Glossary

Unless otherwise stated, the glossary comprises key words and phrases used in the standard form of Persian/Farsi spoken in Afghanistan that has been referred to officially in the country as ‘Dari’ since 1958.Footnote ³

amanat kardan

to entrust

andiwal-e sahi

real friend

anjoman

association

ashak

pasta dumpling filled with gandana

ashna

acquaintance

ashpaz

chef

ay khanum

sheets of dough interspersed with mincemeat

badmash

criminals; thugs

ba-farhang

cultured

ba-sawad

educated

bay’ al wafa

selling on faithfulness (Arabic)

bewatan

stateless

beinsaf

unjust

bekar

without work

billa aywaz

without replacement

boja

relationship between men married to sisters

brinj

rice

buhran

crisis

chainaki

lamb and chickpea stew slowly cooked in metal teapots

chaykhana

teahouse

chai-ye sabz

green tea

dast-e khali

empty handed

deg

cooking pot

deg kardan

to cook

dil tang

depressed

dindar

religious

duq

bored

dost-e waqiyee

true friend

dukandar

shopkeeper

dosti; rafaqat

friendship

ehtimad

trust

ehtibar

trustable

ishleki

a dish popular amongst Turkmen in Afghanistan comprising minced meat and onions in a pastry crust

fesad-e idara

institutional corruption

gandana

Afghan leek/Chinese chives

gap

discussion

gashtak

discussion (Uzbek/Turkestani)

ghalmaghal

raucous

ghulam

slaves

giraw

surety, mostly made in the form of a jointly agreed upon temporary ownership of a property

gruh

group

gudam/anbar

warehouse

gumruk

customs

hafiz-e qur’an

a person who has committed the entire Qur’an to memory

haji khana

lodgings used by pilgrims on the hajj

hawala

money transfer

hawaladar

unofficial currency dealers

ikhtitaf kardan

to kidnap

kaala pacha

a stew comprising cow feet and head

kafala

system used in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Gulf legally linking a migrants’ work visa to a particular job and a particular citizen-sponsor/corporate entity (Arabic)

kafeel

sponsor (Arabic)

kaka

father’s brother

kalanha

elders

karai shinwari

lamb, tomato and chilli cooked in a karai

kar-e janjal

problematic/difficult work

karmandha-ye dawlat

state officials

keraye

rental

khairat

sacrificial feast of remembrance

khakh

soil

khamirbab

dough used in the preparation of pasta dishes

kharab

bad

khatum-e qur’an

recitation of the entire Qur’an by memory

khud khwah

egoist/selfish

khush tab

humorous

khow

asleep

kuch kardan

to migrate

lutf

a favour

malia

tax

mama

mother’s brother

mantu

pasta dumplings stuffed with meat

markaz

centre

mazhabi

religious

mehman nawazi/dosti

hospitality

mehnat

hard work

mobariza-ye motadawoom

sustained struggle

modarn

modern

motamadin

sophisticated

muhajir

refugee

mui safed

elders

musafir khana

lodgings for travellers

nasabnama

genealogies

nanwai

bakery

nur-e chashmam

light of my eye

paisa-e nurkh

cash

pul-e peshaki

an advance fee

pul-e siah

black/illegal money

puldar

rich/wealthy

qabala

land registration documents

qachaqbar

smugglers

qaradadiha

contractors

qarz

loan/debt/good provided on credit

qarzdar

debtor

qorma

stew

raan

mortgage (Arabic)

rahbaran

leaders

riba

interest (Arabic)

rishwat

bribes

rowarbit

relationships (Arabic)

rughan-e kunjit

sesame oil

ruz-e shahedat

day of martyrdom

sadiq

honest and true

sambusa

baked mincemeat pies

saraf

money exchange agent

sar qulfi

long-term lease arrangement

sazman

organisation

sheer yakh

hand-made Afghan ice cream

shorba

soup

sharakat

partnership

shirkat-e transporti

transport companies

shirkat-e tijorati

company offering services related to trade

shirin buya

liquorice

sofra/daastarkhan

cloth around which diners sit on the floor when eating

sud

interest

sunnati

traditional

taluqat

relationships

ta’arof

ritualised display/performance of politeness

tajir

trader/merchant

tanbal

lazy

tandur

clay oven

taqiya khana

Sufi lodge

taqwa

piety

tarbiya

upbringing

tazkira

national identity card

tekke

Sufi lodge (Turkish)

turk-tabar

Turkic

urf-o adat-e afghanha

Afghan culture and traditions

ushr

land tax based on shari’a law

ustad

a master

waqf

charitable foundation (Arabic)

wasita

connections

zakat

alms that Muslims are religious obliged to give

zer-e nazar

under the gaze