Pashto
Pashto[lower-alpha 1] (/ˈpʌʃtoʊ/,[5][3][4]/ˈpæʃtoʊ/;[lower-alpha 2] پښتو, Pəx̌tó, [pəʂˈto, pʊxˈto, pəʃˈto, pəçˈto]), is an Eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family. It is known in historical Persian literature as Afghani (افغانی, Afghāni).[7]
Pashto | |
---|---|
پښتو Pax̌tó | |
![]() The word Pax̌tó written in the Pashto alphabet | |
Pronunciation | [pəʂˈto], [pʊxˈto], [pəçˈto], [pəʃˈto] |
Native to | Afghanistan, Pakistan |
Ethnicity | Pashtuns |
Native speakers | 40–60 million |
Standard forms | |
Dialects | Pashto dialects |
Pashto alphabet | |
Official status | |
Official language in | ![]() |
Recognised minority language in | |
Regulated by | Pashto Academy Quetta |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-1 | ps – Pashto, Pushto |
ISO 639-2 | pus – Pushto, Pashto |
ISO 639-3 | pus – inclusive code – Pashto, PushtoIndividual codes: pst – Central Pashtopbu – Northern Pashtopbt – Southern Pashtowne – Wanetsi |
Glottolog | pash1269 Pashto |
Linguasphere | 58-ABD-a |
![]() Areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan where Pashto is: the predominant language spoken alongside other languages | |
Spoken as a native language mostly by ethnic Pashtuns, it is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan alongside Dari,[8][1][9] and it is the second-largest provincial language of Pakistan, spoken mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the northern districts of Balochistan.[10] Likewise, it is the primary language of the Pashtun diaspora around the world. The total number of Pashto-speakers is at least 40 million,[11] although some estimates place it as high as 60 million.[12] Pashto is "one of the primary markers of ethnic identity" amongst Pashtuns.[13]