afghani

[ af-gan-ee, -gah-nee ]

noun

a coin and monetary unit of Afghanistan, equal to 100 puls. Abbreviation: Agh.
Afghani. Literary. Pashto.

Afghani. Sometimes Offensive. Afghan (def. 1).

Origin of afghani

First recorded in 1820–30; Afghan + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin

usage note For afghani

Afghan is the proper term for a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan. The use of Afghani in this meaning is considered to be incorrect and is sometimes perceived as offensive.
The -i in Afghani is a suffix used in the names of certain peoples in southwest and central Asia: for example, an Israeli lives in Israel; a Pakistani lives in Pakistan. However, the bordering countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan have a history of strained diplomatic relations. Therefore, objection to the use of Afghani (to refer to a person) may be explained by the word’s similarity to Pakistani, and to Paki, a synonymous but highly offensive term.

Words Nearby afghani

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use afghani in a sentence

More than protecting afghani women from afghani men, the United States might support all Afghans negotiating a postcolonial future by helping to provide much needed resources—delivered through multilateral agencies to avoid colonial influence.
The Troop Withdrawal Won’t Be the End of the U.S. Military Presence in Afghanistan. History Suggests There's a Better Way Forward | Priya Satia | April 27, 2021 | Time
Definitely not an afghani, because most people have never met one.
The Taliban Trolled the Internet with a Dog Video and Upstaged an American POW | Brian Van Reet | February 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A striking example of this effect is the iconic National Geographic cover of afghani girl Sharbat Gula.
On St. Patrick’s Day, Beware Those Sly Green Eyes | Laura Dimon | March 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Who are some great afghani writers that your readers should know about, but who are not so well known abroad?
Khaled Hosseini: How I Write | Noah Charney | November 7, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
One afghani reporter asked a still more pointed question: How do you think the U.S. should rebuild the Afghanistan you destroyed?
Osama bin Laden: Why He Won | E.J. Graff | May 15, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for afghani (1 of 2)

afghani

/ (æfˈɡɑːnɪ) /

noun

the standard monetary unit of Afghanistan, divided into 100 puli

British Dictionary definitions for Afghani (2 of 2)

Afghani

/ (æfˈɡɑːnɪ) /

noun

Jamal ad-Din al-. 1839–97, Iranian Muslim religious and political reformer; a proponent of Muslim unity, he resisted European interference in Muslim countries

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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