Afghan, afghani, Pashto, Pashtun

Pashto, less frequently called Afghan, is an official language of Afghanistan. (Depending on the dialect, Pashto has a number of spelling variants, including Pushto, Pushtu and Pakhto.)

  • A young man who spoke English, Russian and Pashto was the reporters’ guide in Kandahar.

A member of the Pashto-speaking group is called a Pashtun or Pushtun. In general, natives and residents of Afghanistan are known as Afghans.

  • Farid, a young Afghan, has prospered in Vancouver.

The currency of Afghanistan is called the afghani.

  • In 2000, exchange rates fluctuated between 12 000 and 100 000 afghanis to the U.S. dollar.

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