes. 30-day learning plan included.

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Pashto survival kit

A hundred words and thirty key phrases as a printable PDF, free.

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Pashto cultural quiz

How well do you know Pashto culture? Films, music, traditions.

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Pashto articles

Guides and articles to learn Pashto.

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Pashto vocabulary

Essential words and phrases organized by theme.

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Cultural resources

Podcasts, movies, TV shows and music to progress through immersion.

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Guides & articles

Guides to learn Pashto

Language Guide

How to Say Hello in Pashto: Complete Guide to Afghan Greetings

Learn to greet in Pashto! Master as-salamu alaykum, salam, and essential Afghan greetings with pronunciation, Pashtunwali code, and cultural context.

8 min read→Complete Guide

Learn Pashto: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Discover Pashto, spoken by 60 million people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Alphabet, grammar, essential vocabulary and Pashtun culture.

15 min read→

See all articles→

Reviews

They are learning Pashto with Targumi

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“Been on Targumi for 3 months. The small group format is exactly what I needed. My teacher takes time to correct accent, it's precious. Made more progress in 3 months than in 2 years of regular apps.”

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“What sold me is you actually speak from class one. No 10 hours of theory before opening your mouth. And the platform between classes is well-built, I revise on the morning commute.”

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“Honestly I had doubts at first because I'd tried plenty of methods without sticking. This is different, the teacher knows their stuff, adapts to your level, and we have fun on top of it. 6 months in and still motivated.”

SorayaVerified purchase

“Really good experience overall, the rhythm between live classes and independent practice is well-balanced. Small note: the mobile app lags sometimes, but the teaching content is well worth the price.”

AntoineVerified purchase

“The thing that makes a real difference compared to other platforms: teachers are native and trained. You feel it, especially on accent and everyday expressions you don't learn in textbooks.”

EmilyVerified purchase

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A complete learning platform: learn to build sentences, listen to audio to pronounce correctly, practice with exercises.
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