Learning Pashto: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Pashto course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Pashto is like
Pashto (پښتو) is an Eastern Iranian language, a cousin of Dari and Farsi — not a form of Arabic. It has its own alphabet based on Arabic and is read right to left. Beyond the Arabic letters it adds a set of its own: ښ (sh), ږ (gh/ge), ځ (dz), څ (ts), plus the retroflex ډ (d), ټ (t), ړ (r). Word order is subject–object–verb: "I want water" is literally "I water want" (زه اوبه غواړم).
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Pashto (پښتو) is written in its own alphabet based on Arabic and read right to left — but it is not Arabic, it is an Iranian language. The tricky part is a set of "retroflex" consonants (tongue curled back) and a few gutturals that do not exist in English. Learn these and you can read almost any word.
- ښ — like "sh" in she (or a throaty "kh" in some dialects), as in ښه = "SHĒ" (good).
- ږ — like a soft "ge/zh" with a guttural quality, as in شپږ = "shpaZH" (six).
- ځ — like "ds" in ads — a dz sound, as in ځمکه = "dzMA-ka" (earth).
- څ — like "ts" in cats, as in څلور = "tsa-LOR" (four).
- ډ — retroflex d — tongue curled back against the roof of the mouth, as in ډوډۍ = "DO-DŌY" (bread).
- ټ — retroflex t — tongue curled back, as in موټر = "mo-TAR" (car).
- ړ — retroflex r — a soft, curled-back r, as in غواړم = "GHWAA-ram" (I want).
- ڼ — retroflex n — tongue curled back (the "n" family), as in تڼۍ = "ta-NAY" (button).
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Pashto | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| سلام | sa-LAAM | Hello |
| ښه شپه | SHĒ SHPA | Good night |
| په مخه ښه | pa MA-KHĀ SHĒ | Goodbye |
| څنګه یاست؟ | TSANG-aa YAST | How are you? |
| ښه یم، مننه | SHĒ YAM, MA-na-na | I'm well, thanks |
| ستا نوم څه دی؟ | STA NOM TSA DAY | What's your name? |
| مننه | MA-na-na | Thank you |
| مهرباني وکړئ | meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY | Please |
| بخښنه | ba-KHĀ-na | Excuse me |
| هو | ho | Yes |
| نه | na | No |
| یو | yaw | 1 |
| دوه | dwa | 2 |
| درې | dre | 3 |
| څلور | tsa-LOR | 4 |
| پنځه | PIN-dzē | 5 |
| لس | las | 10 |
| اوبه | a-BA | water |
| ډوډۍ | DO-DŌY | bread |
| چای | CHAAY | tea |
| قهوه | QAH-wa | coffee |
| غوښه | GHWA-ša | meat |
| چېرته | CHER-ta | Where? |
| ښي | SHĒ | to the right |
| چپ | chap | to the left |
| مستقیم | mus-TA-qim | straight ahead |
| سټیشن | STAA-shyun | the station |
| څومره ده؟ | TSOM-ra DA | how much is it? |
| ډېر ګران دی | DER GRAAN DAY | it's too expensive |
| زه دا اخلم | ZA DAA AKH-lam | I'll take this |
How the Pashto course is structured
The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings & being polite — سلام · ښه ورځ · مننه · مهرباني وکړئ
- Numbers 1–10 — یو · دوه · درې · لس
- I want" — the verb غواړم — زه غواړم · زه ... غواړم
- Food & drink — اوبه · ډوډۍ · چای · قهوه
- Getting around — چېرته · ښي · چپ · سټیشن
- Questions & "do you have…?" — ته ... لرې؟ · زه ... لرم
- Family & people — کورنۍ · پلار · مور · ملګری
- Time, days & weather — نن · سبا · هوا · ورځ
- Introducing yourself — زما نوم ... دی · ستا نوم څه دی؟
- Health & emergency — مرسته · ډاکټر · روغتون · زه نه پوهېږم
- Describing things — ښکلی · لوی · کوچنی · ډېر
- Tying it together — a capstone scene
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings & being polite
Key pieces: سلام · ښه ورځ · مننه · مهرباني وکړئ
Start with the word you'll say every day: سلام (salām) — hello, from the Arabic for "peace".
- سلام (sa-LAAM) — hello
- ښه ورځ (SHĒ WRADZ) — good day
- ښه ماښام (SHĒ maa-SHAAM) — good evening
- مننه (MA-na-na) — thank you
- مهرباني وکړئ (meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY) — please
To say “Hello, thank you” in Pashto: سلام، مننه (sa-LAAM, MA-na-na). Built from سلام = hello; مننه = thank you.
To ask how someone is: څنګه یاست؟ The reply is ښه یم، مننه — I'm well, thanks.
