Pashto uses the Arabic alphabet and many Arabic words, but has some sounds that do not correspond directly to Arabic. As a result, some sounds can be denoted by several letters (for example, the consonant [z] can be denoted by ذ , ز , ض ,and ظ ), while a letter like ع [ayn] does not represent any sound and only influences the pronunciation of adjacent letters.
Pashto is written from right to the left. Most letters
have four variations: alone (in an independent position), final
(at the end of a word), medial (in the middle of a word), and
initial (at the beginning of a word). Depending on its position
in a word, a letter can represent different sounds. There are
10 letters which do not join to the letters following them and
have only two positions, alone and final:
ا
,
د
,
ډ
,
ذ
,
ر
,
ړ
,
ز
,
ژ
,
ږ
,
و
The table below shows the positions of the letters in Pashto, how they are used, and the sounds associated with them.
A neutral middle vowel occurring in unstressed syllables is represented by letter "A" in this table.
|
Position of letter |
Transcription |
Remarks |
|||
|
Alone |
Final |
Medial |
Initial |
||
|
ا دا |
ـا زما |
ـا بار |
ا اتل ا ُردو ا سم |
aa, a, o, u, i, e |
In the initial position, it denotes any vowel except [aa]. (The vowel pronounced depends on the specific word.) In the medial and final position it represents [aa]. "brave" - [ata ́l] اتل = ﻞ + ﺗ + ا "army" - [ u rdú] ا ردو = و + د + ر + ا "name" -[ i sm] ا سم = ﻢ + ﺳ + ا "my" - [zm aa ] زم ا = ﺎ + ﻣ + ز To represent the vowel [aa] at the beginning of a word, the special sign آ [mamdud alef] is used. "horse" - [ aa s] آ س = س + آ |
|
ب خو ب
|
ـب عق ب |
ـبـ خ ب ری |
بـ ب جه |
b |
"hour" - [ b ajá] ب جه = ﻪ + ﺠ + ﺑ "sleep"- [kho b ] خو ب = ب + ﻮ + ﺧ |
|
پ کو پ |
ـپ ت پ |
ـپـ ش پ ه |
پـ پ اک |
p |
"clean" - [ p aak] پـ + ﺎ + ک = پ اک "night" - [sh p a] شـ + ـپـ + ـه = ش پ ه |
|
ت کو ت |
ـت خدم ت |
ـتـ ش ت ه |
تـ ت وره |
t |
"saber" - [ t úra ] تـ + ـو + ر + ه = ت وره "wrinkle" - [kaw t ] کـ + ـو + ت = کو ت |
|
ټ گا ټ |
ـټ گ ټ |
ـټـ نی ټ ه
|
ټـ ټ ول |
T |
It is used only in Pashtun words and in words adopted from English. "all" - [ T ol ] ټ ول = ـ ټـ + ـﻮ + ﻟ "date" - [ ni T á] نـ + ـیـ + ـ ټـ + ـه = نی ټ ه "tank" - [ T aank ] ټ ـ + ـا + نـ + ـک = ټ انک |
|
ث تلو ث |
ـث خب ث |
ـثـ ت ث بیت |
ثـ ث انیه |
s |
It is used only in Arabic words. "second" - [ s aaniya ́ ] = ث انیه ثـ + ـا + نـ + ـیـ + ـﻪ "confirmation" - [ta s bi ́t] ت ث بیت = تـ + ـ ث ـ + ـبـ + ـیـ + ﺖ |
|
ج بر ج |
ـج ب ج |
ـجـ ن ج لۍ |
جـ ج مله |
j |
"girl"-[n j AlÁy] نـ + ـجـ + ـلـ + ۍ = ن ج ل ۍ "sentence"-[ j umla ́ ] ج مله = ج ـ + ـمـ + ـلـ + ـه |
|
چ و چ |
ـچ پ چ |
ـچـ ک چ الو |
چـ چ یری |
ch |
"where"- [ ch i ́ ri] چ یری = چـ + ـیـ + ـر + ی "dry" - [wA ch ] و + چ = و چ |
|
ڂ ور ڂ |
ـڂ اوری ڂ |
ـڂـ ښ ڂ ه |
ڂـ ڂ ای |
dz |
It is used mostly in Pashtun words. The other variant of this letter, ځ , is also used. "place" - [ dz aay] ڂ ـ + ا + ی = ڂ ای "day" - [wra dz ] و + ر + ڂ = ور ڂ |
|
څ بلو څ |
ـڅ هی څ |
