ښځه
x̌ᶕja/ʂəˈd͡za/feminine
The English word 'wife' translates to Pashto using several forms. If unsure, use ښځه (x̌ᶕja). Wiktionary also lists زوجه (zawja) and ورتينه (wərtina).
Meaning: female partner in a marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Pashto | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ښځه | x̌ᶕja | /ʂəˈd͡za/ (Kandahar) /xəˈd͡za/ (Northern) |
feminine |
| زوجه | zawja | feminine | |
| ورتينه | wərtina | feminine |
In Pashto, different words are used to denote a female partner in a marriage depending on the level of specificity or formality required.
Which one should you use?
The form ښځه literally means 'woman' and is used to mean 'wife' in many contexts, though it is more general. The form زوجه is a more formal or religious term for 'wife', often used in legal or Islamic contexts. The form ورتينه is another way to refer to a wife.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is x̌ᶕja.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should be aware that ښځه can mean both 'woman' and 'wife' depending on the context of the sentence.
Did you know?
- In many Pashto speaking communities, it is common for a husband to avoid saying his wife's name aloud, using a term like ښځه or a kinship term instead.
- The word ښځه shares an ancient ancestor with the Sanskrit word स्त्री, which also means 'woman'.
- In many Pashto-speaking households, instead of using the word 'wife', people may use more indirect terms to show respect and avoid being too direct about family members.
Example sentences for Pashto are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Omar is talking to Zarkola about his family.
- عمر Omarزما ښځه نن کور کې ده.Zma khaza nan kor ke da.My wife is at home today.
- زركولہ Zarkolaهغه څه کوي؟Hagha tsa kawi?What is she doing?
- عمر Omarزما ښځه ډوډۍ پخوي.Zma khaza dodai pakhawi.My wife is cooking food.
- زركولہ Zarkolaدا ډیره ښه خبره ده.Da dera kha khabara da.That is very good news.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations and entries ښځه, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ښځه, CC BY-SA 4.0.