- څنګه یاست؟ (TSANG-aa YAST) — How are you?
- ښه یم، مننه (SHĒ YAM, MA-na-na) — I'm well, thanks
- هو (ho) — yes
- نه (na) — no
To say “How are you? I'm well, thanks” in Pashto: څنګه یاست؟ ښه یم، مننه (TSANG-aa YAST? SHĒ YAM, MA-na-na). Built from څنګه یاست؟ = how are you?; ښه یم = I'm well; مننه = thanks.
To say “Good night” in Pashto: ښه شپه (SHĒ SHPA). Built from ښه = good; شپه = night.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: یو · دوه · درې · لس
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: یو، دوه، درې .
- یو (yaw) — 1
- دوه (dwa) — 2
- درې (dre) — 3
- څلور (tsa-LOR) — 4
- پنځه (PIN-dzē) — 5
- شپږ (shpaZH) — 6
- اووه (a-WA) — 7
- اته (a-TA) — 8
- نه (na) — 9
- لس (las) — 10
To say “Two teas, please” in Pashto: دوه چای، مهرباني وکړئ (DWA CHAAY, meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY). Built from دوه = two; چای = tea; مهرباني وکړئ = please.
To ask a price: څومره؟ — how much? A key phrase for shopping.
To say “How much is it?” in Pashto: څومره ده؟ (TSOM-ra DA). Built from څومره = how much; ده = is it.
To say “It's ten” in Pashto: لس دی (LAS DAY). Built from لس = ten; دی = is.
I want" — the verb غواړم
Key pieces: زه غواړم · زه ... غواړم
The magic phrase to ask for anything: زه غواړم — I want.
The word order is special: زه + the thing you want + غواړم. So "I want water" is زه اوبه غواړم .
To say “I want water” in Pashto: زه اوبه غواړم (ZA a-BA GHWAA-ram). Built from زه = I; اوبه = water; غواړم = I want.
Make it a request by adding مهرباني وکړئ (please).
To say “I want tea, please” in Pashto: زه چای غواړم، مهرباني وکړئ (ZA CHAAY GHWAA-ram, meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY). Built from زه = I; چای = tea; غواړم = I want; مهرباني وکړئ = please.
To say “I want bread” in Pashto: زه ډوډۍ غواړم (ZA DO-DŌY GHWAA-ram). Built from زه = I; ډوډۍ = bread; غواړم = I want.
Food & drink
Key pieces: اوبه · ډوډۍ · چای · قهوه
Eating out? Key words: اوبه (water), ډوډۍ (bread), چای (tea), قهوه (coffee).
- اوبه (a-BA) — water
- ډوډۍ (DO-DŌY) — bread
- چای (CHAAY) — tea Memory hook: ≈ Persian چای.
- قهوه (QAH-wa) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ Arabic قهوة.
- غوښه (GHWA-ša) — meat
- میوه (ME-wa) — fruit
To say “Water and bread, please” in Pashto: اوبه او ډوډۍ، مهرباني وکړئ (a-BA aw DO-DŌY, meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY). Built from اوبه = water; او = and; ډوډۍ = bread.
To say “I want tea” in Pashto: زه چای غواړم (ZA CHAAY GHWAA-ram). Built from زه = I; چای = tea; غواړم = I want.
بخښنه = excuse me / sorry. Say it before you interrupt someone.
To say “Coffee and tea, please” in Pashto: قهوه او چای، مهرباني وکړئ (QAH-wa aw CHAAY, meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY). Built from قهوه = coffee; او = and; چای = tea.
Getting around
Key pieces: چېرته · ښي · چپ · سټیشن
The most useful question in any city: چېرته — where?
- چېرته (CHER-ta) — where
- ښي (SHĒ) — to the right
- چپ (chap) — to the left
- مستقیم (mus-TA-qim) — straight ahead
- سټیشن (STAA-shyun) — the station Memory hook: ≈ English station.
To say “Where is the station?” in Pashto: سټیشن چېرته دی؟ (STAA-shyun CHER-ta DAY). Built from سټیشن = station; چېرته = where; دی = is.
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Pashto: تش خانه چېرته ده؟ (taash KHA-na CHER-ta DA). Built from تش خانه = bathroom; چېرته = where; ده = is.
ښي and چپ tell you which way to turn. 'Straight ahead' is مستقیم .
To say “Straight ahead” in Pashto: مستقیم (mus-TA-qim). Built from مستقیم = straight ahead.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: ته ... لرې؟ · زه ... لرم
To ask if someone has something: ته ... لرې؟ (informal) or تاسو ... لرئ؟ (polite/plural).
