Saying simple phrases for the first time, say it aloud four times. Then, print this list of phrases.

If you have a discussion companion, ask your partner to say the phrases and during their conversation, you have to record those phrases on a smartphone, or else on any recording device. So, you can listen to the recording and rehearse the pronunciation by yourself at home. To say simple phrases, you have to follow the following steps:

1. Recognize borrowed words
2. Greet others by saying “as-salaamu’ alaykum” (ah sa-LAAM-uu ah-LEH-kum)
3. Say “Ta sanga yee?’ (TSENG-ga yeh) to ask “How are you?”
4. Ask someone’s name by saying “staa num tsa dhe” (STAA noom dai)
5. Let the person know you only know a little Pahto
6. Mind your manners with polite words and phrases

1.   Recognize borrowed words

2.Greet others by saying “as-salaamu’ alaykum” (ah sa-LAAM-uu ah-LEH-kum)

This greeting is a typical Arabic greeting which is common among Muslims. And it means “peace be upon you.” The correct answer is “walaykum salaam” (wa-LEH-kum sa-laam).”The phrase has been introduced into Pashto and is usually used in place of “hello.”  Other words for instance; “Khe chare” (KHE chaa-reh) is a more casual way of saying “hello,” like to “hi” in English.

3.Say “Ta sanga yee?” (TSENG-ga yeh) to ask “How are you?”

It’s usually natural after saying greetings to ask the question that how are you (Ta sanga yee?” (TSENG-ga yeh). Then you can respond “Za kha yam, mannana, ta sanga yee?” (za KHE yem, ma-NE-na, TSENG-ga yeh). This means “I’m doing well, and you?”  You can also say “k’he yem, manena,” which means “fine, thank you.”

3.Say “Ta sanga yee?” (TSENG-ga yeh) to ask “How are you?”

It’s usually natural after saying greetings to ask the question how are you (Ta sanga yee?” (TSENG-ga yeh). Then you can respond “Za kha yam, mannana, ta sanga yee?” (za KHE yem, ma-NE-na, TSENG-ga yeh). This means “I’m doing well, and you?”  You can also say “k’he yem, manena,” which means “fine, thank you.”

5. Let the person know you only know a little Pashto

When the greetings are over, you probably want to let your discussion companion be familiar with that you don’t speak Pashto very well. Say “ze pe puk’hto samē khaberē ne shem kawulay,” which means “I can’t speak Pashto well.”  If they ask if you speak Pashto (“Aya ta pa pakhto khabarey kawalai shey?”), you might reply “lag lag,” which means “Yes, a little.” If your pronunciation of the initial greetings was strong, the person might start speaking to you in rapid-fire Pashto. You can interrupt “za na poheegum,” which means “I don’t understand,” and then slow them down by saying “karaar karaar khabaree kawa” (please speak more slowly).

6. Mind your manners with polite words and phrases

when you are learning Pashto and trying to converse with native speakers, Saying please and thank you will go a long way. “Mehrabai wakrey” (meh-ra-baa-NEE wu-kei) is “please” in Pashto. You can also say “lotfan.” For “thank you,” you can say either “manana” or “tashakor.” For “excuse me” or “I’m sorry,” say “bakhena ghwaarum”(ba-KHE-na ghwaa-rrem).