Kandahari Pashto
The Pashto of southern Afghanistan around Kandahar. Considered the most conservative Pashto variety, retaining retroflex consonants lost in the northern dialects.
Northern Pashto
Also known as: Yusufzai Pashto, Peshawari Pashto
The Pashto of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan and parts of eastern Afghanistan. The literary basis of Pakistani Pashto, with the characteristic /ʃ/-realisation of the historical retroflex sibilant.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Northern Pashto?
Northern Pashto is a dialect of Pashto.
Where is Northern Pashto spoken?
Northern Pashto is primarily spoken in Afghanistan.
Which region is Northern Pashto associated with?
Northern Pashto is part of the South Asia region on DialectAtlas.
Is Northern Pashto known by other names?
Yes — Northern Pashto is also referred to as Yusufzai Pashto, Peshawari Pashto.
What are the other dialects of Pashto?
Pashto also includes Southern Pashto. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.