Pushto
/ˈpʊʃtoʊ/noun
Pushto is another English name for the Pashto language, spoken chiefly by Pashtun communities in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Did you know?“Pushto” is an established variant of “Pashto,” while the ultimate origin of the native name پښتو remains disputed rather than securely tied to a single ancient root.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient period
Pashto
پښتو (paṣ̌tō)
“The native name for the Pashto language; its ultimate etymology is uncertain.”
Medieval Persian usage
Persian
پشتو (puštū)
“A Persian rendering of the language name, reflecting Persian spelling and pronunciation.”
18th–19th Century
English
Pushto
“An English variant adopted for the language known more commonly today as Pashto.”
19th Century
English
Pashto
“The increasingly common English spelling for the language of the Pashtun peoples.”
Modern English
English
Pushto
“A recognized alternative spelling of Pashto, though less frequent in contemporary usage.”