څنګه یاست؟
tsanga yāst?
The English phrase "how are you?" is translated into Pashto as څنګه یاست؟ (tsanga yāst?).
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their health or general well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The word څنګه (tsanga) literally means "how".
Which one should you use?
The form څنګه یاست؟ uses the second-person plural verb to address a group or to show respect. In contrast, څنګه یې؟ is used when speaking to a single person in an informal context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice of verb indicates the number of people you are addressing and the level of respect required: څنګه یاست؟ is the plural or formal version, while څنګه یې؟ is the singular/informal version.
How do you pronounce it?
tsanga yāst?
Did you know?
- In Pashto culture, the question څنګه یاست؟ often triggers a long chain of reciprocal inquiries about the health and well-being of the other person's family members and children before the actual conversation begins.
- Pashto is an Eastern Iranian language, meaning the root of څنګه is distantly related to words in ancient Avestan and Old Persian rather than the more widely known Western Iranian branch.
- In highly traditional settings, asking څنګه یاست؟ directly to a woman by a man who is not a relative may be considered too forward, requiring more indirect or formal introductory phrases.
Examples in context
- څنګه یاست؟tsanga yast?How are you?
Example conversation
Omar greets Zarkola in a street.
- عمر Omarسلام، څنګه یاست؟Salam, tsanga yast?Hello, how are you?
- زركولہ Zarkolaښه یم، مننه.kha yam, manana.I am well, thank you.
- عمر Omarډېره ښه ده.dera kha da.That is very good.
- زركولہ Zarkolaستاسو مننه.staso manana.Thank you.
