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Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials in Pashto
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Pashto words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Pashto phrases in this lesson
- هوHO
- Yes
- نهNA
- No
- ټیک دهteek da
- Okay
- زه نه پوهېږمzə na po-he-ZHƏM
- I don't understand
- تاسو انګریزي خبرې کوئ؟tah-SOH un-GREE-zee khub-RAY koy
- Do you speak English?
- بیا یې ووایاستbyaa ye wo-waa-YAAST
- Can you repeat that?
- ورو ورو، مهربانيwro WRO, meh-ra-BA-ni
- Slowly, please
- دا څه دي؟daa tsə di
- What is this?
- ماته ... پکار ديMAA-ta ... pə-KAAR di
- I need...
- ایا زما سره مرسته کولی شئ؟aa-YAA zə-MAA sa-RA MA-ra-sta ko-LAI shai
- Can you help me?
The standard affirmative. Also used as "جي" (jee), which is more informal, especially among younger speakers.
Simple and direct. "نه ده" (na DA) is a fuller form meaning "it is not", used when emphasizing negation.
The everyday okay.
Uses the formal "تاسو" (you, plural/formal). This is especially useful in cities. Younger Pashto speakers increasingly know English; older speakers may not.
Literally "say it again".
Literally "slowly slowly, please".
Literally "for me ... is needed".