خیر مبارک
khair mubarak
khair mubarak is the Pashto way to say a polite response to a wish for goodness or blessings.
This phrase is used as a reciprocal response when someone greets you with a wish for goodness or celebrates a festive occasion with you.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of khair, meaning goodness or blessings and mubarak, meaning blessed or congratulations.
How do you pronounce it?
khair mubarak
Did you know?
- While 'khair' means 'goodness', in some Pashto dialects, the word is also used as a question to ask 'What is happening?' or 'What is the matter?', which can change the tone of a conversation entirely.
- While khair mubarak is used in Pashto, the word mubarak is a loanword from Arabic that has become a linguistic bridge across the Islamic world, making the sentiment instantly recognizable to millions of non-Pashto speakers.
- Khair mubarak is part of a wider cultural etiquette of 'reciprocity' in Pashto, where failing to return a blessing with an equally polite phrase can be seen as a social slight.
Examples in context
- خیر مبارک.khair mubarak.Blessings to you too.
- تاته هم خیر مبارک.tata ham khair mubarak.Blessings to you as well.
Example conversation
Zala and Ahmed greet each other on a holiday.
- زالا Zalaاحمد، د اختر مبارکي درکوم!Ahmed, da Eid mubaraki darkawum!Ahmed, I wish you a happy Eid!
- احمد Ahmedزالا، خیر مبارک!Zala, khair mubarak!Zala, blessings to you too!
- زالا Zalaستاسو کورنۍ څنګه ده؟staso koranai sanga da?How is your family?
- احمد Ahmedټول ښه دي، مننه.tol kha di, manana.Everyone is well, thank you.
