Pashto, one of the two official languages of Afghanistan, is often considered the language of love and poetry, whose every letter carries the sense of politeness, respect, and warmth. This is thanks to the 44-letter Pashto alphabet, which embodies a rich cultural heritage and expressiveness, giving Pashto the charm it is known for.
So, we can say that the Pashto alphabet is the pillar that deepens the connection with the language and helps in overcoming the possible language barriers, making it easier to understand the Pashto language at its core.
With that said, in this article, we’ll briefly explore the origin and basics of the Pashto alphabet, along with some quick travel tips and other useful vocabulary to help you navigate a Pashto-speaking country easily and confidently.
The Pashto Alphabet: All That You Should Know
The Pashto alphabet is the writing system used for the Pashto language, spoken by millions of Pashtuns or Afghans, as they are called in Pakistan, living in Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, and other countries. It is more than just a set of symbols; it is the link between spoken words and the history of Pashto literature, poetry, and storytelling.
Pashto is written in the Perso-Arabic script, a style that originated from the Arabic language and expanded through Persian influence. Pashto itself is an Iranian language, and when its speakers adopted the script, they modified it by adding extra characters to represent sounds unique to their language. This adaptation created the writing system we now refer to as the Pashto-Arabic script.
The alphabet flows from right to left and includes both consonants and vowels. Vowels are often shown with small marks above or below letters, or inferred from context. Each letter changes shape depending on its position in a word, giving the script a smooth, continuous appearance.
More than a means of writing, the Pashto alphabet is a symbol of cultural pride and identity. It has preserved centuries of poetry, proverbs, and history, keeping the language alive through generations. Learning the Pashto alphabet is the first step toward experiencing Pashto in its most authentic form.
Number Of Letters In The Pashto Alphabet
Let’s get straight to the point. The Pashto Alphabet has around 44 letters, of which 14 are Pashto-specific and 30 are derived from the Arabic language. These letters specifically represent the sounds that aren’t present in the Arabic or Urdu script, such as ghey (ږ), tseen (څ), kheen (ښ), and zeem (ځ) sounds.
Let’s look at all these 44 letters in the Pashto alphabet, along with their English names and pronunciation. To make understanding further easier, I have divided the list into two sections:
- Letters shared with the Arabic & Urdu languages
- Unique Pashto letters
This list can also serve as a handy guide for you, so don’t forget to take notes!
The Pashto Alphabet Shared With The Arabic Language
Here’s a complete list of all the letters that are similar to the Urdu and Arabic alphabet:
Note: If you are familiar with the Arabic and Urdu alphabets, it’s a good sign. You can quickly revise the following alphabet list and focus more on the letters that have unique sounds. Don’t get disheartened, though, if you aren’t. These letters are comparatively easier to learn and use than the unique Pashto letters.
| English Name | The Pashto Alphabet | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| a | ا | Alif |
| b | ب | be |
| p | پ | pe |
| t | ت | te |
| s | ث | se |
| j | ج | jeem |
| ch | چ | chey |
| h (deep h sound) | ح | hey |
| kh | خ | khey |
| d | د | daal |
| z | ذ | zaal |
| r (rolled ‘r’ sound) | ر | re |
| z | ز | ze |
| s | س | seen |
| sh | ش | sheen |
| ș | ص | suad |
| ż | ض | zuad |
| ț | ط | toay |
| ż | ظ | zoay |
| voiced a | ع | ayn |
| gh | غ | ghayn |
| f | ف | fe |
| q | ق | qu’af |
| k | ک | kaaf |
| l | ل | laam |
| m | م | meem |
| n | ن | noon |
| w | و | wow |
| h | ه | ha |
| y | ی | ye |
Unique Pashto Alphabet
Now comes the part that requires more practice and time. Below are the 14 letters that have unique sounds and are only found in the Pashto language:
| English Name | The Pashto Alphabet | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| t (hard t sound) | ټ | te |
| dz | ځ | zeem |
| ts | څ | seem |
| g (like in gay) | ږ | ghey |
| r (hard r sound) | ړ | rhe |
| ņ | ڼ | noon |
| sh (hard sh sound) | ښ | kheen |
| d (hard d sound) | ډ | daal |
| zh (like in measure) | ژ | zhey |
| y | ئ | yai |
| y | ې | yey |
| y | ۍ | yay |
| g (hard g sound) | ګ | ga’f |
| y | ي | yee |
Here’s a quick tip for you:
As you can see, this table has retroflex consonants, like te (ټ), daal (ډ), rhe (ړ), and noon (ڼ), that look similar to the letters derived from Arabic, such as ta (ت), daal (د), ra (ر), and noon (ن). Still, they sound different. We pronounce these letters with the tongue curled back, producing a harder sound, while the letters similar to Arabic have a soft sound.
For example, we pronounce Arabic (ت) as soft ‘t’ like in ‘top’, while Pashto (ټ) is pronounced as hard ‘t’ like in ‘taught’.
Have you understood the difference? Let me clarify it further.
- When we pronounce the ‘t’ sound like in ‘top’, our tongue slightly touches the roof of the mouth.
Now practice pronouncing the ‘t’ sound like in ‘taught’.
- See, the tongue is almost completely curled back while pronouncing it.
