Pashto phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Pashto phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Pashto with translation. | Free & useful

Pashto phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Pashto culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Pashto phrases you should know

*

Greet someone in Pashto

If you want to greet someone in Pashto, it’s actually quite easy:

English	Pashto	IPA
Welcome!	ښه راغلاست!	[ʂʰaː ˈraːɣˌlɑst]
Good day to you!	تاسو ته ښه ورځ غواړم!	[tɑːˈsuː tʰaː ʂʰaː ˈwʌɾʌʂʰʊ]
Good morning to you!	تاسو ته ښه سهار غواړم!	[tɑːˈsuː tʰaː ʂʰaː səˈhaːr ɣwɑːɾʌʂʰʊ]
Good evening!	ښه ماښام!	[ʂʰaː mɑːˈʂʰɑːm]
Good to see you.	ستاسو لیدل خوښ شوم.	[tɑːˈsuː liːˈd̪əl xwɔʂʰ ʂʊm]
I’m glad to see you.	زه خوشحاله یم چې تاسو ته ووینم.	[zə xʊʃˈhɑːlɪ jɛm tʃɛ tɑːˈsuː tʰaː wɪˈnɛm]

If you are greeted in Pashto, the best way to respond is as follows:

English	Pashto	IPA
Have a nice day too!	تاسو ته هم ښه ورځ غواړم!	[ˈtɑːsuː tʰaːm ʂʰaː ˈwʌɾʌʂʰʊ]
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too.	مننه، تاسو ته هم خوشحاله یم چې ووینم.	[mɪˈnɛnə, ˈtɑːsuː tʰaːm xʊʂˈʰɑːlɪ jɛm tʃɛ wɪˈnɛm]

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English	Pashto	IPA
How are you doing?	څنګه یې؟	[tsʰəŋɡə jɛ]
Are you doing well?	آیا ښه یې؟	[ʔɑːjɑː ʂʰɑː jɛ]

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English	Pashto	IPA
Thank you for asking, I am fine.	د پوښتنې نه مننه، زه ښه یم.	[də pʊʂt̪nɛ nə mənɛnə, zə ʂʰɑː jɛm]
Thank you, I am fine.	مننه، زه ښه یم.	[mənɛnə, zə ʂʰɑː jɛm]
Thank you, I am not doing so well.	مننه، زه ښه نه یم.	[mənɛnə, zə ʂʰɑː nɑː jɛm]
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing?	مننه، زه ښه یم. ته څنګه یې؟	[mənɛnə, zə ʂʰɑː jɛm. tə tsʰəŋɡə jɛ]

*

More information about the Pashto Language Course.

How do I say goodbye to someone in Pashto?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Pashto is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English	Pashto	IPA
Goodbye!	خداحافظ!	[xʊdɑːˈhɑːfɪz]
Take care of yourself!	خپل خیال وساته!	[xpl kʰjɑːl wəsɑːtɛ]
Goodbye	خداحافظ	[xʊdɑːˈhɑːfɪz]
See you tomorrow	سبا به ولیدو	[səˈbɑː bɛ wəliˈdɔ]
See you soon	ژر به ولیدو	[ʒəɾ bɛ wəliˈdɔ]
See you later	وروسته به ولیدو	[wəˈɾoːstə bɛ wəliˈdɔ]
Good night	ښه ماښام	[ʂʰɑː mɑːˈʂɑːm]
Sleep well	ښه ویده شه	[ʂʰɑː ˈwiːdə ʂʰa]
Talk to you later.	وروسته به درسره خبرې کوم.	[wəˈɾoːstə bɛ dɑːɾsəɾə xəbæˈɾiː kʊm]
Nice to have met you!	له تاسو سره لیدل خوشحال شوم!	[lə tɑːsuː səɾə liːdəl xʊʂˈʰɑːl ʂʊm]

How do I introduce myself in Pashto?

When travelling in Afghanistan, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Pashto and know who you’re talking to.

English	Pashto	IPA
My name is Jonas.	زما نوم جوناس دی.	[zəˈmɑː nʊm d͡ʒoˈnɑːs deː]
What is your name?	ستاسو نوم څه دی؟	[ˈtɑːsuː nʊm tsʰɛː deː]
What is your surname?	ستاسو تخلص څه دی؟	[ˈtɑːsuː tʰəkˈlɔs tsʰɛː deː]
What is your first name?	ستاسو لومړی نوم څه دی؟	[ˈtɑːsuː lʊˈmɾɛː nʊm tsʰɛː deː]
What is your surname?	ستاسو تخلص څه دی؟	[ˈtɑːsuː tʰəkˈlɔs tsʰɛː deː]

