afghani
noun
a coin and monetary unit of Afghanistan, equal to 100 puls. Agh.
Afghani
1
British
/ æfˈɡɑːnɪ /
noun
afghani
2
British
/ æfˈɡɑːnɪ /
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It took 77 afghanis to buy $1 in early 2021, but now it takes about 88 — a smaller depreciation of the afghani than expected.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 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
In early August, the afghani was trading at around 80 to the dollar, jumping to around 90 in October.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 16, 2021
The central bank issued a statement saying that it had held a number of meetings with foreign exchange dealers, representatives of commercial banks and the business sector to halt the fall in the afghani.
From Reuters ● Dec. 14, 2021
The local currency, the afghani, has depreciated since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 3, 2021
Afghani activist Roya Mahboob stressed that women who live under oppressive regimes like the Taliban can secure financial independence only with tools, like Bitcoin, that circumvent the law.
From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026
Nader, who was born in Hamburg to a family of Afghani refugees and grew up in California, began studying with Hussain at age 7.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025
In “Padma’s All American,” she presents dishes from more than 20 different cuisines, from Afghani to American Indian, plus some family favorites passed down from her mother and grandmother.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2025
She also trained with the Afghani national team, were she was welcomed by her male colleagues.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2024
I remembered beggars in the old days too—Baba always carried an extra handful of Afghani bills in his pocket just for them; I’d never seen him deny a peddler.
From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
