زما وږه ده
Zma wazha da
To say "i am hungry" in Pashto, use زما وږه ده (Zma wazha da).
This phrase is used to express a physical need for food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "My hunger is", where Zma means "my", wazha means "hunger" and da means "is".
How do you pronounce it?
Zma wazha da
Did you know?
- In Pashto culture, guests are often pressured to eat more than they desire. Even if you say زما وږه ده to express hunger, a host may continue offering food long after you are full as a sign of generosity.
- A speaker from Kandahar and a speaker from Peshawar may pronounce the word وږه differently due to the 'soft' and 'hard' dialect split, despite using the same spelling.
- The phrase زما وږه ده shares an ancestral root with Persian terms for hunger, highlighting the historical intersection of these two language groups.
Example conversation
Zalmay and Maryam are talking in the kitchen.
- زلمای Zalmayمریم، زما وږه ده.Maryam, zama waga da.Maryam, I am hungry.
- مریم Maryamزه هم وږه یم.za ham waga yam.I am hungry too.
- زلمای Zalmayڅه خورځو؟tse khortso?What shall we eat?
- مریم Maryamراځئ چې ډوډۍ تیارې کړو.razai che dodai tayari kro.Let's prepare the meal.