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English	Pashto	IPA
Where do you come from?	تاسو له کومه ځايه راغلي یاست؟	[ˈtɑːsuː lə ˈkʊmə zɑːjɑː ˈraːɣlɪ jɑːst]
I am from London.	زه له لندن څخه یم.	[zə lə ˈlʌndən sʰɑː ˈjɛm]
Are you from Birmingham?	آیا تاسو له برمنګهم څخه یاست؟	[ʔɑːjɑː ˈtɑːsuː lə bɜːrmɪnˈɣɑːm sʰɑː ˈjɑːst]
No, I’m from Madrid.	نه، زه له مادرید څخه یم.	[nə, zə lə mɑːˈdɾid sʰɑː ˈjɛm]
Great, I’m from Madrid too.	ښه، زه هم له مادرید څخه یم.	[ʂʰɑː, zə hɑːm lə mɑːˈdɾid sʰɑː ˈjɛm]
Where do you live?	تاسو چیرته ژوند کوئ؟	[ˈtɑːsuː t͡ʃeːɾtʰɑ ˈʒʊnd kɔɪ]
I live in Berlin.	زه په برلین کې ژوند کوم.	[zə pə bɛrˈlɪn kɛː ˈʒʊnd kʊm]

If you have problems with your Pashto, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English	Pashto	IPA
Do you speak English?	آیا تاسو انګلیسي خبرې کوئ؟	[ʔɑːjɑː ˈtɑːsuː ænɡˈlɪsi xʌˈbɾɛ kɔɪ]
Yes, I speak English.	هو، زه انګلیسي خبرې کوم.	[hoː, zə ænɡˈlɪsi xʌˈbɾɛ kʊm]
Yes, I speak some English.	هو، زه لږ انګلیسي خبرې کوم.	[hoː, zə ləʁ ænɡˈlɪsi xʌˈbɾɛ kʊm]
No, I do not speak any English.	نه، زه هیڅ انګلیسي نه خبرې کوم.	[nə, zə hɪts ænɡˈlɪsi nə xʌˈbɾɛ kʊm]
I only speak English.	زه یوازې انګلیسي خبرې کوم.	[zə jɛˈwɑːzæ ænɡˈlɪsi xʌˈbɾɛ kʊm]
I understand some Pashto.	زه لږ پښتو پوهیږم.	[zə ləʁ pʌʂˈtʰoː pʊˈhiːʒəm]

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Pashto and express your wishes and concerns:

English	Pashto	IPA
I am English.	زه انګلیسي یم.	[zə ænɡˈlɪsi jɛm]
I am injured.	زه ټپي یم.	[zə t̪əˈpi jɛm]
I am here.	زه دلته یم.	[zə dɪltʰə jɛm]
I am hungry.	زه لوږه یم.	[zə loːʒɑː jɛm]
I am thirsty.	زه تندې یم.	[zə t̪əndɛ jɛm]
I am a single person.	زه یوازینی یم.	[zə jɛwɑːˈziːni jɛm]
I need help!	ماته مرسته پکار ده!	[mɑːtə mɾəsˈt̪ɑ pəkɑːɾ d̪ə]
I am tired.	زه ستړی یم.	[zə st̪ɑːɾi jɛm]
I am happy.	زه خوشحال یم.	[zə xʊʂˈʰɑːl jɛm]
I am sad.	زه غمجن یم.	[zə ɣəmˈd͡ʒan jɛm]
I am in love.	زه مینه لرونکی یم.	[zə miːnə ləˈɾʊŋkɪ jɛm]
I am ill.	زه ناروغ یم.	[zə nɑːˈruːɣ jɛm]
I am ready.	زه تیار یم.	[zə t̪ɪˈɑːr jɛm]
I am busy.	زه مشغول یم.	[zə məʃˈɡuːl jɛm]
I am lost.	زه ورکه یم.	[zə wərˈkə jɛm]
I am a tourist.	زه سیاح یم.	[zə sɪˈjɑːh jɛm]
I am new here.	زه دلته نوی یم.	[zə dɪltʰə nɔːˈwi jɛm]
I am confident.	زه پخپل ځان باور لرم.	[zə pʰəpl zɑːn bɑːwər lɑːrəm]
I am proud.	زه ویاړلی یم.	[zə wɪˈɑːɾli jɛm]
I am a teacher.	زه ښوونکی یم.	[zə ʂʰoːˈwʊŋki jɛm]
I am late.	زه ناوخته یم.	[zə nɑːʊxˈtʰə jɛm]
I am 30 years old.	زه ۳۰ کاله یم.	[zə t̪ɪs kɑːlɛ jɛm]
I am in a hurry.	زه په بیړه یم.	[zə pə bɛːɾɑː jɛm]
I am happy.	زه خوشحال یم.	[zə xʊʂˈʰɑːl jɛm]
I am surprised.	زه حیران یم.	[zə hɛˈɾɑːn jɛm]
I am angry.	زه قهرجن یم.	[zə qʰɛˈɾəd͡ʒən jɛm]

Apologising in Pashto

Here’s how to apologise to a Pashto speaker:

English	Pashto	IPA
I apologise.	بخښنه غواړم.	[bʰəxˈʂənə ɣwɑˈɾʌm]
Sorry, that was not the intention.	بخښنه غواړم، دا زما نیت نه وو.	[bʰəxˈʂənə ɣwɑˈɾʌm, dɑː zəˈmɑː niːt nə wʊ]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.	بخښنه غواړم، ما عمداً دا ونه کړه.	[bʰəxˈʂənə ɣwɑˈɾʌm, mɑː ˈʌm.d̪ɑːn dɑː wʌnə kɾʌ]
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me.	بخښنه غواړم، دا زما ډېره بې پروايي وه.	[bʰəxˈʂənə ɣwɑˈɾʌm, dɑː zəˈmɑː ˈd̪ɛːrɑː bɛː pərwɑːjɪ wʌ]

*

More information about the Pashto Intermediate Course.

Useful signs and notices in Pashto

Useful signs and messages in Pashto that you will often see.

English	Pashto	IPA
Entrance	دخول	[dʊˈxʊl]
Toilet	تشویش	[tʃʰaˈwiʃ]
Exit	خروج	[xʊˈruːʒ]
Attention!	پاملرنه!	[ˈpɑːmələrə]
Police	پولیس	[pʊˈliːs]
Emergency services	بیړني خدمات	[ˈbiːɾəni ˈxədˈmɑːt]
Fire brigade	د اور وژنې خدمت	[dʊ ɔr wəˈʒəne ˈxədˈmɑːt]
Passage forbidden.	د تګ مخنیوی شوی دی.	[dɛ tɑːɡ mɪxˈnɪwi ʃəˈwi dɛ]
Caution!	احتیاط!	[ɪˈʂtʰiːɑːt]
This building is under video surveillance.	دا ودانۍ د ویډیو څارنې لاندې ده.	[dɑː wədɑːniː də vɪˈdjoː tsʰɑːɾəne lɑ̃ːdə dɑː]

Numbers to 25 in Pashto

Counting in Pashto is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Pashto from 1 to 25.

English	Pashto	IPA
1	یو	[juː]
2	دوه	[dʊːə]
3	درې	[dreː]
4	څلور	[t͡sʰəˈloːɾ]
5	پینځه	[ˈpɪnːʒə]
6	شپږ	[ʃpəɡʒ]
7	اووه	[ɔːwə]
8	اته	[ʌtə]
9	نهه	[nəːh]
10	لس	[læs]
11	یولس	[juːləs]
12	دولس	[duːləs]
13	سیل	[seːl]
14	څوارلس	[t͡sʰwɑːr.ləs]
15	پینځلس	[ˈpɪnːʒ.ləs]
16	شپږلس	[ʃpəɡʒ.ləs]
17	اوولس	[ɔːw.ləs]
18	اته لس	[ʌtə ləs]
19	نهه لس	[nəːh ləs]
20	شل	[ʃəl]
21	ایښل	[aɪʂəl]
22	بیست	[bɪst]
23	بیست اوه	[bɪst ɔːwə]
24	بیست اوه	[bɪst ɔːwə]
25	پنتیس	[ˈpæntəs]

The colours in Pashto

The most common colours in Pashto with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

English	Pashto	IPA
Red	سور	[suːr]
Blue	نیلا	[niːlɑ]
Green	شنه	[ʃəˈnə]
Yellow	ژېړ	[ʒeːɾ]
Black	تور	[tʰɔːr]
White	سپین	[spɪn]
Brown	قهوه یی	[qɑːhʊwɑːjɪ]
Orange	سنتره	[səntəɾɑ]
Purple	بایجنی	[baːd͡ʒɛːni]
Pink	ګلابی	[ɡʊˈlɑːbi]

Days of the week, months and seasons in Pashto

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Pashto and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Pashto.

English	Pashto	IPA
Monday	دوشنبه	[dʊʃˈnəbə]
Tuesday	سې شنبه	[seː ˈʃəmbə]
Wednesday	چارشنبه	[ʧɑːrˈʃəmbə]
Thursday	پنجشنبه	[pæŋˈʃəmbə]
Friday	جمعه	[ʒʊˈmə]
Saturday	شنبه	[ˈʃəmbə]
Sunday	یکشنبه	[jəkˈʃəmbə]
January	جنوري	[d͡ʒənəˈri]
February	فبروري	[fəbɾʊˈri]
March	مارچ	[mɑːrʧ]
April	اپریل	[æˈpriːl]
May	می	[meː]
June	جون	[d͡ʒuːn]
July	جولای	[d͡ʒuːˈlaːi]
August	اګست	[æɡˈʌst]
September	سپتمبر	[septɛmˈbɛr]
October	اکتوبر	[ʌkˈtoʊbɛr]
November	نومبر	[nʊˈmbɛr]
December	دسمبر	[dɛˈsɛmbɛr]
Spring	پسرلی	[pəsəˈɾɛli]
Summer	اوړی	[ɔːɾi]
Autumn / Fall	منګی	[mʌŋɡi]
Winter	ژمی	[ʒəmi]

*

More information about the Pashto Business Course.

Additional links

• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
• Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
• The different types of learners when learning languages

More information about the Pashto Course for Children.