Learning how to talk about time and dates is a crucial step in mastering any language, and Pashto is no exception. Whether you are scheduling a meeting, discussing your daily routine, or planning a trip, knowing how to express time and dates in Pashto will greatly enhance your communication skills. In this article, brought to you by Talkpal, we’ll guide you through the essential vocabulary, phrases, and cultural nuances to help you confidently discuss time and dates in Pashto.
Days of the Week
In Pashto, days of the week are commonly used in daily conversations. Here’s a list of the days:
- Monday – دوهشنبه (Dwah-shanba)
- Tuesday – درېشنبه (Dre-shanba)
- Wednesday – چهارشنبه (Chahar-shanba)
- Thursday – پنجشنبه (Panj-shanba)
- Friday – جمعه (Juma)
- Saturday – شنبه (Shanba)
- Sunday – یکشنبه (Yak-shanba)
Months of the Year
Pashto uses both the Islamic (Hijri) and Gregorian calendars, but the latter is more common in formal and international settings. Here are the months in Pashto:
- January – جنوري (Janwari)
- February – فبروري (Febrawari)
- March – مارچ (Marach)
- April – اپریل (Aprail)
- May – مۍ (Mai)
- June – جون (Jun)
- July – جولای (Julai)
- August – اګست (Agast)
- September – سپتمبر (September)
- October – اکتوبر (Oktobar)
- November – نومبر (Nawambar)
- December – دسمبر (Desambar)
Numbers for Time and Dates
To express time and dates, knowing Pashto numbers is essential. Here are the numbers 1-10:
- 1 – یوه (Yaw)
- 2 – دوه (Dwah)
- 3 – دری (Dre)
- 4 – څلور (Tsalor)
- 5 – پنځه (Panza)
- 6 – شپږ (Shpagh)
- 7 – اووه (Owa)
- 8 – اته (Ata)
- 9 – نهه (Naha)
- 10 – لس (Las)
How to Ask and Tell the Time in Pashto
Asking the Time
A common way to ask for the time in Pashto is:
ساعت څو بجې دي؟ (Sā‘at tsu bajay di?) – What time is it?
Telling the Time
When responding, structure your answer as follows:
ساعت [number] بجې دي. (Sā‘at [number] bajay di.) – It is [number] o’clock.
For example, to say “It’s 3 o’clock,” you would say:
ساعت درې بجې دي. (Sā‘at dre bajay di.)
Minutes and Parts of the Hour
To express minutes past the hour, use the word دقیقه (daqeeqa) for minute(s).
ساعت درې بجې او لس دقیقې دي. (Sā‘at dre bajay aw las daqeeqe di.) – It is 3:10.
To say “half past,” use نیمه (nīma):
ساعت درې نیمې بجې دي. (Sā‘at dre nīme bajay di.) – It is half past three.
AM and PM in Pashto
Pashto speakers often specify morning or evening using:
- سهار (sahar) – morning
- غرمه (gharma) – noon
- مازدیګر (maazdegar) – afternoon/evening
- شپه (shpa) – night
For example: سهار درې بجې (sahar dre bajay) – 3 AM.
Talking About Dates in Pashto
Asking the Date
To ask for the date, say:
نن نېټه څه ده؟ (Nan neeta tsa da?) – What is today’s date?
Stating the Date
To answer, use the following format:
نن [day]، [date] [month]، [year] دی. (Nan [day], [date] [month], [year] dai.)
For example: نن دوشنبه، ۳ مارچ، ۲۰۲4 دی. (Nan Dwah-shanba, 3 Marach, 2024 dai.) – Today is Monday, March 3, 2024.
Ordinal Numbers for Dates
When specifying the day of the month, ordinal numbers are useful:
- First – لومړی (Lomray)
- Second – دویم (Doyam)
- Third – دریم (Dreyam)
- Fourth – څلورم (Tsalorum)
For example: د مارچ لومړی (da Marach lomray) – the first of March.
Useful Expressions for Talking About Time and Dates
- سبا (Sabā) – Tomorrow
- پرون (Paroon) – Yesterday
- نن (Nan) – Today
- هره ورځ (Hara wradz) – Every day
- هره میاشت (Hara miasht) – Every month
- هر کال (Hara kahl) – Every year
Cultural Tips for Discussing Time and Dates in Pashto
Pashto speakers often value punctuality, especially in formal or business settings, but in casual situations, being a little late is generally acceptable. When making plans, it’s a good idea to clarify whether you’re using the Gregorian or Islamic calendar, as both are in use, especially around holidays.
Practice Makes Perfect
As with any language, regular practice is key to mastering how to discuss time and dates. Try using these phrases in daily conversations or with AI tools like Talkpal to reinforce your skills and build confidence.
Conclusion
Understanding how to talk about time and dates in Pashto opens up a world of possibilities for learners. From making appointments to discussing birthdays and holidays, this foundational knowledge helps you navigate both everyday interactions and more formal occasions. For more tips and resources on learning Pashto, be sure to explore the Talkpal blog and take your language skills to the next level!
