What Language Do They Speak in Afghanistan?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
Afghanistan has 3 official languages: Dari, Pashto, Turkmen.
Learn some Dari before you go
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We are also a member of the CJ Affiliate and AWIN affiliate networks. Links below are affiliate links.
Dari Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.
Languages of Afghanistan at a glance
| Official languages | Dari, Pashto, Turkmen |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 3 |
| Countries on this site where Dari is official | 1 |
| People (demonym) | Afghan |
| Capital | Kabul |
| Internet domain | .af |
Languages of neighbouring countries
| Iran | Persian (Farsi) |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | Urdu, English |
| Turkmenistan | Turkmen, Russian |
| Uzbekistan | Uzbek, Russian |
| Tajikistan | Tajik, Russian |
| China | Chinese |
Afghanistan in context
- Afghanistan covers 652,230 kmยฒ, making it the 40th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 67 people per kmยฒ ranks 119th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 6 countries: Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China.
- Afghanistan is landlocked, with no direct coastline.
- With 43,844,000 people, Afghanistan holds about 2.2% of the population of Southern Asia.
- With 3 official languages, Afghanistan has more than most countries on this site.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
- Afghanistan is a member state of the United Nations.
Compare Afghanistan
Useful phrases for visitors to Afghanistan
Everyday Dari phrases you will hear and use in Afghanistan:
| English | Dari |
|---|---|
| Hello | ุณูุงู (salaam) |
| Thank you | ุชุดฺฉุฑ (tashakor) |
| Please | ูุทูุงู (lotfan) |
| Goodbye | ุฎุฏุง ุญุงูุธ (khuda hafez) |
| Yes | ุจูู (bale) |
| No | ูู (na) |
Everyday Pashto phrases you will hear and use in Afghanistan:
| English | Pashto |
|---|---|
| Hello | ุณูุงู (salaam) |
| Thank you | ู ููู (manana) |
| Yes | ูู (wo) |
| No | ูู (na) |
Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.
Languages in Afghanistan โ FAQ
What language do they speak in Afghanistan?
The official languages of Afghanistan are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen.
How many official languages does Afghanistan have?
Afghanistan has 3 official languages: Dari, Pashto, Turkmen.
Is Dari spoken anywhere else?
Afghanistan is the only country on this site where Dari is an official language.
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Last updated: