Pakhto
/ˈpɑːk.toʊ/noun
Pakhto is an English variant spelling of Pashto, the Iranian language traditionally spoken by the Pashtun people.
Did you know?Pakhto belongs to the Iranian branch of Indo-Iranian languages, but its ultimate name is disputed; scholars cautiously compare it with the ancient Pactyans mentioned by Herodotus.
Etymological Timeline
5th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
Paktýēs / Pactyans
“A people called the Pactyans, recorded by Herodotus in the eastern Iranian world; their connection with the modern Pashtun name is possible but debated.”
Antiquity
Iranian languages
*Pacta- / *Paṣta-
“A reconstructed form sometimes proposed as an ancestor of the Pashtun and Pashto name, though the reconstruction and connection remain uncertain.”
Medieval Period
Eastern Iranian
paṣ̌tū / paxtū
“An early native form associated with the language now called Pashto; historical spellings varied across regions and writing traditions.”
16th Century
Pashto
پښتو (paṣ̌tō)
“The language’s native name, appearing in the developing written Pashto literary tradition.”
19th Century
English
Pushto / Pakhto
“English-language variant spellings used by travelers, administrators, and scholars for the Pashto language.”
Modern English
English
Pakhto
“A recognized variant transliteration of Pashto, especially reflecting pronunciation or spelling conventions used in some linguistic and regional contexts.”