Kuchi
/ˈkuːtʃi/noun
A member of Afghanistan’s traditionally nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoral communities.
Did you know?Kuchi identity is linked to seasonal migration, and the word comes from the Persian term for a person who moves from place to place rather than remaining settled.
Etymological Timeline
Middle Persian / Early New Persian
Persian
kūč
“A move, migration, or journey from one place to another”
Medieval Persian
Persian
kūčī
“A migrating person; a nomad”
19th Century
Pashto/Persian
Kochi / Kuchi
“A name for Afghanistan’s mobile pastoral communities”
20th Century
English
Kuchi
“An Afghan nomadic or semi-nomadic community member”
Modern English
English
Kuchi
“A collective ethnic and social designation, often referring to Afghanistan’s traditionally nomadic pastoralists”
Explore more surprising origins