سلطان
sultānmasculine
The Pashto word for king is سلطان (sultān), شاه or پادشا.
Meaning: a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Pashto | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سلطان | sultān | masculine |
| شاه | šāh | masculine |
| پادشا | pādšā | masculine |
These terms refer to a male member of a royal family who serves as the supreme ruler of a nation.
Which one should you use?
سلطان (sultān) often carries a connotation of a sovereign or sultan, frequently appearing in historical or Islamic contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
All three forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
sultān
Did you know?
- In traditional Pashtun tribal structures, the concept of a 'king' is often contrasted with the 'Jirga', a council of elders where power is shared rather than centralized.
- In Pashto poetry, a 'king' is often used as a symbol for the beloved, portraying the person they love as the sovereign ruler of their heart.
- The linguistic roots of پادشا connect it to ancient terms for 'protector' or 'master', emphasizing the ruler's role as a guardian of the people.
Examples in context
- هغه یو ډیر طاقتمن سلطان و.hagha yo der taqtaman sultan vo.He was a very powerful sultan.
Example conversation
Zalmai and Zala are looking at a picture of a historical leader.
- زلمای Zalmayدا کوم سلطان دی؟Da kum sultan day?Which king is this?
- زالا Zalaدا د پخواني وطن سلطان دی.Da da pakhwani watan sultan day.This is the king of the old homeland.
- زلمای Zalmayایا هغه یو عادل سلطان و؟Aya haghah yo adil sultan wa?Was he a just king?
- زالا Zalaهو، هغه ډېر عادل و.Ho, haghah der adil wa.Yes, he was very just.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “king” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
