For Pashtuns, greetings are heartfelt gestures that convey love and respect. In fact, we all actually initiate our conversations with greetings and a simple “how are you?” That’s why learning respectful ways of asking how are you in Pashto will also work as the best and easiest way to break the ice.
So, if you’ve booked your flight to Afghanistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and are hoping to make some Pashtun friends to take back unforgettable memories home as a souvenir, then this article is definitely for you.
Let’s explore different ways of asking how are you in Pashto and go over some quick tips related to the right gestures and body language to help you connect with locals sincerely and respectfully.
How Do You Say How Are You In Pashto?
We are all well aware that Pashto is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan, with approximately 40 million Pashto speakers worldwide. Additionally, it is also the regional language of Pashto-speaking regions in Pakistan, such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
And that’s what brings the variety in Pashto vocabulary and pronunciation. Why?
It is because Pashtuns in Pakistan speak the Southern Pashto dialect, while those in Afghanistan speak the Northern Pashto dialect. The main difference between these two dialects lies in the use of the Pashto alphabet and their respective pronunciations.
Let’s look at the difference:
- In the Northern Pashto dialect (Peshawari Pashto), we say ‘how are you’ as senga ye? (څنګه يې؟).
- In the Southern Pashto Dialect (Kandahari dialect), we say ‘how are you’ as sanga ye? (څنګه یې؟).
These are the most common ways to say how are you? in Pashto. When using it, make sure to follow the correct regional pronunciation to sound more natural and respectful.
However, it isn’t the only variation. The level of formality also affects the way we use Pashto parts of speech, which consequently influences the way we ask about a person’s well-being.
For instance:
If you want to say ‘how are you’ to an elderly person or a stranger, you say it as:
taso snga yast? (تاسو څنګه ياست؟)
It is the formal and most respectful way of asking how are you in Pashto.
Now, let’s suppose you are talking to a friend, a child, or someone familiar. You can simply say
How are you – snga ye? (څنګه يې؟)
So, have you understood the difference between the two? Let’s revise it.
| English | Pashto | Pronunciation | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| How are you? | تاسو څنګه ياست؟ | taso snga yast? | Formal/respectful |
| How are you? | څنګه يې؟ | snga ye? | Informal/casual/friendly |
Bonus tip: don’t forget to change ‘sanga’ (سنگہ) with ‘tsanga’ (څنگہ) according to the region.
Also, don’t get confused if you see only ta (تہ) instead of sta (ستہ). We can use both pronouns to convey an informal tone.
Essential Vocabulary Related To How Are You In Pashto
Below are other useful phrases in Pashto that you should learn before boarding your flight to the Pashtun majority areas, to prepare yourself for small talk with native speakers.
| English | Pashto | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | اسلامُ علیکم/سلام | As salaamu alaykum/ Salaam |
| May God protect you / good bye | دا خدائې پہ امان/مخ دې ښه | Da Khoday pa amaan / makha de khah |
| Nice to meet you | ستا په ليدو خوشاله شوم | staso pa ledo khushala shum |
| Welcome | پخیر راغلې | Pakhair raghley |
| Thank you | مھربانی/مننه | Mehrbani / manana |
| You’re welcome | ہر کلا راشا | Har kala rasha |
| Do you speak Pashto? | ته پښتو ويلای شې؟ | ta pukhto wayley shey? |
| Yes, I can speak Pashto | هو، زه پښتو ويلای شم. | ho, za pukhto weley sham. |
| I don’t understand | زه نه پوهېږم | Za na poheegum |
| Have a nice day/ good day | ښه ورځ ولرئ/ښه چارې | Kha wraz walaray / khe chare |
| Good morning | سہار مو پخیر | sahaar mo pa kheyr |
| Good night | شپه مو پخیر | shpa mo pa kheyr |
| Good afternoon | ماسپښين مو پخير | maspakheen mo pakhair |
| Good evening | ماښام مو پخير | maakhaam mo pa kheyr |
Quick Tips To Ask ‘How Are You’ In Pashto More Effectively
Anyone can ask how are you in Pashto, but doing it in the right way, with the right expressions and gestures, can help you earn the trust and warmth of the locals. Therefore, below are a few quick tips to help you enhance the effectiveness of your greetings.