ـڅـ پ څ ول |
څـ څ ه |
ts |
"what" - [ ts A ] څـ + ـه = څ ه "dull" - [pA ts ] پـ + ـڅ = پ څ |
|
ح رو ح |
ـح فت ح |
ـحـ فت ح ه |
حـ ا ح مد |
h |
It is used only in Arabic words. "spirit" - [ru h ] ر + و + ح = رو ح "victory" - [fat h ] فـ + ـتـ + ح = فت ح |
|
خ اړ خ |
ـخ تری خ |
ـخـ ت خ ته |
خـ خ وب |
kh |
"side" - [aRk h ] ا + ړ + خ = اړ خ "bitter" - [tri kh ] تـ + ر + یـ + ـخ = تری خ |
|
د تو د |
ـد ب د |
ـد کې د ل |
د د غه |
d |
"this" - [ d a ́ gha] د + غـ + ﻪ = د غه "to become" - [ke d A ́ l] = کې د ل کـ + ـېـ + ـد + ل = |
|
ډ ډو ډ ۍ |
ـډ لن ډ |
ـډ گ ډ ون |
ډ ډ ېر |
D |
It is used only in Pashtun words and in words adopted from English. "bread" - [ D o D Áy] ډ و ډ ۍ = ډ + و + ډ + ۍ = "driver" - [ D raa ywa ́ r] ډ رایور = = ډ + ر + ا + یـ + ـو + ر |
|
ذ بد ذ ات |
ـذ تب ذ یر |
ـذ ب ذ له |
ذ ذ ره |
z |
It is used mostly in Arabic words. "atom" - [ z arra ́ ] ذ + ر + ه = ذ ره "joke" - [ba z la ́ ] بـ + ـذ + لـ + ـه = ب ذ له |
|
ر تو ر |
ـر س ر |
ـر دې ر ش |
ر ر ڼا |
r |
"head" - [sa r ] سـ + ر = س ر "black" - [to r ] تـ + ـو + ر = تو ر |
|
ړ غا ړ ه |
ـړ ژې ړ |
ـړ مې ړ ه |
ړ ړ ومبی |
R |
It is used only in Pashtun words. "husband" - [ me R Á ] مـ + ـېـ + ـ ړ + ه = م ې ړ ه "first" - [ R um ba ́ y] ړ ومبی = ړ + و + مـ + ـبـ + ـی |
|
ز را ز |
ـز مې ز |
ـز ب ز دل |
ز ز وی |
z |
"son" - [ z oy] ز + و + ی = ز وی "table" - [me z ] مـ + ـېـ + ـز = می ز |
|
ژ رو ژ ه |
ـژ پې ژ اندل |
ـژ ب ژ ه |
ژ ژ وند |
zh |
"life" - [ zh wand] ژ + و + نـ + ـد = ژ وند "to know" - [pe zh aandA ́ l] پې ژ اندل = پـ + ـېـ + ـژ + ا + نـ + ـد + ل |
|
ږ غو ږ |
ـږ شپ ږ |
ـږ ی ږ ه |
ږ ږ یره |
Gh |
It is used only in Pashtun words. "six" - [shpa Gh ] شـ + ـپـ + ـ ږ = شپ ږ "ear" - [ghwa Gh ] غـ + ـو + ږ = غو ږ |
|
س او س |
ـس ل س |
ـسـ ان س ان
|
سـ س ور |
s |
"ten" - [la s ] لـ + ـ س = ل س "red" - [ s ur] سـ + ـو + ر = س ور |
|
ش ترا ش |
ـش مې ش |
ـشـ پی ش ی |
شـ ش یدې |
sh |
"milk" - [ sh ide ́ ] ش یدې شـ + ـیـ + ـد + ې = "cat" - [pi sh i ́ ] پـ + ـیـ + ـشـ + ـی = پی ش ی |
|
ښ غا ښ |
ـښ برې ښ |
ـښـ پ ښ ه |
ښـ ښ ار |
Kh |
It is used only in Pashtun words. "city" - [ Kh aar] ښـ + ـا + ر = ښ ار "leg"- [p Kh a] پـ + ـښـ + ـه = پ ښ ه |
|
ص اخلا ص |
ـص تحری ص |
ـصـ ف ص ل |
صـ ص ابون |
s |
It is used only in Arabic words. "season" - [fa s l] فـ + ـصـ + ـل = ف ص ل "soap" - [ s aabu ́ n] ص ابون = صـ + ـا + بـ + ـو + ن |
|
ض غر ض |
ـض فی ض |
ـضـ ف ض ا |
ضـ ض رر |
z |
It is used only in Arabic words. "damage" - [ z ara ́ r] ضـ + ـر + ر = ض رر "aim" - [ghara ́ z ] غـ + ـر + ض = غر ض |
|
ط بلاشر ط |
ـط تخطی ط |
ـطـ ب ط ه |
طـ ـ ط الب |
t |
It is used only in Arabic words. "duck" - [bá t a] بـ + ـطـ + ـه = ب ط ه "pupil" - [ t aali ́b] طـ + ـا + لـ + ـب = ط الب |
|
ظ حظو ظ |
ـظ وع ظ |
ـظـ ن ظ ام |
ظـ ظ اهر |
z |
It is used only in Arabic words. "order" - [ni z aa ́ m] نـ + ـظـ + ـا + م = ن ظ ام "obvious" - [ z aahi ́ r] ظـ + ـا + ـه + ـر = ظ اهر |
|
ع اصلا ع |
ـع وض ع |
ـعـ جم ع ه |
عـ ع قل |
' |
