زړه
zrë/zɻə/
The English word "heart" is translated into Pashto as زړه (zrë) or قلب.
Meaning: an organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Pashto | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| زړه | zrë | /zɻə/ | |
| قلب | qalb | masculine |
In Pashto, terms for "heart" change depending on whether you are referring to the biological organ in a common way or using the term in a literary, religious or spiritual sense.
Which one should you use?
زړه is the standard, everyday term used to refer to the biological organ. قلب is a more specialized term used for the heart in literary, poetic or spiritual contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form قلب is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is zrë and the IPA is /zɻə/.
Did you know?
- If you are describing a physical sensation like a 'heartache', Pashto speakers often use زړه in expressions that link the heart directly to the stomach or gut to describe emotional distress.
- In Pashto poetry, قلب is often used to describe a heart that is 'turning' or 'fluctuating', reflecting the Arabic root of the word which means 'to turn'.
- The common word زړه shares a common ancestor with the English word 'heart' and the Latin 'cor', tracing all the way back to Proto-Indo-European.
Examples in context
- زړه ډېر غږ کوي.zṛ deṛ ghag kawi.The heart beats very loudly.
Example conversation
Khan and Zala are talking about health.
- خان Khanزالا، ستاسې زړه څنګه دی؟Zala, stase zra sanga dai?Zala, how is your heart?
- زالا Zalaزما زړه اوس ښه دی.zama zra os kha dai.My heart is fine now.
- خان Khanآیا درد درته شته؟aya dard darta shata?Do you have any pain?
- زالا Zalaنا، هر څه سم دي.na, har sa sam di.No, everything is okay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heart” translations and entries زړه, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries زړه, CC BY-SA 4.0.
