Have you ever heard someone warmly saying ‘welcome’ as pakhair raghlay (پخیر راغلې) and wondered where people exactly speak this language? If so, you have come to the right place! In this article, we will primarily answer the most asked question: where is Pashto spoken?
However, before that, you should know that Pashto is the voice of millions of people within and across the borders. Therefore, you will hear this language quite often. With that said, let’s closely look at where Pashto is spoken, why you should know about Pashto-speaking areas, and a little about its script and dialects.
Get ready to dive in!
Where Is Pashto Spoken? A Detailed Overview
We are all well aware that languages aren’t just means of communication; they are a doorway to the culture, traditions, and history of a place, and the same goes for the Pashto language.
Therefore, before we answer “Where is Pashto spoken?“, it’s probably worth learning about its script and dialects to see the different forms it takes across regions.
Let’s begin with the Pashto script and Dialects.
Pashto Script
The Pashto language uses the modified Arabic script, also known as the Pashto-Arabic script. But why is it called the modified script? It is because, although we write Pashto from right to left, the same as Arabic, Urdu, and Persian, Pashto also includes additional characters that are unique to its own language, such as ts (څ), kh (ځ), hard ‘r’ sound (ړ), zey (ږ), and others. This is also why the Persian-Arabic script was adapted and renamed the Pashto-Arabic script.
Pashto Dialects
The Pashto language has several dialects, but the two most widely spoken are Northern Pashto and Southern Pashto. The main differences between these dialects are pronunciation, spelling, and, most notably, the region.
Northern Pashto is spoken in Pakistan and some parts of Afghanistan, while Southern Pashto is used in several regions of southern Afghanistan. Spelling and pronunciation can also vary slightly depending on the area.
Primary Pashto-Speaking Countries
After learning a little about Pashto script and dialect, let’s now look at where Pashto is spoken.
1. Afghanistan
Afghanistan, the country in Central Asia, has two national languages: Pashto and Dari. Pashto is widely spoken throughout Afghanistan, particularly in provinces like Kandahar, Helmand, Nangarhar, Khost, and even Kabul. However, note that in Kabul, you’ll hear people speaking both Pashto and Dari. Thus, Pashto is deeply tied to Afghan identity and history. So, if anyone asks you, “Where is Pashto spoken?“, confidently say Afghanistan.
2. Pakistan
Although Pashto is the official language of Afghanistan, you will find comparatively more Pashto speakers in northern Pakistan. There are more than 20 million Pashto speakers in Pakistan, with the vast majority residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), one of the provinces of Pakistan, and only 10% of Pashto speakers living in the federally administered tribal areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. Thus, Pashto is recognized as one of the regional languages of Pakistan. In addition, the major Pashto-speaking cities in Pakistan are Peshawar, Quetta, Mianwali, Swat, Bannu, Kohat, and Dera Ismail Khan.
Pashto Beyond Borders
While Pashto is widely spoken in Afghanistan and Pakistan, you’ll also hear the Pashto language worldwide, as many Pashtuns have migrated to different cities, taking the language with them. Let’s highlight where you can find Pashtuns in other parts of the world!
- UAE – You’ll mainly find Pashtun people in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- Saudi Arabia – Here, Pashtuns primarily reside in Jeddah and Riyadh
- UK – especially in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, and London
- USA – In the USA, you’ll hear Pashto in major cities like California, Virginia, and New York
- Canada – Pashtuns also live in Canada, particularly in Toronto and Calgary
As a result, you can hear Pashto across the streets, in the markets, and even on a taxi ride.
Why You Should Know Where Pashto Is Spoken
Knowing where Pashto is spoken can help you decide where to travel or work, especially if you’re looking for a workplace located in Pashto-majority areas for cultural awareness. Besides, when you know about Pashto-speaking areas in your own country, you can easily find Pashtuns, invite them over, talk to them about their culture and history, and experience their renowned hospitality.
This way, you also become familiar with their warm language and learn about their traditions and way of life, even without leaving home. Thus, regardless of the reason, learning where Pashto is spoken can make your life easier.
Apart from this, the Pashto language is renowned for its rich storytelling traditions and poetry, such as the works of Khushal Khan Khattak and Rehman Baba. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that Pashto holds a major place in Pashtun culture. There are several Pashto songs and folk tales that are loved by people worldwide. The reasons could be Pashto’s expressive nature, the significant influence of Arabic, or its similarity to the Persian language, which makes it sound familiar and heartfelt.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter; what matters most is that Pashto has around 40 million speakers all over the world. With this impressive number, we can safely say that Pashto is one of the most popular Indo-Iranian languages. That’s why I wonder why there is no Pashto on Duolingo yet. Never mind, why worry when you have Ling by your side?
How Do You Say ‘Where Is Pashto Spoken’ In Pashto?
In Pashto, we say ‘where is Pashto spoken’ as Pașhto cherta weyl kigi (پښتو چیرته ویل کیږي). It is the most common and formal way to say this phrase, but if you want to make it conversational and a little casual, you can say:
Pașhto cherta khabare kigi (پښتو چیرته خبرې کیږي). However, this phrase literally means ‘where is Pashto used/ talked’.
