Greetings and politeness in Pashto
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. 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 11 Pashto phrases in this lesson
- سلامsa-LAM
- Hello
- سهار مو پخیرsa-HAR mo pa-KHEER
- Good morning
- ماښام مو پخیرmaa-SHAAM mo pa-KHAIR
- Good evening
- په امان د خدایpa a-MAN da khu-DAY
- Goodbye
- بیا به ګوروbyaa ba GOO-ro
- See you
- مهرباني وکړهmeh-ra-BA-ni wa-KRA
- Please
- مننهma-NA-na
- Thank you
- هیڅ خبره نه دهheets kha-BA-ra na da
- You're welcome
- بخښنه غواړمbakh-SHA-na ghwa-RUM
- Sorry
- وبخښئwa-bakh-SHAI
- Excuse me
- له تاسو سره په لیدو خوشحاله شومla TAA-so sa-RA pa lee-DO khush-HAA-la shom
- Nice to meet you
The standard formal greeting across Afghanistan and Pakistan. Often paired with "علیکم السلام" (alaykom assalam, peace be upon you), the full Islamic response, though sa-LAM alone opens most casual meetings.
Literally "morning be good" or "morning be well". Valid until around midday. After that, people shift to a simple سلام.
Literally "may your evening be good".
Literally "in the protection of God", the formal farewell. Many Pashto speakers shorten this or just say سلام, but this phrase is understood and appreciated everywhere.
A friendly see you again.
Formal and polite. Broken down: مهرباني (kindness) plus وکړه (do). In casual speech, Pashto speakers often skip this entirely and rely on tone; using it marks you as respectful.
The workhorse thank you, used constantly. Gender agreement is subtle in casual speech, though formal Pashto marks it; locals will understand any pronunciation.
Literally "it is no matter at all".
Literally "I ask forgiveness", the real apology.
Literally "forgive", said to get past or to interrupt.
Literally "I became happy seeing you".