That’s the main difference between the sounds of Pashto-Arabic letters and retroflex Pashto letters.
Moreover, remember that the four written forms of ye (ي،ې،ۍ،ئ) serve different purposes, and a slight mistake in their usage can change the meaning of a word. Here’s a quick breakdown for you to avoid confusion:
- Yay (ۍ) – It is the feminine form of ye that you’ll mainly find at the end of the word.
- Yey (ې) – It sounds like ‘ay’ in say or like a short ‘e’ in bed. It is also known as the long form of Arabic ye (ی). For instance, sēb (سېب), which means apple. It is mostly used to denote a vowel sound.
- Yee (ي) – it sounds like ‘ee’ in see. For instance: national – qowmee (قومي)
- Aai (ئ) – it is known as a verbal form of ye (ی), which usually works like an apostrophe in English, that is, it breaks the sound like in ra-eis (رئېس), which means chief/head. It often only comes in the middle of the word and is followed by another ye form.
How Do You Say The Word ‘Alphabet’ In Pashto?
In Pashto, we say ‘Alphabet’ as alifbey (الفبې).
Vocabulary Related To The Pashto Alphabet
As you have learned to say the word alphabet in Pashto, let’s look at some other related Pashto words to avoid any confusion while learning the Pashto alphabet.
| English | Pashto | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Letter | تورۍ | toray |
| Word | لغت | lughat |
| Pen | قلم | qalum |
| Paper | کاغذ | kaaghaz |
| Page | پاڼه | paana |
| Learn | زده کول | zda kawel |
Quick Tips To Master Each Pashto Alphabet Thoroughly
As you begin learning the Pashto alphabet, keeping a few tips and tricks in mind can help you understand each sound more accurately. So, keep reading!
- Start with the letters that resemble those in the Arabic or Urdu languages. If you know any of these languages, it will work as a springboard for you. Some of them are: a – alif (ا), b – ba (ب), t – ta (ت), j – jeem (ج), r – ra (ر), l – laam (ل), and many more.
- Thoroughly understand the pronunciation of unique Pashto letters, as they have particular sounds and structures, like څ sounds as ts, etc. It is significant to pronounce them correctly as they can change the meaning.
- Always remember that h-ha (ح) is almost always silent when placed at the end of the word. It is one of the most important Pashto grammar rules.
- Use flashcards with sounds to hear how natives pronounce each letter. For this, you can watch different YouTube videos or try the Ling app, which allows you to listen to every letter and word that you’re learning.
- Practice writing the Pashto alphabet daily to improve your memory. You can either write letters in your notebook from your memory or do tracing exercises using a script app. Both methods greatly help in mastering written Pashto.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Pashto Alphabet
Why Should I Learn The Pashto Alphabet Before Traveling?
Learning the Pashto alphabet before visiting any Pashtun region can help you read street signs, the names of places, menus, and other written text. Although it doesn't directly aid in basic conversation, it can still greatly help you understand and engage with the Pashtun culture without relying solely on others. It boosts your confidence explicitly even if you have just started learning the Pashto language.
Is The Pashto Alphabet Written The Same In Both Pakistan And Afghanistan?
Yes, the writing system of the Southern Pashto and the Northern Pashto is the same. Although there are two standard written forms of Pashto based on different dialects: the Kandahar dialect and the dialect of Pakistan, the locals write Pashto from right to left in all Pashtun-majority countries. So, the difference isn’t in the script; it’s mainly in the Pashto pronunciation, and the vocabulary and spelling also differ a little.
What Are The Best Books To Learn The Pashto Alphabet?
Some of the popular and most recommended books to learn the Pashto alphabet are:
My First Pashto Alphabets Picture Book with English Translations by Gzifa S - You can get this book for $10.19
Pashto Alphabets Practice Book by Mr. Qais Mohammadi - You can get it for $5.00
Pashto Language: Teach Yourself the Pashto Alphabet by Babur Abbas - This book is available for $14.99
You can find all these books on Amazon.
The Pashto Alphabet: A Crux
See how easy that was? And with this, you have successfully taken your first step in learning the Pashto language. You can now confidently pronounce all 44 letters in the Pashto alphabet regardless of their position in the word.
Just remember to keep practicing and follow the tips mentioned in this article. I am sure this guide to the Pashto alphabet can help you start speaking Pashto like a local and make your visit more memorable. Another important point is to ensure that you use the correct written forms of the Pashto alphabet, as otherwise you might be misunderstood.
Master The Pashto Language Before You Board With Ling!
Now that you’ve mastered the Pashto alphabet, why not learn more travel-friendly Pashto phrases for an even richer experience? Nonetheless, we all know that knowing even a little of the native language can greatly transform our traveling experience.
Thus, if you are planning to visit Afghanistan or Pashto-speaking regions in Pakistan, it’s high time to learn Pashto before you travel to easily communicate with locals and enjoy the Pakhtuns’ hospitality to the fullest.
And, in my opinion, you won’t find a language app as good as Ling to master a new language. Don’t just take my words for it. Try it yourself. Subscribe to the Ling app’s 7-day free trial, choose the language you want to learn, and start practicing speaking, listening, and writing your favorite language all under one language-learning platform!
A good deal, isn’t it? Download the Ling app now, access Pashto lessons, and let the fun begin!
