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Glossary
of Foreign Terms in Order of Appearance
Allah-u-akbar
(God is great.)
Naan
(flat bread)
Babalu
(boogeyman)
Baba
(father)
Amir
(leader)
Laaf
(Afghan tendency to exaggerate)
Toophan
agha (Mr. Hurricane)
Kofta
sandwiches (meatballs and pickles wrapped in naan)
Saratan
(cancer)
Zakat
Hadj (purification pilgrimage to Mecca)
Namaz
prayers (prayers prescribed by law to be recited five
times a day)
Day
of Qiyamat (Judgment Day)
Buzkashi
(Afghanistan’s national sport and passion, something
like polo)
Chapandaz
(highly skilled buzkashi horseman usually patronized
by rich aficionados)
Kochi
(nomads)
Bazarris
(merchants at the bazaar)
Shahnamah
(tenth-century epic of ancient Persian heroes)
Mashallah
(Praise God.)
Inshallah
(God willing)
Goshkhor
(ear-eater)
Kunis
(homosexual)
Mard
(man)
Watan
(homeland)
Kasseef
(dirty)
Eid
(three days of celebration after the holy month of
Ramadan)
Eid
Mubarak (Happy Eid)
Salaam
alaykum (Hello to you.)
Tashakor
(thank you)
Tar
(string, glass-coated cutting string on kite)
Kursi
(an electric heater under a low table covered with a
thick, quilted blanket)
Chapan
(long caftan worn by men)
Koran
ayat (literally,
sign, or miracle; refers to verses of Koran)
Diniyat
class (religion class)
Boboresh!
(Cut him!)
Mantu
(steamed dumplings stuffed with sautéed onions and
minced beef served with yoghurt sauce and topped with
yellow peas)
Pakora
(vegetable dipped in batter and deep fried)
Azan
(call to prayer)
Bas
(enough)
Rupia
(unit of currency)
Agha
sahib (lord, commander, nobleman; friend; sir)
Mareez
(not feeling well)
Tandoor
(oven for making bread)
Chicken
qurma (stew)
Jan
(dear, loved)
Saughat
(souvenir)
Pari
(fairy, angel)
Raka’ts
(sections of prayers)
Bismillah!
(In the name of God!)
Shorawi
(Soviets)
Rafiqs
(companions, friends, comrades)
Spasseba
(Russian for thank you)
Roussi
(Russians)
Rubab
strings (lute-like instrument)
Rowt
cake (flat cake flavored with cardamom)
Moftakhir
(proud)
Khanum
(lady, Mrs.)
Potato
bolani (covered in flour and fried in oil; wraps with
potato filling))
Qabuli
palaw (rice with carrots and sultanas plus meat)
Tassali
(condolences)
Almond
kolchas (cardamom-flavored cookies with an almond
pressed onto the top)
Parchami
(member of the Parcham faction of the communist PDPA)
Salaam,
bachem (Hello, my child.)
Zendagi
migzara (Life goes on.)
Balay
(I do.) (Yes.)
Khastegars
(suitors)
Yelda
(first night of winter, longest night of the year)
Ahmaq
(fool, stupid)
Nang
(honor)
Namoos
(pride, reputation, honor, dignity, fame))
Mozahem
(intruder)
Khoda
hafez ([God,safe]
I’ll go now. Goodbye.)
Lochak
(swindler)
Mohtaram
(respected)
Mojarad
(single man)
Ahesta
boro ([slow,go]
Go
slowly.)
Alef-beh
([A,B] the
alphabet)
Komak!
(Help!)
Iftikhar
(pride, honor)
Khoshteep
(handsome)
Ghazal
(love song or poem)
Ihtiram
(respect, veneration, honor)
Noor
(light)
Shirini-khori
(eating of the sweets ceremony, the engagement party)
Awroussi
(wedding ceremony)
Nika
(swearing ceremony of a wedding)
Ayena
masshaf (mirror ceremony)
Chopan
kabob (pieces of marinated lamb chop broiled on a
skewer)
Sholeh-goshti
(flame-broiled meat)
Sabzi
challow (white rice with spinach and lamb)
Hijabs
(head scarves worn by women, sometimes including a
veil that covers the face)
Chila
(wedding ring)
Qurma
(stew)
Ghazals
(folksongs)
Maghbool
(attractive)
Madar
(mother)
Nazr
(ceremony in which a sheep is killed and the money
given to the poor)
Mujahedin
(Afghans who fought the Russian invasion and
occupation and then fought among themselves for
control of the country)
Kho
dega! (So!)?
Alahoo
(God)
Nawasa
(grandchild)
Jaroo
(broomstick)
Kocheh-morgha
(chicken bazaar)
Nihari
(curry stew with beef or lamb)
Yar
(familiar or affectionate form of address, especially
among young people)
Ghamkhori
(self-pity)
Zendagi
migzara (Life goes on)
Isfand
(wild, aromatic plant burned to ward off misfortune)
Nazar
(the evil eye; sight, view, idea)
Pirhan-tumban
(traditional dress)
Pakol
(Nuristani style hat—soft and round)
Shari’a
(Islamic law)
Burqa
(head-to-toe covering worn by women)
Mehmanis
(parties)
Dozd
(bandit)
Khar
Khara mishnassah (Takes a donkey to know a donkey)
Hadia
(gift)
Bakhshesh
(forgiveness, pardon; gift, tip)
Topeh
chasht
(noon cannon)
Lotfan
(please)
Chai
(tea)
Mord
(dead)
Dil-roba
([heart, thief]
very beautiful)
Shahbas!
(Bravo!)
Bia
(Come.)
Qorban
(Muslim ceremony commemorating Abraham’s willingness
to sacrifice his son)
Samosas
(small triangular pastries stuffed with minced meat)
Biryani
(Indian rice dish made with meat, vegetables, and
yogurt)
Haddith
(collection of Islamic tradition; traditions,
teachings, stories of the prophet Mohammed accepted as
a source of Islamic doctrine and law second only to
the Koran)
Dostet
darum
(I love you.)
Shalwar-kameez
(traditional Afghan dress--long shirt and wide
trousers)
Jai-namaz
(prayer rug)
La
illaha il Allah, Muhammad u rasul ullah.
(There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his
messenger.)
Masjid
(mosque)
Zakat
(giving of alms)
Kamyab
(lucky, winner)
Nah-kam
(unlucky)
Sawl-e-Nau
(Afghan New Year’s Day)
Cauliflower
aush (stew)
Seh-parcha
(fabric)
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