By Abdul Muqsit Chamkani
Pashto is the language of Pashtuns / Pakhtuns / Pathans. They are, historically, inhabited mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Afghanistan, and Balochistan. Population of this language speakers is estimated around 30 millions.
Based on Fairly reliable sources, 52.9% population speak Pashto in Afghanistan and 16% inhabitants in Pakistan speak Pashto. Based on a theory that attributes Pashuns to Israelite origin, Pashto had been considered a language of Semitic group. That theory is recorded in great details in Makhzan-i-Afghani, a book written by Niamatulla Herawi in the 11th Hijri century (17th A.D.) and is widely used as a reference source by Afghan scholars and non-Afghan orientalists in favor of the Israelite theory of Pashtuns.
At the early nineteenth century, when European scholars became interested in Pashtuns’ origin, some accepted the Israelite theory, but others deemed the theory wrong and called Pushtuns to be Ariyans. (Sir William Jones, Alexander Burnes, William Moorcroft subscribe to the Israelite theory. On the other hand, Mountstuart Elphinston, John Malcolm, Bernard Doren, and James Darmsteter believe in Ariyan origin of Pashtuns.) Scholars favoring the Israelitic theory, believe that Pashto is like Arabic and Hebrew a Semitic language. On the other hand, those who accept the Ariyan origin of Pahtuns, relate Pashtu to Indo-European language group.
Now-a-day, there are a lot of people who are learning how to read, write and speak Pashto, including Pashtuns and Non-Pashtuns. There are many reasons for it, trends of Localization in this modern era, Cultural Interests, competition exams (CSS, PCS etc) and jobs in Social development sector (NGOs) brought people towards seeking for the resources of Pashto language.
Another recent reason was when army operations started against militant groups and foreigners entered into Pashtun areas. Therefore all these were the factors due to them the modern Pashtun intellectuals felt a dire need to provide Pashto language resources in easy and organized way.
thePashto.com is basically an online dictionary (Pashto-English & English-Pashto) and a very good effort for the people who want to improve their Pashto vocabulary and the language skills. Although this dictionary contains more than 15K words including auto-suggestion option and colorful grammatical description of the required word too yet its navigation is clear, all pages are lightweight and load quickly. For every single word, you may get 3 to 6 meanings. This website produces good visual impression for the users.
It appeals to the average person because the layout is simply designed but feels comfortable to the eyes of the viewers. The design has been made very much professionally. Everyone who is user of this online dictionary feels as if one is in good hands and knows that one will be able to find the meaning of every required word in this Pashto language resource.
Talking about another prominent feature of this dictionary, it contains the option of words addition by the users. For the said purpose, keyboard has already been installed with Pashto supported format. Anyone may add words to the dictionary very easily. Just visit the website, first try to find your desired word either in Pashto or in English, if it is not present, then you need to register on the site once only by filling a few basic pieces of information about you. After you get registered, now you may start submission of the Pashto-English words in the database portfolio of the website. This proves that the said dictionary will be improved more and more with the passage of time.
These are the few but unique options which make this a best available Pashto language dictionary on internet world.
incomplete dictionary.
Oops! hey Not found, add the word to dictionary for review.
What do you want to search here brother, as we have 15K words, that’s why possible that some advance or Jargon words are included; to avoid such problem we have developed a platform for users to add words if they fail to find.
i got it. Thanks!
welcome..
Zabardast, i like the way he is presenting the words and colorful grammar! thumbs up, it was a serious problem writing pashto without keyboard.
This is really a great initiative. Keep regularly updating it Muqsit.
Brilliant Idea, Brilliant Designing
it is a good approach to connect all the pushtuns with there language. A lot of words are present in dictionary, you can add a word and submit it for a review, specially the phonetic keyboard to write pashto words for there meaning in english and english words into pashto. And the most interesting feature is auto suggestions.
Jazakallah khair for this effort..Inshallah It will help us to show a good image of pakhtoons to the whole world. Actually we need to show reality to the people of the world
The best Pashto Dictionary ever. Thumb ups for the brilliant step (Y)
MashaAllah, it is a marvellous achievement by Moxet and is a great service for the the language. Best feature of this program is that we may add words in it too. Cheers!
MashaAllah, it is great achievement by Moxet. It is great service for the language. Best feature of this program is that we may add words in it. Cheers!
Very nice.
Mung taso ta salam Paish koo
Salam to the owner of this site
Dera Mehrabani Rora..
Mashallah great job done by Abdul Muqsit for the prosperity of Pukhto Language. Keep it up man.
wow Very Nice
Absolutely great work
This is really very great. Keep it up and the one thing that matters is the effort. So keep updating this. This is the result of your hard work..
Nice efforts. I believe this will be another milestone after
http://hamariweb.com/dictionaries/urdu-english-dictionary.aspx
http://www.urduenglishdictionary.org/
http://www.urduword.com/
http://wordswithmeanings.com/
Perfect work so far, i think Qamosona has the same dictionary and words but due to salient features and utilities thepashto is awesome, please admin promote this on international level.
very nice ….