The language closest to Pashto is Persian, also known as Farsi.
Both languages belong to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family and share a common ancestor.
They exhibit significant similarities in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
For example, both languages use the Arabic script and share many common words, particularly in areas like religion, culture, and daily life.
Pashto and Persian speakers often understand each other to a certain degree, especially in written form.
While Persian is the official language of Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, Pashto is the official language of Afghanistan alongside Dari (Persian).
The two languages have a long history of interaction and influence on each other.
Here are some examples of shared vocabulary:
-
Pashto: Zaman (time)
-
Persian: Zaman (time)
-
Pashto: Khatar (danger)
-
Persian: Khatar (danger)
-
Pashto: Dost (friend)
-
Persian: Dost (friend)
Practical Insights:
- Knowledge of Persian can be helpful for learning Pashto and vice versa.
- The shared vocabulary and grammatical structures make it easier for speakers of one language to learn the other.
