An Introduction to Learning Pashto Letters
Pashto is widely spoken worldwide, specifically in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its speakers have a rich history and culture. Learning Pashto letters is mandatory when you need to practice reading and writing. It is also the beginning of studying a new language. This brief guide introduces you to Pashto letters, which unite to form words.
An Overview of Pashto Alphabets
The Pashto language adopts its writing script from Arabic. It has 44 letters that seem similar to Arabic letters. Unlike the English language, Pashto is written from right to left. Each letter has different forms. These can be used in isolation or as an initial, middle, or last letter in a word. Learning letters and their forms is difficult for a beginner. With continuous learning and reading practice, one can become familiar with all of them.
Learn Pashto Letters that are Unique & Different
As mentioned, most of the Pashto script is derived from Arabic, and most letters and sounds are common. However, various letters are unique and different. Some sounds are native to Pashto only. These are not present in the local languages spoken in the neighboring areas where Pashto is spoken the most. Following are some of the examples of these alphabets:
- ځ (Dzze): Represents a sound similar to the English “z.”
- ښ (Shin): Represents a sound similar to the English “sh.”
- ګ (Gaf): Represents a hard “g” sound, as in “go.”
Commonly Used Letters in Pashto
If you are already familiar with Arabic, Urdu, or any of the regional languages of Pakistan, you may quickly recognize most of the Pashto letters. However, it will still be a surprise for speakers of other languages. Some of the common letters are:
- ا (Alef): A versatile letter, often representing a long “a” sound.
- ب (Be): Similar to the English “b.”
- ت (Te): Similar to the English “t.”
How to Learn Pashto Letters?
With practice comes clarity. If you want to learn Pashto letters, practice is the first condition. Keep revising the alphabet and the way these are pronounced. To reinforce learning, you can use flashcards or mobile applications.
Once you become familiar with the 44-letter alphabet, you can start learning simple words. These may be two—or three-letter words. Try to stick to single-syllable words at the beginning. Soon, you will be able to recognize word formation and its letters.
Let’s now learn the Pashto letters. Knowing these characters will allow you to easily read and write commonly used expressions and words.
|
ا |
[a] as in Alabama |
| ب | [b] as in Bali |
| پ | [p] as in pen |
| ت | [t] as in tea |
| ٹ | [ṭ] as in top |
| ث | [th] as in think |
| ج | [j] as in joy |
| چ | [ch] as in charm |
| ح | [h] as in hot |
| خ | [kh] as in Bach |
| د | [d] as in dove |
| ڈ | [ḍ] as in drink |
| ذ | [dh] as in that |
| ر | [r] as in Romania |
| ڑ | [ṛ] as in rabbit |
| ز | [z] as in Zulu |
| ژ | [zh] as in vision |
| س | [s] as in small |
| ش | [sh] as in shrine |
| ص | [ṣ] as in salt |
| ض | [z̤] as in those |
| ط | [t] as in tower |
| ظ | [ẓ] as in this |
| ع | [‘] as in none |
| غ | [gh] as in none |
| ف | [f] as in food |
| ق | [q] as in queue |
| ک | [k] as in kilo |
| گ | [g] as in guest |
| ل | [l] as in life |
| م | [m] as in moon |
| ن | [n] as in nice |
| و | [v, o] as in wet, cool |
| ہ ﮩ ﮨ | [h] as in house |
| ھ | [h] as in house |
| ء | [‘] as in art |
| ی | [y, i] as in yes |
| ے | [ai or e] as in way |
Conclusion
The Pashto script is an amalgamation of common and unique letters. Studying them will open doors for you to examine the rich culture of the Pathans. Learning Pashto letters becomes easier if you start with the basics and study the formation of words. Once you complete the basics, you can move on to take a complete course or seek help from native speakers. And, soon, you will be an expert.