It is used only in Arabic words. It does not represent any vowel in Pashto. At the beginning of a word it does not influence the following sound: "intellect" - [ ' akl] عـ + ـقـ + ـل = ع قل ; In a position between a vowel and a consonant, this letter makes the vowel longer: "building"- [ta ' mír (ta a mír)] ت ع میر = تـ + ـعـ + ـمـ + ـیـ + ـر ; In a position between consonant and vowel, this letter separates the other letters, indicating a glottal stop and the end of syllable: "Friday" - [jum| ' a ́ ] جم ع ه جـ + ـمـ + ـعـ + ـه = ; At the end of a word after a consonant, this letter can add the short vowel [a]: "situation" - [waz 'a ́ ] و + ضـ + ـع = وض ع ; At the end of a word after a vowel, this letter is not pronounced: "beginning" - [shurú ' ] = شرو ع شـ + ـر + و + ع |
|
غ څرا غ |
ـغ چ غ |
ـغـ پې غ له |
غـ غ ړی |
gh |
"member" - [ gh ÁRay] غـ + ـړ + ی = غ ړی "lamp" - [tsraa gh ] څـ + ـر + ا + غ = څ را غ |
|
ف تصاد ف |
ـف تشری ف |
ـفـ ت ف رقه |
فـ ف کر |
f |
"thought" - [ f ikr] فـ + ـکـ + ـر = ف کر ; "split" - [ta f riká] = ت ف رقه تـ + ـفـ + ـر + قـ + ـه |
|
ق بر ق |
ـق ح ق |
ـقـ ح ق ه |
قـ ق لم |
k, q |
It is used only in words adopted from the Dari, Arabic, and Turkish languages. It denotes the consonant [k] for most Pashtuns. It can denote the consonant [q], but only for Pashtuns who also speak Dari. "pen" -[ k ala ́ m] قـ + ـلـ + ـم = ق لم "law" - [ha k ] حـ + ـ ق = ح ق |
|
ک، ك پا ک |
ـک، ـك هل ک |
ـکـ ف ک ر |
کـ ک ول |
k |
There are two variants of this letter in the final and alone positions. Both are equally used. "to do" - [ k aw Á l] کـ + ـو + ل = ک ول "boy" - [halÁ k ] هـ + ـلـ + ـك = هل ك |
|
گ، ګ بدور گ |
ـگ، ـګ تن گ |
ـگـ ه گ ۍ |
گـ گ ران |
g |
There are two variants of this letter in the final and alone positions. Both are equally used. "dear" - [ g raan] گـ + ـر + ا + ن = گ ران "egg" - [ha g A ́y] هـ + ـگـ + ـۍ = ه گ ۍ "lame" - [lang] لـ + ـنـ + ـګ = لن ګ |
|
ل دسما ل |
ـل س ل |
ـلـ ع ل م م ل ا |
لـ ل ور ل ار |
l |
"daughter" - [ l ur] لـ + ـو + ر = ل ور "hundred" - [sA l ] سـ + ـ ل = س ل ; This letter changes its shape in the initial and medial positions if it followed by ا [alif]: "road" - [ laa r] لـ + ـا + ر = لا ر ; "loins" - [m laa ] مـ + ـلـ + ـا = م لا |
|
م بو م |
ـم نسی م |
ـمـ ل م ر |
مـ م ور |
m |
"mother" - [ m or] مـ + ـو + ر = م ور "sun" - [l m ar] لـ + ـمـ + ـر = ل م ر |
|
ن ڂا ن |
ـن ن ن |
ـنـ می ن ه |
نـ ن وم |
n |
"name" -[ n um] نـ + ـو + م = ن وم "love" - [mi ́ n a] مـ + ـیـ + ـنـ + ـه = می ن ه "today" -[ n A n ] نـ + ـن = نن |
|
ڼ رو ڼ |
ـڼ گ ڼ |
ـڼـ پ ڼ ه |
ڼـ چو ڼ یا |
N |
It is used only in Pashtun words, and only in the middle and at the end of a word (not in the beginning). "light" - [ru N ] ر + و + ڼ = رو ڼ "thick" - [ga N ] گـ + ـڼ = گ ڼ |
|
و پر و ن |
ـو بارخ و |
ـو م و ر |
و و ر |
w, u, o |
