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Pashto [b] (/ ˈ p ʌ ʃ t oʊ / PUH-shto, [6] [4] [5] / ˈ p æ ʃ t oʊ / PASH-toe; [c] پښتو, Pəx̌tó, [pəʂˈto, pʊxˈto, pəʃˈto, pəçˈto]) is an Eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family, natively spoken in northwestern Pakistan and southern and eastern Afghanistan.
Pashtuns (/ ˈ p ʌ ʃ ˌ t ʊ n /, / ˈ p ɑː ʃ ˌ t ʊ n /, / ˈ p æ ʃ ˌ t uː n /; Pashto: پښتانه, romanized: Pəx̌tānə́; [18]), also known as Pakhtuns, [19] or Pathans, [d] are a nomadic, [23] [24] [25] pastoral, [26] [27] eastern Iranic ethnic group [19] primarily residing in northwestern Pakistan and southern and eastern Afghanistan.
The ethnonym Afghan (Dari Persian/Pashto: افغان) has been used historically to refer to the Pashtuns. [1] Since the second half of the twentieth century, the term "Afghan" evolved into a demonym for all residents of Afghanistan, including those outside of the Pashtun ethnicity. [1] [2]
Pashto is generally classified as an Eastern Iranian language. [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] It shares features with the Munji language , which is the closest existing language to the extinct Bactrian , [ 30 ] but also shares features with the Sogdian language , as well as Khwarezmian , Shughni , Sanglechi , and Khotanese Saka .
Etymology: French: Bellérique, from Arabic: بالعلاج balilaj, from Persian بلیله balilah, the fruit of the bahera. compare to MYROBALAN. [21] Bellum Etymology: modification of Persian بالم balam. a Persian-gulf boat holding about eight persons and propelled by paddles or poles. [22] Benami
[6] The word finally yielded Ghəljī and Ghəlzay in Pashto. According to a popular folk etymology, the name Ghəljī or Ghəlzay is derived from Gharzay (غرزی; ghar means "mountain" while -zay means "descendant of"), a Pashto name meaning "born of mountain" or "hill people." [7]
The name Afghānistān (Dari: افغانستان, Afġānistān Dari pronunciation: [afɣɑnɪsˈtʰɑn]; Pashto: افغانستان Afġānistān Pashto pronunciation: [avɣɒnisˈtɒn, abɣɒnisˈtɒn] [note 1]) [1] means "land of the Afghans", [2] the name "Afghan" originally referred to a member of the Pashtuns.
Afghans (Dari: افغانها; Pashto: افغانان) are the citizens and nationals of Afghanistan, as well as their descendants in the Afghan diaspora. [41] [42] [43] The country is made up of various ethnic groups, of which Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks are the largest.