To say “Do you have a table?” in Pashto: ته مېز لرې؟ (TA MAAZ LA-re). Built from ته = you; مېز = table; لرې = do you have.
To say what you have, use زم ... wait — زه ... لرم = I have ...
To say “I have water” in Pashto: زه اوبه لرم (ZA a-BA LA-ram). Built from زه = I; اوبه = water; لرم = I have.
To say “Do you have tea?” in Pashto: ته چای لرې؟ (TA CHAAY LA-re). Built from ته = you; چای = tea; لرې = do you have.
To say “I have a family” in Pashto: زه کورنۍ لرم (ZA ko-ran-ĀY LA-ram). Built from زه = I; کورنۍ = family; لرم = I have.
Family & people
Key pieces: کورنۍ · پلار · مور · ملګری
Family words: کورنۍ (family), پلار (father), مور (mother).
- کورنۍ (ko-ran-ĀY) — family
- پلار (PLAAR) — father
- مور (mor) — mother
- ورور (wro-RŌR) — brother
- خور (xor) — sister
- ملګری (mal-GA-ray) — friend
To say “I have a brother” in Pashto: زه ورور لرم (ZA wro-RŌR LA-ram). Built from زه = I; ورور = brother; لرم = I have.
ملګری = friend. A key word for making ones.
To say “My mother” in Pashto: زما مور (ZMA MOR). Built from زما = my; مور = mother.
To say “I have a friend” in Pashto: زه ملګری لرم (ZA mal-GA-ray LA-ram). Built from زه = I; ملګری = friend; لرم = I have.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: نن · سبا · هوا · ورځ
Today is نن , tomorrow is سبا .
- نن (nan) — today
- سبا (sa-BAA) — tomorrow
- ورځ (wradz) — day
- هوا (ha-WAA) — weather / air
- لمر (l-mar) — sun
To say “See you tomorrow” in Pashto: سبا به ګورو (sa-BAA ba GO-ro). Built from سبا = tomorrow; به ګورو = we'll see.
Ask about the weather: هوا څنګه ده؟ .
To say “It's raining” in Pashto: باران ورېږي (baa-RAAN WE-red-zē). Built from باران = rain; ورېږي = falls.
To say “What day is today?” in Pashto: نن کومه ورځ ده؟ (NAN KO-ma WRADZ DA). Built from نن = today; کومه = which; ورځ = day.
Introducing yourself
Key pieces: زما نوم ... دی · ستا نوم څه دی؟
Introduce yourself: زما نوم ... دی — my name is ...
To say “My name is Alex” in Pashto: زما نوم Alex دی (ZMA NOM Alex DAY). Built from زما نوم = my name; Alex = your name; دی = is.
To ask someone's name: ستا نوم څه دی؟
To say “What's your name?” in Pashto: ستا نوم څه دی؟ (STA NOM TSA DAY). Built from ستا = your; نوم = name; څه = what; دی = is.
To say “I am Alex” in Pashto: زه Alex یم (ZA Alex YAM). Built from زه = I; یم = am.
په مخه ښه = goodbye (literally "go well").
Health & emergency
Key pieces: مرسته · ډاکټر · روغتون · زه نه پوهېږم
The most important words if you need help: مرسته (help!), ډاکټر (doctor), روغتون (hospital).
- مرسته (ma-ra-STA) — help!
- ډاکټر (DAAK-tar) — the doctor Memory hook: ≈ English doctor.
- روغتون (rogh-TŌN) — the hospital
- درملتون (dar-mal-TŌN) — the pharmacy
- زه نه پوهېږم (ZA NA po-HĒ-ram) — I don't understand
To say “Help!” in Pashto: مرسته! (ma-ra-STA!). Built from مرسته = help.
To say “I don't understand” in Pashto: زه نه پوهېږم (ZA NA po-HĒ-ram). Built from زه = I; نه = not; پوهېږم = I understand.
To say you need a doctor: زه ډاکټر ته اړتیا لرم .
To say “I need a doctor” in Pashto: زه ډاکټر ته اړتیا لرم (ZA DAAK-tar TA ar-ti-YAA LA-ram). Built from زه = I; ډاکټر = doctor; اړتیا لرم = I need.
Describing things
Key pieces: ښکلی · لوی · کوچنی · ډېر
Adjectives are easy: ښکلی (beautiful), لوی (big), کوچنی (small).
- ښکلی (SHÃK-la) — beautiful
- لوی (LOY) — big
- کوچنی (KOOCH-na) — small
- ډېر (der) — very / a lot
To say “Very beautiful” in Pashto: ډېر ښکلی (DER SHÃK-la). Built from ډېر = very; ښکلی = beautiful.
ډېر = very / a lot. Put it in front of the adjective.
