Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Context and Culture

Talking Pashto (1): One-Liner of the Week

Thomas Ruttig < 1 min

Today, we start a little series with important Pashto expressions for field use. It is meant to complement the electronic translation computers handed out to the international forces which – reportedly – contain useful phrases like: “Lasuna porta!” (Hands up!), “Mulla Omar cheri dey?” (Where is Mulla Omar?) and “Hawayi maidan kum taraf dey?” (Which way to KaIA?)

Asked about the situation in his province, a friend replied as follows:

‘Charsi wayi: “Yawolas miashte gard, yau miasht ramazan.”’

(As the hashish eater says: Eleven months of dust, one month Ramadan.)

To be continued

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Pashto Language

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