Afghan

American  

[af-gan, -guhn] / ˈæf gæn, -gən /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan.

2. afghan, a soft woolen blanket, crocheted or knitted, usually in a geometric pattern.

3. Also called Afghan hound.  one of a breed of swift hunting hounds having a long, narrow head and a long, silky coat.

4. Literary. Pashto.

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adjective

1. of Afghanistan or its people or language.

Afghan ¹ British  

/ -ɡən, æfˈɡænɪ, ˈæfɡæn, -ˈɡɑː- /

noun

1. a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Afghanistan

2. another name for Pashto

3. history an Indian camel driver employed in the outback of Australia

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adjective

1. denoting or relating to Afghanistan, its people, or their language

afghan ² British  

/ -ɡən, ˈæfɡæn /

noun

1. a knitted or crocheted wool blanket or shawl, esp one with a geometric pattern

2. a sheepskin coat, often embroidered and having long fur trimming around the edges

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Usage

See afghani.

Etymology

Origin of Afghan

First recorded in 1740–50; from Persian afghān “inhabitant of the Hindu Kush; a Pathan“

Explanation

An afghan is a knitted or crocheted blanket. You might spend Friday night curled up on the couch under an afghan watching old movies on TV. Many afghans are made from individual crocheted squares — called "granny squares" — stitched together into one big, multicolored blanket. Other afghans are striped or composed of large blocks of color. The connection of the name afghan with the people or country of Afghanistan is unclear, though some crochet and knitting fans believe that the original afghans, first made in the 1800s, were influenced by multi-colored blankets from that country.

Example Sentences

“When the deadline passed without explanation or follow-through, that hope turned into something closer to despair,” said Shawn VanDiver, who runs the advocacy group Afghan Evac and closely monitors the situation at Camp As Sayliyah.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

One point that Trump officials, lawmakers and advocates for Afghan allies agree on: Keeping Afghans trapped in Camp As Sayliyah in perpetuity is inhumane.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Two Afghan former prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay until 2017 were welcomed home in February last year, more than 20 years after they were first arrested.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

By the morning, the Afghan Taliban officials claimed that the death toll in the strike was more than 400.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

“I know you were very close ... friends... the two of you. Always to- gether, since you were kids. It’s a terrible thing, what’s happened. Too many young Afghan men are dying this way.”

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini