Ways to say it
| Pashto | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ښوونکی | x̌owunkay | /xo.ˈwun.kaɪ/ (Northern) /ço.ˈwun.kaɪ/ (Wardak) |
masculine |
| استاد | ostād | masculine | |
| استاذ | ostāz | masculine | |
| معلم | mo'alem | masculine |
The term for teacher in Pashto can be expressed through several different words depending on the desired level of formality and the specific context of the teaching.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, it means 'one who shows/teaches'.
Which one should you use?
ښوونکی is a general, native Pashto term for a teacher or instructor. In contrast, the other available forms are loanwords. استاد is often used to denote a higher level of respect or to refer to a specialized expert or professor compared to the general term ښوونکی.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several formal options. استاد is a common formal way to say teacher. معلم is also a formal term, often used in official or academic contexts. مدرس is a formal way to refer to a teacher, primarily used for males.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the native term ښوونکی feminine, change the final vowel to an 'e' sound: ښوونکې.
How do you pronounce it?
The word ښوونکی is pronounced as /xo.ˈwun.kaɪ/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- In traditional Pashtun culture, the relationship between a student and a teacher is often viewed as a sacred bond similar to a parent and child.
- While ښوونکی is the native term, the word استاد is used in Pashto to describe not just a teacher but a master of any craft or a virtuoso musician.
- The word استاد is used across several different languages in the region, including Persian and Urdu, making it a widely understood term beyond Pashto.
Examples in context
- هغه یو ښه ښوونکی دی.hagha yo kha khowonkay day.He is a good teacher.
- زما ښوونکی په ښوونځی کې دی.zama khowonkay pa khwonzi ke day.My teacher is at the school.
Example conversation
Maryam asks Zalmay about his school instructor.
- مریم Maryamزلمی، ستا ښوونکی څوک دی؟Zalmay, sta shoonkay tsok day?Zalmay, who is your teacher?
- زلمای Zalmayزما ښوونکی ډېر تکړه دی.Zama shoonkay der takra day.My teacher is very skilled.
- مریم Maryamهغه تاسو ته څه ښيي؟Haghah taso ta tseh khayi?What does he teach you?
- زلمای Zalmayهغه موږ ته ریاضي ښيي.Haghah mozh ta riyazi khayi.He teaches us mathematics.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “teacher” translations and entries ښوونکی, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
