Pashto

American  

[puhsh-toh] / ˈpʌʃ toʊ /

Also Pushto.

noun

1. an Indo-European, Iranian language that is the official language of Afghanistan and the chief vernacular of the eastern part of the nation.

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Pashto British  

/ ˈpʌʃtəʊ /

noun

1. a language of Afghanistan and NW Pakistan, belonging to the East Iranian branch of the Indo-European family: since 1936 the official language of Afghanistan

2. a speaker of the Pashto language; a Pathan

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adjective

1. denoting or relating to this language or a speaker of it

Example Sentences

Here is a page from a U.S.-funded first-grade Pashto and math booklet created by University of Nebraska for kids in Afghanistan and Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan:

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2025

Now, the network airs programming in four languages: Persian, Mandarin, Dari and Pashto.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2025

But since the restrictions on girls' education were introduced some have expanded the teaching of subjects including chemistry, physics, mathematics, and geography, and languages like Dari, Pashto, and English.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2025

Syed, who speaks Pashto and required the help of translators throughout the trial, has remained in custody without bond since his arrest in August 2022.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024

Tariq clenched his teeth and muttered something to himself in Pashto that Laila didn’t catch.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini