afghani

American  

[af-gan-ee, -gah-nee] / æfˈgæn i, -ˈgɑ ni /

noun

1. a coin and monetary unit of Afghanistan, equal to 100 puls. Agh.

2. Literary. Afghani. Pashto.

3. Sometimes Offensive. Afghani. Afghan.

---

Afghani ¹ British  

/ æfˈɡɑːnɪ /

noun

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

---

afghani ² British  

/ æfˈɡɑːnɪ /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Afghanistan, divided into 100 puli

---

Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of afghani

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

Example Sentences

Unlike Shafiullah, Safi stood in a parallel queue of porters with wheelbarrows helping ferry recipients’ aid packages to vehicles or homes for 30 afghani, about 34 cents.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2022

About $760 million has come from the international community, according to the Afghan central bank, which says it uses the money to support the local currency, the afghani.

From New York Times • Aug. 17, 2022

Hospitals are desperately short of medicines, up to 95% of all households face food shortages, the poverty level is soaring toward 90% and the afghani, the national currency, is in free fall.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 17, 2021

When it comes to the local afghani currency, al Dardari said that while there is about $4 billion worth of afghanis in the economy, only about $500,000 worth is in circulation.

From Reuters • Nov. 22, 2021

The local currency, the afghani, has depreciated since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August.

From Washington Post • Nov. 3, 2021