Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Pashto words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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Stase num tsə day? (formal) Sta num tsə day? (informal) What is your name? Zəma num ... day. My name is ... Tase tsənga yastəy? (formal) Tə tsənga ye? (informal) How are you? Zə xə yəm. Aw tase? (formal) Zə xə yəm. Aw tə? (informal) Fine. And you? ... chere day? Where is ...? Tashnab chere day? Saɽi/Xədze Where is the toilet? Men/Women Wəbakhəy. Bakhəna ghwaɽəm. Sorry. Excuse me. Parwa nə laɽi. Parwa nəsta. No problem. Zə ghwaɽəm ... I want ... Zə nə ghwaɽəm ... I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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De kum dzay yastəy? (formal) De kum dzay ye? (informal) Where are you from? De Aastraaliya yəm.* I am from Australia. Bill rawɽa. The bill, please. Zə wrək yəm. I'm lost. Wədarega! Wədarega! Stop! Wait! Dəlta, halta. Here, there. Ʈaksi. Hoʈel. Hawəyi ɖagar. Tamzay. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop. Zəma ... khwaxegi. I like ... Zəma ... nə khwaxegi. I don't like ... yaw, dwa, dre, tsalor, pindzə. one, two, three, four, five. shpag, wə, atə, nəhə, las. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Amrika - America Canada - Canada England - England Ireland - Ireland New Zealand - New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... | |
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Khə sehat wəlaɽi! Cheers! xə / bad good / bad loy / woɽ big / small nizde / ləɽay near / far kam / zyat less / more bə yaw / bas another / enough Zə gəyakhor yəm. I am vegetarian. Zə ghwəxa nə khwrəm. I don't eat meat. ... chərga ... ... chicken. ... kəb ... ... fish. Zə de maghz sara hasasiat laɽəm. I am allergic to nuts. ... pəla ... ... peanuts. ... kəb ... ... fish. ... samandar ɖoɖəy ... ... seafood. ... hagəy ... ... eggs. |
Vowels:
ə pronounced weakly er as in brother, as a schwa
aw is pronounced as ow as in now
Consonants:
ɖ indicates a retroflex d
ɽ indicates a retroflex r
ʈ indicates a retroflex t
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
sh is pronounced as sh in shop (ʃ)
kh is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
x is pronounced as h as in huge (IPA ç)
Please note:
Differences in pronounciation for different areas:
South East:
g is pronounced as zh as in pleasure (ʒ)
x is pronounced as sh (ʃ)
South West:
g is pronounced as retroflex zh (ʐ)
x is pronounced as retroflex sh (ʂ)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
North East:
ts is pronounced as s
x is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
ə pronounced weakly er as in brother, as a schwa
aw is pronounced as ow as in now
Consonants:
ɖ indicates a retroflex d
ɽ indicates a retroflex r
ʈ indicates a retroflex t
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
sh is pronounced as sh in shop (ʃ)
kh is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
x is pronounced as h as in huge (IPA ç)
Please note:
Differences in pronounciation for different areas:
South East:
g is pronounced as zh as in pleasure (ʒ)
x is pronounced as sh (ʃ)
South West:
g is pronounced as retroflex zh (ʐ)
x is pronounced as retroflex sh (ʂ)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
North East:
ts is pronounced as s
x is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)