To say “A big house” in Pashto: لوی کور (LOY KOR). Built from لوی = big; کور = house.
To say “This is a beautiful city” in Pashto: دا ښکلی ښار دی (DAA SHÃK-la SHAAR DAY). Built from دا = this; ښکلی = beautiful; ښار = city; دی = is.
Tying it together
Key pieces: a capstone scene
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Pashto: سلام، څنګه یاست؟ (sa-LAAM, TSANG-aa YAST). Built from سلام = hello; څنګه یاست؟ = how are you?.
To say “I want water, please” in Pashto: زه اوبه غواړم، مهرباني وکړئ (ZA a-BA GHWAA-ram, meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY). Built from زه = I; اوبه = water; غواړم = I want; مهرباني وکړئ = please.
To say “Where is the station?” in Pashto: سټیشن چېرته دی؟ (STAA-shyun CHER-ta DAY). Built from سټیشن = station; چېرته = where; دی = is.
To say “How much is it?” in Pashto: څومره ده؟ (TSOM-ra DA). Built from څومره ده؟ = how much is it?.
Culture and etiquette
Hospitality is sacred
Hospitality (مېلمستیا, melmastia) is the heart of Pashtun culture. A guest is treated like family — offered the best food, tea (شین چای) and a place to sleep. Turning a guest away is considered deeply shameful. If you're invited, accept graciously; declining can seem rude.
Pashtunwali — the code
Pashtunwali (پښتونوالی) is the ancient, unwritten way of the Pashtuns. Its pillars include hospitality, honour and revenge (بدل), the granting of refuge (پناه), and courage. It still shapes how people behave in daily life, especially in the countryside.
A nation of poets
Pashtuns love poetry. The 17th-century poet Rahman Baba and the warrior-poet Khushal Khan Khattak are beloved; their lines are recited at weddings, gatherings and on the radio. Pashto poetry sings of honour, love, God and the mountains.
Kite fighting
Kite fighting is a treasured Pashtun pastime. In spring the skies fill with kites; fighters use glass-coated string to cut a rival's kite loose. It's a symbol of freedom and childhood — and the heart of the famous story "The Kite Runner".
Islam shapes daily life
Islam is woven into everyday rhythm in Afghanistan. There are five daily prayers, Friday prayers, and festivals such as Eid (عید) and New Year (نوروز, Nowruz). The call to prayer sounds through cities and villages, and much Pashto vocabulary of faith comes from Arabic.
A proud, resilient history
In the 1980s Pashtuns led the mujahideen resistance against the Soviet occupation — a chapter that shaped the country's modern identity and the global Afghan diaspora. Afghanistan's story is one of repeated struggle, and of a culture that endures through it all.
Example dialogues
At a café
You: سلام! زه چای غواړم، مهرباني وکړئ. (sa-LAAM! ZA CHAAY GHWAA-ram, meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY) — Hello! I want tea, please.
Server: څه ډول چای؟ (TSA DŌL CHAAY) — What kind of tea?
You: شین چای، مننه. (SHIN CHAAY, MA-na-na) — Green tea, thanks.
Server: دلته که له ځانه سره؟ (del-TA KE la KHA-na SA-ra) — Here or to go?
You: دلته، مننه. (del-TA, MA-na-na) — Here, thanks.
At the station
You: بخښنه، سټیشن چېرته دی؟ (ba-KHĀ-na, STAA-shyun CHER-ta DAY) — Excuse me, where is the station?
Local: هلته، ښي لور ته. (hal-TA, SHĒ LŌR TA) — There, to the right.
You: مننه. کابل ته یوه ټېکټ، مهرباني وکړئ. (MA-na-na. KAA-bul TA YAW tekṭ, meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY) — Thanks. A ticket to Kabul, please.
Ticket clerk: پنځه سوه افغانۍ. موټر یو ساعت وروسته حرکت کوي. (PIN-dzē SA-WA af-GHA-nī. mo-TAR YAW sa-AT wa-ROS-ta har-KAT ka-wī) — Five hundred afghanis. The bus leaves in an hour.
At a restaurant
Waiter: سلام! تاسو څو یاست؟ (sa-LAAM! TAA-so TSO YAST) — Hello! How many are you?
You: دوه کسان، مهرباني وکړئ. (DWA ka-SAAN, meh-ra-BA-ni wuk-RAY) — Two people, please.
Waiter: څه خورئ؟ (TSA XWA-ray) — What will you eat?
You: زه غوښه او ډوډۍ غواړم، او اوبه. (ZA GHWA-ša aw DO-DŌY GHWAA-ram, aw a-BA) — I want meat and bread, and water.
Waiter: ډېر ښه! مننه. (DER SHĒ! MA-na-na) — Very good! Thank you.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.