- Add a cultural touch to your greetings. You can start your phrase with hello – salaam (سلام) and say hello, how are you – salam ta sanga ye? (سلام, تہ څنګه یې؟) instead of simply saying ta sanga yee (تہ سنگہ یې). You can read more about Pashtun culture in the Ling app’s Pashto language and culture blog post.
- Smile and make eye contact as you greet to add warmth. However, you can only do this with the same gender, as most Pashtuns are very conservative in this matter.
- Ensure that your tone is formal and respectful when greeting elders. Always say how are you- taso sanga yaast (تاسو سنگہ یاست) when greeting them.
- Learn how to respond to senga ye? (څنګه يې؟) to keep the conversation going. If someone asks you, you can simply say za kha yam (زه ښه يم), which means I’m fine. You can also continue by adding How about you – ta snga ye? (ته څنګه يې؟).
- Observe the locals and mimic their accent and body language. It helps in building connections quickly. For instance, Pashtuns pronounce (یې) as yee and not ye (یی), which is achieved by stressing it a little. You can listen to the native audio or engage with the Ling app’s dialog feature to practice speaking Pashto like a native at home.
- The topmost tip is to personalize your greeting. It’s best if you know the person’s name. If you don’t know the name, you can say sister – khor (خور) or brother – woror (ورور) accordingly. Pashtuns love it when someone calls them by name or by familial referrals.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To How Are You In Pashto
How To Respond To How Are You In Pashto?
The most common way of responding to how are you in Pashto is I am fine - za kha yam (زه ښه يم). So, if someone asks you about your well-being, you can simply say I am fine - za kha yam (زه ښه يم). And, if you want to ask them too, extend the same phrase as I am fine. And you? - za kha ym, ta snga ye? (زه ښه يم، ته څنګه يې؟).
Can I Say “Taso Sanga Yee” To A Woman?
Yes, you can. However, you have to be cautious of your tone and body language, as Pashtuns are considered very conservative in this matter. Avoid eye contact, don’t shake hands, keep a respectful distance, and use polite words. You can say “How are you, sister?” - ta snga ye khorai? ( ته څنګه يې خورې؟).
Are There Any Other Ways Of Asking How Are You In Pashto?
Yes, there are other ways, but they are less common. For example,
ta rogh ye? (ته روغ يې؟) literally means are you healthy?. Rogh (روغ) is for male, and rogha (روغہ) is for female.
Khair dey? (خېر دی) means is everything okay?
ta jorh ye? (تہ جوړ یې؟) means are you well?
Greetings Are More Than Just A Phrase
Greetings like hello, how are you, and have a good day aren’t just basic phrases; they are gestures that express emotions, respect, and openness to the culture and its people.
Similarly, by asking how are you in Pashto to a local vendor or a passerby, you initiate building a stronger connection, besides inquiring about their well-being.
And considering how significant greetings are in Pashtun culture, learning different ways of saying How are you in Pashto can turn your simple visit into a memorable experience. In fact, you can even get invited to tea. That’s how hospitable the Pashtuns are.
So, master the different ways of saying How are you in Pashto, understand the context behind each sentence, and keep the above-mentioned tips in mind to ensure you stay respectful and polite.
Are You Ready To Learn More Such Pashto Phrases?
Now that you have mastered the different ways to ask ‘how are you’ in Pashto, I hope you are curious to learn more such greetings and expressions. Yet, you don’t need to run here and there to learn Pashto, as the Ling app has a lot to offer to its passionate Pashto learners.
Plus, I’m confident you’ll enjoy learning a new language with Ling. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy an app that offers interactive language games, lets you practice speaking and writing like a native, and keeps you motivated with fun features like banana points, streaks, and badges?
One of the highlights is Ling’s new Streak Saver feature, which you earn after completing a 7-day streak. It lets you restore your progress if you miss a day, so your learning momentum stays on track.
Ready to give it a try? Download the Ling app on your Android or iOS device and start learning Pashto today!
