ک + و + ر
کور
Alphabets
The Pashto alphabet الفبا
Meet every letter of Pashto, hear how it sounds, and learn how letters join to make words.
About Pashto
Pashto is written in the Pashto alphabet from right to left. It takes the Arabic and Persian letters and adds ten of its own, made by putting a small ring or extra dots on existing letters: ټ ډ ړ ڼ are retroflex sounds, ښ and ږ are said differently in different dialects, and څ ځ are "ts" and "dz". Most letters join the next one and change shape.
- 44
- letters
- 10
- letters of its own
- 2
- genders
- R → L
- writing direction
Vowels غږونه
Short vowels are usually left out. Long vowels and some endings are written with ا و ی ې ۍ ه.
Letters توري
Letters that share a basic shape are grouped together – dots above or below tell them apart. Tap a letter to hear it.
The be family ب پ ت ټ ث
one boat shape
The jim family ج ځ چ څ ح خ
a hook shape
Dāl and re د ډ ذ ر ړ ز ژ ږ
never join the next letter
Sin to ghayn س ش ښ ص ض ط ظ ع غ
teeth, loops and curves
Fe to nun ف ق ک ګ ل م ن ڼ
loops and tall shapes
Wāw, he and ye و ه ي ی ې ۍ ئ
w, h and the y letters
How letters join to make words
Pashto is written from right to left and most letters join the next one. Three simple rules cover almost everything.
-
1
Letters join the next one
Inside a word most letters link to the next.
ک +ت +ا +ب =کتاب -
2
Some letters never join on the left
After د ر و and their relatives the next letter starts fresh.
ک +و +ر =کور -
3
Pashto letters
A small ring makes a retroflex sound: ت becomes ټ, as in ټول (ṭol, all).
ټ +و +ل =ټول
Four shapes of a letter
Alone
ب
On its own.
Start
بـ
At the beginning of a word.
Middle
ـبـ
Joined on both sides.
End
ـب
At the end of a word.
Build real words
ا + و + ب + ه
اوبه
ک + ت + ا + ب
کتاب
پ + ښ + ت + و
پښتو
Ready to type in Pashto?
Use the on-screen keyboard to write these letters, or translate your first sentence.