سلام، څنګه یاست؟
salam, sanga yast?
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is translated into Pashto as سلام، څنګه یاست؟ (salam, sanga yast?).
This phrase is a common greeting used to say hello and to ask about someone's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of سلام (peace/hello) and څنګه یاست؟ (how are you?).
Which one should you use?
The version څنګه یاست؟ is the polite or formal way to ask the question. In contrast, you can use څنګه یې؟ when speaking informally to friends or younger people.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase څنګه یاست؟, the verb form یاست is the second-person plural or formal singular form of "to be".
How do you pronounce it?
salam, sanga yast?
When do people say it?
A common response to this greeting is ښه يم، مننه (kha yam, manana), which means "I am well, thank you".
Did you know?
- While سلام is common, Pashto speakers may use ستړي مه شې as a greeting, which literally translates to 'may you not be tired'.
- The response to ستړي مه شې is خوار مه شې, meaning 'may you not be miserable', turning a simple hello into a mutual exchange of blessings.
- In Pashto, the concept of well-being is so deeply linked to hospitality that a greeting often triggers a sequence of repetitive questions about one's family, health and home before the main conversation begins.
Examples in context
- سلام، څنګه یاست؟ ښه یاست؟Salam, sanga yast? Kha yast?Hi, how are you? Are you well?
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet on the street.
- خان Khanسلام، څنګه یاست؟Salam, sanga yast?Hi, how are you?
- زالا Zalaزه ښه یم، مننه. تاسو څنګه یاست؟Ze kha yam, manana. Taso sanga yast?I am good, thank you. How are you?
- خان Khanزه هم ښه یم، زالا.Ze ham kha yam, Zala.I am also good, Zala.
- زالا Zalaډېره مننه، خان.Dera manana, Khan.Thank you very much, Khan.
