BarSwat
Essential Pashto phrases for greetings, food, bargaining, directions and emergencies. Make your Swat trip warmer with a few local words.
Swati Pashtuns warm up immediately when a visitor tries even a basic phrase in Pashto. Shopkeepers offer better prices, hotel staff become more helpful, and locals smile easily. You do not need fluency, just 10 to 15 phrases used with a smile transforms the trip.
Assalam-u-Alaikum: peace be upon you (universal greeting). Wa Alaikum-as-Salam: reply. Sanga ye: how are you. Kha yam: I am fine. Manana: thank you. Khwakhi yum: I am happy. Khudai pa aman: goodbye (literally, may God protect you). Use these freely, they instantly mark you as a respectful visitor.
Yo (1), Dwa (2), Dre (3), Salor (4), Pinza (5), Shpag (6), Owe (7), Aate (8), Naha (9), Las (10). Useful for bazaar prices, jeep negotiations and counting items. Numbers above 10 you can switch to English or Urdu, most Swatis understand both.
So pesy de: how much is this. Garan de: it is expensive. Kam zat: less please. Kha de: it is good. Sa rang: any other color. Yo ba akhlam: I will take one. Khpal khpal: my own (when politely declining help). These help in any shop.
Wadda: food, Aw: water. Chai: tea, Doodai: bread. Mahay: fish. Daal: lentils. Gosht: meat. Tarkari: vegetables. Mawakhi yum: I am vegetarian. Mirch kam: less spice. Yo bal: one more. Bus de: that is enough. Daa kha de: this is good.
Charta: where. Kalam ta sanga zam: how do I go to Kalam. Jeep tsho de: how much is the jeep. Saba: tomorrow. Naan: today. Lar: road. Hotel: hotel (universal). Garry: car. Ploring: parking. Mukhamoom: facing. Pravoom: I am leaving.
Khaiza: woman. Khaiz: man. Maashum: child. Plar: father. Mor: mother. Ror: brother. Khor: sister. Malgharay: friend. Useful for polite small talk with the families you meet at hotels and dhabas.
Marbani waka: please. Manana: thank you. Bakhana ghwaram: I am sorry, Mehrabani: kindness. Lazi ghwaram: I want. Mada kawale shi: can you help. These phrases make every interaction easier.
Madad: help, Doctor: doctor (same). Hospital: hospital (same). Police: police (same). Rescue: rescue (same). Khatara: danger. Marg: death. Be aware these are heavy words, use only when needed. For non-emergency assistance, "mada kawale shi" works better.
You: "Assalam-u-Alaikum, sanga ye?" (Hello, how are you?) Shopkeeper: "Wa alaikum-as-salam, kha yam, manana." (Hello, I am fine, thank you.) You: "Daa shawal so pesy de?" (How much is this shawl?) Shopkeeper quotes price. You: "Kam zat, marbani waka." (Less please.) End with: "Manana, khudai pa aman." (Thank you, goodbye.) This short exchange will earn you a smile and often a better price.
No. Most Swatis speak Urdu and many speak English. But a few Pashto phrases warm every interaction.
Manana.
Assalam-u-Alaikum (universal Islamic greeting used in Pashto regions).
"So pesy de" (how much), "Garan de" (expensive), "Kam zat" (less please).
Yes. Pashto uses a modified Arabic script with extra letters for Pashto-specific sounds.
Many free apps exist; for travelers, learning 15-20 phrases by heart is more useful than full lessons.
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