Basic Pashto Vocabulary To Get Started
Now that you have come this far, why not take a sneak peek into the language and learn a few useful Pashto phrases on the go?
| English | Pashto | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Peace be upon you | سلام علیکم | Salaam alaikum |
| Good morning | سحار مو پخیر | Sahar mo pakhair |
| Have a nice day! | ورځ دې ښه وي | Wraz de kha we |
| Happy to see you! | خوشالہ شوم پۂ لېدلو سرہ | khushala shum pa li do’lo sirah |
| How are you? | ته سنګه يې؟ / ته څنګه يې؟ | ta senga ye? |
| What’s your name? | سته نوم څه دی؟ | Sta num tsa de? |
| Friend | ملګرې (male)ملګرۍ (female) | malgaremalgarai |
| Brother | ورور | woror |
| Sister | خوري | khorey |
| Thank you | مهربانی / مننه | Mehrbani / manana |
| Please | مهرباني وکړئ | Mehrbani okarhai |
| Sorry | معافي غوارم | maafi gawaram |
| No Problem | اس مسئلہ نا دا | is masle na da |
| Yes | هو | ho |
| No | نه | na |
| Water | اوبه | oba |
| Food | خواړه | khwra |
Tips For Learning Pashto The Right Way
If you ever start learning Pashto (which you already have with the table above—yay!), don’t forget the following tips. They will surely make your Pashto learning journey engaging, fun, and incredible!
1. Begin With The Greetings
Pakhtuns use greetings a lot, so you will hear them quite often. Thus, starting with the basic greetings, such as hello – salaam alaikum (سلام علیکم), good morning – sahar mo pakhair (سحار مو پخیر), etc., will help you connect with the locals instantly.
2. Interact With The Language Often
Listen to podcasts and Pashto music, watch movies, and other YouTube videos to listen to native speakers. It will help you learn how Pashtuns speak their native language. My personal favorite Pashto song is Dil Ruba Na Raazi by Zeb Bangash & Faakhir Mehmood. You can also try language apps like Ling and Forvo, which offer in-app native speaker audio for you to hear every word that you read.
3. Practice Speaking Pashto In Real-life Situations
Apart from listening, practice speaking what you’ve learned daily to master accurate pronunciation, as Pashto has some unique sounds, mostly retroflex letters, that, if not pronounced correctly, can change the meaning of a word. Additionally, practicing in real-life situations helps you understand the language’s context. I would recommend practicing speaking with the Ling app’s dialog feature, as it simulates real conversations and features built-in voice recognition that ensures you pronounce every word correctly.
4. Understand Pashto Grammar
Besides learning basic phrases, having a basic understanding of Pashto grammar can greatly help in understanding the language. Even if you aren’t fluent in the language but are familiar with the grammar and pronunciation of the Pashto alphabet, you will be somewhat able to understand the context of what the other person is saying.
5. Revise As Much As Possible
Speak out loud while repeating what you’ve learned to improve memory. And, if you don’t want to do this, at least review and revise with frequent gaps because the spaced-repetition learning technique improves memory retention.
Where Is Pashto Spoken?: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pashto Persian Or Arabic?
Although the Pashto alphabet consists of Arabic letters and follows the Perso-Arabic script, they aren’t mutually intelligible. Pashto is a distinct language with its own vocabulary and unique letters. And, as for Persian, Pashto does look somewhat similar to Persian because they both are Iranian languages, dating back to the same Indo-Iranian language family. So, Pashto is a different language, influenced by both Arabic and Persian.
Is Pashto A Race Or Ethnicity?
Pashto isn’t a race; it’s a language spoken in Afghanistan and several regions of Pakistan, including Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. People who speak Pashto are known as Pashtuns (or Pakhtuns), referring to an ethnic group primarily residing in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Is Pashto The Same As Afghan?
No. Pashto is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan (as mentioned above), and Afghan is a kind of nationality or, particularly, a demonym. That is, people living in Afghanistan are commonly referred to as Afghans, regardless of their ethnicity or language. However, you might also hear many Afghans speaking Pashto, Dari, Uzbek, and other local languages.
To Wrap It Up
With all this information and guidance, I hope you will now know where Pashto is spoken and can easily look for Pashtuns in your region. Just remember, even before you meet any Pashtun, ensure that you at least know how to say ‘how are you’ in Pashto, as other phrases, such as greetings, are a central part of Pashto culture. Nonetheless, a simple hello-salaam (سلام) partnered with a polite gesture can help you become friends with them instantly. Even if you haven’t decided to learn Pashto, it’s high time you did, as you already know how melodious, warm, and popular Pashto is.
Learn Pashto With Ling!
So, whether you want to learn Pashto for travel, out of interest, to impress your loved ones, or to express love to your beloved, there isn’t a better way to learn this language than the Ling app.
Its bite-sized lessons, native audio, game-like practice exercises, and Dialog feature make the language learning experience interactive and fun. Above all, it also includes voice recognition and the spaced repetition learning technique to ensure you retain what you learn.
The list doesn’t end here, which is what makes the Ling app an all-around application for learning new languages, not just Pashto. Ling offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to customize sound effects, add or remove romanization, and easily review what you’ve learned.
Still don’t believe it? See for yourself! Download the Ling app on your device, subscribe to the 7-day free trial, select a language, and see how quickly you get hooked!