It represents the consonant [w] in the following situations: a) at the beginning of a word: "door" - [ w ar] و + ر = و ر ; b) in a position between vowels: "wall" - [de w aa ́ l] د + ېـ + ـو + ا + ل = دې و ال ; c) In a position after a consonant under which the additional sign "sukun" (see Short Vowels ) is used, it denotes the absence of the following vowel: "side" - [palá w ] پـ + ـلـ + ـو ْ = پل و ْ It represents the vowels [u] or [o] (these vowels are interchangeable in many words and the sound pronounced depends on the specific word) in the following situations: a) at the beginning of a word with the letter ا [alif]: "fire" - [ o r] ا + و + ر = او ر ; "raw" - [ u m] ا + و + م = او م ; b) in a position between two consonants: "mother" - [m o r] مـ + ـو + ر = م و ر ; "yesterday" - [par u ́ n] پـ + ـر + و + ن = پر و ن c) at the end of a word: "knife" - [chaak u ́ ] چـ + ـا + کـ + ـو = چاک و "monkey" - [biz o ́ ] بـ + ـیـ + ـز + و = بیز و |
|
ه مېو ه |
ـه خول ه |
ـهـ س ه ار |
هـ ه ر |
h, a, A |
In the initial and medial positions, it denotes the consonant [h]: "every" - [ h ar] هـ + ـر = ه ر ; "morning"- [sa h aa ́ r] سـ + ـهـ + ـا + ر = س ه ار ; In the final and alone positions, it denotes the vowels [a], [A], and, in Arabic words, - [h] (it depends on certain word what vowel is pronounced): "mouth" - [khul a ́] خـ + ـو + لـ + ـ ه = خول ه "you" (singular) - [t A ] ت ه = تـ + ـه "fruit" - [mew a ́ ] مـ + ـېـ + ـو + ه = مې و ه "wolf" - [lewÁ] لـ + ـېـ + ـو + ه = لې و ه "sin" - [gunaa ́ h ]= گنا ه گـ + ـنـ + ـا + ه |
|
ی لو ی |
ـی یعن ی |
ـیـ ن ی که |
یـ ی است |
i, y, ay, (e) |
At the beginning of a word, it usually represents the consonant [y]: "memory"- [ y aad] یـ + ـا + د = ی اد ; The letter ا [alif] at the beginning of a word represents the vowel [ i ], the diphthong [ay], and sometimes the vowel [e] (the vowel or diphthong pronounced depends on the specific word): "ash" - [ i ra ́ ] ا + یـ + ـر + ه = ای ره ; "baby" - [ ay waa ́ n] ا + یـ + و + ا + ن = ای وان ; "to decorate" - [ e sawA ́l] ای سول = ا + یـ + ـسـ + ـو + ل In the middle and at the end of a word, it can denote the consonant [y], the vowel [ i ], and the diphthong [ay]: "grandfather"- [n i k A]́ ن ی که نـ + ـیـ + ـکـ + ـه = ; "beginning" - [p ay l] پـ + ـیـ + ـل = پ ی ل ; "that is" - [ya ́ 'n i ] یـ + ـعـ + ـنـ + ـی = یعن ی ; "winter" - [zhÁ m ay ] ژ + مـ + ـی = ژم ی ; "month" - [m y aasht] = م ی اشت مـ + ـیـ + ـا + شـ + ـت ; To represent the vowel [ i ] in the final and alone positions, another variant of this letter ي is often used: "game" - [baaz i &1769; ] بـ + ـا + ز + ي = باز ي ; "some" - [dzi ́ n i ] ڂ ـ + ـیـ + ـنـ + ـی = ڂ ین ي |
|
ې موز ې |
ـې هیل ې |
ـېـ ل ې دل |
ېـ د ې وال |
e |
It is used only in Pashtun words. "wall" - [d e waa ́ l] د + ېـ + ـو + ا + ل = د ې وال ; "to see" - [l e dA ́l] لـ + ـېـ + ـد + ل = ل ې دل ; To represent the vowel [e] at the beginning of a word, it is used with ا [alif]: "to be captured" - [ e ledA ́l] = اې لېدل ا + ېـ + ـلـ + ـېـ + ـد + ل |
|
ۍ د ۍ
|
ـۍ څپل ۍ
|
- |
- |
Ay |
It is used only in Pashtun words. "is" (masculine gender) - [d A y ] د + ۍ = د ۍ To represent the diphthong [Ay], the special letter ئ [ya] with [hamza] is also used: "girl" - [njAl A ́y ] نجل ئ = نـ + ـجـ + ـلـ + ـئ |
See Also: