UC Santa Barbara

Himalayan Linguistics

Title
A Khowar-English glossary [HL Archive 12]

Permalink
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/955239w9

Journal
Himalayan Linguistics, 0(0)

Author
Bashir, Elena

Publication Date
2023-08-05

DOI
10.5070/H90057297

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Copyright 2023 by the author(s).This work is made available under the terms of a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License, available at
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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University of California
 Khowar-English Lexicon –
with Cultural and
Etymological Notes
Elena Bashir

The University of Chicago

Himalayan Linguistics
Archive 12

Himalayan Linguistics Archive No. 12 i-xi, 1-160

ASSN 1544-7502
© 2023. All rights reserved
 A Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes
Elena Bashir
The University of Chicago, USA
([email protected])

Acknowledgements

This work is dedicated to the people of Chitral — to the many persons who have contributed their
knowledge of the Khowar language and Chitrali culture and to the numerous people who have extended
their friendship and hospitality to me during my stays and travels in Chitral. I am deeply grateful to all
them. 1
This lexicon is a compilation of words encountered or collected during my many years of linguistic
fieldwork in Chitral. I have tried to create a snapshot of the Khowar lexicon at a particular period of
time, the last fifteen years of the twentieth century, and to collect words from as many places as I could,
with the aim of recording and representing variations in pronunciation or meanings among various
individuals and regions. Almost all of the words in this vocabulary were collected in the course of my
travels in Chitral during the period 1986–2000, and thus represent the pronunciations and meanings I
found at that time. The discussion and elicitation of meanings took place in Urdu, the lingua franca of
Pakistan. I call this work a lexicon because it attempts to capture the etymological diversity of the
language, while making no claim to completeness since it includes only words that I have personally
encountered and recorded during my work in Chitral. It has been prepared with several audiences in
mind. First, I hope that the people of Chitral, especially the younger generations, will benefit from it and
strengthen their interest in their culture and its historical development. Hopefully, people from other
parts of Pakistan will also want to learn about one of the important languages of their country. And
finally, linguists and anthropologists will find grist for their mills here.
The main contributors to this work include some of the eminent literary personages of Chitral. I am
especially grateful to Dr. Inayatullah Faizi, whom I met when I first started to work on Khowar in 1986,
and who arranged for my initial introductions to many people. Sadly, many of the people with whom I
have worked over the years are no longer with us. Taj Muhammad Figar, Maula Nigah Nigah, Gul
Nawaz Khaki, Rahmat Akbar Khan Rahmat, Changez Khan Tareqi, Ibrahim Wali Kamil, Naji Khan
Naji, and Gul Murad Khan Hasrat have all passed away and are sorely missed. Their absence leaves a
huge gap in the fabric of Chitrali literary culture, and I am thankful to have been able to meet them and
preserve some of their valuable linguistic and cultural knowledge. Many of the words which they have
given me, and objects or concepts which they denote, are unfamiliar to younger speakers; it is thus my
hope that this vocabulary may serve to refresh the cultural memory of younger generations. I have not
attempted to include more recent developments; these can be the subject of future work, hopefully by
young scholars.
The words in this work were collected entirely during my stays and travels in Chitral. In an effort to
present fresh and individual points of view, I have not taken words from previously published
dictionaries or word lists, for example O’Brien (1895), Faizi (1982/2021), Naji (1988), Sloan (2006), or
Chitrali (2020). A few of the words in this lexicon, but not all, are also found in Bashir, Nigah & Baig
(2005, 2022), which should be checked as a further source, and for pronunciation.

1
The pre-publication draft of this work has benefited greatly from the suggestions of two anonymous reviewers, and from
specific comments by Robert Tegethoff and Claus Peter Zoller. I am grateful to all of them, and hasten to add that any
remaining errors or shortcomings are entirely due to me.

i
Acknowledgements and front matter

I am forever grateful to the late Taj Muhammad Figar and his family, Haider Ali Shah, and the late
Babu Muhammad for their friendship and hospitality in Chitral town; and to Sher Wali Khan Aseer,
Inayatullah Faizi, Mukarram Shah, Muhammad Arap Khan, the late Naji Khan Naji, the late Maula
Nigah Nigah, and the late Rahmat Akbar Khan Rahmat for welcoming me into their homes—in Bang,
Laspur, Warijun, Sor Rech, Shagram, Zondrangram, and Chapali, respectively.
Persons who have contributed words to this vocabulary are listed as Sources in Table 1, arranged in
alphabetical order by first name. Their full names are given, followed by their initials used as
abbreviation in the vocabulary. For those of the contributors who are poets who use a taxallus ‘pen
name’, I include that as part of their name; for example, Sher Wali Khan Aseer is abbreviated as SWKA.
Because of cultural sensitivities, in the case of women who have contributed words I have referred to
them as ‘mother of X’, ‘wife of X’, ‘daughter of X’, or simply ‘woman storyteller from a certain place’.
For example, the mother of Inayatullah Faizi is indicated by {IFM}. If the name of a specific person is
not recorded, I have given the place where the word was attested; for example if a word was noted in
Parwak but the person’s name was not recorded, its source is given as {Parwak}. In the entries in the
vocabulary, sources appear in curly brackets; for example, {SWKA, MNN} means that both SWKA and
MNN contributed to the entry. Despite repeated checking, it is inevitable that some errors will remain; I
apologize for any such errors, which are entirely my responsibility.

Table 1. Sources of words in this vocabulary

Name Abbreviation Home region

Abdur Rauf AR Parwak, Tehsil Mastuj
Adina Khan AK Chapali, Tehsil Mastuj
Amanullah A Khost, Mulkhow
Amin ur Rahman Chughtai ARC Drosh, Tehsil Drosh
Amir Khan Mir AKM Chumurkun, Tehsil Chitral
Baba Ayub BA Chumurkun, Tehsil Chitral
Babu Muhammad BM Mroi, Tehsil Chitral
Bulbul Khan Ayub BKA Mulkhow
Changez Khan Tareqi CKT Shogram, Tehsil Mulkhow
Dinar Ali Taj DAT Pasum, Tehsil Mastuj
Dr. Fazal Qayyum FQ Chitral town
Gul Murad Khan Hasrat GMKH Parkusap, Tehsil Mastuj
Gul Nawaz Khaki GNK Singoor, Tehsil Chitral
Haider Ali Shah HAS Chitral town
Hasil Shah HS Chitral town
Hidayat ur Rahman HUR Jughoor, Tehsil Chitral
Ibrahim Wali Kamil IWK Mastuj town
Inayatullah Aseer IA Chitral town
Inayatullah Chishti Sabri ICS Chitral town
Dr. Inayatullah Faizi IF Balim, Laspur
Inayatullah Faizi’s mother IFM Balim, Laspur
Islam Shah IS Mulkhow ?
Ismail Wali Akhgar IWA Mastuj town
Mahbub ul Haq Haqqi MHH Zondrangram, Terich, Mulkhow

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Acknowledgements and front matter

Name Abbreviation Home region

Maula Nigah Nigah MNN Zondrangram, Terich, Mulkhow
Mir Ahmed MA Rayin, Torkhow
Muhammad Arap Khan MAK Sor Rech, Torkhow
Muhammad Irfan Irfan MII Chitral town
Muhammad Yousuf Shahzad MYS Sor Laspur
Muhammad Younus MY Sor Laspur
Mukarram Shah MS Warijun, Mulkhow
Murad Wali Taj MWT Pasum, Tehsil Mastuj
Mustafa Kamal MK Uzhnu, Torkhow
Naseer N Shyaqotek, Tehsil Chitral
Naji Khan Naji NKN Shagram, Torkhow
Naqibullah Razi NR Drosh, Tehsil Drosh
Rahmat Akbar Khan Rahmat RAKR Chapali, Tehsil Mastuj
Rahmat Akbar Khan Rahmat’s wife RAKRW Chapali, Tehsil Mastuj
Rahmat Karim Baig RKB Zondrangram, Terich, Mulkhow
Rozgar Khan RK Sor Rech, Torkhow
Saeed Nazir SN-M Madaglasht, Tehsil Drosh
Sahib Nadir SN-C Sahib Nadir, Chitral Town
Safitullah S Sonoghor, Tehsil Mulkhow
Samad Gul SG Mogh, Lutkoh
Sardar Hussain SH Booni
Shahzada Sikandar ul Mulk SSM Mastuj
Sher Akbar Saba SAS Thingshen, Proper Chitral
Sher Wali Khan Aseer SWKA Bang, Yarkhun
Taj Muhammad Figar TMF Zargarandeh, Chitral Town
Taj Muhammad Figar’s wife TMFW Zargarandeh, Chitral Town
Taj Muhammad Figar’s daughter TMFD Zargarandeh, Chitral Town
Wali ur Rahman WUR Chitral Town
Woman storyteller in Chapali WSiC Chapali
Woman storyteller in Mastuj WSiM Mastuj
Zafarullah Parwaz ZP Booni
Zahoor ul Haq Danish ZHD Zondrangram, Terich, Mulkhow
Zahoor ul Haq Danish’s mother ZHDM Zondrangram, Terich, Mulkhow
Zakir Muhammad Zakhmi ZMZ Tehsil Torkhow
Zarkoti Khan ZK Village Mahrting, Yarkhun

Front matter

The words in this vocabulary are presented in a roman-based representation rather than in Perso-Arabic
spelling, and arranged in roman script alphabetical order. The main reason for this is that Khowar
spelling is not yet completely standardized, and I do not want to create the impression that this
vocabulary or any specific Perso-Arabic spelling is to be interpreted as prescriptive or as a standard
form. That work is in progress by concerned Khowar writers and scholars, and I feel that it should be
their prerogative to establish a standard. A second reason is that people who do not read Perso-Arabic

iii
Acknowledgements and front matter

script will also be able to make use of the dictionary easily. The roman characters used, along with the
Khowar letters they correspond to, IPA symbols for them, and phonetic descriptions of the sounds they
represent are shown in Table 2. Exclusively Arabic letters are retained in spellings of some Khowar
words of Arabic, Persian, or Urdu origin; and, as is the case with Urdu, many of them no longer
represent their original Arabic sounds.
Stressed vowels are indicated with an acute accent over the vowel symbol; for example <á>
means stressed /a/. With polysyllabic words one syllable is clearly prominent, and is marked with the
acute accent <ˊ>. The question of monosyllabic words is complicated by the fact that there is a
perceptible difference in pronunciation among them. I think this will be further clarified by bringing to
bear Strand’s analysis of posterior vs. anterior phonation (Strand 2022). In the meanwhile, however,
since there is no simple or obvious way to indicate these differences in writing, I have treated
monosyllabic words as inherently stressable; that is, unstressed in isolation, but capable of taking stress
in certain contexts, e.g. with an unstressed case ending.
Low tone, in those words which clearly have it and also where I have heard it in the
pronunciation of particular words or a particular individual, is represented with a doubled vowel symbol
with an acute stress on the second copy of the vowel. For example, <aá> represents a low tone and
elongated pronunciation of the vowel /a/. This may result in a word appearing to have stress doubly
marked, e.g. in maáγlúm ‘known’. However, the stress mark on the doubled vowel, as in maáγlúm,
should not be confused with word stress.
With compound words primary and secondary stress are indicated separately on the constituent
elements. Primary stress is indicated with an acute accent over the vowel, e.g. <á>, while secondary
stress is indicated in some words with a small vertical mark over the vowel, e.g. <a̍>. This can be seen
in the word a̍tešxaná, ‘the place in a matchlock rifle where the fuse is touched to the powder’.
Diphthongs can be represented in two ways, either with two vowels in succession, e.g. <ai> or
with the off-glide represented as a consonant, <ay>. In this vocabulary I have represented the off-glide
of diphthongs with the corresponding consonant: <ʋ> or <y> rather than the vowels <o>, <u>, or
<i>. This seems to me to be closer to the spelling consensus that is emerging among Khowar
writers. Retroflex sounds are represented consistently with a dot under the consonant letter; palatal
sounds have a haček <ˇ> above the consonant letter; and aspirated consonants are followed by a
superscript <h>.

Table 2. Roman-based symbols used in this vocabulary

Khowar Roman IPA Phonetic description

letter representation symbol

‫ا‬ a (with diacritic) ɑ low back vowel

i (with diacritic) i high front vowel
u (with diacritic) ʊ high/mid back vowel
‫ب‬ b b bilabial stop, voiced
‫پ‬ p p bilabial stop, voiceless
‫ﭘﮭ‬ ph ph bilabial stop, voiceless and aspirated
‫ت‬ t t dental stop, voiceless
‫ﺗﮭ‬ th th dental stop, voiceless aspirated
‫ٹ‬ ṭ ʈ retroflex stop, voiceless
‫ﮢﮭ‬ ṭh ʈh retroflex stop, voiceless aspirated

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Acknowledgements and front matter

Khowar Roman IPA Phonetic description

letter representation symbol

‫ث‬ s s alveolar sibilant, voiceless

‫ج‬ ǰ d͡ʑ palatal affricate, voiced
‫ݮ‬ j̣ ɖ͡ʑ retroflex affricate, voiced
‫چ‬ č ͡ tɕ palatal affricate, voiceless
‫ﭼﮭ‬ čh ͡tɕh palatal affricate, voiceless aspirated
‫ݯ‬ c̣ ͡ ʈʂ retroflex affricate, voiceless
‫ݯﮭ‬ cḥ ͡ ʈ ʂh retroflex affricate, voiceless aspirated
‫ح‬ h h pharyngeal fricative, voiceless
‫خ‬ x x velar fricative, voiceless
‫څ‬ ts ͡ ts dental/alveolar affricate, voiceless
‫څﮭ‬ tsh ͡ t sh dental/alveolar affricate, voiceless aspirated
‫ځ‬ dz d͡z dental alveolar affricate, voiced
‫د‬ d d dental stop, voiced
‫ڈ‬ ḍ ɖ retroflex stop, voiced
‫ذ‬ z z alveolar sibilant, voiced
‫ر‬ r ɾ alveolar flap
‫ڑ‬ ɫ ɫ dental approximant, velarized
‫ز‬ z z alveolar sibilant, voiced
‫ژ‬ ž ʑ palatal sibilant, voiced
‫ݱ‬ ẓ ʐ retroflex sibilant, voiced
‫س‬ s s alveolar sibilant, voiceless
‫ش‬ š ɕ palatal sibilant, voiceless
‫ݰ‬ ṣ ʂ retroflex sibilant, voicless
‫ص‬ s s alveolar sibilant, voiceless
‫ض‬ z z alveolar sibilant, voiced
‫ط‬ t t dental stop, voiceless
‫ظ‬ z z alveolar sibilant, voiced
‫ع‬ a ɑ low back vowel
i i high front vowel
e ɛ mid front vowel
no unique sound
‫غ‬ γ γ velar fricative, voiced
‫ف‬ f f labio-dental fricative, voiceless
‫ق‬ q q post-velar stop, voiceless
‫ﻗﮭ‬ qh qh post-velar stop, voiceless aspirated
‫ک‬ k k velar stop, voiceless
‫ﮐﮭ‬ kh kh velar stop, voiceless aspirated
‫گ‬ g g velar stop, voiced
‫ل‬ l l lateral approximant - slightly palatalized
‫م‬ m m bilabial nasal

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Acknowledgements and front matter

Khowar Roman IPA Phonetic description

letter representation symbol

‫ن‬ n n alveolar nasal

‫و‬ ʋ ʋ bilabial approximant
u ʊ high/mid back vowel
o ɔ open mid back vowel
Vo, Vu Vʋ (consonantal) offglide of diphthong
(V represents any
vowel.)
‫ه‬ h h pharyngeal fricative, voiceless
‫ی‬ y j palatal approximant
i i high front vowel
e ɛ mid front vowel
‫(ے‬Occurs e ɛ mid front vowel
only
word
finally)
‫(ے‬Occurs Vy (V represents Vj consonantal offglide of diphthong
only any vowel.)
word-
finally.

Structure of an entry

An entry in this dictionary consists of the following parts:

- Headword, a roman-based representation of a Khowar word. Headwords appear in boldface
roman type and are in most cases the usual citation forms of words. For nouns, this is the singular, direct
case form. For verbs, it is the infinitive; for adjectives and adverbs, it is their single, invariant form.
Bound lexical morphemes are indicated with a hyphen preceding a suffixal element or following a
prefixal element. For example, -žéri denotes the offspring of a non-domesticated animal. Prefixal
elements are rare, and originate in Persian prepositions, mainly be- ‘without’, which in older borrowings
has become ʋe- in Khowar, as in ʋesóru ‘widow’, lit. ‘without-head’). In newer borrowings, like some
words which have entered Khowar through Urdu, it appears as be-.
Words derived from a headword or collocations involving it are presented as sub-entries of that
lemma. Sub-entries include some derivational forms, e.g. transitive or causative forms of a verb,
compounds, frequent collocations, and idioms or involving the lemma. An example of an entry for the
lemma bas1 follows. Its sub-entries are bas bik, baseék, and basésum.
bas1 (noun) ‘day’ bas bik (verb intransitive) ‘to spend the night’ (MNN), baseék (verb transitive)
‘to invite/give permission to spend the night’; ‘to put hens/animals in their proper places for the night:
kahákan basáʋe ‘Put the hens in their coop for the night’. (SWKA) basésum /Other pronunciation:
basésun (in Torkhow, Laspur - IF)/ ‘night camp’ (IF) {MNN, SWKA, IF}. Homonyms are indicated by
superscripted numerals, as in the sample entry of bas1 given above.
- Variant pronunciations attested are given as /Other pronunciation(s)/. In order to avoid the
impression of assigning priority or value judgements to any of the forms, all the pronunciations are in
boldface type. Listing one of them as the headword simply means that the main entry is the first or the

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Acknowledgements and front matter

most frequent pronunciation I encountered. Variation can be due to sub-regional, educational, or

individual differences.
- Synonyms for an entry or variant forms sufficiently different to be possibly perceived as
different words are cross-referenced with the note ”See entry”.
- Botanical names of the plant species are given, where known, following the English gloss of the
word. For example, alú (n) ‘potato’ Solanum tuberosum. Botanical names are presented in their
standard format— genus name first, capitalized italics, followed by species name, lower case italics.
When more than one variety of a species are mentioned, they will share the same botanical name. In
cases where I have supplemented the definitions with information from elsewhere, I have enclosed those
glosses in double quotations, e.g. ”Mediterranean hackberry”. I am indebted to Mr. Hafiz Ullah,
Lecturer in Botany, University of Chitral for supplying the botanical names given in this work.
- Sources of the word: the specific person or persons who have contributed the word and its
meanings, or the region or town from which it was collected are noted. Sources of word meanings and
example sentences are enclosed in parentheses, (). If more than one person has contributed information
to an entry, all the names are mentioned at the end of the entry, in curly brackets, {}. If only one
person’s initials are listed as {xxx}, it means that all the content of that entry (glosses and example
sentences) is due to xxx. Names of specific persons are abbreviated with their initials (see Table 1).
- Parts of speech are abbreviated as follows: noun - n, adjective - adj, adverb - adv, transitive verb -
vtr, and intransitive verb - vintr. Some verbs are marked as both intransitive and transitive. This occurs
when a verb (a complex predicate with a nominal or adjectival element plus a transitive verbalizer) is
syntactically transitive but semantically intransitive. For example, ban žibik ‘to be beaten’ (lit. ‘to eat a
stick’ is syntactically transitive, since its verbalizer žibík ‘to eat’ is transitive, but the sense of the verb is
intransitive. On the other hand, I have been able to find only one or two words whose verbalizer is
intransitive but whose sense is transitive. One of these is c ̣ang bik ‘to embrace’.
- One or more English definitions or glosses indicating various senses the word can have for
different speakers; glosses or extended meanings are enclosed in single quotes. Many of these definitions
are descriptions of appearance or function, rather than single-word glosses. In many cases, only the sense
given by a specific person is recorded. The author recognizes that many other senses used by other persons
exist. For some words, the senses given by different individuals are almost identical, while for others,
there is wide variation in specificity or basic sense. For example, the meaning of the noun ženganíru has
been recorded as both ‘the constellation Ursu Major (The Great Bear)’ and ‘the constellation including
Polaris, the North Star (Ursa Minor)’. Such matters can be clarified by further discussion among Khowar
speakers.
- Example sentences in Khowar for some senses of some words; these appear in italics.
- English translations of Khowar example sentences. These translations are due to the present
author; any inaccuracies or misunderstandings are due to her alone. These are enclosed in single quotes,
‘translation’
- Initials of persons who have supplied the word and its gloss, or the example sentence, are
indicated in parentheses following the word or sentence.
- Etymological notes for some words, where the information is readily available or widely known.
Where an etymology is given, it refers only to the headword, from which other forms or idiomatic uses
can be secondarily derived. Etymological notes are enclosed in square brackets, []. If a note says ”cf. lg
X form”, this means that the words in question are identical or very similar in form, but the direction of
borrowing is unclear. Unless otherwise indicated, these etymological notes are due to the author.
- Derivations of some words (e.g. root + suffix, or elements of a compound), enclosed in
parentheses ().

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Acknowledgements and front matter

Many words whose underlying form ends in a voiced consonant undergo final devoicing in normal
conversation. In this work, whichever form was given to me first is presented as the lemma, regardless
of whether it is considered an underlying voiced consonant-final form, or the form showing final
devoicing. For example, the word zab ‘insistence, stubbornness’ is often heard as zap, reflecting this
final devoicing.
In addition to English glosses and example sentences, I have included information on cultural or
historical context added by the contributors. Since a considerable number of words refer to traditional
practices which are no longer followed and technologies no longer used, I consider it important to
preserve this valuable historical knowledge.

Other abbreviations

adj - adjective
adv - adverb
Ar. - Arabic
cf. - compare with
Eng. - English
Id. - idiom, idiomatic
Ir. - Iranian
Lit. - literal meaning
L:1938 - Lorimer (1938)
L:1962 - Lorimer (1962)
M:1936 - Morgenstierne (1936)
M:1973 - Morgenstierne (1973)
n - noun
OIr - Old Iranian
pl - plural
pro - pronoun
pronunc - pronunciation, pronunciations
Prov. - proverb
Prs. - Persian
Skt. - Sanskrit
syn - synonym
T:p.c. - Robert Tegethoff (personal communication)
T:nnnn - Turner:entry number (https://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/soas/)
Ur. - Urdu
vcs - verb, causative
vintr - verb, intransitive
vtr - verb, transitive
Z:p.c. - C.P. Zoller (personal communication)
< - borrowed from, or developed from
← - synchronically derived from

A brief introduction to the Khowar language

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Acknowledgements and front matter

Khowar (ISO 639-3 KHW) is a Northwest Indo-Aryan (NWIA) language, one of those usually referred
to by the geographical cover term “Dardic” but better termed “far Northwestern Indo-Aryan languages”.
Its closest linguistic relative is Kalasha, spoken in three side valleys south of Chitral Town on the right
bank of the Chitral River—Birir, Bumburet, and Rumbur.
It is spoken primarily in the Upper and Lower Chitral Districts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Province of Pakistan, where it is the lingua franca of those districts. Within Chitral, the language of
Upper Chitral (since 2018 a separate district) is considered the most conservative and original variety of
Khowar. Additionally, it is spoken in the Ushu and Mataltal valleys of Upper Swat (Akhundzada 2013),
and in Gilgit-Baltistan, where minor dialectal variations can be observed. Recently many Khowar
speakers have also migrated to the major urban centers of Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Karachi, where
their speech is subject to influences from the local and more prestigious languages of those cities. Map 1
shows the major Khowar dialect regions and villages from which data were collected. 2

Map 1. Major dialect regions and sources of lexical data

Despite having a high degree of language vitality, and, importantly, being almost always spoken
in the home, Khowar is rapidly being influenced by the dominant languages of Pakistan, Urdu and
2
This map was created by Dale Mertes, Media Application Specialist at the University of Chicago; I gratefully acknowledge
his work on it.

ix
Acknowledgements and front matter

English. This lexicon is an attempt to document some of the words which are likely to fall into disuse
with rapidly changing culture and technologies.
Khowar is a SOV language, which admits much word order flexibility. Its lexicon reflects
several layers of historical accretion; its Indo-Aryan base has been augmented by words from Turkic
languages, Persian and other Iranian languages especially Wakhi, Burushaski, and lately Urdu and
English.

References for further reading

Akhundzada, Fakhar-ud-Din. 2013. Mini-Chitral in Swat. http://www.mahraka.com/bashqar.html

accessed 5 April 2023.
Aseer, Sher Wali Khan. 1996. The marriage of daughters in Chitral. In: Bashir, Elena and Israruddin
(eds.) Proceedings of the Second International Hindukush Cultural Conference, pp. 201–208 .
Karachi, Oxford University Press.
Baghbidi, Hassan Rezai. 2006. Iranian elements in Sanskrit. In: Tikkanen, Bertil and Heinrich Hettrich
(eds.), Themes and tasks in Old and Middle Indo-Aryan linguistics,144−166. Delhi: Motilal
Banarsidass.
Bashir, Elena. 2001. Khowar-Wakhi contact relationships. In: Dirk W. Lönne (ed.) Tohfa-e-Dil.
Festschrift Helmut Nespital. Reinbek: Dr. Inge Wezler Verlag für Orientalistische
Fachpublikationen, pp 3–17.
Bashir, Elena, Maula Nigah Nigah, and Rahmat Karim Baig. 2005. A digital Khowar-English dictionary
with audio.1st edition. https://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/khowar/ Chicago: University of
Chicago.
Bashir, Elena, Maula Nigah Nigah, and Rahmat Karim Baig. 2022. A digital Khowar-English dictionary
with audio.2nd edition. https://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/khowar/ Chicago: University of
Chicago.
Bashir, Elena. 2008 Artificial glaciers: Trajectories of idea and practice. In: Hugh van Skyhawk (ed.)
Masters of understanding: German scholars in Hindukush, Special edition of the Journal of
Asian Civilizations, 31.1−2: Islamabad.
Berger, Hermann. 1974. Das Yasin Burushaski (Werchikwar): Grammatik, Texte, Wörterbuch.
Weisbaden: Harrassowitz.
Berger, Hermann. 1998. Die Burushaski- Sprache von Hunza und Nager, Vol. III. Dictionary.
Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
Cheung, Johnny. 2007. Etymological dictionary of the Iranian verb. Leiden/Boston: Brill.
Chitrali, Rehmat Aziz. Chitrali-Urdu-English dictionary. 2020. Omniscriptum Publishing.
Faizi, Inayatullah. 1989. Keɫi ʋal keɫitay [”The shepherdess wept”]. a short story In: Khowar (an annual
journal). Chitral: Anjuman-e Taraqqi Khowar.
Faizi, Inayatullah. 1982/2021. Dying words and new vocabulary of Kohwar. original unpublished 1982
manuscript revised and published in 2020 on mahraka.com.
https://www.mahraka.com/faizi/khowar_old_new_words.html
Inam Ullah. 2017. unpublished Torwali-English dictionary (IPA version).
Lorimer, D.L.R. 1938. The Burushaski language. Vol III. Burushaski-English vocabulary. Oslo: H.
Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard).
Lorimer, D.L.R. 1958. The Wakhi language, Vol. II, Vocabulary and Index. London: School of Oriental
and African Studies, University of London.

x
Acknowledgements and front matter

Lorimer, D.L.R. 1962. Werchikwar English vocabulary. Oslo: Norwegian Universities Press.
Masica, Colin P. 1991. The Indo-Aryan languages. Cambridge/New York: Cambridge University Press.
Morgenstierne, Georg. 1936. Iranian elements in Khowar. Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies,
University of London, 8.2−2: 657−671.
Morgenstierne, Georg. 1973 [1957]. Sanskritic words in Khowar. In: Irano-Dardica, 256−272.
Weisbaden: Reichert Verlag.
O’Brien, D.J.T. 1895. Grammar and vocabulary of the Khowâr dialect (Chitrâli). Lahore: Civil and
Military Gazette Press.
Naji, Naji Khan. 2008. Khowar-Urdu lughat. Shotkhar, Chitral: Naji Sons Publications.
Pakhalina, T. N. 1975. Vakhanskiy iazyk [The Wakhi language]. Moscow: Nauka.
Nigah, Maula Nigah. 2008. published in Bashir (2008), Artificial glaciers: Trajectories of idea and
practice. In: Hugh van Skyhawk (ed.) Masters of understanding: German scholars in Hindukush,
Special edition of the Journal of Asian Civilizations, 31.1−2: Islamabad.
Rahmat, Rahmat Akbar Khan. 1988. ‫[ ݯﮭﯿﺘﺮارو رﺳﻤﻮرواﺟﺎن ﺳﻮم ﮐﮭﻮار اﻟﻔﺎظ‬Khowar words associated with
Chitrali customs]. In: Khowar Adab, Proceedings of the Second 2-day Conference, September
1988. Chitral: Anjuman-e Taraqqi Khowar.
Shahzad, Muhammad Yousaf. 1989. ”Rajuli”. a short story In: Khowar an annual journal, 21−22.
Chitral: Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Chitral.
Sloan, Mohammad Ismail. 2006 [1981]. Khowar-English dictionary: A dictionary of the predominant
language of Chitral, 2nd edition. New York: Ishi Press International.
Turner, Ralph Lilley. 1962. A comparative dictionary of the Indo-Aryan languages. London: Oxford
University Press. accessible at https://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/soas/

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-aá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes afás

-aá (particle) sentence-final yes-no question marker:

ma poší khanǰó áčo khošṭ hoy ‘Seeing me she
ayh héra he giláso uγ šeraá ‘Is there any water hid behind the wall (indefinitely or
in that glass up there?’ {Source: MNN} permanently)’ (MYS) ačé (imperative) (vintr)
‘Move back!’, ‘Get out of the way.’ (MYS) [< Skt.
abád (adj) ‘settled’, ‘prospering’ (MYS) abadí (n) (M:1973) (T8000)] {MNN, RKB, RAKR, MYS}
‘place to live’, ‘house’ abadiγeér (n) ‘place
where a house was/is to be built’ (SWKA) [< ačár (n) ‘dried onions’; ‘onions fried in oil (first step
Prs., Ur.] {MYS, SWKA} in preparing a curry dish)’ ačár dreék (vtr) ‘to
put onions in the sun to dry’ {MNN}
abás (adj) ‘ordinary’ (RAKR); ‘wasted’ (GMKH);
‘useless’ (MS); (adv) ‘uselessly’ (WSiC) {RAKR, ačitrúng /Other pronunc: áčitrung/ (n) ‘first clothes
WSiC, GMKH, MS} made for a child after birth’ {SWKA, TMF}

abathá (adj) ‘forgotten’, ‘mistaken’; (n) ‘something ačhardíni /Other pronunc: ačardíni (Sonoghor)/ (n)
not understood, a mistake’; (adj) ‘irresponsible’: ‘part of plow: small wooden wedge placed
behind the top of the plowshare to tighten it and
ohó the hes haṣ abathá moóš ʋa ‘Oh, so he is
hold it in place’ {MNN, IWA, Sonoghor}
such an irresponsible person.’ (Here, haṣ refers
to some previous actions of the person.) abathá ac̣hú (n) ‘thorny wild plant which grows near the
bik (vintr) ‘to get lost, go astray, be mistaken’: edges of fields’ (AKM); ‘wild berries’ (Chitral
aʋá abathá hótam ‘I have strayed from the town) Rubus fruticosus [< Skt. (M:1973)]
(right) path.’ ‘I have gotten lost.’ abathá korík {AKM, Chitral town}
(vtr) ‘to mislead someone, to cause someone to adá (n) ‘delicacy’, ‘subtlety’, ‘tenderness’ [< Prs.]
go astray, to cause someone’s plans to go {ZMZ}
wrong’: tu ma abathá arú ‘You have spoiled my
plans.’; ‘to mistakenly forget something’: e adát (n) ‘habit’: ispát adát tat adát néki ‘We are
h
bráar, qalámo aʋá hayií kukúra lak í astám, accustomed to it; you are not.’ (MNN) batadát
haté žaγoó abathá korí asúm ‘Brother, I put (adj) ‘having bad habits’ (MS) [< Ur., Ar., Prs.]
(my) pen here somewhere or other, (but) I have {MNN, MS}
forgotten the place.’ {MS} ademí (n) ‘human being’ [< Prs.] {WSiC}
ač- (n) root meaning ‘back’, bound nominal adíb (n) ‘scholar’; ‘writer’; ‘literateur’ [< Prs. Ar. Ur.]
morpheme which occurs with several case {MNN}
endings: áčtu /Other pronunc: áštu (RAKR)/
adiná (n) ‘Friday’ [< Prs.] {SWKA}
(ač + -tu) (adv) ‘behind (with vertical meaning
component)’: ḍaq tan náno áčtu ruphítay ‘The adráx (n) ‘mountains’, ‘uninhabited mountain
boy stood directly behind his mother.’ (RKB) slopes’: adráxo mroyán pariánan pay ǰoṣónu
áča (ač + -a) (adv) ‘behind (spatial, pointlike boóy ‘The mountain ibexes are considered to be
location)’: ḍaq tan náno áča ástay ‘The boy goats belonging to the fairies.’ (RAKR);
was behind his mother (at a distance)’ (RKB) ta ‘mountain peaks’, ‘mountain valleys’, ‘high
áča ká góyan ‘Who is coming behind you?’ pastures’ (RAKR); (Note: IWA: adráx is used
(SWKA) ma áča c ̣okí asuúr ‘He is following mostly in Lower Chitral; án in Upper Chitral.) [<
me.’ (MYS); (adv) ‘later (temporal)’: paysán táte Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, RAKR 1988, MYS, Mastuj,
IWA}
áča doóm ‘I will give you the money later.’
(MYS) ačhó (ač + -ó) (adj) ‘of the past’ (MNN) af (adv) ‘down’, ‘downward’; (adj) ‘lower’: ma tat af
áči (ač + -i) (adv) ‘behind (spatial)’ Question: cḥ étrar góyan ‘My father is coming from the
ahmát ta sum no hayaá Answer: hasé áči asuúr lower field.’ (SWKA) af nisík (vintr) ‘to go out
Q: ‘Didn’t Ahmad come with you? A: He is of the house; to leave home on a journey’
behind (me).’ (SWKA); zomó áči γeritay (MNN) af dik (vtr) ‘to close (a door)’ (RAKR);
‘She/he/it went behind the mountain (i.e. to the ‘to fall from above’ (IF), afdík (vintr) ‘to become
far side, a specific place).’(MYS); ‘behind old, worn (e.g. clothes)’ (IF); ‘for grain in a mill
(temporal)’: ma galí áči nisí šeér ‘My watch is to be finished’: ma xorá afpráy ‘My grain (in
behind (loses time).’(MNN) áčo (ač- + -o) (adv) the mill) is finished.’ (IF); ‘(snow) to melt’ (IF)
[< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, RAKR, SWKA, IF}
‘behind (spatial)’: bazáro áčo ‘behind the
bazaar’ (MYS) khanǰán áčo ‘behind the walls’ afás /Other pronunc: hafás (SWKA: initial /h/ often

1
áfat Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes alú

not pronounced in Yarkhun)/ (n) ‘interest’, alám (n) ‘problem’, ‘trouble’ {RAKR, WSiC}
‘enthusiasm’ (RAKR); ‘hopeful anticipation’
albát (conjunction) ‘perhaps’, ‘maybe’, ‘possibly’
(SWKA) afasí (adj) ‘hopeful’ (SWKA) {RAKR,
SWKA} (sentence initially): albát aʋá hatéra astaám
‘Maybe I was there.’ (MK) albát aʋá hatéra kya
áfat (n) ‘trouble’, ‘loss’ [< Ar. Prs. Ur.] {WSiC} asítamaá ‘Maybe I was there.’ (MK); ‘most
afiyát (n) ‘luxury’ [< Ar. Prs. Ur.] {MNN} probably’, ‘must have’, ‘must be’ (sentence
finally) (RKB): gití asúr albát ‘He must have
afyún (n) ‘opium’ afyuní (n) ‘opium user’ afyúno come.’ (RKB) {MK, RAKR, WSiC, RKB}
c̣hiír Lit. ‘milk of opium’, ‘the viscous liquid that
comes out when the opium poppy pod is albatá (conjunction) ‘however’; ‘despite this’ [< Ar.]
scarred’ [< Ar. Ur.] {MNN, TMF} {IS}
afzún (adj) ‘too much’ [< Prs.] {SWKA} aldú /Other pronunc: aʋdú (in Laspur, IF)/ (adj)
‘taken’ (perfective participle of alík ‘to take’) {IF}
agárki (conjunction) ‘although’ [< Prs., Ur.] {SWKA}
aléik1 /Other pronunc: aleék/ (vtr) ‘to twist (e.g. rope
agár ki (conjunction) ‘if’ {< Prs.} {MNN}
or thread)’ (RAKR); ‘to turn (e.g. a screw)’
aγáγ (n) ‘larger species of pigeon, red or yellow in (ZHD) {RAKR, WSiC, ZHD}
color’ {MNN, MAK}
aléik2 /Other pronunc: aleék/ (vtr) ‘to unintentionally
ah (n) ‘a sigh’ {RAKR} let a person or animal escape’; ‘to lose an
opportunity’: aʋá ǰam muqoó alétam ‘I lost a
aháng (n) ‘musical style’; ‘rhythm’; ‘tune’ (SWKA)
(See also hang) [< Prs.] {SWKA} good opportunity.’ (ZHD) aleék (vtr) ‘to
unintentionally allow (a hawk) to fly from a
ahrtí /Other pronunc: ahtí, axtí (Lower Chitral)/ (adj) person’ (Sense: ‘to lose it’) (RKB) [< Skt.
‘satisfied’, ‘with full stomach (after eating)’; ‘fed (M:1973)] {ZHD, RKB}
up with/tired of something’: ahtí bíti asúm ‘I am
alemán (pl n) ‘robber(s)’ {RAKR, WSiC}
fed up (with something).’ (IWA) sumalkhó
tshára tu axtí no bos ‘You are a very big eater.’ aleṣík (vtr) ‘to tear, rip (intentionally)’ (see also
Lit. ‘You can’t be satisfied even at the funeral uluṣík) {RKB}
feast of Sumuluk.’ (According to legend this -áli (n) ‘bound nominalizing morpheme - suffixed to
funeral feast lasted for a year and was prepared verb root it forms a noun meaning wages for
and cooked in his lifetime.’ (IWA) bas, aʋá ahtí performing a (traditional) task’, e.g. brenáli
hótam ‘That’s enough, I’m full.’ (IWA) ‘wages for shearing sheep’ {RKB}
ahrtingúl ‘variety of apricot, stomach-filler’
alík /Other pronunc: halík (AKM)/ (vtr) ‘to take away
(RAKR) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {RAKR, MNN, IWA}
(either animate or inanimate entity)’; ‘to marry’
aǰáb (n) ‘wonder’; ‘a beautiful thing’ {TMF} {RKB, MNN, RAKR}
aǰám (n) ‘the non-Arab world’ {TMF} alím (n) ‘learned person (religious scholar)’ [< Ar.
Prs. Ur.] {RKB}
aǰíp /Other pronunc: aǰíb (IF)/ (adj) ‘marvelous’,
‘wonderful’ [< Ar. Prs. Ur.] {IF, RAKR 1988} aliphá (n) ‘caterpillar’ ǰaláš aliphá ‘hairy caterpillar’
{Chitral town}
aǰíz (adj) ‘humble’, ‘meek’, ‘unassuming’ [< Ar.]
{RKB} aliphík /Other pronunc: aliphéik/ (vintr) ‘to catch up
with, overtake’ {RAKR, WSiC}
ákas (n) ‘expression of displeasure’ ákas korík (vtr)
‘to express displeasure’ {TMF} almarí ‘cabinet’ [< Ur.] {SWKA}
al1 (n) ‘close relative’ [< Ar.] {SWKA} aɫósp /Other pronunc: ɫosp (n) ‘daytime reality’
(opposite of xošp ‘dream’) {MNN}
al (n) ‘orpiment (orangeish colored arsenic sulfide
2

mineral with formula As2S3)’ (RKB) (BM: It is alqára (n) ‘illness of women after childbirth - caused
found in only three places in Terich valley.) by cold and lack of proper heat’ {MS}
{RKB, BM}
álqisa (adv, conjunction) ‘finally’; ‘so’ (IS) {SWKA,
alagúl (n) ‘hustle and bustle’ (ZHD: has negative GMKH, IS}
connotation) {MNN, ZHD}
alú (n) ‘potato’ Solanum tuberosum: alú loṭ báʋ

2
alučá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes andár

gónian ‘The potatoes are growing big.’ (SWKA) opposite of tanár’ {RAKR, IF}
aluγeér (n) ‘field from which potatoes have ámil (n) ‘person who writes amulets for people’
been harvested’ aluoóγ (n) ‘curry dish of {ZMZ}
potatoes’ [< Ur.] {MNN, MA, SWKA, IF}
amíšti (adj) ‘mixed with’ amištoóγ (n) ‘confluence of
alučá (n) ‘wild plum’ (Booni); ‘plum’ (AR) Prunus two rivers’, amišteék (vtr) ‘to mix together’ [<
domestica [Prs. + Turkic] {AR, Booni} Skt. (M:1973) (T10139)] {MNN}
alueék (vtr) ‘to cause to elope (agent is man causing amkík /Other pronunc: hamkík; hamkhík/ (vtr) ‘to
girl to elope)’: hasé aluéy aláy ‘He eloped with sprinkle earth or ashes on a snow-covered field
her.’ (See also uluík) {AR} to hasten melting’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MAK, IF,
MYS}
aɫγán (n) ‘stirrups (part of a horse’s equipage)’
aɫγán bráẓu (n) ‘leather straps attached to amnéik /Other pronunc: amník (IF), apnéik,
stirrups’ {IF, MS} amnóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/ (vtr) ‘to irrigate fields
for the last time before harvest’: aʋá tan gómo
aɫγa̍niʋár (n) ‘Pashto’ (‘Afghan’ + ʋár ‘language’)
hanún amnétam ‘Today I irrigated my wheat
{MNN}
for the last time before harvest.’ (MNN) {IF,
aɫγás (n) ‘bit (metal piece put in horse’s mouth)’ {IF, MNN}
RAKR, MS}
ámu (adj) ‘undercooked’, ‘raw’: braṭó múža ámu šeér
áɫi (n) ‘duck’ aɫiók (n) ‘artificial duck decoy’ (MA) ‘The bread is raw/undercooked on the inside.’
(TMF) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, MA, TMF} (MA) amulóki ‘half cooked’: pušúr no počíru
a̍ɫiboík (n) ‘small black bird with white spots’ {MNN} biráy - amulóki oyótam ‘The meat wasn’t
(fully) cooked; we ate it half-cooked.’ (SWKA)
aɫɫáh o ákbar korík (vtr) ‘to finalize a marriage
ámu korík (vtr, vintr) Id. ‘to cause harm by
agreement Lit. ‘to say "Allah o akbar" ‘God is
great.’’ [< Ar.] {IWA} failing to keep a promise or commitment’: tu ma
ámu arú ‘You caused my work to suffer by not
aɫók /Other pronunc: aɫúk/ (n) ‘pumpkin’ Cucurbita keeping your promise.’ (MNN); ‘to mislead,
maxima [< Skt. (T711) also (T1388)] {MNN, IF, deceive’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T1236)] {MA, SWKA,
MA} MNN}
amadaní (n) ‘income’, ‘earnings’ [< Prs. Ur.] {MS} an (n) ‘mountain pasture’, ‘mountain slopes’,
‘uninhabited mountain land’: ána bas hótam ‘I
ambóh /Other pronunc: ambóx (MNN)/ (adj) ‘lots
of’, ‘many’ ambohí (n) ‘abundance’ {MYS}
spent the night in the mountains.’ (RAKR);
‘mountain pass’; ‘places in the mountains where
ambo̍kčhán (n) ‘co-wife’ {MNN} there is soil, like side valleys or slopes, but not
rocky peaks’ (RAKR) ántulakhík (n) ‘day when
amból /Other pronunc: ambról (IF)/ (n) ‘a type of
animals are taken to summer pastures’ (MS
red, green, or yellow parasitic vine destructive
note: obsolescent) anó bap (n) Lit. ‘old man of
to trees’ Cuscuta reflexa (MNN) {MNN, IF, the mountain.’ Sense: ‘euphemism for wolf’
GMKH, TMFW} (ZHD) [< Skt.? (T1110?)] {MNN, RAKR, MS, IS,
ambróz (n) ‘species of pear’ Pyrus communis RKB, ZHD}
{SWKA} andabá (n) ‘plastering tool’ (See also syn. girmalá)
ambúyt (n) ‘species of willow which grows to a great {MNN}
height; all its branches grow vertically’ Salix andalíp (n) ‘nightingale’ (< Ar.) {ICS}
alba {IF} andálu (n) ‘type of bean (green when raw, black
amc̣eék /Other pronunc: amc̣ eék/ (vtr) ‘to join
h when cooked)’; ‘flour of andálu bean - used for
together’ {ARC} legánu, also for bread’ (IF) andálu boht
‘granite’ (MAK) {MNN, MAK, IF}
amc̣hóng (n) ‘elbow - joint between the end of the
humerus (humeral condyle) and ends of the andár (n) ‘a sharp pain (in eyes or teeth)’ andár dik
radius and ulna (horse)’ {MNN} (vintr, vtr) ‘for a sharp pain or stinging to be felt’:
γéča andár dik ‘For the eyes to sting and water
améli (n) ‘barley mixed with millet or maize’; (adj) (as when cutting onions)’ {MNN}
‘mixed (e.g. of more than one kind of grain)

3
andáʋ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes -ánu

andáʋ (n) ‘fever’ (MNN) andáʋ korík (vtr) for a fever angár (n) ‘fire’ (MNN) ʋeangáru (adj, n) ‘without a
to afflict someone’: andáʋ koríko ma oráru no fire’ angár c̣okík (vintr) ‘for a fire to start’: toγó
hay ‘Because of fever I could not sleep.’ (RKB) dúra angár c ̣okítay ‘A fire started in (a part of)
[< Ir., Wakhi (M:1936)] {MNN, RKB} his house.’ (RKB); Figurative usage: ‘for a
andóq (adj) ‘having a pleasing, peaceful, serene quarrel to start’: toγó dúra angár c ̣okítay ‘A
face’; (n) ‘person who looks beautiful and quarrel started in his house.’ (RKB) angár
capable of helping one’ (MNN) {MNN, MS} c̣akéik (vtr) ‘to set fire to something’; to start a
quarrel’ (RKB) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T125)] {MNN;
andožík (vintr) ‘to walk carefully in the dark so as WSiC; RKB}
not to strike a tree or rock, or stumble’ (MS); ‘to
broach a subject carefully and diplomatically to angík (vtr) ‘to bring (animate or inanimate entity)’:
avoid offending the addressee’ (MS); ‘to grope mat kya tuγfá aláʋaa ‘Have you brought a/any
about in the darkness’ (GNK) {MS, GNK} gift for me?’ (RKB) ma kitábo aláni ‘They
andraúṭi (n) ‘strap on a load, backpack, etc. such
brought my book.’ (SWKA) angití (conjunctive
participle of angík) ‘having brought’ [< Skt.
that hands are left free’ {MS}
(M:1973), also (T1174)] {MNN, RKB, RAKR,
andreék (vtr) ‘to separate’: reéni iγó taɫ c ̣akéy SWKA}
astáni- andreén no hoy. ‘The dogs had clamped angoɫoónu (n) ‘part of hand loom’ {SWKA}
their teeth on each other; they could not be
separated.’ {SWKA} angrestaánu (n) ‘a piece of wood put into the
remains of a fire and covered, before sleeping
andreláʋ (n) ‘innards’; ‘internal organs’ {IFM} at night, so that the fire can be started easily in
andrén- (n) ‘bound nominal morpheme meaning the morning’ (MS) (ZP); ‘title of Khowar novel
‘inside’ - occurs with various case endings’ by Zafarullah Parwaz’ angrestaánu dik (vintr)
Id. ‘to selfishly take the best place near the fire’
andréni (andrén- + -i) (adv) ‘inside’: salím
{MS, ZP}
andréni asúr ‘Salim is in the house.’ (SWKA)
andréno (andrén- + -o) (down) inside a deep angrezí (n) ‘small breed of dog with erect, pointed
thing’: čható andréno bohrt šéni ‘There are ears’ {MNN}
rocks in the pond/lake.’ (SWKA) andréna angupáng (adj) ‘neither awake nor asleep’; ‘not
(andrén- + -a) ‘inside an inherently and aware of one’s surroundings’; ‘confused’;
permanently closed thing (e.g. bomb, melon, ‘speechless’ {AR}
egg, womb; used in context of pregnancy of an
animal or illegitimate pregnancy of human)’: angúšṭe šahadát (n) ‘second finger’ {IWA}
h
payó andréna č aní asúr ‘There is a baby (goat) aníč (n) ‘forehead (of horse)’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN}
inside the goat.’ (SWKA) aykunó andréna púli
biráy ‘The egg’s inside is rotten (discovered aníši (n) ‘meat of ibex’ {SWKA}
after breaking it).’ (SWKA), andréntu (andrén- anǰás dik (vtr) ‘to repair an iron tool by welding a
+ -tu) ‘inside (with vertical orientation)’: naskáro small piece onto it’ {MNN}
andréntu zaxmí bití šer ‘There is a anǰík (vtr) ‘to wear’, ‘to put on (garment)’: aʋá tan
wound/injury in (someone’s) nose.’ (SWKA) [< zapán anǰítam ‘I put on my clothes.’ (MNN)
Skt. (M:1973)] {NKN, MNN, SWKA} anǰárum ‘things to wear, garments, wearables’
andzéht (adv) ‘dilapidated’, ‘rundown’ (e.g. a poorly anǰéik (vtr) ‘to cause to/help to put on
maintained house): dur andzéht bíti šer ‘The (garment)’: aʋá phuk ḍaqó zap anǰétam ‘I put
house has become run down/ dilapidated.’ clothes on the little boy. I helped the little boy
(MS); (adj) ‘disliked’, ‘damned’: andzéht gaɫí ṭhik to dress.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T1260)]
no boyán ‘(This) damned watch isn’t getting {RKB, MNN, SWKA}
fixed.’ (MS) {Warijun women, MS} anǰíl (n) ‘two hands cupped together’ [< Skt.
anḍaré (n) ‘floor mat woven of reeds’ {TMF} (M:1973)] {RAKR}

angáh (adj) ‘aware’, ‘conscious’, ‘awake’ angahéik -ánu (n) ‘suffix meaning a place for x (where x is the
(vtr) ‘to warn’ (RKB); ‘to awaken’ (RKB) [< Ir. noun to which -ánu is suffixed)’: daránu ‘place
(M:1936)] {MNN, SWKA, RKB} where wood is stored/kept’; ‘(with names of
animals) hunting for x, where x is the name of

4
anús Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes asík

the animal hunted’: koɫuánu ‘partridge hunting’: -ar /Other pronunc: -ari/ ablative case ending, ‘from’
koɫuánu korák ‘partridge hunter’: nast haftái ‘than’, and other senses {MNN}
koɫuánu bi astám ‘Last week I went partridge aráb (n) ‘the Arab world’ {TMF}
hunting.’; ‘suffixed to a number name, used to
refer to the age of game animals (especially arabá (n) ‘wheel of a vehicle’, ‘tire’ [< Turkic] {IWA,
mountain animals like ibex)’: aʋá ošṭánu toníṣu MNN}
marí astám ‘I killed an eight year old ibex.’ arám (n) ‘leisure’, ‘rest (at a specific time)’ aráma
{SWKA} (adv) ‘slowly, without hurry’ arámi (n) ‘rest,
peace (in general)’ (IF) {RAKR, IF}
anús (n) ‘day’ (adj.) anúsi ‘daily’ [< Skt. (M:1973)]
{MNN, MAK, SWKA} arandú (n) ‘town in Lower Chitral, near Afghanistan
border’ arandʋí (n) ‘person from Arandu’
ánuts /Other pronunc: ánuz (MNN)/ (n) ‘moisture,
{MNN}
dampness in floor when a house is near the
river’ (MAK): anutsó kyaní kósi ‘What can we do aráq (n) ‘essence (liquid substance)’ {RAKR 1988}
about the moisture?’ (MAK); ‘place which is wet araráʋ (n) ‘persistent questioning to find out
and waterlogged, but not a water source’ something’ (MNN); ‘interrogation’ araráʋ drek
(MNN); ‘white saline deposit on ground’ (Chitral (vtr) ‘to question continuously’; ‘to interrogate’
town) (See also apnúz) {MAK, Chitral town, (ZHD: has negative connotation) {MNN, ZHD}
MNN}
ar korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to consider something to be
anʋáz (n) ‘morning breeze (just before dawn)’ beneath one’s dignity’ {SWKA}
(MNN); ‘wind which comes from the north
(upcountry) during the time between the fajr armán (interjection) ‘wish’, ‘desire’ (RAKR); ‘would
prayer and sunrise’ (ZMZ) {MNN, ZMZ} that, I wish that’: armán haṣ ki besír ‘I wish it
had been like that.’ (MK) {MK, RAKR}
anzéik /Other pronunc: andzéik (MNN)/ (vtr) ‘to
send (an inanimate object or (rarely) some non- arqá (n) ‘upper back’ [Also in Wakhi; from either
human animates, e.g. a dog’ (IWA): kí dukána other Pamir languages or Turkic] {MNN}
anzém ‘To which shop should I send it?’ (MS) -árum (n) derivational suffix referring to the patient
ki boγáʋ máte xat andzáʋe ‘When/if you go, of a verb, meaning ‘things to be V-ed’: γeyárum
send me a letter.’ (MNN) aʋá táte reéni anzétam ‘things to be used, domestic utensils’ {MS}
‘I sent you a dog.’ (IWA) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN,
MS, IWA} arzán (adj) ‘cheap’, ‘inexpensive’ (< Prs.) {RKB}

apák (n) ‘mouth’ (SWKA) apakṣúṣi (adj) Id. Lit. ‘dry- arzí korík ‘to institute a legal case’ {SWKA}
mouthed’ Sense: ‘extremely thirsty’: lúo te no asám (vintr) ‘Let me be!’: šum bíti bathána mo asám
gíti ma apakṣúṣi arér ‘Not listening to ‘Let me not live a bad life in my own country!’
/obeying/agreeing with me you have made me {MNN}
dry-mouthed (i.e. exhausted from talking).’
asaqál (n) ‘supervisor’, ‘in-charge’ loṭasaqál (adj)
loṭapéki (adj) ‘big-mouthed, applied to one who
‘proud’ [< Turkic aqsaqal ‘elder’] {SWKA}
talks too much’ (MNN) tseqapéki (n) ‘person
who displays tasteless behavior’ (MNN) {MNN, asár1 (vintr) ‘let him, her, it be’ (animate entities)
SWKA} asáni ‘let them be’ (animates only) {MNN, MS}
apnúz (n) ‘a place where the ground remains wet’ asár2 (n) ‘thick wall of rocks’ (SWKA) (MS); ‘high
(See also ánuts) {RAKR} stone wall’ (Laspur women); ‘a long retaining
wall’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T1492)] {SWKA,
aphéik /Other pronunc: apheék/ (vtr) ‘to pull out,
Laspur women, IF, MS}
pluck (feathers, hair)’ {MNN, MS}
asár3 (n) ‘essence’ {RAKR 1988}
aqá (n) ‘master’ {SWKA}
asík (vintr) ‘to be (existential, of animate entities)’
aqaláṣ (adv) ‘until’ {Booni}
asák (adj.) ‘who is in a specific place’: hayá
aq korík (vtr) ‘to vomit’ {RAKR} naʋkarí pišáʋura asák móšo báče šer ‘This
aqtat áru (n) ‘best quality of charas, which gives off
h job/post/position is for a person who lives in
oil when heated ‘ {MS} Peshawar. (Condition is that he live in

5
asíp Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes aʋerík

Peshawar.)’ (n) one who is in a specific place (MA)/ (n) ‘small irrigation channel in field’ (MS);
(SWKA) asár ‘let him/her/it be’: ahmát asár ispá ‘small outlets from water channel in a field’
bísi ‘Let Ahmad stay; we will go.’ (SWKA) [< (MNN) ‘smallest irrigation channel, branches off
Skt. (M:1973) (T1480)] {MNN, SWKA} from phat’ (MA) {MS, MNN, MA}

asíp (n) ‘dread of jinns and other supernatural aṣúṣum (n) ‘a type of fodder’ (MNN); ‘species of
beings’ {S, MNN} wild oats’ (IF) Avena fatua {MNN, IF}

asmán (n) ‘sky’: asmánar lášṭa dik Id. Lit. ‘to come atepík (vtr) ‘to warm (someone)’: he moóš ǰam angár
from the sky to the ground’ Sense: ‘to be korí ispá atepítay ‘That man made a good fire
helpless, worried and upset’ (SWKA) salímo tat and warmed us.’ (See also utupík) [< Skt.
bríko asmánar lášṭa pray ‘When Salim’s father (T1763)] {MNN}
died he became totally helpless and upset.’ a̍tešxaná /Other pronunc: a̍teškhaná/ (n) ‘place in
(SWKA) asmána khoṭ korík Id. Lit. ‘to make matchlock rifle where fuse is touched to
clouds on the sky’ Sense: ‘to praise powder’, ‘firing platform’ [< Prs.] {RAKR 1988}
excessively’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN}
atrec̣ík /Other pronunc: atrac̣ík (MNN)/ (vtr) ‘to tear,
aspatál (n) ‘hospital’ [< Eng.] {MNN} rip (cloth)’ (SWKA, MNN); ‘to split (wood)’
(SWKA) {MNN, SWKA}
asqán (adj) ‘easy’: horó c ̣icḥ eék asqán ‘It is easy to
teach him/her.’ (SWKA) hes c ̣icḥ ékot asqán -átum (adj) ‘morpheme suffixed to verb stem
‘S/he is easy to teach.’ (SWKA) asqaní (n) indicating something in a state related to the
‘ease’ asqanía (adv) ‘easily’ (< Prs.) {MNN, verb’: porátum ‘slanted, leaning’ hayá porátum
SWKA} lakhí šer ‘This is placed leaning (on the wall)’
{IWA}
asqár (n) ‘lungs’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN}
at áhrk /Other pronunc: atháhk/ (n) ‘a famous
h
-ásum ‘morpheme suffixed to verb stem indicating
hunting ground and pasture at the foot of
one who characteristically performs an action’:
Terichmir’ {MNN}
porásum ‘one who sleeps a lot’ {IWA}
aṭíli (adj) ‘describes water carrying a lot of sediment
asúmbar (n) ‘a medicinal plant’ {IF}
and stones’ (RAKR): aṭíli uγ pííko láiqa noh
ásur (n) ‘damp place in the earth which freezes’ ‘Sediment-carrying water is not fit to drink.’
(MNN); ‘frozen ground’ (MA) {MNN, MA} (RAKR); ‘muddy’; ‘muddy water’ (in Lower
asuretánu (n) ‘person from Ashret’ {MNN} Chitral) {RAKR, IF}

asurγáɫi (n) ‘large piece of wood at top of a plow - aʋá (pro) ‘I (first-person singular pronoun)’ [< Skt.
synonym of xaṭáki and ṭaṭáki’; ‘wooden pin in (M:1973) (T992)] {MNN, RKB}
the main plow beam (hešṭ)’ (Sonoghor) {MAK, aʋán (n) ‘shirt front’ (SWKA); ‘lap’ (GNK) {SWKA,
IF, Sonoghor, Parwak} GNK}
ašéq /Other pronunc: ašék/ (adj) ‘in love with’; (n) ‘a aʋehtík /Other pronunc: aʋehrtík (MA, Laspur [IF])/
lover’ (MNN) (< Ar. Prs.) {MNN, WSiC} (vtr) ‘to flip bread while cooking it’; ‘to turn over
aškár (adj) ‘famous’, ‘well-known’ {RAKR} soil while plowing’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T1419)] {MNN, MA, IF}
ašná (n) ‘friend’; ‘acquaintance’ {ICS}
aʋeló (adj, adv) ‘first’ aʋeláno /Other pronunc:
ašquɫá /Other pronunc: ašqoɫá/ (n) ‘hawk-like, tan- aʋelánu/ (n) ‘the first one’: Q: kiʋáli bas gíti
colored bird which eats bones; considered an šer? A: aʋelánu Q: ‘Which bus has come?’ A:
auspicious bird’ {MNN, ICS} ‘The first one (i.e. the one normally first in the
ašrafí (n) ‘gold coin’ {WSiC} usual sequence)’ (Chitral town) (< Prs. Ar.)
{SWKA, Chitral town}
ašrú (n) ‘tears’ (RAKR, GNK): hasé lu dyáʋa γečγéča
ašrú hóy ‘While s/he was talking tears came aʋe̍logardá (n) ‘third quality of charas’ {MS}
into his/her eyes.’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973)] aʋerík (vtr) ‘to snatch away’: hasé ma sar kitábo
{SWKA, RAKR, GNK} aʋértay ‘S/he snatched the book away from
aṣkóɫič /Other pronunc: aṣqóɫič (MNN), aškóɫič me.’ (SWKA); ‘to shut up cattle for the night’

6
aʋgáʋ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes áxur

(MNN): lešán aʋerítam ‘I put the cows in the aʋráy (n) /Other pronunc oráy/ ‘breeeze which
cattle shed for the night.’ (RKB) lu aʋerík ‘to comes from the south (downcountry) during the
interrupt someone speaking’ (SWKA) aʋeréik time between the fajr prayer and sunrise’ {ZMZ}
(causative formation of aʋerík) (vtr) ‘to make aʋrík (vintr) ‘to ride on something’ aʋríni (n) ‘a long
(someone) snatch something away’; ‘to make stick used to support a load carried on the back
someone shut up cattle for the night’: aʋá tan when coming downhill’ [< Ir. (M:1936) also
žúro c ̣akeé lešán aʋerétam ‘I got my daughter (T1334)] {MNN}
to shut up the cows for the night.’ (RKB) [< aʋsák (n) ‘fallen leaves and grass which can
Skt. (M:1973) (T1414)] {SWKA, MNN, RKB}
partially clog a water channel at a narrow place’
aʋgáʋ (adj) ‘very old (of an animal)’ (archaic usage; (Chitral town) (Mulkhow) {GNK, Chitral town,
contemporary usage is zarú for ‘old’.): ma istór Mulkhow}
aʋgáʋ bití asúr. ‘My horse has become very aʋsét /Other pronunc: aʋsát/ (adj, adv) ‘wasted’, ‘in
old.’ (MNN); (adj) ‘senile’; (n) ‘foolish (person)’ vain’, ‘for nothing’: kyaní kósi - aʋsét kosí baγáʋ
(IF): aʋgáʋ mo bos ‘Don’t be foolish.’ (IF) ‘What can we do - you are leaving after coming
{MNN, IF} in vain.’ [< Skt. √sañj (T464)] {MNN}
áʋi ‘village on the left bank of the Chitral River, aʋšáɫu (n) ‘testicles’ {MNN}
above Booni’ (IWK) aʋéku (n) ‘person from Awi’
(SWKA) {IWK, SWKA} aʋṣekíli (n) ‘a sloughed off snake skin’ aʋṣekíli
petshík ‘to slough off a snake skin’ {MNN}
aʋizán (adj) ‘agitated’; ‘disturbed’ [< Prs.] {ARC}
aʋṣúṣ (n) ‘supernatural being, a snake-like creature
aʋǰí (adj) ‘misled’; ‘persuaded’, ‘convinced’: hes ma which lives in a house in the shape of a woman’
poší aʋǰí bíti asúr ‘Having seen me (for {Parwak}
example doing some task) he has been
aʋzétu (n) ‘heifer (young cow)’: ma aʋzétu dexdéx
persuaded.’ (MNN) ta lúa hasé aʋǰí bití asúr
‘S/he has become persuaded by your words.’ bacḥ óɫ koríko bití asúr. ‘My heifer is just about
(ZHD) aʋǰí moóš no duníran ‘A convinced/ to give birth to a calf.’ (SWKA) [< Ir. (M:1936)]
{MNN, SWKA, IF}
misled person does not think.’ (n) ‘a misled
person’ (MNN) aʋǰí korík ‘to mislead someone’ aʋẓeék (vtr) ‘to increase’ (archaic usage): uγó
(ZHD): aʋá cḥ etrárot bíko báče hatoγó aʋǰí aʋẓáʋe (contemporary and Lower Chitral usage
arétam ‘I misled and persuaded him/her to go is uγó zyadáʋe) ‘Increase the amount of water
to Chitral.’ (MNN); ‘to convince (someone)’ aʋǰí (in the water channel).’ {MNN}
bik (vintr) ‘to be persuaded’; ‘to be misled’
{MNN, ZHD} axbár (n) ‘newspaper’: axbár no gíti šeraá ‘Hasn’t
the newspaper come yet?’ [< Ur.] {Chitral town}
aʋlán (n) ‘leather patch (especially on traditional
skin boots)’ {RAKR} axér (n) ‘end’ axerí (adj) ‘last’, axeránu (adj) ‘the
very last’ {SWKA} axeraná (adj) ‘final; last’ (IF)
aʋnár (n) ‘small bread, like ṭíki, baked for goatherds (< Ar. Prs.) {IF, SWKA}
(in each house in the village)’ (MNN); ‘bread
given to shepherds daily by each household axlík (vtr) ‘to comb’: aʋá tan phurán axlíman ‘I am
whose goats they graze’ (RAKR) {MNN, RAKR} combing my hair.’ (MNN) axlíni (n) ‘comb’;
‘wooden comb/mallet used to beat down
aʋnáẓ (n) ‘second plowing - which creates furrows in threads when weaving on a hand loom’ [< Skt.
a field’ aʋneẓík (vtr) ‘to plow furrows in a field’ (M:1973) (T1382)] {MNN, WSiC, SWKA, MYS}
{MNN}
axmáq (adj) ‘foolish’, (n) ‘fool’; ‘crazy person’ (< Prs.
aʋoóγ /Other pronunc: haʋoóγ (in Laspur, IF)/ (n) Ar.) {RAKR}
‘green algae’; ‘moss (on ground)’ (IF)
Spirogyra communis [< Skt. (M:1973) also axtaí (n) ‘castrated animal’ {MNN}
(T727c) and/or (T2327)] {MNN, SWKA, IF} áxur (n) ‘feeding trough’ (MAK) (MA) (SWKA) (IF);
aʋr (n) ‘piers upon which ends of a bridge rest’ ‘pier supporting a bridge on both ends’ (MA)
{MAK} (IF): por šapír xan seró axró dréru biráy ‘Last
year Shapir Khan knocked down a pier of the
aʋrát (n) ‘woman’ [< Ar., Prs.] {MNN, RAKR}
bridge.’ (IF) axránu /Other pronunc: axraánu

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ayás Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes bac ̣hár

(MYS)/ ‘open cattle shed where feeding troughs light the fire.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T1092)]
are located’ (MA) (Parwak); ‘stable’ (SWKA) {MNN, MYS}
(IF) (MYS) [< Ir. (M:1936), compare Torwali
axor] {MAK, MA, SWKA, IF, Parwak, MYS} aẓ (adj) ‘intoxicated’; (n) ‘an intoxicated person’ aẓ
bik (vintr) ‘to become unconscious (e.g. of a
ayás (n) ‘cool breeze’ {SG} child after crying)’; ‘to feel sudden intense pain
or shock without crying out’ (TMF) {MNN, TMF}
ayh (adv) ‘up, upward’: ayh zómtu bíman ‘I am
going up on the mountain.’ (MNN); (adj) aẓγál (n) ‘wife (honorific)’ aẓγa̍ldarí (n) ‘marriage (of
‘upper’: ma tat ayh cḥ étrar góyan ‘My father is a man)’ (< Ar. Turkic) {MNN, SWKA}
coming from the upper field.’ (SWKA) ayh baáč /Other pronunc: bač (IF)/ (n) ‘boiled grain or
c̣okík Id. ‘to become insane’; ‘to get very angry seeds (especially beans) (cf. bibaáγ in areas
(at a person)’ (MYS); ‘to set off up a mountain’ other than Yarkhun)’ (SWKA); (Note: IF: also
(MYS) ayh ganík (vintr) ‘to quarrel without can refer to lažék) {SWKA, IF}
reason’ (MNN) ayh toríru (adj) ‘very shrewd’
(IWA) ayhbiyú dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to be in a fit of baáčhá /Other pronunc: ba̍čhá (WSiC)/ (n) ‘king’:
grief or anger’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, aʋá baáčhá biruá γaribánan su madát koresán
SWKA, MYS, IWA} ‘If I were a king I would help the poor.’ (MNN)
{MNN, WSiC}
ayí /Other pronunc: hayí (Laspur, IF)/ (n) ‘snake’
(MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T994)] {MNN, IF} baás /Other pronunc: bas (in Lutkoh, SG)/ (n) ‘(high)
flames’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9480)] {MNN, RAKR,
aynák (n) ‘eyeglasses’ {MNN} WSiC}
ayúkun /Other pronunc: áykun/ (n) ‘egg’ aykunoóγ babakár (n) ‘female pheasant’ {Chitral town}
(n) ‘curry dish made with raw eggs in spicy
gravy’ ayúkun dreék (vtr) ‘to lay an egg’; Id. babá qambarʋalí (n) ‘a pir associated with horses’
sense: ‘to be in trouble’ (MNN) ayúkun rišíki {IF}
‘pancake’ (SWKA) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN,
babát (adj) ‘suitable for’; ‘worthy of’ {MWT}
SWKA}
babú (n) ‘literate person, clerk’: horó babú asíka
azáb (n) ‘trouble’ azáb žibík ‘to take great trouble’
(RAKR); ‘to suffer trouble’ (SWKA) (< Prs. Ar.) korár ‘This should be done while the clerk is
{RAKR, SWKA} present.’ {SWKA}
azazíl (adj) ‘naughty, mischievous’ [< Ar. ‘devil’] babúli (n) ‘helpless prey, used as bait in training
{MNN} hawks’ babúli dik (vtr) ‘to tie up a helpless bird
or animal as prey in front of a hawk while
azbár (adj) ‘remembered’ (MNN) azbareék (vtr) ‘to training it’ {SWKA}
remember, to learn’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA}
báče /Other pronunc: báčen (RAKR); pačé or
azdóγ (n) ‘something that remains wet or damp’; páčen sometimes in Lower Chitral (SWKA)/
(adj) ‘wet or damp’ {MNN} ‘(postposition) for (animate or inanimate
azgará korík (vtr) ‘to clear the throat to let someone entities)’: ma báče phuk čalayγár gané ‘Buy a
know that one is coming’ {IF} little cloth for me.’ (MNN) {RKB, MNN, RAKR,
SWKA}
aždár (n) ‘dragon’ [< Prs.] {MNN, WSiC}
bač korík (vtr) ‘to save’ {RAKR}
ažéli (n) ‘offspring’, ‘child’ (IF) aželikorélik (adj)
‘pregnant (of humans)’ (MNN): hes aželikorélik bačómki /Other pronunc: báčumki (SWKA)/
bití asúr ‘She has become/is pregnant.’ (MNN) (conjunction) ‘rather’; ‘not only that’; ‘even
{MNN, IF} more’; ‘but also’ {SWKA}

ažík (vintr) ‘to be born (child, young of animal)’: bac̣ác̣ (n) ‘method of making fire with flint and steel’
hatoγó žaʋ ažíru biráy ‘(I have learned that) > ‘matches’ Note: archaic and obsolete term
{IWA}
his/her son has been born.’ (MNN); ‘to sprout
(plants)’; ‘to first appear’: roštío šafáq ažítay bac̣hár (n) ‘hole for rifle left in a hunting blind’ (MAK);
‘The first light of dawn appeared.’ (MYS) (short ‘ventilation hole in earthen wall’ (Sonoghor)
story Rajuli) ažéik (vtr) ‘to cause to start, to bac̣hári (n) ‘holes left in the outer wall of a
initiate’; ‘to light a fire’: aʋá angáro ažém ‘I will house for defensive surveillance and firing’ (IF)

8
bac ̣hóɫ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes baɫagún

[< Skt. (T11647)] {MAK, Sonoghor, IF} punished.’ (NKN) {NKN, MNN}
bac̣ óɫ (n) ‘calf’ bac̣ óɫ niẓíru (n) ‘stuffed calf skin,
h h
bahrtún /Other pronunc: bahtún (MNN) (Parwak)/
placed near a cow to induce her to give milk’ [< (n) ‘head of spindle (part of spinning wheel)’;
Skt. (M:1973) (T11239)] {MNN, TMF} ‘round piece at the bottom of the spindle which
badačúr /Other pronunc: badačúɫ (Chitral town)/ (n) functions to hold the spindle in the correct
‘male pheasant (crested, multicolored)’ (See position’ (IF) ba̍htumbóht (bahrtún ‘round
bobbin’ + bohrt ‘stone’) ‘name of a place in
also batačuúɫ) {Chitral town}
roṣgól - believed to be the boundary of the
badalí (n) ‘transfer (i.e. of an employee from one realm of the fairies’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
post to another)’ (< Ar. Prs. Ur.) {RKB} (T11354)] {RAKR, IF, MNN}
badél korík (vtr) ‘to change (e.g. clothes)’ [< Ar. Prs. baǰá (n) ‘o’clock’, ‘hours’ [< Ur.] {MNN}
Ur.] {WSiC} baǰgí (n) ‘a young falcon - keen and strong’ {TMF}
badráng (n) ‘cucumber’ Cucumis sativus {TMF, bakarabád (n) ‘village south of Chitral town’
MA} bakarabádči (n) ‘person from Bakarabad’
badtabyát /Other pronunc: battabyát (with {SWKA}
devoicing)/ (adj) ‘sad’: aʋá haté ʋaqta bakáṭ (n) ‘hemp - used for wicks, fuses of rifle’
badtabyát asítam ‘I was feeling sad/bad at that {RAKR}
time (but I am not sad now).’ (< Ar. Prs.) bakáyni /Other pronunc: bakáyn (Proper Chitral)/ ‘a
{MNN} fast-growing wild tree - used for firewood’ {MS}
bagóγu (n) ‘tapeworm (found in stomach and bakhéik /Other pronunc: bakheék/ (vtr, vintr) ‘to
intestines)’ {MNN}
shine’, ‘glimmer’ {RAKR, WSiC}
baγ (n) ‘garden’; ‘orchard’ (< Prs.) {SWKA}
balác̣ (n) ‘an ancient measure of value, equivalent to
baγeér (n) ‘large, boat-shaped wooden vessel made the price of one jiríb of land, or of one bull’;
of single piece of wood used for kneading large ‘value of 24 rupees in former times’ {Sonoghor}
quantities of flour’ (no longer in use in 1989) balaγónu /Other pronunc: balaγúnu (RAKR)/ (n)
(MS); ‘oval vessel for kneading flour’ (TMF) ‘container for nasʋár (chewing tobacco) made
{MS, TMF}
from a type of gourd’; ‘small, round mirrored
bah (n) ‘a kiss’ bah korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to kiss’ {MNN, box for carrying nasʋár’ (RAKR) {Drosh, RAKR}
WSiC}
baláh (n) ‘evil spirit’ (MNN); ‘trouble’, ‘calamity’
bahlí (n) ‘small, narrow field below a main field (SWKA) baláha dreék (vtr) ‘to involve someone
(often used for a kitchen garden)’; ‘terrace wall in trouble’ (MNN) baláh žúni ‘possessed (by an
on sloping land’ {IF, RAKR} evil spirit)’: ḍaq baláh žúni bíti asúr ‘The boy
bahná (n) ‘excuse’ [< Ur. Prs.] {GNK} has become possessed by an evil spirit.’ (MNN)
baláh nisík (vintr) ‘to be or cause trouble for
báhrki /Other pronunc: báhki/ (adj) ‘the same as’, someone’: ma kórma hasé máte baláh nisáy
‘equal to’: salímo drungí akbáro bahrki tán ‘He caused trouble for me in my work.’
‘Salim’s height is exactly the same as Akbar’s.’ (RAKR) {MNN, SWKA, RAKR}
i.e. ‘Salim is exactly as tall as Akbar.’ (SWKA)
bala̍ʋpayán (adj) ‘refers, for example, to a
ta í ʋaʋ asúr, hatoγó máte det- tan bačhaío
shopkeeper who earns by unfair means’ {MNN}
dirúo báhrki ‘You have an old woman with
you. Give her to me; that is equal to your giving báliki (conjunction, adv) ‘rather, indeed’ [< Prs. Ur.
me your kingdom.’ (WSiC) {SWKA, WSiC} balke] {RAKR}

bahrt (adv) ‘right’; ‘just’; ‘exactly’ {GNK} balím (n) ‘village in Laspur Valley’ balimík ‘person
from Balim’ {SWKA}
bahrtí /Other pronunc bahtí (n) ‘species of brown
bird’ (NKN); bahtí ‘quail’ (MNN): bahrtí ban balṭí (n) ‘bucket’ [< Ur. ] {SWKA}
žibóy, ṭinzk pholók Prov. Lit. ‘The bahrti gets balúγ (n) ‘puberty’, ‘sexual maturity’ (< Ar. Prs.)
beaten and the ṭinzk eats the grain.’ Sense: ‘A {SWKA}
guilty person goes free and an innocent one gets
baɫagún ‘tomato’ (Ghezur word) Solanum

9
baɫaṣúk Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes bap

lycopersicum {Laspur} Kosht’ {TMF}

baɫaṣúk /Other pronunc: buɫuṣúk (Mulkhow)/ (n) baneék (vtr) ‘to spread out manure in a field’ {IF}
‘hangnail’ (Note: rings made from yak horn are bang (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ (SWKA) bangík (n)
said to prevent these.) (See also buluṣúk) ‘person from Bang’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN}
{RAKR}
bangá (adj) ‘condition of a crop such that the seeds
baɫéik /Other pronunc: baɫóik (in Torkhow) (IF), do not fully ripen’: bangá baγáy ‘The crop grew
baleék (MNN)/ (vtr) ‘to overcome by force’,
tall but its seeds did not ripen.’ {IF}
‘overwhelm’, ‘dominate by force’, ‘defeat’: hasé
máte baɫéy baγáy ‘He overcame me and ran bangalá (n) ‘large, fine house’ {WSiC}
away.’ (MA); ‘to insist on something by force’ ba̍ngidiʋaná (n) ‘belladonna’ Atropa belladonna
(IF): tu máte baɫésan ‘You are trying to {MNN}
convince me by force.’ (MA); ‘to defeat’, ‘to
subdue’, ‘to win in a competition’ (MNN): hayá bangɫé (n) ‘bracelet, bangle’ {TMF}
hamóte baɫétay ‘S/he has defeated her/him. bángut (n) ‘defensive wall behind which person can
(both persons are present and visible to hide to fire a gun’ (RAKR 1988); ‘blind on edge
speaker)’ (MNN) [< Skt. (T9170) (T11334)] of a duck pond, with holes from which ducks
{MA, IF, MNN} are shot’ (MAK) grenío bángut ‘bángut on the
downstream wall of the pond’ (MA) prašó
baɫonzk (n) ‘Village in Gilgit area’ baɫundzík bángut ‘bángut on the upstream side of a pond’
‘Inhabitant of Balonzk’ {MNN} (MA) [< Bur. baŋut ‘fortified camp’ (L:1938: 69)]
báɫu (n) ‘hair which falls out (of a horse or bull)’ báɫu {RAKR, MAK, MA, MNN}
bik (n, vintr) ‘annual shedding of hair (e.g. by banǰ (n) ‘holly oak (produces hot fire, prized as
dog, bull, cat)’ (Parwak) {IF, Parwak}
firewood)’ Quercus baloot (MNN) ba̍nǰaɫúki
bam (adj) ‘of low-pitched or soft deep sounds, like (n) ‘fruit of the oak tree - eaten with mulberries
fingers tapping on a book’ (MNN) (< Prs.) and walnuts’ (TMF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T11209)]
{MNN, ICS} {MNN, TMF}
bambá (n) ‘water pipe’, ‘water tap’ {TMF} bánu (n) ‘a large dish of food prepared for a
gathering’ išpéru bánu (n) Lit. ‘white dish’,
bambál (n) ‘tassel of maize plant’ {RAKR,
Sense: ‘a ceremonial dish which includes
Sonoghor}
cheese, presented to a bride and groom for
bambóy (adj) ‘state of ground after frozen ground their first shared meal.’ (Associated folk belief
melts’ {MNN} is that whoever eats from it first will dominate
bamphú /Other pronunc baámphú/ (n) ‘ball made of the household.): ta išpéru bánu áči šer Lit.
cloth, used in the game bamphú γaɫ’ [< Bur. ‘your white dish is coming later’ Sense: ‘said
bampfu ‘children’s ball for playing foot-polo’ humorously when one wants to avoid giving
(L:1962: 44)] {RAKR, SWKA} something to someone’ (MS) taxtabánu /Other
pronunc: dah ta bánu ‘Here is your dish!‘
ban (n) ‘stick’ ban dik (vtr) ‘to beat’ ban žibík (vtr, (RAKR) (MS: Pronunciation changed to
vintr) Lit. ‘to eat a stick’ Sense: ‘to be beaten’: taxtabánu in Mulkhow) [< Skt. (T9440)] {MS,
hamoγár áči kya ḍaq ki ušṭúrtay hasé sax ban RAKR 1988, IWA}
žibóy ‘After today, whichever boy runs away
(from the classroom) will be severely beaten.’ banyán ‘sweater’ [< Ur.] {MNN, SWKA}
(MS) {MNN, MYS, MS} bap (n) ‘grandfather’; ‘old man’ (can be used to refer
to any man) (Laspur women); ‘last, dying stage
band (n) ‘shoelaces’ (SWKA); ‘carrying strap for rifle’
of a flower before it drops and fruit formation
(RAKR) {SWKA, RAKR}
begins’ (Booni) bapgíni (pl n) ‘old men’;
bandí (n) ‘imprisonment’ (MNN); ‘prisoner’ (SWKA) ‘grandfathers’; ‘ancestors’ bapbík (n) Lit.
[< Ir.] {MNN, SWKA} ‘becoming an old man’ Sense: ‘an old
shepherds’ custom in which they carve a
banḍá (n) ‘barren area’; ‘distant area’; ‘place where
pumpkin to resemble a human face and go from
there is nothing’ {TMF}
house to house to collect food and other things’
banḍók (n) ‘high pasture between Shagram and (RAKR) {RKB, SWKA, RAKR, Laspur women,

10
baqalá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes bašár ganík

Booni} called ṣoṣp koríni (MAK) (IF); ‘small village

opposite Koghuzi’ (RAKR) {MAK, IF, RAKR}
baqalá (n) ‘mixture of peas and grains’ {Chitral town}
baríki (adj) ‘thin (of cylindrical things, e.g. tree,
baqbaqéik (vintr) ‘to radiate light’; ‘to shine brightly’
pencil)’ čír baríki (intensifier construction)
{GNK}
‘extremely thin’ barikí (n) ‘thinness’ (< Prs.)
bar1 (n) ‘load’ baréik /Other pronunc: baróik (in {MNN, MS}
Torkhow) (IF)/ (vtr) ‘to carry‘: moóš bar baréi barkáš (n) ‘scales (for weighing)’ {RAKR, WSiC}
asúr ‘The man is carrying/has lifted a load.’
(MNN); ‘to load on someone’s back’ (MNN): barkunzík (n) ‘house gecko/lizard’ (See also
aʋá boǰéyo horó baréman ‘I am loading the parkundíts) {TMFW}
sack on his back.’ (MNN) bardíni (n) barmá (n) ‘drill’ (MNN); ‘auger’, ‘awl’ (< Ur.) (SWKA
‘backpack’, ‘something to put a load on/in’ {MNN, SWKA}
barélik (n) ‘one who has to be carried’: hasé
barmaγí (n) ‘motion of the legs while swimming’
harúni zarú ki barélik bití asúr ‘He is so old {MNN}
that he has to be carried around.’ (SWKA) [<
Skt. (M:1973) (T9463) (T9459)] {IF, MNN, MAK, barmánu (n) ‘legendary/mythical creature that lives
SWKA} in mountains, compared to concept of yeti’;
‘yeti’ (SWKA); (n), Id. ‘a very fat person (slang)’
bar2 (vintr) ‘let him, her, it become (animate or (AR) {MA, SWKA, AR}
inanimate)’ báni (vintr) ‘let them become, may
they become’ {MNN} ba̍rnahák (adv) ‘for no reason’ {SWKA, Chitral town}

baraá (postposition) ‘about, concerning’: hanún barzangí (n) ‘giant’, ‘ogre’ [cf. Ir. root barz- ‘tall’,
safáro baraá ta kya ray ‘What do you think ‘high’] {SWKA, WSiC}
about traveling today?’ (SWKA) {SWKA, MNN} bas1 (n) ‘day’ bas bik (vintr) ‘to spend the night’
(MNN) baseék (vtr) ‘to invite/give permission to
barabár (adv) ‘good’, ‘fine’, ‘even’ barabaréik (vtr)
spend the night’; ‘to put hens in their coop for
‘to fix, make right’ (RAKRW): yi koó, aʋá
the night’: kahákan basáʋe ‘Put the hens in their
barabarém ‘Give it to me; I’ll fix it.’ (RAKRW) coop for the night.’ (SWKA) basésum /Other
barabarélik (vtr) ‘should be made even/ equal’:
pronunc: basésun (in Torkhow, Laspur - IF)/
hamó barabarélik ‘This has to be made even ‘night camp’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN,
(referring to an axe).’ (MAK) (< Prs.) {MAK, SWKA, IF}
RAKRW}
bas2 (interjection, adv) ‘enough!’ bas korík (vintr,
baramúṣ (n) ‘minister of construction in time of vtr) ‘to stop (some action)’ [< Ur.] {MNN}
Mehtars’ rule’ (MNN); ‘a servant in the time of
the Mehtars’ rule’ (RAKR) {MNN, RAKR} basíndi (n) ‘wheat species sown in spring at high
altitudes’ Triticum turgidum {CKT}
ba̍rasínga (n) ‘stag’ {MNN}
basír (n) ‘large female goat’; ‘young female goat’
barbanáš (adj, n.) ‘self-willled (person)’ {IF}
(IWK) basiríri ‘skin of a female goat’ {MNN,
bár bár (adv) (reduplicated usage) ‘continuously’, GNK, IF, IWK}
‘continually’, ‘again and again’ [< Ur.] {SWKA}
basoṭí (n) ‘variety of green apple which ripens in
bardóx (n) ‘axe’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, RKB} August and can’t be stored’ Malus
bardóyu (n) Lit. ‘load carrier’, ‘man/men who carried chitralensis {RAKR}
bridal goods to the groom’s house’ {MNN} baš /Other pronunc: baáš/ (n) ‘a tax, e.g. one levied
bargí (n) ‘a horse given to a bride by her father at by a forest officer’ {Mastuj}
time of her marriage’ {MWT} bašárdóyu (n) ‘member of a funeral procession’
barγá dik (vtr) ‘to push sideways with shoulders’ {MNN}
(MNN); ‘to jostle, shove with the shoulders’ [cf. bašár ganík (vtr) ‘to inquire about someone’s
Yasin Bur. bəzrγa dɛl- ‘to jostle’ (L:1962: 48)] welfare’ baša̍raʋál (n) ‘customary asking about
(RAKR) {MNN, RAKR} welfare of a person and his household when
barγúzi (n) ‘metal implement for frying ṣoṣp’, also meeting after some time’ baša̍raʋál korík ‘to
ask about the welfare of a person and his

11
bašgalán Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes baʋ

household when meeting after some time’ given to shepherds who take the animals to the
{MNN, SAS} high pastures in summer’ {RAKR 1988}
bašgalán (n) ‘red species of wheat’ Triticum batbaxtí (n) ‘misfortune’ {SWKA}
aestivum {CKT} bat dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to pant, be out of breath (dogs, or
bašútur (n) ‘threads which are braided into the hair’ other animals)’ (Parwak), ‘to pant (only of dog)’
{IF} (IWA): bo kiṣí reṣú bat donian ‘The bulls are
panting after plowing a lot.’ (Parwak) {IWA,
baṣ1 (n) ‘share’: ǰu baṣ arér ‘S/he divided (it) into Parwak}
two shares.’ (MNN); ‘special soft solid food
cooked for a baby (MNN) (MS); ‘grain or bread batfáhel (adj) ‘bad-tempered’; ‘angry’ {SWKA}
fed to animals being fattened for slaughter’ batín (n) ‘windpipe’ (NKN); ‘artery coming from the
(SWKA); ‘food for cattle made by mixing flour heart’ (ZMZ); ‘something which ties something
with water’ (MS); ‘food taken to a female to something else’, ‘tie-rope’, ‘connector’ (MS):
relative’s house on the occasion of holidays, ma hardío batín an expression of love, sense
celebrations’ (MS); ‘share of someone’s land something like ‘my dear heart’, ‘one tied to my
given to someone else’ (MS); ‘heritage’, heart’ (Warijun women); ‘lead rope’ (RAKR):
‘inherited habit’: táto sar baṣ hoy ‘He inherited batína korí ganí bik ‘to take an animal
it from his father.’ (MS) baṣ anzéik ‘for parents (somewhere) by tying it with a lead rope’
to send a share of cooked food to their married
(RAKR) batín dreék ‘to lead an animal by tying
daughter’s house’ nobáṣ (adj) ‘incapable,
it with a lead rope (e.g. horse, cow, dog)’ {NKN,
incompetent’ malikbáṣu ‘gift by a groom’s
MS, RAKR, ZMZ, Warijun women}
family to the girl’s maternal uncle when asked
for and according to his wishes – usually a gun.’ batnárax (adj) ‘badly behaved (of animals)’ {SWKA}
(MS) (< Skt. T9360 √BHAJ2) {MNN, SWKA,
MS} batračák /Other pronunc: bašatráq (metathesis and
simplification of affricate to sibilant)/ (n) ‘a very
baṣ2 (modal particle) ‘should’, ‘is needed’: ma kiṣ big and high fire, bonfire’ {MAK}
koríko baṣ ‘I need to plow.’ (MNN) ḍóngu meʋá batuǰút (adj) ‘ill-tempered’ {SWKA}
no žibíko baṣ ‘One should not eat unripe fruit.’
(MNN); ‘able to’ (SWKA): hasé poṣíko baṣ noh batxá (adj) ‘of angry temperament’ {SWKA}
‘S/he is not able to see.’ (SWKA); ‘about to’ bátxar (n) ‘male ibex, approximately one year of
(MNN): ḍaq dití dití faqát bríko baṣ ‘The boy age’ (Pasum); ‘ibex kid’ (RAKR) {Pasum, MAK,
was beaten so much that he is about to die.’ RAKR}
(MNN) {MNN, SWKA} bathán (n) ‘one’s (native) country’ [< Ir. (M:1936)]
baṣ /Other pronunc: baáṣ (MNN)/ (n) ‘place in a
3 {MNN, IF}
river where it divides into three or four channels’ bathásk (adj) ‘ill mannered, badly behaved’ (MS);
baṣoóγ (n) ‘the separate channels of a baṣ (n) ‘badly behaved person’: éy bathaskán ‘Oh,
(MS) baṣoóγ (n) ‘secondary or multiple
badly behaved ones!’ (said by women to
channels of a river’ (MNN) (< Skt. T9360) {MS,
Mastuj, MNN} children who are misbehaving) (Warijun
women) {Warijun women, MS}
baṣék (n) ‘trust’ baṣekí (adj) ‘trustworthy’ nabaṣék
(adj) ‘untrustworthy’ {MNN} báṭi1 (n) ‘unit of measure (approximately ≈ 3 seers)’
(SWKA): õšṭ báṭi i béɫu ‘Eight báṭi are equal to
baṣíng trang (n) ‘name of a narrow path between one béɫu.’ (SWKA); ‘measure of weight,
two mountains near Ovir, Lower Mulkhow’ approximately 2 1/2 seers’ (MNN) baṭiéni (n)
{MNN} ‘skin bag which holds one báṭi’ {SWKA, MNN}
bat (n) ‘boiled rice’ [< Skt. (T9331)] {IWA} báṭi2 (n) ‘gizzard’ {IF}
bat- ‘prefixal morpheme meaning ‘bad’, in this form baʋ (n) ‘bundle (wood)’, ‘sheaf (grain)’, ‘bouquet
attaching mainly to Khowar words’ [< Prs. bad (flowers)’ baʋ dreék ‘to spread out sheaves of
‘bad’] {SWKA} grain on threshing floor’ baʋbítu (n) ‘tie for a
batačuúɫ (n) ‘pheasant’ {MNN} bundle of wood’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T11520)]
{MNN, SWKA, IF, Karimabad valley}
batáy (n) ‘compensation, in the form of tea and flour,

12
baʋár Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes beén

baʋár (n) ‘belief’ baʋár korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to believe’; gravel (as in riverbed)’ (MS) bazánu (n) ‘gravel
‘to trust someone’ {TMF} pit dug just past the head of a canal to filter
gravel and sand from water before it enters the
baʋarčxaná (n) ‘kitchen, cookhouse’ [< Prs.] {WSiC}
canal’ {SWKA, MS}
baʋíni (n) ‘type of fodder’; ‘wild oats’ Avena fatua baz2 (adj) ‘some (a few rather than many)’ [< Prs.
subsp. meridionalis [< Skt. (M:1973) Ar.] {RAKR}
(T11285)] {TMF}
bazí (n) ‘game’; ‘competition’ [< Prs.] {BA}
baʋúri (n) ‘special food cooked for a patient’ baʋúri
bik (vintr) ‘to eat special food prepared for bazú (n) ‘arm’ bazubánd (n) ‘embroidered bracelet’
patients, i.e. be a patient’ baʋúri dik (vtr) ‘to (SWKA) bazúri (n) ‘sleeve’: bazúrian áyh nezík
give special food to a patient’ baʋúri korík ‘to ‘to put one’s arms into sleeves’ (RAKR) [< Skt.
prepare special food for a patient’ {IF} (T9229)] {SWKA, RAKR}
bax (n) ‘hole’ bax nisík ‘for something to get a hole bažáɫo bažáɫo (interjection) ‘call to summon cat’,
in it’: zap nigí nigí bax nisáni ‘The clothes got "here, kitty, kitty" (Laspur usage) {IF}
holes from being washed very often.’ (SWKA) be- (adj) ‘prefix indicating negative of word to which
bax néik (vtr) ‘to make a hole’ baxneéni (n) it is added, ‘x-less’, ‘un-x’’: bedarák ‘unknown,
‘awl’ (IF) {MNN, SWKA, IF} unrecognized, lost (not seen)’ [< Prs.] {SWKA}
baxdér (adj) ‘brave’, ‘courageous’ baxderí (n) beaqlí (n) ‘foolishness’ {WSiC}
‘bravery’ [< Prs. bahādur ‘brave’] {MYS}
beč (n) ‘aunt (father’s or mother’s sister)’ bečí (n)
baxíl (adj) ‘miserly’; ‘stingy’ {MS} ‘auntie’ (affectionate or respectful term of
baxmál (n) ‘velvet’ {< Ar. Prs.) {IWK} address or reference for an aunt, also used as
respectful or affectionate term of address for
baxšéš /Other pronunc: baxšíš (MS)/ (n) ‘favor’; any woman older than the speaker) [cf. Wakhi
‘reward’ (MS) [< Prs., Ur.] {MNN, MS} bəč ‘aunt’/‘uncle’] {MNN}
baxt (n) ‘fate’, ‘fortune’, ‘destiny’ (ICS); ‘luck’ (SG) bečhúr (adj) ‘without honor’, ‘shameless’ {MNN}
baxtaʋár (adj) ‘fortunate’, ‘lucky’, (IF);
‘auspicious’ baxt ruphík ‘for one’s fortune/fate bec̣íq (adj) ‘refers to one who has exceeded the
to be good’ (IF) [< Prs.] {IF, ICS, SG} limit’ {MNN}
bay dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to be a spendthrift’ {MNN} bedaná (adj) ‘seedless’; (n) ‘variety of seedless
white mulberries’ Morus alba {MNN, MS}
bayéik (vtr) ‘to pass wind, fart’ bayángu (n) ‘one
who passes a lot of wind’ [< Skt. (M:1973) bedaraǰá (adj) ‘of a person who never completes
(T11524)] {RAKR} any task’ {MNN}
bayké (n) ‘name of a tribe in Chitral’ {TMF} bedarmán (adj) ‘worried’; (adv) ‘quickly’ {RAKR}
báypaṣ (n) ‘central room of tradtional Kho house’ bedaʋá (adj) ‘worried’ (RAKR, MYS, WSiC); ‘hasty’,
(cf. saráy in Laspur); ‘central room for family ‘impatient’ (MNN); ‘restless’ (RKB) {MNN,
and relatives or female guests to sit’; ‘central RAKR, MYS, RKB, WSiC}
room of traditional Kho house, in which every
space has a specific allotted function’ (IF) beḍáp (adj, adv) ‘suddenly’: beḍáp lugár ‘one who
{TMF, MS, IF} speaks suddenly, without thinking’ (TMFW)
{ZMZ, TMF, TMFW}
bayskóp (n) ‘cinema’, ‘film’, ‘movie’ (old usage):
bayskóp pašétay Id. ‘S/he gave a good beḍéhi /Other pronunc: biḍéhi (ZMZ) (MNN)/ (adj)
‘unfeeling’; ‘uncaring’; (n) ‘one who actively
performance (just like in a film).’ bayskóp
pursues things or goals’ (MNN) {ARC, ZMZ,
c ̣okíkar prúšṭi prušṭi hatéra toórtam ‘I reached MNN}
there (i.e. the cinema) well before the film
began.’ [< Eng. ‘bioscope’] {SWKA} beḍír /Other pronunc: biḍír (IF)/ (n) ‘large hammer,
sledgehammer’ [< Skt. (T11385)] {RAKR,
bayú (n) ‘deer or ibex hunting’ bayuγeér (n) ‘hunter’ WSiC, IF}
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T11545)] {MNN, RAKR, AKM}
beén /Other pronunc: ben/ (n) ‘species of mint’
baz1 (n) ‘gravel and sand’, ‘mixed sand and fine (MA); ‘species of wild greens’ (IF); ‘species of

13
beéš Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes bend

wild mint’ (Booni) (formerly used in the function words)’ {MNN}

of soap) (MS) Mentha longifolia ben behúš (adj) ‘unconscious’ {WSiC}
gambúri ‘chrysanthemum-like flower’ (Booni)
{MA, IF, Booni, MS} beinsáf (adj) ‘unjust’ {WSiC}
beéš (n) ‘female sheep up to three or four years of beizzatí (n) ‘disgrace’ {WSiC}
age’ {RAKR} bek (n) ‘bag’ [< Eng. ‘bag’] {RKB}
beg (n) ‘a Turkic title, now a widespread family bekár (adj) ‘describes a person who is sick and
name’ atambége (n) ‘name of a tribe, many of about to die’ {MNN}
whom live in Mulkhow’ [< Turkic] {TMF}
bekás (adj) ‘helpless’ bekasí (n) ‘helplessness’
begál ‘a famous polo player, about whom a marsiya {SWKA}
was written by his mother’ {IWA}
bel (n) ‘large squarish spatula used for scooping
beganá (adj) ‘unknown’ (RAKR); ‘strange’ (BA) ashes, coals’ {MNN}
{RAKR, BA}
-béli (adj) ‘suffixal bound morpheme meaning ‘step-’
beγáur (adj) ‘careless’ [< Prs. Ar.] {MNN} as in stepmother’ {GNK}
beh (adj) ‘better’, ‘somewhat good’ {MNN} beluík /Other pronunc: belík/ (vintr) ‘to lose’ {BA}
behát (adj) ‘limitless’ [< Ur. Prs.] {WSiC} beɫík (vtr) ‘to wrap’; ‘to tie a bandage around a
behčík (vintr) ‘to remain, be left behind’: oráru wound’; ‘to swaddle a baby’ beɫíni (n) ‘long strip
behčíken ma kapál cḥ amúran ‘Because of not of cloth used to wrap/swaddle a baby;’ (MNN)
getting enough sleep I have a headache.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, RAKR, WSiC, MS}
nadír xáno qalám hayaá behčíru biráy ‘Nadir béɫing (n) ‘powdered dried apples’ (used to make
Khan’s pen got left here (just noticed).’ (MNN) sharbat in summer) {MNN, TMF}
behčéik (causative of behčík) (vtr) ‘to cause to beɫú (n) ‘blowpipe’ (originally wooden, now metal
remain’, ’to keep’ (SWKA): aʋá behčéik also) (RKB); ‘flute’ (MNN); ‘corkscrew curl’
maṣkíman ‘I want (this) to remain (alive).’ (MNN); ‘smokestack’, ‘pipe for smoke’ (TMF)
(RAKR): deró baxó magáso di no behčeétani beɫú dik (vtr) ‘to play a flute’; ‘to excrete waste
‘They didn’t leave behind even the lowliest of a liquid texture forcefully as with diarroeah’,
person.’ (Lit. ‘a fly in a hole in a rock pile’) ‘to squirt (of animals)’ (MNN) (used in Upper
(WSiM) behčoóku (adj) ‘leftover’: behčoóku Chitral) [< Skt. (T12091)] {RKB, MNN, TMF}
ṣapíkan réniot dráʋen ‘Give the leftover bread béɫu (n) ‘basket with handles’; ‘measure of one half
to the dog.’ (SWKA) behčakúnu (adj) ‘leftover’ maund’ (approximately 40 pounds or 20 kilos)
(SWKA) behčanóku ‘leftover food’ (IWA) [< (MNN); ‘unit of measure approximately ≈ 24
Skt. (M:1973) (T11861) (T11874a)] {MNN, seers‘: ǰu béɫu i man ‘Two béɫu are equal to one
SWKA, RAKR, WSiM, IWA} maund.’ (SWKA); ‘basket shaped like ʋeṣkú,
behék (n) ‘species of willow’ {RAKR} but smaller’ (IF) beɫí (adj) ‘holding one béɫu’
(SWKA): beɫí burdíki ‘bag which holds one
behél (adj) ‘blessed’, ‘thanked’, ‘having good wishes
beɫú’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (T12137)] {MNN, SWKA,
expressed to someone’ behél korík ‘to bless’
IF}
(MS): ta behél aártam ‘Bless you!’ (MS); ‘to
thank’ (SWKA) nabehél korík (vtr) ‘to disinherit’ benamák (adj) ‘describes a person who is physically
(IF) behelí (n) ‘blessings’, ‘good wishes’, attractive but does not have the internal
‘encouragement’ {SWKA, IF, MS} character to match his/her outward appearance’
{MNN}
behí (n) ‘benefit’, ‘welfare’, ‘betterment’: hayá ispá
sáfo dur kyá - hamó sum muhabát korí hamó benamáz (adj) ‘describes clothes not fit for offering
behío áča c ̣okélik ‘This is all of our village. We namaz, or a person wearing such clothes’
{MNN}
must cherish it and pursue its welfare.’ (short
story Rajuli) [< Prs.] {MYS} bend /Other pronunc: beénd (AR), beént (SWKA)/
(n) ‘portion of floor between the pheránu and the
behudá (adj) ‘refers to a person who says a lot of nax in a traditional house (see pheránu and
useless things’; ‘unnecessary’; ‘unfounded (of nax).’ (This space is used for sitting.) {MAK,

14
benús Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes bik

AR, SWKA} ‘saleable’: hayá zap ǰam bezemónu bóy ‘This

benús (adj) ‘healthy’, ‘well (opposite of daxmá)’ cloth will sell (i.e. be sold) well.’ (RKB); ‘sold’
benusí (n) ‘health,’ ‘welfare’: benusíaa ‘Are you (IF) {SWKA, IF, RKB}
well?’ {MNN} biabán (n) ‘wasteland’, ‘desert’ [< Prs.] {RAKR}
bepánǰ (adj) ‘describes a person who does not do biandák (n) ‘cobweb’; ‘like a spider’s web’ {MNN}
tasks in the proper way’ {MNN}
bibaáγ (n) ‘boiled whole garbanzo beans, chick
bepardagí (n) ‘violation of veiling standards’; ‘lack of peas’ {MNN, AK}
veiling requirements for women’ {MNN}
bičéik (vintr) ‘to relax after being tired/exhausted’
bepatá (adj) ‘unable to be found’ {WSiC} (MNN) bičán (n) ‘place to rest (like a stopping
place on the road)’ (SWKA) kuú no bičéik
bephúl (adj) ‘free of cost’ {MNN}
(vintr) Id. ‘to be overjoyed’ (MNN) [< Skt.
béri (adv) ‘outside of some room or bounded area’ (T11656)] {MNN, SWKA}
(RAKR) (MNN); (n) ‘outside Pakistan; in foreign
biḍéhi (adj) ‘fashionable’ (negative sense) {MNN}
countries’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9227)]
{MNN, RAKR} bigím (n) ‘wife’, ‘lady’, ‘sweetheart’: gye la kay, gye
beríṣ ‘species of wild flowering plant which has la bigím, ta ganí gurzéni bim ‘Come sister,
white flowers shaped like daffodils’ {MYS, IF} come sweetheart. I will go with you into the
garden.’ (verse from hup dik song) (SWKA)
bespúk (n) ‘wormwood, a wild plant’ (droón in areas
(IWK) [< Turkic] {SWKA, IWK}
other than Lutkoh) Artemisia scoparia {SG}
bi(h) (n) ‘seed’: Prov. šum aɫóko bih bo boy, šum
bešṭáʋ (n) ‘plants left to form seeds’: lablabúo róyo lu bo boy ‘A bad pumpkin has lots of
bešṭáʋ torí šéni ‘The beet seeds are ready.’ seeds; a bad person talks too much.’ (MAK) bió
{MNN} čhiník (vtr) Id. Lit. ‘to cut the seed’ Sense: ‘to
beṣ (adj) ‘extra’; ‘more than necessary’ {MNN, cause to perish’ bi dik (vtr) ‘to sow by
SWKA} broadcasting’: aʋá gómo bi phrétam ‘I sowed
wheat.’ (MNN) bi uléik (vtr) ‘to sow by
beṣú (n) ‘species of acacia with yellow flowers’;
broadcasting’ (less commonly used than bi dik)
‘yellow mountain lupine’ (Karimabad valley);
[< Skt. (T9250) {MNN, MAK}
‘species of legume-like plant (čaragana)’ Note:
Traditionally, leaves were soaked for at least bik1 (vintr) ‘to go’: hayú angár baγáy tán ‘The fire in
ten days, then the water was used for here has completely gone out.’ (RAKR) γoš no
fertilization at the time of rice transplantation bíko kúi bin no boyán ‘Because (I) don’t have
(Chitral town). Sophora mollis [< Skt. time, I can’t go anywhere.’ (SWKA) bísi (vintr)
(M:2965)] {Uthul, Karimabad valley, Chitral ‘Let’s go!’ boγéik (vtr) Lit. ‘to cause to go
town} (away)’, for example, to put out a fire: angáro
béṭi (n) ‘sheaf’, ‘bundle’, ‘bouquet (flowers)’ šoɫbéṭi boγáʋe ‘Put out the fire.’ (MNN) boγáʋe laṭén
‘hut‘ (‘reeds’ + ‘bundle’) (reference to ‘Put out the lantern!’ (RAKR); ‘to erase’: hamó
construction materials of some huts) {SWKA} di boγáʋe ‘Erase this one also.’ (MS) boγdú
bex (n) ‘base’, ‘foundation’ bex nisík (vintr) ‘for the (adj) ‘past’, ‘previous’: boγdú sal ‘last year’
base to be destroyed (humans, animals)’: ta (Chitral town) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, RAKR,
bex nisár ‘May your foundation (i.e. your SWKA, MS}
whole family) be destroyed.’ (An ill wish/curse) bik2 (vintr) ‘to become’, ‘to be’; ‘to be able’ nó biti
(Chitral town) {TMF} (adv) ‘unintentionally, by mistake’: nó biti
bexabár (adj) ‘unaware’ bexabára (adv) ‘suddenly’
kaháko bohrtén phrétam ‘I unintentionally
(IF) {MNN, IF} struck the hen with a stone.’ (SWKA) bití bití
(vintr, adv) Id. ‘unintentionally’: bití bití tu ma
bezár (adj) ‘annoyed’, ‘fed up with’ zar bezár róytu doós Lit. ‘You will only encounter me
(emphatic construction) ‘extremely annoyed’
unintentionally.’ Sense: ‘Don’t you dare meet
bezár korík (vtr) ‘to annoy’ {MNN}
me intentionally.’ (i.e. ‘Don’t let me see you
bezemík (vtr) ‘to sell’ bezemónu (adj) ‘for sale’, again.’) (SWKA) bíti bíti (adv) ‘with difficulty’

15
bil Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes bispíki

(SWKA): haṣ bíti bíti dúra toórtam ‘I reached birbír (adj, adv) ‘very much’; ‘very many’: roy xatána
home with great difficulty.’ (SWKA) bíko birbír bití astáni ‘There were very many people
(conjunction) ‘and then’ (oblique infinitive of bik; in the room.’ {MNN}
functions to link present utterance to previous
action/event) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA, bíri (n) ‘twist of hair at the forehead in a traditional
WSiC} hair style’ (IF); ‘twisted rope of krizma - dried
and fed to cattle in winter’ (Sonoghor) (see
bil (n) ‘cover’, ‘lid’ (MNN); ‘spout’ (RAKR); ‘entrance’, entry for krizma) {IF, Sonoghor}
‘opening’, ‘hole’ bil dik (vtr) ‘to cover’ biloóγ (n)
‘triangular niche in a wall for placing things’ (IF); birír (n) ‘One of the Kalash valleys’ biriránu (n)
‘niche for keeping things’ (Parwak, IF, ‘person from Birir’ {MNN}
Sonoghor) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9256) ‘cover’ and birǰís (n) ‘tight pants or pajama made of heavy
(T9245) ‘hole’; loanword in Skt. (Masica 1991: woolen cloth’ [< Eng. ‘breeches’] {RAKR}
158)] {MNN, RAKR 1988, IF, Sonoghor,
Parwak} birmoóγ /Other pronunc: birmóγ/ (n) ‘walnut (tree
or fruit)’ Juglans regia birmoγlášṭ (n) ‘location
biláur (adj) ‘beautiful (especially in poetry)’: biláur of a palace of former Mehtars in Chitral’
γeč ‘beautiful eyes’ (ZMZ); (n) ‘dear one’: ma birmoγlašṭí (n) ‘person from Birmoghlasht’
biláur ‘my dear son’ (used by parents) (ZMZ); (SWKA) [< Skt. (T12079)] {MNN, SWKA}
(n) ‘marble, glass sphere used as children’s
biróγun (adj) ‘wide’ biroγní (n) ‘width’, ‘breadth’,
toy’ (Chitral town) [< Ir.] {ZMZ, Chitral town}
‘wideness’ {RAKR, MS}
bilbičák (adj) ‘describes a šuqá not properly worn
but draped over the shoulders, not balanced birponík ‘to water (empty) fields for an hour or two’:
and hanging unevenly’ {MS} mahmat xán tan cḥ etró birponíran ‘Muhammad
Khan is watering his (empty) field briefly.’; ‘to
bilkhúl (adv) ‘completely’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur.] {MNN} irrigate a field before plowing’ birponéik (vtr)
bilp ák /Other pronunc: bilp aák (Laspur, IF) IF:
h 1 h (causative formation of birponík) ‘to get one’s
Tone distinction between ‘kestrel’ and ‘lightning’ (empty) field watered briefly by someone’ {IF}
exists in Laspur./ (n) ‘species of hawk, hunts birú1 (n) ‘generic term for a relative’: hasé ma ǰam
with left claw only, has black eyes’ (MNN); birú ‘He is a good relative of mine.’ (MNN);
‘kestrel (a small falcon)’ (IF) {MNN, MAK, IF}
‘distant relative, for which there is no specific
bilphák2 (n) ‘lightning flashing in the sky’ (RKB) term’ (MS) {MNN, SWKA, MS}
{MNN, IF, RKB}
birú2 (vintr) ‘he/she/it became (unwittnessed by
bilp ák (n) ‘fruit of grapes, at the initial stage of
h 3
speaker)’: ǰam bíru ‘It turned out well.’ ta braár
development’ {SWKA} pás birú ‘Your brother passed (the exam) (not
bim1 (n) ‘beam’ [< Eng. ‘beam’] {MA} witnessed by speaker).’ [< Skt. (T9552)] {MNN}

bim2 (n) ‘wilting disease of plants’: ma hayá droc ̣ bim biržón (n) ‘a weed which is fed to cattle and also
used for brooms’ {MNN}
díti šer ‘This grapevine of mine has wilting
disease.’ {AR} bis ‘insect eggs’; ‘maggots’; ‘immature eggs of hen’
(MNN); ‘immature louse’ (IF) bis dreék (vtr) ‘to
bímal (n) ‘very large, or protruding (of eyes)’ lay eggs (of insects)’ {MNN, IF}
bímalγéči (adj) ‘having big, protruding eyes’;
(n) ‘person with protruding eyes’ {SWKA} bisábur (n) ‘wild plant, flowers of which are used for
purú’ {SWKA}
bindók (n) ‘name of a pasture near Singur’ {TMF}
bisát (n) ‘fine floor coverings (carpets, mats)’ {S}
bingíri (adj) ‘of horns that splay to the left and right’
{IF} bispartélik (n) ‘species of willow’ Salix nigra
{Reshun}
binǰéik (vtr) ‘to mix, dilute’: hostán nigíko báče pec ̣
uγó sum uṣák uγ binǰáʋe ‘For washing hands, bispí (n) ‘wasp’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T11451) possibly <
mix cold water with hot water.’ {RAKR} Nuristani languages] {MNN}
binǰú (n) ‘species of tree’ “Mediterranean hackberry” bispíki (n) ‘type of hornet - stinging insect shaped
Celtis australis {CKT} like honeybee’ (SG); ‘wasp’ (MNN: Lower
Chitral usage) (See also bispí) {SG, MNN}

16
bisrá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes boγmá

bisrá (n) ‘male of species of red-eyed hawk’ {MNN} saddle from you.’ (MNN) biyára dik (vintr, vtr)
bistará (n) ‘bedding’ [< Ur.] {MNN} ‘to sit behind a horseman in the saddle’ [< Skt.
(T11796)] {RAKR, IWA}
bišínd ‘species of large rodent - important in Kalash
culture; its fat is/was used for lamps.’ (MNN); bizbár (n) ‘eagle’, ‘kite (hawk-like bird)’: bizbár
‘marmot’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD} bizbáro díko ḍomóte poc ̣ parír Prov. Lit. ‘When
eagles fight among themselves, feathers fall
bíšir (n) ‘twenty’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T11616)] {IF, down to the Dom.’ Sense: ‘When two persons
MNN}
quarrel among themselves, the benefit falls to a
bišláʋi (adj) ‘slim (positive sense)’ {MNN} third party.’ (NKN) [also in Wakhi (M:1936)]
bišlí /Other pronunc: biǰlí/ (n) ‘electricity’; ‘lights {MNN, NKN}
(electric)’ [< Ur.] {SWKA, MYS} bižáru (n) ‘hip (of horse)’ {MNN}
bit (n) ‘thick plank’ (MAK); ‘horizontal ledge on a bižbár (n) ‘horse’s chest’ {IF} (See also phišbár)
mountain’ (IF) (AR) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9493)]
{MAK, MA, IF, AR} blaáž (adj) ‘flexible; elastic (which bends but does
not break)’ {MNN}
bitéɫi (n) ‘planks stood on edge to make a partition
in the main room in a traditional Chitrali house blayík (vintr) ‘to wither’, ‘to fade (plant, flower)’, to
between the pherán lašṭ and the rest of the wilt’: gambúri uγ ki no arú blayúr ‘If you don’t
room including the šom’ [< Skt. (T9493)] water a flower it will wilt.’; ‘to get tired
{RAKR, MAK, SWKA} (human)’ blaydú (adj) ‘faded, wilted’ [< Skt.
(M:1973)] {MNN}
bití (adv) ‘intentionally’: bití he lúo praʋaá no bití bɫaγeék /Other pronunc: pɫaγeék (SWKA)/ ‘to cry in
‘Did you say that intentionally or not?’ (MNN) pain (a shrill bleat) (goat, sheep)’ (See also
{SWKA, MNN} braɣéik, braɣóik) pɫaγéni ‘toy horn (children’s
bithólu /Other pronunc: bithoólu (MNN)/ (n) word)’ {SWKA}
‘breadboard’; ‘flat board for rolling dough before bɫakú (n) ‘ball of dough, in preparation for cooking it’
cooking’ (MNN) [< Skt. (T9493)] {SWKA, IF, {MA}
MNN}
bɫats ‘round’, ‘thick’; ‘round and smooth (e.g.
bithúk (n) ‘a trap for birds - a wooden box with football)’ (IF), ‘lumpish’ (IF); ‘spherical’ (MNN)
double doors that open downward and trap the bɫats dar ‘part of a water mill, a round piece of
bird’ {RAKR} wood that hangs from the samádar and
bits (n) ‘breast’, ‘chest’: hes ma bitshó boók ‘She is regulates its balance’ bɫatshéik /Other pronunc:
my beloved wife.’ (MNN) bits korík (vtr) ‘to bɫatsheék, bɫatshóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/ (vtr) ‘to
carry on the shoulder (e.g. a child)’ [< Bur. bits collect (e.g. dung)’, ‘save (money)’, ‘gather
‘front facing of šuqá’ (L:1938: 84), ‘armpit, side, together’ (MNN) bɫatseéni (n) ‘place to collect
waste, dustbin’ {MNN, IF}
gusset’ (L:1962: 56)] {MNN, MA}
biṭónik /Other pronunc: biṭóni (WSiC) (MS) Parwak; bɫax (n) ‘empty space’: he zom ǰangálar ṭip kúra
biṭoník (IF)/ (n) ‘water wheel (part of water mill)’; bɫax γéči no bóyan ‘This mountain is full of
‘water turbine’ (MS) {MNN, WSiC, IF, MS, forests; no empty space is visible.’ {ARC}
Parwak} bɫok (n) ‘bud (of flower)’ bɫokhár nisík (vintr) ‘to be
biṭrí (n) ‘battery’ /Other pronunc: briḍí (children)/ [< dislocated (of a bone)’ (MNN) {MNN, MS}
Eng. ‘battery’] {MNN} bo /Other pronunc: boh/ (adj) ‘many’ (adv) ‘very’:
biyár (n) ‘left-bank area across the (Chitral) river zom bo dudéri šéni ‘The mountains are very far
from Mulkhow and Torkhow’; ‘position behind away.’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9187)] {MNN}
the rider in a saddle’: ʋexíkot biyár ki praʋ
bočhík (vintr) ‘to kiss’ hósta bočhík ‘to kiss the hand’
hunót xaṣáp koróy Prov. ‘If you seat a person {SWKA}
from Wakhan behind you in the saddle he will
take the saddle (from you).’ (IWA) tažío biyára boγmá /Other pronunc: goγmá (MNN)/ (n) ‘a
petshíko hunóte xaṣáp Prov. ‘If you seat a Tajik disease of cattle in which the body fills with
water and the animal dies’ (SWKA); ‘a sickness
behind you on the saddle, he will grab the
of cows which affects their lungs’ (RAKR);

17
boγúzu Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes boót

‘disease of animals in which the chest swells boík2 (vtr) ‘to sow seeds by hand, one by one’; ‘to
and fills with water’ (See also goγmá) {SWKA, plant (e.g. trees or flowers)’: aʋá hanún ǰoš
RAKR, MNN} daná birmóγo phordú boítam ‘Today I planted
boγúzu (n) ‘frog’: sin kroṭ angóy boγúzu istanír Prov. ten walnut trees.’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12201)]
Lit. ‘The river brings a big piece of wood, the {MNN}
frog moans and groans (as if he has brought it).’ boǰéy (n) ‘sack’: aʋá boǰéyo baréman ‘I am loading
Sense: ‘A person takes credit for something the sack on my back.’ (MNN) {MNN, MAK,
someone else has done.’ (NKN) (MNN) sin Chitral town}
angóy paγúzu istanír boγúzu Prov. (another bol (n) ‘temporary tribal fighting force gathered for a
version). ‘The river brings driftwood, (but) the specific invasion’ (RKB); ‘a group of people’
frog moans and groans (as if he has expended (SWKA): šorín bol ‘a group of one hundred’ [<
effort to bring it).’ (NKN) ṣáyozo boγúzu Skt. (M:1973) (T9161)] {RKB, SWKA, SG}
‘large frogs which live in glacial crevasses’
bolí (n) ‘work done without pay’ [< Skt. (M:195)]
(MNN) (Note: traditional beliefs include that
{MNN}
they contain gold in their stomachs, that they
start whistling when they see humans, and that bolmúži /Other pronunc: bólmíži, bolmížu,
they eat humans.) (MNN) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, bolmúžu (MAK) (MNN)/ (n) ‘earthquake’ (See
NKN} also bumlíči): xodáy bolmúži koréitay ‘God
caused an earthquake (by his order).’ (MAK)
boht /Other pronunc: bohrt (Yarkhun, Laspur), bóxt
bolmúži arér ‘An earthquake happened.’ (MNN)
(Lower Chitral)/ (n) ‘stone’: uγó dirú boht
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T9560)] {MNN, MAK}
‘water-rounded stone’ uγ čhaγɫíru boht ‘water-
rounded stone’; (adv) ‘very tightly, firmly’: bon(ḍ) /Other pronunc: bonḍ/ (n) ‘largeish branch of
duʋárto bohrt korí asúr ‘S/he has closed the a tree’ (Note: This word is found in Kalasha as
door very tightly.’ (RAKR); (adj) ‘hard’, ‘stiff’ well, with similar meaning and similar variable
andálu bohrt (n) ‘granite’ (MAK) ṣotár bóhrtu final /ḍ/.) bonḍán ‘plural form of bon(ḍ)’ {IF}
(n) ‘river-rounded stone’ (MA) bohtó rondúk
(n) ‘lichen on stone’ (MA) bohrtó žaʋ (n, adj) boók (n) ‘wife’ boók alík (vtr) ‘to marry (of man)’ [<
Skt. (M:1973) (T11250)] {MNN}
Id. Lit. ‘son of a stone’ Sense: ‘very hard’: hayá
dar phat no boyán- bohrtó žaʋ díya ‘This wood boól (n) ‘occasion when the constellation Pleiades
isn’t getting split - it’s hard as a rock.’ (SWKA); and the moon appear together, said to be
Id. ‘very miserly person’: hasé kóste kyaáγ no accompanied by extreme cold and damage to
doy- bohrtó žaʋ ‘He doesn’t give anything to crops’ (RAKR); ‘a constellation shaped like a
charpai with one elongated leg’ (RKB);
anyone - (he is) a real miser.’ (SWKA) bohrtík
‘Pleiades (constellation)’ (SG) bolhisáb (n)
(vtr) ‘to wash woolen cloth with hot water to
‘astrology’ (RAKR) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9195)]
shrink and firm it’; ‘to felt’ (process originally
{MNN, RKB, RAKR}
done on stones by specialized workers); ‘to
beat severely’ (ZMZ) noγór bohrt (n) ‘a large boóng (n) ‘marijuana’ Cannabis sativa bongí (n)
boulder in Village Brok, reputed to be visited by ‘marijuana user’ [< Skt. (T9354)] {MNN, RKB}
fairies’ ɫaybóhrti (n) ‘multicolored rock in village
Brok in Mulkhow’ boxtakhánǰ korík (vtr) ‘to boóp (n) ‘quince’ Cydonia oblonga [cf. Yasin Bur.
stone’; ‘to throw stones at someone’ (ZMZ) bop ‘quince’ (L:1962: 47)] {AR}
sorabóhtu (n) ‘upper millstone’ (MNN) bos (vintr) ‘you will be’, ‘you will become’: tu hamó
muɫabóhtu ‘lower millstone’ (MNN) [< Skt.
žanák bos ‘You will understand/learn about
(M:1973) (T11348)] {MNN, MAK, MA, SWKA,
IF, ZMZ, RAKR} this/it.’ ‘You will get to know him/her.’ {MNN}

boík1 (n) ‘bird’ boigrá /Other pronunc: boikrá/ (pl n) boót /Other pronunc: bot (in Lutkoh, SG)/ (n) ‘late
‘birds (irregular plural)’, boigrán /Other evening or nighttime meal, supper’: botó ṭéma
pronunc: boikrán/ (pl n) ‘birds (oblique plural)’ hasé hay ‘He came at the time for a late night
boikdúži ‘bird stalking’ (IFM) boíko khus (n) snack.’ (SG); ‘night-time’ (RAKR); ‘afternoon
‘bird’s nest’ (Booni) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T11304) time (in Mastuj valley)’ (RKB: In the Biyar area
(T11541)] {MNN, IFM, Booni} this word usually gives the time sense.) botákal
‘supper-time’ (RKB) bóto sóra boót ‘a late

18
bor Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes bran

night snack (10-11 p.m.) given when listening to boṣík (vintr) ‘to rain’ (RKB: In Upper Chitral boṣík
stories or conversing late at night’ (SWKA) means both ‘to rain’ and ‘to snow’. in Lower
ʋebótu (n, adj) ‘(person) who hasn’t eaten an Chitral, ‘to snow’ is hím dik.): hanún boṣíko čaq
evening meal’ (Parwak) [< Skt. (M:1973) bíti šer ‘Today it is about to rain.’ (Lit. ‘is in the
(T9331) also cf. Yasin Bur. bo:t (L:1962: 54)] ] mood to rain’) (RKB) ʋezenári baṣíran ‘It has
{RKB, RAKR, NKN, SG, Parwak, SWKA} been raining since yesterday.’ ‘to snow’: boṣítay
bor (n) ‘blanket of yak hair’ {IF} ‘It has started to snow (said when snow still
bordík (vintr) ‘to grow’, ‘increase in size (plants,
falling)’ (MAK) (SWKA); (n) ‘rain’: ispá rahí
animals, children)’: hayá ḍaq bordáʋa asúr
bíko su théki boṣík pray táte kya lu dom ‘Just as
‘This is a growing boy.’ (MNN) bardéik (vtr) ‘to we set out it started to rain so hard that I can’t
cause to grow’, ‘to bring up a child from describe it.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T11392)]
babyhood’ (MS): aʋá aslámo žaʋ bardétam ‘I {RKB, MAK, SWKA, MNN}
raised Aslam’s son.’ bordásu /Other pronunc: botík (vtr) ‘to tie’, ‘to bind’: aʋá tan buṭhó bandán
bordásum/ (adj) ‘quickly developing/growing’ botítam ‘I tied my shoelaces.’ (MNN); ‘to write,
(SWKA): bordásu ažéli ṣaʋ balúγa taruúr prepare (a book)’: aʋá kitáb batíman ‘I am
‘Quickly growing children reach puberty writing a book.’ (RKB) botónu (adj) ‘tied’,
quickly.’ (SWKA) hayá tseq bordásum noh ‘bound’, ‘imprisoned’; (n) ‘something with which
‘This child does not grow (quickly).’ bordaáku something is tied’: botónu angyé- payó bandísi
(adj) ‘quickly growing/developing’ (SWKA) [< ‘Bring something to tie it with; we will tie up
Skt. (M:1973) (T11376)] {MNN, MS, SWKA} the goat.’ (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9126)]
borγóni (adj) ‘bored’, ‘boring’ [Eng. ‘bore’ + Khowar {MNN, SWKA, RAKR, RKB, MS}
suffix -γóni ‘like’] {MAK} boxčá (n) ‘small bundle’ [< Turkic] {RAKR}
borǰ /Other pronunc; borč/ (n) ‘female of falcon božík (vtr) ‘to divide into shares or parts’: cḥ oyó ǰúo
species, the male of which is čúp’ (MAK)
sóra božíko troy boy ‘Six divided by two is
(MNN); ‘type of hawk’ (RAKR) {MAK, RAKR,
MNN}
three.’ (SWKA) zemíno božín boy ‘The land can
be divided.’ (SWKA) batháno petsháʋa paysán
boršíki (n) ‘cricket (the insect)’ {MNN, TMFW} božítani ‘As they were leaving the country they
bos (vintr) ‘be!, become! (2nd person singular divided the money.’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973)
imperative)’: tu hamó žanák bos! ‘Learn about (T9360)] {MNN, SWKA, WSiC}
this/it!’ {MNN} braár (n) ‘brother’, ‘uncle’s or aunt’s son’ (MNN)
bosk (adj) ‘thick (of flat things, like cloth)’ [< Ir. brargíni (n) ‘brothers (kinship term plural)’
(M:136)] {MNN} brarbéli (n) ‘step-brother’, ‘half brother’ (GNK)
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T9661)] {MNN, GNK}
bosmóxi (n) ‘a shameless person’ (MNN); ‘one who
does not acknowledge/admit his mistakes’ braf dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to pant (of animals)’ {MNN}
(ZHD) {MNN, ZHD} braγéik /Other pronunc: braγóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/
bostaká (n) ‘a shameless woman or girl’ {MNN} (vintr) ‘to bleat (sheep, goat)’ (MNN) [< Skt.
(T9326)] {MNN, IF, SWKA}
bosún (n) ‘spring’, ‘springtime’ (MNN) bosundéx
/Other pronunc: bosundéγ/ (n) ‘spring sowing’ braγneéni (n) ‘round vessel for kneaded dough’
(MA) thas bosún (n) ‘the beginning of spring’ (RKB); ‘wooden vessel for fermenting dough’
(MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T11439)] {MNN, MA, (MAK) (TMF); ‘leftover fermented dough, used
MS} as starter for fermenting new dough’; ‘yeast’
(IF); ‘very soft food substance’: lac ̣eé braγneéni
bošík (vintr) ‘to produce a sound (musical kardú biráy ‘S/he boiled it so much that it
instrument)’ bašéik (vtr) ‘to play (an became very soft.’ (RKB) {RKB, MAK, IF, TMF}
instrument)’; ‘to sing’ bašeák (n) ‘singer’,
‘player’ (SWKA) bašoónu (n) ‘song’: bašoónu braγúnu (n) ‘thick bread of barley or millet cooked in
bašeoónu hóy ‘The song was sung.’ (SWKA) [< ashes’ (RAKR); ‘thick barley bread’ (TMF)
Skt. (T11585) (T11435) (T11586) (M:1973)] {RAKR, TMF}
{RAKR, SWKA, MS} bran (n) ‘ram’, ‘male sheep’ (MNN); ‘male sheep up
to three or four years of age’ (RAKR) braníši

19
brangál Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes buc ̣huṣík

(n) ‘skin of ram’ braníri (n) ‘skin of ram’ [< Skt. bihrtí astám ‘I was dead tired.’ (MNN); (vintr)
(M:1973) (T12230)] {MNN, RAKR} ‘to be in an extreme state’: osí osí birdú ošóni
brangál (n) ‘species of mushroom, umbrella-shaped ‘They nearly died laughing.’ (figure of speech)
with slightly convex top - about 12 inches in (MA) brik dur (n) ‘a house in which a death has
diameter and weighs about 1/2 kilo.’ (MNN); recently occurred’ briónu (adj, n) ‘dead’, ‘killed’:
‘round, white mushroom which can be cooked ma bap unnís so unníso žánga briónu hoy ‘My
in curry’ Agaricus campestris (Parwak) {MNN, grandfather was killed in the 1919 war.’ (MS)
Parwak} birdú (adj) ‘dead’ < Skt. (T10278) [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T10383)] {MNN, MA, SWKA, MS}
braṭ (n) ‘thick bread’ (except čapóti); ‘thick bread
baked on coals’ (cf. čayṭíki) [< Eng. ‘bread’ ?] brok (n) ‘village in Laspur Valley’ brokíči (n) ‘person
{SWKA, TMF} from Brok’ brokeér (n) ‘ridge opposite village
Brok’ (IF) {SWKA, IF, IS}
brax (n) ‘sound of wooden planks striking against
each other’; (adv) ‘strongly’: ḍaqó hardí brax bron (n) ‘boundary ridge of a field’: bronó ṭéka boík
h h
p at bití ya k yóte mat haṣ rétay ‘The boy’s asúr ‘There is a bird on the top of the boundary
heart being deeply hurt, he thought, “Why has ridge.’ (MNN) [< Ir.: (M:1936) also (T9886)]
she spoken to me like this?”’ (WSiC) brax brax {RKB, MA, MNN}
(n) ‘intermittent, repeated sound of planks broól (adj) ‘numb’, ‘senseless’: ma bazú broól bití
striking each other’ braxéik (vintr) ‘to strike
šer ‘My arm is numb.’ (MYS) broól korík (vtr)
against each other and produce sound (of
‘to numb (e.g. by an injection)’ {MNN, MYS,
wooden planks)’ (MNN) {MNN, WSiC}
TMF}
braxčík /Other pronunc: broxčík (ARC)/ (vintr) ‘to
broón ‘meadow’: broón ṣiúran ‘The meadow is
talk nonsense’: foṭ braxčúsan ‘You are talking
waving (beautifully).’ [< Ir. (M:136)] {MNN}
complete nonsense.’ (MNN) {S, MNN, ARC}
bruk (n) ‘kidney’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12064)] {MNN}
brazaγán droc̣ (n) ‘variety of grape specific to Broz’
Vitis vinifera {TMF} brukbóxtu (n) ‘conglomerate (type of stone)’
{Reshun}
braẓ /Other pronunc: bráẓu (IF)/ (n) ‘string/cord
used to rotate the γorerdáru while churning’ brunaɫúk (n) ‘eyebrow ridge’ {MNN}
(MNN); ‘thin leather strips’ (MAK); ‘leather bruṣnáku (adj) ‘beautiful’, ‘impressive’, ‘attractive’,
thong, strip, or strap’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) ‘causing pleasure’ (places, animals, food,
(T11388)] {MNN, MAK, IF} humans)’ {RAKR 1988}
breník (vtr) ‘to shear (sheep, goats)’: hatét kéɫi bruú (n) ‘eyebrows’ [< Skt.: (M:1973) (T9688)]
brenínian ‘They are shearing sheep.’ (MNN); ‘to {MNN}
cut hair (humans)’; ‘to prune a plant of
unnecessary growth’ breneék (vtr) ‘to have bruúz bik (vintr) ‘to be numb, without feeling’ bruúz
shorn by someone else’: aʋá nayó c ̣akeé toγó korík (vtr) ‘to numb, make numb’; ‘to
experience the shock-like sensation when the
kapálo breneétam ‘I got the barber to cut his
ulnar nerve ("funny bone") in the elbow is
hair.’ (RKB) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9687)] {MNN, struck’ (See also syn. kruts bik) {MNN}
RKB}
bubúk (n) ‘species of bird (woodpecker, hoopoe)’
brep (n) ‘village in lower Yarkhun’ brepík (n) ‘person bubukmáɫi (n) ‘hoopoe’s nest’; Id. ‘foul-
from Brep’ (SWKA, MNN) {SWKA, MNN} smelling place’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN}
brez ǰunáli (n) ‘name of a high football/volleyball buc̣hurík (vintr) ‘to open up’, ‘to come untied (a
ground in Terich’ {MNN} knot)’ bec̣herík (vtr) ‘to open/untie (a bundle)’;
brežáyu (n) ‘sister-in-law (husband’s sister, brother’s ‘to untie (e.g. an animal)’: lešó becḥ erí laákitam
wife)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9660)] {MNN, Laspur} ‘I untied the cow (mistakenly).’ (RKB) < Skt.
(M:1973) [< Skt. (T11644)] {SWKA, RAKR,
brik (vintr) ‘to die’: hasé ki obrítay ispá kíča bósi ‘If
RKB}
s/he dies what will become of us?’ (SWKA); ‘to
be completely exhausted’: obrítam (older form buc̣huṣík /Other pronunc: buc̣huc̣ík (SWKA),
obrístam) ‘I’m dead tired/exhausted.’ (MA) buc ̣uṣík (IF), buc ̣ucḥ ík (in Lower Chitral, IF)/
(vintr) ‘to blossom, bloom’; ‘to become very

20
budéik Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes búrbuɫak

happy or successful (of a person)’ {SWKA, IF} buɫusúk) [< Skt. (T11905)] {IF}
budéik (vtr) ‘to train a young ox to pull the plow for bulyaná /Other pronunc: buryaná (RKB)/ (n) ‘rust’:
the first time’ {IF, SWKA, RAKR} bulyaná c ̣okíru biráy ‘(It) has rusted.’ (MS);
búdi (n) ‘wooden ball used in a game similar to (adj) ‘rusty’: bel bulyaná birú biráy ‘The shovel
cricket’ budidík (n) ‘game similar to cricket, has rusted.’ (MS) bulyána c̣okík (vintr) ‘to rust,
except catching done by a bat instead of with become rusty’: čakú bulyána c ̣okítay ‘The knife
the hands’ búdi korík (vtr) ‘to play budidík’ rusted.’ (RKB) bulyaná žirdú (adj) ‘rusted
{RAKR, IF} (away)’ {RAKR, RKB, MS}
budóki1 (n) ‘a medicinal flower’ {IF} buɫí (n) ‘birch (tree)’ Betula utilis buɫyák (n) ‘bark
budóki (adj.) ‘dark golden color, light orange
2 of buɫí (SWKA)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9570)]
(MNN); orange’ (SWKA) budyáku ‘orange’ {MNN, SG, SWKA}
{SWKA} {MNN, SWKA} buɫík (vtr) ‘to fry’ (MNN); ‘to roast in a vessel’
buhtuík /Other pronunc: buhrtuík, buxtuík/ (vintr) (SWKA) buɫéik (vtr) ‘to have fried by someone’
‘to fear’: aʋá he rényo poší buhtuíman ‘I am (SWKA): káyo c ̣akeé ispáte pušúr buɫáʋe ‘Get
afraid of that dog.’; ‘to be afflicted by a fairy’ (our) elder sister to fry some meat for us.’
(MS) buhtuní /Other pronunc: buhrtuní (SWKA) buɫin bik (vintr) ‘to be fried’: pušúr
(RAKR)/ (n) ‘fear’, ‘worry’: púli bíko buhtunía buɫín boy ‘The meat can be fried.’ (SWKA)
gómo bezemítam ‘In fear that it would rot I sold buɫíni (n) ‘vessel in which something is fried or
the wheat.’ (MS); ‘state of being afflicted by a roasted, i.e. cooked without water’ [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T9583)] {MNN, MA, SWKA}
fairy’; ‘state of being frightened by
someone/something’ buhtunásu /Other buɫískar /Other pronunc: buɫuskár (IF)/ (n) ‘species
pronunc: buxtunásu (MYS), buxtunásum of wild flowering plant’ buɫuskár gambúri (n)
(Chitral town)/ (adj) ‘fearsome (person, thing)’ ‘small pink flowers, first out in spring.’ (MYS)
(NKN SWKA) buhtuéik (vtr) ‘to frighten’ (MNN); (IF: This plant grows just below the snow line,
‘to threaten’ (RKB) buhtuáru (n) ‘fear, feeling of above 8,000 feet elevation.) {MYS, IF}
fear’ {MNN, RKB, NKN, RAKR, MS, SWKA,
WSiC, MYS} buɫúči (n) ‘first stage of fruit formation after the
flower drops’ (Booni); ‘an unripe apricot’
buk1 (n) ‘throat’: ma buk cḥ améran ‘My throat hurts (Parwak) {Booni, Parwak}
me.’ ‘I have a sore throat.’ [< Skt. (M:1973) cf. búmbur (n) ‘bumblebee’ (MNN); ‘hornet, large with
Bur. buk ‘throat’ ] {MNN} long body’ (SG) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9651)]
buk2 (n) ‘musical instrument made from markhor {MNN, SG}
horn’ buk dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to play the buk’ {MYS}
bumburéṣ (n) ‘thunder’: bumburéṣ arér ‘It
bulbúl (n) ‘nightingale’; (term of address) ‘dear one, thundered.’ (MNN) {RKB, MNN}
darling’ {RAKR}
bumburét (n) ‘one of the Kalash valleys’
bulunǰík (vintr) ‘to be scattered’; ‘to be spread (e.g. bumburetánu (n) ‘person from Bumburet’
news, an idea, silence)’: šam bíko hayá xabár {MNN}
drust déha bulunǰítay ‘By evening this news bumčuṭí (n) ‘storage pit inside house for wheat,
had spread in the whole village.’ (MYS, short potatoes, etc.’ {MAK}
story Rajuli) i darbát bilkhúl xamoší bulunǰítay
‘For a little while complete silence fell.’ búni (n) ‘large town approximately halfway between
Chitral and Mastuj’ buneéγ ‘person from Booni’
(SWKA) bilenǰík /Other pronunc: bilinǰik/ (vtr)
(IWK) {SWKA, IWK}
‘to scatter; ‘to spread (something)’: aʋá
qalinčhoó tan xatáni belenǰítam ‘I spread the bup (n) ‘village in Torkhow, above ṣotxár’ {MAK}
carpet in my room.’ (MNN) {MYS, SWKA, burá /Other pronunc: búra (ZHD)/ (n) ‘fine plane
MNN} shavings’ (NKN); ‘sawdust’ (ZHD) (ZMZ) (See
buluṣúk (adj) ‘split (ends of hair)’; ‘cracked (of skin)’ also syn. išlók) [< Ur.] {NKN, ZHD, ZMZ}
buluṣúk bik (vintr) ‘to split (ends of hair)’: ma búrbuɫak /Other pronunc: burbuɫák (RAKR)/ (adj)
phur buluṣúk bínyan ‘The ends of my hair are ‘(animals) without offspring for a long time, with
splitting.’; ‘to crack, peel (of skin)’ (See also no prospects of offspring’ (MNN) {MNN, RAKR}

21
burbúr Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes čakórum

burbúr (n) ‘looking fixedly at something’ (ARC) (M:1973) (T9557)] {MNN, SWKA, RAKR,
burbúr dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to stare fixedly or angrily IF,ˊSG, IWA, Booni, MAK}
at someone’ ‘to glare at someone’ (MNN):
buúṣ (n) ‘fine rootlets’ {RAKR}
burbúr dití kyám bosán ‘Why are you staring at
(someone)?’ (RAKR) {MNN, ARC, RAKR} buxári (n) ‘fireplace (at side of room)’; ‘chimney (at
side of room)’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
burdúki /Other pronunc: burdíki RAKR/ (n)
‘goatskin bag for storing or carrying grains or buz (n) ‘a type of halwa, made with salt rather than
flour’: ruúṣk ma burdúkyo oyóy ‘A rat ate my sugar’ {Parwak}
skin bag.’ (MNN) {MNN, RAKR} buzúnd (n) ‘village in Torkhow’ {MA}
búring (n) ‘tiny orange berries’ (See also syn. buzúrg (n) ‘holy man’ buzurgí (n) ‘saintliness’
kiɫγítu) {IF} (MNN) [< Prs.] {WSiC, MNN}
burǰ1 (n) ‘corner’ (MA) burǰí (n) ‘boundary’ (AR) [< bužakí (n) ‘variety of apricot introduced by Buzhak’
Ar. Prs.] {MA, AR} Prunus armeniaca {RAKR}
burǰ2 (n) ‘responsibilities, e.g. the persons in one’s buẓeék /Other pronunc: buẓéik; buẓóik (in
house’ [< Skt. (T9459) √bhṛ] {MA} Torkhow) (IF)/ (vintr) ‘to pant, gasp, puff (be
buruík /Other pronunc: buriík (in Yarkhun)/ (vintr) short of breath)’: c ̣óktu kosáʋa buẓéman ‘I get
‘to melt (snow, ice, ghee, iron)’: him čhúči out of breath when I walk uphill.’ (SWKA) hayá
buruír ‘The snow will melt by tomorrow.’ c ̣óktu kosík ma buẓéman ‘This climbing is
(MNN); (vintr) ‘to dissolve’ (RAKR 1988) biréik making me pant.’ (SWKA) {SWKA, IF, Parwak,
/Other pronunc: burueék, bireék (NKN)/ (vtr) Meragram}
‘to melt, cause to melt’: uγó báče phuk him byóɫi /Other pronunc: byóri/ (n) ‘Palula-speaking
birém ‘I will melt some snow for water.’ (MNN) village in Lower Chitral’ byoɫyánu (n) ‘person
aʋá ta c ̣akéi himó birém ‘I will get you to melt from Byori’ {MNN}
the snow.’ (MNN) bireéru (adj.) ‘melted’: hayá
byoóγ /Other pronunc: bioóγ/ (n) ‘elder’ (Ghezur
bireéru doón ‘This is melted ghee.’ (ZMZ) [<
word) (cf. loṭhóro in other dialects) bioóγ
Skt. (M:1973) (T11862)] {MNN, SWKA, RAKR,
(interjection, n) ‘term of address used for any
NKN, ZMZ}
unspecified person’ (used in Laspur and
buryamá (n) ‘bottom part of a braid when the upper Ghezur): di kya bioóγ ‘Yes.’ (IF) {IF}
separate small braids are joined to make one
large braid’ {IF} čaáγɫí /Other pronunc: čhaáγɫí/ (n) ‘a black bird, with
red beak’; ‘rook’ (MNN): čaáγɫi ki nisáni roy
buryán (adj) ‘fried’ (MAK) buryán korík (vtr) ‘to fry réni ki čaáγɫí nistáni yúdur boy ‘If the rooks
(e.g. meat, egg)’: áykun buryán aréni ‘They came out people say, "The rooks have come
fried an egg.’ (MAK) {RAKR, MAK} out, the sky will be clear."’ (AKM) {SWKA,
busít (n) ‘a type of seeds used as a spice’ {MNN} MNN, AKM}

buṭ (n) ‘shoe’ [< Eng. ‘boot’] {MNN} čaγéz /Other pronunc: čhaγéz (Drosh)/ (n) ‘whip’
čaγezmá (adj) ‘whip-like’; (n) ‘three-stranded
buú (n) ‘large species of owl’ (MNN) braid’ (IF) {IF, Drosh}
[onomatopoetic, named for its call] (SWKA)]
{MNN, SWKA} čaγɫík (vtr) ‘to sweep’: gosnán čaγɫí safá koré
‘Sweep up the rubbish and clean (the place).’
buúm /Other pronunc: bhum (SWKA), bum/ (n) {MNN}
‘earth’, ‘ground’ bhumc̣utiγeér (n) ‘place where
a graveyard was’ (SWKA) bumlíči (n) čakačaɫúng (adj) ‘unbalanced - one high and one
‘earthquake’ (IWA) (IF: in Torkhow) bumc̣húti low’; ‘crooked’ {Parwak}
(n) ‘ancestral land’: hayá ma táto bumcḥ úti ‘This čakár toqúm (n) ‘a pad which protects a horse’s
is my father’s ancestral land/homeland.’ (SG) back from chafing by the trang’ {IF}
bumpóṣ (n) ‘a type of rat’ (IWA) bumphéṣ
xaɫáʋ ‘earth-digging rodent which is very čakást (n) ‘cowrie shell’ {RAKR}
destructive to fields’ (MNN) bumó mrac̣ (n) čakóɫi (adj) ‘having crossed horns’ {IF}
‘strawberry’ (Booni) bumtaʋélik (n) ‘earth-
colored bird - eaten by people’ (MAK) [< Skt. čakórum (n) ‘measure of land area, 108 feet x 108

22
čakú Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes čapotí

feet’ {HAS} AKM}

čakú (n) ‘(small) knife’ [< Ur. or Panjabi] {MS} čan (adj) ‘naked’, ‘bare (body)’ (MNN); ‘simple’,
‘plain’, ‘lonely’, ‘bare (room)’; (adv) ‘only’: čan í
čakupák bik (vintr) /Other pronunc: čukupák
(RAKR) ‘to refuse’: reéko čakupák hoy ‘When thuék ‘only one rifle’ (RAKR); ‘poor’: hatétan
he said (this), she refused.’ čukupák (n) ‘one múži safosár čan hasé ošóy ‘Among them, he
who refuses’ (RAKR) {RAKR, WSiC} was the poorest of all.’ (IF) (short story kéɫiʋál
keɫítay [The shepherdess wept]) {RAKR, MNN,
čal (n) ‘withers (ridge between the shoulders of a IF}
horse)’; ‘mane (of horse)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T4768)] {MNN} čančír /Other pronunc: čamčiír (MNN), čamčír
(ARC)/ (n) ‘very thorny annual plant - so thorny
čaláy /Other pronunc: čhaláy/ (n) ‘garments’, that animals cannot eat it’ (ARC); ‘a weed with
‘clothes’ čaláyγár (n) ‘cloth, material to make spiky, longish leaves’ (In springtime its root is
garments, (except for woolen cloth)’ [< Skt. used as a sleeping draught.) (MNN); ‘a type of
(T4910)] {SWKA, MNN} thistle eaten by donkeys’ (RAKR) Cirsium
čaleék (vtr) ‘to utilize, make use of’ {RAKR, WSiC} falconeri {MNN, ARC, RAKR}
čalú (adj) ‘in practice’, ‘in operation’ [< Ur.] {MNN} čanḍúl (n) ‘ball that bounces (e.g. a tennis ball)’
čaɫaxdúri /Other pronunc: tsaɫʋaxdúri (IF: in Chitral {TMF}
town)/ (n) ‘opening to allow light to enter a čangík (vintr) ‘to lie’, ‘to tell falsehoods’; (n) ‘lie’,
room’ (IF); ‘window’ (MA) {IF, MA} ‘falsehood’ (IF) čangeék (vtr) ‘to lie’, ‘tell a
čáɫi (adj) ‘having smallpox scars’ {MNN, IF} falsehood’ {RKB, IF, WSiC, RAKR}

čamá (n) /Other pronunc: čhamá (Drosh) (n) čangkáraṭ (n) ‘species of water fowl, whose body
‘jewelry in shape of round medallion’ (MAK) has little meat on it’; (n) Figurative usage: ‘a
čhamá ‘brooch’ (Drosh) {MAK, Drosh} very thin person’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {RAKR}

čamaltóx /Other pronunc: čamalṭóxi (in Torkhow, čanṭíq (n) ‘seeds of kavír’ (MNN); ‘fruit of the kavír
IF/ (n) ‘a slap’ čamaltóx dik (vtr) ‘to slap’ plant’ (It is red inside, used for red dye.) (MNN)
{MNN, IF} {MNN, IF}

čamán (n) ‘garden’ {GNK} čap /Other pronunc: čep/ (n) ‘horse’s mane’ {IF}

čamáx (n) ‘flint’ (IWA); ‘flint-pouch’ (RAKR 1988); Id. čapáɫi1 (n) ‘village up-river of Mastuj’; (Cultural notes
‘a very smart person’ (IWA) čamaxbóhrtu from RAKR: Legends about the naming of
‘flintstone’ (MA, RAKR) {IWA, RAKR, MA} Village Chapali: (1) Village Chapali is so named
because of its shape, which resembles the
čambaránu /Other pronunc: čambaraánu (SWKA)/ pattern of scattered scars on the face. (2)
(n) ‘place at the narrow end of a duck pond Legend of the settlement of Chapali: Three
covered with a network of thin branches’ (Ducks brothers from Tangir came to settle and killed a
are lured inside and the entrance closes quickly naháng (water-dwelling monster) said to have
to trap them. They are then disabled and killed been living in a pond near Mastuj. Two of the
later.) (MAK) {MAK, SWKA} brothers’ names were Dúdi and Čatáɫi. Dudišai
čambéli /Other pronunc: čambelí (Booni)/ (n) is where the descendants of Dudi live; and the
descendants of Čatáɫi live in čapáɫi (< čatáɫi).)
‘honeysuckle’ Lonicera periclymenum {Booni, čapaɫík ‘person from Chapali’ {SWKA, RAKR}
Chitral town}
čapáɫi2 (n) ‘smallpox scars’ (cf. čáɫi) (IF); ‘scar from
čambór /Other pronunc: čhambór/ (n) ‘whole dried a burn on the face’ (RAKR) {IF, RAKR}
apricots’ (MNN) čambór dreék (vtr) ‘to spread
out apricots to dry’ (MNN) čamborṭíki (n) čapán (n) ‘full-length Tajik robe worn by both men
‘mixture of apricot kernels and dried apricots and women of high status and by religious
pounded together and shaped into a cake’ scholars’ (Used as a symbol for the costliest
(Chitral town) {MNN, Chitral town} thing that one can buy.) {IF}
čamčaláq (n) ‘a promise breaker’ {MNN} čap dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to run from side to side to avoid
capture when being chased’ {MNN}
čamóṭh /Other pronunc: čamúṭ (MAK), čamóṭ,
čhamúṭ (AKM)/ (n) ‘finger’, ‘toe’ {MNN, MAK, čapotí (n) ‘thick, flat unleavened bread (about two

23
čaq Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes čaxt

centimeters thick), baked in ashes after first occasion of taking them to the high pastures at
cooking on a cooking iron (taʋ)’ {MNN} phindík.): phurán čarú aártam ‘I applied oil to
čaq (adj) ‘ready to do something’: aʋá imtihánot čaq my hair.’ (RAKR) čareéni (n) ‘oil container’
taqčáru (adj) ‘very oily’; (n) ‘person with very
bíti asúm ‘I am ready for the examination.’
oily hair’: taqčáru čarnéko rem ‘I call the people
(MNN) čaqhéik /Other pronunc: čaqéik/ (vtr) ‘to
ready something (e.g. a rifle)’ (GNK); ‘to get
of Charun oily-haired ones.’ (line from song
ready to hit someone’ (GNK) [cf. Balti cataq “Durang Waw”) (IWK) {RAKR, Laspur women,
‘ready’. Possibly Turkic origin?] {MNN, SWKA, IF, IWK}
GNK} čárun (n) ‘large village down-river from Booni’
čáqa (n) ‘kind’, ‘type’, ‘way’ kí čáqaá (adv) ‘how’: tu čarneéγ ‘person from Charun’ (SWKA) (IWK)
{SWKA, IWK}
kí čaqaá haʋ - pon xaráb ošóy ‘How did you
come? The road was bad.’ {SWKA} čarʋélu (n) ‘administrator at tehsil level in time of
Mehtars’ rule’ [< Prs. (M:1936)] {MNN}
čaqár (n) ‘a bifurcation’; ‘two-pronged pitchfork’; ‘fork
in a tree branch’ {IF} čarx (n) ‘species of falcon’ (MAK); ‘species of hawk
with black eyes’ (MNN) {MAK, MNN}
čaqtasár (n) ‘rope used to rotate carving tool’ {MY,
Laspur} časkú (n) ‘substance used for medicinal purposes’
(IF); ‘a seed used in preparing medicine for the
čar1 (n) ‘hill or mountain of earth rather than stone’; eyes (about the size of a millet seed)’ (IFM) {IF,
‘cliff of mixed stone and earth’; ‘steep slope’ IFM}
(MS) čarčán (n) ‘bare mountain or slope’ (čar
‘cliff’ + čan ‘bare’); ‘narrow defile or path’ (IF) časpán (n, adj) ‘(a person) who understands subtle
(MNN) [cf. Hunza Bur. čhar ‘cliff, rocky meanings’ (ZHD); (n) ‘sure-footed person’
mountain’ (Berger: 1998: 97)] {SWKA, IF, MS, (MNN) {MNN, ZHD}
MNN} častán (n) ‘floor mat woven of stems’ (TMF); ‘rice
čar2 (n) ‘grazing’ [Skt. (T4755)] {WSiC} straw’ (Drosh) {TMF, Drosh}
čaraṭí nisík (vintr) ‘in the traditional game budidík, čast korík (vtr) ‘to forcibly remove’ (Ghezur usage);
for the batter to gain an advantage by ‘to untie’ (Ghezur usage) {IF}
succeeding in striking a returned ball again.’ čašmá (n) ‘eyeglasses’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
This advantage can gain him an extra point in a
subsequent play. {ZHD} čat (adv) ‘a bit; a little’ (MNN) čimčát (n) ‘a very
brief time’: salím kormó čimčáta arér ‘Salim did
čarél (n) ‘crochet hook’ (See syn khušnúl) {IF}
the work very quickly.’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA}
čarγerí (n) ‘name of Sher Wali Khan Aseer’s house’
{MS} čatír (n) ‘tent’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {RAKR, WSiC, IWK}

čarí (n) ‘bedbug’ (IF) (RAKR); ‘body fat’ (IF) {IF, čatiršá (n) ‘cover (e.g. for quilt)’; ‘cover for a foam
RAKR} mattress’ (more recent sense) (TMFW) {TMF,
TMFW}
čarindá (n) ‘animal which grazes’ {WSiC}
čat korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to insist’, ‘to incite’: hasé čat
čaršám (n) ‘mustard’ Brassica campestris: báγa korí hatoγó c ̣akeé he úo sóra nezétay ‘S/he
čaršámo zehrč zehrč gambúri išprenǰí šéni ‘In incited him/her to disclose that secret.’ (ZHD);
the garden many yellow mustard flowers have ‘to negatively insist, refuse’: aʋá hamóṣ reé lu
bloomed.’ {SWKA} phrétam - hes čat korí no maántay ‘I said this
ča̍ršambéh (n) ‘Wednesday’ [< Prs.] {SWKA} (to him), (but he) refused to agree/obey.’
(MNN) {MNN, ZHD}
čáru (n) ‘oil’ (now used only in context of applying oil
to something); ‘ghee’ (Laspur only, IF) čáru čaṭáski (n, adj) ‘a person who forces his opinions on
korík ‘to apply oil to something’, ‘to anoint others’ (MNN); ‘one who dresses well and
something with oil’ (Traditionally considered an behaves arrogantly’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
auspicious act, this was done to crops on čaxt1 (n) ‘ring made of twisted branches, used for
occasion of phindík, or to a first-born boy after a knotting rope’ (IF); ‘eyelet of bent wood used to
series of girls, or to the horns of cattle on the fasten the end of a rope’ (Sonoghor) {IF,

24
čaxt Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes čilimčín

Sonoghor} water’ (IF) {MNN, IF}

čaxt (n) ‘joint (body part)’ ač ó čaxt (n) ‘hock joint
2 h
čičéy /Other pronunc: čhíčéy/ (interjection) ‘go
(horse)’ {MNN} away!’ (a shout to send away goats) {MNN}
čáxur (n) ‘spinning wheel’; ‘knife sharpener (rotating čičibón (n) ‘species of sparrow’ [< Skt. (T4791)]
wheel)’ (SWKA); ‘grinding wheel’, ‘grindstone’ {MNN}
(MS) čáxur darík (vtr) ‘to sharpen on a
čidín (n) ‘large wok-like cooking vessel’ (Chitral
grindstone’ (MNN) (SWKA) [< Ir. (M:1936) <
town); ‘iron vessel used for making ṣoṣp’ (MAK)
Skt. (T4538)] {MNN, SWKA, MAK, WSiC, IF,
(See also čiín’) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {IWA, Chitral
MS, A}
town, MAK}
čayṭíki (n) ‘type of bread’ (Yarkhun term; called
čifčáfγóni (adv) ‘very fast (of speaking)’ {IF}
mišṭíki in Lower Chitral) {SWKA}
čigoó čigoó (interjection) ‘come here!’ (call to
čeh /Other pronunc: čah (BA)/ (n) ‘a well (water
summon goats) {MNN}
source)’ (RKB); ‘execution pit where prisoners
were thrown’ (Mastuj): čého petsítay ‘He threw čiγéč (n) ‘gifts brought by female relatives and
(him/them) into the execution pit.’ (Mastuj) neighbors for a bride on the occasion of
čehnánu ‘a deep pit’ (RKB) [< Prs.] {RKB, zapanǰéik’ (MS); ‘wedding gifts given to a bride’
Mastuj, BA} (TMFW) {MS, TMFW}
čehlék (n) ‘the front, depressed part of a hearth’ čihári (n) ‘embroidered tie straps - laces for
(RAKR); ‘pit in front of the fire’ (Parwak) {RAKR, traditional leather shoes’ {SWKA}
Parwak} čiín /Other pronunc: čin/ (n) ‘large cooking pot
čéɫi (n) ‘species of plant’ (called sada bahār in Ur.) (Upper Chitral)’; ‘large cooking pot made from
Ligustrum ovalifolium {Reshun} lead and sand’ (IF) čidiín /Other pronunc:
čidín/ ‘cooking pot smaller than čiín’ (IF); ‘large
čenǰ ‘zipper’ [< Eng. ‘chain’] {MNN, TMFW} cooking pot’ (IWA: Lower Chitral usage) (See
čerčelík (n) ‘long board balanced on a fulcrum used also čidín) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {IWA, IF}
for a game involving hitting a wooden ball - this čikár1 (n) ‘village in Baroghil’ čikarík ‘person from
board is similar to a seesaw.’ čerčelík dik ‘to Chikar’ {SWKA}
play game on a čerčelík’ {MNN}
čikár2 (n) ‘wild species of willow’ čikaríl ‘place where
čerčén (n) ‘a very active but thin person, who looks the čikár willow grows’ {IF}
weak but moves quickly and does much work’
(opposite is soq) (MNN); ‘a stubborn person’ čikimuǰúr (n) ‘weeping willow’ Salix babylonica
(ZHD) {MNN, ZHD} {Reshun}
čéspar (adj) ‘completely identical (originally referring čikít (n) ‘type of fused rifle which had a narrow barrel
to parts of a mill)’ (MNN); ‘attached to each and took small bullets’ {RAKR 1988}
other (buildings or rooms)’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD} číkus (n) ‘upper beam at the top of a wall’ {MA}
češṭ /Other pronunc: čašṭ/ (n) ‘lunch’, ‘midday meal’ čilá /Other pronunc: čiláh/ (n) ‘forty days of intense
(RKB); ‘a special dish (prepared for guests by cold in midwinter which begins on 21
order of the Mehtar)’ (RAKR 1988) čašṭ (n) December’ {RAKR, Chitral town, NKN}
‘midday meal’ (in Lower Chitral; (BM); ‘light
afternoon meal (3 or 4 p.m.) (NKN) (ZMZ) čilibóhtu (n) ‘species of sparrow’ {MNN}
češṭákal ‘lunch time’ (See also merdíč) (RKB) čilíki (n) ‘weeping willow’ (provides good shade);
{RKB, RAKR, BM, NKN, ZMZ} ‘new growth of willow trees, fed to cattle’ (IWA)
čéxi (n) ‘forked stick used to support heavily laden Salix iliensis čilíkio čhaáγ ‘shade of the
branches of fruit trees’ (Parwak); ‘curved stick willow, a deep cool shade.’ (This is one of the
used to hook something, e.g. to harvest grapes three attributes in folk narratives of an
high in a tree’ (IF) {Parwak, IF} especially beautiful or happy place.) (IWA)
čey (n) ‘tea’ čeyǰúš (n) ‘teakettle’ čeynák (n) ‘teapot’ {RAKR, IWA}
(MNN) {MNN, RKB} čilimčín (n) ‘vessel used to collect used water when
hands are washed before eating’ {MNN}
čibí (n) ‘opening’ (MNN); ‘opening in a wall to drain

25
čilimdóʋ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes čoṭ

čilimdóʋ (n) ‘torch made of pine splints’ {Laspur, čókul (n) ‘stone rolling down a mountain’; ‘rockslide’:
MY} prúšṭi hayú čókul gyáʋtani ‘Previously
h
čilíngi (n) ‘species of small sparrow’: čilíngi k úṭu no rockslides used to come down here.’ (SG)
čo̍kulʋáht (n) ‘place where stones are liable to
hoy Id. Lit. ‘Not even a sparrow became lame.’
roll down from above’ (ZHD); ‘name of a narrow
Sense: ‘Nothing important happened; there has path through a pass in Terich’ (MNN) [< Skt.
been no significant loss.’ {MNN} (M:1973) (T4548)] {MNN, SG, ZHD}
čimḍóri /Other pronunc: činḍóri/ ‘type of frying pan’ čóɫing1 (n) ‘species of bad-smelling plant’ (ARC);
(SWKA); ‘small, long-handled cooking utensil’; ‘sapling’ (SH); ‘evergreen plant which bears
‘frying pan’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN}
small orange-colored fruit’ Dodonaea viscosa
činák /Other pronunc: činók (in Yarkhun, SWKA)/ (ZHD) {ZHD, ARC}
(n) ‘lower part of water mill which is agitated by
čóɫing2 (n) ‘small branch of a tree’ (SH): daró čóɫing
the ṭaxáluk’ {SWKA}
níki ‘There isn’t even a scrap of wood.’ (ZHD);
činí (n) ‘a Russian bowl/cup formerly used as an {SH, ZHD}
approximate measure of volume for dry goods,
e.g. grain, sugar approximately ≈ 1/2 seer’; ‘unit čom (n) ‘large wooden cabinet, used for grain
of measure’: cḥ óy činí i báṭi ‘Four činí are equal storage’: čomó dar ‘wood of a/the storage
to one báṭi.’ (SWKA) ǰanán činí ‘a specific kind cabinet’ (MA) čómo kiṭóri dréni ‘They put/keep
of cup’ (IF) ‘from China, the most precious kind dried mulberries in a/the čom.’ or ‘Dried
of cup in Chitral, used for rulers and other mulberries are kept in a čom.’ (MA); ‘large
nobles’ (HUR) {SWKA, IF, HUR} chest for storing grain’ (MAK) {SWKA, MA,
MAK}
čípuɫ (n) ‘wooden plank on a bridge’ {ZK story}
čong dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to sit/squat on one’s heels’
čiráγ (n) ‘lamp’ [< Prs.] {NKN} {MNN}
čirčilík (n) ‘tip of a branch’; ‘top of tree’ (MNN); čóni (adj) ‘semi-educated (applied to clerics),
‘topmost point of a mountain’ (Mastuj) {MNN, irresponsible, non-serious’ čoní (n)
Mastuj} ‘unproductive person’ čóni thalíp (n) ‘the semi-
čirγúɫik (n) ‘species of bird’ {TMF} educated mullah’ (a frequent character in folk
čiroón (n) ‘plant used for fodder which causes cows narratives) {SWKA}
to give much milk’ {IF} čontrúk /Other pronunc: čantrúk (IF)/ (n) ‘a climbing
vine which has poisonous sap and yellow
čit (n) ‘opinion’; ‘choice’, ‘preference’, ‘wish’: A:
flowers’ (After flowering it releases wool-like
hanún čuṭí - aʋá kya kórum koóm B: ta čit -
seed fluff.) Clematis orientalis [< Skt.
kyaáγ ki kósan ko ‘A: Today is a holiday; what
(T4663)] {MNN, IF}
should I do? B: It’s your choice (it’s up to
you); do whatever you want to.’ (MS) [< Skt. čonṭhí (n) ‘catapult’ {MNN}
(M:1973) (T4799)] {IF, WSiC, MS} čonṭhíki (n) ‘cataract (cloudy growth in the eye)’
čiṭ (n) ‘the tiniest quantity of a liquid’: čiṭ úγ ‘a drop {MNN}
of water’; ‘drop (of liquid)’: hatoó badána čiṭ ley čoók ‘species of small owl’: čóko rang zemíno ránga
níki ‘There isn’t a drop of blood in his/her bóy ‘The color of a čoók is like the color of
body.’ [< Skt. T5035) {IF} earth.’ (MA) čoók bik (vintr) Id. ‘to be
čiṭá (n) ‘newer method of smoking charas, in which completely unavailable’; ‘to be completely
the charas is put on a hot coal in a circle of unaffected by anything; ‘not to come under
ashes and smoked through a paper tube the anyone’s influence’ (SWKA) [SWKA:
wide end of which is toward the smoke and the onomatopoetic, named for its call] {SWKA, MA,
narrow end, along with water, in the mouth of MNN}
the smoker.’ {MS} čopúṣ (n) ‘a sweet, reddish variety of apple which
čoγá (Other pronunc čhoγá (MNN)] (n) ‘Chitrali ripens in September’ {RAKR}
robe/coat’ (SWKA); ‘traditional long Chitrali čoṭ (n) ‘knuckles (of fingers)’ (ZMZ); ‘a small branch
coat’ (MNN) [< Prs.] {SWKA, MNN} used in grafting’ (MAK, ZMZ) {MAK, ZMZ}

26
čoṭá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes čuúɫ

čoṭá (n) ‘small hammer’ {TMFW, MS} in Rayin); ‘small chips of wood or grass used for
kindling’ (Mulkhow, GNK) {MAK, Mulkhow,
čoṭéki (adj) ‘having a large tuft of feathers on its
GNK, MA}
head (chicken)’ (MAK); ‘sideways (hat)’ (ARC);
‘skewed’; ‘aslant’ (ZHD) {MAK, ARC, ZHD} čuɫé (n) ‘a tribe in Laspur region’ {IS}
čoṭík1 (vintr) ‘to drip’, ‘to leak drop by drop’: ma čuɫéni (n) ‘soul’, ‘self’ {IA}
abadí čaṭúnian ‘My rooms are leaking.’ čuɫík (vintr) ‘to warble, twitter, sing (of birds)’ {MNN,
(SWKA) uγ yuú čaṭúran ‘Water is dripping SWKA}
down here.’ (SWKA); ‘to leak (of container or
place from which liquid drips)’ (IF): istán čaṭíran čumarkán (n) ‘mountain pass near Chapali’ {MYS}
‘The roof is leaking.’ (IF) čoṭéik (vtr) ‘to cause čumqár (n) ‘species of black-eyed hawk’ {MNN}
to drip/leak’: istáno palastér no korí horó čúmur (n) ‘iron’ čúmur suh (n) ‘skewer, long metal
čoṭétaʋ ‘Because you didn’t plaster the roof you rod for roasting meat’ ičumrí (n) ‘crochet hook’
caused it to leak.’ (SWKA) čaṭéik (vtr) ‘to add a (old word) (SWKA) žaráp čúmur (n) ‘set of four
liquid drop by drop’: dzahó qalína mo čaṭáʋe knitting needles for knitting socks’ (SWKA)
‘Don’t drip curry on the carpet.’ (SWKA) é žuúr banyán čúmur (n) ‘set of two knitting needles
cḥ iró čáyo čaṭáʋen ‘O daughter, add milk to the for knitting sweaters’ (SWKA) dúrum čúmur
tea drop by drop.’ (SWKA) čoṭoroóγ (n) ‘water ‘steel’ (RAKR) čumurláʋ (n) ‘hardware’ (MNN)
which has dripped from the roof’ (SWKA) [< [< Skt. (T4842a, TAddendum 14496). Bur.
Skt. (T4948)] {SWKA, RAKR, WSiC, IF} čhomār, čhumər and Turkic timur may come
from the same unknown source. (NTS ii 250)]
čoṭík2 (n) ‘tree branch - sub-branch of thaγ’ (MA); {MNN, MAK, SWKA, RAKR}
‘ring or ridge on an ibex horn’ (The ridges are
white and are prized for purú.) (IF); ‘knuckle’ čumuṭkér (n) ‘young girl of marriageable age’ [cf.
(IF) (RAKR); ‘thin branches of a tree’ (IF); Torwali čumuṭ ‘lock of hair on the forehead’
‘shoots of flowers’ (IF); ‘illegitimate child’ (IF); (Inam Ullah 2017: 42)] {RAKR, WSiC}
‘small branch of tree - of current year’s new čuná (n) ‘lime (material used in plastering and
growth’ (RAKR) {MA, IF, RAKR} whitewashing)’ [< Ur.] {MNN}
čoʋ /Other pronunc: čyoʋ (MNN), čhoʋ; čhoγ in čup (n) ‘male of falcon species whose female is
Lower Chitral (MNN)/ (n) ‘thin flexible branch of borǰ’; ‘male sparrow hawk’ {MAK, RAKR, MNN}
tree, cane, whip’ (MAK); ‘secondary shoot of a
tree’ (IF); ‘new growth of willow, flexible young čupár (adj) ‘white-faced (of cow)’ (n) ‘white-faced
branches’ (RAKR); ‘switch, thin, flexible branch cow’ (IF); (n) ‘species of brown-colored bird
of tree’ (MNN): čóuʋ ma γéči pray ‘A thin slightly larger than a sparrow which has weak
branch struck me in the eye.’ (MNN) čhoʋ (n) hearing’ (Parwak) {IF, Parwak}
‘thin branch’ (IWA: in Mastuj) čoγ (n) ‘thin, čurčúɫi /Other pronunc: čirčíli/ (adj) ‘full up to the
flexible stick’ (in Chitral town) (IWA) (See also brim/edge’ čurčuɫík /Other pronunc: čurčuɫúk/
khoγ) {MNN, MAK, IF, RAKR. IWA} (n) ‘the very edge of something’: hes zomó
čuínǰ (n) ‘village near Mastuj’ čuínǰík ‘person from čurčuɫíken kasíran ‘He is walking right on the
Chuinj’ {SWKA} edge of the cliff.’ {SWKA}
čuǰín (n) ‘species of pine with very oily wood’ (Ur. čurγána /Other pronunc: čurγóna/ (n) ‘sledding’
čilγoza) Abies pindrow {MNN} (See also čhurγá laákik) {ZMZ}

čukán (n) ‘place for urination or defecation’; ‘cloth čurγúɫik (n) ‘species of small duck which has a
placed under the powdered cow dung in a black back’ {MNN}
baby’s diaper’; ‘refers to toilets/latrines in forts čurẓá /Other pronunc: čurγá (Reshun usage)
in Lower Chitral’ (HUR) {Parwak, HUR} (ZMZ)/ (n) ‘sledding’ (Torkhow usage) {ZMZ}
čukuɫdúm (n) ‘sound of stone plopping into water’ čúst (adj) ‘pretty’ čustí (n) ‘prettiness, beauty’ [<
{MNN} Skt. (T12365)] {SWKA, GMKH}
čúli (adj) ‘very small’ (children’s word) čulí (n) čiṭí /Other pronunc: čuṭí/ (n) ‘holiday, day off,
‘person with small eyes’ (GNK) (Note: MA: This vacation, leave’ [< Ur.] {MNN, MS}
word is not applied to a person with small eyes
čuúɫ (n) ‘braid’, ‘plait’; ‘tresses (of woman)’ (ARC)

27
čhaáγ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes čhurγá laákik

čuɫidíni (n) ‘something to put in one’s braids’ čherkík ‘to cut down ruthlessly (enemy, trees, crops)’
(SWKA) čúɫ suík (vtr) ‘to braid the hair’ čuɫmá {RAKR, WSiC}
suík (vtr) ‘to braid hair into small braids, then
čhihári (n) ‘leather strips used to tie traditional skin
join them together into one braid at the bottom’
shoes (koón)’ {MAK}
(IF) čuɫibotíni (n) ‘threads braided into the hair’
(IF) [< Skt. (T4883) (Z:p.c.)] {MNN, SWKA, IF} čhik (vintr) ‘to break’: pyalá očhítay ‘The cup broke.’
čhaáγ /Other pronunc: čhaγ (SWKA), čaγ (IWK)/ (n) (MNN) čhiník (vtr) ‘to break’: hes pyaló čhinítay
‘shade’ (RAKR); ‘beauty’ (MNN); ‘shadow’ ‘S/he broke the cup.’ (MNN) čhinéik (causative
(SWKA) čhaγdár /Other pronunc: čhadár/ (adj) formation of čhinik) (vtr) ‘to cause to break’: aʋá
‘beautiful’; ‘handsome’ (referring to masculine hoó c ̣akéi pyaló chinétam ‘I got him/her to
graces and beauty)’ (IWA) čhadár (adj) break the cup.’ (MNN) čhirdú (adj) ‘broken’
‘beautiful’ (MNN) čhaγ nisík (vintr) ‘to lie down čhiakúnu (adj) ‘breakable’, ‘fragile’: čhiakúnu
in an exhausted state’ (IF); ‘for evening shade činí angíru birétam- khul očítani ‘I
to fall’ (IF) čhaγnás (n) ‘evening time’ (IF) (unwittingly) brought fragile cups; they all
čhaγeék (vtr) ‘to put in the shade for shelter
broke.’ (SWKA) čhin bik (vintr) ‘to be broken’
from the sun’ (IWK) batčháγ /Other pronunc:
bačháγ/ ‘ugly’ (SWKA) ničháγ (n) ‘shady side čhin korík (vtr) ‘to break’: hasé uméto čhin korí
(of a valley)’ < Skt. (T7180) [< Skt. (M:1973)] niší asúr ‘He has abandoned all hope’. (Lit. ‘He
{MNN, RAKR, IF, IWK, SWKA} has broken his hope and sat down.’) (IF) [< Skt.
(M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA, IF}
čhaγlík (vtr) ‘to beat severely with a stick’ {RAKR}
čhonǰ (n) ‘wild berry with dark vermilion juice which
čhaγulí (n) ‘fine decorated leather necklet for tame
has medicinal properties’ Berberis lycium
hawks’ {BKA}
{Sonoghor}
čhángal (n) ‘part of hand loom: wooden comb/beater
čhor /Other pronunc: čor (Upper Chitral)/ (adj) ‘four’
used to beat down weft threads when weaving’
čhorín (number name + suffix -ín) (n) ‘set of
{SWKA}
four’: haté mužár čhorín angyé ‘Bring four of
čhaní (n) ‘kid’, ‘baby/young goat’ čhaniγíši (n) ‘skin them.’ (SWKA) čhorín máte pray ‘S/he gave me
of kid’ (MNN) čhaneríri (n) ‘meat of kid, baby four of them. (implied that there were more
goat’ (SWKA) čhanyánu (n) ‘separate shed for than four, out of which four were given)’
baby goats’; ‘place in a water mill where the
(SWKA) čhoró (adj) ‘fourth’ čhoró hisá (n) ‘one
paddle wheel turns’, ‘mill house’ (so named
fourth of something’ čorángu (n) ‘width of four
because it has the same shape as a shed for
fingers spread out (a traditional measure)’ (MA)
baby goats) čhanyán ‘outlet of the millstream
čorčamúṭ (n) ‘width of four fingers held
from the water mill’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
together (a traditional measure)’ (MA)
(T4961)] {MNN, SWKA, IF}
čhorburǰá (n) ‘square’, ‘rectangle’ (MNN) [< Ir.
čharáṣ (n) ‘whey sprinkled on ears of grain in the or Skt. (M:1973) (T4655)] {SWKA, MAK, MA,
field as part of the old customs observed on the GNK, Laspur, IF, MNN}
day of phindík’ {RAKR 1988}
čhoyík /Other pronunc: čhoík/ (vintr) ‘to be
čarbú /Other pronunc: (n) ‘officer in time of
čharbú/ frostbitten’: ma host saxt uṣakíen čhoyí šéni ‘My
Mehtars who had multiple roles including hands are frostbitten because of extreme cold.’
messenger, tax collector, and intelligence (MNN) čhoyák (adj, n.) ‘(something which is)
officer’ {MNN, ZHD} likely to freeze’ (Mastuj): čhoyák ʋaró boroγóla
čharkuláǰ (n) ‘canter (horse’s gait)’ {RAKR} kiṣín no boy ‘Crops which get frostbitten cannot
be grown in Boroghil.’ (SWKA) [< Ir. (M:1936)]
čhat (n) ‘lake’, ‘large pond’; ‘water tank’ [probably <
{MNN, SWKA, Mastuj}
Ir.] {MNN, MAK} čhatibóy (n) ‘glacial lake
outburst’ (RAKR); ‘flood in a river’ (SG) {RAKR, č úči ‘morning’, ‘tomorrow’ (MNN) čhučíti (n) ‘the
h

SG} time between the fajr prayer and sunrise’ (ZMZ)

{MNN, ZMZ}
čheé /Other pronunc: čhe (Sonoghor)/ (n) ‘part of a
plow that joins the yoke and the plowshaft - čhungúɫi (n) ‘goatskin bag larger than a burdúki’ {IF}
traditionally made of twisted branches’ {MNN,
čhurγá laákik (vintr, vtr) ‘to go sledding’ (See also
Sonoghor}
čurγaná) {RKB}

28
čhurǰ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes c ̣okík

čhurǰ (n) ‘sled’ čhurǰ dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to go sledding’ ‘S/hea sent me a message that s/heb was
čhurǰ laákik (vintr, vtr) ‘to go sledding’ {RKB} reportedly busy.’ (In this sentence, the message
čhuṣ (n) ‘a small lagoon or offshoot of a river’; ‘a is that a third person is reported to be busy.)
small quantity of any liquid’ {Mastuj} (MNN) hasé máte c ̣icḥ éru biráy ki karačíote
boγár ‘(I have learned) that s/he has sent me a
čhuy (adj) ‘dark (of night, sky)’; čhuy gumána (adv)
‘in the dark’ (IF: in Laspur; compare čhúy gúc ̣a
message that I should go to Karachi.’ (SWKA) <
Skt. (T12431) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12430)]
in Lower Chitral) čhu̍ybarabár (n) ‘midnight’
{MNN, SWKA}
(MNN) čhuí (n) ‘darkness’, ‘night’ (MNN): ǰohǰú
párxa čhuí ‘a very long winter night’ (IWA) c̣iqhár nisík (vintr) Id. Lit. ‘for the hook at the bottom
{SWKA, IF, IWA, MNN} of a water mill to come unfastened and the
parts of the mill to become disconnected’;
c̣ac̣k (n) ‘a flying insect which emerges from the Sense: ‘to (attempt to) do something beyond
ground in a wingless larval stage, climbs onto one’s capabilities’ {MNN}
trees, then gives birth to winged offspring from
its back. They chirp in chorus, even from c̣iqhéik (vintr) ‘to squeak intermittently’ {MNN}
different trees, during the day in summer.’ c̣iriíγ (n) ‘shriek (of animal) (See also ẓiriíγ) {RAKR,
(MNN); ‘cicada’ c̣ac̣khó bolí (n) Id. ‘non-firm WSiC}
intention’ (the idiom arises from the call pattern
of the c ̣ac ̣k, which is different in the evening c̣iẓeék (vintr, vtr) ‘to crackle (e.g. of green wood that
and in the morning.) {MNN} does not burn easily)’ {IF}
c̣af dik (vtr) ‘to peck’: kɫok kahák ma c ̣af práy ‘The c̣oc̣hík /Other pronunc: c̣hoc̣hík/ (vtr) ‘to gnaw’: reéni
broody hen pecked me.’ (SWKA) {MNN, kóɫo c ̣acḥ íran ‘The dog is gnawing a bone.’
SWKA} (SWKA) reéni khóɫo na tán cḥ acḥ ír na xurót doy
c̣afík (vtr) ‘to scratch lightly’, ‘to hoe’ {SWKA} Prov. Lit. ‘The dog neither gnaws the bone
itself nor gives it to anyone else.’ Sense:
c̣akhéik (vtr) ‘to chew’ {MNN} Compare the English idiom "dog in the
c̣aɫ (n) ‘clapping’ c̣aɫ dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to clap the manger", i.e. ‘a person who has no use for
hands’ (MNN) {RAKR, MNN } something but doesn’t allow anyone else to use
it.’ (MAK) kanc̣óc̣ ‘woodpecker (bird)’ (kan
c̣ampáhrt /Other pronunc: c̣ampáht/ (adv) ‘quickly’
‘tree’ + c ̣oc ̣- ‘gnaw’ ‘tree-gnawer’) [< Skt.
{RAKR}
(T4557)] {SWKA, MAK}
c̣amyár (n) ‘shoemaker, cobbler’ {MS}
c̣okík (vintr) ‘to adhere to’, ‘to stick to’, ‘to attach to’,
c̣ang bik (vtr, vintr) ‘to embrace’ {SWKA} ‘to be/become engaged in an activity’; ‘to catch
fire (e.g. house)’ c̣akéik (vtr) (causative of
c̣anjá
̣ (n) ‘torch’ {MYS} c ̣okík) ‘cause to stick to (e.g. fasten to, glue to,
hang on)’: naxšoó khánǰtu c ̣akáʋe ‘Fasten the
c̣at (adv) ‘quickly’ c̣at loɫík (vtr) ‘to take a quick
look/glance/peek’ c̣at korík (vtr) ‘to touch, picture to the wall.’ ‘Hang the picture on the
nudge to signal a message’ {MNN, WSiC} wall.’ (SWKA); ‘to cause to become involved
in’: tseq riphí loṭó c ̣akeér Prov. Lit. ‘The child
c̣aʋ (n) ‘post, position, job’; ‘rank, status’ {MNN} having gotten up incites the elder.’ Sense:
c̣ec̣eér (n) ‘species of sparrow slightly larger than a ‘Because of a quarrel of children the elders also
čilíngi’ {MNN} begin to quarrel.’ (SWKA); ‘to set someone to
c̣enȷ̌ ík work’: aʋá yardóyan kórma c ̣akéy asúm ‘I have
̣ (vintr) ‘to graze’, ‘to eat’ {MNN}
set the collective work party to work.’ (MNN)
c̣ermék /Other pronunc: čermék (Parwak)/ (n) c̣akónu (n, adj) ‘(something) put on, attached
‘forked sticks which hold spindle of spinning to’: na póngi c ̣akónu beéčtani ‘Nor was
wheel’ {RAKR, Parwak}
anything left on their feet.’ (WSiC); ‘of
c̣ic̣hík (vintr) ‘to learn’ c̣ic̣héik (vtr) ‘to teach’: hamí something which sticks to something’: hardi
ḍaqán c ̣icḥ éik asqán noh ‘It is not easy to teach c ̣akónu ‘interesting’ (Lit. ‘that which sticks to
these boys.’ (MNN); (vtr) ‘to send a message’: the heart)’ hayá žuɫí xála ǰam mágam c ̣okónu
hasé máte c ̣icḥ étay ki hasé masrúf asák biráy bíken díti žibíkot ǰam noh ‘This apricot tastes
good, but because its flesh sticks to the seed it

29
c ̣óktu Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes c ̣hiír

isn’t good for eating.’ (MS) {MNN, SWKA, MS, ‘long stick used to knock down leaves, fruit’ [<
WSiC} Skt. (M:1973) (T4979)] {MNN, MAK, SWKA,
AKM}
c̣óktu (adv) ‘vertically upward’ (MNN): tu baló
kandúri c ̣óktu díko bos? ‘How high can you c̣harám (n) ‘a loss’ {MNN}
kick the ball?’ (MNN) c̣óktu biašépi (adv) c̣haráṣ (n) ‘torch made of resinous wood’ {MS}
‘diagonally upward’ (MNN) c̣oktí (n) ‘upward
slantedness’ (SWKA) [cf. Bur. čok ‘sharp c̣haʋr (n) ‘large, rough broom made of stiff bush
(mountain) peak’, also čо́kо ‘perpendicular, branches’ (used for sweeping while standing)
upright, steep’ (Lorimer 1938: 100)] {MNN, {MNN, RAKR}
SWKA} c̣haʋ /Other pronunc c̣haáʋ/ (n) ‘flat noodles for káɫi’
c̣óɫing (n) ‘a small piece of dry/dead wood’; ‘a {RAKR, TMF}
minimum amount of wood’, ‘twig’: c ̣óɫing níki c̣hek /Other pronunc: c̣heék, c̣eék (SG)/ (n) ‘disease
‘There isn’t even a twig.’ (There is no wood at of animals’ (MNN) (RKB); ‘illness, sickness’:
all.) {IF} falaní ṭibío c ̣éka obrítay ‘So-and-so died of
c̣ongkéri (n) ‘part of a hand loom: stick to hold
tuberculosis.’ (SG); ‘beloved one’ (term of
bordér dar’ (SWKA); ‘part of a foot-operated address) ‘dear one’ (MS): e ma cḥ eék ‘O, my
machine for husking rice’ (MS) c̣ongkério bax dear’ (MS); ‘an endearment used for children or
‘holes for the cọ ngkéri in a hand-loom’ (SWKA) young adults - dear one’: é ma c ̣ek, ma lúo kar
{SWKA, MS} koré ‘Eh, my dear, listen to what I am saying.’
(SG) c̣heék (vintr) ‘to be ill (of animals)’ (IF):
c̣ongúk /Other pronunc: c̣ongú (Parwak)/ (n) ‘a
vertical (standing) bunch of grain sheaves’: léšu cḥ éran ‘The cow is sick.’ (MNN) c̣hayák
(n) ‘patient (human)’; ‘one who is
góman c ̣ongú dití asúm ‘I have put the wheat in
sick/ill/suffering from a serious disease’ c̣haák
standing sheaves.’ (Parwak) {Karimabad valley, (n, adj) ‘sick animal’ c̣hekžúni (adj) ‘afflicted by
Parwak}
a disease’: cḥ ekžúni moóš ‘man afflicted by a
c̣oqón (adj, n) ‘not capable of doing anything, disease’ (IFM) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3661)] {MNN,
useless (of humans)’: c ̣okí c ̣okí c ̣oqón žaʋ Prov. RKB, IF, IFM, SG}
Sense: ‘After much effort nothing is achieved.’
c̣hetrár (n) ‘Chitral’ c̣hetraréki (n) ‘person from
{TMF} Chitral Town’ (used by people from places other
c̣oṭ (n) ‘cutting of a plant taken to propagate it’ than Chitral Town) {MNN}
{TMFW} c̣hétur (n) ‘agricultural field’ [< Sankrit (M:1973)
h
c̣uc̣ ú (adj) ‘dry’: troy bása c ̣uc ̣ ú bóni ‘They will be
h (T3735)] {MNN, RAKR, IF}
dry in three days.’ (MNN) c̣uc̣hú lu (n) Id. Lit. ‘a c̣hiír /Other pronunc: c̣hir (Torkhow)/ (n) ‘milk’
dry word’ Sense: ‘an unfounded accusation’ c̣hirgrínǰ (n) ‘rice cooked in milk’ c̣hiráno gonč
(MS) háay bráar, c ̣ucḥ ú lu ma sóra hay ‘Oh /Other pronunc: c̣hiránu gonǰ (Sonoghor)/ (n)
brother, I have been unjustly accused.’ (MS) ‘small shed for churning, keeping milk cool
c̣uc̣huḍeéki (n) ‘shin’ (MNN); ‘cannon bone of a during the summer by water flowing underneath
horse’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12508)] {MNN, the shed’ (RAKR) c̣híra c̣okík (vintr) Id. Lit. ‘to
MS} nurse at the breast’ Sense: ‘to beg someone’s
protection by assuming the role of a child’
c̣ung dik (vtr) ‘to pierce’ {RAKR}
(IWA): aʋá ta cḥ íra c ̣akúman ‘I seek your
c̣uqumbíẓ (n) ‘swinging motion’ c̣uqumbíẓ dik (vtr, protection.’ (IWA); ‘to seek refuge’ (MNN)
vintr) ‘to swing’ {MNN} c̣hírmáɫi (n) Id. ‘a house where milk is always
c̣ur (n) ‘pieces of wood inserted horizontally present’ (MNN) mac̣hír (n) ‘yogurt’ (IF)
between the two upper ropes of a willow bridge’ c̣hiraṣapík ‘layers of thin bread with cheese
(RAKR 1988); ‘piece of wood inserted between between them and milk on top’ (MS) c̣hirmúž
the two strings of a traditional pellet bow to (n) ‘a servant who receives land in exchange for
keep the strings separated’ (IF) {RAKR, IF} long-standing service’ (NKN) c̣hirnán (n) ‘wet
nurse’ (RAKR, WSiC) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3696)]
c̣han (n) ‘leaf’ c̣hanč̣hóri (cḥ an ‘leaves’ + čḥ orík ‘to {MNN, RAKR, IWA, SWKA, IF, MS, Sonoghor,
fall, be shed’) ‘eleventh month of the Khowar WSiC}
calendar (approximately October)’ c̣hanéni (n)

30
c ̣hik Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes daγ

c̣hik (adj, pl n) ‘all‘: cḥ ik roy ‘all the people’ (MNN) women) with designs of vermilion dots’
{MNN, IF} Berberis vulgaris {MNN, IF}
c̣ho (vintr) ‘go on!, go ahead!’: ayh cḥ o ‘Go on inside c̣hoy (adj) ‘six’ [< Skt. (M:1965) (T12803)] {MNN,
(toward the back of the bus).’ (Chitral town) SWKA}
c̣hor (plural imperative) (vintr): cḥ or ‘Go on c̣hum /Other pronunc: c̣hom (ZMZ)/ (adj) ‘delicate
(plural addressees)’ [< Skt. (T3641)] {Chitral (e.g. of a smile)’; (adv) ‘slightly, delicately,
town} hesitantly’ (ZMZ) [< Skt. (T3716)] {IA, ZMZ}
c̣hoγ (n) ‘thief’: cḥ oγán dosé ‘Catch the thieves.’ c̣humc̣humáki (adj) ‘extremely happy’ {MNN}
(MNN) c̣hoγdeén ‘fine imposed on a proven
c̣humík (vtr) ‘to beat up’; ‘to thrash’ {RKB}
thief’ (MS) c̣hoγí (n) ‘theft’, c̣hoγí korík (vtr) ‘to
steal’ c̣hoóγ dreék (vtr) ‘to accuse someone of c̣huník (vintr, vtr) ‘to step on’: ayío sóra cḥ unítam ‘I
being a thief’ (MNN) c̣hoγári bik (vintr) ‘to fall stepped on a/the snake.’ (RKB); ‘to tread,
prey to thieves’ (IF) c̣hoγári korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to trample on’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3643)] {RAKR,
let something get stolen’ (IF) {MNN, MS, IF} RKB}
c̣hok (n) ‘solid waste parts remaining after useful c̣hutí (n) ‘soil’ c̣hutío tel (n) ‘kerosene oil’ [< Skt.
liquid is extracted (e.g. oilcake, seeds (M:1973) (T3709)] {MNN}
remaining after pomegranate juice is made)’
(MNN); ‘solid part of food spit out after chewing’ c̣hutk (n) ‘a fallow field’ (IF); ‘practice of leaving a
(e.g. paan, sugar cane) {MNN, IF, MS} field fallow for one year’ (Chitral town); (adj)
‘fallow’: hayá sal cḥ étro cḥ utk korí asúm ‘This
c̣homík (vintr) ‘to pain’, ‘to hurt (of body part)’: ma year I have left the field fallow.’ (MNN); {MNN,
buk cḥ amúran ‘My throat hurts. (emphasis on IF, Chitral town}
throat being affected)’ (MNN) c̣haméik (vtr) ‘to
hurt, cause pain (to person feeling pain)’: ma c̣huy (adj) ‘hungry’ c̣huí (n) ‘hunger’: ma cḥ uí kóri
iṣkamá cḥ améran ‘My stomach pains me.’ šer ‘I am hungry.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
(MNN) loṭ c̣homík (n) ‘eczema’, ‘fungal (T3716)] {MNN}
infection of skin’ (IF); ‘leprosy (non-pejorative)’ c̣hyú (adj) ‘overjoyed’, ‘delighted’, ‘ecstatic’ [< Skt.
(MNN) badó c̣homík (n) ‘pain in teeth, toes, (T3694)] {RAKR, MNN, WSiC}
fingers (in winter)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3657)]
{MNN, IF} daán (n) ‘roasted grains’ [< Skt. (T6777) also PII
*dʱānā́ - ‘(roasted) seed, grain’ > Av. dānā-]
c̣hónjo
̣ r /Other pronunc: c̣honjér
̣ (RAKR) (IF) (IWA:
{RKB, MNN}

among younger people), c̣honjo ̣ ór (IF)/ (n) daáng /Other pronunc: ḍang (SG), dang (MAK)
(Parwak)/ (n) ‘central fireplace in room’; ‘tripod
‘pellet bow’, ‘slingshot’ (used for killing small
used to hold pots in fireplace’ (MAK) (SWKA)
birds like sparrows) {MNN, RAKR, IWA, IF}
(Parwak) (MNN) dángo ṭek ‘middle level of a
c̣horík (vintr) ‘to fall (e.g. leaves or fruit from a tree, traditional Chitrali house’ (MAK), didáng /Other
flower from a plant, something from a pocket)’ pronunc: ḍiḍáng/ ‘central fireplace’ (synonym
(SWKA) (NKN) c̣horoóku (n) ‘self-fallen fruit’; for dang): čidín ma phan sórum reéko didángo
(adj) ‘liable to (cause to) fall’: hayá paloóγ rárdu dí aʋá kúi bi astám Prov. Lit. ‘When the
cḥ oroóku biráy ‘This apple tree turns out to bear pot said, "My bottom is gold", the tripod said,
fruit that fall easily.’ (SWKA); (adj) ‘of "Where was I?"’ Sense: ‘You are telling lies.’
something which falls out of a container (due to (MNN) {MNN, MAK, MS, SWKA, Parwak, SG}
overloading of the container)’ (ZMZ) c̣haréik
(vtr) ‘to drop, to let fall’; ‘to scatter’ < Skt. daγ1 (n) ‘heated oil poured over boiled rice or some
(T3679) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3663)] {SWKA, other dish’ [< Skt. (T6122, 6123)] {MNN}
NKN, ZMZ} daγ2 (adj) ‘grieving’, ‘sorrowful’: drust dehó roy
c̣horǰík (n) ‘substance used as medicine for teeth (?)’ rajúlio táto sum daγ hóni ‘All the village people
{Parwak} grieved for Rajuli’s father.’ [< Skt. (T6121?)
{MYS, short story “Rajuli”}
c̣hoʋénǰ /Other pronunc: c̣hoónǰ (Laspur)/ ‘sour
berry of wild bush, with dark red juice which daγ3 (n) ‘spot’, ‘stain’, ‘blotch’ daγadáγi (adj) ‘with
is/was used to decorate the face (girls and unfinished/unpainted spots/blotches (in painting

31
dah Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes darák

a wall)’ (See also ɫay) (< Prs. Ur.) {MNN} Skt. (6905)] {IWA, MNN}
dah (interjection) ‘Here, take it!’ {RAKR, MNN} daníč (adj) ‘healthy and straight (of wood)’; ‘faultless
(of person)’ {IF, MNN}
dahán (n) ‘mouth’ [< Prs.] {GNK}
danú (n) ‘coriander’ Coriandrum sativum [< Skt.
dahár (n) ‘ridge of mountain range’: daháro ṭektu
(T6776)] {MNN, IF}
ayh bíran ‘He is going up along the top of the
ridge.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6793)] {MNN, dapdúp (n) ‘pomp and show’ {SWKA}
RKB} dápi (n) ‘rough balls of wool fibers, after dumík, and
dahleénz /Other pronunc: dahléndz (IF)/ (n) ‘large before being made into pižoónu’ (SWKA); ‘the
open room, space at entrance of a house which first stage of wool processing’ (A) {SWKA, A}
serves as an insulating chamber’ {MAK, IF} daphéik /Other pronunc: daphóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/
daht /Other pronunc: dahrt (RAKR), (MA) daxt (vtr) ‘to pound forcefully’, ‘beat’, ‘thwack (hit with
(Lutkuh, SG and other places in Lower Chitral)/ a broad instrument)’ (e.g. while making a floor)’;
(n) ‘pus’; (adj) ‘dirty (of water, eatables)’, ‘ugly’ ‘to thresh grain’ (MAK); ‘to grind with mortar and
(SG) [cf. Bur. dart ‘dirty, not clean, impure’, pl. pestle’ (TMF) (See also dophóik) [< Skt.
‘pus’. Also, cf. Wakhi ðart] {MNN, RAKR, SG} (M:1973) (T6173)] {MNN, MAK, WSiC, IF, TMF}
daɫáh ‘river’ (Ghezur word) {Laspur} dar (n) ‘wood’; ‘falcon tree’ (RAKR 1988) darpálum
/Other pronunc: daropálum/ (n) ‘kindling - small
daɫeék /Other pronunc: daɫéik/ (vtr) ‘to drive away’: pieces of wood or grass’ (Chitral town, GNK;
aʋá daɫeáʋ alétam mágar het γerdáʋ áči háni ‘I MA) darphúk (n) ‘kindling, small pieces of wood
kept on driving (them) away, but they kept on or grass, shavings’ (Chitral town, GNK); ‘wood
turning around and coming back.’ (RKB) [< Skt. shavings’ (RKB) daró phúk ‘wood chips,
(T6310)] {RKB, SWKA, WSiC, MNN} kindling’ (MA: darphúk not used in Rayin)
darabóhrta (Compound: dar ‘wood’ + bohrt
daɫγáč (adj) ‘very thin and weak (of cows)’ {Parwak}
‘stone’) (adj) Id. ‘broken up’, ‘completely
dáɫum (n) ‘pomegranate’ Punica granatum [< Skt. separated’: brargíni darabóhrtu bíti baγáni
(M:1973) (T6254)] {SWKA, AR} ‘The brothers became completely separated
dam (n) ‘breath’ (MNN) damkutáhi korik (vintr, vtr) (physically)’ (RKB) darašáx (n) Id. Sense:
‘to pant (of humans)’, ‘to be short of breath’ ‘person whose behavior/personality is
(ZHD) dam c̣okík (vintr) ‘to have a positive unattractive (insipid, boring, unsuccessful)’
effect’ (of traditional treatment with dam) (IWA) (SWK); ‘person whose personality is
[< Prs.] {MNN, ZHD, IWA} unattractive and behavior is habitually
inappropriate’ (RKB) dar čhiník ‘to break off a
damaáṣ (n) ‘type of legume (Ur.: māš kī dāl)’ Vigna relationship’ (IF); ‘to cut wood’ (in Lower
mungo dama̍ṣγeér (n) ‘field from which Chitral); ‘to divorce without any payments
damaáṣ has been harvested’ {MNN} involved’ (RKB) daránu (n) ‘place to store
wood’; ‘stockpile of wood’ (RAKR) (SWKA);
damdár (adj) ‘liked; honored’; (adj) ‘favorite (of ‘place where wood is sold’ (SWKA) dar bik
humans, or rarely of animals which have a (vintr) ‘to become stiff’: uṣák bíti ma dek dar bíti
close relation to humans)’ (RAKR) {MNN, TMF, cḥ omítani ‘Because of getting cold my legs are
RAKR}
stiff and hurting.’ (RKB); ‘to die and become
dámi (n) ‘foal’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6286)] {RAKR, stiff, be affected by rigor mortis’ (RKB): pay
MS} uyʋat dar bíru biráy ‘The goat died some time
daná (n) ‘item’, ‘unit’ (functions as a classifier ago.’ (Torkhow) da̍radreéni (n) Id. ‘a very
particle for countable non-human entities): sot skinny animal not worth eating’ (SWKA)
h dardóyu ‘man/men who carry or deal in wood’
daná áɫi ‘seven ducks’ ponǰ daná t uék ‘five
(MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6298)] {MNN, GNK,
rifles’ još daná ‘ten (of them)’ (SWKA) [< Prs.] SWKA, RAKR 1988, IF, RKB, Torkhow}
{SWKA, IF}
darák (n) ‘trace’; ‘sign’; ‘understanding’ bedarák
danaá (adj) ‘wise’ [< Prs.] {IS}
(adj) ‘lost’: bedarák bití asúr ‘S/he/it (animate)
dáni (n, adj) ‘heavy, slow, difficult’ (one of two song is lost (not found).’ (SWKA) {SWKA, MNN,
styles: dáni, slow, and sáʋz, light and quick) [< ICS}

32
daráʋ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes daržát

daráʋ (adv) ‘straight’; ‘directly’ {RAKR, WSiC} ‘This thin beam has supported this heavy roof
daráy (n) ‘mat for floor’ {SWKA} of yours.’ (ARC) daráli (n) ‘land granted by
members of the ruling family to a family who
daráz (n) ‘plane, carpenter’s tool for smoothing has nurtured and brought up a son of the ruling
wood’ daráz dik (vtr) ‘to plane wood’ {NKN, ZK} family’ (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6747) also
darbán (n) ‘narrow passage between two (T6791)] {MNN, NKN, SWKA, MS, ARC}
mountains’ [cf. Prs. darrah ‘mountain pass’] darík2 /Other pronunc: dorík (SG)/ (vtr) ‘to spread
{MNN} out’, ‘to set (a trap)’: aʋá boíkante phaší darí
darbaqušáli /Other pronunc: darbuqušáli (n) ‘a astám ‘I set/had set a trap for birds.’ (MNN) aʋá
fictitious/mythological character who each day koɫúan pačén gri dorí astam ‘I (had) set a trip
would eat one big ṭíki and one goat.’ (A story for partridges.’ (SG) γeč darík (vintr, vtr) ‘to
associated with him is that one day his wife wait for someone’ (SWKA) xoš darík (vtr) ‘to
gave a bit of the bread and políru (meat) to a like (someone)’ (MNN) {MNN, SWKA, SG}
beggar. When he noticed that something was
darík3 (vtr) ‘to keep/raise (animals)’ (AR); ‘to fatten
missing, he fainted. In a dream he saw the
piece of bread and meat circling his head to an animal for slaughter’: yomúnote i ǰu tic ̣
protect him. From this he understood that it is darélik ‘One or two big male goats should be
good to give to the needy.) (IWA adds the fattened for winter (i.e. to be slaughtered and
following: "Kushali or Thushali is believed to be eaten during winter)’ (SWKA) darélik (n)
the originator of the aborigines living in ‘animal being fattened for slaughter’: darélikan
Sonoghur and Parwak. Sag and Shapir are te baṣ det ‘Give grain/bread to the animals
believed to be his brothers. The tribe called being fattened for slaughter.’ (SWKA) {SWKA,
Achanje claims to be their descendants. The AR}
heap of stones in Parwak Lasht, believed to be
his fort, turned out to be a collective tomb on darǰíni (n) ‘raised sleeping platform built over a
excavation. The bones are in Chitral Museum.") storage space’ {MAK}
{IWA} darkóṭi (n) ‘unhusked grain of wheat or barley left
darbár e šahí (n) ‘name of a spring in Madaklasht’ after threshing’ {IWK, IF}
{SN-M} darmán (n) ‘cure’; ‘delay’ (WSiC); ‘medicine’ (AKM)
darbát (adv) ‘moment’; ‘short period of time’ darbáta (GNK) [< Prs.] {RAKR, WSiC, AKM, GNK}
(adv) ‘in a little while (today)’ (MNN) {MNN, darphúk (adv) ‘too much’, ‘excessive’,
SWKA} ‘unnecessary(?)’ {MAK}
darbóy (n) ‘male child wet-nursed by a branch of the daršát (n) ‘grass, including thorny grass, weeds and
royal family other than his own. The suckled leaves cut in summer and stored for feeding to
child becomes the darbóy of the family who cattle in winter’ (same term used in Chitral
suckles him.’ {MS} town, Torkhow, and Mulkhow) {GNK}
dardisár (n) ‘top piece of a doorframe’ {Mastuj) darú (n) ‘medicine’ (RAKR) darudarmán (darú +
dardupaláš (n) ‘a collection of many different things darmán, both meaning ‘medicine’) (n)
(e.g. different kinds of meat, dal, vegetables)’; ‘medicines’, ‘remedies’ (ZMZ) [< Prs.] {RAKR,
‘too much unnecessary talk’; ‘kindling’ (Chitral ZMZ}
town, GNK); ‘miscellaneous things for which daryáh (n) ‘river’: ayh moóš haté daryáhan múža
specific names are not known’ (MA); ‘trash’
beéčtay ‘Up there, (her) husband was left
(RKB) {MAK, GNK, MA, Chitral town, RKB}
between the rivers.’ [< Prs.] {WSiC}
dargáh (n) ‘shrine’ [< Prs., Ur.] {RAKR}
darzáq (n) ‘crevasse in glacier’ {MNN}
darík1 /Other pronunc: dorík (NKN); SWKA: darík in
Upper Chitral; dorík in Torkhow or Lower darzí (n) ‘tailor’ [< Ur.] {RKB}
Chitral/ (vintr) (vintr) ‘be patient’: darí hal bos daržát (adj) ‘excessive’, ‘annoying’, ‘unpleasant’:
‘Wait, be patient.’ (MNN) aʋá ta gíkote darí daržát lúan kar korí aʋá xafá hótam ‘Listening
asítam ‘I was waiting patiently for you.’ (MNN) to excessive unpleasant talk I got annoyed.’
(NKN); ‘to endure’ (ARC); ‘to support’: ta hayá {MAK}
qaí istánote hayá baríki sanǰír bo dorí šeér

33
das Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes dexdéx

das ‘flood plain of a mountain torrent’ (Ghezur word) dayús (n) ‘a cuckold who is not able to do anything
(cf. hon in other dialects) -das ‘element of about his situation’ (MNN); ‘rival’ (TMF) {MNN,
many place names in northern Pakistan’: TMF}
konodás ‘village in Gilgit’ barandás ‘village in
deék (vintr) ‘to run’: istór deétay ‘The horse ran.’
Ishkoman’ ṭhingdás ‘village in Punyal’
(RAKR) daák ‘running’, ‘runner’ (RAKR) deík
pathumdás ‘village in upper Hunza’ šaydás
(vtr) ‘to cause to run’, ‘to make run’: istoró
‘village in Laspur valley’ [< Prs. (M:1936)]
déytay ‘S/he made the horse run.’ (RAKR) [<
{Laspur}
Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, RAKR}
dasé (n) ‘patch (on cloth)’ {SWKA, RAKR}
deh (n) ‘village’ {MS}
dasmuzá ‘glove’ [ < Prs.] {MNN}
demík (vtr) Original meaning: ‘to exorcise a fairy
dast (n) ‘hand’: ma dásta paysa níki ‘I don’t have from a sick person by showing the patient a
any money (with me).’ (MNN) ma dásta kya series of pictures. The picture producing a
tarír Lit. ‘It doesn’t reach my hand.’ Sense: ‘I reaction is judged to be the picture of the guilty
don’t have any control over it.’ (MNN) dast dik fairy. The fairy is ordered to leave and
threatened with a knife to have his/her ear cut
‘to shake hands’: másu dast pray ‘S/he shook
off. The fairy finally leaves.’; Current meaning:
hands with me.’ (MNN) kamdást ‘poor’ ‘to persuade a stubborn person to do something
(SWKA) [< Prs.] {MNN, SWKA}
by diplomatic means’: hoó su demítay ‘He
dastá (n) ‘handle’ {MNN} persuaded him (to do something).’ {MS}
daṣmán (n) ‘cleric’, ‘mullah’: muxt šaráb daṣmánote den1 (n) nominal element meaning ‘place associated
di halál Prov. Lit. ‘Free wine is also permitted with something specific’: uγdén (n) ‘specific
to the mullah.’ Sense: ‘A free thing, even if it place in a stream where drinking water is
is haram, is declared halal.’ (Proper Chitral) brought from’; ‘hole cut in ice in winter in order
daṣmán gordoóγ ‘a children’s game’ (Lit: to get water’ (MNN)
‘mullah and donkey’) [< Prs. or < Skt. (M:1973)] den2 (n) ‘planted area belonging to someone’ {IF}
{SWKA}
denín (n) ‘village just upstream from Chitral town’
datbedát (n) ‘acrimonious debate/ discussion/ deninéγ (n) ‘person from Denin’ {MNN}
quarrel’ {Parwak, IF}
der /Other pronunc: dher/ (n) ‘stony ground, entirely
daʋlát (n ) ‘wealth’, ‘riches’ [< Prs., Ur.] {RAKR} covered with small stones’ (MNN); ‘slope with
daʋrá (n) ‘dizziness’; ‘fit’ [< Ur., Ar.] {ARC} rocks (large or small) or coarse sand on it’
(RAKR); ‘rock pile’ (WSiC) derís (n) ‘stone
daxárči /Other pronunc: darxarčí (MYS), darxáči covered surface’ (Parwak) {MNN, MA, Parwak,
(by metathesis, in Reshun), naxarči (MNN) WSiC}
(IF)/ (n) ‘large curved knife often used for
cutting leafy greens’ {MNN, MYS, IF} dešdarí (n) ‘behavior appropriate with neighbors’
{SG}
daxmá (adj) ‘chronically sick’ (MNN); ‘pregnant’
{SWKA, MNN} deṣn (n) ‘stick’ {MNN}

day (n) ‘stack of grain or grass’; ‘a horizontal stack deṣú (n) ‘flat grindstone for salt’ (MNN); ‘flat mortar
of grain sheaves’ (Karimabad valley); ‘stack of (lower grinding stone)’ (IF); ‘grinding stone for
grain ready for threshing’ day dik (vtr) ‘to stack salt, grains, etc.’, ‘large flat mortar (sil in Ur.)’
sheaves of grain one on top of the other before (SWKA) {MNN, IF, SWKA}
threshing’: baʋán day díko ǰam af nišíni ‘When deṣúm (n) ‘a type of poisonous grass which causes
sheaves are stacked on top of each other they fit bloating if eaten by livestock’ Melica persica
together well.’ (IF) [< Skt. (or Wakhi) (M:1973) {MNN}
also (T6786)] {MNN, IF, Karimabad valley,
Parwak} dexdéx /Other pronunc: dixdix, deqdéq/ (adv) ‘just
about to’, ‘almost’: laház bíti dexdéx birdú
daypharáng /Other pronunc: dayfaráng/ (n) ‘green- ošótam ‘I got sick and was about to die (almost
colored mineral used for medicinal purposes (in died).’ (SWKA) dixdix kardú ošótam ‘I was just
preparing remedy for the eyes)’ {IF}
about to do it (but stopped for some reason)’

34
di Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes doík

(RKB) {MNN, SWKA, RKB} dinár (n) ‘term of affectionate address by elders for
young ones’, Lit. ‘my golden coin’: e ma dináár
di (adj, adv) ‘also’, ‘too’: i di angyé ‘Bring one more.’
‘O my dear/darling . . .’ (SWKA) [< Ar. < Greek
{MNN}
‘a gold coin’] {SWKA, GMKH}
dí (adv) ‘now’: dí bísi ‘Let’s go now.’ (MNN); ‘so’, dir (n) ‘town of Dir’ {MNN}
‘then’, ‘now’: bo nišítam dí parísi ‘We have sat
for a long time, now let’s go to sleep.’ (RAKR) direék (vintr) ‘to say "I told you so" with a sense of
dí kíča koóm ‘So what should I do?’ (WSiC); satisfaction’: aʋá hatoó lúo no maántam - hasé
(emphatic particle): hateγén díti aʋá no baγátam ma dirétay ‘I didn’t follow his advice; he said,
dí ‘On account of that, I didn’t go.’ (MS) {MNN, "I told you so".’ (ZHD); ‘to taunt’ {MNN, ZHD}
RAKR, MS, WSiC} diš (adj) ‘bad’, ‘displeasing’, ‘disliked’: hamó korík ta
h
día (emphatic particle): A: hayá dar p oxaá ḍang? báče diš ‘To do this is bad for you.’ (MA) diš
B: hayá dar ḍang - boxtó žaʋ día A: ‘Is this dunyá ‘bad weather’ (SWKA) aʋá toγó diš
wood soft or hard?’ B: ‘It is hard as a rock (Lit. ‘He/she hates/dislikes me.’ (SWKA); ‘great,
‘It is the son of a rock).’ {IF} wonderful’: hes diš moóš ‘He is a wonderful
man.’ (SWKA); ‘on bad terms with’: hasé ma su
dic̣hík (vtr, vintr) ‘to hate’ {ARC}
diš ‘He is not on speaking terms with me.’
dií (interjection) ‘yes’ dí la ‘Yes, indeed’ (response to (SWKA); (adv) ‘very’, ‘extremely’: ma bóγdu
something already known or agreed to): A: žayγá diš ṣiéli ‘The place where I went is
hayá amríkár gíti asúr - B: dí la A: ‘S/he has extremely beautiful.’ (RKB) (adv) ‘badly’,
come from America.’ B: ‘Yes, (I know).’ ‘terribly’ dišéik /Other pronunc: dišeék/ (vtr) ‘to
(MNN) {MNN, MA} spoil’, ‘make bad’ (RKB note: children’s word)
dišpošák (n) Lit. ‘one who looks at others in a
diík (vtr) ‘to suckle mother’s milk,’ ‘to nurse’: diír bad way’ Sense: ‘person who doesn’t like other
‘S/he/it (anim) will suckle her/his/its mother’s people coming to his house (because of
milk’ (MNN) daeék /Other pronunc: daéik/ (vtr) miserliness)’ (SWKA) diš pošík (vintr, vtr) ‘to
‘to nurse’, ‘give suck to a baby’, ‘cause a baby dislike someone’s coming’ díšul /Other
to suck’ (RAKR): dayáʋe ‘Nurse (the baby)!’ pronunc: diš lu (MNN)/ (n) ‘verbal abuse’ diš
(MS); ‘to milk (e.g. cow, goat)’ (IWK): ɫáy bik (vintr) ‘to get angry with someone’: aʋá ta
doníko ta daím ‘I will milk you into a decorated sum diš asúm ‘I am angry with you (now).’
milk pot.’ (line from lullaby pažál) (IWK) (See (MS); ‘to cut off relations with someone’
also doík) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6816)] {MNN, dišfáhel (adj) ‘bad-tempered’ diš loɫík (vintr,
RAKR, WSiC, MS, IWK} vtr) ‘to look at someone angrily’ [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T6506) (T6504)] {MA, SWKA, MNN,
dik (vtr) ‘to beat’: hasé horó díru biráy ‘(I have MS, RKB}
learned that) he beat him.’ (MNN) aʋá tan
ʋethúken lakhí phrétam ‘I hit him with my stick.’ diusér (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ diuserík ‘person from
Diuser’ {SWKA}
(MNN); ‘to give’: hasé horóte díru biráy ‘(I have
learned that) s/he gave it to him/her.’ (MNN); ‘to dizg (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ dizgík ‘person from
sting (of insect, e.g. scorpion)’, ‘bite (snake)’ Dizg’ {SWKA}
sorén dik /Other pronunc: során dik (RKB)/ ‘to
dob dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to lie or sleep in fetal position’
lend’ (SWKA): kitábo horóte sorén dóman ‘I am {MNN}
lending him the book.’ (SWKA) [< Skt. in
meaning of ‘give’ (M:1973) also (T6141). For dodór (n) ‘lizard (larger than parkundíts)’ [< Skt.
etymologies of specific forms, see, for example (M:1973) (T6198)] {MNN}
(T8655) for práy ‘s/he gave/beat’] {RKB, MNN, doγúr /Other pronunc: duγuúr (WSiC)/ (n)
SWKA} ‘fingernail’, ‘toenail’ [< Wakhi (M:1936)] {MNN,
dilasá (n) ‘comfort’, ‘consolation’ dilasá dik (vtr) ‘to WSiC}
comfort’, ‘to console’ {RAKR} dóh dóh dóh (interjection) ‘come here!’ (call to
dilčespí (n) ‘interest’ [< Prs., Ur.] {AKM} summon a dog) {MNN, IF}
dilikáku (n) ‘middle finger’ {TMF} doík (vtr) ‘to milk (an animal)’: lešoó doyé ‘Milk the
cow!’ (MS) doéik (causative formation of doík)

35
doldamamá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes -dóyu

(vtr) ‘to have milked by someone else’: lešán doón (n) ‘ghee’: dóno máte det ‘Give the ghee to
doyáʋe ‘Have someone milk the cows!’ (MS) [< me!’ (RAKR) doón žúrdu reéni (n) Id. Lit. ‘a
Skt. (M:1973) (T6592) also (T6738)] {RAKR, dog that has eaten ghee’ Sense: ‘a person
MS} thoroughly ashamed of something s/he has
done’: aʋá hatoγó cḥ oγío dosíko doón žúrdu
doldamamá (n) ‘celebratory drums and music’
{WSiC} rényoγon hoy ‘When I caught him stealing he
was thoroughly ashamed.’ (MNN) donoóγ (n)
dolphá (n) ‘thick rope of goat hair about 2-3 inches ‘buttermilk’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6144)] {MNN,
in diameter’; (n) Id. sense: ‘epithet for a child RKB, RAKR, IF, SWKA}
who cries or annoys a lot’ (TMF); (n) Id.
‘affectionate epithet for a fat person’ (TMF): dophéik /Other pronunc: dophóik (in Torkhow) (IF);
h
oxeéi dolp á bití asúr ‘S/he has swollen up and dopheék (ZHD)/ (vtr) ‘to pound the soil while
become very fat.’ (TMF) {TMF, Parwak} making a roof’ (MNN); (vtr) ‘to pat a child lightly
on the back to put it to sleep’ (IF): tseqó dophéi
doɫ (adj) ‘loud’; (adv), ‘loudly’, ‘strongly’: tseq doɫ doɫ poráʋe ‘Put the child to sleep by patting
keɫíka pray ‘The child began to weep loudly.’ him/her on the back.’ (MNN); ‘to level a field to
(SWKA) doɫéik (vtr) ‘to make louder, stronger’: preserve soil moisture’ (IF); ‘to cover soaked
phuk doɫáʋe ‘Make it a little louder!’ (‘Turn up wheat to sprout, for use in ṣoṣp peṣíru’ (IF); ‘to
the volume a little.’) (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) bring burning coals together’ (opposite of
(T6508)] {MNN, SWKA} praẓgeék) (ZHD) angár dophéik ‘to cover the
fire for the night’ (See also daphéik) {RAKR,
don1 (n) ‘tooth’: ma don cḥ amétay ‘My tooth hurts.’ MNN, IF, ZHD}
(MNN) donnisík (n) ‘ceremony carried out
when a baby’s teeth emerge’ (MNN) dóni dik dordí (n) ‘dung cakes naturally formed by trampling
(vtr, vintr) ‘to be angry’ (MNN); ‘to repair a small by animals, used as fertilizer’ {IF}
nick in the blade of an axe, adze, sickle, etc.’ dosík (vtr) ‘to catch, to grasp, to hold’: aʋá ta no
(MNN) don doníẓu bik (vintr) ‘for the baby dosíra tu af γeráʋ ošóʋ ‘If I hadn’t caught you,
teeth to fall out and be replaced by permanent
you would have fallen.’ (SWKA) dosónu (adj)
teeth’ (MA) donboγdú (adj) ‘toothless’ (n) ‘one
‘captured’: cḥ oγ tan cḥ oγío báčen dosónu hoy
who has lost his/her teeth’ (MNN) don dik (vtr)
‘to bite lightly’ don c̣akeék (vtr) ‘to bite ‘The thief was arrested because of his theft.’
forcefully/seriously’ (RKB) [< Skt. (M:1973) (MS) (n) ‘prisoner’ (MS) doséik /Other pronunc:
(T6152)] {MNN, RKB, MA, IF} doseék/ (causative formation of dosík) (vtr) ‘to
cause to be caught/arrested’: aʋá hatoγó
don2 (n) ‘edge, bank’: sinó don ‘river bank’ {MNN} dosétam ‘I got him arrested.’ (RKB) {MNN,
don3 (adj) ‘dull (of knife or edge)’: bardóx don hoy SWKA, MS, RKB}
‘The axe has become dull.’ {MNN} dóši (n) ‘central female character of well-known folk
donduγuúr (n) ‘a time very close to/ approaching’: song, “Nan Doshi”’ {SWKA}
šamó donduγúra ɫoʋ ma róytu pray ‘As evening doṣ (adv) ‘yesterday (in Torkhow, Mulkhow, Chitral
was falling I came across a fox.’ {SWKA} town)’ (MNN); (in Yarkhun ʋezén means
‘yesterday’.); ‘day before yesterday (in Laspur
dondzík /Other pronunc: donzík/ (vtr) ‘to cut into
and Yarkhun)’ (SWKA, IF) [< Skt. (M:1973)
small pieces (e.g. apples, turnips, meat, (T6590)] {MNN, SWKA, IF}
potatoes)’ (SWKA) (MNN); ‘to separate fibers
(of cloth)’ (IF) [< Skt. (T6896)] {SWKA, IF, doʋ1 /Other pronunc: dyoʋ (n) ‘evil spirit’ ‘evil
MNN} supernatural being’ (RAKR); ‘giant’, ‘demon’
(MNN) doʋó díru ‘polio-affected (thought to be
doník (n) ‘milking vessel’, ‘earthen vessel into which
affected by a doʋ (evil spirit)’ (RKB) [< Skt.
an animal is milked’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {RAKR, (M:1936) (T6523)] {MNN, RAKR, IFM, RKB}
MS}
doʋ2 (n) ‘torch’ [< Skt. (T6223)] {RAKR}
doóγ /Other pronunc: doγ/ (n) ‘milk and milk
products’ {SG} doxná (n) ‘a fragrant dish containing ghee which is
put out when a xangí is seen in the form of a
doól (n) ‘drum’: dólo ḍoɫ det ‘Beat the drum loudly.’ snake.’ (see entry for xangí) {MS}
(SWKA) [< Skt. (T5608)] {MNN, SWKA, IS}
-dóyu (n) ‘suffix which designates (one of) a group

36
draγánj ̣ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes droón

of people who perform a specific task’ (no payóte cḥ an drétay ‘The boy fed the goat
longer productive) {MNN} leaves.’ (Chitral town); ‘to knock down’ (IF):
khanǰó ká drétay ‘Who knocked the wall
draγánj ̣ (n) ‘famine’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6426)]
down?’ (IF); (dreék functions both as a simple
{MNN} transitive and as a causative - see examples
draγdraáγ (adj) ‘infertile (of land)’ {MS} above. It also serves as the verb in numerous
collocations, e.g. khol dreék (vtr) ‘to begin
draγlík (vtr) ‘to scratch the body when it itches’, ‘to threshing. [< Yidgah (M:1936) also (T634)]
scratch up small plants from the ground’ {MNN, RAKR, IF, Chitral town}
draγloóṣ (n) ‘scratch mark, which has not (yet)
bled’ {MS} dril (n) ‘inflated skin used as float while swimming’:
ta iṣkamá dril bití šeér ‘Your stomach is as
draṣkéik (vtr) ‘to scrape’, ‘scuff (e.g. boots on the tight as an inflated swim bladder.’ (ZK) [< Skt.
ground)’ {MNN}
(M:1973) (T6511)] {IWA, SWKA, ZK}
draṣmaγóɫi /Other pronunc: draẓmaγóɫi / (n)
driyaánu /Other pronunc: driyánu, dryánu
‘crawling (of humans)’ (MNN) draẓmaγóɫi dik
(Parwak)/ (n) ‘landslide’, ‘place where earth
(vtr, vintr) ‘to crawl (of humans)’ (MNN)
slides downhill’ (MA); ‘large crack in earth’
draṣmaγóli dyek (vtr, vintr) ‘to crawl (humans)’
(MA); ‘eroded land’ (MS); ‘eroded rills and
(See also syn. draṣmaγóṣi) (SWKA) {SWKA,
gullies’ (Parwak) {MA, MS, Parwak}
MNN}
driẓ /Other pronunc: driíẓ (MNN)/ (n) ‘scree slope’
draṣmaγóṣi /Other pronunc: draṣmaγóški (NKN)/
driíẓ xorá ‘a hand mill, which works slowly’
(n) ‘crawling (of humans)’ draṣmaγóṣi dik (vtr,
driẓeék (vtr) ‘to grind very slowly (of a water
vintr) ‘to crawl’ (Synonym of draṣmaγóɫi) {NKN}
mill)’: xorá ǰam no peṣíran- ingár driẓéran ‘The
dray (vtr) ‘semi-conical, loosely woven standing mill isn’t grinding well; it is just turning
storage bin’: dráya ṭip no boy Prov. Lit. ‘The slowly.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6517)]
woven storage basket will never be filled.’ {MNN, SWKA, IF}
Sense: applied to a person whose stomach is
droc̣ (n) ‘grape’ Vitis vinifera [< Skt. (M:1973)
never filled, i.e. a ‘bottomless pit’. (The dray is
(T6628)] {MNN, NKN}
not filled because its loosely woven sides allow
straw to escape.) (Proper Chitral) dray botík droɫúk (n) ‘a small piece of wood that rides on the
(vtr) ‘to obtain a substance by dissolving it out upper millstone in a water mill and moves the
of a mixture in a suspended basket, and then xorapáru’ (Torkhow term) (MNN) (see táraɫak)
evaporating the solution’ (RAKR) {RAKR 1988, {MNN}
Proper Chitral} dromík (vintr) ‘in time of attack, to flee from home
drazeék (vintr) ‘to tingle/sting (experienced taking cattle, provisions and some movable
sensation)’: žingóγ díken ma host drazéran possessions and take shelter in a cave or river
‘Because a scorpion stung me my hand is bed’ (obsolescent term; see entry for gerzík) [<
tingling.’ ʋethúken boht tu díko ma bazú Skt. (M:1973) (T6621)] {MS}
drazétay ‘My arm tingled when I hit a rock with dron (n) ‘bow (for shooting arrows)’ dronʋeṣú
a stick.’ {MNN} (compound: dron ‘bow’ + ʋeṣú ‘arrow’) (n) ‘bow
and arrow’ dronhánu (n) ‘rainbow’ (IF) [< Skt.
dreék (vtr) ‘to put down (multiple things, or a liquid)’: (M:1973) (T6636)] {MNN, RAKR, IF}
cḥ íra uγ drarúo γon (or) dréro γon Lit. ‘like
putting water into milk’ (When cold water is droó (n) ‘hair (on body)’; ‘single strand of hair (from
put into milk when it is about to boil over, the head)’ (WSiC) [< Ir., or possibly Skt. (M:1973)
(T6623)] {MNN, RAKR, WSiC}
milk suddenly falls back.) Id. Sense: ‘pindrop
silence’ (Note: MNN: The idiomatic sense droón /Other pronunc: dron (in Lutkoh, SG) (in
depends on this specific word order. Change to Booni)/ (n) ‘a wild plant; wormwood’; ‘a wild
uγ drarúo cḥ iró γon results in a literal sense.) plant used for brooms’ (Booni) Artemisia
hatoγó c ̣akéi hatéra dráʋe ‘Get him/her to put persica droník (n) ‘place where much droón
them there.’ (RAKR) hatéra dráʋe ‘Put them grows’ (See also syn. bespúk in Lutkoh,
there.’; ‘to feed (something to an animal)’: ḍaq thespúk in Torkhow) [< Ir. (M:1973) also cf.
Yaghnobi dirawna (Baghbidi 2006) < Skt.

37
dros Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes dunyá

(T6620)] {MNN, MA, IF, SG, Booni} {RAKR, RKB, SWKA}

dros (n) ‘Drosh, a large town in Lower Chitral’ dubargár (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ dubargarík
drosánu (n) ‘person from Drosh’ {MNN} ‘person from Dubargar’ {SWKA}
drošp (n) ‘village in Lotkoh’ (MNN) drošpéku (n) dubí (n) ‘washerman’ [< Ur.] {WSiC}
‘person from Village Droshp’ (Lotkoh) {Lotkoh,
dučhár /Other pronuc.: dučár/ (adj) ‘facing’, ‘face-to-
MNN}
face’; (n) ‘greeting customs (e.g. kissing,
droṣmeék (vintr) ‘to move slowly and with difficulty’ embracing, shaking hands)’ dučhára (adj, adv)
{SWKA, GMKH} ‘in opposite directions’: póna ma dučhára hay
dróxum (n) ‘silver’ [< Middle Ir. < Greek (M:1936)] ‘He ran into me on the road. (i.e. we met by
{RAKR, WSiC} chance, when traveling in opposite directions)’
(SWKA) {MS, SWKA}
drozík (vintr) ‘to bear/support a load’; ‘to be pressed
down’: šiáq ayh neéko sanǰír af drazúr ‘When dudéri (adj, adv) ‘far’, ‘distant’; (n) ‘distance’: zom
mud is taken up (on the roof) the main beam is dudériar γéči gónian ‘The mountains are visible
pressed down.’ (MNN) drazík (vtr) ‘to load from a distance.’ (RKB) dudeéri dudéri
something on one’s own back’: aʋá boǰéyo (reduplicative intensifier construction) ‘very very
drazúman ‘I am loading the sack onto my far’ (MNN) [< Skt. (T6495)] {MNN, RKB}
(own) back.’ drazéik (vcs) ‘to load something dúgna (adj) ‘double’ [< Ur.] {MNN}
on someone else’s back’: aʋá boǰéyo horó
duγá (n) ‘final coat of fine cement on a cement
drazéman ‘I am loading the sack on his back.’ floor(?)’ {Chitral town}
[< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN}
duht /Other pronunc: duhrt (IF), drust/ (adj) ‘all’
druγdrúγ (adj) ‘ragged’ (MS) druγdrúγ bik (vintr) (MNN); ‘all (specific)’ (IF) drústi (adj) ‘all (non-
‘to be in a deteriorated state, e.g. tired, specific’ (IF) [< Prs.] {MNN, IF}
wounded (of person), torn (of clothes),
disheveled, bedraggled (of person)’ {MS, duk (n) ‘a spindle used for rope making, or with yarn
RAKR} for a pilésk’ (IF); ‘spinning weight twirled to spin
yarn’ (RAKR) duk géik (vtr) ‘to spin (goat, yak,
drukáɫ (n) ‘back, upper side of a house (from the donkey hair)’ (IF) {IF, RAKR, Drosh}
outside)’: pongó he duró drukáɫa ‘on the back
side of the lower house’ {MNN} dukazá (n) ‘tripod or supporting leg for rifle’ {RAKR
1988}
drung (adj) ‘tall (person)’; ‘long (object with a
definite length)’ drungí (n) ‘height’; ‘length’: dulúg /Other pronunc: dulúk/ (n) ‘species of wasp
h
haníse č uyó drungí kam baʋ góyan ‘These which is long, thin, and red in color’ (It does not
days the length of the nights is decreasing.’ sit still but flutters its wings.) (MNN: The
underlying form of this word is dulúg. Final
(SWKA) drungár (adj) ‘long, lengthy (for things devoicing of voiced consonants is heard in the
without a definite length)’: hayá lu bo drungár pronunciation of many words.) {MNN}
bíti šer ‘This speech/matter has become very
lengthy.’ (SWKA); (adv) ‘for a long time’ (RAKR dumík (vtr) ‘to card, i.e. to separate wool fibers by
1988) drung č uy (adv) ‘all night’ (MYS) [< Skt.
h hand after fluffing with bow (ḍunḍík)’ [< Ir.
(T6616)] {SWKA, RAKR, MYS} (M:1936)] {SWKA, MAK, IF}

drust /Other pronunc: drústi (Chitral town)/ (adj) ‘all’ dumphús (adj) ‘wearing torn ragged clothes (of a
(See also duht, duhrt) {MYS} person)’; ‘disheveled’; ‘distraught with grief’
{MNN}
druxík /Other pronunc: droxík/ (vintr) ‘to itch’: ma
duník (vintr) ‘to think’ dunéik (vtr) ‘to cause to think’:
zaxmí druxúran ‘My wound is itching.’ (RKB)
hes ma c ̣akéy dunéran ‘S/he is making me think
káro ki druxítay guɫeáru goy ‘If one’s ear itches
(forcing me to think).’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
inside, one feels like rotating something in the
(T6410)] {MNN, SWKA}
ear (to relieve the itching).’ (SWKA) druxéik
/Other pronunc: druxeék/ (vtr) ‘to scratch dunyá (n) ‘world’; ‘weather’: kya xabár čhúči dunyá
something itching (of humans)’: aʋá kučáyo kíča boy ‘Who knows how the weather will be
druxétam ‘I scratched (my) boil.’ (RKB) tomorrow. or I don’t know how the weather

38
dur Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ḍaf

will be tomorrow.’ (RKB); ‘society’ (RKB); (adj) dzah /Other pronunc: zah/ (adj) ‘wet, moist’; (n)
‘very many’, ‘a large number of’: dunyá pay ‘moist dish (e.g. curry, eaten with bread or rice
asúni ‘There are very many goats.’ (MNN) for flavor)’ dzahí (n) ‘wetness, moisture’ {MNN,
dunyó nan (n) Id. ‘a very clever person - can SG}
be applied to either a man or a woman’ (TMF); dzahdán (n) ‘place in the small of the back’ {IFM}
‘one who is expert in collecting assets’ (RKB) [<
Prs.] {MNN, RKB, TMF} dzaq (adj) ‘older, elder (in specific comparison to a
younger one)’ {Karimabad valley}
dur (n) ‘house’, ‘home’ durnisík (n) ‘after an illness,
getting out of bed and going out of the house dzaxmát /Other pronunc: zahmát, dzahmát/ (n)
for the first time’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN} ‘trouble (caused to someone)’ [< Prs.] {MNN}

duragá /Other pronunc: duragaá (MNN)/ (n) ‘mixed dzaxmí /Other pronunc: zaxmí/ (n) ‘wound’, ‘injury’:
breed of dog’; ‘mongrel’ (MNN) {MAK, MNN} dzaxmí ma saxt cḥ améi žirétam ‘The wound
hurt me very much but I tolerated it.’ (MNN) [<
durbín (n) ‘telescope’, ‘binoculars’ {WSiC} Prs.] dzáxum /Other pronunc: záxum/ (n)
durdaná (n) ‘pearl’; (term of address) ‘dear/precious ‘wound’ (other form is dzaxmi) (RAKR) [< Prs.,
one’ [< Prs.] {MNN, RKB} Ur. zaxm ‘wound’] {MNN, RAKR}
durontáy (n) ‘species of falcon’ {MAK} dzehč /Other pronunc: dzehrč, zehrč, zeéhč, ǰehc̣
(MA)/ (adj) ‘yellow’ dzehčγóni (adj) ‘yellowish’,
durtélik (n) ‘species of willow’ Salix nigra {Reshun} ‘pale (of complexion when sick)’ (MNN) dzehč
durú (n) ‘a thick forest in roṣgól - famous for nests of počík (vintr) Id. ‘to be ashamed’ (MNN)
falcons and a famous spring with water said to zehčaáku (adj) ‘pale yellow’ (SWKA) (MNN)
be twice as heavy as ordinary water’ {MNN} zehrčó lehazí (n) ‘indigestion’; ‘bad breath’;
‘coated tongue’ (IF) zehcpayán (n) ‘jaundice’
dúrum (n) ‘steel’ (RAKR) dúrum daráz (n) ‘metal or (ZMZ) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, SWKA, IF, MA,
steel plane’ (ZK) {RAKR, ZK} SG, ZMZ}
durzán (n) ‘devil’ (Parwak); ‘mischievous or dzehrčín (n) ‘aluminum pot’ (Laspur and Ghezur
destructive person’ (Parwak); (adj) usage); synonym of giléṭi in Lower Chitral {IF}
‘mischievous’ (SWKA) {Parwak, SWKA}
dzextík /Other pronunc: zextík (MS)/ (vtr) ‘to look
durẓáx (adj) ‘hellish’; (n) ‘hell’ {SWKA, GMKH} after’, ‘to nurture’, ‘to bring up (children or
dust (n) ‘friend’ dustí (n) ‘friendship’ [< Prs.] {MNN, animals)’ zextárum dúri (n) ‘house where
SWKA} animals are kept (in cases when a person has
more than one house)’ (MS) zextík (vtr) ‘to
dušambéh (n) ‘Monday’ [< Prs.] {RKB} nurture’, ‘raise’, ‘take care of’: aʋá hatoγó
dušmán /Other pronunc: duṣmán (RAKR)/ (n) zextítam ‘I raised/nurtured him/her.’ (RAKR)
‘enemy’ dušmaní (n) ‘enmity’ [< Prs., Ur.] {MA, MS, RAKR}
{MNN, RAKR} dzoγ /Other pronunc: zoγ (IF)/ (n) ‘yak’ zoγíri (n)
duʋáht /Other pronunc: duʋahrt, duʋáxt (Lower ‘skin of a yak’ zoγíši (n) ‘meat of a yak’ zoγ
Chitral)/ (n) ‘door’ [< Old Prs. (M:1936), but bac̣hóɫ (n) ‘yak calf up to one year in age’ zoγ
possibly < Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN} mánis (n) ‘male yak, one year old to adult’ zoγ
reṣú (n) ‘adult male yak’ {MS, IF}
dužík (vintr) ‘to creep forward stealthily, to stalk’: kiṣ
petshí koór dužík Prov. Lit. ‘to put the plow dzox /Other pronunc: zox/ (n) ‘thorn’: hósto dzox
aside and stalk a pigeon’ Sense: ‘to put aside pray ‘A thorn pricked my hand.’ (MA); ‘weed’
necessary work and pursue something [< Wakhi ? (M:1936)] {MNN, MA}
unnecessary’ (NKN) {MAK, NKN} dzrap 'close together' (See also zrup) {ZK (in story)}.
dyanatdár (adj) ‘honest’ [< Ur. < Prs.] {RKB} ḍabá (n) ‘box’ [< Ur.] {MNN}
dyotsén /Other pronunc: dotsón (ZHD), ḍoʋtsún, ḍaḍoóri (n) ‘round wooden block from which round
ḍoʋtsón (RKB)/ (n) ‘lynx’ (dum ‘tail’ + tson serving vessels (pataáts, thauší, γaán, katsári)
‘short’) (ZHD); ‘animal which drinks blood of are/were fashioned’ {MNN}
goats’ (RAKR); ‘wild animal similar to and larger
than a fox’ (RKB) {RAKR, ZHD, RKB} ḍaf (n) ‘one-sided drum’ {RAKR}

39
ḍaγár Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ḍil

ḍaγár (n) ‘desert’ (ARC); ‘barren land’ (ZHD) {ARC, γalatío koórtay ‘Because of his youth he made
ZHD} this mistake.’ (MA); ‘childhood’, ‘boyhood’ (MS)
ḍakár /Other pronunc: ḍekár (MNN)/ (n) ‘type of dog ḍaqigarí (n) ‘childish or immature behavior’
used for shepherding’ (IF); ‘fighting dog with cut (IWA) {MNN, SWKA, MA, MS, IWK}
ears’ ḍekár (n) ‘large breed of dog, fighting dog ḍar ‘place in a river where water flows fast’ {MA}
kept by Gujjars’ (MNN) {IF, MNN}
ḍaraʋáɫ (n) ‘driver’ [< Shina, Eng. ] {IF}
ḍakṭhár (n) ‘doctor’ [< English ‘doctor’] {MNN, WSiC}
ḍašṭáʋ korík /Other pronunc: lešṭáʋ korík (in Lower
ḍal (n) ‘group of people’ [< Skt. (T6215)] {MNN} Chitral, IF)/ (vtr) ‘to put a blessing on something
ḍam (n) ‘stone steps leading to the top of a to eat by blowing on it’ (See also lešṭáʋ korík)
structure’; ‘a raised structure built on top of {IF}
something else, for example a dome or a ḍašṭí (n) ‘slaughter of an animal fattened for
second storey in case the first storey is not slaughter’ (Shepherds get a share of these
occupied.’ (Such structures are/were found in specific animals when they are slaughtered, but
the houses of affluent people, and served not of all animals.) ḍašṭí korík /Other pronunc:
defensive purposes in former times.’ {MAK, MS} lašṭí korík (IF: in Lower Chitral)/ (vtr) ‘to
ḍánḍar (adj) ‘very dry’: no boṣíken zemín ḍánḍar bíti slaughter a specifically fattened animal’ (See
also lašṭí korík) {MS, IF}
šer ‘Because it hasn’t rained the land is very
dry.’ {MA} ḍaṭ /[ḍə́ṭ]/ (n) ‘pit’, ‘hole in ground’; ‘depression’
(RAKR); ‘small pit or vertical depression’
ḍang (adj) ‘hard’, ‘solid’, ‘strong’: múɫa zemín ḍang- (SWKA) ḍaṭaḍáṭi (adj) ‘bumpy (e.g. a road)’
sóra asmán ẓang Prov. Lit. ‘Below, the ground {MNN, RAKR, SWKA, MA}
is hard; above, the sky is high.’ Sense: Refers
ḍaxeék (vtr) ‘to break shells (of walnuts, apricot
to a situation when one has no good alternative
pits)’; ‘to shake a garment free of dust’ (MA); ‘to
and can do nothing. (SWKA); ‘firm’: ḍang yaqín pound something’ (ZHD) {DAT, MA, ARC, ZHD}
‘firm faith’ (BA) ḍang koóɫ ‘ankle bone’ (IF)
(cf. ḍuk koóɫ in other dialects) ḍangéik1 (vtr) ḍazbáz (adv) ‘very quickly’ {MYS}
‘to tighten’, ‘to make firm (e.g. a screw)’ (MNN); ḍázi (n) ‘firing of guns loaded only with powder but
‘to talk incoherently in a fever’ (MNN): hes no bullets or shells (done as part of celebratory
andáʋo múži ḍangéran ‘S/he is talking events)’ [< Ur.?] {MS}
incoherently in a fever.’ (MNN); ‘to speak
falsely’ (HUR) ‘to fix and make firm (e.g. a ḍeék (vintr) ‘to feel numb’: ma host ḍényan ‘My
chair)’ (MS) [possibly < Ir. verb root dra(n)ǰ ‘to hands are numb from cold.’ (MNN); ‘to feel
fix, fasten, hold’ (Cheung 2007: 76)] {MNN, cold’ (AKM) [< Skt. (T6313)] {MNN, AKM}
SWKA, MS, BA, IF} ḍek (n) ‘leg’: tu tán tan ḍéki ʋažén mo det Prov. Lit.
ḍangéik (vtr) ‘to bury something in the ground for
2 ‘Don’t hit yourself in the leg with an adze.’
storage (e.g. potatoes, turnips)’ [< Skt. (T5574)] Sense: ‘Don’t do things that harm yourself.’
{MNN} (MYS) ḍéko múžo drazéran ‘(Someone’s) leg is
ḍangári (n) ‘A tribal area north of Gilgit where Shina- hurting.’ (MA) ḍekeék /Other pronunc: dekéik/
speaking people live’ (This is the likely source (vtr) ‘to drive away’, ‘chase away (in different
of the word Dangarikwar as a term for the directions)’ (RAKR); ‘to drive cattle together to
Palula language.) {MNN} collect them’ (MYS) {MNN, MYS, MA, RAKR}

ḍanzdík (n) ‘a game in which stones are hit with a ḍekǰúš /Other pronunc: dekǰúš/ (n) ‘ceremonial
wooden bat after they are propelled into the air celebratory dinner given by a new swimmer
by striking the opposite end of a balance beam’ who has swum across the river for the first time
ḍanzdíni (n) ‘bat used in playing ḍanzdík’ to his swimming teacher and friends’ {MS}
{MYS} ḍil (n) ‘rolling motion downwards’ ḍil dik (vintr, vtr)
ḍaq (n) ‘boy’ (MNN); ‘unborn child’, ‘fetus’ (MS): ‘to roll down a slope’ (MNN) ḍilamanc̣ók (n) ‘a
ḍaqén díti hes hamóṣ hoy ‘Because of the somersault’, ḍilamanc̣ók nisík/bik (vintr) ‘to
unborn child this happened to her.’ (MS) ḍaqí turn somersaults’ ḍilamanc̣hóq dik (vtr, vintr)
‘to turn somersaults, cartwheels’ (MNN) ḍiléik
(n) ‘youth’ (SWKA) (IWK): ḍaqíen díti hayá
(vtr) ‘to roll something’: ʋaʋ γoréro ḍiléran Id.

40
ḍim Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ḍum

Lit. ‘The old woman is rolling her big pot.’ ḍonḍósi bik (vintr) ‘for many people to gather
Sense: This is said to children when it is together and talk’ {MAK}
thundering to explain the sound. (IWA) {MNN, ḍongá (n) ‘a deep serving dish’ [< Ur.] {SWKA}
MS, IWA}
ḍongár bik (vintr) ‘to become upset and confused’
ḍim ‘body minus the limbs’; ‘trunk (of body)’ (MNN); ḍongár dreék (vtr) ‘to upset someone
‘main trunk of tree’ (IF) [< Skt. (T5551), also cf. extremely, causing confusion and
Bur. *-ḍím ‘body’] {MNN, IF} disorientation’ {MNN}
ḍinḍindzó dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to mumble and grumble in ḍóngu (adj) ‘unripe’; (n) ‘an unripe fruit’ {MNN}
displeasure’ {MAK}
ḍoók (n) /Other pronunc: ḍok/ ‘mound (same shape
ḍing (adj) ‘motionless’, ‘lifeless’; ‘lying flat’ {IWK} class as ḍuk, but larger)’; ‘hump’; ‘high rock
ḍinzabaɫéy /Other pronunc: ṭindzabaláy (TMFW)/ outcrop or isolated place’ (RAKR) ḍokéik
(n) ‘cockroach’ {GNK, TMFW} /Other pronunc: ḍokeék/ (vtr) ‘to pile up’, ‘to
make a stack’ ḍoók yexdíz (n) ‘a famous love
ḍipheék /Other pronunc: ḍiphéik/ (vtr) ‘to place hot song from Torkhow about a girl engaged to one
ashes or burning pith on a painful place’ (a person, then, in the absence of her betrothed,
traditional remedy) [< Skt. (T6362)] {IFM, GNK} given to another’ (IWA) ḍok korík (vtr) ‘to carry
ḍiq (n) ‘lameness’, ‘limping’ ḍiq dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to on the shoulders and back’ (MA) ḍokó bilóte
walk lamely’, ‘to limp’ {MNN} Id. Sense: ‘near sunset’ (MYS): yor ḍokó bilóte
ṣoyeé šer ‘The sun is about to set.’ (MYS, short
ḍis dik (vtr) ‘to take care of (e.g. a patient)’ (MNN); story "Rajuli") [< Skt. (T5603)] {MNN, RAKR,
‘to take care of details of something (e.g.
IWA, MA, MYS}
preparation of a body for burial)’ (MNN); ‘to
have dealings with’ (ARC) {MNN, ARC} ḍor (n) ‘body of the grain-holding mechanism of a
water mill’, ‘hopper’ (MNN); ‘cylinder-shaped
ḍísí (n) ‘Deputy Commissioner’ [< Eng.] {Chitral
closed iron stove’ (SWKA); ‘body of a sitar’
town} (made of mulberry wood) (Sonoghor) [< Skt.
ḍišṭ /Other pronunc: dišṭ (MNN)/ (n) ‘handspan’ (T6740)] {MNN, SWKA, Sonoghor}
(MNN), ‘handspan (unit of measure)’ (SWKA)
ḍóri (n) ‘large wooden cooking spoon approxmately
dišṭ dik (vtr) ‘to measure by handspans’ (MNN)
six inches in diameter)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T6343)] {SWKA, MA, MNN}
(T6206)] {MNN, Drosh}
ḍóḍi buk (n) ‘dewlap (fold of loose skin on the throat
ḍox (adj) ‘thin and scraggly (of cattle, goats)’; ‘bare
of cows and other animals)’ {MNN} of vegetation (ground)’ {IF}
ḍoγeék (vintr) ‘to moo (cow)’ {MNN} ḍramáy (adj) ‘like a play/drama’; ‘dramatic’ [< Eng.
ḍom (n) ‘person belonging to the hereditary caste of ‘drama’] {RAKR}
musicians‘ (NKN); ‘hereditary caste, one of
ḍrayʋér (n) ‘driver’ [< Eng. ‘driver’] {SWKA}
whose social functions is to perform
circumcisions’ (TMF) [< Skt. (T5570)] {NKN, ḍuk /Other pronunc: ḍuq (RAKR)/ (n) ‘hump (on
TMF} back of hunchbacked person)’, ‘small round
hump in floor’ (MNN); (adj) ‘humped’, ‘lumpy’
ḍonḍík1 (vintr) ‘to be deserted, abandoned’ (GNK);
(SG): cḥ etró múža hayá ḍuk boxt naʋahtséran
‘to fade’; ‘to go away (of someone disliked)’: hes
‘This hump of rock in the middle of the field is
kya ʋáti ḍanḍúran ‘When is he taking himself
making things difficult.’ (SG) ḍuk bik (vintr) ‘to
off? (pejorative sense)’ (ARC) hasé ḍonḍítay have a lump or swelling on something’ (RAKR)
‘He went away (good!).’ (IWA); ‘to flee’, [< Skt. T5556] {MNN, RAKR, SG}
‘scatter’ (IWA) ḍonḍíru (adj) ‘abandoned’
(GNK); ‘deserted’ (GNK) ḍonḍéik (vtr) ‘to ḍukhaší (n) ‘front part of fireplace or hearth’ {MS}
cause to go away’: tan soró ḍonḍáʋe ‘Get ḍum /Other pronunc: ḍuúm (MNN)/ (adj) ‘very
away! Get out of here!’ (IWA) {GNK, ARC, many’, ‘very much’; (n) ‘heap’, ‘stack’ (MAK)
IWA} (IWA); (adj) ‘thickly populated’ (IWA) ḍum deh
ḍonḍík2 (vintr) ‘to search for something thoroughly’ (n) ‘a cluster of connected houses’ (IF) ḍum bik
(ZHD) (vintr) ‘to collect’, ‘to increase in quantity or
number’; ‘to be overabundant’ (MNN) ḍum dik

41
ḍunḍík Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes firíb

(vtr) ‘to distribute manure from a large stack on brother will take Sajjad, you take the lantern.’
a field into small stacks’: kharím royán ḍumó (Here, es functions to catch the attention of the
pošóte maṣkí asúr- ḍum díkar áči pošó ki addressee, so that he is attentive to the details of
banétay haté sum kiṣ c ̣akeér- ‘Karim has called the message to follow.) eγár (pro) ‘from that’,
people to distribute stacked manure. After (ablative form of es) {MS}
distributing the manure into small stacks, when
fáhum (n) ‘memory’: ma fáhmi no hay ‘I don’t
it is spread out on the field, then he will start
remember it.’ (IF) {RAKR, IF}
plowing.’ (IF) ḍum c̣aṭeék (vtr) ‘to make small
stacks of manure in a field’ (IF) {IF, MNN, MAK, faláq (n) ‘sky’ čarfaláq ‘the Milky Way’ [< Prs.]
IWA} {MNN}
ḍunḍík (vtr) ‘to fluff raw wool with a bow’ ḍunḍíni (n) falíǰ /Other pronunc: falíč (with final devoicing)/ (n)
‘bow-like apparatus for fluffing wool’ {SWKA, ‘paralysis’; ‘polio’ (IF); (adj) ‘paralyzed (as by a
MAK, IWA} stroke)’: hes falíč hoy ‘S/he became paralyzed.’
ḍungeék (vintr) ‘to mumble’; ‘to hum’ {MNN) (RKB) [< Ar., Prs.] {IF, RKB}

ḍup (n) ‘a pounding’ (MNN) ḍuphéik /Other pronunc: faltú (adj) ‘extra’, ‘unnecessary’, ‘useless’ faltú
ḍuphóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/ (vtr, vintr) ‘to pound korík (vtr) ‘to waste’: láyak aʋrát niṣkókan faltú
(on something)’ (MNN); ‘to beat fast, palpitate no kóy ‘A capable woman does not waste cloth
(of heart)’ (MA): hardí ḍuphéran ‘(My) heart is scraps.’ {SWKA}
palpitating/ beating fast.’ (MA); ‘to knock (at a fan (n) ‘deception’, ‘deceit’ fan dik (vtr) ‘to deceive’
door)’ (See also daphéik) {MNN, MA, IF} (MNN); ‘to tease’; ‘to tell white lies/fib’ (MII)
ḍušṭéy (interjection) ‘go away!’ (call to send away {MNN, MII}
calf) {MNN} fanát (adj, n) ‘pure white (thing)’: fanátoγon išpéru
ḍuúšṭé (interjection) ‘come here!’ (call to summon ‘pure white’ (MNN) {S, MNN}
calf) {MNN}
faqát (adv) ‘indeed’, ‘completely’ [< Ar., Prs.] {WSiC}
ḍyeh ḍyeh (interjection) ‘come! come!’ (call to
faqayát /(shows initial devoicing)/ (n) ‘event’ [< Ar.,
summon chickens) {MNN}
Prs., Ur.] {S}
-éγ (adj) ‘bound adj-making morpheme meaning
faqér (n) ‘mendicant’, ‘beggar’ {WSiC}
‘from X’ or ‘closely related to X’: bunéγ ‘person
from Booni’ (IWA) bosundéγ ‘spring-sown faqerí (n) ‘household goods given by parents to their
crop’ (MA) {IWA, MA} daughter at the time when she and her husband
establish a separate household’ {MS}
eγáli (n) ‘one (of them) (in Laspur) - cf. iʋáli in other
dialects’ {IF} faraǰí (n) ‘a second, upper šuqá worn over the first
šuqá by affluent persons’ {MS}
-éku (n) ‘bound morpheme indicating person
belonging to a certain place’: kuhéku ‘person faráng (n) ‘type of fused rifle’ [< farangi ‘foreign’]
{RAKR}
from the kúh (relative lowlands) region’ sinéku
‘person from village Sin’ {IWA} farqéik (vintr, vtr) ‘to discriminate visually, identify’:
A: hasé khyo aʋáy? B: ǰam no farqétam kokhyó
-élik /Other pronunc: -éli in Lower Chitral and
Lutkuh (SG)/ (modal particle) ‘should, must,
aʋáy A: ‘What did he take? B: I couldn’t tell
have to’: ma i ǰu bása cḥ etráro boγélik ‘I have to
exactly; he took something or other.’ {MS}
go to Chitral in one or two days.’ (MNN) {MNN, fel (adj) ‘failed (in an examination)’ fel bik (vintr) ‘to
SG} fail in an examination’ (of a student) [< Eng.
‘fail’] {MNN}
es (pro) ‘cataphoric pronominal form, often used
when a speaker doesn’t immediately recall or is fil (n) ‘elephant’ [< Prs.] {WSiC}
not yet ready to use the precise term he
firáq (n) ‘separation’ (MNN); ‘separation from
intends‘: múɫa es dreé šer - tarpál ‘On the something not yet attained’ (AKM) [< Ar., Prs.]
ground that (thing) is spread - a tarpaulin’, é {MNN, AKM, ZMZ}
bráár tu es koré- ta braár sajádo ganír, tu
laṭéno gané ‘Hey, brother, you do this: your firíb /Other pronunc: firíp/ (n) ‘lie’, ‘falsehood’ (IF);

42
fitá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes gančhéɫi

‘deception’ (MII) [< Prs.] {IF, MII} gaht (n) ‘village in central Mulkhow’ gahtíki (n)
‘person from Village Gaht’ {MNN}
fitá (n) ‘measuring tape’ [< Ur.?] {Proper Chitral}
gaǰarí (n) ‘horse blanket’; ‘thick horse blanket used
frax (adj) ‘loose’, ‘wide (of clothes)’ (MNN); ‘wide’;
in winter’ (MS) {MA, IF, RKB, MS}
‘spacious (of room, house)’ (IF) {MNN, IF}
gaǰári /Other pronunc: gaǰéri (IF)/ (n) ‘house
frosk /Other pronunc: horsk, hosk (Lower Chitral)
centipede’ (found in Torkhow) – (See syn.
(SWKA)/ (adj) ‘straight’, ‘truthful’: hes frosk lu žindróži used in Lower Chitral) {RKB; MA, IF,
dóyan ‘S/he is telling the truth.’ (MNN) froskí ZHD, MS}
(n) ‘right side’ (SWKA); ‘truth’ (MNN) fróski
(adj) ‘right’: sída hamoγén boγé- fróski bazúo gaɫí (n) ‘watch’, ‘clock’, ‘timepiece’ [< Ur. ghaṛī
sóra tan ta γéči goy ‘Go straight along this ‘watch, clock’] {MNN}
(road); you will see it automatically on the right gáɫi (n) ‘car’, ‘vehicle’ [< Ur. gāṛī ‘car, vehicle’]
side.’ (MS) fróski γerdík (vintr) ‘to rotate {MNN, RKB}
counterclockwise’ (SWKA) [< Ir. (M:1936)]
gambúri (n) ‘flower’ (MNN) γamáz gambúri (n)
{MNN, RAKR, SWKA, NR, MS}
‘flower of phoʋú’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973)
froṣeék /Other pronunc: froṣéik (IWA)/ (vintr) ‘to (T4015)] {MNN, SWKA}
breathe heavily or sniffle (while talking)’ (MNN);
gaméṣ (n) ‘buffalo’; (adj) ‘stupid’ (RKB): hasé moóš
‘to pant (e.g. horse, human)’ see entry for
qohteék’: hasé froṣkéi qohtéi toórtay ‘He
bilkhúl gaméṣ biráy ‘That man turned out to be
reached here panting.’ (IWA) (See also syn. very stupid.’ (RKB); (n) ‘a stupid person’ (RKB)
[< Skt. (T4147), (T9964)] {MS, RKB}
qhotéik) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, IWA}
gan1 (n) ‘one’s turn at the mill to grind wheat’ (MNN);
frox (n) ‘mouth/muzzle (of animals)’ [< Ir. (M:1936)]
‘lever and bolt used to regulate speed of the
{MNN}
water wheel/turbine in a water mill’ (MS)
fruṭ (adj) ‘fragile (glass, dry wood, iron)’ {MNN} ganusnéni (n) ‘piece of wood which controls
speed of a water mill’ (Parwak) gan korík (vtr)
fuṭból (n) ‘football’, ‘soccer’ [< Eng. ‘football’] {MNN}
‘to regulate the height of the upper millstone in
fuṭú (n) ‘photograph’, ‘picture’ fuṭuneéni ‘camera’ a water mill’ gankoríni (n) ‘long round wooden
(MNN) [< Eng.] {MNN, SWKA, WSiC} stick going down to millstones in a water mill’
(MNN) {MNN, MS, Parwak}
fuzúl (adj) ‘useless’ {SWKA}
gan2 (n) ‘wind’ gan dreék ‘to clean seeds, etc. by
gaá (n) ‘adult female yak’ [< Skt. (T4147)] {IF}
pouring gradually from a height into a vessel so
gaáɫu (n) ‘small field’ [< Skt. (T3968)] {IF} that the wind carries away the impurities’ gan
nisík ‘for the wind to spring up’: gán nisí šer
gac̣ (n) ‘wrestling’ gac̣ c̣okík (vintr) ‘to wrestle’
{MNN, RAKR, WSiC} ‘The wind has sprung up.’ (MNN) ganγári
‘taken away by the wind’ (MS) sogánu ‘windy’
gac̣éc̣ (n) ‘matches’ (Booni usage) {TMF} (SWKA) (MYS); ‘accompanied by wind’ (of rain)
gadáy (adj) ‘homeless’, ‘wandering’ gadaí (n) (IF): hanún sogánu baṣíran ‘Today it is raining
‘homelessness’ {RAKR, SWKA} and windy.’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, MS,
IF, SWKA, MYS}
gadéla (n) ‘thin mattress’ (Ghezur word, cf. toláy in
other dialects) {Laspur} -gán (adv) ‘suffixal morpheme with distributive sense
‘each’’: kandurigán ‘how many each?’ (Chitral
gadéri (adj) ‘mad’, ‘crazy’, ‘insane’, ‘infatuated with’: town) tsetséqante igán igán biskoṭ det ‘Give
reéni gadéri bití asúr ‘The dog has gone mad.’ one biscuit each to the children.’ (SWKA)
(MNN) gaderí (n) ‘madness’: he móšo gaderí {Chitral town, SWKA}
máte maáγlúm ‘I know about that man’s
madness.’ (MNN) gaderiγarí (n) ‘mad behavior’ ganás (n) ‘small pieces’, ‘slivers’, ‘twigs’, ‘shreds’;
(MNN) {MNN, WSiC} ‘blade of grass (from a bundle of fodder)’ (IF);
‘corn/maize stalk’ (Sonoghor) ganás korík (vtr)
gah (adv) ‘sometimes’ {GNK} ‘to tear into small pieces’ {RAKR, IF, Sonoghor}
gahná (n) ‘jewelry’; ‘wearable ornaments’ {RAKR, gančhéɫi /Other pronunc: gančhóɫi (Booni)/ (n)
ICS} ‘snowdrift’ (MNN); ‘wind-blown, hard snowdrift’

43
gándur Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes giír

(Booni) {MNN, Booni} kos ‘O, my son, don’t go near the cooking pot;
gándur (n) ‘fourth month of Khowar calendar, you will get your white clothes dirty.’ {ZMZ}
approximately March’ {SWKA} gaṭ (n) ‘traditional ceiling constructed in pattern of
ganḍá pičhíli (n) ‘a vegetable which is ready in alternating quadrilaterals of layered beams
which narrows to the smokehole in the center of
August’ Portulaca oleracea {Ayun}
the ceiling‘ (SWKA); ‘fourth-level (highest) roof
gang (n) ‘village below Birir’ {TMF} beam in a traditionally constructed smokehole
in a Chitrali house’ (IF); ‘smokehole’ (IF) gaṭ
gangúruk (n) ‘dried droppings of cow, bull, yak’ [<
c̣okíru (adj) ‘of a room with a smokehole
Skt. (T4097)] {IF} constructed with a gaṭ’ {SWKA, IF}
ganík (vtr) ‘to take’; ‘to buy’ phar ganík (vtr) ‘to take gaṭhári (n) ‘gorge’ {MNN}
something from someone (away from speaker)’:
tu phár ganítaʋ ‘You took it (direction away gaz1 (n) ‘yard, yardstick’ gaz dik (vtr) ‘to measure
from speaker).’ (RAKR) ganí angík (vtr) ‘to with a yardstick’ [< Ur. gaz ‘yard’] {MNN}
bring’ (Lit. ‘take and come’) [< Skt. (M:1973) gaz2 (n) ‘grass, lawn’ [Skt. (T4471) (Z:p.c.)] {MNN}
(T4236)] {RKB, MNN, RAKR}
gazék malhám (n) ‘an ointment made by mixing
ganṭá (n) ‘hour’ [< Ur. ghanṭā ‘hour’] {RKB} ashes of cotton cloth with ghee - traditionally
ganzúl /Other pronunc: gandzúl (IF)/ (n) ‘narrow applied to serious infections’ {IF}
path or road with walls on both sides’; ‘narrow gazén (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ gazeník ‘person from
street, alley’ {MNN, IF} Gazen’ {SWKA}
-gár (n) ‘bound suffixal morpheme meaning ‘doer’ geéni (n) ‘vagina’ {IWA}
(agent)’, e.g. lugár (n) ‘speaker’: hasé ṣiéli
lugár ošóy ‘He was a fine speaker.’ (no longer a gehrt /Other pronunc: geht/ (n) ‘dust’; ‘pollen’ (IFM)
gehrt korík (vtr, vintr) Id. Lit. ‘to stir up dust’
good speaker, or dead now) {SWKA}
Sense: ‘to run away’ {IF, IFM}
gáraṭ (n) ‘dead animal which has died in such a way
gelení (n) ‘container (e.g. jug) of a gallon or more
that it is forbidden by Islam to eat it’ garaṭíši (n)
capacity’ [< Eng. ‘gallon’] {SWKA}
‘remains (skin, flesh, bones) of dead animal’
{MNN, MYS} gerdán (n) ‘back of neck’ gerdána (adv) ‘a little bit
garáy (n) ‘solid metal bracelet’ (IF); ‘heavy, solid above’: tóri he naγšá fuṭúan gerdána šer ‘That
metal necklace’ (Drosh) {IF, Drosh} picture up there is a little bit above the
photographs.’ {MNN}
garbín (adj) ‘pregnant (of animals)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T4055)] {MS} gerzík (vintr) ‘to leave one’s home and seek refuge
elsewhere’; ‘to flee’ (IS) (See entry for dromik.)
-garí (n) ‘bound morpheme meaning ‘having quality gerzindá (n) ‘traveler’ (ICS); ‘refugee’ (IF)
of’, ‘-ness’: koligarí ‘crookedness, being off the gerzéik (vtr) ‘to drive someone away from his
right track’ (IWA) {IWA, SWKA} home’ (IF) [< Prs.] {ICS, IF, IS}
garmizú (n) ‘a low-growing mountain plant with long ges (n) ‘pressure lantern, petromax lamp’ [< Eng.
spiky leaves’ Astragalus afghanomontanus ‘gas’] {MNN}
{MNN} geṭí (n) ‘playing piece in games’ [< Ur. gīṭī ‘playing
garúṭi (n) ‘leprosy-afflicted person (pejorative)’ piece’] {MNN}
(MNN); Id. ‘used as pejorative slang term to géyik (vtr) ‘to spin’ géyiru (adj) ‘spun (wool)’ [< Ir.
either address or refer contemptuously to a low (M:1936)] {SWKA, RAKR, MYS}
status person’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
gi (n) ‘note, coin (currency, money)’: yaá loɫé- haya
gašṭ (n) ‘village in Laspur’ gašṭík ‘person from
Gasht’ {SWKA} i rupayá gi. ‘Look here; this is a one-rupee
note/coin.’ {IF}
gašṭá /Other pronunc: kašṭá/ (adj) ‘dirty, soiled (of a
garment which was previously clean)’ gašṭá giír (adv) ‘intensifier used with concept of darkness’:
korík (vtr) ‘to soil/dirty a clean garment’: é ma giír čhuí ‘completely dark night’ (MNN) {MNN,
žaʋ gileṭío nása mo bo- kutáčap zapán gašṭá MA}

44
giír bik Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes gópri

giír bik (vintr) ‘to flutter, palpitate’: ma hardí giír bíti (n) ‘insects’, ‘all kinds of crawling things’
šer ‘My heart is fluttering, palpitating.’ {MA} ṣagóγu (n) ‘black beetle’ (IF): ṣagóγu di tan
náno γéča ṣieéli Prov. Lit: ‘Even a black beetle
giír c̣okík (vintr) ‘for two bulls to fight’ {ZMZ}
is beautiful in its mother’s eyes.’ Sense: ‘Even
gik (vintr) ‘to come’: gyé ‘Come!’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] an imperfect child is beautiful to its mother.’
{MNN} (IF) kačgóγu (n) ‘silkworm’ (IF) [< Skt.
gil (n) ‘liquid mud of animal manure’ gilkóṭi (adj) (M:1973) (T4104)] {MNN, IWA, IF}
‘smeared with mud of animal manure’ {IF} gol (n) ‘stream’, ‘gorge’ (MNN); ‘side valley’ (SG)
gilamándi korík (vtr) ‘to moisten’; ‘to wet’ {SWKA} goloóγ (n) ‘water of a stream’; ‘basic unit of
irrigation water, a fixed amount determined by a
gilás (n) ‘glass (utensil for drinking)’ [< Eng. ‘glass’] measuring device’ (in Singur) (GNK) [< Skt.
{MNN} (T4453)] {MNN, GNK, SWKA, SG}
giléṭ (n) ‘large aluminum pot’ (IF) gileṭí (n) goléy (n) ‘pill’, ‘capsule’ (medicine) [< Ur. golī ‘pill’,
‘aluminum vessel (teakettle, pot)’ (MNN); ‘bullet’ Lit. ‘small round thing’] {SWKA}
‘aluminum’ giléṭi (adj) ‘of aluminum’ {MNN, IF}
goɫ (n) ‘throat (from outside)’ góɫi botoónu (n)
giltikán (n) ‘black mulberry’ Morus nigra {MNN} ‘something tied around the neck, for example a
baby’s bib’ (MNN), ‘necktie’ (SWKA) goɫbítu (n)
gir (n) ‘saw (toothed blade for cutting wood)’ gir dik ‘short, choker necklace’ (SWKA) góɫodreéni
(vtr) ‘to saw something’ {MNN, NKN, MA} (n) ‘something put on the neck’ (SWKA) [< Skt.
girán (adj) ‘expensive’: hamí zap bo girán ‘These (M:1973) (T4070)] {MNN, SWKA, SG}
clothes are very expensive.’; ‘hard, difficult’ [< goɫbóhrtu /Other pronunc: goɫbóhtu (Sonoghor)/
Prs.] {RKB} (n) ‘part of a plow’ (MAK); ‘small stone fixed in
girgír dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to glare angrily at someone’ the plowshare’ (Sonoghor) {MAK, Sonoghor}
{MNN} gomít (n) ‘brother-in-law (wife’s brother, sister’s
girmalá (n) ‘plastering tool’ {MNN} husband)’ {MNN}

girʋaɫoóγ /Other pronunc: girgaɫoóγ/ (n) ‘peach gon (n) ‘wooden handle (of axe, knife, sword,
shovel, hammer)’; ‘stem (e.g. of apple)’ (RKB);
(tree or truit)’ Prunus persica [< Ir. (M:1936)]
‘vicinity’: ma góna gye ‘Come near me.’ (MNN)
{MNN, IF}
gonár nisík (vintr) Id. ‘to be out of control (as
girʋán (n) ‘upper part of front of shirt’ (GNK); ‘collar’ when an axehead comes off its handle)’ (MNN)
(IWK) girʋaní (n) ‘embroidered neck piece for [< Skt. (T3998) and/or (T4424)] {RKB, MNN}
attaching to the front of a shirt’ (IFM) [< Skt.
(T4390)] {GNK, IFM, IWK} gonǰ /Other pronunc: gonč (Chitral town)/ (n)
‘storeroom for things other than fodder’;
giẓeék (vintr) ‘to wander around aimlessly’: hes ‘storeroom next to main room in a house’
ingár bazári giẓéran - kya kórum níki ‘He is (Chitral town) [< Skt. (T3961)] {MNN, TMF,
just roaming around in the bazaar - he doesn’t MAK}
have any work there.’; ‘to walk slowly, stroll, goóɫ (n) ‘dry gully or streambed, an eroded channel
saunter’: giẓáʋe mo - tez tez kosé ‘Don’t walk (e.g. in a field)’: goóɫ naʋáhts bíti šer ‘The gully
lazily, walk quickly!’ giẓáli (n) ‘one who walks has become dangerous (to walk in)’ (MNN) [<
very slowly’ {MNN} Skt. (M:1973) (T3967)] {MNN, SG}
gɫox (n) ‘place in a tree (especially willow) from goóɫi (n) ‘earthen vessel in which milk is churned,
which limbs branch out’ {RAKR} buttermilk made’ (IF); ‘round (almost spherical)
gobrí (n) ‘a covering on top of a free-standing wall aluminum vessel’ (MNN) {IF, MNN Chitral town}
which functions to keep water from getting into goóm1 (n) ‘wheat’ gomγeér (n) ‘field from which
the wall’ {IF} wheat has been harvested’ gomléti (goóm
goγ (n) ‘bug’, ‘worm’, ‘insect’: ta žána goγ Id. Lit. ‘a ‘wheat’ + le- ‘harvest’) (n) ‘eighth month of
Khowar calendar (approximately July)’ [< Skt.
worm in your life’ Sense: ‘used when someone (M:1973) (T4287)] {MNN, SWKA}
is very happy with someone else.’ (IWA) goγ
oyóy ‘An insect bit (someone).’ (IF) goγ čhaʋáṭ gópri (n) ‘final coat of fine cement on a cement floor

45
gor Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes gruc ̣ dik

(?)’ {Chitral town} (Lit. ‘of’) a tree’ (adj) ‘hollow’: kan gox bití šer
gor /Other pronunc: goór/ (n) ‘grave (where persons ‘The tree has become hollow.’ {RAKR}
are buried after death)’: góro lakhóni ‘They will grah (n) ‘snapping turtle’ (MNN); ‘eclipse (solar or
put him/her in the grave.’ (MA); ‘witch’ lunar)’ (MNN) grah c̣okík (vintr) ‘for an eclipse
(Traditional concept of a witch is that the feet of sun or moon to occur’: yóra grah c ̣okítay ‘An
are backward, one eye is backwards, and the eclipse of the sun is occurring.’ (TMFW) [< Skt.
breasts are backwards.) (NKN) gor phósta utík (M:1973) (T4382)] {TMFW, MNN}
‘for a witch to enter a dead person’s body’ (folk
belief that after death a dead person can be gram (n) ‘ad hoc subdivision of a village made for
seen as if alive) gorʋáʋ (n) ‘old witch woman’; the purpose of supplying food, firewood, etc. to
‘ghost’ (SG); ‘djinn’ (SG): hes kya banyadém a home in which a death has occurred’ (MS);
‘group of people in a village who share in
nóh- faqát gór ‘S/he isn’t a human being; s/he
occasions of grief, happiness, or common work’
is absolutely a djinn/witch.’ (SG) goró ṭéki (MNN) grambéṣu (n) ‘neighbor’ (MNN) < Skt.
phoník (vintr, Id. Lit. ‘to dance on the grave’ (T12124) gramár nezík (vtr) ‘to socially boycott
Sense: ‘to behave inappropriately for one’s someone’ (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T4368)] {MS,
age’; (applied to an old person who acts like a MNN}
young one) gormáɫi (n) ‘witch’s home’; (n) Id.
Sense: ‘house where women talk too much’ granhún ‘gramophone’ [< Eng. ‘gramophone’]
(MNN) gorxaná ‘grave’ (SG) (MNN) goró {SWKA}
harén (n) (Lit. ‘witch’s mirror’) ‘mica’ (RAKR)
graníš /Other pronunc: greníš (TMFW)/ (n)
gor phoník (vintr) ‘to cause troubles for
‘noontime’, ‘early afternoon’; ‘time of day when
someone’ (ZMZ) goró phósta utík (vintr) ‘to
sun is fully up, full light’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
behave like a witch/evil spirit’ (ZMZ) {MNN,
(T4530)] {MNN, TMFW}
SWKA, RAKR, NKN, SG, ZMZ, MA}
gras /Other pronunc: grats (MYS)/ (n) ‘variety of
gorayí (n) ‘Enfield 303 rifle’ [< Ur. gorā ‘white man’]
millet with smaller seeds than oɫín’ (MNN)
{SWKA}
Setaria viridis grasγeér (n) ‘field from which
gordoóγ (n) ‘donkey’ gordo̍γkáru (n) ‘species of gras (millet) has been harvested’ (MNN) [< Skt.
plant with long vertical spikes’ (Uthul) (T4379)] {MNN, MYS}
gordo̍γphíšu /Other pronunc: gordo̍γphíṣu
(MNN)/ (n) ‘type of mushroom/fungus used as grení (n) ‘large storage container for grain’ {ZHD}
medicine after circumcision’ (Parwak); ‘species gri (n) ‘trap’: aʋá koɫúan pačén gri dorí astam ‘I
of mushroom which grows on old roots. When (had) set a trap for partridges.’ [< Skt. (M:1973)]
ripe it becomes full of red powder used for {SG}
medicinal purposes for wounds.’ (MNN) [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T4054)] {WSiC, Uthul, Parwak, MNN} gric̣ (n) ‘knot (?)’ {ARC}
gósun (n) ‘sweepings‘ gosnán ‘Oblique plural of grinǰ (n) ‘rice (uncooked)’ (NKN) (MNN) (IF: refers to
gósun. (No singular oblique, sense is inherently cooked rice in Laspur; elsewhere cooked rice is
plural.) gosnéɫ /Other pronunc: gosnáɫ/ (n) paxtí) [< Ir.] {MNN, NKN, IF}
‘garbage dump’; ‘place to throw trash’: gosnéɫa griṣ1 (n) ‘female goat up to three or four years of age
kaγáz mo petshé ‘Don’t throw paper in the trash which has not yet given birth’ [< Skt. (T4238)]
heap.’ (MNN) {MAK, MNN} {RAKR, IF}
goṣ /Other pronunc: goóṣ/ (n) ‘dough’ goṣíni1 (n) griṣ2 (n) ‘fear’, ‘suspicion’: ma žáni griṣ baγáy ‘I am
‘flat wooden spatula (implement) for turning afraid that something bad may happen.’ {ZHD}
bread on cooking iron (taʋ)’ goóṣ korík (vtr) ‘to
knead flour into dough’ [< Skt. (M:1973) griṣp /Other pronunc: griṣpó (MNN)/ (n) ‘summer’
(T4448)] {MNN, RAKR, IWA} [< Skt. (M:1973) (T4391)] {RAKR, MNN, MS}
goṣíni2 (n) ‘part of hand loom’ (SWKA); ‘central goγmá (n) ‘a disease of cattle in which the body fills
beam of spinning wheel’ (RAKR); ‘main shaft of with water and the animal dies’ (MNN) (See
spinning wheel’ (Parwak) {SWKA, RAKR, also boγmá) {MNN}
Parwak} gruc̣ dik (vtr) ‘to stitch several layers
gox (n) ‘hollow (in a tree)’: kanó gox ‘a hollow in simultaneously’ {ZHD}

46
gruc ̣ kor Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes guṭká

gruc̣ korík (vtr) ‘to elbow someone to get their {Sonoghor}

attention’; ‘to knee a horse’; ‘to touch
gúɫak /Other pronunc: guɫák/ (n) ‘raw sugar’ [cf. Ur.
someone’s hand to get their attention’: niší
guṛ] {MNN}
asíka hasé máten čat gruc ̣ areér ‘While I was
sitting he touched my hand lightly to get my guɫéik /Other pronunc: guɫeék/ (vtr) ‘to move
attention.’ {SG} around’, ‘to turn around’, ‘to twist’, ‘to rotate
(something inside of something else)’: angár
gruš nisík (vintr) ‘for an occasion for feasting, like a guɫéik ‘to move the coals around in a fire’
birth ceremony, to arise’ {MNN} (SWKA) ǰuʋarisóro phértu guɫáʋen ‘Turn the
guc̣ (n) ‘intersection of vertical and horizontal corncobs around in the ashes.’ (SWKA)
surfaces (e.g. foot of a tree, wall, or a slope), karguɫeéni (n) ‘instrument for cleaning the ears
angle’: pyalá ṭhunó gúc ̣a šer ‘The cup is at the by rotating it around in the ear (e.g. a cotton
foot of the pillar.’ (RAKR) gucḥ ó dur ‘house at swab)’ [< Skt. (T4526)] {SWKA}
the foot of the slope’ (RAKR) aʋá phuk kapío loṭ gumán (n) ‘doubt’; ‘suspicion’ [< Ur., Prs.] {MNN}
kitábo gúc ̣a lakhítam ‘I put the small notebook
by the big book. (Here gúc ̣a is used because the gumbát (n) ‘upper part of grave’; ‘something
disliked’; ‘a place in Broz’ (HUR) {Warijun
book is much thicker than the notebook, even women, Mastuj, HUR}
though both are on the same level.) (RAKR)
saykíl khanǰó gúc ̣tu ruphéi šeér ‘The bicycle is gumnagúm (adj) ‘unique, known to no one/very few
standing by the wall (at the foot of the wall, people’: gumnagúm xyalát žáni háni ‘Thoughts
leaning against it).’ (IF) gúc̣i dik (vtr) ‘to cut a come to me that come to no one else.’ {RAKR}
tree down at the base of its trunk’: ǰam palóγo guní (n) ‘small dark-colored berry’ (MNN); ‘species
ingár gúc ̣i doyán ʋa ‘He is cutting down a good of small tree’ (IF) (Booni); ‘small red fruit found
apple tree for no reason (sadly).’ (MNN) {MNN, in Parwak’ (Parwak) Creatagous songarica
RAKR, IF} {MNN, IF, Booni, MS, Parwak}
gudroónu (n) ‘variety of mountain wormwood guniyá /Other pronunc: guní (Proper Chitral)/ (n) ‘T-
(droón)’ Artemisia absinithium {MNN} square (used by carpenters to align work)’
gunyái (adj) ‘perpendicular’ (MS) [< Skt.
guḍúr (n) ‘walnut shell, unbroken half’ (See also
(T4226)] {NKN, MS, Proper Chitral}
phišmaák) {SWKA}
gur (adv) ‘late (in absolute sense, with reference to
gugént /Other pronunc: gugéhrt (IF)/ (n) ‘sulphur’
time of day or season)’: aʋá gur hátam ‘I came
gugént poltá (sulphur + wick) (n) ‘matches’
(MNN) {MNN, IF} late.’ (MNN) (MS) ispá hayá gur buc ̣uc ̣ír ‘This
one of ours blooms late.’ (TMFW) gurγéšṭi
guht korík (vtr) ‘to harbor enmity’: žaʋ táto sum guht (adv) ‘late (e.g. sowing of crop later than usual
korí baγáy ‘The son harbored enmity against his or desirable)’ {MNN, MS, IF, TMFW}
father and left home.’ guhtí (n) ‘enmity’
gurmeék /Other pronunc: gurméik/ (vintr) ‘to miss
{SWKA}
someone’: aʋá hatoγó gurméi asúm ‘I miss
guǰúr (n) ‘gujjar, member of Gujjar tribe, hereditary him/her.’ {MNN}
herders of animals’: guǰúr don-šuphínak aláy
gurúɫi /Other pronunc: gurúri (in Laspur, IF)/ (n)
‘The Gujjar has brought ghee and cheese (i.e.
‘goiter’ [< Skt. (T3978)] {MAK, IF}
milk products) (to sell in the bazaar).’ gujúr don
suphinákan aláy ‘The Gujjar has brought the gúrum (n) ‘intense desire to do something specific’;
ghee and cheese (made from the milk of our ‘worry’, ‘anxiety’ {GMKH}
goats, intended for our house).’ {MNN} gurzén (n) ‘garden’ (SWKA) [< Prs. (M:1936)]
guláb (n) ‘rose’ (flower) Rosa chinensis [< Ur., Prs.] gušék (n) ‘tightening pegs on a sitar’ (See also
{MNN} samá) {MS, Sonoghor}
gulpóxta /Other pronunc: gulpoltá (TMF) (Booni guṭ (n) ‘pony’ [cf. T4516) (Z:p.c.)] {RAKR}
usage)/ (n) ‘matches’ (archaic term) {IWA, TMF}
guṭká (n) ‘bracket above a pillar in a traditional
gulsambár (n) ‘marigold’ Tagetes minuta house - supports the main beam (sanǰír)’
{Chitral town}

47
guúẓ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes γarí

guúẓ (adj) ‘describes an animal or person which ‘polo stick’, ‘hockey stick’ (MNN) γaɫindá (n)
sneaks around with head down and sneaks ‘(expert) polo player’ (IFM) γaɫdóyu (n) ‘polo
away without being seen’ (MNN) guẓeék (vintr) player(s)’ (IF) γaɫʋár (n) ‘special tune or rhythm
‘to sniff around for something’ guẓgán (n) ‘one associated with a polo match’ (RAKR) [< Prs.
who sniffs around looking for something’ (MNN) (M:1936)] {MNN, IFM Laspur, IF, RAKR}
{MNN, TMF}
γaɫ2 (adj) ‘loose (as of a hole for a screw)’: qalámo
guʋára (n) ‘cradle’ {RAKR} sorodíni γaɫ bíti šer ‘The cap of the pen has
gúyaki (conjunction) ‘as if’ [< Prs.] {MNN} become loose.’ (MNN)
gyiʋ1 /Other pronunc giʋ/ (n) ‘trap for birds, an γaɫéik (vtr) ‘to select/choose from several things
arrangement of stones set so that when a bird examined’: kandúri γaɫéi ayh ganís ‘How many
gets close a stone falls on it’ (MNN); ‘pit trap’ will you select and take?’ γaɫéyru (adj)
(SWKA) gyiʋ dorík /Other pronunc: giʋ darík ‘selected’ {TMFW}
(SWKA)/ (vtr) ‘to set a trap for birds made of a
γam (n) ‘trouble’, ‘sorrow’, ‘sadness’ γáma dreék
pliable branch of a wild plant called hinju by
(vtr) ‘to make trouble for someone, cause grief
bending the ends and binding with thread and
for someone’ γamžúni (adj) ‘worried’, ‘afflicted
passing it through a hole in one of the ends.
by care’ (SWKA) (RKB) γamgín (adj) ‘mournful’
When a bird sits on this piece, the two ends
(SWKA) [< Prs., Ur.] {MNN, SWKA, RKB}
spring apart and its legs are trapped.’ (IWA)
{MNN, IWA, SWKA} γamazí (n) ‘envy’ γamazí korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to envy’
{SWKA}
gyiʋ2 /Other pronunc: giʋ/ (n) ‘a gathering of women
at night to clean and prepare wool for spinning’: γan (n) ‘large wooden dish’ (MNN); ‘wooden dish for
ma dúri gyiʋ šer ‘There is a wool-carding foods containing liquid’ (IF) γánu (n) ‘wooden
gathering at my house.’ (IWA) giʋidóyu (n) vessel’ (IF) {MNN, RAKR, IF}
‘women participating in a gathering to clean, γar (n) ‘cave’: kúra γára utítay Id. Lit. ‘S/he has gone
prepare, and spin wool’ (MNN) {MNN, IWA,
into a cave somewhere.’ Sense: ‘S/he has
RAKR 1988}
vanished somewhere.’ {MNN}
γaán (n) ‘round flat vessel, about 18 inches in
diameter, larger version of thauší’ (MNN); γáramar (adv) ‘suddenly’ (MNN): γáramar asíka
‘wooden bowl for a moist dish, larger than hayá lu ma kára toórtay ‘Suddenly I heard
patáts’ (MAK) {MNN, MAK} about this.’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
γalamús (n) ‘slave’, ‘servant’ (IF); ‘person having γarbá (n) ‘musical instrument with leather strings’
bad habits’ (IF); (adj) ‘low-born‘ (IF) (RAKR) {MAK}
‘low class (of person)’ (See also γolám) [< Ar.]
γarbaẓikán (n) ‘pejorative term for a person who is
(RAKR) {IF, RAKR}
thin, whose mouth is big and stretched out, and
γalát (adj) ‘wrong’, ‘mistaken’ γalatí (n) ‘mistake’, who speaks haltingly’ {MS}
‘error’ [< Prs., Ur.] {WSiC, SWKA}
γarbél /Other pronunc: γarbélu (Drosh)/ (n) ‘large
γalíp (adj) ‘victorious’ {IS} sieve for grain with wooden frame and leather
bottom with holes’ (Drosh) γarbél dik (vtr) ‘to
γalmandí /Other pronunc: xalmandí (DAT)/ (n) sieve grain’ [cf. Pashto γalbél, (T:p.c.)] {MNN,
‘tradtional dish consisting of layers of thin bread Drosh}
with cheese in between them, and ghee on top’
(MNN) xistá xalmandí ‘leavened bread filled γargará korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to gargle’ {Chitral town}
with cheese’ išlák xalmandí ‘unleavened bread
γarí (n) ‘place where people spend summers in the
filled with cheese’ {MNN, ZHD, MS, DAT}
high pastures’ γarinisík (n) ‘seventh month of
γalʋáhrt (n) ‘grass and roots compacted in soil - Khowar calendar (one name) (approximately
used as fuel similar to peat; also used to control June)’ (RAKR) γarí bik (vintr) ‘to go to summer
water flow in fields’ {IF} pastures’ (MYS) γarı̍ žéri (n) ‘person who goes
and spends the entire summer in the high
γaɫ1 (n) ‘polo’; ‘hockey’; ‘football’ (games which pastures, is in charge of them, and looks after
require scoring goals)’: aʋá γaɫ korák ošótam ‘I the animal shelters there’ [< Ir. (M:1936)]
was a polo player (but no longer am).’ (MNN) {RAKR, MYS}
γaɫótsun /Other pronunc: γaɫútsun (IF)/ (n)

48
-γári Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes γeč

-γári /Other pronunc: -γéri (IWA) -γíri/ (adj) ‘bound γeč /Other pronunc: γečh/ (n) ‘eye’: γečh no pašínian
suffixal morpheme meaning taken or negatively ‘(Someone) can’t see/has weak eyesight.’ (MA);
affected or afflicted by something’ ganγíri ‘dear one’ (form of address in Laspur): é la γééč
‘affected by a fairy or djinn’ (MS); ‘distracted’, ‘O, dear one’ (IWA) γeč korík (vtr) ‘to wait for’
‘preoccupied (as of young lovers thinking only
(MS): tu albát jošpónǰ taríqa gos- aʋá ta γeč
of each other)’ (MS, IWA): hayá maγári hoy
kom ‘You’ll probably come on the fifteenth; I’ll
‘This has become mine.’ ‘I have appropriated
wait for you.’ (MS) aʋá ta γeč koráʋ oštam ‘I
this.’ (MYS) ma reniγári kardú ošóʋ ‘You
was waiting for you.’ (SG); ‘to sight/aim a gun’
almost got me bitten by your dog.’ (MYS) bı̍ malγéči (adj) ‘having big protruding eyes; (n)
kahák ɫoʋγári hoy ‘The hen was taken by a person with very big, protruding eyes (used with
fox.’ (MYS) aʋá tan phostó muríkot hatoγót dití negative sense)’ γeč botíru (adj) ‘blindfolded’
astám- toó ganγéri korí tonjeéru biráy ‘I gave (SWKA): ta γeč botí šéniaá ‘Are you
him my hide for softening. He let the wind take blindfolded? i.e. Can’t you see!’ (ZMZ) γéči
it and ruined it.’ (IWA) {MYS, IWA, MS} neék (vtr) ‘to take a recently married girl to visit
γaríp /Other pronunc: γaríb (SWKA)/ (adj) ‘poor’ [< her parents’ house for the first time’ γečdreék
Ur., Prs., Ar.] {MNN, SWKA} (n) ‘a children’s game, consisting of distributing
stones in an array of small pits’ (similar to game
γarúdi (n) ‘a fallow field’ (MA); (adj) ‘spoiled, ruined, of Kalah) (Upper Chitral usage; see ḍaṭḍáṭo
trampled, eaten (of a field)’: γarúdi kárdu biráy petshík, Chitral town usage, or ḍaṭḍáṭo dreék)
‘(Someone/something) has ruined (the field) (Torkhow) (MYS) tsipirγéči (adj) ‘having small
(unseen by speaker, just learned now)’ (ZMZ) eyes (person)’ γečadoóṣ (adj) ‘displeasing’,
{MA, ZMZ} ‘disliked’ (MS): aʋá hayá múži tan táto γečadoóṣ
asúm ‘These days my father is annoyed with
γaʋγáʋ (n) ‘verbal fight’, ‘quarrel’ {MNN} me.’ (MS) γe̍činisík (n) ‘first visit of a newly
γaynás (n) ‘a child whose two years of mother’s milk married woman back to her parents’ house’
is interrupted by the birth of another child so (MS) γečhár néik /Other pronunc: γečár nezík/
that he/she is deprived of the desirable two (vtr) ‘to banish from one’s sight’ (MS); ‘to be
years of milk’ {MS} annoyed with someone’ (IF): hasé mitáro muxár
gíko mitár hatoγó γečhár nezítay ‘When he was
γayr (postposition) ‘without‘ (MYS); ‘aside from’;
impertinent with the Mehtar, the Mehtar
‘other than’: masár γayr ta sum madát korák xur
became annoyed with him (and banished him
kaá níki ‘There is no one besides me who helps
from his sight).’ (IF) γéčo utík (vintr) Id. ‘to
you.’ (SWKA) {MYS, SWKA}
deny doing something that others have seen
γayrát (n) ‘principles’, ‘honor’ γayratí (adj) one doing’ (MS); ‘to accuse someone of doing
‘principled’, ‘not to be bought’; ‘brave, something that he hasn’t done‘ (MS) γéči
enthusiastic’ {IF} khaṣík vtr ‘to put collyrium in the eye’ Id. Sense:
‘to keep or preserve something with great
γaz (n) ‘part of hand loom’ (SWKA); ‘stem of a sitar’
regard and honor’ γečhán pošík (vintr) Id. ‘to
(Sonoghor) (Note: This is made of apricot or
be alive’: ma γečhán pošáʋa ‘so long as I am
walnut wood; a sitar can be made in three or
four days.) {SWKA, Sonoghor} alive’ (MS) γečhúk /Other pronunc: γočhúk (in
Torkhow) (MS)/ (n) ‘snare for birds with a slip-
γažaγáži (n) ‘dish like halwa or ṣoṣp made from knot noose, made of hair from a horse’s tail - so
linseed (šinṭíki)’ {IWA} named because it is shaped like an eye’ (See
γaẓeék (vintr, vtr) ‘to crawl around on the body also syn. phaṣ) (MS) γečhí korík (vtr) ‘to wink’;
‘to signal to someone with the eye’ γéčo dik
(insect) and cause itching/tickling’ (MNN): kyaáγ
(vtr) ‘to confront someone with evidence to
ma zapán múži gití ma γaẓétay ‘Something has prove something’ γečpyalá korík (vtr) ‘to defeat
gotten into my clothes and tickled me/made me someone’ (MS); ‘to deprive someone of
itch.’ (RKB); ‘to cause to itch’ (RAKR): kyaáγ something’ (MS); ‘to force someone to wait’: tu
ma γaẓétay ‘Something has made me itch.’ ma γečpyalá arú ‘You caused me to wait too
(RAKR); ‘to tour, travel around, roam around (of long.’ (ZMZ) γečári /Other pronunc: γečaʋári/
a human, e.g. an employee traveling around on (n) ‘evil eye’ (MS) (RAKR): γečári korík bo šum
duty)’ (RKB) [cf. Torwali gajanu] {MNN, RAKR,
adát ‘Giving the evil eye is a very bad habit.’
RKB}

49
γečhúk Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes γerík

(MS) γečári korák roy bo xatarnák bóni ‘People smokehole construction’ (IF) {SWKA, IF}
who give the evil eye are very dangerous.’ (MS) γerárum2 (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ γerarmík ‘person
γečhó tsíp (n) ‘the blink of an eye’ (MS) γečhó from Gherarum’ {SWKA}
tsípa (adv, n) Lit. ‘in the blink of an eye’ Sense:
‘very quickly’: tu γečhó tsípa haʋ ‘You came γeraziγóni (adj) ‘doubtful’, ‘uncertain’, ‘suspicious
very quickly.’ (MS) γéči gik (vintr) ‘to appear, (of a person)’ {MAK}
to be seen’ (SWKA) γeč nezík (vtr) ‘to cut γerdík (vintr) ‘to turn, rotate (e.g. grinding stone)’:
potatoes into pieces for sowing, such that each zemín yoró nasén γerdák biráy ‘(I have learned
piece contains an eye’ (Laspur women); ‘to that) the earth revolves around the sun.’
gouge out a person’s eyes’ (ZMZ); ‘to gouge
(SWKA); ‘to circumnambulate (in love or
out the eyes’ used as a threat during a serious
reverence)’ (ZMZ) (IWK); ‘to dance with turning
quarrel’ (IWA) γeč bilenǰík (vtr) ‘to honor
motion’ (IWA) γernaánu ‘whirlpool’, ‘place
extremely’ γečári bik (vintr) ‘to be affected by
where there are eddies in a river’ (SWKA);
the evil eye’ (MNN) γečán nišéik (vtr) ‘to close
‘place on the downstream side of a rock where
the eyes’ Id. ‘to refuse to see something (e.g. a
the water forms small whirlpools’ (MA) γerdéik
witness in a legal case)’ (ZMZ) γeč γeréik
(vtr) ‘to cause to revolve, rotate; to turn
(vintr, vtr) ‘to expect something of someone’
(something)’ γerdí (vintr, adv) ‘back, again’:
(GMKH) γeč darík (vtr, vintr) ‘to wait for’: aʋá ta
γerdí hay ‘S/he came back/again.’ (RKB); (adj,
γeč darí asítam ‘I was waiting for you.’ (SG) adv) ‘next’: γerdí anús ‘the next day’ (RAKW)
γéčo dik (vintr) ‘to be proven’ (MNN): ma γaltío γerárum (n) ‘corner of a road’ Lit. ‘place to turn’
ma γéčo pray ‘My mistake was proved.’ (MNN) (RKB) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {RKB, MA, SWKA,
γečdarayí (n) ‘looking after something or RAKW, MS, IWK, IWA}
someone’: aʋá baγátam, tu γečdarayí koó ‘I’m
going; you look after (things here).’ (IF) γerγér (n) ‘grains and stones remaining left after
γečhéik (vtr) ‘to take aim at something’ (IWA) cleaning grain’: žoʋó γotshí γerγéran af uláʋe
γečodyák (n) ‘dragonfly’ (MNN) (γeč ‘eye’ + dik ‘Clean the grain and throw out the remaining
‘strike’) [< Skt. (T43), but with questions grains and stones.’ {MNN}
(M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA, RAKR, MYS, MA, MS,
γerγér bik (vintr) ‘to be eager for something’: ma
Laspur women, GMKH, SG, IWA}
phuk žaʋ nánote γerγér bití behčí asúr ‘My little
γeč úk (n) ‘plow part’ (See also syn. asurγáɫi) {IF}
h
son is eager to go to his mother.’ (MNN); ‘to be
γéyík (vtr) ‘to use, utilize an object’; ‘to take work eager to return’ (GNK) {MNN, GNK}
from a human or animal’ γeyárum (n) γerík (vintr) ‘to fall from a height’: af γerítay ‘S/he
‘domestic utensils, things to be used’ [< Ir. fell down (away from speaker).’ (MNN) pilíli
(M:1936)] {RKB, MS, MNN}
dóno múžo γeértay ‘An ant fell into the ghee.’
γeɫáčum (adj) ‘wavy, curly (hair)’ [< Prs. (M:1936)] (MNN) paloóγ yuú γerítay ‘An apple fell down.’
{MNN} (RKB); (vintr) ‘to become, turn into, change
γep (n) ‘animal fat’: γephó biráʋe ‘Melt the fat!’ into’: ée ma žaaʋ, roy γeré la ‘O, my son, act
(MA) {SWKA, MA} like a human being.’ Sense: ‘behave properly!’
(MNN); ‘to go/move downward’: góɫo γerík ‘to
-γer /Other pronunc: -γeér / (n) ‘suffixal bound go down into a gully’ (RAKR); ‘to circle around
morpheme, meaning a place where a specific (someone) (in love, reverence)’ (IWK): ta žanóte
thing was or will be sown’: gomγéro uγ koré γerúm Lit. ‘I will revolve around your life.’
‘Water the (former) wheat field.’ (MNN) kholγér Sense: ‘I will be very grateful to you.’ (RKB)
‘place where a threshing floor was or will be’ sóra bilphákma γerúm ‘I will revolve around
(IWA); ‘suffixal morpheme indicating a field you like a hawk circling in the sky.’ (line from
where a specific crop was formerly planted, or
song Durang Waw composed for Mehtar Mulk-
where a specific crop is to be planted’ (MAK):
e-Aman) (IWK); ‘to turn’: ma ʋóṣki γeré ‘Turn
ǰoʋariγér ‘field where maize was planted or is
toward me.’ ‘Look at me.’ (SWKA) γeríru (adj)
to be planted’ (MAK) {MNN, MAK, IWA}
‘fallen’: yuú γeríru khanǰ ‘a fallen wall; a wall
γerárum1 (n) ‘beams arranged in alternating which has fallen down’ (MNN) γereék /Other
quadrilaterals to form smokehole design’ pronunc: γeréik/ (vtr) ‘to drown (e.g. in a pond)’;
(SWKA); ‘second-level beams in the traditional ‘to cause to fall down’ darγereék (n) ‘process of

50
γésar Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes γorú korík

collecting and rolling down logs from the γalamús) [< Ar.] {SWKA, IF}
mountains’; ‘to put/throw down’ salγereék (n)
γoɫí (n) ‘rabbit’ γoɫižéri ‘baby rabbit’ (RAKR) {MNN,
‘New Year’s festival/celebration’ (RAKR)
RAKR, IF}
žanaγéri gik (vintr) ‘to feel dizziness and fear
(as when climbing a steep slope)’: séra phar γon1 (n) ‘color’: γonén ‘with respect to color’ (IF)
nisáʋa ma žanaγéri hay ‘As I was crossing the γon ganík ‘to turn/change color (of ripening
bridge I felt dizzy.’ (MS) kúi γerí bik (vintr) Id. fruit)’: paloóγ γon gani šer ‘The apple tree has
‘to be missing’ (MNN); ‘to vanish’ (RKB); ‘to started to show color (i.e. to show signs of
become very rich’ (MNN): doṣ tan hes γaríp ripening’ (MNN) {IF, MNN}
ošóy c ̣atósu kúi γerí baγáy ‘Just yesterday he
γon2 (postposition) ‘like’, ‘similar to’: hayaá nišíru
was poor; in a short time he became very rich.’
γon tu ma hardií goós ‘I will remember you as
(MNN) γernaγér (adj) ‘twisting, winding
path/road’ (for example the road to Lowari Top)
if you are sitting right here.’ (MA) čháto nišíro
(MNN) [< Wakhi (M:1936)] {MNN, RAKR, γon lakhí šer ‘It is placed (on the plate) just as if
WSiC, ZMZ, MS, RKB, SWKA, IWK} it were sitting on a pond.’ (MS) -γóni (adj)
‘suffixal morpheme forming adjectives meaning
γésar (n) ‘low wall on edge of roof that functions to ‘like’, ‘similar to’, ‘-ish’’: braárγóni ‘like a
hold soil on the roof in place’ {IF} brother’ (MNN) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MA, MS, IF,
γézur /Other forms: γérz-a ‘in Ghezur’ (subject to MNN}
metathesis in oblique and locative cases, and
γonḍólik (n) ‘branches of sarúz (cypress)’ (MNN);
when suffixed)/ (n) ‘Ghizer district in Gilgit-
‘juniper’ (Booni); ‘branches of cedar’ (Parwak)
Baltistan, adjacent to Chitral’; ‘region east of
{MNN, Booni, Parwak}
Laspur, lying in Gilgit-Baltistan’ γerzík (n)
‘inhabitant of Ghezur’ (see note on metathesis γor (n) ‘gaps’, ‘crevices smaller than a cave, as in a
in γézur entry {IF, IS} stone wall’: ɫoʋ γóro baγáy ‘The fox went into a
γéži (adj) ‘alone’; (adv) ‘individually’, ‘separately’ crevice in the rocks.’ (SWKA) {SWKA, RAKR,
[possibly < Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA} MNN}

γɫatshéik (vtr) ‘to knead’, ‘to squeeze’ {RAKR} γorbrážu (n) ‘a leather strap used to rotate the
γordáru while churning milk’ {IF}
γɫuts /Other pronunc: γuts (SG)/ (n) ‘bunch of
grapes’ [< Skt. (T4172)] {SG} γordá (n) ‘village in Mulkhow’ γordaíči (n) ‘person
from Ghorda’ {MNN}
γočú (n) ‘skin, hide, leather (of large animal)’: dóno
γordáru (n) ‘wooden implement for churning
γočútu mané ‘Rub the ghee on the hide to soften buttermilk’ (See also γorérdáru) {IF}
it (covering it completely).’ (MNN) {SWKA,
MA, MNN} γordo̍γdár (n) ‘part of pongénonḍór‘ (foot-operated
machine for husking rice’ (MS) {MS}
γočún /Other pronunc: γoc̣ún (IF)/ (n) ‘a small red
flower which blooms near springs or on the γorér /Other pronunc: γoreér (MNN)/ (n) ‘earthen
banks of water channels’ (It is the first to pot used for churning milk’ (IF) (goóɫi in Lower
blossom in spring.) (SWKA); ‘a small pink Chitral); ‘round (almost spherical) aluminum
flower’ (IF) {SWKA, CKT, IF} vessel’ (MNN); ‘water pot’ (IWK) γorérdáru (n)
‘wooden implement used in the γorér to agitate
γoc̣hár (n) ‘waterfall’: cḥ iró γocḥ ár Lit. ‘a waterfall of milk to churn it’ (See also γordáru) {MNN, IF,
milk.’ Sense: ‘a foaming white waterfall.’ (This is IWK}
one of the three attributes in folk narratives of
an especially beautiful and happy place. It γórγor (n) ‘second month of Khowar calendar
occurs, for example, in the description of the (approximately January)’ {SWKA}
hero’s home on his return from wandering on γorí (n) ‘large platter’ {SWKA}
his adventures.’) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T1922)]
{IWA} γormútu korík (vtr) ‘to regurgitate and ruminate’; ‘to
chew a cud’ {IF}
γogéy (n) ‘large white sedans with space in back’
(These are smuggled from Afghanistan and γorú korík (vtr) ‘to sing a praise song for an animal
used as multi-passenger taxis.) [< Pashto] {AR} killed by a hunter’ {RAKR 1988}
γolám (n) ‘slave’ γolamí (n) ‘slavery’ (See also

51
γospán Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes hal

γospán (n) ‘place where a small irrigation channel of water’ (IF); ‘a swallow, sip’ (ZMZ) {IF, ZMZ}
branches out from a larger one’; ‘opening in
main irrigation channel through which water γumγaybaná (n) ‘a passive hypocrite, i.e. one who
enters into a phat’ (In Mastǔj sometimes used in appears to be virtuous (šaríf) but when out of
the sense of aṣkóɫič) (MS); ‘outlet from a main sight does bad things’ {MNN}
water channel to an aṣqóɫič’ (MNN) γumphík (vintr) ‘to move (of snow)’ ‘to be soft so that
γospa̍ngóγu (n) ‘earthworm’ (MNN) feet sink into it (snow, marshy land)’: him
γospanoóγ (n) ‘a water-measurement term’: i γumphúran ‘The snow is so soft that feet stick in
γospanoóγ ‘enough water for one aṣkóɫič’ (MS) it.’ (MNN) γumphéik (causative of γumphík)
{MNN, MS} (vtr) ‘to cause someone’s feet to sink (e.g. in
γoš (n) ‘time’, ‘free time’: ma γoš no boyán- gíko no snow, marshy land)’: him ma γumphéran ‘My
bom ‘I don’t have time; I will not be able to feet are sinking in the snow.’ (MNN) {MNN,
come.’ [< Bur. ʌkuš ‘without leisure’ (L:1938)] ZHD}
{MNN} γuník (vtr) ‘to be so wet that feet sink in the ground’:
γo̍šnaγóši (n) ‘searching for walnuts left over after boṣí zemín γuníran ‘Because it has rained the
owner has collected and removed the main ground is so wet that one’s feet sink into it.’
harvest of nuts’ γošnaγóši korík (vtr) ‘to γunéik (causative of γuník) ‘to cause feet to
search for leftover walnuts’ {ZHD} sink (in muddy ground)’: toq ma γunétay ‘The
mud is making my feet sink in it.’ {MNN}
γoṭ (adj) ‘dumb, mute’; ‘stupid’ (RKB); (n) ‘mute
person’: γoṭó luán toγó nan huṣ koy Prov. Lit. γur (n) ‘quicksand’ (MNN); ‘quicksand formed in
‘(Only) a mute person’s mother understands autumn after water recedes’ (RAKR) γúro γerík
him.’ (RKB); (n) ‘feeble-minded (person)’; (vintr) ‘to get stuck in quicksand’ {MNN, RAKR}
{RAKR, Chitral Town, RKB} γurdéik /Other pronunc: γurdeék (RKB)/ (vtr) ‘to
γoṭbár (n) ‘a stream in Laspur and Ghezur’ {IS} turn eggs in the nest while hatching them’:
kahák aykunán γurdéran ‘The hen is turning her
γraṭ (adj) ‘healthy, with a strong, well-fleshed body’ eggs.’ (MS) {RKB, MS}
(n) ‘person who is healthy, with a strong body’
{MNN} γut dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to not be able to speak properly
because of some trouble or impediment’; ‘to be
γrosk (n) ‘twigs and thin branches of trees given to
tongue-tied (because of fear)’: γut dik tseqó
animals as fodder’ γroskáɫič ‘hard, inedible
parts of γrosk left over after cattle eat the bark páčen ǰam noh ‘It is not good for a child to be
and soft parts - used as fuel’ {MAK} tongue-tied because of fear.’ {ARC}
γrož (n) ‘mixture of sand and small gravel - used in γuz (adj) ‘strong but lazy (e.g. a bull that is slow in
the middle layer of a duck pond wall’ {MAK} pulling the plow)’ {MNN}

γuḍúm (n) ‘species of wild walnut which is not eaten γuzár (n) ‘step’; ‘footstep’ [< Prs.] {SWKA, BA}
but has some medicinal properties’ Castanea hadám (n) ‘body part’ [< Yidgah (M:1936)] {RAKR}
sativa {TMF} hah dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to breathe out (as on a mirror)’
γulγulá (n) ‘crowd of people’ {MNN} {MNN}
γuɫ dreék (vtr) ‘to nearly knock down a wall (as by haǰán /Other pronunc: haǰám/ (n) ‘rope for pulling
standing on top of it)’; ‘to discourage someone spade, when two persons work together to dig’;
from doing something’; ‘to mentally prepare ‘twisted rope of willow shoots’ (RAKR 1988)
someone to give an invitation for an evening {MAK, RAKR 1988, TMF}
gathering’ {MNN} haǰát (adj) ‘needed, necessary’: ponǰ šor rupayá ma
γuɫuγáš /Other pronunc: γuɫγáš (NKN)/ (n) ‘muted haǰát bonian ‘I will need five hundred rupees.’
sound of many voices talking, coming from dur saʋzéyko báče kandúri paysá haǰát boy
outside‘; ‘sound of many people simultaneously ‘How much money will be needed to make a
talking loudly and wrangling’; ‘noise of house?’ {RKB}
quarreling’ {NKN}
hal (n) ‘condition’ halár dreék (vtr) ‘to annoy
γuɫúṭ (n) ‘a drop (water)’: γuɫúṭ uγ ‘a drop/small sip someone’ {MNN}

52
halák korík Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes hardí

halák korík (vtr) ‘to make someone miserable’ ‘now’ níse ‘now’ (base form of haníse, often
{RAKR} used in poetry) (ZMZ) {MNN, RAKR, ZMZ}
hal bik (vintr) ‘to stay (rather than leave)’; ‘to live, hánu (n) ‘cover for something (pillow, quilt, corn cob,
reside’ haleék (vtr) ‘to let stay, to cause to stay’: sword, gun)’; ‘scabbard’ (MS) soruhánu (n)
pisá ki ma halémi pisáte hósta uγ dreém- ‘corn husk’ hánu korík (vtr) ‘to cover something
khanízek bom pisáte ‘If you let me stay I will (radio, gun, sword, pillow)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)]
pour water on your hands (before eating); I will {MNN, RAKR, TMF, MS}
be your servant.’ (WSiC); ‘to nurture, keep (a hanún (adv) ‘today’ nun ‘today; (base form of
domestic animal or pet)’: réni haleék ma diš ‘I hanún): hasé hanún no gíti asúr ‘S/he has not
don’t like keeping dogs.’ (RKB); ‘to stop (of come today.’ (RKB) [< Skt. (T7576)] {MNN,
animate things or vehicles)’ (IF: in Laspur) RKB}
(RKB): hasé moṭóro haléik no bétay ‘He wasn’t
haápahápa (adv) ‘quickly (of eating)’; ‘panting’
able to stop the vehicle.’ (RKB); ‘to stop (only of (redup. form) {S, MNN}
animates in Ghezur usage)’ (IF) {WSiC, IF,
RKB} haq (n) ‘right (legal, ethical)’ (MNN) haqóte torík
(vintr) ‘to die’, ‘to attain one’s just rewards’
haldiná (n) ‘goalpost’ {IF}
(WSiC) {MNN, WSiC}
hálkit (n) ‘female yak (one year to adult)’ {IF}
háqa (postposition) ‘for’ {SWKA}
halmást /Other pronunc: xalmást (MNN)/ (n)
haq dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to sing loudly in unison’ {MNN}
‘lightning that strikes the ground’ (SWKA):
xalmást xomítay ‘Lightning struck (the har (adj) ‘each’, ‘every’ {MNN}
ground).’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN} harám (adj) ‘forbidden in Islam’ {RKB}
halmásti (adj) ‘very hungry’, ‘starved (of animals or haraʋéṣ (n) ‘frame (e.g. of cabinet)’ {Sonoghor}
humans)’ {TMF}
haraʋéz (n) ‘embroidered or printed border (of any
hamál (n) ‘equinox (spring or fall)’ hamál (adj) cloth)’ {IF}
‘equinoxial’; ‘of an equinox’ {SWKA, RAKR}
harčín (n) ‘village in Laspur valley’ harčiník ‘person
hamišá (adv) ‘always’ (MNN) hamišá guláb (n) ‘a from Harchin’ {SWKA, IWK}
dark red, simple rose’ (Booni), haméš guláb
‘rose species - pink with many petals’ (CKT) [< hardí (n) ‘heart’; ‘human placenta’ (IF) loṭhardí (adj)
Prs., Ur.] {MNN, Booni, CKT} ‘having a big heart, generous’ (n) ‘one who has
a big heart’ hardií gik (vintr) ‘to be recalled,
hamóṣ (adv) ‘like this’ (often accompanied by remembered’ hardií dreék (vtr) ‘to remind’
gesture) moṣ ‘like this’ (base form of hamóṣ) (SWKA): ǰam arú ma hardií dreé ‘You did well
{MNN}
to remind me.’ (SWKA) hardí phat bik (vintr)
hamsafár (n) ‘companion’ [< Ur., Prs.] {MNN} ‘to be homesick’, ‘to miss someone’; ‘to be
deeply affected by something’ (RAKR)
hamúni (adj) ‘this much’ múni (adv) ‘this much’
hardiphát (adj) ‘homesick’, ‘lonely’ hardí šaník
(base form of hamúni) múnya ki (conjunction)
/Other pronunc: hardí šeník (Upper Chitral)/
‘so long as’, ‘on condition that’ {MNN}
(vintr) ‘to worry’ (SWKA): ispá hardí šanítay tu
hang /Other pronunc: aháng (SWKA)/ ‘musical hardiphát bos reé ‘We were worried that you
style’; ‘rhythm’; ‘tune’ (SWKA) [< Prs.] {ICS, would be lonely.’ (IF) hardí mo šené ‘Don’t
SWKA} worry!’ (MNN) hardišanoóku (adj) ‘anxious’,
háni (adj) ‘that much’ hánya tán (adv) ‘just then’: ‘worried’: dúra lehazío xabár ma hardišanoóku
kaγáz ma prušṭa ošóni. hánya tan gan nisáy arér ‘The news of illness at home has worried
‘The papers were in front of me; just then a me.’ (SWKA) aʋá bráro sum hardišanoóku
wind sprang up.’; ‘as soon as’: kormó tayár asúm ‘I am worried about my brother.’
kardú ošótam, hánya tan ṭikadár boγúr rétay (SWKA); ‘causing worry, worrisome’: hayá
‘We had almost completed the work; just then hardišanoóku xabár šer ‘This is a worrisome
the contractor told us to go.’ {MNN} piece of news.’ (SWKA) hardigyoóku (adj)
‘memorable’: bápo išloóγ hardigyoóku šéni
haníse /Other pronunc: hanísen (RAKR)/ (adv)
‘The old man’s stories are memorable.’

53
harén Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes heṭ

(SWKA) kamhardí (adj) ‘having little courage’ {SWKA, MNN}

phukhardí (adj) ‘cowardly’; ‘stingy’ hardiphatí haʋál (n) ‘circumstances’, ‘condition’ [< Ar.] {SWKA}
(n) ‘a heart-to-heart talk’ (MNN) hardií porík
(vintr) ‘to be thoroughly understood’ hardií haʋasí (n) ‘joyful anticipation’; ‘excitement’ {NKN}
poréik (vintr) ‘to explain’ hardií diék /Other
haʋáz (n) ‘sound’, ‘voice’: pušyó haʋáz baríki bóyan
pronunc: hardií dyek/ (vtr) ‘to remind’ (MNN)
hardí parangáṭ dik (vintr, vtr) ‘for the heart to ‘A cat’s voice is high-pitched.’ (MA) haʋazá
beat abnormally/irregularly’ (BA) hardí kutík (n) ‘noise’ (AK) {MA, AK, Mastuj}
(vintr) ‘to vomit’ (RKB) [< Skt. (M:1973) haʋl (adv) ‘very little’ (SWKA): čéyo trup haʋl bití šer
(T14064)] {MNN, RAKR, SWKA, IF, BA, RKB} ‘There is hardly any salt in the tea.’ (RAKR);
harén1 (n) ‘mirror’: harén chití baγáy ‘The mirror (adv) ‘barely’, ‘hardly’: haʋl ma kára pray ‘I
broke.’ (MNN) [< Middle Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN} barely heard it.’ (RAKR); ‘only’: haʋl ǰu ušṭú
lakhíru biráy ‘Only two bricks have been laid.’
harén2 (n) ‘horn (of vehicle)’ [< Eng. ‘horn’]
(RAKR); ‘only thus’: pisá hardío pačeé mat
harmaní (n) ‘a loose woman’; ‘a badly behaved angyoór- haʋl ma žan dzah boy hoó žutí ‘You
woman’ {MNN, ZHD} roast his heart and bring it to me; only then will
haróṣ (adv) ‘like that’, ‘in that way’ (distant, not I feel satisfied, having eaten it.’ (WSiC)
visible) roṣ (base form of haróṣ) {RKB, MNN} {SWKA, RAKR, WSiC}
harúni (adj) ‘that much’ harúnya tán (adv) ‘just hayá (adj) ‘this’; (pro) ‘he, she, it; this’ (present and
then’, ‘suddenly’ rúni (base form of harúni) visible) ya (base form of hayá) [< Skt. (M:1973)]
(SWKA) {MNN, MYS, SWKA} {MNN}
hasé /Other pronunc: asé (without /h/) (Chitral hay daríγ (interjection) ‘would that’, ‘alas’ {MNN}
town)/ (pro) ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, ‘that’ (distant, not hayéra /Other pronunc: hayára/ (adv) ‘here’ yára
visible) se (base form of hasé) [< Skt. (M:1973)] (base form of hayára) {MNN}
{RKB, MNN}
hayrán (adj) ‘surprised, amazed’ hayránomán
hási /Other pronunc: haási (RKB)/ (n) ‘breakfast’ ‘completely astonished’ (WSiC) [< Prs., Ur.
hasyákal (n) ‘breakfast time’ {RKB, SWKA} ‘surprised’] {SWKA, WSiC}
hask (n) ‘contentment’ behásk (adj) ‘greedy’ haždá (n) ‘the 18 days following čilá – approximately
{SWKA} 1-20 February’ {Chitral town}
hašquɫá (n) ‘large species of falcon‘ {MAK} he (adj) ‘that’ (distant but visible) {MNN}
haṣ (adv) ‘like that’, ‘in that way’ (in sight but heén (n) ‘wooden lever, used for prying up stones’
distant): haṣ tan čáqa ‘in that very same way’ (RAKR, ZHD); (adj) ‘fat (of humans, pejorative
(MNN) {MNN, RKB, SWKA} sense)’ (MNN) {RAKR, MNN, ZHD}
hat /Other pronunc: had/ (n) ‘limit’: boikrán nasló hélu (n) ‘whey left after making cheese’ (MNN);
kya hat néki ‘There is no limit to the species of ‘whey left over after boiling buttermilk to make
birds.’ [< Ur., Prs., Ar.] {SWKA} šuphinák’ (RAKR) {MNN, RAKR}
hátam bahkát (n) ‘gift given to groom by the bride’s héra (adv) ‘there (in sight)’ phar héra (adv) ‘over
mother when he returns to the door after taking there’ af héra ‘down there’ ayh héra ‘up there’
the bride away by the hand’ (Originally this gift {MNN}
was a ring, but later took other forms. This is an hes (pro) ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it (distant but visible)’; ‘that’ [<
obsolescent custom.) [< Prs. xātam-e-barkat Skt. (M:1973) (T2530)] {MNN, RKB, TMF}
‘ring of blessing’] {MS}
hešṭ (n) ‘part of plow: beam connecting the yoke
hatéra (adv) ‘there’ (out of sight) téra (base form of with the body of the plow where the plowshare
hatéra) {MNN} is fixed’ (MNN); ‘main shaft of a plow’ (RAKR)
haʋá (n) ‘air’ (MNN) haʋá dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to echo’, ‘to [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2461)] {MNN, RAKR,
resound’: tsetseq qužd koríko zom haʋá pray Sonoghor}
‘When the children shouted, the mountain heṭ (adj) ‘free to graze in the open during summer
echoed.’ (SWKA) [< Prs., Ur. hawā ‘air, wind’] (of livestock)’; (n) ‘free/open place/pasture’:

54
hiím Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes hurík

istoró héṭa laákitam ‘I let the horse free to ‘The bogeyman has come! (Behave yourself!)’
graze.’ (IF) heṭísum (n) ‘summer grazing (NKN) {NKN, TMF}
grounds’ heṭí (n) ‘animal left to graze free’
(RAKR) {MS, RAKR, IF} host (n) ‘hand’: hostán pec ̣áʋe angár korí ‘Warm
your hands at the fire.’ (MNN) hostmíɫi (n)
hiím /Other pronunc: him (Torkhow), hiím (Mulkhow ‘beaded bracelet tied on the wrist’ (SWKA)
and Mastuj)/ (n) ‘snow’ himí (n) ‘snowfall, with hostgúɫu (n) ‘bangles’ (SWKA) (TMF) host
small flakes’: himí baṣíran ‘It is snowing with pong c̣okíka pat Id. Lit. ‘until one’s hands and
small flakes.’ (SWKA) hiím korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to feet catch on’ Sense: ‘until one is able to work
snow’ (MNN, IF) (used in Upper Chitral) him and earn’ (MYS) tseqhósti (adj) ‘stingy’; (n) a
dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to snow’ (IF, MNN) (Lower stingy person’ (SWKA) phukhósti (adj) ‘stingy’
Chitral usage) himburoóγ (n) ‘melted snow (SWKA) hostnigáli (n) Lit. ‘hand-washing fee’
water (Sense: ‘useless waste water’) (SWKA) (Part of a shepherd’s compensation, given to
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T14096)] {MNN, IF, SWKA, him when he brings back a lamb or kid born
MYS} while the animals are in the mountains (RAKR
1988) hostí korík (vtr) ‘to beckon with hand
hikmát (n) ‘courage’ {WSiC} himát (n) ‘courage’
gesture’ hostán pázi dreék (vintr, vtr) Id. Lit. ‘to
(MYS) {WSiC, MYS}
stand with arms folded on the chest’ Sense: ‘to
hinčk (n) ‘place where a river flows through a deep do great honor to someone’ host pong c̣okík
gorge’ (RK story); ‘name of a high pasture in (vintr) Id. Lit. ‘for hands and feet to stick’ Sense:
Bang’ (SWKA) {RK, SWKA} ‘to be able to support oneself’ (SWKA)
hostagáni (n) ‘handle of plow’ (MAK,
hinḍál (adj) ‘unmarried’; (n) ‘unmarried person’ Sonoghor) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T14024)] {MNN,
hinḍalbáṣu (n) ‘property of unmarried persons, SWKA, MYS, RAKR 1988, TMF, MAK,
which reverted to the Mehtar on the death of
Sonoghor}
that person’ hinḍalás (adj) ‘childless’ (RAKR)
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T14090)] {RAKR} hóyu (n) ‘practice of neighbors sharing a bull to form
a pair for plowing’ (saʋá in Lower Chitral)
hínǰu (n) ‘species of bush with hard wood’ Tamarix {MNN}
aphylla {Uthul}
huál (n) ‘sin’ {SWKA}
hir bik (vintr) ‘to look at someone’s face and be
huláy /Other pronunc: huɫáy/ (n) ‘lullaby’ {RAKR}
frozen in enchantment‘ {GNK}
hun (n) ‘saddle’ {RAKR, WSiC, MS}
hoǰóǰ /Other pronunc: hoǰóž (Uthul)/ (n) ‘cumin
seeds’ Bunium persicum {IF, RAKR, Uthul} hunarmán (adj) ‘skillful’ hunarmáne baǰgí (n) ‘third
finger’ (obsolete term, encountered in folklore)
hókum (n) ‘order’, ‘command’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur. hukm (IWA) {IFM, IWA}
‘order’] {MNN}
hup (n) ‘a young girls’ traditional dance, in which
hokumát (n) ‘government’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur. hukūmat they hold hands with crossed arms and feet
‘government’] {MNN} together and jump in circles with their weight
hoɫk (n) ‘scar’ {RAKR} outward. The accompanying song is called hup
gye.’ hup dik (vintr, vtr, n) ‘to dance the hup’
hon (n) ‘mountain torrent’ (containing much soil and {MNN, SWKA, IWK}
rocks), ‘flood’ (SWKA): honár nisí rešṭó múɫtu
Prov. Lit. ‘getting out of the flood to be buried húranz /Other pronunc: húransk (Torkhow)/ (n)
‘chickenpox’ {IF}
underneath an avalanche’ Sense: ‘to escape
from one trouble and find oneself in a worse hurdúr (n) ‘inlet to a (duck) pond, place where water
one’ (SWKA), (cf. the English idiom, ‘out of the comes into the pond from the river’ (MA);
frying pan into the fire’); ‘rocky flood plain’; ‘headworks of an irrigation system’ (in Singur)
‘uninhabited rocky area’ (IF); ‘mudslide’ (SG) (GNK) {MA, GNK}
honkóṭi (n) ‘flood-affected area’ (Parwak) [< hurík (vtr) ‘to unlock, open (e.g. a door)’: ṭaɫó sóra
Skt. (M:1973) (T13965)] {RAKR, SWKA, IF, SG,
qulfó huré ‘Unlock/open the lock with the key.’
Parwak}
(MNN) duʋáhto huríko no bom ‘I can’t open the
hoq (n) ‘bogeyman’, ‘frightening creature’ (used to door.’ (MA) kíča kóri hurín boy ‘How can it be
frighten children into good behavior): hoq hay opened?’ (TMFD) {MNN, MA, TMFD}

55
hus Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes iskén

hus (adj) ‘surprised’; ‘amazed’; ‘wonder-struck’ hus stranded yarn of thread’ (SWKA) [< Skt.
bik (vintr) ‘to be amazed, wonder-struck’ {ZMZ} (M:1973) (T2468)] {SWKA, RAKR, IF, MNN,
MAK}
huš (n) ‘consciousness’, ‘senses’ huš bik (vintr) ‘to
lose one’s senses’ (MNN): gambúryo poší ma -í1 ‘suffix added to some kinship terms of address to
huš baγáy ‘Seeing the flower I lost my senses.’ indicate affection and respect’: e.g. bečí ‘dear
(MNN) huš boγdú (n) ‘one who has lost his/her auntie’, mikí ‘dear uncle’ {MNN}
senses’ (MNN) behuš (adj) ‘unconscious’; ‘out -í2 ‘suffix which forms nouns from adjectives, e.g.
of one’s senses‘ {MNN, MA} drung (adj) ‘long’, drungí (n) ‘length’. (MNN)
huṣ (n) ‘understanding’; ‘recognition’ huṣ korík (vtr) -i3 ~ í (adj) ‘adjective forming suffix, added to some
‘to understand’, ‘know’ (inanimate object)’:
nouns or noun phrases’: ǰu basí čiṭí ‘two-day
sabáq no réken aʋá urdú huṣ no kóman
holiday’ (Chitral town) {Chitral town}
‘Because of not studying I don’t understand
Urdu.’ (MNN); ‘to recognize (a person)’ {MNN, iǰazát (n) ‘permission’ [< Prs., Ur.] {WSiC, MS}
IWA, RAKR, WSiC} iǰlás (n) ‘meeting’; ‘gathering’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur.] {ICS}
hut /Other pronunc: fut, foṭ, huṭ/ (adj) ‘blind’; -ík (n) /Other pronunc: -íki / ‘bound morpheme
‘without reason’, ‘baseless’: huṭ gumána kos attached to certain place names, to refer to
cḥ oóγ mo dráʋe ‘Don’t accuse someone of persons from that place’: ɫasprík ‘person from
being a thief blindly/without reason.’ {MNN} Laspur’ (IWA) bangík ‘person from village
huy (n) ‘a call to someone’ huy dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to call Bang’ (MNN) -íki: mestučíki ‘person from
out to a person’ (used in both Upper and Lower Mastuj’ (IWA) gahtíki ‘person from Gaht’
Chitral); ‘to call (someone) from a distance’ (MNN) {MNN IWA, MNN}
(RKB): andrénar huy pray ‘He/she called (to
íkuṭ (n) ‘dried whole apricot’ {MNN}
someone) from inside.’ (See also qoyeék)
(RKB) {MNN, SWKA, RKB} -íl (n) ‘derivational suffix denoting a place where a
specific kind of plant grows’: phapakíl ‘place
i (adj, n) ‘one’; ‘a’, ‘a certain (specific indefinite)’;
where phapaáki grows’; dzoxíl ‘place where
‘only’: pay di žibóni zoγ žibóni i kéɫi no žibóni-
thorns grow’; droníl ‘place where droón
lenjị́ ko no bóni ‘Both goats and yaks eat it, only grows’; čikaríl ‘place where čikár willow
sheep don’t eat it. They can’t peel the bark.’ grows’ {IF}
(IF) ítu (adj) ‘together’ ítu dik (vtr) ‘to join’ ítu
inám (n) ‘reward’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur. inām ‘reward’,
c̣okík (vintr) ‘to wrestle‘ iγó (pro) ‘one (oblique
‘prize’] {WSiC}
form)’: i tseq haté iγó zuq díti ṭhorétay ‘One
child pushed the other one and made him fall.’ ingár (adv) ‘for nothing’, ‘uselessly’; ‘for no reason’
‘each other’ ju tsetséq tan múži iγó dyaʋ ošóni (SWKA) {MNN, WSiC, SWKA}
‘Two children were hitting each other.’ (SWKA) íngut (n) ‘horse’s bridle without bit or side pieces’; ‘a
i záyla (adj) ‘of the same kind, just like each horse’s headstall, with no bit’ (a horse can eat
other’ i čáqa (adj) ‘of the same kind’ í bíti (adv) freely when tied with an íngut) {IF, RAKR, MA}
‘together’ igán igán (adv) ‘one by one; one
each’: tsetséqante igán igán biskóṭ det ‘Give the iqrár korík (vtr) ‘to acknowledge’, ‘to admit’, ‘to
confess’ [< Prs.] {SWKA}
children one biscuit each.’ (SWKA) í di (adj)
‘even one’ iméti (adv) ‘at the same time’, iraní (n) ‘rubber or plastic galoshes/overshoes’
‘simultaneously’ (SWKA) iʋál iʋályo (pro) ‘each {SWKA}
other (oblique form)’: hatét iʋál iʋályote niṣán
iraqí (n) ‘a type of embroidery in which the outline is
tarétani ‘They gave each other gifts.’ (SWKA) first made with fine thread, then filled in with
iγária (adv) ‘all together’ (RAKR) iγó sóra (adv) other threads. It has a right and a wrong side.’
‘one after another’, ‘continuously’ (RAKR) {IWA}
iγodík (vtr) ‘to fight physically’ (MNN) iɫínǰi (adj)
‘single layered’ (MNN) isír (n) ‘one pair of bulls’ -íri (n) ‘bound nominal morpheme meaning ‘skin or
(MAK) iʋálu /Other pronunc: iʋáli (in Lower meat of an animal’ [< Skt. (T2459)] {MNN}
Chitral: MNN)/ (n) ‘a single person’ (compare i iskén (n) ‘vertical decoration on a woman’s
žun in Lower Chitral) (MNN) iʋóli (n) ‘single embroidered cap, a continuation of the border’

56
iskí Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes istrí-

{IF} ispusár /Other pronunc: ispsár, istsár, isptsár

(IF), isprár (MYS)/ (n) ‘sister (younger)’ ‘aunt’s
iskí /Other pronunc: izgí (Ghizar pronunc) IWA; izgí
or uncle’s daughter’; ‘polite way of referring to
(Laspur)/ (n) ‘heel’ iskíen šór γerdík Id. Lit. ‘to
or addressing any woman or girl of the same
turn the heel a hundred times, i.e. to go back
age or younger than the speaker, even though
and forth many times in doing a task.’ Sense:
she is not an actual sister’ (RKB) ispusargíni
‘to work too much; to be extremely overworked’
(pl n) ‘sisters’ (kinship term plural) [< Skt.
(SWKA) iskío léy (n) Id. Lit. ‘blood of the heel’
(M:1973) (T13913)] {MNN, IF, MYS, RKB}
Sense: ‘personal servant or slave’ (obsolete
term) (IWA) [< Bur. cf. hisk ‘wrist’?, ‘back of istáč (n) ‘village in lower Yarkhun’ istačík ‘person
hand’ (Lorimer 1938: 204] {MNN, IWA, SWKA, from Istach’ (SWKA) istačikán (n) ‘variety of
Laspur, IF, IWA} apple, large, slightly sour’ (RAKR) {SWKA,
RAKR}
iskím (n) ‘silk’; ‘silk (after dyeing)’ (IF) [< Ir.
(M:1936)] {MYS, IF} istán (n) ‘roof of traditional mud brick house (seen
from outside)’ istán dreék (vtr) ‘to throw/shovel
iskóʋ (n) ‘wooden peg’ (used, for example, to mark
snow from the roof’ [< Skt. (T13686)] {MNN,
off land measurements) (MNN) (AR); ‘part of
MA}
hand loom: wooden pegs used to support
horizontal parts of loom’ (SWKA) kríži iskóʋ (n) istári (n) ‘star’; (adj) ‘species of bad-smelling large
‘wooden peg in the side of the ḍór in a water mushroom’ (Traditional lore: thought of as
mill, to which a string is attached’ goró iskóʋ falling from the sky) istáre (pl n) ‘stars’ [< Ir.
(n) ‘growth on the sole of the foot’ (AR) [< Skt., (M:1936) or Skt. (M:1973) (T13713)] {MNN}
or possibly Ir. (M:1975) (T13638)] {MNN,
istáʋ /Other pronunc: istóʋ (Parwak)/ (n) ‘stubble of
SWKA, AR}
crop after it has been cut’; ‘field where stubble
iskúl (n) ‘school’ iskulí (n) ‘pupil in a school’, of harvested crop is left’ (MAK); ‘cut/harvested
‘schoolboy’, ‘schoolgirl’ [< Eng.] {SWKA} field’ (Parwak) istoʋaní (adj, n) ‘(of) a crop
sown immediately after another crop, e.g.
iskúrdi (adj) ‘short’ iskurdí (n) ‘shortness’ [< Ir.
maize right after wheat (in two-crop areas)’ Lit.
(M:1936)] {MNN, SWKA}
‘in stubble’ (Parwak) {MNN, MAK, Parwak}
iskuṭík (vintr) ‘to shrink’ (see entry for iskúrdi ‘short’):
istaʋsík (vintr) ‘to bad-mouth someone, i.e. say bad
pháti čalayγár iskuṭák bóni ‘Some kinds of cloth things about someone’; (n) ‘backbiting’ {MNN}
are liable to shrink.’ iskuṭéik (vtr) ‘to shrink
(something)’ [< Skt. (T13650)] {SWKA} istérum /Other pronunc: istírum (MA)/ (n) ‘boards
laid breadthwise across the naxdáru’ (IF) [< Skt.
isnár1 (n) ‘body’: aʋá isnára uγ dréman ‘I am (T13685)] {IF, MA}
bathing’ Lit. ‘putting water on the body’ [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T13785)] {MNN} istoník (vintr) ‘to groan (in pain)’, ‘to moan’: leházo
istoníko poší ma hardí šanítay ‘Seeing the
isnár2 (n) ‘leather bag for grain containing patient’s groaning I felt worried.’ (SWKA)
approximately 1 ʋáɫu’; ‘a measure of grain’ (1
istoneék (vtr) ‘to cause to groan’: lehazí ma
isnár contains approximately 1 ʋáɫu) {MNN}
istoneéko nantát perišán hóni ‘When the illness
ispá (pro) ‘we’, ‘us’; (adj) ‘our’, ‘ours’ [< Skt. made me groan in pain my parents were upset.’
(M:1973)] {MNN} (SWKA) šar istoník (vintr) ‘to sigh heavily/
ispaník (vtr) ‘to fill in with earth or soil’; ‘to pile up’; deeply’ (GMKH) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T13667)]
‘to deposit sediments (of a river)’ (RAKR) {SWKA, GMKH}
ispanárum (n) ‘things with which to fill in an istór (n) ‘horse’ istoríri (n) ‘skin or meat of horse’
abutment or terrace wall’; ‘terrace (for field or istorí (n) ‘rider; horseman’ [< Ir.: Prs. sutūr
path)’ (MAK) ispanónu (n) ‘scree slope’ ‘horse, big strong animal’, Avestan staora ‘big
(RAKR); ‘raised area, as for a verandah’ cattle’. also (T13779)] {MNN}
(RAKR) {MS, RAKR, MAK}
istordzóxu (n) ‘thorny weed with broad leaves’
isprázg (n) ‘ceiling (from inside)’ [< Wakhi (M:1936)] {MNN}
{MNN}
istrí- (bound adjectival morpheme) ‘female’ istrigarí
isprú (n) ‘blossom(s)’ (e.g. apricot, šinǰúr); ‘smallpox (n) ‘femaleness’ istrixár (n) ‘female donkey’ [<
pustules’ [< Wakhi (M:1936)] {MNN, IF} Skt. (M:1973) (T13734) + Prs.] {MNN, MS}

57
isṭeplér Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes iṣkanǰá

isṭeplér (n) ‘stapler’ [< Eng. ‘stapler’] {TMF} išpén (n) ‘portion of food given by someone from his
own portion to another person of equal or lower
išará (n) ‘signal’, ‘sign’, ‘gesture’ [< Prs., Ur. išāra
status’ (compare pronunciation with that of
‘signal’] {RAKR}
išpeén ‘species of bush’ (MNN) {MNN, SG}
iškarʋárz (n) ‘village in Baroghil’ iškarʋarzík (n)
išpéru (adj) ‘white’ išpéru zar (n) ‘silver’ phuk
‘person from Ishkarwarz’ {SWKA}
išpéru (intensifier construction) (adj) ‘snow
iškéṭ (n) ‘small, sour variety of apple’ Malus white’, ‘pure white’ (MNN) išpetrákal /Other
chitralensis {RAKR} pronunc: išpetríkal (MNN)/ (n) ‘whitish’ (SWKA)
(MNN) išperík (n) ‘variety of apricot’
iškoṭó dik /Other pronunc: iškíṭo dik/ (vintr, vtr) ‘to išpéruγóni (adj) ‘whitish’ (MNN) [< Skt.
hop on one foot’ {MS, MNN} (M:1973) (T12774)] {MNN, SWKA, RAKR}
išlák (adj) ‘unleavened (of bread)’, ‘unfermented’ išpreší (n) ‘mother-in-law’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
{MNN, RKB, SWKA} (T12759)] {MNN, WSiC}
išlík (adj) ‘smooth (e.g. of wood)’ {MNN, RKB} ištiγára (n) ‘metaphor’ {TMF}
išlími (n) ‘a round wooden stand placed under a pot ištihá (n) ‘appetite’ ištihá bik (vintr) ‘to have an
- made from moist shoots bent to shape’ {IF} appetite’ {MNN}
išlók (n) ‘wood chip’ (MNN); ‘relatively larger plane ištikhík /Other pronunc: ištikík, ištixík/ (vtr) ‘to boast
shavings’ (NKN) {MNN, NKN} about oneself’ (MNN) ištikhéik /Other pronunc:
ištixéik/ (vtr) ‘to praise someone or something’
išloóγ /Other pronunc: šiloóγ/ (n) ‘story’, ‘traditional
tale‘ (See entry for šiloóγ). {MNN, SWKA} (IWA): ʋexík tan čamáxo ištixéir Prov. Lit. ‘A
person from Wakhan praises his own flint.’
išlúk (adj) ‘dry, i.e. having no more milk’: bacḥ oóɫ dií Sense: ‘Everyone praises his own thing; thus
išlúk kardú ‘The calf sucked (the cow) dry self-praise is not a valid recommendation.’
(action unseen).’ {MNN} (MNN) {IWA, MNN}
išmareék /Other pronunc: išmaróik (in Torkhow) ištrúx /Other pronunc: uštrúk/ (n) ‘a chicken killed
(IF), išmaréik/ (vtr) ‘to calculate’ (SWKA); ‘to and put in a tree after someone dies, to be
count’ (IF) išmareéni (n) ‘calculator’ (SWKA) [< eaten by wild animals and birds.’ (traditional
Ir. (M:1936) and IA (T13864)] {SWKA, IF, MNN} custom attibuted to pre-Islamic times) {IWA}
išnári /Other pronunc: ižnári; Dialectal pronunc: išṭaranúk /Other pronunc: išṭaranúkh (MAK)/ (n)
žinári (SWKA)/ (n) ‘thing’: čhíko baṣ išnáryan ‘bread prepared for offering to fairies by
sári axtyát koríko baṣ ‘One should be careful shepherds at the time of first taking the goats to
with breakable things.’ (MNN) kya išnári ki ta the high pastures in the spring’; ‘food taken to
zarurát hoy máte ráʋe ‘Tell me whatever you eat at a duck pond’ (MAK) išṭareék (vtr) ‘to
need.’ (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA, distribute/throw the išṭaranúk bread to each of
MS} the four directions to propitiate the fairies’
(RAKR) {RAKR 1988, MAK}
išpaqéṭi (n) ‘species of sparrow with black back and
white breast’ {MNN} išṭók (n) ‘play’, ‘game’, ‘amusement’, ‘dancing’ išṭók
korík ‘to play’, ‘to dance’ išṭokéik (vtr) ‘to cause
išpár /Other pronunc: iṣpár (TMF)/ (n) ‘large-leaved, to play’, ‘to make play’ (IF): aʋá tsetséqan
low-growing plant which has a sourish taste’; išṭokéman ‘I am getting the children to
‘wild rhubarb’ (TMF) išparc̣hánu (n) ‘leaves of
play/playing with the children.’ (RAKR)
the išpár plant’ (can be fed to cattle) Rheum išṭokanúk (n) ‘a toy’ (MS) išṭogrú (n) ‘one who
webbianum [Skt. (M:1973)] {Uthul, TMF} sings or dances’ (RAKR); ‘player’ (ZMZ) {MNN,
RAKR, IF, ZMZ, MS}
išpašúr (n) ‘father-in-law’ [< Skt. (T12753)] {MNN}
iṣkamá (n) ‘stomach’ iṣkamá bík (vintr) ‘to have
išpeén /Other pronunc: išphend in Mogh, Lutkuh
(SG)/ (n) ‘species of bush’ (MNN); ‘species of diarroeah’: tsetséqan iṣkamá bíran ‘The
non fruit-bearing wild tree’ (SG) {MNN, SG} children have diarrhoea.’ (SWKA) [< Ir.
(M:1936)] {MNN, SWKA}
išpéɫu (n) ‘whistling (with the lips)’ [< Ir. (M:1936)]
{ARC} iṣkanǰá (n) ‘side ropes on a willow rope bridge’
{RAKR}

58
iṣkár Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ǰam

iṣkár (n) ‘hunting’: aʋá adráxtu iṣkár koráʋ which is said to cause milk to curdle’ (IFM); ‘a
boγáʋtam ‘I used to go to the mountains to hunt transparent mineral, used for medicinal
(but no longer do).’ (MNN) [< Prs. šikār] {MNN, purposes’ (IF) {IF, IFM}
WSiC} ǰaház (n) ‘airplane’: ǰaház zemína xomítay ‘The plane
iṣkét (adj) ‘having a mouth-puckering taste, as of landed.’ [< Ur.] {MNN}
unripe persimmons’ {TMF} ǰal /Other pronunc: žal (Chitral town, MA, Laspur)/
iṣponík (vintr) ‘to jump up and down’ (RKB); (n) (n) ‘net’ [< Skt. (T5213) {GNK, MAK, MA,
‘jump rope (game)’ (RKB) {RKB, MS} Laspur}
iṣprunǰík /Other pronunc: iṣprenǰík (Parwak, NKN) ǰalaǰalgúṣ /Other pronunc: ǰalaǰalgúẓ (see entry for
iṣpenǰík (Torkhow)/ (vintr) ‘to blossom, for buds guúẓ), ǰálumǰalkúš (see below)/ (n) ‘a
to open, to bloom’: bosún ki hoy gambúri mischievous gossip’; ‘a carrier of love
iṣprunǰíni ‘When spring comes, flowers bloom.’ messages to a woman’; (adj) ‘hairy, frightening’
(SWKA); ‘to spring up (plants)’ (SWKA) [< (frequent description of witches in traditional
Wakhi (M:1936)] {SWKA, Parwak, NKN} tales) ǰálumǰalkúš (adj, n) ‘hairy, disheveled
(person)’ (typical description of witches) (See
iṣqalí (n) ‘pleading’, ‘begging’ iṣqalí korík (vintr, vtr) also ǰal) (ZK, ZHD) {MNN, TMF, ZK, ZHD}
‘to plead for something’ [cf. Yasin Bur. iṣqʌli
ǰaláṣ (adj, n) ‘hairy (person)’ (MNN); (adj) Id. ‘vulgar
‘complaint’ (L:1962: 29)] {SWKA, MNN, (of speech)’; (n) ‘disheveled, long-haired
AKM} person’ {MNN}
iṣqór ‘soap-like foam prepared from phusdán’ (IF); ǰalaʋál (adj) ‘beautifully spread out (as after
‘liquid essence of pacḥ ashes, used in making combing, of a woman’s hair)’; ‘gracefully
soap’ {IF, RAKR 1988} drooping, like the branches of a willow tree’
iʋaák /Other pronunc: iʋák; also yoʋák (in Lower (ZMZ) ǰalaʋál korík (vtr) ‘to spread out (the hair
Chitral) (MS)/ (n) ‘root’ iʋáki khar kiṣík (vtr) Id. of the beloved)’ (ZMZ) {MNN, ZMZ}
Lit. ‘to plow up someone’s roots’ Sense: ‘to ǰalí (n) ‘screen’ [< Ur. jālī ‘screen’] {MNN}
completely destroy someone’ (Laspur women)
{MNN, MS, Laspur women} ǰalsá (n) ‘public meeting (usually political)’ [< Ar.,
Prs., Ur.] {SWKA}
iʋáz (n) ‘exchange’ {ZMZ}
ǰalʋá (n) ‘beauty’; (n) ‘temporary appearance of
iʋís (n) ‘reins’; ‘bridle, including bit’ (IF) [< Ir. some beautiful thing’ [< Ar.] {ZMZ}
(M:1936)] {RAKR, IF, MS}
ǰam /Other pronunc: ǰa:m (stem vowel is slightly
izát (n) ‘honor’, ‘respect’ beizát korík (vtr) ‘to lengthened in Lower Chitral), žam (Ghezur)/
disrespect’, ‘to insult’ [< Prs., Ur. izzat ‘respect’] (adj) ‘good’: het tan múži ǰam ‘They are on good
{MNN} terms with each other.’ (MA) ǰambélut (adv)
izdép (n) ‘thudding sound’ {Chitral town, ZHD} ‘fortunately’, ‘happily’: ayí ma dirú ošóy
izdóp /Other pronunc: izdoóp (SWKA)/ (n) ‘local
ǰambélut tu haʋ ‘A snake was about to bite me;
variety of apple, grown in Brep, improves with fortunately you came.’ (MNN) ǰameék /Other
pronunc: ǰaméik/ (vtr) ‘to bring about a
keeping’ Malus pumila {RAKR, SWKA}
compromise between two quarreling parties’
ǰabál (n) ‘iron crowbar’ (RAKR); ‘crowbar’ (IF) (MA) (RAKR); ‘to fix something’ (RAKR) ǰamí
{RAKR, IF} (n) ‘goodness’, ‘virtue’ (IF) ǰamǰamí (n) ‘state of
full welfare/happiness’: ǰamǰamía khyot keɫísan
ǰabín (n) ‘poet’ (old Khowar usage) [< Prs.] {Chitral
town} ‘Why are you crying when everything is good
with you?’ (MNN) ǰambéli (n) ‘opportune time’,
ǰafá (n) ‘cruelty’, ‘injury’ {MNN} ‘good time’: ǰambéliote dzahúr hay ‘Zahoor
ǰagír (n) ‘territory controlled by someone specific’ [< came at a good time.’ (MNN) ǰa:m ‘Good!’
Prs., Ur.] {RAKR 1988} ‘Okay!’ (indication of agreement) (with vowel
elongated) ǰammoší (n) ‘reputation of being a
ǰaγúli (n) ‘leather thong tied to a hawk’s neck’ good/virtuous man’ (IWK) ǰam lá ‘Okay.’ (IWA)
{RAKR} {MNN, MA, IF, IWK, IWA}
ǰahalmú (n) ‘a mineral used for medicinal purposes,

59
ǰamár Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ǰirkén

ǰamár (n) ‘son-in-law’ durǰamárbik (n) ‘visit paid by ǰeró royán múža ruphé ‘Stand with people of
new son-in-law to bride’s parents’ house about your own status/kind/group.’ (MS) {MNN,
one week after marriage’ Lit. ‘becoming a son- RAKR, MA, MS}
in-law of the house’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {IWA,
WSiC} ǰešṭán /Other pronunc: ǰošṭán (RAKR)/ (n)
‘supernatural entity, small in size’; ‘mischievous
ǰamát (n) ‘class (in school)’ ǰamatí (n) ‘classmate’, spirits, witches (RAKR) (used affectionately to
‘classfellow’ [< Ur. ǰamāt ‘class (in school)’] refer to small children when they do something
{SWKA} wrong or misbehave) (IWA); ‘lower status
ǰaméli (n) ‘child of one’s female relative (sister, people’ (IWA) ǰešṭa̍nḍekéik (n) ‘traditional
daughter, aunt)’; ‘children or descendants of a custom formerly observed at the beginning of
female relative (sister, aunt)’ (RAKR) [< Skt. spring.’ (It involved a man wearing wrong-side-
(M:1973)] {MNN, RAKR} out clothes and collyrium (surma) in one eye
only. He would sweep the streets with a broom
ǰamgáni (adj) ‘sharp’ {MNN} to get rid of the ǰeštán.): qadíma cḥ etrára
ǰamiát /Other pronunc: žamiát (in Ghezur)/ (n) ‘wife’ ǰešṭa̍nḍekeék reé í rásum šáur ‘In the old days
(respectful term) {IF} in Chitral there was a custom called
ǰešṭa̍nḍekeék’ (RAKR) ǰešṭáno ṭophí (n) Lit.
ǰamíži /Other pronunc: ǰamúži/ (n) ‘twins’ (adj) ‘twin’
‘cap of a ǰešṭán’ (This refers to an old belief
(MNN); ‘fork in a road’ (Lower Chitral usage)
that whoever gets hold of this cap has control of
(MNN) ǰamižíri (adj) (n) ‘twin children’ (RAKR)
the ǰešṭán for life, and becomes invisible [from
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T10421)] {RAKR, MAK, MA,
Lower Chitral area]). (IWA) {IWA, RAKR, Chitral
MNN}
town}
ǰangál (n) ‘planted trees or woods’; ‘natural woods
ǰigár (n) ‘liver’ (SWKA); ‘one’s own dear one’ (MNN)
(in Lower Chitral)’ {IF}
ǰigarí (adj) ‘purplish’, ‘liver colored’ (SWKA)
ǰangalí gambúri (n) ‘buttercup’ Rananculus ǰigár pačéik (vtr) Id. Lit. ‘to cook the liver’
muricatus {Booni} Sense: ‘to torment someone’ {MNN, SWKA,
ZMZ}
ǰanǰabí (n) ‘ginger’ Zingiber officinale [< Prs.] ǰil /Other form: jilxaná/ (n) ‘jail’ ǰilár nisík (vintr) ‘to
{Drosh} get out of jail’ [< Eng. ‘jail’] {MNN}
ǰanǰál (n) ‘quarrel’ ǰanǰalí (adj) ‘quarrelsome’: iγo ǰindá /Other pronunc: žindá (ICS) (ZMZ)/ (n)
sóra ažíru ǰanǰalí bóni ‘Children born right ‘patchwork garment worn by a faqír or
after one another are quarrelsome.’ (MS); (n) mendicant’ {RAKR, WSiC, ICS, ZMZ}
‘person involved in a quarrel’; (adj) ‘disputed’
(MNN) ǰanǰál korík (vtr) ‘to quarrel’, ‘to fight’ ǰinǰirét (n) ‘a side valley in Lower Chitral on the right
ǰanǰalgói (n) ‘a bad-tempered person who bank of the Chitral/Kunar River where a few
quarrels at every occasion’ (MNN) {MNN, MS, people still speak Kalasha’ ǰinǰiretánu (n)
SWKA} ‘person from Jinjiret’ {MNN}

ǰaṭhá (adj) ‘confused’, ‘incorrect (of language)’ ǰip1 (n) ‘jeep’ [< Eng. ‘jeep’] {MNN}
{RAKR} ǰip2 (n) ‘pocket’: qalám ma ǰípo šer ‘The pen is in my
ǰazír (adj) ‘out of order, broken, not working, not pocket.’ (MA) [< Ar., Prs., Ur.] {MNN, MA}
usable’: reḍíʋ ǰazír bíti šer ‘The radio is out of ǰir (n) ‘mixed ice and water in flowing water’ (MNN);
order/not working.’ (MS); ‘no good’, ‘not ‘floating pieces of ice or snow in a river’ (MS):
usable’: hayá ǰazír zemín bo qeymáta gití šer ‘I hayá čhúyo bo uṣák biru biráy- čhúči sin jir aláy
have wasted a lot of money on this useless ‘Last night it got very cold. In the morning the
land.’ (MNN) {SWKA, MS, MNN} river brought floating ice.’ (MS) ǰiróγ (n)
ǰek (n) ‘jug’, ‘pitcher’ [< Eng. ‘jug’] {MNN} ‘partially frozen water’ (SWKA) {MNN, MS,
SWKA}
ǰer (n) ‘line’, ‘queue’: ǰéra ruphé ‘Stand in line!’
ǰiráng (adj) ‘reddish (of horse)’ (RAKR); ‘yellowish-
(MNN) roy ǰer bíti gónian ‘The people are brown (of horse)’ (MS) {RAKR, MS}
coming in a line.’ (MNN); Id. ‘benefit’ (MA);
‘category (i.e. of status, village grouping)’: tan ǰirkén (n) ‘jerrycan’ [< Eng. ‘jerrycan’] {MNN}

60
ǰohǰú Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes kargín

ǰohǰú (adj) ‘twelve’ {MNN} the hair of the beloved) (ZMZ) {MNN, MA, ZMZ}
ǰorú (n) ‘a brush made of cow hair on a wooden ǰust (n) ‘a pair (goats, chicks) (IF); (adj) ‘joined’ ǰust
handle’ {IF} bik (vintr) ‘to meet someone on the road, and
continue together’ (Lit. ‘to become a pair’); ‘to
ǰoš1 (adj) ‘ten’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10436)] {MNN,
meet (a person)’: tu ma bráro sum kyaʋát ǰust
RKB}
bití asusaá ‘Have you ever met my brother?’
ǰoš2 (n) ‘fodder for livestock’; ‘wild herbs’ (IFM) ǰoš (WUR) ǰusteék (vtr) ‘to kill more than one duck
dreék (vtr) ‘to feed livestock’ ǰošaánu (n) with one shot’ (MAK); ‘to count goats in pairs
‘fodder store’ ǰošmóš (n) ‘weeds’ [< Skt. (as opposed to counting them singly)’ (MYS)
(M:1973) (T6227)] {MNN, IFM, TMF} {MNN, MAK, MYS, IF, WUR}
ǰoṣík (vtr) ‘to consider’: aʋá hatoγo šum moóš ǰustróγu (adj) ‘parallel’ {MS}
ǰaṣúman ‘I consider him (to be) a bad man.’
ǰušṭóro (n) ‘person who fancies himself a big man or
(RKB) [< Skt. (T5271)] {SWKA, RKB}
leader, but in reality is not’ (MNN); ‘an arrogant
ǰu (adj) ‘two’: ǰu buthál cḥ iír ‘two bottles of milk’ person’ [< Skt. (T5286?) (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
(SWKA) ǰuʋáli /Other pronunc: ǰugálu (IF)/ ‘two ǰuṭilašṭ (n) ‘village in Lower Chitral’ {Chitral town}
persons’ (compare ǰu ǰun in Lower Chitral) (MS)
ǰugán ‘two each’: hamí durén jugán jugán ǰuúr (n) ‘acquaintance’: hasé moóš ma su ǰuúr ‘That
naʋkár kórum kónian ‘Two servants work in man is an acquaintance of mine.’ (MS); ‘friend’:
each of these houses.’ (SWKA); ‘double(d)’ hatoγó sum ǰuúr bos ‘Be friends with him.’
(RAKR) ǰuín ‘two of them (total number (SWKA) aslámo tat očé ma tat juúr ošóni
previously stated)’ ǰučhánd ‘doubled’: ma braár ‘Aslam’s father and my father were friends.’
girúa ma xošaní ǰučhánd besír ‘If my brother (SWKA); (adj) ‘friendly’: tan múži ǰuúr ḍaq
had come my happiness would have been saylóte baγáni ‘The boys friendly among
doubled’ (SWKA) ǰuɫínǰi (adj) ‘twofold’, ‘two- themselves went for an outing.’ (SWKA) ǰuúr
layered’ (MNN) ǰusír (n) ‘two pairs of bulls’ korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to sing in chorus in unison’ ǰurí
(MAK) ǰuʋálu /Other pronunc: ǰuʋáli) (MNN: ǰu (n) ‘friendship’ [< Skt. [T10482] {MS, SWKA}
žun in Lower Chitral) ‘two persons’ (MNN); ‘both ǰuʋári /Other pronunc: ǰoʋárI (Parwak)/ (n) ‘maize’,
persons’ (MNN) < Skt. ǰuʋáṣki /Other pronunc: ‘corn’ ǰuʋaráy /Other pronunc: ǰoʋaráy (RAKR)/
ǰuɫáṣki/ (n) ‘name of a field in Balim, Laspur’ (n) ‘corn/maize bread’ ǰuʋári mul (n) ‘maize
(IF) (Lit. ‘two-headed’) ǰuʋóli (adj) ‘two flour boiled in water’ (IWA) ʋaxtí ǰoʋaréy
stranded’; (n) ‘two-stranded thread or yarn’ ‘maize crop sown in April’ (in single-crop areas)
(SWKA) ǰuyóri ‘time when the sun goes behind (Parwak) [< Skt. (T10431] {RAKR, MNN, BA,
the mountains, to emerge again on the other IWA, Parwak}
side’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10489) (T6648)]
{SWKA, MS, RAKR, IF, MAK, MNN} ǰuʋarí gambúri (n) ‘species of lily’ Lilium
ǰudá (adj) ‘separate’ [< Prs.] {MNN} polyphyllum {Booni}
ǰuft (n) ‘a pair’; ‘an even number’ {MNN, RAKR} jẹ njẹ́ r (n) ‘chain’ [< Turkic or Prs.] {MNN}
ǰumbaldéq (n) ‘goatskin bag, larger than ṣangaší’ ka (interrogative pro) ‘who?’ kos ‘oblique form of ká
(made from two or three goatskins) (MNN) Id: ‘a ‘who?’’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2574)] {MNN, MS}
fat person’ (IF) {MNN, IF} kaá /Other form: kará (RAKR, SWKA, TMF)/ (pro)
ǰunáli /Other pronunc: ǰináli (IWK, IWA)/ ‘polo ‘someone’, ‘anyone (indefinite)’ kukaá (pro)
ground’; ‘an open plain area where various ‘someone or other‘: sina kukaá aɫiánte peétstay
games can be played’ (MNN) [< Prs.] {IWK, ‘Someone or other at the river shot at the
MNN, IWA} ducks.’ (MS) kukós (oblique form of kukaá) ‘of
ǰunazá /Other pronunc ǰunáza/ (n) ‘dead body’, someone or other’: γáɫa kukós dek očhítay ‘At
‘corpse (of human)’; ‘prayer recited over dead the polo match someone or other’s leg was
body of human’ (IF) [< Prs., Ur.] {RAKR, WSiC} broken.’ (MS) kará di ki ‘whoever’ (TMF) hiš
kaá ‘anyone’ (SWKA) {MNN, RAKR, SWKA,
ǰurúni /Other pronunc: žurúni (MA)/ (n) ‘curled tail
TMF}
feathers of a male mallard duck’ (see tatáɫi)
(MNN, MA); (employed in poetry as a symbol of kargín (n) ‘village in Tehsil Mastuj’ kargeník

61
kač Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes kamál

‘person from Kargin’ {SWKA} kálan uts (n) ‘a spring in Sonoghor’ {Sonoghor}
kač1 (n) ‘species of wild mountain greens’ Gagea kalašnikóf (n) ‘Kalashnikoff rifle’, ‘AK-47’ [<
lowariensis {SWKA} Russian, Ur., Eng.] {SWKA}

kač2 (n) ‘raw silk’ (when unwound from cocoon, kaleér (n) ‘dead body’; ‘corpse’ [< Skt. (T2656)] {IF}
before dyeing) (IF); (adj) ‘silken’ kačgóγu (n) kalí (n) ‘disinclination (to do something), laziness’:
‘silkworm’ kačmáč (reduplicated form) ‘silk ma kalí kóyan ‘I don’t feel like (doing it).’
thread and accompanying things’ kačgéni (n) {MNN}
‘instrument/tool for spinning silk’ (ZHDM) {MNN,
IF, ZHDM} kalíǰ (n) ‘college’ [< Eng. ‘college’] {MNN}

kačkukúɫi (n) ‘tadpole, immature stage of frog’ kalíp (n) ‘wooden frame for measuring leather to
{MNN} make koón’ {SWKA}

kac̣át (n) ‘a signal’, ‘sign’ kac̣áti /Other pronunc: kalkanḍeér (n) ‘species of white-tailed bird which
kac̣áṭi (MYS, in Laspur and Mastuj)/ (n) lives near rivers’ {MNN }
‘matches’ kac̣át korík (vtr) ‘to signal’ (IF) {MYS, kalkór (n) ‘dove’; ‘pheasant’ (SWKA); ‘partridge’
IF} (IWK); ‘mountain dove’ (IWA) {MNN, MAK,
kaf-i-daryá /Actual pronunc: kafidaryá/ (n) ‘a SWKA, IWK}
mineral used for medicinal purposes ’ [< Prs.] kaɫ (n) ‘back (of body)’ {SWKA}
{IF}
kaɫám (n) ‘vegetable resembling a turnip’ (SWKA);
kafirpišál /Other pronunc: kharpišaɫ/ (n) ‘brave ‘sugar beet’ (MAK); ‘root vegetable similar to a
person’ (refers to son in a traditional tale); sugar beet’ Daucus carota (RAKR) {SWKA,
‘Name of a folk hero famous for killing a witch.
MAK, RAKR}
Used as an epithet for a brave person.’ {ZK
tale} kaɫbúki (n) ‘doll’ {SWKA, TMF}
kaγ (n) ‘crow’ (MNN) kaγlíru (n) ‘mica’ (Reshun) [< kaɫí ‘part of plow: two wooden sticks suspended
Skt. (M:1973) (T2993)] {MNN, Reshun} from the yoke on the sides of the bull’s head.
The two kaɫí are connected with the šamarγónu’
kaγáz (n) ‘paper’ (AKM); ‘letter (correspondence)’
{MNN, IWA, MAK, IF, Sonogor}
(RKB) [< Prs.] {AKM, RKB}
káɫi (n) ‘dish made of strips of dough boiled in onion
kahák (n) ‘hen’ (MNN) kahakríc̣u (n) ‘chicken
broth’ (used as treatment for cough or fever)
droppings’ (MA) {MNN, MA}
{MNN, IF}
kahč (n) ‘shoulder (of horse)’ {MNN}
kaɫúm (n) ‘verse’ (RAKR); ‘a small task’ (SWKA)
káku (n) ‘bird’; ‘cuckoo’ (RAKR); Id. ‘cowardly {RAKR 1988, SWKA}
person’: bo káku moóš la ‘He is a very cowardly
kam (adj, adv) ‘less’, ‘little’ kameék /Other pronunc:
man.’ (HUR) {RAKR, HUR}
kaméik/ (vtr) ‘to decrease something’ (SWKA);
kal (morpheme referring to time) (n); ‘when’ kála pat ‘to reduce something’ (NKN) {NKN, SWKA}
‘until when’ {NKN} kam- (adj) ‘adjective-forming prefixal morpheme
-kal ‘behaves as a bound morpheme referring to a meaning ‘less’, ‘little’ (appears with both
specific time’ kiṣbotákal ‘plowing time’ (in Khowar and Prs./Ur. words): kamzát ‘of low
afternoon, around 1-2 p.m.) (SWKA) caste, class’ kamžáni ‘of little courage’,
lešudoyálak /Other pronunc: lešudoyákal/ ‘miserly’, ‘cowardly’ kamnasíb ‘unlucky’,
(note metathesis kal > lak) (n) ‘cow-milking ‘unfortunate’ kamzubán ‘of one who talks
time’ (SWKA) lešuaʋerákal (n) ‘time for cows little’ [< Prs.] {SWKA}
to come home and be put in their stalls’
(SWKA) {NKN, SWKA} kamaá ‘how many?’ (MNN) í kamaá ‘a few’ (IF): i
kamaá sabún ‘a few pieces of soap’ (SWKA);
kalá /Ghezur word given by a Laspur person/ (n) ‘some’: i kamaá ḍaq skúlote háni ‘Some (but
‘sheep’ (cf. kéɫi in other dialects) {Laspur} not all) boys came to school.’ (SWKA) {MNN,
kalahúr (n) ‘cloves (spice)’ Syzygium aromaticum IF, SWKA}
{IF} kamál /Other pronunc: khamál (IS/ (n) ‘an amazing

62
kamarkisá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes karáɫi

thing’ (SWKA); ‘special quality/skill’ (SWKA) be puzzled, dismayed, disappointed’ (RKB) [<
{SWKA, IS} Skt. (M:1973) (T2744)] {MNN, SWKA, MS,
RKB}
kamarkisá (n) ‘waist pouch’ {RAKR 1988}
kapí (n) ‘notebook’: niʋešíran kapítu ‘S/he is writing
kambóɫ (n) ‘willow branch’; ‘species of willow’ Salix in a notebook.’ [< Eng., Ur. ‘copy’(book)]
alba {RAKR 1988, IF} {SWKA}
kambóx (n) ‘a large thick tree branch’ [< Skt. kaphéni (n) ‘wooden vessel in which cooked bread
(M:1973) (T2766)] {MNN} is placed’ (MS); ‘wooden plate larger than a
kamrá (n) ‘room’ [< Ur. kamrā ‘room’] {MNN} xanák’ (MNN) {MS, MNN}

kan (n) ‘tree’: púši kanó phúra asúr ‘The cat is on the kaphoóɫ /Other, favored, pronunc pakhoóɫ (see that
top of the tree.’ (MNN) kanc̣óc̣ (n) ‘speckled, entry) / (n) ‘traditional Chitrali men’s cap‘ {MNN}
sparrow-sized bird’, ‘woodpecker’ [< Skt. kar (n) ‘ear’: karó mo žibé la Lit. ‘Don’t eat my ear.’
(M:1973) (T3023)] {MNN} Sense: ‘Don’t make noise’ (said
kand (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ kandík ‘person from affectionately). (MNN) ma kar ta hósta Id. Lit.
Kand’ {SWKA} ‘May my ear be in your hands.’ Sense: ‘Don’t
forget to do what I have asked you to do.’ (IF)
kandáh /Other pronunc: kandá/ (n) ‘a stack of
kar korík (vtr) ‘to listen to’ (MNN, MYS)
irregularly shaped rocks which are not useful for
karadreéni (n) ‘earrings’ (SWKA) karadíni (n)
building’; ‘rough stone wall’ (Parwak) kandáh
dik to make a rough stone wall from field ‘earphones’ ‘headset: oró mat det - karadínyo
stones’ (ZMZ) {IF, IWK, ZMZ, Parwak} ‘Give’ me that thing - the earphones.’ (RAKR)
kar pec̣ bik (vintr) Id. Lit. ‘for ears to get hot’
kandrák /Other pronunc: kandraák/ (n) ‘melon Sense: ‘said when a person feels that someone
vines’ (SWKA); ‘small melon, similar to is either praising or denigrating him.’ karodíni
canteloupe’ {SWKA, IF} (n) ‘hearing aid’ karkoríni (n) ‘earphones’,
‘headphones’ karineéni (n) ‘earring’ (children’s
kándu (n) ‘wild almond’ Prunus dulcis [< Skt.
word) loṭkéri (adj) ‘stupid’ (reference is to a
(M:1973) (T3030)] {Chitral town}
donkey which has big ears) (SWKA) karatoríru
kandúri (adj) ‘how much?’; ‘how many?’: kandúri (adj) ‘hearsay’ (Lit. ‘which has reached the ear’)
pay asúni ‘How many goats are there?’ kandúri (MNN): aʋá tan karatoríru lúo tate dóman ‘I am
ki (relative adj) ‘as much as’ i kandúri (adv) telling you something I have heard.’ (MNN)
‘about, approximately’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN} karmún (adj, n) ‘(person) having small or
deformed ears’ (RAKR) karúṭu (adj) ‘deaf’ (n)
kanḍól (n) ‘worm inside a tree’ {MAK}
‘deaf person’ kára lu dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to whisper’
kangál (adj) ‘partially mute (not completely γoṭ)’ [< kára torík (vintr) ‘to be heard’: ma kára tóri
Skt. (T2604)] {RAKR} šeér ki sádar góyan ‘I have heard that the
kanṭéy (n) ‘maize stalks’ (used for fodder) {RAKR, president is coming.’ (SWKA) kára taréik (vtr)
Sonoghor} Lit. ‘to cause to reach the ear’ Sense: ‘to tell
about’: ta haya itrázo safan kára tarétam ‘I told
kánu (adj) ‘blind’: i loṭ kánu barzangí hatií niší asúr everybody about this objection of yours.’
‘A huge blind giant is sitting in there.’ (WSiC); (RAKRW) kar korák (n) ‘listener’, ‘one who
(n) ‘blind person’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3019)] listens’: hasé lu kar korák biráy ‘He is reputed
{MNN; WSiC)}
to be obedient/an obedient person.’ (IF)
kap (adj) ‘bent’ (MNN); (n) ‘rolled brim of Chitrali karmoṭák (n) ‘glands immediately beneath the
cap’ (ARC) kap korík (vtr) ‘to bend gently’ ear’ (TMF) karmuṭí (n) ‘mumps’ (TMF)
{MNN, ARC} karénbaréki (adj) ‘having very sharp hearing’;
(n) ‘a person who can hear even faint sounds’
kapál (n) ‘head (of living being)’: ma kapál cḥ améran (MNN) karmanín (adj) ‘completely deaf’; (n)
‘My head hurts.’ (MS) kapála pong lakhík (vtr) ‘completely deaf person’ [< Skt. (T3056)] {MNN,
Id. ‘to behave obstinately’ (SWKA); ‘to behave SWKA, RAKR, RAKRW, MYS, IF, TMF}
stubbornly’: kapála pong lakhí uštúrtay ‘He ran
away quickly.’ (RKB) kapáltu kučhéik (vtr, karáɫi (adj) ‘partially bald’; ‘having thinning hair’
{RAKR}
vintr) Id. Lit. ‘to scratch one’s head’ Sense: ‘to

63
karanḍí Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes keɫík

karanḍí (n) ‘plastering trowel’ [< Skt. (T2790) also kar koré ‘Just listen to one word from me.’
Ur. or Panjabi kānḍī ‘plastering trowel’] {MNN} (GMKH) {SWKA, GMKH}
karbéɫi1 (adj) ‘brown color’ (color of šoqá, made from kaṭáki (n) ‘wooden pin in plow’ {IWA}
walnut husks) (SWKA); ‘camel-colored’ (IF)
{SWKA, IF} kaṭaroóγ (n) ‘ice-cold water’ {MNN}

karbéɫi2 /Other pronunc: karbéɫu/ (n) ‘wool from first káṭing (n) ‘blasting’, ‘explosion’ [< Eng. ‘cutting’] {IF}
shearing of a sheep’ (Sonoghor) karbéɫi korík kaṭís /Other pronunc: kaṭíts/ (n) ‘root of a sprouted
(vtr) ‘to cut the top branches of a small tree’ seedling’ (MS) kaṭís dik /Other pronunc: kaṭíts
(IF); ‘to cut the wool of a lamb for the first time’ dik/ (vtr, vintr) ‘to sprout from seed’: síri ṣaʋ
(IF) {IF, Sonoghor} kaṭisdyák išnári noh ‘Barley is not a fast-
karc̣áku ǰoṣ (n) ‘species of weed’ Amaranthus sprouting crop.’ (SWKA) {SWKA, MS}
virdis “slender amaranth” {Chitral town} kaṭuré (n) ‘a clan descended from Baba Ayub’ {MS}
karmátsi (n) ‘catfish’ {MNN} kaʋír (n) ‘caper - buds of a ground-creeping vine,
karpašáng (n) ‘head cold’ {RKB, MNN} cooked as vegetable and used as medicine for
cholera’ (MNN); ‘caper’ (made from flower of
karpišáɫ (n) ‘refers to father (in tale)’ {ZK tale} the plant. It is soaked in water for 5-6 days,
karrí (n) ‘fernlike plant used for fodder, light green in then dried.) (IF) Capparis spinosa [< Skt.
color’ Adiantum capillus-veneris {IF} (T14354)] {MNN, IF}

kartús ‘cartridge’ [< Eng. ‘cartridge’] {MNN} kaʋš /Other pronunc: kaʋṣ (RAKR)/ (n) ‘traditional
shoes, slippers’ (old term) {MA, WSiC, RAKR}
karʋás (n) ‘cotton (crop in the field)’; ‘cottonseed’
kaʋšér korík /Other pronunc khaʋšér korík (vtr)
(Chitral town) Gossypium herbaceum [< Ir. ‘to plate/coat with metal (e.g. cooking vessels,
(M:1936) < Skt. (T2877)] {TMF}
artificial jewelry)’; ‘to gild’: hayá pulungúšṭu
kaš (n) ‘a warm stole’ (said to be an old word; sormén khaʋšér korí šer ‘This ring has been
compare new word paṭú) {Chitral town } gilded with gold.’ (MNN) ‘to whitewash’; ‘to
kašdreék (n) ‘ceremonial meal cooked when main weld’; ‘to put a metal filling in teeth’ {MNN,
winter stock of flour is first opened’ {MNN} RAKR}

kaškól (n) ‘begging bowl’ {SAS} kay (n) ‘elder sister’ (in Upper Chitral) kaygíni (pl n)
‘elder sisters’ (Used in Lower Chitral for both
kašṭék (n) ‘patch applied to a torn garment, elder and younger sisters.) {MNN }
especially a šuqá’: ta bráro šuqá bax bíti šer-
keč bik (vintr) ‘to shift from one house to another,
héra kašṭék c ̣akáʋe ‘Your brother’s šuqá has a e.g. in summer’ {IF}
hole in it. Apply a patch there.’ é ma žuúr, ta
táto šuqá bax bíti šer- kašṭék c ̣akáʋe kí ‘O my kehrč (n) ‘double-edged straight sword’ {RAKR
daughter, your father’s šuqá has a hole in it; 1988}
patch it!’; (n) ‘a specific type of embroidery keɫ (n) ‘vertical mark on a yak horn made to identify
done on traditional women’s caps’ {ZMZ} it in a herd’ (IF); ‘a scratch (e.g. of a knife cut)’
(RAKR); ‘wrinkle (on face)’ (RAKR) {IF, RAKR}
kaṣ (n) ‘large storage bin for grain’ (SWKA)
(Sonoghor): káṣo dráʋe ‘Put it in the grain kéɫi (n) ‘female sheep, over four years of age’
storage bin.’ (MA); ‘store inside house for grain’ (RAKR) keréɫi (n) ‘skin of sheep’ (MNN); ‘meat
(It has a slate floor and plastered wall.) (MAK) of sheep’ (SWKA, RKB) [< Skt. (M:1973)
kaṣó kuɫúm (n) ‘(body part) depression below (T3476)] {MNN, RKB, RAKR, SWKA}
the skull, in the upper part of back’ (ZP)
keɫík (vintr) ‘to weep, cry, wail’: hasé ráha niší
{SWKA, MAK, MA, Sonoghor, ZP}
keɫiran ‘She is sitting in the road, weeping.’ (IF:
katsári (n) ‘vessel larger than a ṭhošṭ which holds short story kéɫi wal keɫítay ‘The shepherdess
approximately two maunds (about 90 kg.) of wept’) keɫandrú /Other pronunc: kaɫandrú
flour’ {MNN} (MYS)/ (n) ‘crybaby’ (used for baby, or other
kaṭák (adv) ‘merely’, ‘only’ (used only with ‘one’ and person who cries too much) (MNN); ‘stingy
‘two’ and only with lu ‘word’) ‘: i kaṭák lu masár person’ (RKB) keɫáru (n) ‘unavoidably feeling

64
keɫkeɫáʋ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes kirkéṭ

like weeping’: ma keɫáru góyan ‘I can’t help bíti goyán- toó dúra kaá néki Lit. ‘How can he
weeping.’ (SWKA) {MNN, RKB, RAKR, SWKA, come?’ Sense: ‘He can’t come; there isn’t
IF, MYS} anyone at his house.’ (SWKA) kíča kóri ‘how’
keɫkeɫáʋ (adv, adj) ‘willy nilly’ {SWKA} (used with transitive verbs): kíča kóri hurín boy
‘How can it be opened?’ (TMFD); {MNN,
ken1 (n) ‘flat place to sit or take shelter, e.g. a SWKA, TMFD, TMFW}
depression, crevice beneath a boulder, on a
mountain, or on a glacier’ (RAKR): kenó gúc ̣a kilá (n) ‘banana’ Musa paradisiaca [< Ur. kelā
moóš niší asúr ‘There is a man sitting at the ‘banana’] {MNN}
foot of the rock shelter.’ (MNN); ‘cave’ (Lower kiláʋ /Other pronunc: kilaʋú (Chitral town)/ (n)
Chitral usage) (IF) {RAKR, IF, MNN} ‘desiccated grape juice, grape leather (flat
ken2 (n) ‘turn’, ‘number (as in a queue)’: kéna ‘turn rubbery sheets)’; ‘mixture of grape juice boiled
with a bit of clay soil added which makes a kind
by turn’ {IF}
of fruit leather’ (Chitral town) kilaʋú komún
kerismá (n) ‘species of grass’ Iris hookeriana {IF} ‘string/garland of walnuts or apricot kernels
coated with boiled grape juice (see above) to
kerméz (adj) ‘intense dark pink, rose-colored’ make a kind of candied nuts’ (Chitral town)
{SWKA} {SWKA, Chitral town}
kest korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to be stubborn’; ‘to do kilím (n) ‘lettuce’ Lactuca sativa {MNN}
something deliberately/intentionally’: salím cinío
kest korí čhinítay ‘Salim broke the cup kilipónǰi (n) ‘reward given to shepherds after all the
deliberately.’ {SWKA} animals in his charge have given birth’ {RAKR
1988}
késu (n) ‘village on the left bank of the Chitral River
above Drosh’ {TMF} kiɫáɫ (n) ‘cheese made from milk taken from
stomach of slaughtered newborn kid after it
ki (conjunction) ‘if’: ki no hay ‘If s/he doesn’t come.’ drinks its mother’s first milk’ [< Skt. (M:1973)]
(RKB); ‘that’ (functions to introduce relative {MNN}
clauses): hasé ma žuúr ki toó huú poóštaʋ ‘That kiɫγítu /Other pronunc: kirγítu / (n) ‘tiny orange
is my daughter, that you saw down there.’ (MA) berries’ kirγítu (n) ‘fruit of mirγíndz’ (MNN) (See
{RKB, MA} also Laspur syn. búring) {MNN, IF}
kí1 /Other pronunc: khí (IWA: in Lower Chitral)/ (adj) kiméri (n) ‘woman’ [< Skt. (T3303)] {MNN, WSiC}
‘which?’: kí kitáb ta ‘Which book is yours?’
(SWKA) kiʋaáli /Other pronunc: kiʋaálu, kingóṭu (n) ‘roundworm’ (in intestines) {MNN, IF}
khiʋáli (Lower Chitral) (IWA)/ (pro) ‘which -kíni (adj) ‘adjective-forming morpheme attaching to
one?’: kiʋaáli ta ‘Which one is yours?’ temporal adverbs’: ma prušṭikíni dur loṭ ošóy
(SWKA); ‘who?’: hes kiʋáli ošóy ‘Who was ‘My previous house was big.’ (FQ) ʋezenkíni
s/he?’ (IWA) < Skt. (T3164) [< Skt. (T3164)] ‘yesterday’s’ (FQ) nastkíni boók ‘previous
{SWKA, IWA} wife’ (MYS) {MYS, FQ}
kí2 (interjection) ‘utterance-final emphatic particle kinimíni (adv) ‘intensifier used to modify ‘night’’:
used with imperatives, can indicate impatience kinimíni čhuí ‘pitch-black night’ {NKN}
with addressee’: tu tan he kormó koré kí ‘You
do that work yourself!’ (MYS) ma báče bazárar kiphíni /Other pronunc: Metathesis is heard in some
people’s pronunciation, as pikhíni (MAK),
saʋdá angyé kí ‘Bring things from the bazaar
khipíni (IF) (MNN)/ (n) ‘oval-shaped wooden
for me!’ (MYS) {MYS, SWKA, IF} spoon with handle on side, rather than end’
kíča (adj) ‘what kind of?’, ‘what sort of?’: hasé kíča khipinbéɫu (n) ‘small basket for keeping
moóš ‘What kind of man/person is he?’ (MNN); spoons’ (IF) {MNN, MAK, IF}
(adv) ‘how’: kíča kom ‘What should I do?’ kirízi (adj, n) ‘(applies to) falcon in second year -
(MNN) kíča poórtaʋ ‘How did you sleep?’ after adult feathers have emerged‘ {TMF}
(TMFW) kíča bíti (adv) ‘how?’ ‘by what means’ kirkéṭ /Other pronunc: kirkíṭ (RAKR)/ (n) ‘the game
(with intransitive verbs), Often used in rhetorical
of cricket’ kirkéṭ korík ‘to play cricket’ [< Eng.
questions with negative implication: hasé kíča ‘cricket’ (the game)] {MNN, RAKR}

65
kirkóṭ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes koc ̣

kirkóṭ (n) ‘leather foot wrappings’ (RAKR); ‘skin kitigín (adj) ‘full of lively coming and going, hustle
leggings worn by shepherds or ordinary people’ and bustle (as at a celebration with many
(MS) (IWK) {RAKR, MS, IWK} people present)’ (RAKR); (adj) ‘impatient,
agitated’: sábur ko, tu kitigín bíti asús ‘Wait a
kirmíč (n) ‘rubber shoes’ {SWKA}
little; you are (being) impatient.’ (TMFW);
kiróṭi (adj) ‘old’, ‘broken-down’; ‘cracked’ {IF} ‘quarrelsome’ (HUR) (TMFW) {RAKR, TMFW}
kišár (n) ‘spikes of wheat’ {CKT} kı̍ timíti (adj) ‘mixed up’ (See also kı̍ žimíži) {SWKA}
kiṣ (n) ‘plowing’; ‘farming’; ‘agriculture’ kiṣ korík (vtr) kiṭími (n) ‘fruit of šinǰúr’ (size of ber) {MNN, Reshun}
‘to plow’: aʋá thésu kiṣ kóri góman ‘I am just
coming from plowing (and therefore am tired).’ kiṭóri (n) ‘dried mulberries’ {MNN}
(MNN) kiṣ dreék (vtr) ‘to ready the plow to start kižibík (vintr) ‘to move’: birdú bíti kyaní bosán-
plowing’; ‘to begin plowing’ (MNN) kiṣ c̣akeék kižibé nóo ‘Why are you acting like a dead
(vtr) ‘to start plowing’ (IF) kiṣík (vtr) ‘to plow’; Id. person; move about some.’ {SWKA}
‘to lose’ (This meaning develops because a lost
thing has vanished from sight, like sown kı̍ žimíži (n) Lit. ‘mixed up words, a word game’
seeds.): qalámo kúra kiṣítam ‘I have lost my kı̍ žimíži korík (vtr) ‘to tell tales, gossip’: kı̍ žimíži
pen somewhere.’ (SWKA); ‘to sow by korák roy royán ítu c ̣akér ‘People who
broadcasting seeds’ (MNN) kiṣmán (n) gossip/tell tales cause other people to quarrel.’
‘cultivation’ (SWKA); ‘plowing season’ (MS); {SWKA}
‘deeds’, ‘actions’ (MS): šum kiṣmáno natijá šum kɫinǰ (adj) ‘curved’ {RAKR}
‘The result of bad deeds is bad.’ (MS); ‘plowing
and sowing’ (Sonoghor): ta kiṣmán ta múxo gíti kɫits (n) ‘small pieces of wood laid between the
šéni Prov. Lit. ‘Your plowing and sowing are naxdaru to keep them properly spaced apart’
{IF}
now facing you.’ Sense: ‘You are now facing
the consequences of your actions.’ (Sonoghor) kɫok (adj) ‘state of a hen after laying a clutch of
kiṣíni (n) ‘plow’ kiṣma̍nǰá (Khowar + Prs. jạ eggs, when she is ready to hatch them’,
‘place’) (n) ‘field in which a crop is sown’ (ZMZ); ‘broody’: kahák kɫok bití asúr ‘The hen is ready
‘arable land’ (ZMZ) kiṣmanǰaá (n) ‘village in to sit on her eggs to hatch them.’ (MNN); ‘stiff’,
Baroghil’ kiṣmanǰaáku (n) ‘person from ‘hard’, ‘dry’, ‘toasted (bread)’: kɫok ṣapík ‘toast’
Kishmanja’ (SWKA) kiṣ bik (vintr) ‘to share (MS); ‘stiff’, ‘dry (e.g. hide or skin)’ (MS) {MNN,
someone’s meal with him' (MS): aʋá ta su kiṣ MS, MAK}
bom ‘I will share food with you.’ (MS); ‘to
kɫup (n) ‘portion of pheránu on sides of fireplace
become soft’ (MS): γočhú kiṣ bíti šer ‘The
(place for sitting)’ {MAK}
leather sole has become soft.’ (MS); ‘to be
ready/suitable for plowing’: hayá cḥ étur kiṣ bíti ko (adv) ‘why?’ {MNN}
šer ‘This field is now ready for plowing.’ (MS) -ko (interjection) ‘utterance-final particle indicating
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T3444) and (T3449)] {MNN, uncertainty’: A: axmát ṣapík žutí asúraá? B: žutí
SWKA, MS, IF, ZMZ} asuúraá ko ‘A: Has Ahmad eaten? B: I think
kiṣípi (n) ‘magpie’ (a common largeish black and he has eaten.’ {SWKA}
white bird which comes in summer, damages
koč ‘knot (in wood)’ (MNN); ‘crotch of tree’; ‘small
fruit on trees; it is traditionally thought of as a
swelling/growth on a tree trunk’ (ZHD) koč
bringer of bad news); Id. ‘a gossip’ kiṣipɫái
počík (vintr) Id. ‘to be sick of something’ (MNN)
(kiṣípi ‘magpie’ + ɫay ‘pattern’) (adj) ‘white and
{MNN, NKN, ZHD}
black patterned’; (n) ‘a white and black species
of duck’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN} kočtéli (n) ‘species of willow’ Salix nuristanica {IF}
kitéik (vtr) ‘to turn soil with a spade’ (MNN); ‘to stir’ koc̣ (n) ‘jungle’ (SWKA): kocḥ ó ɫoʋ kóc ̣o, driẓó ɫoʋ
(SWKA) {MNN, SWKA}
dríẓo Prov. Lit. ‘The jungle fox is in the jungle;
kitép /Other pronunc: kitáb (MNN) (IWA: among the scree-slope fox is in the scree slope.’
younger or educated persons)/ (n) ‘book’ [kitép Sense: ‘They are all cowards and run away, i.e.
< Turkic, kitáb <Ur., Prs., Ar. kitāb ‘book’] {IWA, go to their own homes.’ (IF); ‘uncultivated area
MNN} where plants and trees grow by themselves’

66
koγ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes krába

(IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2589)] {SWKA, IF} kóreko (conjunction) ‘because’ {MNN}
koγ 1
(n) ‘hyena-like animal which drinks blood, korík (vtr) ‘to do’, ‘to make’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
smaller than cheetah’; ‘wild dog’;’ [< Skt. (T2814)] {MNN}
(M:1973) (T3481)] {RKB}
kormóš (n) ‘blind rat’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
koγ2 (n) ‘temporary depression in the skin or flesh
kórum (n) ‘work’, ‘task’, ‘deed’, ‘accomplishment’:
from being pressed for a long time’ {RKB}
aʋá kórum koríka phrétam ‘I began to work
koγúzi (n) ‘village up-river from Chitral town’ {RAKR, (became able to work).’ kórumγár (n) ‘servant’;
TMF} ‘hard working person’; (adj) ‘hard working’:
kohná (adj) ‘ancient’, ‘old’ {SWKA} ʋekórum šapír ma korumγár gordoóγ oyóy
Prov: Lit. ‘A useless wolf ate my hard-working
kóki (conjunction) ‘because’: aʋá hanún ta sum donkey.’ Sense: ‘for an idle person to lead a
kórum koríko no bóman kóki ma phordú díko hard-working person astray.’ ʋekórum (adj)
boγélik ‘I can’t work with you today because I ‘useless’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2892)] {RKB}
have to go to plant trees.’ {IF}
kosík (vintr) ‘to walk (of animate entity)’; ‘(of
koknár (n) ‘poppy seeds’ {TMF} inanimate entity) to move, work, function’: makú
kóli (adj) ‘unbalanced’, ‘crooked’ (IWA) kóli bár (n) šúo kasíran ‘The shuttle is moving (back and
‘cooked food and clothes sent to married forth) in the loom.’ (IF); ‘to roam around
daughter seven or eight days after marriage’ idly/uselessly’ (IF) kaséik (vtr) ‘to make walk’;
(IWA) kóli sareék (vintr) ‘to be displeasing (to ‘to drive (vehicle)’ (MNN) < Skt. (T3137) kos
someone)’ (SWKA) kolí (n) ‘crookedness’ sum kosík (vintr) Id. Lit. ‘to walk around with
(IWA) [< Skt. (T3533)] {IWA, SWKA} someone’ Sense: ‘to have illicit relations with
someone’ (IF) kosíru (adj) ‘well-traveled’: hasé
koɫórǰ /Other pronunc: koɫoyúrǰ (TMF) (MNN)/ (n)
‘male of a species of falcon whose female is kosíru moóš ‘He is a well-traveled person.’ (IF)
sayúrǰ’ (MAK) {MAK, RMF, MNN} [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2981)] {MNN, SWKA, IF}

koɫú (n) ‘species of partridge’ {MNN, MAK} koš (n) ‘blister’; ‘pod (of seeds, legumes)’ kokóš
(intensifier reduplicative formation) (adj)
komún (n) ‘garland of apricot kernels or walnuts - a ‘covered with blisters’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (T3539)]
traditional parting gift for a guest’ {Chitral town} {SWKA, RAKR, TMF}
konḍá (n) ‘window latch’, ‘bolt’ {SWKA} koṭ (n) ‘coat’ koṭanǰíru (adj) ‘wearing a coat’:
koóɫ /Other pronunc: khóɫ (Chitral town, GNK, koṭanǰíru moóš yi góyan ‘A man wearing a coat
AKM); kóɫ in MA, IF/ (n) ‘bone’ ḍang koóɫ (n) is coming up here.’ [< Eng. ‘coat’] {MNN}
‘ankle bone’ paṭik koóɫ (n) ‘wrist bone’; ‘cannon -kóṭi (adj) (derivational suffix conveying several
bone of a horse’, ‘bone of lower part of leg’ adjectival and nominal senses); ‘like something’
(MNN); ‘shin bone’ (ZMZ) broyú koóɫ (n) šerkóṭi ‘brave’ Lit. ‘like a lion’ (IF) ‘affected or
‘collarbone’ koɫdeén (n) ‘graveyard’ Lit. ‘place
afflicted by something’: honkóṭi ‘flood-
for bones’ brar koóɫ (n) ‘gaskin (upper part of
back leg of a horse)’ (MNN) žuúr koóɫ (n) affected’ gilkóṭi ‘smeared with mud of animal
‘chestnut (growth on the inside of a horse’s leg manure’ (IF) naγzikóṭi ‘dirty little one’ (spoken
above the knee)’ (MNN) boík koóɫ (n) affectionately to baby) (TMFW); (n) ‘young of,
‘collarbone’ (ZMZ) {MNN, MAK, MS, AKM, or a small one (animal)’ šarakóṭi ‘small/young
(Laspur), IF, ZMZ} male markhor’ (MNN) {IF, MNN, TMFW}
koón /Other pronunc: RKB: khoón in Lower Chitral; koʋít /Other pronunc: kuʋít/ (n) ‘fig (tree or fruit)’
MAK: khoón in Rech, MA: kon in Torkhow/ (n) Ficus carica [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2749)] {CKT,
‘traditional skin shoes with laces’ (MNN) {MNN, AR}
RKB, MAK, RAKR}
koʋór /Other pronunc: koʋoór, koór (MAK)/ (n)
kop /Other pronunc: qop/ (n) ‘cup’ (MNN); ‘ladle’ ‘pigeon’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2753)]
(Chitral town) [< Eng. ‘cup’] {MNN } {MNN, MAK}
kordzóxu (n) ‘plant with long, thin leaves, the roots krába (n) ‘grave (burial place)’ (Laspur usage only)
of which are eaten’ {Booni} (IF) [< Ar., Prs. qabr ‘grave’] {IF, IFM}

67
krač Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes kuh

krač (n) ‘type of millet’ {Chitral town} flow has been temporarily stopped)’ (SG) kruts
bik (vintr) ‘to go to sleep (of limbs)’, ‘to be
krac̣éik (vtr) ‘to prick (for example, straw or thorn in
completely without feeling’ (See also syn.
clothes)’, ‘prickle (woolen clothes)’: šen zap ma bruúz bik); ‘to be numb or stiff after the "pins
krac ̣énian ‘Woolen clothes prickle (me).’ and needles" sensation felt when striking the
{MNN} ulnar nerve in the elbow’ (MNN) {MNN, SG}
kramík /Other pronunc: kromík/ (vtr) ‘to thresh with kruṭhék (n) ‘clay pot which can be used for storage
animals’ kramónu (n) ‘a specific number of or cooking’ (holds 10-15 kg. of flour) {MNN}
sheaves put on the threshing floor at a single
time for threshing by animals’ [< Skt. (M:1973) kruy (adj) ‘red’ traq kruy (adj) (intensive
(T3578)] {MS, MA} construction) ‘dark red’ kruy počík ‘to be
furious (red-faced in anger)’ (MNN) kruyaáṭu
krem (n) ‘back (body part)’ loṭkrémi (adj) ‘broad- ‘light red’ (SWKA) kruyʋarúni ‘wearing red
backed, i.e. able to carry heavy loads’ clothes’ kruyáku (adj) ‘reddish’ kruyrúmi (adj)
kremaḍúki (adj) ‘hunchbacked’; (n) ‘red-tailed’ (IWK) (n) ‘a black bird with red
‘hunchbacked person’ (SG) [< Skt. (T2776) breast and tail’ (MNN) kruyašíki (n) ‘a variety of
and/or (T3415)] {SWKA, RAKR, SG} apple’ (Sonoghor) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3585)]
kreník (vtr) ‘to buy’, ‘to purchase (large or significant {MNN, SWKA, IWK, Sonoghor}
things)’; ‘to obtain’, ‘to acquire’, ‘to attain’ (BA) ku- (adv) ‘prefixal morpheme which functions as an
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T3594)] {SWKA, MS} indefinitizer’ kukíča ‘somehow or other’ {MS}
krenj̣ (n) ‘wrinkle’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {SG} kučá (n) ‘lane’ {MAK}
krenzéik (vtr) ‘to cut into very small pieces (with kučagár (adj, n) ‘(of) one whose protestations of
adze or by hand) (e.g. wood)’ {NR} love are not trustworthy’ {MNN}
kreṭhík (vtr) ‘to chip with a vertical motion (e.g. fallen kučháy /Other pronunc: kučáy (IF)/ (n) ‘boil (skin
wood)’ {MNN} infection, eruption)’: kučháy žuníote šunǰ c ̣akáʋe
kriṭ (adv) ‘exactly’ (used with numbers) {SWKA} ‘Give an injection to the person suffering from
boils.’ (MNN); ‘infected wound’ (IF) {MNN, IF}
krízi /Other pronunc: krózu/ (adj) ‘small’, ‘fine (in
size)’; (n) ‘small things’, ‘children’ (cf. tsetséq kučhéik (vtr) ‘to scratch an itch’ [< Skt. (T3489)]
‘little ones’) krı̍ zipóngi (small + foot) ‘sheep {MNN, RKB}
and goats’ (IF) {SWKA, IF} kuc̣hún /Other pronunc: kuc̣uún; kuc̣ú ̣ n (RKB)/ (n)
krizmá /Other pronunc: krismá (Booni)/ (n) ‘small, ‘species of small beans’; ‘green peas’ (IF)
purple, iris-shaped flower which does not form a kuc̣u̍nγér (n) ‘field from which kuc ̣ún has been
bulb’ (SWKA); ‘a fodder plant whose seeds are cut’ kuc̣huní (n) ‘hail’: baṣíran di kucḥ uní di
collected’ (Booni); ‘a succulent wild grass’ dóyan ‘Both rain and hail are falling.’ (RKB)
(Parwak) krizmabíru (n) ‘a rope/wreath of kuc̣huní boṣík (n) ‘precipitation of fine, round
twisted krizmá’ (Parwak) {SWKA, Parwak, pellets (freezing rain)’ (MNN); (vintr) ‘to hail’
Booni} (ZHD) {MNN, IF, RKB, ZHD}
krong (n) ‘thorax (part of body which contains liver, kudakán (n) ‘tetanus’ (traditionally believed to be
heart, lungs, intestines, etc.)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) caused by eggs or sheep meat) (IF); ‘childhood
(T2784)] {RAKR} disease in which the throat seizes up (tetanus)’
(MS) {IF, MS}
krophík (vintr) ‘to crow (of cock)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T3576)] {SWKA} kugúnu (n) ‘mosquito’ {MNN, IF}
kroṭ (n) ‘large piece of wood, large log’ {NKN} kuh (n) ‘valley in which there are arable land and
settlements’; (n) ‘relatively lower region’; (adj)
kruc̣ (adj) ‘crunchy’: hayá ṣapík kruc ̣ korí pačéi šer ‘low (in elevation)’: mestúčo sar buní kuh ‘Buni
‘This bread has been cooked crunchy.’ {SG} is lower (and warmer) than Mastuj.’ (SWKA);
kruík (vintr) ‘to be annoyed with someone’ kruiík (n) ‘opposite of sarhád, ‘mountainous region’’
‘annoyance with someone’, ‘distancing from kuhéku (adj) ‘of down country, i.e. ‘urban’
someone’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3598)] {MS} (IWA) (used by people of Upper Chitral to refer
to people of lower areas in Chitral) [< Skt.
kruts (adj) ‘numb’; ‘asleep (of a limb to which blood

68
kuhár korík Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes kuṣéik

(T3400)] {MNN, SWKA, IWA} oleracea {MA}

kuhár korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to have a crying fit’, ‘throw a kunḍáx (n) ‘a vegetable, white and reddish in color’
tantrum’ {RAKR, WSiC} Amaranthus cruentus {Ayun}
kuǰ kúǰ (interjection) ‘come here!’ (call to summon kur- (n) ‘bound nominal morpheme meaning
chicks, in Upper Chitral) kuúǰ kúč (interjection) ‘where?’ (occurs with case endings) kúra (adv)
‘come here!’ (call to summon chicks) (MNN:
‘where?’ (pointlike location): kúra šer ‘Where is
used in Mastuj); ‘come here!’ (call to summon
grown chickens in Lower Chitral) {MNN} it?’ (SWKA); ‘Used in rhetorical questions with
a negative implication’: hasé kúra góy ‘He
kukér (n) ‘pressure cooker’ [< Eng. ‘cooker’] won’t come.’ (SWKA) kúri /Other pronunc: kúi/
{SWKA} (adv) ‘where to, whither (directional)’?:
kukúɫi (n) ‘puppy’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {SWKA, RKB} Question: aʋá kúri biím Answer: phári boγé
‘Q: Where should I go? A: Go over there’ (MS)
kuláli (n) ‘glazed clay cup’ {MNN}
kukúra (adv) ‘somewhere or other’ (MS): hayií
kulánu (n) ‘man’; ‘husband’ (IF): kulánu dúra níki kukúra šer ‘It is somewhere or other in here.’
‘My husband is not at home.’ (IF) {MNN, MYS, (MS) kurén kúri bik (vintr) Id. ‘to go very far’;
IF} ‘to stray from the main purpose or path’; ‘to be
kulpačá (n) ‘thin pad for sitting on’; ‘pad put under a diverted’: ohó bráár, tu kurén kúri baγáʋ la
saddle’ {RAKR} ‘Oh, brother, you have strayed far from the
topic.’ (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3271] {MNN,
kulúk /Other pronunc khulúk (TMF)/ (n) ‘boiled cow MS, SWKA}
or goat feet’ (TMF) ‘hoof (of bull)’; ‘foot (of small
animal, e.g. sheep, goat)’ (MS) kulukoóγ (n) kuráγ (n) ‘village above Chitral on the Chitral-Booni
‘curry dish/soup of feet and head of animal road’ {RAKR}
(cow, goat)’ (Chitral town) krízi kulúk (n) kurkún (n) ‘elbow’ (MNN); ‘inside corner of a wall’
‘fetlock joint (of horse)’ (MNN) {Sonoghor, (IF) {MNN, IF}
Chitral town, TMF, MNN, MS}
kurkuník isprú (n) ‘yellow flower with many needle-
kuɫ (n) ‘old hunchbacked man’ (used in folk poetry like petals and a long tap root’ (It is one of the
as epithet for a disliked husband) {GMKH} first blooms to come out in spring.) {MAK}
kuɫúči (n) ‘chick’, ‘young chicken still with its mother’ kurú (n) ‘cultivated fields and orchards’; ‘occupied
(MNN) kuɫučyoóγ (n) ‘chicken curry’, ‘chicken lands’ {GNK}
soup’ (MYS) {MNN, MYS}
kuruγúnu (n) ‘tick (eight-legged, blood-sucking
kuɫúm /Other pronunc: quɫúm (SAS)/ (adj) ‘deep’ insect which is the vector for several diseases)’
{MNN, SAS} {IF}
kuɫús (n) ‘a small piece of wood put on the end of a kušnalaáku /Other pronunc: khušnalaáku (MNN),
rope while it is being twisted, to prevent it from kušnaláku, khoṣnaɫaáku (MA)/ (n) ‘sharp
unwinding’ {MNN} stones (slate?)’ (MAK); ‘shale’ (Reshun);
kumáɫ (n) ‘smokehole in center of traditional room’; ‘schist’, ‘slate’ (MA) (In traditional tales, such
‘skylight’: gor andréni kumáɫa dzox Prov. Lit. stones are said to rain from the sky on the
‘A witch is inside; there are thorn bushes over approach of a demon.) {MAK, Reshun, MA,
MNN}
the smokehole.’ Sense: ‘If people inside a
house are making (bad-intentioned) plans, the kušún /Other pronunc: khušún/ (n) ‘smoke’;
ones on the outside can only speculate about ‘household’: hayá déha još kušún šéni ‘There
what they are doing.’ (NKN); ‘smokehole are ten households in this village.’ (MNN)
(viewed from outside/above)’ (IF) {MNN, NKN, kušún dik (vtr) ‘for smoke to irritate the eyes’
IF} (IF): ma γečhán kušún pray ‘Smoke is irritating
kumáy (adj) ‘black’ (term for color of horses) {MS}
my eyes.’ (IF); ‘to start up a new fire’ (IF) {MNN,
IF)
kumóru (n) ‘girl’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3303) (T13448)]
{RAKR, WSiC, MS} kuṣéik /Other pronunc: khuṣéik (MNN), kuséik (IF:
in Lower Chitral)/ (vtr) ‘to sic a dog on someone’
kunáx (n) ‘a type of edible greens’ Portulaca ‘order a dog to attack’ khuṣ khuṣ khuṣ

69
kuṣík Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes khak

(interjection) ‘sic em!’ (call to incite dog to fight some further action or response is expected’:
or bite someone) (MNN {MNN, IF} hamóṣ kyá ‘Like this’ (can indicate satisfaction
h h
kuṣík (vtr) ‘to slaughter’: bac ̣ óɫo kuṣís nóo t ul bíko in accomplishing something successfully) (MS):
‘You’ll slaughter the calf, won’t you, when it é žaʋ, angár boγdú kyá ‘Son, the fire has gone
gets fat.’ (MA) kuṣindá (n) ‘animal being out (implied "light it again!") (SWKA) aʋá
fattened for slaughter’ (See also syn. darélik) bíman kyá ‘I am going (not staying).’ (SWKA)
(SWKA) [< Skt. (T3369)] {MA, SWKA} {IF, SWKA, MS}

kuṣk (n) ‘upper chest and shoulder’ (MS) kúṣko kyá (pro) ‘what?’: kyá résan ‘What are you saying?’
2

muɫ ‘armpit’ kúṣki dik (vtr) ‘to cradle/carry in (adj) ‘what’: kyá qésma ‘what kind of’ {SWKA}
the arms folded in front of the body’: kúṣki díti kyaáγ (pro) ‘something’: kaá zap angóni kaá kyaáγ
alyáʋ ošóy ‘S/he was bringing (it) cradled in kaá kyaáγ ‘Some bring clothes, some (bring)
her/his arms.’ (RAKR) aʋá tseqó kúṣki dití asúm something (else), some something else again.’
‘I am cradling the child in my arms.’ (MS) [< {SWKA}
Skt. (T2588)] {RAKR, IF, MS}
kyaγ (pro) ‘what?‘: aʋá khyo kyaγ kom Lit. ‘What
kutáčap (n) ‘white clothes’ {ZMZ}
would I do with anything?’ Sense: ‘I don’t
kutarmá (adj) ‘unnecessarily big’ {IF} need anything.’ khyo oblique form of kyáγ
‘what?‘ {MNN}
kutér (n) ‘knife’: loṭ kutéren pušúr dondzé! ‘Cut the
meat into pieces with the big knife.’ (MNN) kyam (adv) ‘what (with negative implication)?’: gití
kutér ta su doy Lit. ‘The knife will cut you.’ i.e. kyam bosán Lit. ‘Having come what will you
‘You will cut yourself with the knife.’ (RAKW) do?’ Sense: ‘What will you do to earn a living
[< Skt. (T2860)] {MNN, RAKW} after coming?’ (i.e. it probably isn’t advisable
kuterγeṣí (n) ‘a violent domestic quarrel’ {MNN} for you to come) {RKB}
kuṭáli (n) ‘goatskin bag smaller than a burdúki’ kyaní (adv) ‘how (sometimes with senses of what?’
(synonynm of ṣangaṣí) {IF} or why?)’: kyaní bosán ‘What are you doing?’
‘How are you behaving?’ (MNN) bíko aʋá kyaní
kuṭú (n) ‘sleeping room for servants’ (MS); ‘a small kom ‘So what can I do?’ (MNN) kitában kyaní
house’ (IF) {MS, IF}
arú ‘What did you do with the books?’ (Chitral
kuṭyáng /Other pronunc: kuṭyángi/ (n) ‘rear sight on town); ‘why’: tu kyaní haʋ ‘Why have you
a rifle’ (RAKR); ‘wooden frame put on a donkey come?’ (Implication: Speaker was not
to carry loads’ (IF) {RAKR 1988, IF} expecting this and might not be pleased.)
kuṭhék (n) ‘large earthen cooking vessel’ (IF); (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA, Chitral town}
‘cooking pot’ (ARC) {IF, ARC} kyáʋat (adv) ‘when?’ kyáʋat kyáʋat (reduplicative
kuṭ ú (n) ‘shoulder’ (MNN); ‘hump of a bull’
h construction) (adv) ‘from time to time’ kyáʋat ki
(Sonoghor) {MNN, IF, Sonoghor} ‘when (relative)’ {MNN}
kuṭhúk (n) ‘pit/stone of fruit’ (apricot, almond, date, kiẓʋáht (n) ‘village in Torkhow’ {MNN}
peach, mango) {MNN, RAKR, IF} khabút (adj) ‘bluish gray’ (term for color of horses;
kuy k yo (n, pro) ‘what?’ > ‘something insignificant’
h color produced by mixture of white and black
> ‘nothing’ {RAKR} hairs, which give the shade of light/sky blue)
{MS}
kya (adj) ‘some’ ‘any’: máte kya maǰbúri néki ‘I am
not under any obligation.’ (MS); ‘there is not’: khádur /Other pronunc: khátur (IF) γádur (HUR)/ (n)
kya xabár ‘I don’t know.’ (IF); hiš kya (pro) ‘muddy water’ (in Lower Chitral) (IF); (adj)
‘muddy (of water)’ (Parwak) khadraɫoóγ /Other
‘anything’: tu bo naláyaq - hiš kya no bos ‘You
pronunc: khardaɫoóγ (by metathesis) (IF)/ (n)
are very incompetent; you can’t do anything.’ ‘muddy water’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2715)] {IF,
(SWKA) kya di ‘any at all’ (SWKA) {SWKA, IF, RKB, Parwak}
MS}
khak (n) ‘crown, top of head’; ‘skull’ (WSiC) kháktu
kyá1 (interjection) ‘utterance-final particle - conveys kučhéik (vintr, vtr) Id. Lit. ‘to scratch one’s head’
emphasis and can carry an implication that Sense: ‘to lose/relinquish one’s rights’ (IF); Id.

70
khalabátu Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes khasp

‘to lose hope of attaining something that was kháni dik (vtr) ‘to drape one’s shawl over the
hoped for’ (IF) kháka nišéik (vtr) Id. ‘to honor shoulder’ {MNN}
and respect someone’ (IF) khakó ayh néik ‘to
spoil someone’s mind/mood by talking too khanís (n) ‘mung beans’ Vigna radiata khanisγeér
much’ (IF): hányi drungár lu pray ki khakó ayh ‘field from which mung beans have been cut’
{MNN, SWKA}
neétay ‘S/he talked so much that s/he spoiled
my mind (mood)’ (IF) khakó c̣hameék Lit. ‘to khanizék /Other pronunc: khanisék/ (n) ‘servant
give someone a headache. Sense: to disturb woman’ {WSiC}
(e.g. someone while he is working)’ kháka šik
khanǰ /Other pronunc: khaánǰ (MNN)/ (n) ‘wall’:
(vintr) Id. Lit. ‘for something to be in the head’
Sense: ‘to be clever’ (IF) kháka kyaáγ no
khánǰtu birmóγ (uleék) Id. Lit. ‘to throw a walnut
behrčík ‘to lose one’s temper’ (IF) kháka no onto a wall’ (where it will never stick). Sense:
širú (adj) ‘of a person who loses his temper ‘to give advice to someone who will never
quickly’ (IF) khakén dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to fall on listen.’ (IF) khanǰarés ‘lower beam at the top of
one’s head’ kháka dik (vtr) Id. Sense: ‘to do a wall’ (Rayin); ‘beam fitted in a wall to support
someone much honor’ (MNN): hes tan dustó tan the naxdáru’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, MA,
kháka pray ‘He did his friend much honor.’ IF, Rayin}
(MNN) khakó meṭhér ‘crown of head (e.g. khanǰóɫ (n) ‘black species of diving duck which lives
horse) (MNN) {MNN, RAKR, WSiC, IF, MYS} near river banks’ {MNN, GNK}
khalabátu ‘golden thread used for embroidery on a khar (n) ‘kitchen garden’ (MNN) kharγér ‘plot for
white čhóγa’ {A} kitchen garden’ (MNN) khar kiṣík Id. ‘to destroy
someone’ (Laspur women) kharbápu (n)
khaɫ (adj) ‘both’: salím akbár očé aslámo kháɫan sar
‘scarecrow’ (Drosh) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3862)]
drung ‘Salim is taller than both Akbar and {MNN, IF, Laspur women}
Aslam’ (SWKA); ‘all’: pay dráʋa har iʋáli
ambohí boxtán tan hósta thié "oh, ma mal khaɫ kharanéṣ /Other pronunc: kharanáṣ (SWKA) (ZHD:
asúni" raʋ xošaní koráʋ oštáy ‘While playing used in Warijun)/ (n) ‘a spastic person (i.e. one
who lacks full control of his muscles)’; ‘evil doer’
paydreék each of them balanced many stones
(SWKA); ‘defective person’ (SWKA) (See also
on her hand and was saying happily, "Oh, my syn. thamráyi) { SWKA, ZHD}
(goats) are all present".’ (MYS, short story
“Rajuli”); khaɫ troy ‘all three’ (TMFD) khaɫ kharáṣ (n) ‘type of legume (axe-shaped)’ Vicia
korík ‘to count (to make sure all are present)’: hirsuta {MNN, IF}
gúc ̣a xaméi khaɫ arétam ‘I brought them (the
kharbalá (adj) ‘unavailable’; ‘scarce’ kharbaláy (n)
goats) down to the foot (of the slope) and ‘shortage’, ‘scarcity’, ‘unavailability’ {MNN}
counted them (to make sure that they were all
there).’ (AK); pay khaɫ arúaá ‘Have you counted khardačí (n) ‘salad’, ‘leafy greens or raw vegetables’
and brought all the goats?’ (SWKA) {MYS, troq khardačí (n) ‘a wild green which grows in
SWKA, IS, TMFD, AK} water’ (ARC); ‘watercress’ Nasturtium
khaɫeék (vtr) ‘to bury (a person after death)’ {MNN}
officinale {Proper Chitral, IF, MA, ARC}
kharegár (adj) ‘expert’; ‘skillful’; (n) ‘expert’, ‘skillful
khamáɫ /Other pronunc: kamáɫ (WSiC)/ (n) ‘skull’
person’ [< Prs., Ur.] {IS}
loṭkhaméɫi (adj) ‘dumb’ {SWKA, IF, MS, WSiC}
khaská (n) ‘the base of a wall’ (The lower part is
khamṣér ‘stick used in game similar to hockey,
wider than the upper part; the wall is
made of single piece of wood’ {RAKR}
constructed on top of this.’) {IF}
khamyáb /Other pronunc: kamyáb/ (adj) ‘successful’
khaskór (n) ‘tool for hitting and breaking up clods
[< Ur., Prs.] {RAKR}
after plowing’ (See also syn. lošṭingdíni)
khanḍár (n) ‘wooden vessel used to catch droppings {MAK}
of animals while they are threshing’ (IF);
khasp /Other pronunc: khásip (GMKH)/ (n) ‘craft’,
‘broken object (e.g. dish, wall, glass, pumpkin)’
(RAKR) {RAKR} ‘work’; ‘behavior’ (SWKA): ḍaqío khasp
‘childhood behavior’; ‘childish behavior’
khangnakháng bik (vintr) (reduplicative form) ‘to (SWKA); ‘actions’ (GMKH) {RAKR, SWKA,
stagger’ {GNK}

71
khašál Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes khóɫi

GMKH} like light at night. A female snake guards the

h root, while the male circles above. The plant
khašál (adj) ‘lame’: hes i ḍekén k ašál ‘He is lame in must be pulled by the root in order to be used.)
one leg.’; ‘handicapped’ {RAKR} {TMF}
khaškír (n) ‘ruins (e.g. of house)’ {MNN, MAK} khišán (pl n) ‘handcuffs’, ‘shackles’; (simile used for
khaṣík (vtr) ‘to spread something onto something, ‘beloved’s tresses’) {TMF}
e.g. to spread mud plaster onto a wall, to rub oil khišk (n) ‘groin area’ (See also pálmu) {IF}
on something’: aʋá tan múxtu tel khaṣíman ‘I
am rubbing oil on my face.’ [< Skt. (M:173) khišmišdróc̣u (n) ‘seedless variety of grape’ Vitis
(T2971)] {MNN} vinifera {TMF}
khay (n) ‘dust of flour which is too fine to eat’ khiští /Other pronunc: khišṭhí (ZMZ), kiští (WSiC)/
khayaánu (n) ‘place where fine flour dust is (n) ‘boat’; ‘mendicant’s begging bowl’ (WSiC)
collected’ {SWKA} khiští istáre (n) ‘the constellation Cassiopeia’;
(term used as an endearment for children,
khaynáru /Other pronunc: khayránu (IF) (by
because they are always present) [< Prs. Ur.]
metathesis)/ (n) ‘baby donkey’; ‘donkey foal’ [<
(ZMZ) {MNN, ZMZ, WSiC}
Skt. (M:1973) (T3818)] {RAKR, IF, MS}
khíšun /Other pronunc: khíšu (RAKR)/ (n) ‘flying,
khaz (n) ‘mixture of flour and salt in water boiled
stinging insect smaller than a mosquito’
together to give animals extra nutrition’ (e.g.
(šunúko in Lower Chitral) (MNN); ‘sandfly’
hunting dogs, pregnant cows) {RAKR}
(RAKR) {MNN, RAKR}
kheč (adj) ‘wet’, ‘soaked (as from rain)’: béri mo khiṣ khiṣ (interjection) ‘call used to drive away
boγé- tu kheč bos ‘Don’t go outside; you will chickens or other birds’; ‘call used to drive away
get wet.’ {IF} ǰešṭán during ǰešṭán ḍekeék rituals’ (RAKR)
khelʋáṣ (adj) ‘very tired’: aʋá khelʋáṣ hótam ‘I have [onomatopoetic] {RAKR, MNN}
become very tired.’ {NKN} khoγ ‘switch (thin, flexible branch of tree)‘ (čóuʋ in
Zondrangram) {MNN}
kheɫí /Other pronunc: keɫí (IWA)/ (n) ‘shield’ [< Skt.
(T3915)] {RAKR, MYS, IWA} khol (n) ‘threshing floor’ kholdapheéni (n) ‘mallet
made of heavy wood (apple or beech) for
khen (n) ‘pickaxe’; ‘hoe, implement for cultivating’
pounding soil of a threshing floor’ khol dreék
(RAKR, MA); ‘spade’ (MAK) khen dik (vtr) ‘to
(vtr) ‘to begin threshing’ kholdreék (n)
dig with a pickaxe’ khenéik /Other pronunc:
‘ceremonial food cooked on first day of
kheneék/ ‘to cultivate, to hoe’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
threshing’ kholkrémi (khol ‘threshing floor’ +
see (T3811) and (T3873)] {MNN, RAKR, MAK,
krem- ‘thresh’) (n) ‘tenth month of Khowar
MA, WSiC}
calendar (approximately September)’ kholbóti
kheršeék /Other pronunc: kheršéik/ (vtr) ‘to drive (adj) ‘encircled by a halo (moon or sun)’ (AKM):
away (fowl)’ (Parwak); ‘to find fault with, mas kholbóti šer ‘The moon is encircled by a
deprecate’ (MNN) {Parwak, MNN} halo.’ (AKM) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3834)] {MNN,
MAK, AKM}
kheṣ (n) ‘wish’; ‘desire’: čhaáγɫí mracḥ ót kheṣ ki areér
telía nišír Prov. Lit. ‘If a rook craves mulberries, kholúl (n) ‘a type of legume, similar to damaáṣ but
it will sit in a willow tree.’ Sense: Applied to seeds slightly longer’; ‘species of seed, bean-
someone adopting an unproductive method to shaped but thinner - fed to cows in winter to
achieve a profitable goal. {MNN} keep them warm’ Phaseolus vulgaris (TMFW)
{MNN, TMFW}
khiɫkí /Other pronunc: khilkí, kilkí (Chitral town)/ (n)
‘window’ [< Ur. khiṛkī ‘window’] {SWKA, Chitral khoɫ (n) ‘cave’; ‘hollow under a big boulder’ (RAKR)
town} {IF, RAKR}

khimiyá (n) ‘ultimate medicine’: zomó ašrú ta báče khóɫi (adj) ‘backwards, on the wrong foot’: tseq ḍaq
khimiyá ‘zomó ašrú is the ultimate medicine for buṭhán khóɫi anǰáʋ astáy, aʋá froskétam ‘The
you.’ khimiyá ǰóṣu (n) ‘species of wild grass - little boy was putting his shoes on the wrong
very rare and used for medicine.’ (Traditional feet; I put them right.’ (MNN); ‘left (as opposed
lore regarding this plant: It is located by a firefly- to right)’ (WSiC); (n) ‘left-handed person’ khóɫi

72
khomúsi Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes khušnúl

γerdík (vintr) ‘to rotate clockwise’ (MNN) (‘to getting wet and becoming crooked)’ (MNN); (n)
rotate counterclockwise’ is froski γerdík) {MNN, ‘person with a twisted or deformed mouth’
WSiC} (RAKR) khóṣi pinḍóru (adj) ‘oval-shaped’
(MNN) {MNN, RAKR}
khomúsi /Other pronunc: khumúsi (RAKR),
khomósi/ (n) ‘forelock (of horse)’ (IF, RAKR); khoték (n) ‘person from Village Khot’ {MNN}
‘fringe’; ‘bangs (worn by girls or young women)’
khotgáz (n) ‘pasture in roṣgól where many
(IF, RAKR); ‘poll (of horse)’; ‘protrusion of a
partridges are found’ {MNN}
horse’s head at the back of the skull,
immediately behind or between the ears’ (MNN) khoṭ (n) ‘cloud’: khoṭ gáni šer ‘It has become cloudy.’
(See also syn. phoós) (MNN) {IF, RAKR, MNN} (MNN); (adj) ‘angry’, ‘annoyed’ khoṭ bik (vintr)
khongór /Other pronunc: khongér (IWA: among ‘to become angry’: ma tat khoṭ bíti asúr ‘My
younger people)/ (n) ‘curved sword’ khongér father has become angry.’ (MNN) khoṭ bíko ḍaq
dik (vtr) ‘to strike with a sword’ (IWA) [< Ir. keɫíko čaq hoy ‘Having been scolded the boy
(M:1936) or < Skt. (M:1973)] {RAKR, IWA} was about to cry.’ (RKB) khoṭéik (vtr) ‘to make
khonǰisk (n) ‘sparrow’ [< Prs. kunjišk ‘sparrow’] people angry with each other and incite them to
{ARC} fight’ (IF) khoṭ gik ‘for clouds to come’ (IF) khoṭ
korík ‘to intoxicate (in a positive sense, as of a
khonú ‘rice straw’ (SWKA) (TMF); ‘straw’ {SWKA, beautiful fragrance)’: sinǰúr isprúo ʋorí khoṭ
GMKH, TMF} arér ‘The sweet scent of the sinǰúr blossoms
k oón /Other pronunc: koón (IF), k on (Drosh)/ (n)
h h intoxicated (me).’ (MNN); ‘to tie a cloth around
‘traditional leather shoes’ {MAK, MNN, IF, SG, the neck to force blood to collect in the head
Drosh, Laspur} (for surgical purposes in traditional medicine)’
(MNN) {MNN, RKB, IF}
khoóng (adj) ‘stooping’; ‘bent over’ {RAKR}
khoy (n) ‘cap (particularly women’s)’ khoypetshík (n)
khoór /Other pronunc: khor (see below)/ (n) ‘large ‘a children’s game’ SWKA [< Skt. (T3942) < Ir.
basket’ (MNN); ‘large open-mouthed clay (M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA}
vessel’ (ZHD) khor (n) ‘a large basket made of
willow branches’ (SWKA) {MNN, ZHD, SWKA} khul ‘finished’, ‘used up’; ‘all (specific)’ (IF) khuleék
(vtr) ‘to finish off’ khúli ‘all (non-specific)’ (IF) [<
khoóz (n) ‘rooster’s comb’ {MNN} Ar., Prs.] {MNN, WSiC, IF}
khopík (vintr) ‘to cough’; (n) ‘persistent coughing’: khurzahíl /Other pronunc: khurzahír (ZHD);
ma khopík c ̣okí šer ‘Persistent coughing has khurzahí (ZK)/ (adj) ‘faithless’; ‘ungrateful’;
afflicted me.’ khopéik (vtr) ‘to cause to cough’ ‘disloyal’ {RAKR, ZK, ZHD}
[< Skt. (T2756)] {SWKA}
khus (n) ‘corn/maize silk’ (See also phus)
k orudzóxun (n) ‘species of thorny weed’ {MNN}
h
{Sonoghor}
khorúr1 (n) ‘species of rose with very many small khúsi /Other pronunc: khúši/ (adj) ‘handicapped’,
flowers’ Rosa webbiana {CKT} ‘incapable’; (n) ‘handicapped or incapable
person’ (See khuš) {MAK}
khorúr2 (n) ‘crore (ten million)’ [< Ur. karoṛ ‘ten
million’] {Chitral town} khusúruk (n) ‘main branch of a tree, growing directly
from the trunk’ {IF}
khošt (adj) ‘hidden’: hatoγó tat gíko hasé gónǰi khošt
hoy ‘When his father arrived he hid in the khuš (adj) ‘one-handed’ {IFM}
storeroom.’ (SWKA) khoštbík /Other pronunc: khušíš /Other pronunc: khošíš/ (n) ‘an attempt, try’
khošbík (SWKA)/ (n) ‘a children’s game khušíš korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to attempt, to try’ [<
(Yarkhun), hide-and-seek’ khošnabíli (n) ‘a Prs.] {MNN}
children’s game’ (Yarkhun) ‘hide-and-seek’
(SWKA), khošṭéik /Other pronunc: khošṭeék/ khusnakhuséy /Other pronunc: khušnakhušéy/ (n)
(vtr) ‘to hide (something or someone)’; ‘to keep ‘a tree with silver-gray leaves (like sinjúr) which
something secret’ (IF) khošt bik (vintr) ‘to hide grows in rain-fed land - has strong smell’
oneself’ {SWKA, RAKR, IF} Elaeagnus umbellata {TMF}
khóṣi (adj) ‘misshapen (e.g. bread, human mouth)’ khušnúl /Other pronunc: khušníl (SWKA), khušníli
(MNN); ‘deformed’, ‘twisted (e.g. a charpai after (RAKR, form from Pasum)/ (n) ‘crochet hook’

73
khušṭá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes lašá

{MNN, SWKA, RAKR} (RKB); (n) ‘diamond’ (RKB) [< Ar., Prs.] {MNN,
RKB, SWKA}
k ušṭá (n) ‘powder/fine ash of something burned for
h

medicinal purposes’ {IF} lahǰʋáht (n) ‘lapis lazuli’ [< Prs. lājevard] {RKB, BM}
khúṣukhúṣu korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to whisper’ lahrt /Other pronunc: laht (ZHD)/ (adj) ‘straight’, ‘flat’
[onomatopoetic, reduplicative] {RAKR} {WSiC, ZHD}
khúṭu (adj) ‘lame’ khuṭík (vintr) ‘to walk lamely’, ‘limp’ láka (conjunction) ‘as if’ {MNN}
(IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3941)] {MNN, IF}
lakašár /Other pronunc: lakhašár/ (n) ‘white
k uúr (adj) ‘dim’, ‘clouded (opposite of clear) (of
h
mulberries, with seeds’ (MNN); ‘variety of
window glass, mirror, sight)’: ma γeč khuúr bíti mulberry, larger than wild mrac ̣’ Morus alba
šéni ‘My vision has become blurred/ (Parwak) {MNN, Parwak}
clouded/dim.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (T3386)] {MNN, laklaká (n) ‘joke’ {SWKA}
MS}
lakhík (vtr) ‘to put’, ‘to place’ ‘to keep’ (RKB); ‘to hit
khuẓ (n) ‘village in lower Yarkhun’ khuẓík ‘person by throwing something’ (MA); ‘to stroke (move
from Khuzh’ {SWKA} arms, while swimming)’ (MA); ‘to beat’ (RKB)
khyo (pro) ‘what? (oblique form of kí)’ khyóte /Other lakheék (vtr) ‘to have put, to get put’ (SWKA)
pronunc: khyot/ ‘why’, ‘what for’ (khyo + dative {RKB, MA, SWKA}
postposition te) {MNN, WSiC} lal (n) ‘term of address for elder brother’ (Upper
la (interjection) ‘particle showing affection, often Chitral); (n) ‘term referring to upper classes and
used with imperatives to soften meaning; nobility during time of Mehtars’ (RKB); ‘in Lower
especially used between husband and wife’: mo Chitral used only for fief holders’ (HUR) lalí (n)
ko la ‘Don’t do it (please, dear)’ (MNN); ‘affectionate term of address for elder brother’
‘particle showing affection - In Laspur used only (SWKA) {SWKA, RKB, HUR}
between husband and wife’ (IF) {MNN, IF} lalkár (n) ‘challenge’ {IF}
laákik (vtr) ‘to allow’, ‘to let’, ‘to release (an animal)’: lalmí (n, adj) ‘rain-fed (as opposed to irrigated, crop
hes tan žaʋó pišáʋurote bíko no laákitay ‘He or land)’ {MA, Chitral town}
didn’t let his son go to Peshawar.’ (MNN) sábur
laɫú (n) ‘small, longish yellow melon with green and
koó la- ma arámo laáke ‘Be patient, let me yellow lengthwise stripes, tastes like
rest.’ (SWKA); ‘to divorce (a wife)’: hes tan bóko
cantaloupe’ Cucumis melo {MNN, SWKA, IF}
laákitay ‘He divorced his wife.’ (RKB); ‘to
release (an animal, a person from jail)’ laákéik láɫuts (n) ‘swimming without a flotation device (dril)’
/Other pronunc: laákeék/ (causative of laákik ‘to {MS}
divorce) (vtr) ‘to cause to divorce a wife’: horó lambár (n) ‘number (i.e. score on an examination)’
c ̣akéi hoó bóko laákétani ‘They got him to [< Eng. ‘number’] {RKB, MS}
divorce his wife.’ (MNN) {RKB, SWKA, MNN}
lámbur (n) ‘wall of a duck pond’ (MAK); ‘dam’,
lablabú (n) ‘beet’ Beta vulgaris {MNN, SWKA, IF} ‘barrier’ (NKN); ‘protective barrier against flash
floods’ (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10957)] {MAK,
lačgandúm /Other pronunc: laǰgandúm,
MS, NKN}
lašgandúm, lačgándum (Parwak)/ (n) ‘a type
of wild grain used for fodder’; ‘wild oats’; ‘a wild lam nezík (vintr, vtr) ‘to utter a single sound/word’
grain found mixed in wheat’ (Chitral town) {SWKA}
(Parwak); ‘a wheat-like grain with small,
langarí (n) ‘wooden vessel larger than kaphéni’
compact ears‘ [< Prs. + ?] {MNN, TMF, Chitral
(MNN); (n) ‘large flat wooden dish’ (RAKR)
town, Parwak}
{MNN, RAKR}
laf dik (vtr) ‘to deceive in order to get something
laníṭ (n) ‘a curse’ [< Ar.] {MNN}
done’ {MNN}
laš (adv) ‘slowly’ laáš (laš + vowel lengthening) ‘very
lagán (n) ‘flat round vessel for kneading flour’ (See
slowly and carefully’ laáláš (reduplicative
also ṭhašṭ) {MNN}
intensifier construction) ‘very slowly’ {MNN}
láγal (adj) ‘dear’, ‘precious’; ‘nice’, ‘excellent’, ‘very
lašá (adj) ‘handicapped’ (See also syn. khašál)
good’ (MNN); (n) ‘ruby’; (n) ‘spinel crystal’

74
laškár Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ličalíč

{RAKR} trample‘ (MNN); ‘to trample unintentionally’

(TMF); ‘to run over something (of a vehicle)’
laškár (n) ‘troops’, ‘fighting force’ (SWKA) laškargáz
(TMF): ṭrak toγó lecḥ íko obrítay ‘A truck ran
(n) ‘village in Baroghil’ (SWKA) laškar γayp (n)
Id. Lit. ‘an invisible army’; Sense: ‘a troop of over him and he died.’ (RKB) {RAKR, MNN,
fairies has passed by’ (TMF) [< Prs.] {SWKA, TMF, RKB}
TMF} leék /Other pronunc: leyk/ (vtr) ‘to find’: meʋá
lašṭ1 (adj) ‘flat’; (n) ‘flat land’, ‘plateau’: lašṭó tu bazára len no boyán ‘Fruit cannot be found (is
gaántaʋ ‘You took the flat land.’ (MA); ‘shallow not available) in the bazaar.’; ‘to cut/harvest a
flat dish’; ‘floor’ (SWKA) lim lašṭ (adj) intensifier crop’: ma leéru gómo sóro boṣítay ‘It rained on
construction ‘completely flat’ (MA) lašṭeék (vtr) my harvested wheat.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
‘to flatten something’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, (T10948 ‘find’) (T10986 ‘reap’)] {MNN}
RAKR, MA, SWKA}
leén (n) ‘hollyhock (flower)’ Alcea rosea {Parwak}
lašṭ2 (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ lašṭéku (n) ‘person from
Lasht’ lašṭík (n) ‘person from Lasht’ {SWKA} leház (adj) ‘ill, sick (of humans)’: ma tat leház bíti
asúr ‘My father is ill.’ (MNN); (n) ‘a patient’:
lašṭáʋ korík (vtr) ‘to write a prayer on paper, soak
leház istaníran ‘The patient is groaning.’
the paper in water to dissolve the ink, and then
give the water to a patient to drink in hope of
(SWKA) lehazí (n) ‘illness, sickness (of
curing his ailment’ {NKN} humans)’ (MNN) {MNN, SWKA}

lašṭí (n) ‘animal fattened for slaughter at the leknaléki (n) ‘an affected person, especially one
beginning of winter’ (RAKR) lašṭikorík (n) who walks with an artificial gait’; ‘affectation,
‘practice of slaughtering fattened animals at the habit of walking with an artificial gait’
(reduplicated form) {MNN}
beginning of winter’: lašṭikorík cḥ etráro paránu
riʋáǰ šer ‘Slaughtering fattened animals at the lélik (n) ‘cow that has just given birth’ {MNN}
beginning of winter is an old Chitrali custom.’ len (n) ‘knot (in string, rope, thread)’ len dik (vtr) ‘to
(SWKA) {SWKA, RAKR} tie a knot’: len det ‘Tie a knot!’ (MNN) [< Skt. ?
lášṭʋarč (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ {MNN} (T10963 ?)] {MNN, TMF}

látruk (n) ‘species of wild mountain greens’ Allium lénju

̣ (n) ‘(soft) tree bark’ (Used for shingles placed
carolinianum {SWKA, Ayun} on roof between earth layer and ceiling beams.
Cypress bark is preferred because it does not
laṭén (n) ‘lantern’ [< Eng. ‘lantern’] {SWKA}
decay quickly.) (IF) lenjị́ k (vtr) ‘to strip the bark
laʋ (n) ‘fruit’ laʋ korík (vtr) ‘to bear fruit’: hayá kan
from a tree’ (MNN) {MNN, IF}
laʋ koríka šer ‘This tree is (now, still) fruit-
bearing (not too young or too old to bear fruit).’ léšu (n) ‘cow’ (MNN) lešíri (n) ‘skin or meat of a
(MNN) láʋa porík ‘to begin to bear fruit’ [< Skt. cow’ (MNN) lešpáy (cow-goat) (n) ‘livestock’
(T11031)] {MNN, WSiC} (RAKR) {MNN, RAKR}

laʋár (n) ‘shelter built near a threshing floor to keep ley (n) ‘blood’ ley dik (vtr) ‘to bleed by nicking the
crops safe from rain’ (RAKR); ‘open storage forehead with a scalpel’ ley dreék (vintr) ‘to
shed near the threshing floor for unthreshed have bloody diarrhoea’; ‘to leave a bloody trail
wheat’ (MS) (Sonoghor) {RAKR, MS, (as of a wounded animal)’ ley usí gik (vintr) ‘for
Sonoghor} the blood to boil (in rage)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T11164)] {MNN}
laʋarzún (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ {MNN}
lič (n) ‘movement’ bumlíči (n) ‘earthquake (in
laxʋár (n) ‘a fast-walking horse’ [< Prs. rahʋar] Torkhow) (IWA) (‘earth’ + ‘move horizontally’
{RAKR} (See also bolmúži) ličhík (vintr) ‘to move (self)
layláy dik (vtr) ‘to gesture with hands expressing horizontally’ ličhéik (vtr) ‘to move something
grief (done by women)’ {MNN} horizontally’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T11053)] {IWA,
IF}
lažék (n) ‘dish of pounded wheat boiled with meat’
{SWKA, IF} ličalíč (adj) ‘hanging’ (reduplicative form) (See also
syn. ɫaqaɫáq) {RAKR}
lec̣hík (vtr) ‘to crush something by stepping on it, to

75
lifazát Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes loṭ

lifazát (n) ‘protection’ [< Ar., Prs.] {WSiC} look at it) (TMF) kitáb loɫík (vtr) ‘to read a book
ligíni (n) ‘tongue’ ligínio don dik (vtr) Id. Lit. ‘to put (silently)’ (Chitral town) [< Skt. (M:1973)
teeth in the tongue’ Sense: ‘to get meat from (T10922)] {MNN, SWKA, Chitral town, TMF}
somewhere or other’ (MYS) phuk ligíni (n) lóɫum bik (vintr) ‘to follow someone secretly and spy
‘uvula’ (SWKA) ṭik ligíni (n) ‘uvula’ (MNN) ligíni on him’ {RAKR}
γerík (vintr) ‘to say something’ ‘to speak’
(GMKH) {MNN, MYS, SWKA, GMKH} lonǰík (n) ‘crossbeam of a verandah’ {MNN}

liík (vtr) ‘to lick’ (MNN); ‘to lick (with tongue or loóγlóγ (n) ‘jokes’, ‘pranks’ (reduplicative form)
finger)’ (MNN) (Booni) [< Skt. (M:1973) loóγlóγ korík (vtr) ‘to play jokes’ {SWKA}
(T11069)] {MNN, Booni} loóts (adj) ‘light (in weight)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
lim (adv) ‘intensifier preceding lašṭ, giving meaning (T10896)] {MNN, RKB}
‘completely flat’’ {MA} loq (n) ‘rag’ (MNN); ‘worn-out clothes’ (cf. Wakhi luq
loč ík /Other pronunc: ločík/ (vintr) ‘to boil’, ‘to be
h and similar forms in other Pamir languages)
{MNN, MS, TMF}
cooked (soft things)’: dal ločhítay ‘The dāl is
cooked.’ (MNN) lačhéik /Other pronunc: lačéik, losík (vtr) ‘to put a morsel/bite of food into one’s own
lačeék (SWKA)/ (vtr) ‘to boil something’: lačéru mouth’ losnúk (n) ‘mouthful’, ‘bite’, ‘morsel’
áykun ma xoš ‘I like boiled eggs.’ (RKB) úγa loṭlósi (n) ‘one who eats big mouthfuls’; ‘one
lačhéik (vtr) ‘to poach’ (MNN) ločhí (n) ‘boiling’: who gobbles’ laséik (vtr) ‘to put a morsel of
ločhí gik ‘to become angry’ (MNN) {MNN, food into someone’s mouth (e.g. a baby or
SWKA, RKB, MAK} child)’ {SWKA, MNN, RAKR}

loh (n) ‘copper’; ‘red-hot metal’ loh bik (vintr) ‘to lóšṭing (n) ‘large clods of earth turned up when
become red hot when heated’ [< Skt. (M:1973) plowing’ lóšṭingdíni (n) ‘tool for hitting and
(T11158)] {RAKR} breaking up clods after plowing ‘ [< Skt. + Bur.
plural suffix -ing (M:1973) (T11157)] {MAK}
lohá (n) ‘iron (for pressing clothes)’ lohá korík (vtr)
‘to iron/press (clothes)’ {SWKA} loṣík (vtr) ‘to singe’, ‘burn off hair or feathers (e.g. a
goat’s head before cooking)’; ‘to touch
lohtík /Other pronunc: loxtík (ARC), lohrtík/ (vintr) someone with a heated iron, leaving a mark’
‘to toss and turn’, ‘roll around (of a person in (MNN); ‘to irritate/burn the skin’: gan laṣíran
bed)’ (ARC): čhúyo don cḥ omíko čhúčya páti ‘The wind is blowing very hard (and irritating
žéna loxtítam ‘When my tooth hurt at night I my skin).’ (TMFW) paz loṣík (vintr) ‘to have
tossed and turned on my bed until morning.’ heartburn (stomach pain)’ {MNN, RAKR; WSiC,
(ARC); ‘to turn sideways’ (MNN) [< Skt. TMFW, Parwak}
(T11156)] {MNN, ARC}
loṣíni (n) ‘awl’ (a synonym is bax neéni) {IF}
lokžuúr /Other pronunc: lekžuúr/ (n) ‘a famous folk
loṭ1 (adj) ‘big’, ‘large’, ‘great’ lilóṭ (pl n) ‘elders’; (adj)
song of Chitral - It is sung when the bride is
‘big’, ‘great’ (plural)’ loólóṭ (adj) ‘very big’
seen off from her parents’ house.’ (IWA: < loṭ
(reduplicative intensive form) (MNN) loṭhóro (n)
žuúr, ‘elder daughter’, the original name of the
‘an elder’; ‘senior’, ‘honored person’; (adj)
song) {IWA}
‘biggest’: loṭhoró čamúṭ ‘the thumb’ (MAK);
lolémi (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ {MNN} ‘elder’ loṭeék /Other pronunc: loṭéyk/ (vtr) ‘to
loɫík /Other pronunc: ɫoɫík (SG, Lutkoh)/ (vtr) ‘to look enlarge, make bigger’ (MA) loṭapéki (adj) Id.
Lit. ‘having a big mouth’. Sense: ‘applies to a
at’: har iʋálot no loɫélik Lit: ‘One should not
younger/junior person who behaves rudely with
look at everyone.’ Sense: ‘One shouldn’t do as elders’ (ZHD) loṭbɫíki (n) ‘variety of grape’
everyone else does; you should do what is (TMF); (adj) ‘having bulging eyes’ (TMFW)
appropriate.’ (MNN); ‘to stare at’: aʋá hatoγó loṭdíni (adj) ‘applied to person who has
kórum bandéko barbár loɫi hal hoy ‘When I exaggerated ambitions’: hanún zamanoó
told him to do a task he just kept staring at me muzdúr loṭdíni bití asúni ‘These days laborers
(i.e. he silently refused).’ (SWKA) loɫéik have exaggerated ambitions.’ (SWKA) loṭγéči
(causative formation of loɫík) (vtr) ‘to cause to (adj) ‘generous’ (SWKA) loṭmoší (n) ‘state of
look at’: aʋá tan blaḍprešéro ɫalétam ‘I got my being a big/important man’ (SWKA) loṭpóngi
blood pressure checked.’ (Lit. got someone to (adj) ‘large (of domestic animals, e.g. cows,

76
loṭ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ɫay

bulls, buffaloes)’; (n) ‘large domestic animals’ moved suddenly (my) back hurt.’ (RAKR) meh
(SWKA) loṭsorí (n) ‘honored person’ (SWKA) ɫang pray ‘(My) back moved suddenly and I
loṭžáni (adj) ‘brave’ (SWKA) loṭhardí (adj) felt pain.’ (cf. English ‘I wrenched my back.’)
‘generous’ (SWKA) loṭhósti (adj) ‘generous’ (RAKR); ‘to be hurt by a twisting movement
(SWKA) {MNN, MAK, MA, ZHD, SWKA, (e.g. a twisted knee or a sprained ankle)’ (MNN)
TMFW} ɫang bik (vintr) ‘for an injury/sprain to occur
loṭ2 /Other pronunc: ɫoṭ (in Ghezur)/ (n) ‘load’ [< Eng. (e.g. to an ankle)’ {MN, RAKR, IF, NR}
‘load’] {(Laspur)} ɫangáh (n) ‘stones’; ‘shower of small stones’; ‘pile of
loʋáh (n) ‘shepherds’ song sung on day of phindík’ small stones (as collected when clearing a field
(See entry for phindík); ‘song sung at time of of stones)’ {ZMZ}
goats’ return to the village in the evening’ (IWK) ɫangéik (vtr) ‘to torment’; ‘to torture’ {SWKA}
loʋáh laákik (vtr) ‘to let male goats down the
slope during the loʋáh song’ (RAKR) loʋáh dik ɫap (n) ‘a flash’: ɫápa Lit. ‘in a flash’ Sense: ‘very
(vtr) ‘to sing a lullaby to children when putting quickly’ (IFM) (See also ɫipɫáp) ɫapheék /Other
them to sleep’ (IWK) {RAKR 1988, IWK} pronunc: ɫaphóik (Torkhow), ɫuphéik/ (vintr, vtr)
lu (n) ‘word’, ‘speech’, ‘utterance’, ‘matter’ lu dik ‘to glisten’; ‘to shine (e.g. sun) (RKB) ɫuphéik
(vintr, vtr) ‘to speak, to talk’ lúa c̣okík (vintr) ‘to /Other pronunc; ɫupheék/ ‘to twinkle’, ‘to shine’
converse’ (SWKA) lu dyak (n, adj) ‘talkative’, (RAKR, WSiC) {RAKR, WSiC, IFM, RKB}
‘talker’: bo lu dyak móšo lúo qádur no boy ‘The ɫaqaɫáq (adj) ‘hanging’ (reduplicative form) (See
word of one who talks a lot (too much) is not also syn. ličalíč) {RAKR}
valued.’ (SWKA) lugár (n) ‘speaker’: hasé ṣiéli ɫáspur (n) ‘major valley leading eastward from
lugár ošóy ‘He was a fine speaker.’ (no longer a Chitral, adjoining Ghezur’ ɫasprík (n) ‘person
good speaker, or dead now) (SWKA) loṭlúi (n) from Laspur’ {MNN}
‘one who talks big but acts small’; ‘a boaster,
braggart’ lu no c̣okík (vintr) ‘for words to have ɫaṣ (adv) ‘very quickly’, ‘immediately’ {RAKR, WSiC}
no effect’ (GMKH) lu kaséik (vtr, vintr) ‘to ɫaṭ (n) ‘an extremely rich person’ [< Eng. ‘lord’]
spread malicious gossip’ (TMF) [< Skt. {MNN}
(T10934)] {RKB, SWKA, TMF, GMKH}
ɫaṭínza bik (vintr) ‘to be idle’ (MYS) ɫaṭínza dik
luč (adj) ‘completely naked’ {MNN} (vintr, vtr) ‘to roam around idly’ (SWKA) {MYS,
ɫaγ /Other pronunc: ɫaáγ (MNN)/ (adj) ‘hornless SWKA}
(markhor, goat, sheep)’ (IF): ma ǰu ɫaáγ pay ɫay (n) ‘design’, ‘pattern’; ‘a spot/space left
asúni ‘I have two hornless goats.’ (MNN); ‘bald unpainted when painting a wall, for example’
(of man)’ (See also ɫoγúnu) (MNN) {MNN, IF} (MNN); (n) ‘a spot left unwatered when
irrigating a field’ (ZHD); (n) ‘a spot left unplowed
ɫákanz (n) ‘species of wild mountain greens’
when plowing’ (ZHD); (adj) ‘patterned’,
{SWKA}
‘decorated’, ‘embroidered’, ‘printed (cloth)’,
ɫam (n) ‘sharp burning pain’: ɫam puliítay ‘(I) felt a ‘speckled (bird)’: ɫay boíko cḥ iír di len boy Prov.
sharp burning pain.’ (MNN) ɫam korík (vtr, Lit. ‘Even the milk of a speckled bird can be
vintr) ‘for a sharp burning pain to happen’: ma found (there).’ Sense: Refers to a place where
ɫam areér ‘I felt a sharp burning pain.’ (RAKR); even extremely rare things are available. (TMF)
(adv) ‘quickly’: angár ɫam c ̣okítay ‘The fire ɫay c̣akéik (vtr) ‘to embroider designs or
caught quickly.’ ‘It caught fire quickly.’ flowers’: ɫay c ̣akéni zap ‘an embroidery
(RAKR) ɫámɫam ‘very painful (from heat)’: uγ sampler, a cloth embroidered with sample
ɫámɫam paléran ‘The water is too hot to use. (it designs to be copied’ (MNN) ɫay c̣akeéni (n)
will burn you)’ (MNN) {RAKR, MNN} ‘embroidery sampler illustrating different
patterns’ (IWA) ɫay dreék (vtr) ‘to carve flowers
ɫamkúṣum (n) ‘village in Torkhow, up-river from in wood’; ‘to embroider’ ɫay dik (vintr) ‘to begin
ṣotxár’ {MAK} to ripen, take on color (of fruit)’ (NKN): droc ̣
ɫang (n) ‘a sprain’ ɫang dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to change drocḥ ó poší ɫay doy Prov. Lit. ‘The grapes see
position suddenly (of heavy things, or body each other and take on the color of ripeness.’
parts)’: ɫang díko meh cḥ amétay ‘When (I) Sense: ‘People see each other and learn new

77
ɫegánu Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes -má

things/make progress.’ (NKN) ɫaeék (vtr) ‘to ‘If you lack courage your enemy becomes
make designs, pictures’ (IF); ‘to decorate’: ṭhunó stronger.’ (IWA) (Cultural note: IWA: A fox is
ɫayáʋe ‘Carve a design in the pillar.’ (MNN) believed to bring good luck if one sees it while
ɫayʋarúni (n, adj) ‘colorfully dressed (person)’; setting forth on a venture.) ɫoʋmáɫi (pl n) ‘fox’s
‘woman’ (ARC) ɫaypóči (adj) ‘speckled’, den’ ɫoʋgóγu ‘a white bug having many legs,
‘brindled (of chicken, beard’ (cf. English "salt about one centimeter long’ (IWA: Cultural note:
and pepper")’ (TMF) ɫay boík (n) ‘a male bird’ Said to have been traditionally used as a test
(so called because male birds are colorful) for the quality of a new mother’s milk. The
{MNN, IF, ARC, TMF, ZHD, NKN, IWA} insect was made to crawl through a spoonful of
ɫegánu (n) ‘dish made of pellets of legume flour’ the milk; if it survived, the milk was judged to be
{RAKR} good; if not, the milk was judged to be bad.)
ɫoóʋ bik ‘to lose (in a game)’ (MNN); ‘a
ɫengík (vintr) ‘to flutter’, ‘to wave’ (MNN); ‘to sway, figurative expression used in betting’ (IWA) [<
swing’ (MA): ser ɫengúran ‘The bridge is Skt. (T11142)] {IWA, MS, MNN, RAKR}
swaying.’ (MA); (vintr) ‘to beat (of heart)’ ɫoʋaáki /Other pronunc: ɫoʋáči (in Laspur), ɫoʋáki
(ZMZ); ‘to move (of something in a hanging
(IF)/ (adj) ‘round (cylindrical)’: čumró ɫoʋáki kóri
position)’ (RKB) ɫengéik (vtr) ‘to swing
something’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10905)] {MNN,
šer ‘The iron has been made round.’ (IF);
MA, ZMZ, RKB} ‘coiled’, ‘round (of 3-dimensional cylindrical
objects)’ (IF) {RAKR, IF}
ɫex (n) ‘curved dull blade used for scooping dough
onto the breadboard (bithoólu)’; ‘hooked iron ɫuík (vintr) ‘to howl (wolf)’ (MNN); ‘to bray (donkey)’
blade for stirring ṣoṣp’ (TMF) {MNN, RAKR, (MNN); ‘to weep/cry loudly’ (ZMZ) [< Skt.
TMF} (M:1973) (T10644)] {MNN, ZMZ}
ɫumuḍúku ‘irregularly shaped stone, not useful for
-ɫínǰi (adv, adj) ‘-fold’, ‘n times’: aʋá hayá kitábo
either the outside of a stone wall or the inside
troyɫínǰi raá asúm ‘I have read this book three
filling’: ée ḍaaq hayá ɫumuḍúku- af petshé- hayá
times.’ (MS) ǰuɫínǰi ‘again’, ‘twice’ (RKB) {MS,
na khánja goy na turúɫuk boy ‘Hey boy, this is
RKB}
an irregularly shaped stone. It isn’t useful for
ɫipɫáp (n) ‘moment, instant’ (intensive reduplicated the outside of the wall or its interior filling.’ {IF}
form of ɫap ‘a flash’) ɫipɫáp korík (vtr) ‘to do
something very quickly’; ‘to hurry’ ɫipɫápa (adv) ɫúnḍuri (n) ‘log’, ‘cut timber’ (murúni in Lower
Lit. ‘in a flash’ Sense: ‘very quickly’: salím Chitral) {MNN}
kormó ɫipɫápa areér ‘Salim did the work very ɫung /Other pronunc: ɫuúng (IF)/ (adj) ‘hornless
quickly.’ (See lap) (SWKA) {TMF, SWKA} (cow, bull, buffalo, yak)’ {MNN, IF}
ɫíṣtupaɫáṣtu (n) ‘making excuses to avoid an issue‘ ɫup korIk (vtr, vintr) ‘to run away quickly’; ‘to vanish’
(reduplicated form) {MNN} [< Skt. (T11083)] {ZK (in tale)}
ɫits (n) ‘riddle’ {MNN, IF} ɫušṭ (adj) ‘smooth’, ‘slippery’: uγ čhaγɫíru boht ɫušṭ
boy ‘A stone swept along and rounded by
ɫoγúnu (adj) ‘shaved completely bald’: aʋá tan žaʋó
water is slippery to walk on.’ {MNN}
khapálo ɫoγúnu aártam ‘I got my son’s head
shaved bald.’ (See also ɫaγ) {TMF} ma (pro) ‘me’, ‘my’, ‘mine’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9691)]
{MNN, RKB, SWKA}
ɫosp /Other pronunc: aɫósp (NKN)/ (n) ‘daytime
reality’ (opposite of xošp ‘dream’) (MNN); ‘the -má (adj) suffixal bound morpheme meaning ‘like’,
light of day’; ‘state of being awake’ (GNK) ‘similar to’: ɫoʋóte šermá samún Prov. Lit. ‘A
{MNN, GNK, NKN} fox should also make preparations like a lion.’
ɫoʋ /Other pronunc: ɫoóʋ (MNN, RAKR)/ (n) ‘fox’: Sense: ‘Everyone should prepare for all
Saying. ɫoóʋ ki šilóγo no hay šilóγ drust no boy eventualities.’ (GNK) (IF) ṣabokmá ‘like a
‘If a fox doesn’t come into a story, the story is bride/bridegroom’ (IF) hasé pušúro šapirmá
not complete.’ (IWA) (MS) loóʋ góɫo asúr ‘The oyóy ‘He wolfed down the meat. (ate it like a
fox is in the gully.’ (RAKR) šum reéni ki astáy wolf)’ (SWKA) renimá behčí asúm ‘I am dog
ɫoʋ kumáɫa goy Prov. Lit. ‘If the dog is bad the tired.’ (note the English idiom) (Booni) {GNK,
fox comes right up to the smokehole.’ Sense: IF, IWA, SWKA}

78
maáγlúm Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes mahrtsík

maáγlúm /Other pronunc) maálúm (SWKA)/ (adj) mágam (conjunction) ‘but’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
‘known’ (MNN) : hasé kiča kóri arér hes máte magáz /Other pronunc: magás/ (n) ‘house fly’: dóno
maálúm ‘I know how he did it.’ (SWKA) [< magáz γerítay ‘A fly fell into the ghee.’ [< Prs.]
Ar.] {MNN, SWKA} {RAKR}
maáγušt /Other pronunc: maárγušt (in Warijun)/ (n) maγeék /Other pronunc: maγéik (SN-C, WUR)/
‘centipede’ (Upper Chitral usage) {MNN} (vintr) ‘to bleat (lamb, kid)’; ‘to mew/ meow (cat)’
maál (n) ‘name of a song’; ‘name of a poet’: maál {MNN, SN-C, WUR}
phanír očé maál nahrtír ‘Maal dances and maáγní (n) ‘meaning’, ‘sense’ [< Ar., Prs.] {MA}
performs.’ {IF}
maγz (n) ‘brain’ [< Prs.] {IFM}
maál korík (vtr) ‘to curse someone’ {IF}
mahfíl /Other pronunc: maxfíl (SAS)/ (n) ‘gathering
maáṣ (n) ‘unhusked grains left in threshed grain’ of people’ (MNN) [< Ar.] {MNN, SAS}
{MNN}
mahkám (adj) ‘first/eldest (child)’ (Yarkhun usage):
mačúɫi (n) ‘a historical personage’: mačúɫio xesmát ma mahkám žuúr moóš altí asúr ‘My first
angártu zohrč Prov. Lit. ‘Machuli’s service is daughter has gotten married.’; ‘old enough to do
(like) hair burnt in the fire.’ Sense: ‘Machuli small household tasks like fetching water’
gave much service, but got no reward.’ (Refers (usage in areas other than Yarkhun) {MS}
to a situation when someone expends much mahlám /Other pronunc: malhám/ (n) ‘ointment’,
effort but gets no reward.) {ZHD} ‘vaseline’ [< Ar., Prs., Turkic] {IF}
mac̣hí (n) ‘honey’ mac̣higóγu /Other pronunc: mahláq (n) ‘a jump high into the air’ mahláq dik (vtr,
mac̣igóγu (SG)/ ‘honeybee’ mac̣himáɫi (n) vintr) ‘to jump high into the air (to catch
‘beehive’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9989)] {MNN, SG} something)’ {SWKA}
mac̣hír (n) ‘a type of yogurt, made from warm milk mahmad begé (n) ‘one of clans descended from
and may’ (See also c̣hiír and may) {IWA} Baba Ayub’ {MS}
madaklášṭ /Other pronunc: madaglášṭ/ (n) ‘a mahmezeék /Other pronunc: mahmezéik/ (vintr) ‘to
settlement at the top of Shishikuh, where a jump’ {RKB}
variety of Persian is still spoken.’ (Cultural
notes: name is thought to derive from either the mahmúr (adj, adv) ‘with eyes open’: mahmúr oréy
name of one of the original settlers, or from the asúr ‘S/he is sleeping with open eyes.’ (MY)
Kalash owner of the grazing ground where the {Laspur, MY}
settlement is.) {SN-M} mahqáɫ /Other pronunc: manqáɫ/ (n) ‘tin stove’
madát (n) ‘help’, ‘aid’ madát korík (vtr) ‘to help’, ‘to {MAK}
aid’: ma sum madát koré ‘Help me.’ [< Ur. mahraká ‘gathering’, ‘meeting’, ‘council’,
madad ‘help, assistance’] {SWKA} ‘conference of important persons held by
madíri (n) ‘moderation in expenditure’, ‘frugality’; Mehtar to discuss affairs of state’: mitáro
‘overcasting stitch used to join two pieces of mahrakaá aʋá haṣ rétam … ‘In the Mehtar’s
cloth’; ‘selvedge (bound edge of woven cloth)’ gathering I said thus…’ {SWKA}
{MS}
mahrám (n) ‘messenger in time of Mehtars’ rule’
madók /Other pronunc: madoók/ (n) ‘piece of wood (MNN); damó mahrám ‘one type of mahram’
used to divert water into a millstream’ (MNN); sono mahram ‘another type of mahram’ (HUR)
‘gate of bazánu (gravel pit) which releases {MNN, HUR}
gravel to the side’ {MNN, SWKA}
mahrč /Other pronunc: mahč (MA)/ (n) ‘chili
madyán (n) ‘mare’ [< Prs.] {MS} peppers’ [< Skt. T9875] ‘chili pepper’] {SWKA,
MA}
maeék (vintr) ‘to remain moist by itself’: ma hayá
cḥ étur mayeák ‘This field of mine is one that máhrting (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ mahrtingík ‘person
remains moist by itself.’ {SWKA} from Mahrting’ {SWKA}

magáli (n) ‘one who pretends to be busy but doesn’t mahrtsík /Other pronunc: mahtsík/ ‘to touch, feel
really do any work’ {MNN} with hand’ {SWKA}

79
mahʋarí Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes mánis

mahʋarí (n) ‘menses’; ‘menstruation’ {IFM} (n) ‘chicken coop’ (MAK) {RAKR, MAK, MNN,
IF}
mahzér (n) ‘species of bird’ {MAK}
maɫáγ (n) ‘bundle’: maɫáγo ḍang kóri boté ‘Tie the
maǰál (n) ‘strength’; ‘power’ [< Ar.] {GNK}
bundle tightly.’ (RKB) {SWKA, RKB}
maǰlís (n) ‘gathering of people’ [< Ar., Turkic]
{RAKR} maɫák nisík (vintr) ‘to roll around on a flat surface
(as of a person rolling on the ground)’ {MS}
makú (n) ‘shuttle, into which spool of thread is fitted’
{SWKA, IF} maɫí (n) ‘breed of dog used, in pairs, for deer
hunting’ {IF}
mal1 (n) ‘cattle’, ‘domesticated animals’: malán anóte
mamilá (n) ‘matter’; ‘event’ [< Prs., Ur.] {WSiC}
raγéšṭi alín ki hoy ǰam boy ‘If the livestock can
be taken to the mountains early it will be good.’ mamíx (n) ‘root of a plant which grows near Arandu
(IF); ‘goods given to parents of bride by parents - used for medicinal purposes’ (IF); ‘substance
of groom’ (opposite of ǰahéz) malbánu (n) ‘stick used for back pain made from wild plants found
for herding animals’ (IF) malbazí (n) ‘goods in Lotkuh‘ (eaten by making into a small pill and
given in exchange for mal, by bride’s parents’ swallowing with a bite of salty halwa (buz)
(IF) {MYS, IF} without allowing it to touch the teeth’ Paeonia
mal2 (n) ‘ground flour which falls down from the emodi (Parwak) {IF, Parwak}
millstones into the maléni’: mal ayh toórtay; mámur (n) ‘fetlock of a horse (lowermost part of a
maló det ‘The maléni is full; clean it out. horse’s leg)’ {IF}
(remove the flour)’ (IF) maléni (n) ‘pit into man [mən] (n) ‘maund (approximately 48 seers)’
which ground flour falls in a water mill’ {IF, maní burdíki ‘skin bag which holds one maund’
MNN, Parwak} [< Ur. man ‘maund’] {SWKA}
malál (adv) ‘late’, ‘later than expected/scheduled’: tu -mán (adj) ‘suffixal element meaning smeared with’:
malál hoʋ ‘You are late.’ (MS) malalí (n) telmán ‘smeared with oil’ (Chitral town)
‘lateness’, ‘tardiness’ {MS, RAKR} telmán, ta cḥ amér ‘It’s oily; it will hurt your
maláng (n) Lit. ‘mendicant beggar’; ‘the lover (in stomach.’ (Chitral town) čhutímán ‘smeared
poetry)’ (TMF); ‘one who doesn’t care about with dirt/soil’ (MNN) (See also maník2] [< Skt.
worldly things’ malangí (n) ‘state of being a (T9839)] {Chitral town, MNN}
mendicant’ {ICS, TMF}
manḍáγ /Other pronunc: manḍáx (MNN)/ (n) ‘heron’
maláx (n) ‘locust’ {MNN} [< Skt. (maṇḍa ‘frog’ + adaka ‘eating’) (M:1973)
maldár (adj) ‘wealthy, rich’ [< Prs., Ur.] {RKB} (T9744)] {MNN, SWKA}
mangéy (n) ‘type of earthenware jar’ {RAKR, WSiC}
malgíri (n) ‘companion’, ‘friend’: aʋá muɫkhóʋi
boγáʋa ma sum malgíri hoy ‘He accompanied manγál (n) ‘species of wild greens which look like
me as I was going to Mulkhow.’ [< Pashto leeks’ {Chitral town}
(Z:p.c.)] {SWKA} manγór (n) ‘type of wild edible greens’ Eremurus
malidá /Other pronunc: mulidá, mulída (Parwak)/ stenopohyllus {Ayun}
(n) ‘type of bread, slightly cooked then boiled’
(DAT); ‘dish made from bread which is partially maník1 (vintr) ‘to agree with someone about
cooked then boiled in milk, with ghee added something’: aʋá ta lúo maníman ‘I accept/agree
afterwards’ (Parwak) {DAT, Parwak} with what you are saying.’ (MNN); ‘to
agree/submit to someone’s instruction or order’:
maɫ (n) ‘nest’, ‘den’, ‘burrow’ (home of non- hes haṣ no manír ʋa ban žibóy ‘He won’t
domesticated animal): ɫoóʋ tan máɫa šer Prov. agree/submit just like that; he will get a
Lit. ‘In its own den, a fox is a lion.’ Sense: ‘In beating.’ [< Skt. (T9857)] (MYS) {MNN, MYS}
one’s own home, a person feels strong and
confident.’ (SWKA); ‘animal placenta’ (IF); maník2 (vtr) ‘to plaster’: aʋá khanǰó maníman ‘I am
‘cocoon (of insect)’ (RAKR) máɫi (n) plastering the wall.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
‘home/abode of an animal, e.g. den, hive, coop’ (T9839)] {MNN}
maɫí (n) ‘nestling (e.g. baby falcon)’ kahák máɫi
mánis /Other pronunc: mánisk (Chitral town)/ (n)

80
mankál Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes mašarbá

‘bull, up to three or four years of age’ {RAKR, (Village A) who are married into Village B to
GNK, IF} provide an animal for the workers to eat.
According to RAKR, the custom described in
mankál /Other pronunc: manqál / (n) ‘fireplace’,
usage (2) is no longer practiced, but that
‘metal tank/vessel for heating water’; ‘tin (metal)
described in usage (1) is still practiced.); (n)
stove’ (in Parwak); ‘metal pan holding hot coals
‘duty of daughters of village married elsewhere
put under a central table in winter’ (Chitral town)
to provide a big meal to her own countrymen
{TMF, Chitral town, Parwak}
when they are traveling/visiting and request it’
manšúr (adj) ‘famous’, ‘widely known’ [< Ar., Prs., (MS) {MS, RAKR, Chitral town}
Turkic] {MYS}
marík (vtr) ‘to kill’ marónu (adj) ‘killed’: khašmíro
mant arí (n) ‘magic incantation/spell’
h
[< Skt. ǰanǰála bo ambóx ǰun marónu hóni ‘In the
(M:1973) (T9834)] {IFM} Kashmir war many people were killed.’ (MS) [<
mánu ‘goatskin churn (operated by putting on knees Skt. (M:1973) (T9867) (T10066) {MNN, RAKR,
and shaking)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10044)] {MNN} MS}

manusalʋá (n) ‘food from heaven’; ‘manna (sent by marǰónik (n) ‘species of wild flower’ Gagea
God to followers of Moses)’ {MNN} chitralensi {Parwak}
maq dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to ask for something from markhán (n) ‘fog’ (MNN); ‘dust cloud’ (GNK) {MNN,
someone insistently’ {MNN} GNK}
maqsút (n) ‘wish’, ‘goal’, ‘aim’ maqsúti torík ‘to markház ‘center’ [< Ar., Prs., Turkic, Ur.] {SWKA}
achieve one’s wishes/goal’ [< Prs., Ur.] {RAKR}
mas1 (n) ‘moon’: mas panǰeráṣ ‘full moon’
maráskun (n) ‘festival’ {RAKR} (SWKA); ‘month’ (See also mahʋarí) masí
marátu (adj) ‘stubborn’ {Laspur, MY} (adj) ‘monthly’ (SWKA) mas dreék (vtr) ‘to
count the months in a pregnancy’ ʋemásu (adj)
maráz (n) ‘illness’, ‘sickness’ marazžúni (adj) ‘premature (of human baby)’ mas ḍóko dik Lit.
‘afflicted by disease’ [< Ar., Prs.] {IFM, TMF} ‘for the moon to (be about to) set’ Figurative: ‘to
margást (n) ‘daffodil’, ‘narcissus’ Narcissus tazetta lose beauty’ (IWA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10104)]
{TMF, MS, Booni} {MNN, SWKA, IWA}
mas2 (n) ‘plaster of cow dung used on threshing
marγón (n) ‘a mountain plant with red leaves, used
for fodder’ {IF} floor’ {MNN)

márγušt (n) ‘large centipede (See also syn. masalá (n) ‘mixed concrete‘ [< Ur. masāla ‘mixed/
žindróži) {ZHD} prepared cement’] {Chitral Town}

mári (n) ‘a festive meal, including a slaughtered masín (n) ‘leather inner shoes - worn inside regular
shoes’ {MNN}
animal, given to the male relatives of a girl
married in a distant village when they come in a maská (n) ‘butter’: he maskár phuk mat det ‘Give me
working party for a common task’; (Cultural a litle of that butter.’ (MNN) maská c̣akéik (vtr)
notes RAKR: Usage 1: This word refers to a Id. Lit. ‘to apply butter’ Sense: ‘to flatter’ (IF)
traditional custom by which when a girl from {SWKA, MNN, IF}
Village A is married into village B a whole
roasted animal is presented to the party of maskarbazí (n) ‘joke’: aʋá hayá lúo maskarbazío
relatives accompanying her to her new múži phrétam ‘I said this as a joke.’ {SWKA}
husband’s house on the first day. According to
masrúf (adj) ‘busy’, ‘occupied’ [Ar., Prs., Ur.] {MNN}
the original tradition, the meat was to be
distributed among the girls from Village A mast (adj) ‘intoxicated’, ‘emotionally elated’ mast
previously married into Village B. Nowadays, korík (vtr) ‘to intoxicate’, ‘to make (someone)
however, the newly-married girl’s relatives lose senses in delight’ mastí (n) ‘enjoyment’,
sometimes take the meat back with them to ‘pleasure’ (SAS) {WSiM, SAS}
Village A. Usage 2: A second practice was that
when a party of people from Village A go for mašarbá (n) ‘round pot with spout for drinking
collective work in Village B, it is the liquids’ (MNN) (synonym: thas in Lower Chitral)
(IF) qurasaní mašarbá ‘copper spouted pot of
responsibility of girls from the workers’ village
Khorasani design’ (IF) {MNN, WSiC, IF}

81
mašqúl Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes meɫúki

mašqúl (adj) ‘engaged in conversation with you to a pulp.’ (TMFW) {MA, TMF, TMFW}
someone’: tásu mašqúl bíko kahákan ka ʋal
mayít (n) ‘dead body of human’ [< Ar., Ur.] {RAKR}
bóyan ‘If I chat with you, who will keep watch
over the hens (so that they don’t scratch up the maymáy (adj) ‘even’, ‘uniform’: goóm maymáy bíti
fields)?’ (MA) mašqulgí (n) ‘amusement’, aží šer ‘The wheat has sprouted evenly.’ uγ
‘game’; ‘chatting’ [< Ar., Prs., Turkic] (MNN) maymáy bití c ̣okí šer ‘The entire field has been
{MNN, MA} covered evenly with water.’; (adj) ‘covering
mašuɫé (n) ‘clan in Laspur area’ {IS} everything’: gaz maymáy bití šer ‘The grass is
covering everything.’ {SWKA}
maṣá (n) ‘forked holder for the fuse in a flintlock rifle’
{RAKR 1988} mayná (n) ‘starling’ [< Ar., Prs., Turkic] {MNN}
maṣkík (vtr) ‘ask for’, ‘look for’, ‘seek’, ‘want to’, mayón /Other pronunc: mayún/ (n) ‘oriole (yellow,
‘summon’: ta maṣkínian ‘They are long-billed, sweet-voiced bird, larger than
calling/asking for/summoning you.’ (MA) sparrow)’ [< Skt. (T9776); also cf. Bur. and Balti
maṣkák /Other pronunc: maṣkhák (in Lower mayon] {MNN, ZMZ}
Chitral) (MS)/ (n) ‘beggar’ {MNN, MS, MA} mayún dik /Other pronunc: mayón dik/ (vintr, vtr)
matál (n) ‘proverb’ (word used by men) [< Pashto] ‘to begin to turn color (of developing/ripening
{MNN} fruit)’: žuɫí mayún dití šéni ‘The apricots have
begun to turn color.’ {Parwak}
matárič (n) ‘place in Torkhow’ {MA}
mažardóyu (n) ‘a person who carries messages
matláp (n) ‘meaning’: matláp hes ki … ‘I mean … / between lovers (usually a woman)’ {MS}
That is …’ (Parwak); ‘intention’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur.]
{Parwak} mažáro dik (vtr) ‘to offer an opinion in marriage
negotiations’ {SWKA}
matríki (n) ‘a young hen, when it first starts laying
eggs’ {MNN} mažík (vtr) ‘to sweep’ (SWKA); ‘to pass one’s hand
over someone’s head’ (RAKR, SWKA); ‘to
matrínǰ (n) ‘marrow’ {MS} wipe’, ‘to clean’ soró mažík (vtr) Id. Lit. ‘to pass
mátruk (n) ‘omen reading‘ matrukéik ‘to read one’s hand over someone’s head’ Sense: ‘to
omens from the shoulder blade of an animal’ look after someone’s needs’, ‘to encourage
{MNN} someone’ (MS): hamó sóra mažé ‘Wipe it with
this.’ (SWKA) mažíni (n) ‘soft broom (used for
matshí (n) ‘fish’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9758)] {RAKR} cleaning rooms, etc.)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
maṭáy (n) ‘sweets’ [< Ur. miṭhāī] {SWKA} (T10080) (T10081)] {SWKA, RAKR, MS}

máʋṣ (n) ‘a rake-like wooden implement with a solid maẓeéx /Other pronunc: maẓeéγ, maẓéγ (MAK),
head, used for levelling fields or mud in the maẓéx/ (n) ‘female markhor’; ‘female deer’
process of making a threshing floor, and for (MAK) [< Skt. (T9885)] {MAK}
collecting flour in a water mill’ {MNN, MS} meh (n) ‘waist’; ‘back’ (IFM); ‘loin (of horse)’ (MMN)
maxǰít /Other pronunc: maγžít (SWKA, IF) (n) mehár nisík (vintr) ‘to develop back pain’;
‘mosque’ [< Ar., Prs., Turkic] {MNN, SWKA, IF} (vintr) Id. ‘to lose courage’ [< Skt. (M:1973)]
{MNN, RAKR, IFM}
maxsí /Other pronunc: maγsí/ (n) ‘soft leather socks
worn in winter to keep feet ritually clean after méher (n) ‘kindness’; ‘love’ (SWKA) meherbán (adj)
performing ablutions, so that the feet do not ‘kind’ (RAKR) mehergín (adj) ‘loving’ (SWKA)
need to be washed each time before prayers’ méher korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to love’, ‘to be
{TMF, ZHD} affectionate to’ {RAKR, SWKA}

may (n) ‘sour substance made from the stomach of mehlp (n) ‘village in Torkhow, up-river from
a calf’; ‘starter culture for making yogurt’ {IWA} Shagram’ {MAK, Rayin Torkhow}

maydá (n) ‘powder’; ‘white flour’ maydá korík (vtr) mehnát (n) ‘effort’, ‘labor’: ta mehnátar kyaáγ no
‘to grind to powder’; ‘to tire someone out’; ‘to nisáy ‘Nothing came from your labor/effort.’
beat up thoroughly’ maydá mal (adj) (SWKA) [< Ar., Prs., Ur.] {SWKA}
‘completely crushed’ (TMF); ‘completely
meɫúki (adj) ‘having a brindled or speckled coat
exhausted’: aʋá ta dití maydá koóm ‘I will beat

82
menadarí Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes mirγáṣ

(goat or cow)’ {Chitral town} a cow that has given birth one year before’
(ZHD); (n) ‘cow that is giving milk, but nearing
menadarí (n) ‘expression of thanks’ {SWKA}
the end of the nursing period, when milk is
méndzer (n) ‘a water animal with red fur’ (It is about nearly finished’ (MNN) {MS, MNN, ZHD}
two feet long (larger than a xondzayki) and
meʋá (n) ‘fruit’ [< Prs., Turkic] {SWKA}
rarely comes out of the water. Its skin/pelt is
highly valued.) {IF} mez /Other pronunc: miz (SWKA)/ (n) ‘table’ [< Prs.,
Ur.] {MNN, SWKA}
menú /Other pronunc: monú (Lotkuh) (MS)/ (n)
‘guest’ (MNN): aɫián báče menú gyáʋtani - hayá miγeéik (vintr) ‘to whimper’; ‘to talk in a high-
sal no háni ‘Guests used to come for ducks (i.e. pitched, whimper-like voice’ {MNN}
duck hunting); this year they haven’t come.’ miík (vintr) ‘to urinate’: ma miyáru góyan ‘I need to
(MA) menuíti (n) ‘invitation to guests’ [< Ir.] urinate.’ (MNN) hayá mií asúr ‘S/he has
{RAKR, MA, MNN, MS} urinated.’ (MNN) miyoóṣ ‘little wetter’
mer (n) ‘lead animal in threshing’ (often a donkey, or (affectionately used for baby) (RAKR) miyángu
a slow-moving old animal) (IWA); ‘active leader ‘little wetter’ (affectionately used for baby)
or head of a family (as in politics or business (RAKR) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10337)] {MNN,
affairs)’ (MS) meržóyu /Other form: miržóy RAKR}
(GNK)/ (n) ‘person in charge of village water mik (n) ‘uncle (father’s or mother’s brother) mikí (n)
channel’ (IWA) meršikár (n) ‘person who ‘uncle’ (affectionate or respectful term of
arranged hunts in time of Mehtars’ (IWA) reference or address for an uncle or other
merbóht (n) ‘foundation stone’: merbóhti khar respected man older than the speaker) {MNN}
kiṣík Id. Lit. ‘to plow up the foundation’ Sense:
‘to completely destroy someone’) (See also syn. mikín (n) ‘wild species of plum-like fruit’ (tree or fruit)
mermúti khar kiṣík) (Laspur women, Chitral Prunus prostrata {RKB}
town) [< Prs.] {IWA, GNK, MS, Laspur women} mil (n) ‘mile’: hamoγár patrangáza kamaá mil ‘How
merágram (n) ‘village up-river from Booni’ (AR) many miles is it from here to Patrangaz?’ [<
meragrémi (n) ‘person from Merágram’ Eng. ‘mile’] {SWKA}
{SWKA, AR} miláʋ bik (vintr) ‘to meet a person’ {Chitral town}
mérdič (n) ‘thick bread eaten at breakfast’ (SWKA,
miléṭ (n) ‘minute’: sotóte ǰoš miléṭ šíka ‘at ten
MA); ‘midday meal’ (BM) {SWKA, BM, MA}
minutes to seven’ [< Eng. ‘minute’] {IF}
mermút (n) ‘foundation (of a house)’ mermúti khar
kiṣík Id. ‘to completely destroy someone Lit. ‘to milkhón (n) ‘violet’ Viola repens: milkhón raγéšṭi
h
plow up the foundation’ (Laspur women) (See buc ̣ uṣoóku gambúri ‘The violet is an early-
also syn. merbóht) {Laspur women, Chitral blooming flower.’ {SWKA}
town}
mimbár (n) ‘elected representative’ [< Eng.
meržúri (n) ‘fairy-like young girl’ (IWK); ‘maidenhair ‘member’] {IF}
fern (in Lower Chitral) (synonym of zúmbul
mindáʋ (n) ‘front (high) part of a horse’s back (?)’
used in Upper Chitral) Adiantum capillus- {IF}
veneris {IWK, Khairabad}
miqdár (n) ‘quantity’ [< Ar., Prs, Ur.] {MNN}
mestú (n) ‘woman who takes care of cattle-house
near home’ (archaic usage) (See also šalǰú) mir (n) ‘rich person’ {MWT}
{IWA, RAKR 1988} mirás (n) ‘property’, ‘inheritance’, ‘heritage’ [< Prs.]
mestúč (n) ‘Mastuj, a large village up-river from {RAKR}
Booni’ mestučíki ‘person from Mastuj’ {SWKA, miraxór (n) ‘groom, in charge of horses’; ‘master of
IWK} the horses in time of Mehtars’ rule’ [< Turkic]
mešṭér (n) ‘teacher’ [< Eng. ‘master’ (i.e. school {WSiC}
teacher)] {SWKA, AR} mirgí (n) ‘epilepsy’ (IF: rabbit blood traditionally used
meṣkútu (adj) ‘having given birth several months as remedy) [< Ur. mirgī ‘epilepsy’ ] {MNN, IF}
before, thus having little milk left’ (MS); (adj) ‘of mirγáṣ (n) ‘village in Terich valley, opposite Parsing’

83
mirγíndz Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes mox

{MNN} {MNN}
mirγíndz /Other pronunc: mirγénz (IF: Laspur)/ (n) moón (n) ‘obligatory shared social duty in a village’
‘species of thorny bush’ Hiphophae (RKB note: this system is no longer in practice):
rhamnoides (MNN) {MNN, IF} aʋá kandúryo móno dom ‘How can I give
shared work duty to so many?’ (RKB) moón
miriẓéik (vtr) ‘to tease’ {MNN} korík ‘to get someone else to do a share of
mirmuṣáng /Other pronunc: mirmušán (SWKA)/ (n) work’: duró kórmo iγó su moón no korélik ‘One
‘male of a species of large, red-colored, long- shouldn’t insist that someone else do a share of
haired, ratlike animal with a long tail which lives housework.’ (MNN) ma sum moón areér ‘He
in the mountains’ (IF); ‘large species of rat’ objected to my not taking a turn of work.’
(about size of cat) (SWKA); ‘euphemism for (RAKR) {RKB, RAKR, MNN}
xaɫáʋ’ (ZHD) [< Prs. (SWKA)] {IF, SWKA, ZHD}
moóš (n) ‘man’: kiṣíran he moóš ma móšo sar tseq
mirú (n) ‘urine’ [< Skt. (T10239)] {Chitral town}
‘That man who is plowing is younger than my
mirzabegí (n) ‘variety of apricot introduced by Mirza husband.’ (IF); ‘husband’ (MNN) mošgíni (pl n)
Beg’ Prunus armeniaca {RAKR} ‘husbands’ (kinship term plural) mošʋéni (adj)
‘married (of woman)’ mooš alík (vtr) ‘to marrý
mis (n) ‘large copper plate’ (archaic term) {MAK} (of girl)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9828)] {MNN,
misrí (n) ‘stone mason, wall-builder’ (< Ur.) {RAKR} SWKA, IF}
mišk (n) ‘small flower similar to a morning glory’ moqafát /Other pronunc: mukafát (MYS)/ (n)
(Booni); ‘species of vine found in wheat fields’ ‘trouble’; ‘unexpected trouble’ (MYS) moqafát
(Parwak) Convolvulus arvensis {Booni, nisík (vintr) ‘for trouble to arise’ {RAKR, WSiC,
Parwak} MYS}

mišṭíki (n) ‘type of bread’ (čayṭíki in Yarkhun) (See moqarár korík (vtr) ‘to appoint’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur.
also čayṭíki) {SWKA} muqarrar ‘appointed’] {WSiC}

mitár (n) ‘mehtar (title of former rulers of Chitral)’ moréik /Other pronunc: moreék, / (Chapali)/ (vtr) ‘to
{MNN} wring (hands)’; ‘to press/massage (limbs)’ [<
Skt. (T9890) {RAKR, WSiC, IF, Chapali}
miṭíng (n) ‘meeting (formal meeting, with an
moríx (n) ‘a jealous person’ (See also muríx) {MNN}
agenda)’: miṭíng aʋá maṣkí asúm ‘I am the one
who has called the meeting.’ [< Eng. ‘meeting’] mosím (n) ‘weather’ [< Ur.] {AKM}
{SWKA}
moṣ (adv) ‘like this’, (adj) such’: moṣ kíča γalát moóš
mix /Other pronunc: mex/ (n) ‘nail (fastener used biráʋ ‘Such a bad man you have turned out to
with hammer)’; ‘spike‘ (RAKR) (< Prs.) {MNN, be.’ hamóṣ (adv) ‘like this’ {SWKA}
NKN, RAKR, IF, MS}
móṣe (adv) ‘upside down’ móṣe γerík (vintr) ‘to
miyád (n) ‘measurement’, ‘measuring’ {RAKR} change sides (as in sleeping)’ móṣe γeréik
mizán (n) ‘scale (device for weighing)’ {IF} (vtr) ‘to turn over ‘: móṣe γeréy lakhé ‘Turn it
over!’ (MNN); ‘to turn the grain on a threshing
miží (n) ‘grapevine’ {CKT} floor’ muṣén (adv) ‘upside down’ (ARC) {MNN,
mo (adv) ‘do not! don’t! (imperative senses); WSiC, ARC}
(someone) should not’ (subjunctive senses): mothrénik /Other pronunc: muthréni/ (n) ‘bladder’,
hasé táte réran ki karačíote mo boγár ‘He is ‘organ holding urine’ [< Skt. (T10239)] {TMF}
saying to you that you shouldn’t go to Karachi.’
(SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9981) also moṭór /Other pronunc: moṭér (IWA: among younger
(T10344)] {MNN, SWKA} people)/ (n) ‘car’ [< Eng. ‘motor’] {IWA}

močí (n) ‘blacksmith’ (< Ur.) {WSiC, MS} mox /Other pronunc: mux/ (n) ‘face’ móxa nisík
(vintr) ‘when seeing off someone, for an elder of
moγaʋí (n) /Other pronunc: imoγaʋí ‘female of fur- the house to leave the house carrying a copy of
bearing water animal’ (See also sangaʋí) the Quran to bless the one leaving’ (RKB note:
{MAK} These days (2021) a physical Quran is not
carried; instead a verse from it is read.) moxár
moγón (n) ‘lump on head or other hard body part’

84
moyú Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes murá

nisík Id. ‘to make excuses’ (IF) mux γerík muká (n) ‘shot (used in shotgun)’ (SWKA) mukaí (n)
(vintr) ‘to feel shame’: mux no γerítay ‘S/he ‘shotgun’ (SWKA) muká káɫi (n) ‘synonym in
didn’t feel any shame.’ (RKB) muxár gik (vintr) Lower Chitral for ɫegánu, a dish made
‘to be rude, impertinent’ (IF) múxto be (n) containing pellets of legume flour’ (MS) [< Skt.
‘face of a mountain’ (IF) mux počík (vintr) Id. (M:1973) (T10157)] {SWKA, MS}
‘to be completely shameless’ (so used to doing mukúɫ (n) ‘monkey’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9882)] {RKB}
bad things that shame is no longer felt) mox
dik (vintr, vtr) Id. ‘to have good fortune’: hayá mukhadón (n) ‘beam laid over the main roof beam
kórum máte mox díti šer Lit. ‘This work has to support the lowest level of a traditionally
constructed smokehole’ {IF}
turned its face toward me.’ Sense: ‘This work
is going well for me.’ (MNN); ‘to have good mul (n) ‘a traditional dish made by boiling flour in
omens’ muxčáɫi (n) ‘a slap’ (IF: Proper Chitral water with salt’ (IF) ǰuʋári mul (n) ‘maize flour
and Drosh usage) [< Skt. (T10158)] {MNN, boiled in water’ (IWK) {IF, IWK}
SWKA, RKB, IF}
mulk (n) ‘outside’, ‘open space’: múlki bií azadí
moyú (n) ‘a medicinal plant given to cows to induce arétam ‘I went outside for an outing.’ {MA}
diarroeah and cure stromach troubles’ (IF);
‘species of plant - eaten by goats, cattle’ muɫ /Other pronunc: muúɫ (MNN)/ (n) ‘bottom’,
‘lowest part’ (MNN); ‘bulb’, ‘tuber’, ‘corm (of
(Parwak) Glycrriza glabra {IF, Parwak}
flowers like daffodil or iris)’ (MS): alú muɫ korí
mrac̣ /Other pronunc: mrac̣h/ (n) ‘mulberry (tree or šéni ‘The potatoes have formed tubers (and are
fruit)’ Morus alba [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9796)] ready to be harvested).’ (MNN) ‘bedding’ (IF)
{MNN, SWKA, MS} múɫamúɫa (reduplicative structure) ‘(from)
mriẓéik (vtr) ‘to physically torment (an animal or below‘: hes múɫamúɫa ma loɫáʋ ošóy ‘S/he was
someone smaller)’: ḍaq kukúɫio mriẓétani ‘The looking at me with downcast eyes.’ (SWKA)
boys tormented the puppy.’ {RKB} múɫo (adv) ‘vertically downward’ múɫa ‘below’,
‘beneath’, ‘under’: ženó múɫa kyáγ šeér ‘What is
mroy (n) ‘deer’, ‘ibex’; ‘game animals’ (AKM) under the bed?’ (SWKA) múɫa nišík (vintr) ‘to
mroyíši (n) ‘meat of deer, other game animals’ sink’ múɫa dik (vtr) ‘to knock down’ (MNN)
(SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10269)] {MNN, múɫtu ‘under, beneath’: salímo dur rešṭó múɫtu
SWKA, AKM} baγáy ‘Salim’s house was buried beneath an
muáf (adj) ‘forgiven’ muáf korík (vtr) ‘to forgive’ avalanche.’ (SWKA) muɫ dreék (vtr) ‘to spread
(MNN), muafí (n) ‘forgiveness’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur.] bedding’ (IF) muɫ ǰaméik (vtr) ‘to spread
(WSiC) {MNN, WSiC} bedding’ (IF: in Lower Chitral) pongó muúɫ (n)
‘sole of the foot’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
mubáriki (n) ‘felicitations’, ‘congratulations’: id (T10250)] {MNN, SWKA, IF, MS}
mubáriki bay ‘Felicitations on Eid.’ ‘Eid
greetings.’ {IF} mum (n) ‘wax’ (MNN) mum korík (vtr) ‘to soften’; ‘to
melt’ (SWKA) [< Prs., Turkic] {MNN, SWKA}
muc̣k /Other pronunc: muc̣/ (n) ‘soft white stone
used to write on slates (soapstone ?)’; ‘soft mumkhín (adj) ‘possible’ [< Prs., Ur.] {SWKA}
white stone from which cooking vessels, ʋardú, mun (n) ‘large growth or swelling on a tree trunk’ [<
were made’ {MAK, ZHD} Skt. (M:1973) (T10191)] {ZHD}
mudahá (n) ‘a while’, ‘a long time’ [< Ar., Prs.] muqáh (n) ‘item of clothing worn over socks and
{WSiC} under traditional leather shoes’ (koón) {MAK}
mudám (adv) ‘always’: hasé mudám daʋáy žibáur muqám (n) ‘occasion’, ‘place’, ‘time’ [< Ar.] {GNK}
‘S/he always used to take medicine.’ (IF) {MNN,
IF} murá (n) ‘saddlebag’: gordoóγ hasé tan- murá badél
hoy Prov. Lit. ‘The donkey is the same; its
mudí (n) ‘room for bulls and cows’ {MYS} saddlebag has changed.’ Sense: ‘Only the
muḍúri (n) ‘trunk of a tree’ {MNN} superficial appearance of something has
changed, while the real thing remains the
muγeéik (vintr) ‘to moan (e.g. in sleep)’ {MNN}
same.’ (For example, applied to the change
muǰustí (n) ‘thigh’, ‘upper leg’ {IFM, MNN} from standard time to daylight saving time.’)

85
murdasepí Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes múṭu

{TMF} braid’ {IF}

murdasepí /Other form: murdasép (MS)/ (n) ‘a mušaqát (adj) ‘experiencing trouble or difficulty’:
disease of children who fail to grow.’ (IWA) ispá cḥ etrárar gyáʋa ponó múža boṣíko bo
(Note: IWA: The folk belief was that this disease mušaqát hótam ‘As we was coming from
is caused by the curse of a dead person. To Chitral it rained on the way and we had great
cure the disease it was believed that the child difficulty.’ mušaqatí (n) ‘trouble’, ‘difficulty’:
should be bathed in water passed through a
ispá cḥ etrárar gyáʋa ponó múža bo mušaqatí
magpie’s nest held over the child’s head.); ‘a
disease of children in which the child becomes peš hoy ‘As we were coming from Chitral we
emaciated, its hair stands up, and its skin faced much difficulty on the way.’ ‘wages for
becomes loose’ (MS) murdasepí taít (n) ‘a labor’: aʋá akbáro c ̣akéi khanǰ diyétam- khanjó
talisman made for victims of murdasépi’ (MS) (It dití tan mušaqatío ganí baγáy ‘I got Akbar to
is made from seven twigs over which a prayer build a wall. He build the wall, took his wages,
is said) {IWA, MS} and left.’ (< Prs. Turkic) {IF}
murγolúm /Other pronunc: murγulúm (TMFW)/ (n) muškíl /Other pronunc: miškíl (MNN)/ (adj) ‘difficult,
‘down (soft under feathers of a bird)’ [< Wakhi hard’ miškilí (n) ‘fine type of embroidery, in
(M:1936)] {MNN, TMFW} which geometrical designs are outlined in black,
murík (vtr) ‘to twist’, ‘knead (as when softening a then filled in with fine cross-stitch’ (IWA)
skin or hide)’ (NKN); ‘to soften leather’ (IF) {SWKA, MNN, IWA} [< Prs. Ur.]
muréik /Other pronunc: muróik (in Torkhow) mušṭ /Other pronunc: múšṭi/ (n) ‘fist’ mušṭí dik (vtr)
(IF)/ (vtr) ‘to rub’; ‘to break bread into small ‘to plant fist-sized shoots of a tree’ (IF) mušṭák
pieces and soak in liquid before eating’ (IF): ‘handful (as of grain when reaping)’ múšṭu dik
ṣapíkan šetúo muréi žibé ‘Break your bread into (vtr) ‘to hand over something’ (MNN): aʋa toó
buttermilk and then eat it.’ (IF) [< Skt. angíti ta múšṭu dom ‘I will bring it and hand it
(T10211)] {NKN, IF} over to you.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10221)]
muriná (adj) ‘rusted’: muriná bíti šer ‘It is rusted.’ {IF, RAKR, MNN}
{IF} muṣéik (vtr) ‘to chew slowly with the gums and lips
muríx (adj) ‘inauspicious’, ‘ill-omened’ (opposite of (as of an old person with no teeth)’ {MS}
pinín) (MS): éy murixán ispá ko žibómian ‘Oh, muṣén (n) ‘a type of fodder which grows on high
ill-omened ones, why are you tormenting us?’ slopes’ Trachydium roylei {MNN}
(said by women to children when angry with
muṣíč /Other pronunc: moṣíč (MA) (Laspur)/ (n) ‘a
them) (Warijun women) (See also moríx) {MS,
Warijun women} type of fodder (Ur. barsīm)’; ‘alfalfa’ Medicago
sativa muṣičγeér (n) ‘field from which alfalfa
murkíč (n) ‘wool to be spun into yarn for making a has been cut’ {MNN, MA, IF}
qalín’; ‘third stage in wool processing, in which
wool is shaped into long bundles, which are muṣkarí (n) ‘good news’ {RAKR}
then spun.’ (A) {MA, A} mut (adj) ‘pearly (white)’: ḍuúm dehó mužén ma žan
múru (n) ‘female ibex, more than two years of age’ jez angóy nóʋaá. mut donán mužén ma žan,
(DAT); ‘female ibex’ (SWKA, RAKR, IF) žanó ʋez angóy nóʋaá ‘My beloved will bring a
murugátsi (n) ‘a small female ibex’ (IF) [< Skt. dowry from her thickly populated village, isn’t
(T10264) and (T10265)] {DAT, SWKA, RAKR, it so? My beloved will bring a cure for my life
IF} with her pearly teeth, won’t she?’ (IWA) (This
murúni (n) Lower Chitral word for ‘log’, ‘cut timber’ is from a song written and sung by Mehtar Mir
ɫúnḍuri in Upper Chitral {MNN} Wali.) [< Skt. (T10152)] {IWA, WSiC}
musúl (n) ‘grinding stone’; ‘stone with which rice is mutáluq (postposition) ‘concerning’, ‘about’ [< Ar.,
pounded to husk it’; ‘pestle’ [< Skt. (T10223)] Ur.] {MNN}
{RAKR, MS, TMF}
muthréni (n) ‘bladder, used in the sense of ‘football’
mušambáq (n) ‘small braids made from the hair and in former times’ [< Skt. (T10239)] {SWKA}
then joined together into two large braids
(women’s hair style)’; ‘five- or seven-stranded múṭu (adj) ‘dull’; ‘blunt’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10187)]

86
muúž Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes naγɫí

{MNN, IF} myaná (n) ‘wallet, small purse for money’ {RAKR
1988}
muúž /Other pronunc: muž/ (n) ‘interior’, ‘inside’;
‘marrow’ (MNN, IF, SWKA): payó muúž ṣa biráy naá (n) ‘millrace, small wooden channel conducting
‘The goat’s marrow was black (observed after water to the mill’ (See also syn. nokhí) [< Skt.
breaking the bones).’ ‘red corpuscle bearing (T7083)] {MNN, MS}
substance inside bones’ (MS) mužár nisíru naál /Other pronunc: nal (MS)/ (n) ‘horseshoe’ [<
(adj, n) ‘children’; ‘descendants of someone’ Prs., Turkic] {IF, MS}
(MS) múža (postposition) ‘between’, ‘in the
middle of’: salím ahmát očé akbáro múža ruphí nabáh (adj) ‘wrong’, ‘incompetent’, ‘inappropriate’
nabáh nisík (vintr) ‘to be proven wrong’
asúr ‘Salim is standing between Ahmad and
{SWKA}
Akbar.’ (SWKA) muž (n) ‘inside’, ‘interior’
múžmas (muž ‘middle’ + mas ‘month’) (n) ‘ninth nabalát (n, adj) ‘unknown (of person)’ {GNK}
month of Khowar calendar (approximately
načár (n) ‘helpless one’; (adj) ‘helpless’, ‘destitute’:
August)’ mužén (adv) ‘through’: thuéko ʋeṣú
reéko rárdu ki "no la, angósi, ispá kyaγ koyán
mužén baγáy ‘The rifle bullet passed through
načár ʋaʋ ‘When he said this, they said, "No,
it.’ (MS); (postposition) ‘by way of’: ispá buníar
we will bring her; what will she do to us, a poor
gyáʋa kaγlášṭo mužén hátam ‘Coming from
helpless old woman?"’ (WSiC) {SWKA, WSiC,
Booni we came by way of Kaghlasht.’ (MS) SAS}
múžo (postposition) ‘in(to) in a downward
direction’ múži (postposition) ‘between, among’; nadán (n) ‘foolish one’ [< Prs.] {WSiC}
‘during’: hayá ǰu masó múži kyá kórum arú naduhúm (adj) ‘very big (of inanimate things)’
‘What did you do during these two months?’ {MNN}
(SWKA); ‘inside’: hardí qalípo múži šer ‘The
heart is inside the body.’ (MS) múži dosí (adv) naf (n) ‘navel’ naf nisík (vintr) Id. ‘to get a stomach
pain from working too hard on an empty
‘suddenly’ (SG) múži angík (vtr) ‘to bring the
stomach’ {MNN}
bride to sit beside the groom for the first time,
for the nikah ceremony’ múži angyák (n) nafrí (n) ‘individual (human)’, ‘person’: ponǰ nafrí
‘woman who brings the bride to sit beside the ‘five persons’; (also functions as classifier
groom for the nikah ceremony’ (MS) múži particle, with humans): ponǰ nafrí kimerián ‘five
angyáli (n) ‘money paid to the múži angyák by
women’ [> Ar. Prs.] {SWKA}
the groom’s family’ < Skt. (M:1973) (T9804)
{SWKA, MS, SG, MNN, IF} nagáh (adv) ‘unexpectedly’, ‘by chance’: bazári
muxammas (n) ‘poem in which each verse consists kosáʋa i dukána hayá kitáb nagáh ma hósti hay
of five lines’ [< Ar., Prs.] {RAKR} ‘I came across this book unexpectedly while
walking in the bazaar.’ (SWKA) {SWKA, MNN}
muxt (adv) ‘for nothing’, ‘in vain’: muxt kosí hátam ‘I
went there in vain (i.e. got no benefit from nagóni (adj) ‘useless, i.e. no longer performing its
going there)’ (TMFW); ‘free’ (newer sense) proper function (e.g. arm, axe, knife)’ {MNN}
{MA, TMFW} nagudár (adj) ‘very large’ {MNN}
muxtalíf (adj) ‘different’, ‘separate’ [< Ur., Prs.] naγlíni (n) ‘stick for washing clothes by beating
{MNN} them’ {MNN}
muzdúr (n) ‘day laborer’ muzdúri (n) ‘wages’ [< Ur.] naγɫáču /Other pronunc: naγɫáči (SWKA)/ (n)
{MAK} ‘rolling pin’ (Chitral town) (SWKA); ‘handle of
muzéd (n) ‘bridge made from wooden planks alone’ spinning wheel’ (Pasum) {Chitral town, Pasum,
{MS} SWKA, MNN}

mužakí (n) ‘variety of apricot - considered to be the naγɫí /Other pronunc: naáγɫí (MNN)/ (n) ‘wooden
latch pin (in old style of door lock)’ (SWKA);
best quality in Chitral’ Prunus armeniaca ‘wooden bolt / latch (e.g. for door)’ (MNN)
{MS} naγɫiaánu (n) ‘hole for the wooden latch pin’
múẓi (n) ‘a small skein of yarn rewound from a large (SWKA): ǰam žibík ǰam piík - naγɫiáno báxi droc ̣
ball, used for crocheting or weaving’ {MNN, Formulaic story ending: Lit. ‘There was good
SWKA} food and good drink, grapes in the bolt hole.’

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naγšaganíni Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes narʋéni

Sense: ‘That is, the story I have told is all second place.’ (TMFD) (See also lambár) [<
unreality, just as grapes in a latch hole are an Eng. ‘number’] {TMFD}
impossibility.’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN} namšerikán (n) ‘first-born child of parents’ {MS}
naγšaganíni /Other pronunc: naqšaganíni (newer namúti (adj) ‘barefoot’: namúti mo kosé ‘Don’t walk
form)/ (n) ‘camera’ (See also fuṭuneéni) [<
barefoot.’ (MNN) namutí (n) ‘barefootedness’,
Prs., Ur.] {MS}
‘being barefoot’ (MNN) [< Skt. (T14212)] {MNN,
naγzí (adj) ‘dirty’, ‘filthy’ (MNN) naγzikóṭi (n, adj) SWKA}
‘(of) a dirty person’; (n) ‘dirty little one’
nan /Other pronunc: na:n in Lower Chitral, with
(affectionate usage for baby) (TMFW) {MNN,
slightly lengthened stem vowel (GNK); naṇ
IF, TMFW}
(Laspur)/ (n) ‘mother’ (MNN): hayá ma náno
naháng (n) ‘water monster’ (It is said to come into hostár išnári Lit. ‘This is a thing from my
existence when a snake is not seen by a mother’s hand (i.e. an heirloom from my
human for a hundred years; it grows shining mother).’ (MA) nangíni (irregular kinship plural)
hair and becomes a nahang’ (MNN); ‘fish-like (pl n) ‘mothers’; ‘(elder) women’ (respectful term
creature’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA} of reference or address) nanγería dreék (vtr)
nahanǰár (adj) ‘very large’ {SWKA} Id. ‘to punish severely so that one remembers
one’s mother’ nanbéli (n) ‘second mother, i.e.
nakás (adj) ‘unimportant’ {SWKA} father’s second/other wife, stepmother’ nantát
nakrézi /Other pronunc: nakrízi (Parwak)/ (n) (compound: nan ‘mother’ + tat ‘father) (n)
‘henna’ Lawsonia inermis {IF, Parwak} ‘parents’ (SWKA) {MNN, RAKR, GNK, SWKA,
MA}
nakšardúm (n) ‘a Wakhi-speaking village) (Folk
etymology: ‘fox tail’, so named because it is nang (adj) ‘quite large (?)’ {RAKR, WSiC}
shaped like a fox’s tail’ [cf. Wakhi naxčír ‘fox’] nánga dreék (vtr) ‘to flatter (in order to get
{RAKR} something)’ {MNN}
nal dik (vtr) ‘to plant potato pieces in field ridges’; ‘to napaǰanáš (n) ‘person who cannot speak or
transplant seedlings’ {Laspur women} understand’, ‘cretin’, ‘idiot’ {MAK}
naɫán korík /Other pronunc: noɫán korík (IF)/ (vtr) naqasnažóru /Other pronunc: naqástnažóru/ (adj)
‘to weed a crop (e.g. maize)’: ma žaʋ ǰuʋarío ‘neither true nor false (of utterances)’ (IF);
naɫán koróyan ‘My son is weeding the maize.’ ‘ambiguous’; ‘confusing’; ‘doubtful’;
(Parwak) {Parwak, IF} ‘unconvincing’ (ZHD) {Parwak, IF, ZHD}
nam (n) ‘name’ nameék /Other pronunc: naméik, naqindá (n) ‘criticism’ (SWKA) naqindá korík (vtr)
namóik (Torkhow)/ (vtr) ‘to call/address by ‘to criticize’: salím hatoγó sóra naqindá koríka
name’ (MNN); ‘to name, utter the name of a pray ‘Salim began to criticize him.’ (IF)
person or thing’ (RAKR, IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) {SWKA, IF}
(T7067)] {MNN, RAKR, IF}
náqul (n) ‘proverb’ (term used by women) {MNN}
namáki (n) ‘side locks of hair (women’s) cut to the
length of the bottom of the nose or ear and nar1 (n) ‘mouth’, ‘outlet’, ‘source (of a spring)’: i utshó
twisted’ {MNN} nára niší paydreék šuruúγ aréni ‘They sat
down by the outlet of a spring and began to
namakín (adj) ‘interesting’ (RAKR); ‘remarkable’ play paydreék.’ (MYS); ‘spout (of jug or round
(Chapali); ‘enjoyable’, ‘humorous’ (MYS):
water pot)’ (WSiC) {MYS, WSiC}
namakín lúo sóra ma hosáru hay ‘I couldn’t
help laughing from the humorous words.’ nar (n) ‘a male’ narí (adj) ‘male (of animals or
2

(MYS) {RAKR, WSiC, MYS, Chapali} witches)’: narí gór ‘a male witch’ (SWKA)
narigarí (n) ‘maleness’; ‘masculinity (humans)’
namazdigár (n) ‘time a little before evening when narí mrac̣ (n) ‘wild mulberry (ungrafted)’ (MS)
light still on the mountains but it is dark in the nariʋéni (adj) ‘not bearing fruit (of a tree)’
valley’ {MNN} (TMFW), (n) ‘main stalk of a plant’ (IF) narʋéni
nambár /Other pronunc: lambár/ (n) ‘place (in a (n) ‘species of wild asparagus’ (TMF) narkóku
ranked list)’: aʋá ǰuó nambára hátam ‘I came in (n) ‘rooster’, ‘cock’ (MNN, SWKA) narexár (n)
‘male donkey’ [< Skt. (T3208) (M:1973)

88
narašáq Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes naṭkíl

(T7077)] {SWKA, MNN, TMF, MS, TMFW, IF} nastó roy ǰam ošóni ‘The people of past times
narašáq (adj) ‘of a person who does not do a job by were good.’ (MNN) násta (adv) ‘a few
the correct procedures’ {MNN} moments before’; ‘a little before the present’
(MNN) nast dreék (vtr) ‘to chase’ (Upper
naraúl (adj) ‘of a person who does not heed good Chitral usage; ‘to follow’ (See also syn. Lower
advice’ {MNN} Chitral usage, naṭhéik) nast nisík (vintr) ‘to
overtake’ nast korík (vtr) ‘to lead or take away
nas (n) ‘edge’, ‘vicinity of something/someone’: ma
an animal or person’ (IF) nastkíni (adj)
žuúr ma nása hay ‘My daughter came to me.’
‘previous’: nastkíni boók ‘previous wife’ (MYS)
(MNN) tan bráro nása hal bóman ‘I am staying
nasγér (adj) ‘first’: nasγér boók ‘first wife’
with my brother.’ (MYS); ‘limit’: ǰanǰálo kya nas
(MYS) [< Skt. (M:1936) (T7031)] {MNN, IF,
šer ‘There should be some limit to fighting and MYS}
quarreling.’ (MNN) ‘piece’: palóγo nas ‘a piece
of apple’ (MNN) pyalá chití ǰu nas hoy ‘The cup nastúɫi (n) ‘mucus in nose’ (Chitral town, Laspur):
broke into two pieces.’ (MYS); nas nisík (vintr) tseqó nastúɫi góyan ‘The child’s nose is
Id. ‘to get a chance’ (MNN) nas korík (vtr) ‘to running.’ (IF) [< Skt. (T7032)] {Chitral town, IF}
break into pieces’ nas nas korík (vtr) ‘to break násul (n) ‘species’; ‘breed’ [> Ar., Turkic] {SWKA}
entirely into pieces’ (MNN) nási nisík (vintr) ‘to
be finished’ (MYS); ‘to be finished’, ‘to come to nasúr (n) ‘head (top opening) of the millrace’ (naá /
an end’ (MNN) nási neék /Other pronunc: nási nokhí) (IWA) [naá + sór] {MNN, IWA}
nezík/ (vtr) ‘to finish’ ‘to complete something’ nasʋár (n) ‘chewing tobacco’ (MNN) nasʋarí (adj)
(MNN) nasóte bik (vintr) ‘to be (gradually) ‘brown’, ‘tobacco-colored’ (SWKA) {MNN,
excluded by other people’, ‘to be shunned’ (IF): SWKA}
hasé šum moóš ošóy, nasóte hoy ‘He was a bad
man; he was excluded.’ nasóte korík (vtr) ‘to naš (n) ‘abortion’, ‘miscarriage (of human)’ [< Skt.
exclude someone from one’s company’: dehó (T7084)] {MS}
roy ta nasóte aréni ‘The villagers have našanóṭ korík (vtr) ‘to wound’, ‘damage appearance
excluded you/shunned you.’ (MYS); ‘to shun’; of’ {SWKA}
‘to marginalize’, ‘to boycott’ nasén (n) ‘last one’,
našónu (adj) ‘worsened’, ‘deteriorated in condition
‘last animal in the threshing process, which is
(of a healing wound, especially a burn or a
selected to be fast and active’ (IF) nasén (adv)
circumcision)’: akbáro žaʋó puluidú phuk ǰam
(postposition) ‘around’; ‘encircling something’
(MNN) (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T7089)] bití ošóy, mágar hasé brik dúri bi áči tan dúra
{MNN, MYS, IF} gíken díti žaʋó puluidú našónu hoy ‘Akbar’s
son’s burn had slightly healed, but because he
nasáɫu (n) ‘animal fattened and slaughtered in
(Akbar) went to a house where a death had
winter’ (Ghezur usage) [< Shina] {MYS}
recently occurred and came back to his own
nasíb /Other pronunc: nasíp/ (n) ‘fate’, ‘destiny’, house, his son’s burn became worse.’ {MS}
‘fortune’ nasíb buc̣hurík (vintr) Id. Lit. ‘for one’s
fortune to open up’ Sense: ‘to get married’ [Ar., naṣk (n) ‘beak (of bird)’, ‘bill (of duck)’ naṣk nisík
Prs.] {SWKA} (vintr) ‘for a stone to protrude from the ground’
(the protruding part can be used to help lever
nasiyát (n) ‘advice’ {SWKA} the stone out of the ground) {MNN, SWKA}
naskár (n) ‘nose’ naskár modík (intransitive) Id. Lit. naṣkíṣ (n) ‘person who spreads mischievous
‘for nose to itch inside’ Sense: ‘to feel like gossip’; ‘one who does not keep a confidence’
eating fresh meat’ (SWKA) loṭnaskéri (adj) {MS}
‘having a big nose’ (MNN) naskáro ʋáɫu (n)
‘nostril’ (MNN) naskéṭ /Other form: nastét natiǰá (n) ‘result’ [< Ar., Prs., Turkic, Ur.] {MNN}
(GNK: Torkhow form)/ (n) ‘mucus in nose’ (MA, nathán ‘disobedient’ {MNN}
GNK) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA}
natharáš (adj) ‘mean-spirited’ {MNN}
nast /Other pronunc: sometimes reduced to nas,
with loss of final consonant/ (adv) ‘ahead of’, ‘in naṭíheɫ (adj) ‘strong and sturdy (opposite of
front of (spatial)’, ‘preceding’: nast bos ‘Go delicate)’ {MNN}
ahead (of me).’ (MNN); (n) ‘past (temporal)’: naṭkíl /Other pronunc: naṭkéy (n) ‘nose ornament’

89
naṭhéik Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes nigík

{SWKA} na̍zukpír (n) ‘a portion (handful) of mixed straw and

grains (raš) set aside for giving to faqirs.’
naṭ éik (vtr) ‘to follow or chase someone’ (Lower
h
(Parwak) [IF: < nasur pir ‘in memory of the Pir’]
Chitral usage) nast dreék is used in this sense
{Parwak, IF}
in Upper Chitral.) {Mastuj}
neγlík /Other pronunc: naγlík/ (vtr) ‘to swallow
naumét (adj) ‘hopeless’, ‘without hope’ [< Turkic]
whole (as snakes or dragons do)’ (MNN)
[{ICS}
neγléik (vtr) ‘to make swallow, to cause to
naʋkarí (n) ‘service’, ‘job’, ‘post’, ‘position’ [< Ur. swallow’ neγlé (interjection) ‘expression of
nokarī ‘job’] {MNN} anger at one who eats too much’ (TMF) naγlík
(vtr) ‘to swallow down, to gulp down’ (IWA) [<
nax (n) ‘sleeping alcove/nook inside the house’
Skt. (T7163)] {MNN, TMF, IWA}
(MNN, SWKA); ‘raised platform for sitting
outside’ (MS) (IF) naxanišák (n) Lit. ‘one who nek (adj) ‘good’, ‘virtuous’ [< Prs., Ur. nek ‘good’,
sits on the nax’ Sense: ‘person of high status ‘virtuous’] {WSiC}
who accompanies a bride to the groom’s house’
néki /Other pronunc: néki in Upper Chitral, níki in
(usage in Lower Chitral)’ (See also toxmirán)
Lower Chitral/ (vintr, negative existential
nimežéni nax (n) ‘corner on the ṭek reserved
copula) ‘there is not’ {MNN, SWKA, MAK}
for saying prayers’ (SWKA) naxdáru (n) ‘roof
beams laid breadthwise across the nax’ (IF); nephélik /Other pronunc: niphélik/ (vtr) ‘to shuck
‘smaller, secondary ceiling beams’ (MNN, MA) (maize, corn)’ (Lower Chitral usage) (See also
[< Skt. (T7036)] {MNN, RAKR, MS, SWKA, IF, syn. nirγeṭík) {NR}
MA}
nezér (n) ‘a look’, ‘glance’ nezér korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to
naxarčí /Other pronunc: daxárči, darxarčí (MYS), look around’ [< Ar., Prs. nazar ‘sight’, ‘look’]
darxáči (by metathesis, in Reshun) (IF)/ (n) {WSiC}
‘large curved knife often used for cutting leafy
nezík /Other pronunc: néik / (vtr) ‘to take out’; ‘to
greens’ {MNN, MYS, IF}
solve (a puzzle)’, ‘to answer (a question)’: dex
náxas (adj) ‘ill-omened’: ṭhumán dyáʋa saf roy dex dirú ošótam, hánya suálo nezítay ‘I was just
ruphóni- kará ki no ruphítay hatoγó šum ʋa about to beat him when he answered the
náxas ǰaṣúni ‘When a bonfire is lit all the question.’ (MNN); ‘to remove’ (MNN, MS): aʋá
people stand up. Whoever does not stand up is paṭío nezím ‘I will remove the bandage.’ (MS);
considered bad and ill-omened.’ {RAKR 1988} ‘to take out’ (MNN); ‘to split, cleave (shale,
slate)’ (MS); ‘to take (photograph)’ (MS) nezéik
naxeláf (adj) ‘unjust’ {MNN}
(vtr) ‘to have driven out, expelled’ (SWKA); ‘to
naxón (n) ‘pick for playing sitar’ {SWKA} have taken out, removed’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T6966) (T7079)] {MNN, RAKR, SWKA, MS}
naxóy (n) ‘garbanzo beans’, ‘chick peas (whole)’
Cicer arietinum naxoyγeér (n) ‘field from ničúht (n) ‘splinter’, ‘sliver (for example, of wood, in
which garbanzo beans have been harvested’ [< finger)’ (MNN); ‘small piece (of apple, pear,
Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, IF} melon, etc.)’ (MA) ničúht nezík (vtr) ‘to remove
a splinter’ (MNN); ‘to cut into small pieces to
naxšá (n) ‘picture’ [< Ar., Prs.] {WSiC} prepare for eating’ (ZMZ) {MNN, MA, ZMZ}
naxt (adj) ‘real’, ‘genuine’; (n) ‘cash’ [< Ur., Ar.: naqd nigaʋán (n) ‘collective name for household guardian
‘cash’] {SG} spirits’ [< Prs.] {MS}
náybar (n) ‘hole in round part of a spinning wheel nigík (vtr) ‘to wash’: aʋá ta hostán nigím ‘I will wash
into which the handle is inserted’ (Parwak); your hands (directly, as with a child)’ (MNN)
‘hook at the end of a rope’ (ZHDM) {Parwak,
nigéik ‘to help wash’, ‘to have washed’: aʋá ta
ZHDM}
hostán nigém ‘I will help you wash your hands
naysár (n) ‘type of fused rifle which could function (as by pouring water from a pitcher)’ aʋá dubío
either as rifle or shotgun’ {RAKR 1988} c ̣akéi zap nigétam ‘I got the washerman to wash
nazúk (adj) ‘thin’, ‘delicate’ (MNN) nazukbadán (n) the clothes.’ (MS) nigoóγ (n) ‘dishwater’; ‘warm
‘morning glory (flower)’ Ipomoea purpurea mixture of leftover food or scraps, for cows’
(TMFW) [< Prs., Ur. nāzuk ‘delicate’] {RAKR, nigoγéni (n) Lit. ‘place where wash water is
MNN, TMFW} thrown’ (MS) ‘container for wash water’ (IF)

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nikáh Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes nišpuɫík

nigoγéni korík (vtr) Id. ‘to abuse’: salím karímo ṭéka nisík ‘to reach the top of something (e.g.
nigoγéni arér ‘Salim abused/bad-mouthed mountain, gully, mound)’ (RAKR) uṣakíen díti
Karim.’ (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T7167)] {MNN, béri nisín no hoy. ‘Because of the cold (we)
MS, IF} couldn’t go outside.’ (SWKA) kántu nisík ‘to
nikáh (n) ‘Muslim marriage ceremony’ [<Prs. Turkic] climb a tree’ (TMFW); ‘to trip on something’
{MNN, WSiC} (MNN): hasé šiméni nisí ṭhor bíti baγái ‘He
tripped on a rope and fell down.’ / ‘Tripping on
nikráts (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ {MNN} a rope, he fell down.’ (MNN); ‘to reach the top
niláng /Other pronunc: neláng (NKN), nolaángu of a slope’: hate góltu bi háte ṭéka nisátam
(RAKR)/ (n) ‘unripe fruit’; ‘fruit which fall before ‘Going into the gully I came out on the top.’
they ripen’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {NKN, RAKR} (AK); ‘to turn out to be’: hatoγó žaʋ bo layák
nimár korík (vtr) ‘to measure (e.g. cloth)‘ (RAKR); nisíru biráy ‘His son turned out to be very
‘to measure volume, length, or width’ (SWKA) intelligent.’ (IF); ‘to pass (an examination)’: ma
nimaroónu (n) ‘measuring vessel (in general)’ žaʋ parcaá nisítay ‘My son passed the exam.’
(SWKA) [< Skt. (T7237)] {RAKR, SWKA} (IF) nasén nisík ‘to pass someone on the road’
niméik /Other pronunc: nimóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/ (MS) (MYS): bareníso góla iγó nasén nisítam
(vtr) ‘to weigh’ (SWKA); ‘to evaluate’ (RAKR); ‘We passed each other at the Barenis side
‘to communicate with gestures’ (SWKA) [< Skt. valley.’ (MS); ‘to win a race’ (MYS) [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T7240)] {RAKR, IF, SWKA} (T7270)] {MNN, RAKR, MS, MYS, SWKA, IF,
AK, TMFW}
nimelgóš (n) ‘curved knife with which γaán and
other wooden vessels are/were carved’ {MNN} nišík (vintr) ‘to sit (humans)’: pisá nišúr ma boγélik
niméš /Other pronunc: niméž (with final consonant
‘You sit (i.e. remain sitting, stay) I have to go.’
voiced)/ (n) ‘prayer (one of the five prescribed (MNN) aʋá hayára niší astám/asítam ‘I was
daily prayers in Islam)’ (SWKA); ‘Eid’ (SWKA): sitting here.’ (MNN); ‘to settle down in a place’:
niméš ki no birú biráy ta ruphési ‘If it is not hal bíti the hatéi niší astáni ‘Staying there, they
Eid, we will wake you up.’ (IF) tseq niméš (n) settled down there.’ (WSiC); ‘to fit into a
‘Eid ul Fitr’ (SWKA) loṭ niméš (n) ‘Eid ul Azha’ specific place (inanimate objects)’ nišonár (adj,
(SWKA) niméš xameék (vtr) ‘to say Eid adv) ‘in a sitting position’ (SWKA); ‘while sitting’
prayers’ (SWKA, TMFW) nimežγóɫi (n) ‘one (RKB) nišík ruphík (cf. Ur. uṭhnā baiṭhnā) (n)
who overeats on Eid and becomes sick’ (IF) ‘everyday life’ nišéik /Other pronunc: nišeék/
nimežéni (n) ‘prayer mat’ (TMFW) (RKB) [< (vtr) ‘to cause to sit’, ‘to seat’; γec̣hán nišéik ‘to
Middle Prs. (M:1936)] {MAK, SWKA, IF, TMFW} close the eyes’ (SWKA); ‘to fit an inanimate
object in its appropriate place’: hanún sanǰíro
niphelík (vtr) ‘to crack an egg’; ‘to remove kernels nišénian ‘Today the central beam is being
one-by-one from a corn cob’ {MAK}
fitted.’ (Lit. ‘they are fitting the central beam’)
nirγeṭík (vtr) ‘to shuck maize/corn’ (MAK); ‘to wring (IF) žaʋ nišeék (vtr) Id. ‘to have a son
a bird or small animal’s neck’ (IF) (See also circumcised’ (Operation was traditionally carried
syn. nephélik) {MAK, IF, NR} out by a person of the Dom caste.) (MNN) [<
niruún (n) ‘place where goats and sheep are Skt. (M:1973) (T7466) (T7467)] {MNN, RKB,
received when they return home to the village in SWKA, WSiC, IF}
the evening from grazing’ {MYS} niškík (vtr) ‘to dig’, ‘to excavate’ [< Skt. (T7115)]
nirʋázur /Other pronunc: nirʋázu, niʋrázu (by {MNN}
metathesis), niʋázu/ (n) ‘harrow-like implement’ nišpuɫík /Other pronunc: nušpuɫík (ARC), niṣpuɫík
(IF); ‘brush fence’ (Sonoghor); ‘bundle of thin (MNN, RKB)/ (vintr) ‘to come out, be uprooted’
branches, used to harrow a field after plowing’ nišpeɫík /Other pronunc: niškeɫík (IF), niṣpeɫik
(MAK) {IF, Sonoghor, MAK} (MNN, RKB)/ (vtr) ‘to pull out, uproot (in
níse /haníse/ (adv) ‘now’ (base form of haníse]) bunches) (of hair, vegetables, plants)’; ‘to break
{ZMZ} up’ (RAKR): axér zor dití sinó sóri yozó
niṣpeɫíko the haté čhat birú sin i silábo šíkil
nisík (vintr) ‘to emerge’, ‘come out’: ma gaɫí áči nisí ixtyár korí nušṭutsák biráy ‘Finally when the ice
šer ‘My watch is behind (loses time).’ (MNN) accumulated on the river is broken up by the

91
níšum bik Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes nokhí

force of the dammed up water the lake formed buṭhán nižáʋe ‘Take off his/her boots.’ (SWKA)
from the river rushes out as a flash flood.’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T7183) (T7324)] {RKB,
(RAKR) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T7516) (T7507)] SWKA}
{MNN, SWKA, IF, ARC, RAKR, RKB} no (adv) (negative particle): ‘not’: aʋá kyaáγ no
níšum bik (vintr) ‘to get stuck on a difficult mountain kóman ‘I am not doing anything.’ (MNN); ‘if not
path/road (animal or human)’ nišmánu (n) ‘a (or)’: tu pušúro hayá čaqúo sóra chhinísaá no
place which is easy to reach but difficult to horó sóra ‘Will you cut the meat with this
come back from’ {RKB, SG, Parwak} knife, or with that?’ (SWKA) noh ‘No!
niṣán (n) ‘sign’ (MNN); ‘gift’ (MS) (this sense is (interjection) negative answer to yes-no
found in Upper Chitral) niṣán dik (vtr) ‘to question’; (vintr) ‘is not’: síri ṣaʋ kaṭisdyák
guide’, ‘instruct how to do something’, išnári noh ‘Barley is not a fast-sprouting crop.’
‘demonstrate’; ‘to give a gift’ (MS) niṣán taréik nóo (interjection, tag question or cajolative
(vtr) ‘to give a gift’ batniṣán (adj) ‘evil- particle) (MA, IF): bísi nóo ‘Come on, let’s go
appearing, evil-faced’ [< Prs.] {RAKR, SWKA, (affirmative response expected)’ (MA) no biti
RKB, MS, MNN} (adv) ‘accidentally’; ‘unintentionally’ (SWKA) [<
níṣi (adv) ‘outside (of some boundary)’: čey níṣi hay Skt. (M:1973) (T6906)] {MA, MNN, SWKA, SG,
IF}
‘The tea boiled over.’ (RAKR) duʋáhta níṣi
‘outside the door’ (SWKA) {MNN, RAKR, no- (adj) ‘prefix indicating negative of adjectival form
SWKA} to which it is prefixed: ‘un-’ / ‘in-’: nopočíru
niṣkík (vtr) ‘to cut out (cloth, as for stitching a
‘uncooked’, ‘unripe’ nonoyoóku ‘invisible’
{SWKA}
garment)’: zapán niṣké ‘Cut out the clothes.’
(SWKA); ‘to carve (wood)’; ‘to dig out, noγór (n) ‘fort’, ‘castle’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6924)]
excavate’ niṣkoóku (n) ‘scraps left over after {WSiC}
cutting out a garment’: niṣkókan máte det- thuék noγrík /Other form: nurík/ (vintr) ‘to separate (e.g.
mažím ‘Give me the cloth scraps, I will clean brothers after their father’s death)’ (Drosh and
my gun.’ (SWKA) niṣkíru (adj) ‘cut out (n) ‘a Shishikuh usage) (See also nurík) {NR}
cut-out garment ready to be stitched)’ (SWKA)
{SWKA, RAKR, WSiC} nohtík (n) ‘a traditional dance form’ [< Skt. (T6978)]
{RAKR 1988}
niṭák ‘gums (where teeth are rooted)’ {MNN, IF}
noík (vintr) ‘to be visible’, ‘to be seen’, ‘to appear’:
niʋešík (vtr) ‘to write’: hayá no niʋešák ‘This one hes maldár moóš nayúran ‘He appears to
doesn’t write.’ (for example, of a used-up ball- be/looks like a rich man.’ (RKB) noéik ‘to
point pen) [< Prs. (M:1936)] {MNN} cause to seem’: ǰam čaláy šum suráto di ṣiéli
niʋeṣík (vtr) ‘to close the opening of a water channel noéran ‘Good clothes make even an ugly face
to direct the flow of water elsewhere’ seem beautiful.’ (MNN) noyóku (adj) ‘notable’,
niʋeṣoónu /Other pronunc: niʋaṣoónu, ‘prominent’, ‘obvious’, ‘worth-seeing’, ‘public’:
nyiʋaṣónu (MAK) (n) ‘gate of a water channel teričmíro zom i noyóku zom ‘Terichmir is a
which stops the flow of water to redirect it’ prominent mountain.’ (SWKA) ma tat déha i
(synonym for madoók); ‘outlet of a (duck) pond’ noyóku moóš ‘My father is a prominent figure
(MA); nyiʋaṣónu ‘gate for allowing excess in the village.’ (SWKA) noyóku korík (vtr) ‘to
water in duck pond to escape’ (MAK) {SWKA, make public’, ‘to disclose’: khošt lúo noyóku mo
MA, MAK} ko ‘Don’t disclose something secret.’ (SWKA)
niyúk (n) ‘village in Torkhow’ {MA} nayéik /Other pronunc: nayeék/ (vtr) ‘to cause
to become visible’; ‘to unintentionally make an
nizá (n) ‘spear’ [< Prs.] {RAKR} animal aware of a human’ (RKB) nayóku (adj)
nizára (n) ‘sight’, ‘spectacle’ [< Prs., Ur.] {RAKR} ‘causing to be seen’; ‘sharp-eyed’, ‘able to see
well’: múru bo nayóku žanʋár ‘The female ibex
nižík (vtr) ‘to take off (clothes)’: taf korí aʋá banyáno catches sight of a hunter very quickly.’ (SWKA)
nižítam ‘When it got hot I took off my sweater.’ {MNN, RKB, SWKA}
(RKB) nižéik (vtr) ‘to have someone take off
clothes’; ‘to help someone take off clothing’: nokhí (n) ‘millrace’, ‘wooden channel which carries
water to the mill’ (See also syn. naá) {MNN,

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nolaángu Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes očhé

MS, IWA} nurík /Other pronunc: noγrík/ (vintr) ‘to separate

(e.g. of brothers after father’s death)’: tat briko
nolaángu (n) ‘unripe fruit’; ‘fruit which fall before
they ripen’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {NKN, RAKR} sum žižáʋ nurítani ‘When their father died the
sons separated.’ (SWKA); ‘to leave’, ‘separate
noɫ (n) ‘species of tall grass used as fodder’ from something (e.g. studies)’ (SWKA) niʋerík
Saccharum spontaneum [< Skt. (M: 1936) (vtr) ‘to separate (things, people)’ niʋeréik (vtr)
(M:1973) (T6936)] {RAKR} ‘to cause to be separated (by someone)’ (See
also noγrík) [< Skt. (T7559) (T7393)] {SWKA,
noóγ (adj) ‘new’: i ṣieéli noóγ ǰekéṭ ‘a beautiful new
MNN, NKN}
jacket’ (SWKA); (n) ‘new moon’ (SWKA)
noγphéɫi /Other pronunc: noxphéɫi, noγphéṭi/ nurúγi /Other pronunc: nuróγi/ (adj) ‘reversed’;
(n) ‘newly cultivated field’ (MAK, IF) (SWKA, ‘upside down’ (RKB); ‘backwards’; ‘inside out’
MAK, IF} (MNN) {MNN, RKB}
noγdár (adv) ‘anew’ (MNN) (SAS) tak noóγ (n) nušṭutsík /Other pronunc: nišṭutsík/ (vintr) ‘for
‘new moon’ (SG) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, water to rush out of a gap in a broken dam,
SWKA, MAK, WSiC, SAS} lake, pond’ nušṭutsak /Other pronunc:
nišṭutsák (ZMZ)/ (n) ‘flash flood’ (RAKR)
nóqul (adj) ‘unique’ {WSiC} {RAKR, ZMZ}
noṭ korík (vtr) ‘to observe’, ‘take note of’ [< Eng. nyask (n) ‘niche in a wall used to store fodder’: reṣú
‘note’] {MNN}
niyáski loɫí ʋeboótu bas Prov. Lit. ‘The bull
noʋés (n) ‘nephew’, ‘niece’, ‘grandchild’ [< Prs. looked in the (empty) fodder niche, and spent
(M:1936) also (T6954)] {MNN, WSiC} the night without eating.’ (Parwak); ‘ventilation
nožán /Other pronunc: nužán/ (adj) ‘strange’, hole in the wall of a phestí (fodder store)’ (It
‘unknown’: ponén boγáʋa nožán bandá dučhára admits light and air and straw is put into the
store through it.) {Parwak}
hay ‘As I was walking on the road I
encountered a stranger.’ (SWKA); ‘surprising’ [< nyof /Other pronunc: nyoh/ (adj) ‘nine’ [< Skt.
Skt. (M:1973)] {GMKH, SWKA} (M:1973) (T6984)] {ZMZ}
nožíngi (adj) ‘of a person wearing a shirt without a očé /Other pronunc: očó (Laspur)/ (conjunction)
shalwar’ {MNN} ‘and’: aʋá očé tu hayií niší asúsi ‘You and I are
nugáni (adj) ‘blunt’; ‘dull’ {MNN} sitting here.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T4533)]
{MNN, TMF}
nuhunǰík (vintr) ‘to settle’, ‘stop moving’: ma hardí
očóhti (adv) ‘two days before yesterday’ [< Skt.
nuhúnǰitay ‘My heart has stopped palpitating.’ (M:1973) (T4600)] {MNN}
(MA) ispá hayaá nihunǰítam ‘We have settled
down here.’ (MA) aʋá hayaá nuhunǰítam ‘I očhé /Other pronunc: očhét, očhót, očhó (RAKR)/
came to rest/stopped moving here (e.g. when (interjection) ‘utterance-final cajolative/
imperative particle conveying emphasis and
falling down a slope).’ (MA) nihenǰík (vintr) ‘to
sometimes emotional affect, e.g. slight
stand firm (intentionally)’ (MNN) nihenǰéik (vtr)
impatience, or softening’ (It also can suggest or
‘to make someone/something stand firm’ (MNN)
imply that something else will follow.) (SWKA):
[< Skt. (T7231)] {MA, MNN}
sábar ko očhé kyá ‘Just wait a minute! (be
numaá (adv) ‘not yet’, ‘after some time’: A: čéy patient)’ (SWKA) haníse ma γoš no bóyan, boγé
numaá pis nóo B: numaá pim ‘A: You haven’t očhé, darbáta niʋeším ‘I don’t have time now.
yet drunk your tea, have you? B: I haven’t Go now, I will write it in a little while.’ (RAKR)
drunk it yet.’ / ‘I’ll drink it after a while.’ (IF) očhoór (interjection) ‘plural of očhé’ (occurs
hamúnya pat ta pa̍ypʋalá numaá goy ‘Your with plural imperative sentences) (RAKR):
pipefitter still hasn’t come.’ (MNN); ‘later ’: ta hanún pisá prušṭ hoóte mo boγuúr očhoór
xyála hatét gíko hóni-aá numaá? ‘Do you ‘Today (you) don’t go out to receive him!’
think they are ready to come (now), or later?’ (WSiC) [< Hunza Bur. imperative forms ʌčo
(IWA) {MNN, RAKR, IF, IWA} (sg.) ačo:in (pl.) ‘wait!’ (Lorimer 1938: 8),
Yasin Bur. ʌčho (sg.) ačho:in (pl.) (Lorimer
nun (adv) ‘today’ (base form of hanún) (MNN, RKB}
[< Skt. (T7576)]
1962: 3)] {SWKA, RAKR, WSiC}

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oc ̣ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ormúč

oc̣ /Other pronunc: oc̣h/ (adj) ‘green (vegetation, machine for husking rice’ (MS) onḍo̍rdáru (n)
crops)’ (MNN); ‘blue (sky)’ (MNN) oc̣haáku (adj) ‘wooden beam into which the musúl (pestle) is
‘bluish’, ‘light blue’ (SWKA) oc̣hoónu (n) ‘variety fitted’ {RAKR, MS, IF, Parwak}
of apricot’ (RAKR) oc̣eénu (adj) ‘greenish’
ongoɫík (vintr, vtr) ‘to mimic’, ‘to imitate someone’
(MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T24)] {MNN, SWKA,
[possibly < Skt. (M:1973)] {IF}
RAKR}
ongoɫónu (n) ‘third-level roof beam in the traditional
oc̣níru (n) ‘a pure place, unaffected by humans -
smokehole in a Chitrali house’ ongoɫónu bik
place of the fairies’ {MY}
(vintr) ‘to lean down headfirst from a high place’
oc̣héik (vtr) ‘to give water to a crop’; ‘to grow’, {IF}
‘cultivate’, ‘bring a crop to maturity’ hatoγó
ónṣoṭ (n) ‘a place in Laspur’ onṣoṭík (n) ‘person
ocḥ éru gómo aʋá ganítam ‘I bought the wheat from Onshot’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA, IF}
which he had cultivated and brought to
maturity.’ {MS} -oóγ (n) ‘combining morpheme meaning ‘water’,
appearing in terms related to irrigation
oc̣hensúr (n) ‘a pond above Zondrangram in Terich practices. See entry for uγ / uúγ ‘water’ soroóγ
which is a nesting ground for ducks’ {MNN} (n) ‘per head share of irrigation water, = 2
odír (n) ‘village in Torkhow, up-river from ṣágram’ goloóγ’ (GNK: Singur) anusoóγ (n) ‘day-time
{MAK} share of irrigation water’ (GNK) čhuyoóγ (n)
‘night-time share of irrigation water’ (GNK)
ohrts /Other pronunc: ohts/ (n) ‘bear’ ohrtsíri (n) gospanoóγ (n) ‘unit of irrigation water, = 1/3 of
‘bearskin’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2445)] {MS, goloóγ’ (See entry for goloóγ.) takoóγ (n) ‘a
SWKA} single share (i.e. one of three parts)’ (GNK)
ǰustoóγ (n) ‘a double share, i.e. two out of three
ohtíri /Other pronunc: ohrtíri (MA), oxtíri (Lower
parts (GNK); ‘morpheme meaning ‘water’
Chitral)/ (adv, n) ‘the day before yesterday’
occuring in names of dishes containing much
(MNN); ‘the previous day’ (MA) [< Skt. (M:1973)
liquid’ paṭingeɫoóγ (n) ‘watery curry dish
(T5912)] {MNN, MA}
containing lots of tomatoes’, ‘tomato curry’
okotík (vtr) ‘to mix flour and water together in the (TMFW) {GNK, TMFW}
initial stage of making ṣoṣp’ {SWKA}
oq (n) ‘vomiting’ oq dik (vtr) ‘to vomit’: haté pušúro
oɫín (n) ‘millet’ Setaria italica oɫinγeér (n) ‘field žutí aʋá oq phrétam ‘After eating that meat I
from which oɫin has been harvested’ [< Skt. vomited.’ (RKB) oq korík (vtr) ‘to vomit’ [< Skt.
(T195)] {MNN, BA} (T2538) (Z:p.c.)] {RKB, MNN}
oɫóng (n) ‘hole/cavity caused by water erosion’ oqʋaht (n) ‘village in Khot’ {MNN}
{TMF}
oráy /Other pronun-c: aʋráy/ (n) ‘breeze which
omγorík (vintr) ‘to thicken’, ‘to become firm (e.g. comes from the south (downcountry) during the
halʋa or ṣoṣp)’ (NKN); ‘to change color and time between the fajr prayer and sunrise’ {ZMZ}
become brownish-red when being fried (ṣoṣp)’
(RAKR); ‘to near completion of the cooking oreék /Other pronunc: oróik/ (vintr) ‘to go to sleep’,
process’ (RAKR) {NKN, RAKR} ‘to sleep’ oráru (n) ‘sleep’, ‘desire to sleep’
(SWKA): ma oráru očhítay ‘My sleep was
ondroẓóγ (n) ‘water flowing in a gully’ {MAK} interrupted.’ (SWKA) hes ma oráro čhinítay
ónḍoγ /Other pronunc: óndroγ/ (n) ‘a dive’ ónḍoγ ‘S/he woke me from sleep.’ (SWKA) ma orárar
dik /Other pronunc: óndroγ dik/ (vintr, vtr) ‘to nezítay ‘S/he didn’t let me sleep.’ (SWKA)
dive’ {RAKR, WSiC} orára kosák (n) ‘sleepwalker’ (DAT) [< Skt.
(T807)] {SWKA, DAT}
onḍór (n) ‘wooden mortar (container into which
foodstuffs are placed for grinding)’ (RAKR); ‘pit orγóč (n) ‘village in an unirrigated area on the right
into which unhusked rice is put for husking’ bank of the Chitral River, down-river from
(MS); ‘large beams made from a full tree trunk Chitral.’ [< Turkic] {TMF}
which are put between layers of stone in bridge
ormú (n) ‘region in Torkhow’ {MA}
construction to reinforce or strengthen the
structure’ (IF); ‘heavy base of a spinning wheel’ ormúč /Other pronunc: ormíč (MNN)/ (n) ‘joint pain
(Parwak) ponge̍nonḍór (n) ‘foot-operated resulting from excessive work (humans)’ {GNK,

94
oseéni Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes palnaphúl bik

MNN} ‘to peel (e.g. potatoes with a knife, onion,

banana, orange, tangerine)’ (MNN); ‘to
oseéni /Other pronunc: hoseéni (RAKR), osoéni/
sweep/clean (house)’ (IF); ‘to roughen a
(n) ‘handkerchief’ {SWKA, RAKR}
millstone by chipping small depressions in it’
osík /Other pronunc: hosík / (vintr) ‘to laugh’: Prov. (IF); ‘to sharpen (metal domestic tools, e.g. axe,
osák kimério ʋafá néki ‘One cannot trust a adze, knife)’ {MNN, IF}
laughing woman.’ (MAK); ḍaq khúṭu móšo sóra paγúzu (n) ‘logs’, ‘driftwood’ (NKN); ‘small pieces of
diš hosítani ‘The boys laughed cruelly at the wood’ (ZMZ) {NKN, ZMZ}
lame man.’ (RKB) oséik /Other pronunc:
hoséik (MA), (RKB)/ (vtr) ‘to cause to laugh’: pahán (n) ‘bottom’; ‘grave’; ‘depths’ (GNK) {ARC,
GNK}
horó lu ma hosétay ‘His words made me laugh.’
(RKB) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T14024)] {MAK, MA, pahlaʋán (n) ‘warrior’ [< Prs. Turkic] {RAKR}
RKB}
pahlú (n) ‘one wall (side) of a room’ [< Prs.] {IF}
ošṭ /Other pronunc: õšṭ (MNN)/ (adj) ‘eight’
pahrtáʋ (n) ‘throwing, casting of something‘
õšṭanézi (n) ‘an 8-anna coin’ (now equivalent to
pahrtaʋéik /Other pronunc: partaʋeék/ (vtr) ‘to
a 50-paisa coin) (MNN): ošṭsalá (adj) ‘eight
throw’, ‘to cast’; ‘to throw away something
year old (applied to domestic animals)’: ošṭsalá disliked either because of the thing itself, or of
reṣú ‘an eight year old bull’ (SWKA) ošṭγíṣ the giver’ (IF) pahrtáʋ korík (vtr) ‘to throw, cast
(adj) ‘which has been plowing for eight years (of something’ {RAKR, IF}
bull)’: ošṭγíṣ reṣú ‘a bull which has been
plowing for eight years’ (SWKA) õšṭánu (n) pahrteék (vtr) ‘to collect animals (cows, goats,
‘eight-year-old deer or ibex’ (MNN) [< Skt. sheep) at the end of the day’ (MYS); (vtr) ‘to
(M:1973), (T941)] {SWKA, MNN} protect something’: gazó pahrtétay ‘He
protected his lawn (from animals).’ (IF)
oṣpoóɫ (n) ‘a boil (infection)’ (MNN); (ZHD: infection pahrténi (n) ‘place where animals are collected
believed to be caused by eating raw or at end of the day’ (MYS) {MYS, IF}
undercooked meat) {MNN, ZHD}
pakhóɫ /Other pronunc: kaphoóɫ, (with metathesis)
oʋír (n) ‘village south of Terichmir peak’ oʋirí (n) phakóɫ/ (with aspiration on first syllable)/ (n)
‘person from Ovir’ {SWKA} ‘traditional Chitrali men’s cap’ pakhoɫγár (n)
oxoík /Other pronunc: oxóyk/ (vintr) ‘to swell up’: ‘cloth for making a woolen cap’ {MNN}
ḍakṭhár ma oxoydú bazúo šunǰ c ̣akétay ‘The palaγúšṭu /Other pronunc: palaúšṭi (Chitral town)/
doctor injected my swollen arm.’ oxoeék (vtr) (n) ‘dried apple(s)’; ‘dried apple powder’ (Chitral
‘to cause to swell’: bo meʋá ma iškamoó town) {MNN, Chitral town}
oxoénian ‘Too much fruit makes my stomach palál (n) ‘stack of threshed wheat’ {< Skt. (T7958)
swell.’ {MNN} (Z:p.c.)] {MNN}
oxtréik /Other pronunc: oxtreék/ (vintr) ‘to be palapúṭ (n) ‘a split’, ‘a falling out (of persons)’
startled/frightened and try to run away (of palapúṭ dik (vintr, vtr) ‘for two very close
animals)’ {RAKR} persons to experience a falling out: het tan múži
paár (n) ‘wooden scoop for flour’ (Pasum); ‘wooden bo palapúṭ dyaʋ ošóni ‘They were quarreling
vessel for dry flour used while making bread‘; among themselves (i.e. not as close as they had
‘vessel for ground grain at the lower part of a been).’ (perhaps said by someone envious of
water mill’ (SWKA) {Pasum, MAK, MS, SWKA} their closeness)’ {MAK}
pačhán /Other pronunc: pačán (GNK)/ (adj) ‘hidden’ palastér korík (vtr) ‘to plaster’ [< Eng. ‘plaster’]
[< Skt. (M:1936) (T2169)] {GNK) {SWKA}
pac̣h (n) ‘species of bush, the branches of which are palaʋár (adj) ‘anxious’ palaʋár bik (vintr) ‘to be
burned to make iṣqór for soap making’ waiting anxiously’ {ZHD}
Haloxylon griffitii {RAKR 1988}
pálmu (n) ‘groin area’ (See also khišk) {IF}
pagáh (n) ‘a long horse race, practiced in
palnaphúl bik /Other pronunc: phalnaphúl bik
Badakshan’ {RAKR}
(GNK)/ (vintr) ‘to stumble’ palnaphúli dik (vintr,
paγík /Other pronunc: poγík in Lower Chitral/ (vtr) vtr) ‘to stumble (of persons)’; ‘to stagger (of

95
paloóγ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes parindá

persons)’ (MNN) (See also phatnapúli) {MNN, pap (n) ‘breast’, ‘udder’ {RAKR}
GNK}
páqun (n) ‘dung cake made by plastering dung on a
paloóγ (n) ‘apple (tree or fruit)’ Malus pumila: wall’ {IF}
paloóγ póči šéni ‘The apples are ripe.’ (MNN) par (n) ‘sound of bird’s wings flapping’ {WSiC}
šokhór paloóγ (n) ‘variety of apple, very small,
white, sweet’ (RAKR) {MNN, RAKR} paračí (adj) ‘touching the ground’ [< Prs. faraši
‘which touches the ground’] {ARC}
pálum (adj) ‘very small, fine, tiny’: pálum alú ‘very
small potatoes’ pálum paysá ‘change (small parakhánda (n) ‘lazy person’, ‘work shirker’ {MS}
notes)’; (n) ‘small bits of anything (e.g. wood parančhút (adj, n) ‘(of) a cow which gives birth after
chips, crumbs)’ [< Ir. (M:136)] {MNN} a long time’ {IF}
paɫ (n) ‘man-made foothold in cliff or other hard rock’ paráng (n) ‘wooden side panels of sieve (γarbél)’
(MNN); ‘narrow path or foothold’ (RAKR) {MNN, (MAK); ‘melon rind’ (RAKR) {MAK, RAKR}
RAKR }
parangáṭ (n) ‘restless violent motion’; ‘upheaval’;
paɫá (n) ‘multiplication table’ [< Ur. pahāṛa ‘unbalanced motion’ {BA}
‘multiplication table’ < Skt. (T8041)] {ARC}
paránu (adj) ‘old (of inanimate things)’: ma zap
paɫaspór ‘pants’ (Ghezur term) {Laspur} paránu bíti uluṣoóku bíti šéni ‘My clothes have
pam (n) ‘mumps’: tseqóte pam gíti šéni ‘The child gotten old and are liable to tear.’ [< Skt.
has mumps.’ (IF) {IF, Booni} (M:1973) (T8283)] {SWKA}
parápara korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to make a fuss’, ‘to raise
pan (n) ‘shelf’, ‘platform’; ‘shelves at top of wall in
a noisy objection’ {RAKR, WSiC}
traditional house’ (RAKR, MAK); ‘shelf above
the fireplace on which plates, etc. are kept’ paráṣ (n) ‘anus’ paraṣkóṭi (n) ‘participant in
(MA, IF); ‘a storage ledge created by extending sodomy’ {IFM, IF}
a wall out into a room by one or two feet at the
base of the wall’ (IF); ‘dish storage shelf or paratóng (n) ‘species of juniper - used for a type of
cabinet in the báypaṣ (central room of a medicinal tea’ {MNN}
traditional Chitrali house)’ (IF); ‘domestic parčám /Other pronunc: parčím (TMF)/ (n) ‘fringe of
administration and felicity associated with the hair on forehead, worn by a young woman up
senior woman in a house’: tan išprešío pána until her first child is born’ (MNN); ‘bangs (fringe
loṭhóro rožáyu niší asuúr ‘The senior daughter- worn on forehead)’ parčám suík (vtr) ‘to braid
in-law is sitting in her mother-in-law’s place.’ hair into small braids but not joined together at
(IF); ‘home’ (ZP): hayá ma náno pan ‘This is bottom’ (IF) parčimdár (n) ‘person having a
my mother’s place/home.’ (ZP) {RAKR, MAK, fringe of hair on the forehead’; ‘young girl’
MA, IF, ZP} {MNN, IF, TMF}

panáʋ (n) /Other pronunc: penáʋ/ (n) ‘reward given parčín nisík (vintr) ‘to react by a reflex action, for
to someone who finds and returns a lost object’ example the knee-jerk reflex’ {GNK, MNN}
{MNN} parečhík (vtr) ‘to throw away’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T7913) (7832)] {SWKA}
pandán (n) ‘old torn goat hair mat (pilésk)’: gordóγo
ṭe̍ kidíni pandán ‘a covering of old mats to put parešantélik (n) ‘species of willow’ Salix illensis
on a donkey’; ‘floor covering of sacks and old {Reshun}
mats’ {IF}
parγáɫik /Other pronunc: parγóɫik (MNN)/ (n) ‘shell
pandár (n) ‘material help (firewood, grain, money, of a ripe walnut’ (MNN); ‘outer husk of walnut’
etc.) given to the groom’s family by his relatives (SWKA, Sonoghor) {MNN, SWKA, Sonoghor}
at the time of marriage as help in bearing the
expenses of marriage’ (MS); ‘wedding gifts parí (n) ‘fairy’ [< Prs. Turkic] {WSiC}
given to the groom’ (TMFW) {MS, TMFW} paridzáxum (n) ‘abcess, usually on throat, neck, or
panǰaráṣ /Other pronunc: panǰeráṣ/ (adj) ‘full (of ankle’ (IF); ‘tuberculosis of the bone’ Lit.
moon)’; ‘of fifteenth day’ [< Skt. (M:1973) also ‘wound caused by the fairies’ (IF) {IF, MNN}
(T7663)] {SWKA} parindá (n) ‘bird’, ‘flying creature’ [< Prs. paranda

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parkumán Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes pathraánsk

‘flying creature’; Ur. parinda ‘bird’] {WSiC} {GMKH, MS, IWK, IWA}
parkumán (n) ‘a place where one cannot see the pastaʋazéγ (adj, n) ‘(applies to) someone who
road ahead’ {MY} respects the cultures of others’ {BM}
parkundíts (n) ‘smallish lizard’, ‘gecko’ (See also pastéγ korík (vtr) ‘to water fields for the first time
barkunzík) {MNN} after sowing a crop’ {IF}
parkusáp (n) ‘village up-river from Booni’ pasték /Other pronunc: phasték/ (n) ‘a traditional
parkusapžeéri (n) ‘person from Parkusap’ dance form’ {RAKR 1988}
{SWKA}
pa̍surbóxtu (n) ‘soft white rock (gypsum?,
parpán (n) ‘shell of pumpkin, skin of canteloupe, rind soapstone?)’ {Reshun}
of melon’; ‘old worn-out cap’ {RAKR}
pašná korík (vtr) ‘to kick a horse with the heels
parpáṭ (n) ‘measles’ (MA, IF, Chitral town) parpáṭ while riding’; ‘to turn a galloping horse’ {ICS}
nisík (vintr) ‘to have measles’ {MA, IF, Chitral
paṣík /Other pronunc: poṣík (Chitral town, BA),
town}
phaṣík (SWKA, GNK)/ (vtr) ‘to dig, excavate’:
parpí (n) ‘the (hidden) underground source of the hes máte paṣíran ‘S/he is undermining me.’
kavír plant’ (IF); (n) ‘extremely rare, unavailable (MNN) xurót ki paṣín hoy tan atú γerín boy
thing’ parpí bik (vintr) ‘to be very scarce and Prov. Lit. ‘If you dig a pit for someone else, you
hard to find’: čey parpí bíti šer ‘Tea has become can fall into it yourself.’ (MAK); ‘to scrape
very scarce and expensive.’ (MNN) {MNN, IF} clear’; ‘to dig up’ (SWKA): aʋá hatoγo phaṣí nezí
parpiš (n) ‘village near Ovir’ parpišéγ (n) ‘person xur žaγaá altí baíman ‘I am going to dig it up
from Village Parpish’ {MNN} (from here) and plant it in another place.’
parsíng (n) ‘village in Terich valley below
(SWKA) {MNN, MAK, GMKH, Chitral town, BA,
SWKA}
Zondrangram’ {MNN}
pat (postposition) ‘up to (spatial)’; ‘until (temporal)’
parʋaák (n) ‘village up-river from Booni’ (AR,
{MNN}
SWKA) parʋakžéri (n) ‘person from Parwak’
(SWKA) {AR, SWKA} patá (n) ‘address’, ‘information’ {WSiC}
parʋaná /Other pronunc: parʋanáh (IF)/ (n) ‘moth’ pataáts /Other pronunc: patáts (MAK); patshát
{MNN, IF} (Drosh)/ (n) ‘wooden bowl for dzah (moist dish)’
(MAK); ‘small round serving vessel for moist
párʋat (adj, n) ‘expert in speaking a language’
dishes’ (MNN) {MAK, MNN, Drosh}
párʋat bik (vintr) ‘to be(come) expert in
speaking a language’: aʋá angrezía párʋat bití patadém (n) ‘flight of leaves in the air when a strong
asítam ‘I became/had become expert in wind blows leaves around’; ‘strong anger’: ée
speaking Engish.’ {Mastuj} bráár patadém ko kosán ‘O brother, why are
parʋelík (vtr) ‘to rinse (e.g. a vessel)’ {RAKR, WSiC,
you getting so angry?’ {TMF}
MNN} patári (n) ‘thick plank at top of wall, directly under
ceiling beams’ (MNN); ‘wooden beams used in
parʋezík (vtr) ‘to see off someone setting out on a
octagonal smokehole pattern’ (MAK);
journey or a departing guest’ (MNN) (See also
‘breadthwise roof beams which rest on the
puruzík) {MNN, SWKA, WSiC, ARC}
sanǰír’ (IF); ‘side pieces of an octagonal smoke
pas dreék (vintr, vtr) ‘to say a prayer after eating’ hole’ (Parwak) {MNN, MAK, Parwak, IF}
{MNN}
patrámi (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ {MNN}
pasíǰi (adj) ‘absorbent’ {AKM}
patrangáz (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ (SWKA)
past (adv) ‘below’; (adj) ‘lower (opposite of ẓang pathrangazián (n) ‘charas from Patrangaz’
‘high’) (IWK); ‘deep’ (MS) past xomík (vintr) ‘to (MS) {SWKA, MS}
come down’ past bik (vintr) ‘to come under
patšambéh (n) ‘Thursday’ [< Prs.] {SWKA}
someone’s control’; ‘to be submissive’ (IWA)
pastí (n) ‘depth’ (MS) pásto bik (vintr) pathraánsk (n) ‘scarecrow’ [cf. Torwali patrak
‘euphemism for a child’s defecating’ (IWA) ‘person tilted backwards’ (Inam Ullah 2017:
pásto korík (vtr) ‘to help a child to defecate’ 137)] {MNN}

97
pathumdás Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes peɫíngi

pathumdás (n) ‘village in upper Hunza’ {?} paysá (n) ‘money’ [< Ur.] {MNN, RAKR}
pats áx (n) ‘fallen leaves, twigs, etc. which can clog
h
paytaʋá (n) ‘leg bindings (for humans or horses)’
a water channel’ {MAK} {TMF}
paṭáng (adj) ‘dilapidated’, ‘fallen down (building, paz (n) ‘chest’ (MNN); ‘flat cover of the hopper (ḍor)
house, wall)’: hayá dur paṭáng bíti šer ‘This in a water mill’ (Sonoghor) paz dik (vtr) ‘to push
house is fallen down.’ {MS} something forward by pushing with the hands
and chest’ (MNN) páza laákhiru (adj, n) ‘let
paṭaxí (n) ‘firing cap in a rifle’ {NKN, ZMZ} onto the chest, used to refer to a long necklace
paṭík (n) ‘small piece of wood (approximately one which covers the chest’ (SWKA) pazomuɫó (n)
foot long), with which children play’ paṭik koóɫ ‘last-born child’ (MS) pazgirék (n) ‘rope passed
‘shin bone (of animals)’ {MS} between a donkey’s legs and over its chest’
(MY) pazó dusk ‘chest (of a horse)’ (MNN)
paṭingán (n) ‘eggplant’ (Ur. brinjal) Solanum pazó čhašk (n) ‘girth (of a horse)’ (MNN) [<
melongena [< Prs. badin-gan < Skt. Wakhi puz ‘breast’ (M:1936)] {MNN, SWKA,
vatigagama (T9369)] IFM, MS, MY}

paṭingéɫ (n) ‘tomato’ Lycopersicon esculentum pazgáh /Other pronunc: pagzáh (with methathesis)
paṭingéɫoóγ (n) ‘curry of tomatoes with much (RAKR)/ (adj) ‘clean’ (vtr) pazgahéik ‘to clean
liquid gravy’ [see etymology for paṭingán (e.g. teeth, without water)’: donán pazgaháʋe
‘eggplant’] {MNN, SWKA, IF, MA} ‘Clean your teeth.’ (MNN) {MNN, RAKR}
paṭórkiš (n) ‘variety of apricot’ Prunus armeniaca pažál (n) ‘shepherd’ pažalí (n) ‘shepherding’: šapíro
{RAKR} hósta pažalí Prov. Lit. ‘shepherding in the hands
of the wolf.’ (cf. the Eng. proverb "putting a fox
paṭú (n) ‘warm stole’ (newer word, compare with
in charge of the hen house".) (MNN) [< Skt.
kaš) {Chitral town}
(M:1973) (T7987)] {MNN, MYS}
paʋ (n) ‘a fourth of something’ {SWKA}
pec̣ (adj) ‘warm’, ‘hot’; ‘close (of a friend or relative)’
paʋér (n) ‘a brand of shoes’ [< Eng., brand name (MNN) pec̣éik (vtr) ‘to heat, warm something’
‘Power’ shoes] {SWKA} peéc̣ pec̣ (reduplicative intensifier construction)
‘very hot’ (MNN) pec̣ár pec̣ (adj) ‘of a person
paʋí (n) ‘small box, e.g. for tea leaves’ {SWKA}
who is multiply related to someone’: ispá kya
paʋr (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ paʋrík ‘person from nožánaá- ispá iγó pec ̣ár pec ̣ birú ‘We are not
Paur’ {SWKA} strangers (i.e. not related); we are
paxtí (n) ‘cooked rice’; ‘boiled legumes’ {MNN} multiply/closely related to one another.’ (MS)
pec̣í (n) ‘heat, warmth’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
paxtú (adj) ‘producing good crops’; ‘fertile’ {TMF} (T7641)] {MNN, MS}
paxtúri (n) ‘sunny place’, ‘sunny side of valley’ pec̣úts (n) ‘village in Baroghil’ (Lit. ‘hot spring’)
paxtúri dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to sit in the sunshine’ pec̣utsík (n) ‘person from Pechuts’ {SWKA}
{MNN}
pehrč /Other pronunc: pehč/ ‘saucer’ [< Ur. pirč
pay (n) ‘mature female goat’ paydreék (n) ‘saucer’] {SWKA}
‘children’s game like jackstones’ (It is played
with small stones on the hand. The stones are pelésk /Other pronunc: pilésk/ (n) ‘mat woven of
imagined to be the little girls’ goats.) (MYS) goat hair’ peleskdáru (n) ‘hand loom on which
{MNN, MYS} pelésk and qalín are woven’ (See pilésk) [< Ir.
(M:1936)] {SWKA}
paydá bik (vintr) ‘to appear’, ‘to turn up’: kúra paydá
hoʋ ‘What’s up? (Lit. ‘Where have you turned peléṭ (n) ‘plate’ [< Eng. ‘plate’] {SWKA}
up?’) paydá korík (vtr) ‘to produce’ [cf. Ur. pelpél (adj) ‘very sharp (e.g. a knife)’ {MNN}
paidā karnā ‘to produce; to bring’] {MNN}
peɫík (vtr) ‘to squeeze water from’, ‘to wring’: peɫíru
payrá (n) ‘guard/sentry duty’ payrá korík (vintr, vtr) zap ‘wrung out clothes’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
‘to stand guard’; ‘to do sentry duty’: hasé noγóra (T8226)] {MNN}
payrá koráʋtai ‘He used to do sentry duty at the
fort.’ (RKB) {WSiC, RKB} peɫíngi (n) ‘a kick’: peɫíngen pray ‘He/she/it kicked

98
penáy Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes pinḍálu

(something, someone).’ peɫíngi dik (vtr) ‘to hakimío ispáte pežemítay ‘He sent the order for
kick’ {RKB, MNN} us to be hakims.’ (TMF) pežemáli (n) ‘reward
penáy (n) ‘by-product remaining after squeezing oil given to the person who presents something on
out of ground walnuts’ (It is fed to young the order of someone else’ (TMF) [< Ir.
livestock to fatten them.) (See also šoráp) (M:1936)] {SAS, TMF}
{MNN, DAT}
pic̣óq (adj) ‘having a flat nose’ {MNN}
perí (n) ‘pile of snow after it has been shoveled
pigíṣ (n) ‘small triangular part of beard below a
down from roof’ {MNN, MAK}
man’s lower lip and above the main beard’
perišán (adj) ‘troubled’, ‘worried’, ‘upset’ [< Ur., Prs. {TMF, MAK}
Turkic] {MNN, RAKR}
píhtak /Other pronunc: píhrtak (IFM)/ (adj) ‘without
peší (n) ‘court appearance’: pešíote cḥ etráro bíman offspring, barren (of female human or animal)’
‘I am going (down) to Chitral to attend the (MNN); ‘not having given birth to a calf, and not
court.’ [< Ur.] {MNN} pregnant (cow)’; (n, adj) ‘(of) an animal after
period of bearing young is finished’ [< Skt.
peškarí (n) ‘enema’ {IFM)} (M:1973) (T8738)] {MNN, IFM}
peštáz (adj, n) ‘(applied to) a person who presents piík (vtr) ‘to drink (continuously) (of humans or
himself as capable of doing a certain job but animals)’ (RKB): aʋá dúra pi asítam ‘I (already)
really is not’ {MNN} drank (tea) at home.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)]
peṣík (vtr) ‘to grind’; ‘to tell lies’: hasé peṣí astáy ʋa {MNN, RKB}
di peṣír ‘S/he lied before and will lie again.’ pilésk /Other pronunc: pelésk/(n) ‘hand-woven
(MNN); ‘to boast about one’s self’ (MNN) goathair mat’ pileskdáru (n) ‘loom’ (See
peṣún (n) ‘winter’s stock of flour after grinding’ pelésk) {SWKA, IF}
(IWA) peṣák (n) ‘liar’ peṣíru /Other pronunc:
pilíli (n) ‘ant’ pilílyo mrac̣ (n) ‘a wild plant’ (SWKA)
peṣíruk (MYS: in Laspur, IF; in Yarkhun, MS)
pililési (n) ‘species of long-tongued sparrow
peṣírukh (IWA)/ (n) ‘flour; any ground thing’;
which eats ants’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
(adj) ‘ground’ (e.g. salt, chilies, grain)’: peṣíru
(T8201)] {MNN, SWKA, AKM}
trup ‘ground salt’ (IF) peṣíru mahč ‘ground
chili peppers’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T8386)] pilı̍ liʋáht (n) ‘a pasture in Madak’ {MNN}
{MNN, IWA, MYS, IF, MS} pilíšk /Other pronunc: pilíški/ ‘twig’; ‘a small bit
peṣmán (adj) ‘regretful’: tan kárdu kormár aʋá (straw, fodder)’ {SWKA, GMKH}
peṣmán ‘I regret what I have done.’ {RKB} pilkheék (vintr) ‘to hover (e.g. predatory bird over
prey)’ (MNN) γeč pilkheék ‘for the upper eyelid
petshík (vtr) ‘to throw’; ‘to abandon’; ‘to leave’, ‘to
to quiver’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
cease doing’: aʋá γaɫ koráʋ boγák óštam
mágam haníse petshí asúm ‘I used to go to play pilpíl (n) ‘black pepper’ Piper nigrum [< Prs.]
polo, but now I have given it up.’ (MNN) hasé {SWKA}
sigréṭ petshír ‘He will quit smoking.’ (MNN) pilpisáng (n) ‘extremely dangerous place (e.g. in
petshín bik (vintr) ‘to lie motionless’, ‘to be mountains, on a willow bridge)’ {MNN}
unconscious’ (SWKA) (IF): hasé leház čhúčya
pat petshín bíti behčúr ‘That patient will remain pin (adj) ‘fast (e.g. running)’: hes pin déran ‘He is
unconscious until morning.’ (IF) [< Skt. running fast.’ (IWA); ‘too much/intense’ (IWA);
(T2218b)] {MNN, SWKA, IF} ‘strong (i.e. highly explosive)’ (RAKR 1988);
‘strong (tea, naswár, spices, tobacco)’ (IWA);
peṭék (n) ‘girls’ and women’s head scarf’ (Ur. ‘stiff’ (IF) pinéik (vtr) ‘to make stiff (e.g. thread,
dopaṭṭa) (TMF) čadúr peṭék ‘white doputta’ (IF) by much spinning)’ (IF); ‘to make seasoning
peṭéko gaz Lit. ‘lawn where girls sit’, ‘old name intense/strong (salty, sour, spicy)’; Id. ‘to egg
of Zhang Bazaar area in Chitral town’ someone on to quarrel’ (IWA) pin tamáku (n)
(Sonoghor) {TMF, Sonoghor} Id. Lit. ‘strong tobacco’, Id. sense: ‘the fourth
pežemík (vtr) ‘to return something borrowed to its finger’ (TMF) [cf. Bur. pin ‘strong’ (Berger
owner’; ‘to present/hand over something to 1998:315)] {RAKR, IWA, IF, TMF}
someone on the order of someone else’ (TMF): pinḍálu (n) ‘ball of yarn’ [< Skt. (T8171)] {MNN,

99
pinḍóru Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes po

SWKA, IF} (RKB) piteék (vtr) ‘to promise to give’: hasé

pinḍóru (adj) ‘round (of spherical or 2-dimensional máten qalám pitétay/pitéy astáy ‘S/he promised
objects)’ (IF); (n) ‘circle (2-dimensional)’ (MNN) to give me a pen.’ (SWKA) haya zamanaá kóste
[< Skt. (T8171)] {IF, MNN} kyaγ pitén bóy ‘These days what can be
promised to anyone?’ (SWKA) {SWKA, RKB}
pingáh (adv, n) ‘the day after tomorrow’ (MNN); ‘the
following day’ (MA) pingačúi ‘tomorrow’ (MNN) pitín korík (vtr) ‘to thread a needle’: hasé šutró šúnǰi
{MNN, MA} pitín arér ‘S/he threaded the needle.’ {Chitral
pinhán (adj) ‘hidden’ {RAKR} town}

pinín (adj) ‘auspicious’, ‘having good results’, pixál (n) ‘droppings of hawk or falcon’ {IWA}
‘bringing good fortune’: pinín póngi sumalék, ta piyóṣ (n) ‘cheese made from colostrum, a cow’s first
gíko yórxum ḍondít ‘Auspicious Sumalek, when milk after the birth of a calf’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
you came the bandits from Yarkhun ran away.’ (T8241)] {Chitral town}
(IWA: This is a reference to Sumalik’s defeating pižoónu /Other pronunc: pižónu (SWKA)/ ‘second
bandits from Wakhan and Yarkhun.) xodáy stage of wool processing’ (A); ‘bunch of fluffed
pinín arér ‘God has made (someone) wool, after fibers are separated by hand and
auspicious/bringing good fortune.’ (MS) {MNN, ready for spinning’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (T8160)]
IWA, MS} {SWKA, A}

pinjị́ k /Other pronunc: pinžík (earlier form [MS])/ plakh (n) ‘spark plug’ [< Eng. plug ‘spark plug’]
{RKB}
(vtr) ‘To separate sheared wool into smaller
pieces after spreading sifted earth on it.’ (This pɫaxéik /Other pronunc: pɫaxeék (MY)/ (vtr) ‘to
process precedes carding (dumík). {MAK, MS} break, split (rocks)’ (MAK); ‘to beat’: ustáz ta
pip (n) ‘funnel’ {MNN} pɫaxétayaá ‘Did the teacher beat you?’ (MAK);
‘to blast’ (MY) pɫaxdíni (n) ‘whitish, crocus-like
pirán (n) ‘shirt’ piranγár (n) ‘cloth for making a shirt’ flower which blooms in spring’ (ARC) [ARC:
[< Prs. (M:1936) also (T7838)] {MNN, SWKA} onomatopoetic: name derived from sound made
when the petals are blown up like a balloon and
pirmilík (n) ‘a seed which when dried and ground is
popped by children] {MAK, MY, ARC}
applied to the face’ (MNN); ‘a small reddish
orange berry, the juice of which is used for pɫik (adj) ‘all’; ‘finished (off)’ pɫikheék /Other
decorating the face’ (MA) Solanum nigrum pronunc: pɫikhéik/ (vtr) ‘to finish off, completely
{MNN, MA} use up’ {MNN, MS}
pisá (pro) ‘you (plural)’: pisá kandúri žun ‘How pɫínǰu (n) ‘ball for games’ (cf. ṭhári in other dialects)
many of you are there?’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {RKB} {IF}

pišaní (n) ‘forehead’ {MNN} pɫop dik (vtr) ‘to snap third finger against the inflated
cheek (a penalty for failure to guess a riddle)’
pišár /Other pronunc: pošár/ (n) ‘sarcasm’; ‘irony’; {MNN}
‘negative criticism’: pišár móxo dik Lit. ‘for the
pɫoq (n) ‘a bubble in water’; ‘any swelling (e.g. on
criticism to hit one in the face’ Sense: ‘to fall
body)’: ma kapál duʋáht tu dití loṭ pɫoq bití šeér
victim to one’s criticism of someone else’
pošár korík (vtr) ‘to criticize someone’ {MS}
‘My head hit the door and swelled up.’ (MS);
‘any round(ish) convex shape’ (MS); ‘joking
pišín (n) ‘afternoon’ {MNN, RAKR} sense: sometimes used to refer to chubby-
cheeked child or baby’ (AR) {MS, TMF, AR}
pitál (n) ‘single-bullet, short gun’ {Chitral Museum}
pɫoxík (vintr) ‘to spatter (as of hot ghee)’ (ARC); ‘to
pitík (vintr, vtr) ‘to believe’: hoó lúo pitín no boy
snap’, ‘to pop’ (TMF) [onomatopoetic] (See also
‘His/her word cannot be believed.’ (SWKA) pɫaxéik) {ARC, TMF}
pitóku (adv) ‘believably’: hasé pitóku čangír
‘S/he lies in a believable way.’ (SWKA) (adj) po (n) ‘footprints in soil’ (MNN): kaɫáka payó po níki
‘believable’ pitóku lu ‘a believable šetú kurár goy Prov. Lit. ‘In Kalak there isn’t
statement/matter/utterance’ (SWKA) pitóku even a goat’s footprint; where could buttermilk
korík ‘to convince (usually of something false)’ come from?’ Sense: ‘Used in general about

100
počík Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes pontík

misguided efforts’ (GNK) [< Skt. (M:1973) (MS) ponγós (n) ‘traveler’, ‘passerby’ (SWKA)
(T7754)] {MNN, GNK} ponγosí (n) ‘travel’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T7785)] {MNN, RKB, SWKA}
počík (vintr) ‘to ripen (fruit)’; ‘to be cooked (of solid
things)’: Id. aʋá počístam ‘I am roasting (from pon dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to please’, ‘to be pleasing to’, ‘to
heat).’ (MA); ‘to miss someone badly’: aʋá toó be liked’, ‘to appeal to’ (MNN): hayá kumóru ma
báče počítam ‘I miss him/her terribly.’ (MA) tátot pon dóyan ‘This girl is pleasing to my
počóku (adj) ‘firm’, ‘confirmed’: čuṭío lu počóku father (as a bride for me).’ (RKB) ta harkát
hoy ‘The matter of holidays has been máte pon no dóyan ‘I don’t like your actions.’
confirmed’ (SWKA) pačéik (vtr) ‘to cook (solid (SWKA) pondyóku (adj) ‘liked’, ‘pleasing’,
things)’, ‘to bake’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) ‘acceptable’: ta kórum máte bo pondyóku ‘Your
(T7654)] {MNN, MA, SWKA} work is very pleasing/ acceptable to me.’
poc̣ (n) ‘feather’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T7627)] {MNN, (SWKA) {RKB, SWKA, MNN}
RAKR, NKN} pong (n) ‘foot’; ‘paw (e.g. cat, dog)’ (MS) pong dik
pokéɫ (n) ‘man-made foothold in soft area’ (MNN); (vtr, vintr) ‘to begin/start some activity’: aʋá
‘footpath’, ‘track’ (SWKA); ‘foothold cut out in a safára pong dití asúm ‘I have begun my
difficult place to climb’ (RAKR) {MNN, SWKA, journey.’ (MNN) pong dreék (vtr, vintr) ‘to
RAKR} reach a certain age’ Lit. ‘to put a foot in a year)
póngi dreék (vtr) ‘to put grain which has fallen
polát (n) ‘lightning that strikes the ground’ {RKB}
outside the threshing floor back under the
polík (vtr) ‘to wrap’, ‘to wind (around something)’ animals’ feet’; ‘to persuade’ ǰampóngi (adj)
políru (adj) ‘wrapped’; (n) ‘meat wrapped in ‘auspicious (of a person whose entry into a
animal’s intestines’ (SWKA); ‘goat or sheep house brings good results)’ (See also syn.
intestines which are cleaned and twisted pinín) (MS) šumpóngi (adj) ‘ill-omened (one
together before cooking (in lažék)’ (IWA) [< Skt. whose arrival brings bad results)’ (MS)
(M:1973) (T7965)] {SWKA, IWA} pongiγár (n) ‘skin or leather given to shepherds
to make skin leggings’ (MS); ‘material for
poloóγ (n) ‘thorn fence’, ‘hedge’ (MNN) čúmur making foot-wrappings; given to shepherds as
poloóγ (n) ‘barbed wire fence’ (SWKA) {MNN, part of their compensation’ (RAKR 1988)
MYS, SWKA} čorpóngi dyek (vintr) ‘to crawl on all fours’
poltá (n) ‘wick’ (MNN); ‘fuse’ (RAKR) gugéht poltá póngi gik (vintr) ‘to seem appropriate’: ta hayá
(sulphur wick) ‘matches’ (MNN) poltáyi (adj) kórum ma kya póngi no goyán ‘This action of
‘having a fuse’, ‘flintlock (of rifles)’; poltayí (n) yours does not seem appropriate to me.’
‘muzzle-loaded gun’ (Chitral Museum) poltakúš (SWKA); ‘to be inspired by music to get up and
(n) ‘fuse-holder and extinguisher’ (RAKR) dance’: bašoónu phonáko póngi hay Lit. ‘The
{MNN, RAKR 1988, Chitral Museum}
song entered the dancer’s feet.’ Sense: ‘The
pom /Other pronunc: poóm (Booni)/ (n) ‘type of wild song made the dancer want to dance.’ (SWKA)
saffron, used as medicine for skin eruptions’ pongár bik (vintr) ‘to be weak to the point of
(MNN) (seed pods used in curry dishes for death (of animals)’ (MNN) pongár dreék (vtr,
yellowish color) (MA); ‘thistle-like plant - vintr) ‘to become thinner and weaker to the
stamens are used as saffron’ (Booni); ‘plant point of death (because of the negligence of
sometimes used as greens’ (Parwak) owner)’ (MNN) [< Skt. (T7751)] {MNN, SWKA,
Carthamus tinctorius [< Skt. (T7769)] {MNN, RAKR 1988, MS}
MA, Parwak, Booni}
póni (n) ‘beginning’, ‘starting point’: aʋá ušṭu neé
pon (n) ‘road’; ‘path’ (MNN): ifáḍ mestúǰo ponó paká astám- boṣíko ma kórum pónia baγáy ‘I had
korák biráy ‘IFAD is reportedly going to pave made bricks. When it rained I had to start all
the Mastuj road.’ (RKB) pondí (n) ‘waybread’, over again.’ (cf. colloquial Eng.: ‘I was back to
‘journey bread’: ma počíru pondí ma prušṭár square one.’) {MNN}
baγáy Prov. Lit. ‘The bread I cooked for my ponǰ (adj) ‘five’ ponǰín (adj) ‘consisting of five’:
journey has gone ahead of me.’ Sense: ‘My ponǰín grup ‘a group of five’ [< Skt. (T7655)]
grown son has died before me.’ (or applies to {SWKA}
the death of a young person in the prime of life)
pontík (vtr) ‘to tie a horse to a peg with a long rope

101
por Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes praš

and let it graze’ {SWKA} potoxóru (n) ‘weakness taken advantage of by

someone (like a close family member)’
por (adv) ‘last year’, ‘preceding year’ [< Skt.
potoxóru korík (vtr) ‘to dote on someone, be
(T7904)] {MNN, SWKA}
extremely fond of someone’ {MNN}
porík (vintr) ‘to lie down’: aʋa porí astám ‘I was poxtá (adj) ‘firm’ {SWKA}
lying down/sleeping.’ (MNN); ‘to lie with
someone for sexual intercourse’ (IWA) hardií poy1 (n) ‘recent past’: póya pat ‘until recent times’
porIk (vintr) ‘to be understood’: ma hardií (SWKA) salím bo tseq- hayá póya aží asúr
poórtay ‘I (have) understood it.’ (MA) sóra ‘Salim is very small; he has just been born
porík (vintr, vtr) ‘to pursue’ (RKB): mimbár ma recently.’ (SWKA) póya (postposition following
kormó sóra porí arér ‘The member (political ablative) ‘after’: tayár kardúar póya ‘after
representative) got my work done by pursuing it preparing it’ (MA) afár girúar póya ‘after
insistently.’ (RKB) poréik /Other pronunc: coming from down country’ (MA) poyanása
poreék) (vtr) ‘to lay down (child)’: nan tan žaʋó /Other pronunc: payanása/ (adv) ‘finally’ (IF:
poréi goy ‘The mother will put her son to sleep See also syn. axeráni) {RAKR, MA, SWKA, IF,
and (then) come.’ (MNN); ‘to help to/make IFM}
preparations for sleeping (for a guest)’: poy2 (n) ‘tendon’; ‘nape of a horse’s neck’ (MNN)
porésing /Other pronunc: porósing (IWA)/ poy γerík (vintr) ‘to get stiff (of body part)’:
(adj, n) ‘person who sleeps too much’ (MS); čamóṭh poy γerítani ‘(My) fingers have gotten
‘lazy person’ (RKB, ZMZ, IWA) porásum (adj) stiff (e.g. from writing for a long time).’
‘lazy’ (ZMZ); (n) ‘one who sleeps a lot’ (MS) (RAKR); ‘to cramp’; ‘for tendons to tighten’
porátum ‘slanted, leaning’ (MS, IWA): hayá (MNN) poy c̣haméik (vtr) ‘to have a cramp’
porátum lakhí šer ‘This has been placed leaning (TMF) poy bik (vintr) ‘to be convinced (positive
(on the wall).’ (IWA) papárdu (n, adj) ‘(of) a connotation)’ (ZHD); ‘to be stiff (of body)’ (ZHD)
lazy person who is always sleeping/lying down’: [< Skt. (7748)] {SWKA, RAKR, MA, IF, MNN,
hasé bo papárdu moóš ‘He is a very lazy man.’ TMF, ZHD}
(IWA); ‘cf. Eng. "couch potato"’ (RKB) [< Skt. poyí (adv) ‘on foot’ {SWKA}
(M:1973) (T7722)] {MNN, MA, RKB, ZMZ,
RAKR, MS, IWA} po̍ymomín (n) ‘a very thin but strong person’ {MNN}
pornék (n) ‘wide end of an egg’ {MNN} poyóni (n) ‘a narrow, dangerous path’ {NKN}
porník (n) ‘father or brother of a bride, who pračhár nisík (vintr) ‘for the first crop/batch of grain
accompanies her to husband’s house for the or flour of the season to be used’; Id. ‘to get a
first time’ porník bik (vintr) ‘for relatives to go chance’ {MNN}
along with the bride after the wedding’ {MNN,
prac̣γár /Other pronunc: praẓγár, prac̣gár (SAS),
MY}
praẓgár (RAKR)/ (n) ‘dew’; ‘frost’ (RAKR) [<
pošík (vtr) ‘to see’: hes bo zarú- haníse di pašíran Skt. (M:1973) (T8990)] {AKM, SAS, RAKR}
‘S/he is very old (but) even now can see.’ prar (n) ‘water which has passed through a field
(MNN); ‘to meet’, ‘to visit’: ta pošáʋ gití astám ‘I while it is being irrigated and come out from the
came / had come to see you.’ (MNN) pašéik other side’ (SWKA) praroóγ (n) ‘water which
(vtr) ‘to cause to see’, ‘to show’: tan kitábo ma has passed through a field and come out the
pašáʋe ‘Show me your book.’ (MNN) pošóku other side’ (MNN) praraánu (n) ‘place where
(adj) ‘visible’: ta ǰam ya šum kórum saf pošóku praroóγ is accumulated’ {MNN, SWKA}
‘Your good or bad deeds are all visible.’ praš (n) ‘ribs’ (MNN); ‘side’ (RAKR) (MNN): he praš
(SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T8012)] {MNN, rešṭ čhití ma cḥ etró aʋáy ‘An avalanche
SWKA} descended from that side and swept away my
poṣ /Other pronunc: phoṣ (SWKA)/ (n) ‘manure’, field.’ (MNN) ‘slope’ (MNN) praš práši ‘here
‘fertilizer’ [< Skt. (T8139)] {WSiC} and there’ Lit. ‘on all sides’ (MYS) praš prášo
‘on both sides’ (RAKR) pra̍šrandíẓu (n) ‘rib
poṣp (n) ‘wool’ [Ir. (M:1936) (T7638)] {MNN, RAKR}
roast’ (given to shepherds as part of their
pot (n) ‘cloth football’; ‘ball made of cloth’ (TMF) [< compensation)’ RAKR); ‘roasted ribs’ (IF: This
Wakhi (M:1936)] {IWA, TMF} is a very prized dish - given to honored guests);

102
prašál Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes puluík

(cf. Eng. ‘barbecue’) praš dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to (n) ‘a container which contains an amount
refuse to obey’ prašén (adv, adj) ‘lying on its which can be lifted by a person facing the load’
side’ (MNN) prašén dik (vintr) ‘to fall sideways’ (IF) prúšṭi (adv) ‘before (temporal)’: ma gaɫí
(MNN) prašṭu ayh bik ‘to pass by someone or prúšṭi bi šer ‘My watch has gone ahead (is
something’ (SWKA): áqul nóo- prášṭu di ayh no fast).’ (MNN) ahmát prúšṭi ko no hay ‘Why
bí šer Lit. ‘Sense has not even passed by him’. didn’t Ahmad come before?’ (SWKA)
Sense: ‘He has no sense at all.’ (SWKA) prušṭikréṭi ‘front side of body’ (AR) prušṭikíni
praškúṭi (n) ‘ribs’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (adj) ‘previously existing’: prušṭikíni boók
(T7948) (T8118)] {MNN, RAKR 1988, MYS, IF, ‘previous wife’ (MYS) prúšṭi nisík (vintr) ‘to
SWKA} come out ahead of someone’: ma prúšṭi nisítay
prašál (n) ‘dried grass and stalks used for fodder’ ‘He/she/it came out ahead of me.’ (IF); (adv) ‘in
{RK} front (spatial)’: prúšṭi kumorán niší astáni áči
práʋi (adj) ‘ahead (early) (of crop ripening)’ [< Skt. ḍaq ‘The girls were seated in front and the boys
(M:1973) (T8944)] {MY} in back.’ (SWKA) tu prúšṭi boγé ‘You go
ahead!’ (MYS); ‘past (temporal)’ (MYS) < Skt.
praẓgéik /Other pronunc: praẓgeék (MNN)/ (vtr) ‘to (M:1973) prúšṭa (postposition) ‘in front of
uncover (move away obstructions)’ (IF): gosnán (spatial)’: ta prúšṭa ka asúr ‘Who is ahead of
praẓgeéi loɫítam ki pulungúštu širáy ‘When I you?’ (SWKA); ‘ahead of (abstract, eg. in exam
moved the trash aside and looked, my ring results or seniority)’ (SWKA); ‘facing’, ‘opposite
turned up’ (IF); ‘to disclose a hidden matter’ (spatial)’ < Skt. (M:1973) [< Skt. (M:1973)]
(IF): lúo praẓgeék ‘to get to the bottom of a {MNN, RAKR, WSiC, MYS, IF, SWKA, RKB,
matter’ (ZHD); ‘to increase something in size AR}
(e.g. a field)’ (MNN); ‘to refresh, e.g. a fire, by
pruẓuík (vintr) ‘to progress’; (n) ‘progress’ {MNN}
spreading out the coals to increase heat’ -
Opposite of this is dopheék ‘to bring (coals) pučúng (n) ‘village near Khot’ {MNN}
together’ {MYS, IF, MNN, ZHD}
púli (adj) ‘rotten’: áykun púli birú ‘The egg rotted
presṭamál (n) ‘paracetamol’ [< Eng. ‘paracetamol’] (out of sight).’ (IF) kahák tan púli áykuno ǰam
{Proper Chitral} huṣ koy Prov. Lit. ‘A hen recognizes her rotten
prešán (n) ‘operation’ [< Eng. ‘operation’] {IFM} egg.’ Sense: ‘Parents understand well every
fault of their children.’ (IF) púli bik (vintr) ‘to
prónu /Other pronunc: próno/ (adv) ‘face down’;
rot’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T8761) (T8350)] {IF}
‘leaning forward’ (MNN): aʋá prónu bíti niší
asúm ‘I am sitting hunched forward.’ (MNN) pulís /Other pronunc: pulús (IF)/ (n) ‘police’: pulís
prónu dik (vintr) ‘to fall face down’: he moóš no girúa cḥ oóγ ušṭuráʋ ošóy ‘If the police
prónu pray ‘That man fell on his face.’ (MNN) hadn’t come, the thief would have run
[< Skt. (T8775)] {MNN, SWKA, RKB, TMF} away/escaped.’ (SWKA) {SWKA, IF}
pulmonḍóxi dik /Other pronunc: pulmunḍúxi dik/
prṷṷ prṷṷ (interjection) ‘come here!’ (call to
(vintr, vtr) ‘to stumble (of animals)’ (RKB); ‘to fall
summon sheep). (This sound is produced by
at a distance after tripping’ (MNN) {MNN, RKB}
putting tongue in position for dental /t/, then
flapping the lips while pronouncing a devoiced pulmunḍúk /Other pronunc: pulmunḍúku (IF: in
/u/.) (See also tprušéy) {MNN } Laspur), palmanḍúk (Lower Chitral)/ (n)
‘butterfly’ {MNN, IF}
pruc̣húk (n) ‘small quantity of flour used to flour
breadboard’ pruc̣húk korík (vtr) ‘to reduce puluík /Other pronunc: puliík (in Yarkhun)/ (vintr) ‘to
something to powder’ {RAKR} burn’: ǰangál angár c ̣okí puluíran ‘The jungle
has caught fire and is burning.’ (MNN)
prušṭ (adv) ‘ahead’; ‘facing’ prušṭ bik (vintr) ‘to go
puluoóku (adj) ‘inflammable’, ‘flammable’
ahead to receive/welcome someone (e.g. a
(SWKA) puluidú (n, adj) ‘burned (e.g. bread,
guest expected to arrive)’ (MYS) (n) ‘position
person)’; ‘dried up (crops)’ (MS); ‘food sent by a
ahead of’ prušṭóte gik (vintr) ‘to happen, befall
father to his married daughter’s house on Eid-
(a good thing)’: daʋlát prušṭóte hay ‘We have ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha’ (archaic usage) (MS)
come into wealth.’ (RAKR) prušṭdóyu (n) dur puluíru (n) Id. Sense: ‘mischievous
‘(member of) welcoming party’ (MNN) prúšṭéni (person)’ (MS) paléik (vtr) ‘to burn’: aʋá kanó

103
pulungúšṭu Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes putrugúɫ

lenján
̣ paléman Lit. ‘I am burning tree bark.’ IF}
Sense: This is a figurative statement about purnáč (adj) ‘having a round white spot on the
poverty; ‘I am reduced to burning tree bark forehead (of a horse)’; ‘reputed to be ill-
since I have nothing else.’ (SWKA) palák (n) omened, inauspicious’ (of a person) (for
‘something that burns’ (agent n. of paléik) instance, meeting such a person is believed to
(SWKA); ‘species of wild greens with a sharp cause work to go badly) {IF}
taste’ (IF) [< Skt. (T8126) (T8397) (T8761)] purník (n) ‘reason’; ‘cause’: cḥ oγó purníka paysán
{MNN, SWKA, MS, IF}
sar di ʋird hótam ‘Because of the thief I was
pulungúšṭu (n) ‘finger ring‘ [< E. Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, deprived of my money too.’ {MNN}
RAKR}
purpúr (adj) ‘ragged’: horó zap purpúr bíti šéni
pulúṣu (n) ‘flea’: pulúṣu ma γaẓétay ‘I felt a flea ‘His/her clothes have become ragged.’ purpúr
crawling on my skin.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) birú piráno mo anǰé ‘Don’t wear the ragged
(T9029)] {MNN, IF} shirt.’ {MNN}
pulúṭi (n) ‘newly sprouting leaves of a species of purú (n) ‘paste made from burned goat horn,
tree’; ‘blossoms of willow species other than soaked in hot water and ground on stone.’ (This
pušitéli’ (IF) pulu̍ṭyoóγ (n) ‘juice of pulúṭi’ prevents skin damage from sun and wind, and
(made by grinding it; used as a skin whitening also protects children from cold. It is also made
agent to remove effects of sunburn) pulúṭi from various plants.) {SWKA}
purú (n) ‘a type of purú (made from pulúṭi),
used for the face’ (SWKA) {IF, SWKA} púrum (n) ‘cotton’; ‘processed cotton’ (TMF) purmí
(adj) ‘cotton’; ‘of cotton’ {SWKA, IF, TMF}
puɫγučhík /Other pronunc: puɫγučík (MYS)/ (vintr)
‘to get caught (for example, animals in a rope)’; purún (n) ‘sieve (for flour)’ puruník (vtr) ‘to sieve/sift
‘to miss someone’: aʋá ta bačen puɫγučhítam ‘I (flour)’ purún dik (vtr, vintr) Id. ‘to be upset’
miss you very much.’ (MYS) paɫγečhík (vtr) ‘to (MNN) [< Skt. (T7843) (T7884)] {MNN, SWKA}
surround’: talibán khabúlo paɫγečhítani ‘The puruzík /Other pronunc: poruzík (ARC)/ (vintr) ‘to
Taliban surrounded Kabul.’ (IF) {MYS, IF} come to an end’, ‘to be completed, ‘to be
concluded’ parʋezík (vtr) ‘to see off someone
punár /Other pronunc: phunár (IF, IFM)/ (n) ‘species setting out on a journey, or a departing guest’
of wild plant’ (Parwak); ‘a substance used for (MNN) {MNN, SWKA, WSiC, ARC}
medicinal purposes’ Primula denticulata
punáro geht (n) ‘medicinal substance made puržúr (n) ‘refers to three dangerous mountain
from the powdered leaves of this plant - used paths’ {MAK}
like collyrium in the eyes’ (Parwak); ‘pollen of púši (n) ‘cat’; ‘blossom(s) (of walnut, mulberry,
the punár flower, which is used as a medicine pussywillow)’ (IF) puliíru púši Id. Lit. ‘a burned
for the eyes’ (IF, IFM) {IF, IFM, Parwak} cat’ Sense: ‘a person who pretends to be
purá korík (vtr) ‘to complete’ [< Ur. pūrā karnā ‘to helpless’ (SWKA): hasé khyo baṣ no- puliíru
complete’, ‘to finish’] {MNN} púši díya ‘He is good for nothing, just a burned
cat (i.e. a person who pretends to be helpless)’
purčík (n) ‘bread/food taken to house where a
marriage is being held or a child born’ {BM}
(SWKA) pu̍šižéri (n) ‘kitten’ pu̍šimáɫi (n) ‘cat’s
den/home’; Id. ‘a very small room’ (MNN) piš
purduγúču (n) ‘round pestle used with deṣú’ {MNN, (interjection) ‘word used to address a cat,
SWKA} “kitty”, “pussy”’ (SWKA) píiiíš píš (interjection)
‘come here!’ (call to summon a cat) (See also
purduík /Other pronunc: purdiík (SWKA)/ (vtr) ‘to
bažáɫo bažáɫo) (MNN) pišéy (interjection) ‘go
drape over one’s own body’: peṭék purduí asúr
away!’, ‘scat!’, ‘call to chase away a cat’ (MNN)
‘She is wearing a doputtah.’ (MNN) purdueék
pu̍šitéli ‘species of willow’ (ZMZ) Salix
(vtr) ‘to drape over something other than one’s
own body’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T7835)] {MNN, tetrasperma < Skt. (T8306) [< Skt. (T8298)]
RAKR, SWKA} {MNN, ZMZ, NKN, SWKA, IF}

purdúm /Other pronunc: phurdúm (IF), purduúm pušúr (n) ‘meat’, ‘flesh’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T7985)]
(MNN)/ (n) ‘leopard’ purdumíri (n) ‘leopard {MNN, SWKA}
skin’ (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T8362)] {MNN, MS, putrugúɫ (n) Id. ‘hustle and bustle, vigorous activity’

104
puthúr Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes phatáki

putrugúɫo geht (n) Id. ‘fight’, ‘quarrel’ {TMFW} of (at a specific time)’ (IF): ispá paypó kormóte
put úr (adj) ‘hidden’ put úr korík ‘to hide from
h h bi astám - jošpónǰ ǰun bɫats hóni - mašʋarár áči
sight’; ‘to bury a dead body’ {MS} phat ṭenkía kórum aréni phat paypán ‘We went
to work on the pipe; fifteen persons gathered.
phaál /Other pronunc: phal (MAK)/ (n) ‘plowshare’
After consulting, some worked on the tank and
phalaánu (n) ‘hole for the plowshare’ [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T9072)] {MNN, MAK, SWKA,
some on the pipes.’ (IF) phat bik (vintr) ‘to
burst (e.g. balloon, football)’, ‘break open’,
Sonoghor}
‘explode’, ‘split’ phat korík (vtr) ‘to break’, ‘cut’,
phadúr /Other pronunc phardúr (n) ‘the next house’ ‘split’ (e.g. wood) (into fairly small pieces)’
{MNN} hardiphát (adj) ‘homesick’, ‘lonely’ (MNN) pháti
(adj) ‘some but not all (non-specific occasion)’
pháki (n) ‘powdered dried mulberries’ (eaten as
such) (MNN); ‘roasted wheat ground together (IF): balíma troy qésma roy asúni- pháti ǰam
with dried mulberries’ (TMF) {MNN, TMF} zeminʋéni, pháti kamgáɫu, pháti ʋedúru ‘There
are three types of people in Balim. Some have
phakóɫ /Other pronunc: pakhóɫ, kaphóɫ (by lots of land, some have only small fields, and
metathesis)/ (n) ‘Chitrali men’s cap’ phakoɫγár
some are without homes.’ (IF) phatín (n) ‘a
(n) ‘woolen cloth for Chitrali cap’ {MNN, IF}
group of some of them’ (IF) {MYS, MNN, IF,
phalóro numónya ‘a disease of goats’ [< Eng. MS}
‘pneumonia’] {SWKA}
phat2 (n) ‘small irrigation channels running through a
p an /Other pronunc: p aán (MNN)/ (n) ‘palm of
h h field’ (MA) (MNN); ‘upper irrigation channel in a
hand’ phan dik (vtr) ‘to crumble in the palm of field’; ‘furrows in a field’ (IF); ‘temporary
hand’; ‘to whitewash (for someone else)’; ‘to irrigation channel in a field’ (IF) phatšipíni (n)
protect’ phána dreék (vtr) ‘to put something on ‘instrument for making furrows and ridges in a
the palm of the hand’; Id. ‘to collect all one’s field’ (IF) {MA, MS, IF, MNN}
money at once’ pháni (n) ‘hank of wool after
phátak (n) ‘small amount of flour thrown on
spinning and being wound on hand’ phántu
something or someone as an auspicious
c̣okíru (n) ‘second quality of charas’ (MS) [<
gesture’; ‘cooking and distribution of food on
Skt. (T8045), or from Ir. (M:1973)] {MNN,
Nawruz’ (celebrated by the Ismaili community
RAKR, MS}
on 21 March in Upper Chitral, but on 20
phangík (vintr) ‘to move slowly’ (SWKA); ‘to appear January in Lutkoh) (MS); ‘designs made of flour
to be moving’ phangeék (vtr) ‘to set foot’: Id. above door, on roof beams, on pillars of house’
goró ṭéki phangeék Lit. ‘to put a foot in the (MS); (In Mastuj, used in meaning of išperí, i.e.
grave; to have one foot in the grave’ (GMKH) food presented to relatives and villagers by the
{SWKA, GMKH} family of a groom a few days before marriage
(MS); ‘small amount of flour thrown on
phapaáki (n) ‘species of wild bush’ Tamarix dioica someone to welcome them, e.g. a new guest or
{IF} someone returning after a long absence’ (IWA)
pha̍takdík (n) ‘old custom of throwing a small
phar (adj, adv) ‘over there, away from speaker’
amount of flour on the columns of a house’
(location), ‘in that direction’: phar dúr ‘the house
(This used to be practised in Arqari, Ojor,
next door’ (MNN) aʋá phar goóm ‘I’ll come Mastuj Tehsil, Torkhow and Mulkhow); ‘making
over (to where you are).’ (MNN) phári /Other of flour designs on key parts of house in
form: phái/ ‘that way (direction)’ [< Skt. connection with Nawruz’ (MS) phátak dik (vtr)
(M:1973) (T8100)] {MNN, RAKR, MS} ‘to scatter flour on a new bride or a relative to
phaší /Other pronunc: phaš (SWKA)/ (n) ‘snare’, welcome them’ pha̍takín (n) ‘auspicious person
‘trap’ (ICS, Torkhow); ‘a snare for birds made of high status who goes from house to house
by tying a grain to a piece of horsehair’ (MNN) on the day of phátak and gives blessings and
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T8133) (T13813)] {MNN, good wishes at each house’ (MS)
SWKA, ICS, Torkhow} pha̍takc̣ hareék (n) ‘old custom of scattering
flour on a new bride or a relative to welcome
phaṣk (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ phaṣkík ‘person from them’ (IWA) {IWA, MS}
Phashk’ {SWKA}
phatáki (adj) ‘having a round white spot on the
phat1 (adj) ‘broken’, ‘burst’ (MNN); (n) ‘some of, half forehead (bull, cow, donkey)’ {IF}

105
phatnapúli dik Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes phíski

phatnapúli dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to stumble, fall’: naʋáhts when swaddled’ {MNN, MS}
žaγái mo kosé, pha̍tnapúli dos ‘Don’t walk in p éšang (adj) ‘grieving’, ‘suffering emotional pain’
h
difficult/dangerous places, you will fall.’ (See phéšang bik (vintr) ‘to suffer pain on separation
also palnaphúli dik) {MYS} from someone’ {SWKA}
phatúk (n) ‘eyelashes’ {MNN, IA} phéting (n) ‘first month of Khowar calendar
phatúki (adj) ‘partial’, ‘incomplete (opposite of purá)’ (approximately December)’: phéting himkorák
phatukí (n) ‘incompleteness’: čáyo phatukí ma mas ‘Pheting is a snowy month.’ {SWKA}
diš ‘I don’t like only half-full cups of tea.’ phi (n) ‘wooden shovel-like tool for snow removal’;
(MNN); ‘incompleteness’; ‘a loss’ (Chitral town) ‘organizational unit in irrigation system of
{MNN, Chitral town} Singur’ (GNK) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T13839)]
{MNN, GNK}
p ekphék (adj) ‘broken into many pieces (of brittle
h

things, e.g. glass)’: šišá phekphék hoy ‘The phik (adj) ‘silent’, ‘quiet’; phik bos ‘Be quiet!’ (MNN);
mirror shattered into many pieces.’ {MNN} phik salá bóyan Lit. ‘Quiet consultation is going
phelík (n) ‘blade’ {MNN} on.’ Sense: ‘A secret consultation is taking
place.’ (MNN) phikéik (vtr) ‘to make
phénak (n) ‘fresh cheese made from whole milk’: someone/something be quiet’; ‘to stop someone
phénak ma ṣapík žibáru angóyan ‘Fresh cheese from weeping’ (IF) {MNN, IF}
makes me feel like eating.’ {MNN}
philphíli (adj) ‘full up to the brim/edge’ (reduplicative
p eraní (n) ‘large basket for carrying lightweight
h
form) philphilík (n) ‘the very edge of something’:
things like leaves or straw on the back’ {MNN, mašarboó ḍoró philphilíka mo lakhé ‘Don’t put
MAK, IF} the water pitcher right on the edge of the tin
pherkík (vtr) ‘to cut down (tree, with horizontal stove.’ {SWKA}
motion)’ (MNN): tan bardéru kanó kíča phin (n) ‘food prepared on day in spring when
pherkimán ‘How can I cut down a tree that I animals are sent to the high pastures’ (RKB);
have nurtured myself?’ (SWKA); ‘to cut a ‘bread cooked for shepherds’ (RAKR) phindík
mountain face’ (ZMZ); ‘to cut out cloth for (n) ‘ceremony held on the day when animals
stitching a garment’ (SWKA) pherkoóku (n) are sent to the high pastures’ pažálo phin ‘salty
‘large, usable scrap left over after cutting out a halwa (sanabáči) made for shepherds as a part
garment’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA, ZMZ} of their compensation’ (RAKR 1988) {RKB,
RAKR}
phéru (n) ‘ashes’: phéru pondíen boγé A curse. Lit.
‘Go with ashes as your waybread.’ Sense: phíri korík (vtr) ‘to stroke with affection/love (e.g. a
‘May your travels be bad.’ (MNN) pheró ʋaγ child)’ {MNN}
noh Lit. ‘(She is) not even the value of ashes.’ phirnaphírian čhiník (vtr, vintr) ‘to welcome someone
Sense: ‘useless’, ‘worthless’ (used for women with a show of extreme happiness’ (MNN); ‘to
only) (IF); ‘cold ashes’ (MS) pheránu (n) ‘ash love and pamper someone (e.g. mother to
pit’ (SWKA); ‘low central portion of main room child)’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA}
of a traditional Chitrali house’ (MAK) phirphíɫ (n) ‘very dangerous path in the mountains’
pherabehčíru (adj) Lit. ‘left in the ashes’ (MNN); (MNN); ‘edge of a precipice’ (Mastuj) {MNN,
(n) Sense: ‘an unmarriageable woman’ (MNN) Mastuj}
pheroṭís /Other pronunc: pheroṭhís (IWA)/ (n) ‘a
household guardian spirit’ (MS); ‘supernatural phirʋál /Other pronunc: phirbál (SWKA)/ (n) ‘shalwar
being - spirit of the hearth which lives near the (loose trousers tied at waist with drawstring)’:
fire’ (IWA) pherulámi (n) ‘species of ash- phirʋálo ḍéktu det ‘Pull the shalwar up on your
colored bird’ (MNN) pherúɫi (n) ‘hot ashes’ (MS) legs.’ (MNN) {MNN, SWKA}
{MNN, MA, SWKA, IF, MAK, IWA, MS}
phiséy phiséy (adv) ‘with very fine particles’: phiséy
p estí /Other pronunc: pestí/ (n) ‘store for fodder’
h 1
phiséy aláy ‘It is snowing with very fine flakes.’
(MAK) (MS) [< Skt. (T8017)] {MNN, MAK, MS, {N}
IF}
phíski (adj) ‘smallest (of fingers)’, ‘youngest (of
phestí2 (n) ‘dried, powdered cow dung tied in baby’s brothers, sisters, children)’ phíski c̣amúṭ (n)
diaper to absorb moisture and keep baby warm

106
phišbár Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes phóti

‘the little finger’ phiskíṭi kaáku (n) ‘the little women}

finger, pinkie’ (IWA) {SWKA, MS, IWA}
phoník (vintr) ‘to dance’: píiš píiš ta tat kíča ki phanír
p išbár (n) ‘girth (horse trappings)’ (See also
h
tu di haṣ phoné Prov. Lit. ‘O cat, as your father
bižbár) {MNN} dances, you too dance like that.’ Sense:
phišmaák /Other pronunc: phišmák, pišmaák/ (n) ‘Become just like your father/family/country.
‘walnut shell’ (SWKA); ‘thin skin of kernel of (i.e. Honor your family traditions.)’ (SWKA) he
apricot or walnut’ (NKN); (n) ‘shells of walnut or bašónote phonín boy ‘That music can be danced
apricot seed’ (MNN); (n) ‘eggshell’ (ZMZ) to.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T9044)] {GNK,
{SWKA, MNN, NKN, ZMZ} SWKA, MNN}
p išpudík (n) ‘a children’s game’ {SWKA}
h
phoós (n) ‘poll (horse)’; ‘protrusion of a horse’s head
phlaš (adj) ‘soft’ (SWKA) phlaš korík (vintr) ‘to cure at the back of the skull, immediately behind or
an illness’ (IF) [< Bur. blʋš ‘slowly, softly, between the ears’ (synonym: khomúsi) {MNN}
quietly’ (L:1962: 44)] {SWKA, IF} phordú (n) ‘plant’, ‘sapling’: phuk phordúan no beɫélik
phɫak (n) ‘a small flat place in mountains where soil ‘Small plants should not be wrapped’ (in
has collected’ {MNN} winter, because the cloth becomes heavy with
snow and breaks the plants) (MNN); ‘tree’ (IF)
phɫis (adj) ‘naked’ phɫis nisík (vintr) ‘to be
phorduγeér (n) ‘place to grow plants’ (MA);
completely naked’ {MNN}
‘nursery for plants’ (Laspur women) phordú
phof ‘exclamation of displeasure, e.g. on smelling a boík (vtr) ‘to plant a long shoot’ (IF) phorduáru
bad odor’: phof ʋah ločhítay ‘Oof, there is a bad boík (vtr) ‘to plant a long cutting of a tree’ (IF)
smell.’ {MNN} [< Skt. (T8807)] {MNN, MA, Laspur women, IF}
phok (n) ‘a glance’ phokeék /Other pronunc: phorganík /Other pronunc: phurganík/ (n)
phokeik/ (vintr) ‘to look around in confusion’ ‘ceremony when a child’s birth hair is cut’
(MYS); ‘to wait anxiously for someone’ (ZHD) (Relatives come, cut one lock each, and give
phok korík (vtr) ‘to glance’ (MYS) phok loɫík gifts to the child.) (See also sorbardeáli)
(vtr) ‘to glance at’ (SWKA) pho̍knaphóki (adj) {MNN}
(reduplicative form) ‘anxiously awaiting phormén /Other pronunc: formén (not in Laspur)/
someone, repeatedly glancing at the door’ (n) ‘foreman’ [< Eng. ‘foreman’] {IF}
(MNN) Lit. ‘glancing here and there in
confusion; confused; disoriented’ (SWKA) phoróɫ (n) ‘plant used for fodder, which causes milk
pho̍knaphokí (n) ‘state of anxiously glancing of cows to have much butterfat’ {IF}
around’ (ZHD) {MYS, SWKA, MNN, ZHD} phorp /Other pronunc: phoóp (MNN)/ (n) ‘unroofed
p olók (n)
h
‘a single grain’; (adj) ‘a single’ (Note: cattle pen’ (MNN); ‘unroofed summer enclosure
MNN: This word serves as a classifier with for cattle’ (MYS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T7933?)]
nouns signifying relationship or also with other {MNN, MYS}
terms for humans, e.g. student.’: bacḥ oó i phórsi (n) ‘core (of apple, pear)’ (Torkhow usage)
pholók žaʋ biráy ‘The king had only a single {TMF}
son.’ (WSiC); ‘an expression of affection,
usually used by women for their children’ (IF): phort (n) ‘village in Laspur Valley’ phortík (n) ‘person
from Phort’ {SWKA}
ma i pholók ‘my only darling’ (IF) pholók dreék
(vtr) ‘to give grain to chickens’; ‘to gradually phost (n) ‘skin’, ‘hide’, ‘leather’ phostʋázur
attract someone by putting one thing at a time (skin/leather wing) (n) ‘bat (flying mammal)’
in front of him to keep him moving forward’ (MNN) phost počík (vintr) Id. ‘to become
(MNN) [< Skt. (T9051)] {MNN, IF} extremely thin, emaciated’ phósta kyaáγ utík
Id. Lit. ‘for something to get into one’s skin’
phon /Other pronunc: phun/ (n) ‘flower bed’; ‘paddy
Sense: ‘to become emotional, provoked’ (MS)
field with small ridges to demarcate it’ (MNN,
[< Prs. (M:1936)] {MNN, MYS, MS}
RKB): kahák phonó phaṣítay ‘A/the hen
scratched up the flower bed.’ (MNN); ‘field phošpaáki (n) ‘leavened bread cooked in ashes’ (It
ridge(s)’ (IF); ‘kitchen garden’ (IF); ‘rice field’ has a hard crust but is soft inside.) {SWKA}
(RKB) phonó ṭek (n) ‘ridges in a garden plot’ phóti (n) ‘lower irrigation channel in a field, parallel
(Laspur women) {MNN, RKB IF, Laspur

107
phoṭ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes phuṣ

to phat’ (Water is released from phat to phóti, phuník (vtr) ‘to winnow’ phunoónu (adj)
then from phóti to aṣkoɫíč.) {MS} ‘winnowable’, ‘to be winnowed’; ‘overfilled’,
‘overflowing (with a solid edible thing)’: paktío
phoṭ (n) ‘unwanted part of vegetable, grain, or nut’
(e.g. ‘skin of potato); ‘bran remaining in a sieve phunoónu korí aláʋ ‘You have brought an
when flour is sieved,’ ‘husks of rice, barley, dal’; overflowing dish of rice.’ phunéik (causative
‘shell of walnut or almond’ (MNN) {MNN, formation of phuník) (vtr) ‘to have winnowed’:
RAKR} phunéko bi astái ‘He had gone/he went to get
the winnowing done.’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T8277)]
phoṭákar (n) ‘cracked skin in winter due to dryness
{SWKA}
and cold’ {MHH}
phur (n) ‘hair of a person’s head (usually a young
phoʋ /Other pronunc: phoúʋ/ (n) ‘a yellow spring
woman)’ (MNN); ‘summit of a mountain’
flower’ (IF); ‘dandelion’ (Booni) Taraxcum (WSiC); ‘topmost branches of a tree’; ‘tip of
officinale phoʋ gambúri ‘dandelion’ (Booni) finger’; ‘point, tip of sword’ (WSiC) phurʋáɫu (n)
{IF, Booni} ‘fallen strand of hair’ (WSiC) {MNN, WSiC}
phoʋú (n) ‘a common weed, wild plant’ (SWKA); ‘a phurdíl (adj) ‘brave’, ‘courageous’ {SWKA}
small pink flower’ (synonym is γoc ̣ún) (IF)
phurgám ‘plan’ [< Eng. ‘program’] {RAKR}
Primula pulchra phoʋúo ṭéka šiyáq (n) Id.
Lit. ‘mud on spring flowers’ Sense: ‘something phurhunár (adj) ‘skilled’ {SWKA}
extremely temporary’ (IF) {SWKA, IF} phurǰúš (adj) ‘filled with courage’, ‘highly emotional’
p ox (adj) ‘soft (wood, soil)’; ‘loose (machine parts)’;
h phurǰúš bik (vintr) ‘to become highly emotional,
‘lax, loose (of a person, administrator)’ phoxeék filled with courage’: ma poší phurǰúš bíti thúhrti
(vintr) ‘to be lethargic, tired (of a patient)’: laház dití úγo baγáy ‘Seeing me and gathering
bo sust bití asúr- phoxéran ‘The patient has courage he waded into the river and was carried
become very lazy; he is tired and lethargic.’ away by the water.’ {SWKA}
phoxákiṣ (adj) ‘lazy’; ‘lethargic’; ‘without energy
phurraá bik (vintr) ‘to be at the limit of some
(e.g. of a patient)’; (n) ‘the soft spot on a baby’s
head after birth’ phokéik (vtr) ‘to loosen a tight condition’: osí osí phurraá bíti baγáy ‘Laughing
thing’ {IF} and laughing, s/he reached the final stage (of
laughing).’ {MNN}
phreṣú (n) ‘tress’, ‘lock of hair’ {MNN}
phurusík /Other pronunc: phurúsk/ (n) ‘handful of
phuf bik (vintr) ‘to be completely burned up’ {RAKR, cut wheat before it is bound into sheaves’;
WSiC} ‘wheat after it is untied from sheaves and
phuík (vtr) ‘to blow (e.g. fire)’: he beɫúo sóra phuín no spread on the threshing floor’ {MS}
boy ‘(The fire) can’t be blown with this phus (n) ‘maize silk’ (RAKR); ‘tassel of a headband
blowpipe.’ (MNN) phuíni (n) ‘implement for which hangs behind the head’ (IF) (See also
blowing (something) synonym for beɫú’ (TMF) [< khus) {RAKR, IF}
Skt. (M:1973) (T9101)] {MNN, WSiC, TMF}
phusparánda (n) ‘propaganda’ (Ghezur usage) [<
p uk (adj) ‘small’; (n) ‘child’; ‘chaff’ (MNN): ǰuʋarío
h Eng. ‘propaganda’] {IF}
phuk ‘maize chaff’ (RAKR); (adv) ‘intensifier phusúk (n) ‘mountain plant whose roots have oil-
used with išpéru ‘white’ to mean ‘pure white’’; soluble red color, used as blood purifier’ (MNN);
‘powdery, fine-grained substance (e.g. sawdust, ‘root of a wild plant, when ground and mixed
chaff of grain)’ phuphúk (adj) ‘small (plural)’: with oil it imparts a red color to the oil’ (It is
phuphúk alú ‘small potatoes’; ‘smallish’: phuphúk used for dry hair and dandruff) Arnebia
alú ‘smallish potatoes’; (plural n) ‘children’
hispidissima (IF) {MNN, IF}
phukeék /Other pronunc: phukéik/ (vtr) ‘to
make small’, ‘reduce in size’ (RAKR, MYS) phuštúr (n) ‘scar’ {RAKR, WSiC}
phukí (n) ‘childhood’ (MYS) phuk bik (vintr) ‘to
be ready for winnowing’ (IF) [cf. Bur. phúk ‘a phuṣ (n) ‘a breath’: Id.: niskarén di phuṣ no nezáʋ
small bit (of wood)’ (Lorimer 1962: 187)] {MNN, ošóy Lit. ‘She wasn’t even expelling a breath
RAKR, MYS, IF} from the nose.’ Sense: ‘She remained
completely quiet.’ (IF, short story ke̍ ɫiʋál keɫítay
phumbaráṣ (n) ‘signal fire’, ‘bonfire’ {RAKR}

108
phúṣki Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes qaraʋúl

“The shepherdess wept”)

phuṣík /Other qalafúr /Other pronunc: qalahúr (BKA)/ (n) ‘clove
pronunc: p ruṣík (GMKH)/ ‘to blow on (fire)’
h
(spice)’ Syzygium aromaticum {SWKA, BKA}
(SWKA) (GMKH) {IF, SWKA, GMKH}
qalám (n) ‘pen’ qalamí (n) ‘embroidery in which the
phúṣki1 (adj) ‘dried up’, ‘shriveled’ ‘spoiled’; (n) ‘dried design is first made with a pencil or pen’ čumró
up shriveled nut kernel’ {MNN, RAKR} qalám (n) ‘iron spike used for sharpening a
phúṣki2 (n) ‘flank (of a horse)’ {MNN} sickle’ (MS) {MNN, IWA, MS}

phuzdán /Other pronunc: phusdán (Laspur)/ (n) qalamdár (n) ‘witch’, ‘giant’, ‘fearsome creature’
‘plant from which foam used in bathing and qalamdarí (n) Lit. ‘witches’ night’ (synonym for
bapbík) {RAKR}
washing hair or clothes is prepared’ Haloxylon
griffitii (See also iṣqór) {IF} qaléč /Other pronunc: qaréš (S)/ (n) ‘a traditional
measure of length’ {S, MNN}
phyu /Other pronunc: phiyú/ (n) ‘shoulder blade’;
‘scapula’; ‘arm joint (horse)’ (MNN) phyúa loɫík qalín (n) ‘hand-woven woolen carpet’ (MNN)
(vintr, vtr) ‘to look at an animal’s shoulder blade qalinšútur (n) ‘yarn for a qalín’ (MNN) qalín
as a form of divination’ (TMF); (vtr) ‘to defeat tsopík (vtr) ‘to weave a qalin’ (MA) {MNN, MA}
someone or to come out at an advantage over qalíp (n) ‘body’; ‘wooden inner frame for making
someone’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12839)] traditional skin shoes‘ [< Ar., Prs.] {RAKR, IF,
{TMF, AKM, MNN, SWKA} MS}
qabúl (adj) ‘accepted’ qabúl korík (vtr) ‘to accept’ [< qamčilít (adj) ‘completely silent during a
Ur. qabūl karnā ‘to accept’] {MNN} conversation’, ‘taciturn’: hasé qamčilít moóš ‘He
qábur (n) ‘grave’: /Other pronunc qrába (with is a taciturn man.’ {MNN}
metathesis) (IFM) ‘on the grave’ (IF: Laspur qamqám (n) ‘metal trap (for rats, foxes, wolves)’
usage) [< Ar., Prs., Ur. qabr ‘grave’] {IFM, IF} qamqám darík (vtr) ‘to set a trap’ {SWKA}
qadím (n) ‘ancient times’, ‘olden days’ (MNN); ‘long qandáq (n) ‘pit from which soil is excavated’ {MA}
time ago’: hasé ma qadímo dust noó ‘He is my
qandčéy (n) ‘sweet tea (old term)’ (TMF); ‘thick,
old friend! (emphatic affirmation)’ (HS); (adj) strong tea’ (TMFW) {TMF}
‘ancient’ (RAKR) [< Prs., Ar.] {MNN, RAKR, HS}
qap dik (vtr) ‘to take a mouthful of grain (of animals)’
qádur (n) ‘value’, ‘regard’ {SWKA}
{MNN}
qaf (n) ‘claw’, ‘nail (of hand)’ (MNN); (n) ‘a single
qaq (adj) ‘dry’, ‘dehydrated’, ‘desiccated’ (MNN) qaq
handful’ (SWKA); ‘three-tined bent fork’
dreék (vtr) ‘to set out vegetables for drying’ qaq
(synonym: pušúr neéni MAK); ‘handful (of
bik (vintr) ‘to be very thirsty’: ma žan qaq bíti
powdery substances like flour or tea leaves)’
(RAKR) qaf dik (vtr) ‘to scratch with claws or šer ‘I am very thirsty.’ (MYS) qaqeék /Other
nails’ qaf dreék (vtr) ‘to put partially curled up pronunc: qaqéik/ (vtr) Lit. ‘to dry something up’:
hand into a tight place (like a hole) to take ma žanó qaqáʋe Lit. ‘(Go ahead) dry up my
something out’ qaf c̣okík (vintr) Id. ‘to be able life.’ Annoyed figurative usage. Sense: ‘Stop
to work’ (SWKA) {MNN, RAKR, MAK, SWKA} pestering me.’ (TMFW) {MNN, MYS, TMFW}
qahár (n) ‘anger’ qáhra dreék (vtr) ‘to intentionally qaraqandáq (n) ‘type of fused rifle which took a
make someone angry’ (MNN) qahrí (adj) bullet larger than those of other rifles’ {RAKR
‘angry, expressing/showing anger’: ǰam roy 1988}
qahrí no bóni ‘Good people don’t get (overtly) qaraqút (n) ‘a black-colored mineral, given to
angry/display anger.’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA} women after childbirth if the placenta is not
qahrts (n) ‘a large turban’ {RAKR, WSiC} expelled’ [< Turkic] {IF}

qal /Other pronunc: kal/ (adj) ‘lazy, slow-moving, qarár dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to consider’, ‘acknowledge’,
indolent’ qalí ‘lazy person’: qalío qahró naqalío ‘resign self to’: hatét tan sóro ʋežižáʋ qarár dití
sóra neéik Prov. Sense: ‘for a person who does astáni ‘They had resigned themselves to being
nothing to criticize a person who works’ naqalí without sons.’ {WSiC}
(n) ‘non-lazy person’, ‘energetic hard-working qaraʋúl (n) ‘forward sight on a rifle’ qaraʋúl c̣akeék
person’ {GNK} (vtr) ‘to aim a rifle’ {RAKR}

109
qarqúɫak Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes qop dik

qarqúɫak (n) ‘mythical/imaginary animal conceived {SG}

of as having a spoon-shaped tail from which it
qésma (n) ‘kind’, ‘type’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
throws poison and a body like a lion’; (probably
can also refer to a lynx ‘the black-eared one’) [< qétia dik (vt) 'to lose something' (negative,
Turkic (qar ‘black’ + quɫák ‘ear’] {IWA} disapproving connotation) ma žaʋ kitábo kúra
qasáb (n) ‘butcher’ qasa̍bxaná (n) ‘slaughterhouse’ qétia pray 'My son lost the book somewhere.'
[< Prs. qasāb ‘butcher’] {MNN} (e.g. said by a father annoyed with the son for
losing the book) {ZHD}
qast (adj) ‘true’ qastaá ‘really!? (RAKRW) truly?’
(ZMZ); ‘actually?’ {ZMZ, RAKRW} qetiqéti korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to tickle’; ‘to itch’: ma pong
qetiqéti kóyan ‘My foot is itching.’ (MYS)
qašqá (adj) ‘white-faced (of horse)’; (n) ‘horse with a {MNN, MYS}
white blaze on its forehead’ (MS) (Traditional
belief is that if the blaze is star shaped, it is qeybábi (adj) ‘surprised’, ‘worried’: aʋá hanún
considered inauspicious and will bring death to adráxtu bi astám. áči gyáʋa póna ḍaq mátene
its owner.) {IF, MS} lu pray ki póna ǰip eksiḍén hoy. the aʋá qeybábi
qašqár (n) ‘region in Central Asia, now in southwest hótam. ‘Today I went up to the mountains. On
China’ (spelled Kashkar or Qashqar): Prov. the way back a boy told me that a jeep had had
qašqára mat kya no arú, yárkhúna mat kya an accident on the road. Then I was surprised
salám ‘You did nothing to help me in Qashqar and worried.’ (MAK) {MAK, RK story}
(which is very far from home), what is the use qimát (adj) ‘expensive’: am bo qimát ‘Mangoes are
of your salaam in Yarkhun (which is nearer to very expensive.’ {MYS}
home)?’ qašqarí (n) ‘person from Qashqar’
(This word is used by people of Kalam to refer qir (n) ‘a very strong glue’ qir dreék (vtr) ‘to glue
to Khowar speakers. It has a negative things together‘ (See also ṣoɫéṣp) [probably <
connotation of ‘uncivilized’) {IWA} Ar., Prs. qir ‘pitch; tar’] {Sonoghor, MNN}
qaʋl korík (vtr) ‘to promise’, ‘to swear to’ {MNN} qisá (n) ‘story’; ‘tale’ [< Prs. qissah ‘story’ ‘tale’] {MS}
qaʋm (n) ‘tribe’; ‘people’ {IS} qizíl (adj) ‘reddish’ (color name for horses only; color
is produced by a mixture of red and white hairs’
qaʋqáʋ (adj) ‘very old (of a person)’ (MNN); (n) (MS) [< Turkic] {MS}
‘barking of an old dog’ (ZHD) (See also aʋgáʋ)
{MNN, ZHD} qɫap (n) ‘a large swallow (of food, liquid)’
[onomatopoetic] {MS}
qayí (adj) ‘heavy’ qayeék (vintr) ‘to be heavy’
{RAKR, WSiC} qɫef (n) ‘hook’, ‘tightly curved bend’ qɫéfi korík ‘to
bend into a hook’ {MNN}
qazá (n) ‘a break (in some activity)’ {MNN}
qɫom (n) ‘greens of a turnip-like vegetable’ {SWKA}
qazaqí (n) ‘variety of apricot from Kazakstan’
Prunus armeniaca {RAKR} qɫuč korík (vtr) ‘to swallow (of humans, as when
swallowing medicine)’ {MNN}
qazí (n) ‘an internal organ of a horse which
produces sound when the horse moves qohteék /Other pronunc: qhoteék (MNN)/ (vintr) ‘to
(intestine?)’: istoró qazí haʋáz kóyan ‘The breathe heavily or sniffle (while talking)’ (IWA:
This verb is always paired with froṣkeék.) (See
horse’s qazí is producing sound.’ (SSM); also syn. froṣkeék) {MNN, IWA}
‘sound produced by an untamed horse while
walking or running’ (SSM): istoró qazí dóyan qomqíšt (n) ‘species of bird’ {MAK}
‘The horse’s qazí is producing sound.’ (SSM) [< qon (n) ‘glowing coals’; ‘embers’ (MS) {MNN, WSiC,
Turkic] {Parwak, SSM, IF} MS, SG}
qenát (n) ‘hard work’: e žááʋ sabáqote qenát koré ‘O qop /Other pronunc: kop/ (n) ‘cup’ [< Eng. ‘cup’]
son, work hard at your lessons.’ qenatí (n) ‘a {MNN}
hard-working person’ {SWKA}
qop dik (vtr) ‘to cover seeds in a moist warm place
qes korí (adv) ‘intentionally’: hasé qes korí ma to sprout them before sowing’; ‘to ripen wheat
piráno aleṣítay ‘He intentionally tore my shirt.’ which has not ripened naturally by stacking

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qoráp bazúri Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes rakéṭ

bundles on top of each other to generate heat’ qušbegí (n) ‘type of fused rifle, the bullet of which
{MNN} was the largest of the fused rifle types’ {RAKR
1988}
qoráp bazúri (n) ‘embroidered cuff pieces, or neck
pieces worn by a bride’ {IF} qutí (n) ‘small bag for gunpowder’ {RAKR 1988}
qorqór (adj) ‘thick and full’ (MNN): khoṭ qorqór bíti quʋatíng (n) ‘rich person’: quʋatíngote ṣiúr Prov. Lit.
boṣíko čaq bíti šer ‘The clouds have thickened ‘It suits a rich person.’ Sense: ‘Whatever a rich
and it is getting ready to rain.’ {MNN} person does looks good.’ {RKB}
qotsú /Other pronunc: qótsi (IF) (Chitral town)/ (n) qužd (n) ‘outcry’, ‘shouting’ qužd korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to
‘species of tree-shaped mushroom’ Morchella shout’ qu̍žqaraṭáʋ /Other pronunc:
esculenta (MNN) {MNN, IF, Chitral town} qu̍zdqaraṭáʋ (ZMZ)/ (n) ‘sound of many loud
voices heard from nearby’ (MNN); ‘noise’ (ZMZ)
qoyeék (vtr) ‘to call out to someone’ (used only in {WSiC, RAKR, MNN, ZMZ}
Upper Chitral; huy dik in Lower Chitral):
ahmáto qoyáʋe ‘Call Ahmad.’ (SWKA) [< raáš /Other pronunc raš/ (n) ‘mixed grain and straw
Wakhi qiwák ‘to call, summon’ (Pakhalina 1975: left after threshing’ (Parwak); ‘heap of grain’
87)] {MNN, SWKA, WSiC, IF, RKB} (MNN) rašphí /Other pronunc: rašphyú (MNN)/
(n) ‘wooden spade-like tool for winnowing grain’
qoz (n) ‘species of water bird, smaller than a heron; [either < Prs. or Skt. (M:1973) (T10720)] {MNN,
sits in trees’ {MNN} Parwak}
qreq (n) ‘belch’, ‘burp’ qreq korík ‘to belch, burp’: rafadár (adj) ‘supportive of’; ‘well-wishing’ (MYS);
ṣapík žúti qreq aártam ‘I belched after eating ‘willing to give freely’ (RAKR 1988); ‘willing to
food.’ [cf. Proto-Mongolian *kaki-ra- / *keki- (do something)’ (SWKA) {MYS, RAKR (1988),
re- ‘to belch’ Mongolian *kekere / *kakira- SWKA}
‘belch’ (Z:p.c.)] (MNN) {MNN, RAKR} raféš /Other pronunc: raféṣ/ (n) ‘sign of someone’s
quhrč čúmur (n) ‘type of brittle iron used to strike coming’: náno raféšo huṣ koyán ‘S/he
sparks from flintstone’ {RAKR} recognizes the sign of her/his mother’s
qulf (n) ‘lock (fastener for doors, etc.)’ {MNN, coming.’; ‘appearance’, ‘resemblance’: hes tan
SWKA, WSiC} náno raféšo γon ‘S/he looks just like his/her
mother.’ {IF}
qumá /Other pronunc: kumá/ (n) ‘concubine’ [< Skt.
(T3315); also cf. Bur. kumá/qumá ‘non-royal raγ (n) ‘village below Booni on the Chitral-Booni
wife’] {Chitral town} road’ [< Prs. ‘green place’ (IWA)] {RAKR, IWA}
quramá (adj) ‘strange’; ‘fantastic’; ‘puzzling’, raγéšṭi (adv) ‘early’: aʋá raγéšṭi porí astám heγén
‘enigmatic’ {IF, MNN} díti ẓot riphítam ‘I went to bed early; that is why
qurasaní čayúš (n) ‘copper teakettle from I got up early.’ {SWKA}
Khorasan’ {IF} raγz (n) ‘women’s outer garment like a šuqá, made
from wool mixed with down’ {SWKA, TMFW}
qureék (vintr) ‘to snore’ (MNN): orára qurétay ‘S/he
began to snore in her/his sleep.’ (MS) {MNN, rahát (n) ‘peace’; ‘rest’ [< Ar., Turkic] {MNN}
MS}
rah bik (vintr) ‘to feel joint or muscle pain from
qurút (n) ‘desiccated buttermilk’; ‘dried yogurt mixed unaccustomed muscular exertion’ (MNN) (See
with salt’ (made by Gujurs) (IF); (adj) also syn. rah ungík) {MNN}
‘completely finished’ (MNN) qurút korík (vtr) ‘to
rah ungík (vintr) ‘to feel joint or muscle pain from
digest’, ‘to absorb’ [< Turkic, also cf. Bur. qurút
unaccustomed muscular exertion’ (MNN) {GNK,
(Lorimer 1962: 200)] {MNN IF}
MNN}
quš /Other pronunc: quṣ (WSiC)/ ‘room for ordinary
rahí bik (vintr) ‘to set out on a journey’: mitár
guests’ (MS), ‘living or sleeping quarters’
(WSiC) qušxaná /Other pronunc: quṣxaná brozóte rahí bóyan ‘The Mehtar is setting out
(WSiC)/ (n) ‘small separate guest room’ (RKB); for Broz.’ [> Ir. (Baghbidi 2006)] {MNN}
‘sleeping room for servants’ (MS) {WSiC, RKB, raǰúli (n) ‘a small yellow flower’ {MYS, CKT}
MS}
rakéṭ (n) ‘large goods-transport truck’ [< Eng.

111
ram Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes reéni

‘rocket’] {Chitral town} evil influences of djinns and fairies.) (Parwak)

ram (n) ‘hidden realities’ ram loɫík (vtr) ‘to look at Ferula narthex raʋó c̣hiír ‘assafoetida’ (IF)
something and see hidden facts (past and {IF, IFM, TMF, Parwak}
future) about it’ ram loɫák (n) ‘one who can see ráʋz korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to speak in a satirical way’; ‘to
hidden realities’; ‘fortune teller’ {RAKR, WSiC} complain about/speak badly about someone’:
ramán (n) ‘village in Laspur Valley’ ramaníči he moóš bo ráʋz kóyan ‘That man complains/
‘person from Raman’ {SWKA} criticizes a lot.’ {RAKR}
ramboóγ (n) ‘beans’ Phaseolus vulgaris [< Skt. raxt (n) ‘unstitched cloth’ [< Prs.] {SG}
(M:1973) (T10685)] {MNN} ráxum (n) ‘mercy’ [< Ar., Prs.] {ZMZ}
ran (adv) ‘even more’; ‘again and again’: áyh boγáʋ ray (n) ‘preference’, ‘wish’ {RAKR 1988}
ran uṣák ‘Going up (there) it is colder and
rayík /Other pronunc: royík in Rech Torkhow (MAK),
colder.’ (RAKR) ranarán (reduplicated
Lower Chitral (MNN)/ (vintr) ‘to howl (dog)’; ‘to
intensifier form of ran) (adv) ‘even more’
bark (dog)’ (IF): zarú reéni frosk rayír Prov. Lit.
{RAKR, GNK, SWKA, GMKH}
‘An old dog barks truly.’ Sense: ‘The words of
randíẓu /Other pronunc: randéẓu/ (n) ‘roast meat’, an old person are true/weighty.’ (MNN) [< Skt.
‘kabab’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10614)] {MNN, BA} (M:1973)] {MNN, MAK, IF}
ranḍá (n) ‘chisel’, ‘plane’ loṭ ranḍá ‘plane razí (adj) ‘satisfied’ [< Ar., Prs.] {SWKA}
(carpenter’s tool)’ [< Ur.] {NKN}
rec̣lašṭ (n) ‘old name of SWKA’s home’ (MS)
rangúṭ (n) ‘a newly inducted employee (e.g. in rechólašṭ ‘old name of SWKA’s ancestral
Chitral Scouts)’ [< Eng. ‘recruit’] {Chitral town} village’ (SWKA) {MS, SWKA}
ranǰibarikán (n) ‘tuberculosis’ {IF} reḍíʋ /Other pronunc: riḍíf, or reḍyó (more recently,
raqíb (n) ‘rival’ {MNN} with increasing knowledge of Ur. and Eng.)/ (n)
‘radio’ (MNN) ʋereḍíʋu (adj) ‘without a radio’:
rásum (n) ‘custom’ [< Prs.] {RAKR} hanún zamanaá ʋereḍíʋu hal bin no boy ‘These
rašán (n) ‘top of the foot’ {MNN} days one cannot live without a radio.’ (SWKA)
[< Eng. ‘radio’] {MNN, SWKA}
rašáq (adj) ‘straight’ rašáq dreék (vtr) ‘to straighten’
(MNN) narašáq /Other pronunc: našaráq (by reék (vtr) ‘to say’: raá asúm ‘I have said.’ (MNN) tu
metathesis) (in Warijun) (ZHD)/ (adj) ‘of a akrámote ráʋe hasé aslámote rar ki gití ma
person who does not do a job by the correct pošár ‘Tell Akram to tell Aslam to come and
procedures’ (MNN) {MNN, ZHD} see me.’ (MS); (vintr) ‘to cause to say, read’:
rašaší (adj) ‘doubtful’, ‘puzzled’, ‘wondering’, aʋá hatoγó c ̣akéy sabáqo reétam ‘I got him to
‘suspicious’ {RAKR, WSiC} read/study the lesson.’ (SWKA); ‘to demand’, ‘to
ask for’: tu ʋa khyo résan ‘What else do you
rašáx (n) ‘part of the wheel in a water mill used to
maintain balance’ {TMF} want?’ (SWKA) reé (conjunction) ‘thus’, ‘having
said’ (quotative particle): azím haṣ rétay ki af
rat (vtr) ‘out’ (sports term, as in volleyball, cricket, baγáni reé ‘Azim said that they have gone
etc.) rat korík (vtr) ‘to miss a goal, in sports’ downcountry.’ (MAK) siyahát e hátim reé farsí
{TMF}
kitáb šeér ‘There is a Persian book called
rathéni (n) ‘room in which cooking is done, and used Siyahat e Hatim.’ (MAK) [< Skt. (M:1973)
by servants’ (SWKA); ‘room for cooking, used (T10619)] {MNN, MS, SWKA, MAK}
by servants’ (MS) {MS, SWKA}
reéni (n) ‘dog’ renimáɫi (n) ‘dog’s den’ (MNN)
raʋ (n) ‘wild plant used for medicinal purposes’ (IF); renigarí (n) ‘quarrelsome habits’ (Lit. ‘dog-like
‘wild plant found in Shandur, the flowers and behavior’): hatoγó renigaríen roy kaá toγó dúri
roots of which are used as medicine for goats to no bíni ‘Because of his quarrelsome nature, no
increase their milk production’ (IFM); ‘species of one goes to his house.’(RKB) renidróc̣u (n)
wild asparagus’ (TMF); ‘mountain plant from ‘very sour variety of grape’ Vinis vitifera {TMF}
which hing (assafoetida) is made.’ (Traditional [< Skt. (T10713) or < Wakhi root + Khowar
lore: It is used to safeguard children from the suffix (see Bashir 2001)] {MNN, RKB, TMF}

112
regḍól Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes roγ

regḍól (n) ‘person without any special status or liquid)’: riakúnu tel ‘the oil which has leaked’
quality’ [< Eng. ‘rag doll’] {Chitral town} tel riakúnu bíti xalás hoy ‘The oil leaked and
reɫá (n) ‘wheelbarrow’ [possibly < Ur. relnā ‘to push was finished.’ (SWKA); leaky, liable to leak:
forward’ or Panjabi réṛā ‘cart’] {NKN, TMF, AR} tazá balṭí máte det- riakúnu kya komán ‘Give
me a good (not damaged) bucket. I can’t use a
renǰ (n) ‘storage place for firewood’ (cf. daránu in
other areas) {Laspur}
leaky one.’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10753)]
{SWKA, IF}
rényo boól (n) ‘a constellation of three stars which
rinduhá (n) ‘an extremely loud noise (e.g. thunder)’
appears in the morning at the time when dogs
{ZMZ}
go to sleep.’ {MNN}
rišíki /Other pronunc: rišóki (Parwak)/ (n) ‘pancake’
rešṭ /Other pronunc: rešṭh (Booni)/ (n) ‘avalanche’:
(SWKA); ‘fried pancake made with flour and
ispá rahén boγáʋa ayhár rešṭ hay ‘As we were
eggs’ (often given to women after childbirth as a
going on the road an avalanche descended (on strengthening food) {SWKA, Parwak}
us).’ (MS) rešṭún /Other pronunc: rešṭhún
(Booni)/ (n) ‘pile of snow, soil, rocks deposited rišqá (n) ‘species of alfalfa’ Medicago sativa
by an avalanche’ (MNN) [< Skt. (T10748) {Chitral town}
(T10823)] {MNN, MS, MAK, Booni, TMF}
riʋáǰ (n) ‘custom’, ‘practice’ {SWKA}
réšun (n) ‘Reshun, a large village down-river from
riʋíš (n) ‘grain or dāl fed to horses’ (SWKA); ‘grain
Charun’ rešneéγ ‘person from Reshun’ {SWKA,
fed to cattle’ (MS); ‘grain fed to horses or other
IWK}
animals’ (IF) {SWKA, MS, IF}
reṣú /Other pronunc: roṣú (SG: in Lutkuh)/ (n) ‘bull’:
róči (n) ‘ritual fast--abstaining from food, drink,
hasé reṣúo aʋáy ‘He took the bull away.’ (IWA) smoking, and sexual intercourse during day
haté reṣúo aʋáy ‘He took that bull away.’ (IWA) during Ramazan’ ro̍čidreék (n) ‘time of ending
reṣíri (n) ‘skin or meat of bull’ axtaí reṣú (n) ‘ox a ritual fast in the evening’ (SWKA) róči ganík
(castrated bull)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2458) also (vtr, vintr) ‘to keep a fast’ (SWKA) róči dreék
Ir.] {MNN, SG, IWA} (vtr) ‘to end a ritual fast at the appropriate time
rezá (n) ‘one of clans descended from Baba Ayub’ in the evening’ ro̍čidrélik (adj) ‘of one who is
{MS} keeping a fast’: hayá ro̍ čidrélik moóš ‘He is a
man keeping fasts.’ (IF); (n) ‘a person who is
rezg (n) ‘saline surface deposit’ {RAKR}
keeping a fast’ (SWKA) [< Early Ir. (M:1936)]
rezík (vtr) ‘to beat with a stick’ {SWKA} {SWKA, IF}
rezíni (n) ‘stick put inside goatskin to stretch and roc̣hík /Other pronunc: roc̣ík (IF)/ (vtr) ‘to graze
hold it in position while it is being dried’ (MNN) (cattle)’: ṣabɫúkio gáza ta racḥ ím ‘I will graze
rézun (n) ‘a stick placed in the center of a bundle of you in a field of clover.’ (line from lullaby
ropes or other fibers to twist them tightly’ {MNN} pažál) (IWK) roc̣híni (adj, n) ‘stick used in
grazing (looking after) animals’ roc̣héik (vtr) ‘to
reẓ (n) ‘narrow, natural path in the mountains (used graze (cattle), to have someone graze animals’;
by humans and animals)’ {MNN} ‘to keep someone under surveillance’ (IF):
ric̣ (n) ‘dung’, ‘excrement’, ‘feces’; ‘wet droppings of pulús roc ̣í roc ̣í cḥ oγó dosítay ‘The police kept
animals’ (IF); ‘human feces’ (IF) lešuríc̣u the thief under surveillance and captured him.’
‘droppings of cow or bull’ (MA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10547)] {MYS, RAKR,
(T10731)] {MNN, MA, IF} MNN, IF, IWK}
rigíṣ /Other pronunc: regíṣ/ (n) ‘beard’ [< Wakhi roγ1 (n) ‘natural path in the mountains’ (MNN); (n) ‘a
(M:1936)] {MNN, RAKR} crack’; ‘small water channel in a field, smaller
than phat’ (IF); ‘a horizontal crack in a mountain
riík (vintr) ‘to leak (of the liquid leaking, e.g. water)’:
face’ (IF); (See also syn. reẓ) (adj) ‘cracked’ roγ
balṭíar uγ riúran ‘Water is leaking from the bik (vintr) ‘to crack’, ‘be cracked’ (MNN): khanǰ
bucket.’ (SWKA) riéik (vtr) ‘to cause to leak, to roγ bíti šer ‘The wall is cracked.’ (SG) roγ
make a liquid leak (of the container from which
dreék (vtr) ‘to crack’ [< Skt. (T10610)] {MNN,
a liquid is leaking)’: balṭí riéran ‘The bucket is IF, SG}
leaking.’ (SWKA) riakúnu (adj) ‘leaked (of a

113
roγ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes roy1

roγ2 (n) ‘species of pine having oily wood which is standing water’ {MNN}
often used for torches’ (MNN) Cedrus deodara rošt (adj) ‘light’ roštéik (vtr) ‘to light (e.g. a lamp)’
ro̍γžóli ‘resin of the roγ, used for skin eruptions’ roští (n) ‘dawn’; used in expression of love, as
(IF) ro̍γžóɫu (n) ‘oil of chilghoza pine - extracted in: ma γečhán roštíán ‘light of my eyes’ (for
by distilling its wood’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T10826)]
example, said to children with love) (Warijun
{MNN, IF, Parwak}
women); ‘light’ [< Ir. (M:1936) also (T10763)]
róhat (adj) ‘unconscious’ róhat bik (vintr) ‘to {RAKR, MYS, Warijun women}
become unconscious’ {RAKR, WSiC}
rošteé (n) ‘a clan/tribe said to have originated in
rom (n) ‘flock’, ‘herd’, ‘swarm’, ‘pack (of various Persia’ {MS}
animals)’: pay ki romár nisáy šapirγári boy ‘If a
roṣ1 (adv) ‘like that’, ‘such’: roṣ roy obrítani ‘Such
goat leaves its flock it will be taken by a wolf.’
(MNN) [< Skt. (T10632)] {MNN, SWKA, MYS, (good) people have died.’ (SWKA) base form of
haróṣ ‘like that’ {MNN, SWKA}
RAKR, IF}
roṣ2 (n) ‘furrow’ {SG}
roménu /Other pronunc: romén (IF)/ ‘species of
poplar’ Populus alba [< Yidgah (M:1936) also róṣe móṣe (adv, adj) ‘upside down’: tharpálo róṣe
(T10627)] {MNN, IF} móṣe γeráʋe ‘Turn the tarpaulin over.’;
‘horizontally reversed’ róṣe móṣe γeréik ‘to
rondík (vtr) ‘to scrape something off of something
reverse vertically or horizontally; to turn upside
else’ (IF) rondúku /Other pronunc: rondúk
down’ róṣen móṣen (adv.) ‘upside down’ :
(Sonoghor)/ (n, adj) ‘scraped off’: ṣoṣpó
phurúskan róṣen móṣen γeráʋe ‘Turn the wheat
rondúku ‘burned crust of ṣoṣp which sticks to
over by handfuls.’ {MS}
the pan and has to be scraped off’ (IF);
‘something scraped off’ rondéik (vtr) ‘to have roṣgoloóγ (n) ‘the stream which flows in Roṣgol’
something scraped off by someone/ something {MNN}
else’: A: hasé lešán rac ̣íranaá? B: khyo rac ̣íran
roṣmóṣ (adv) ‘somehow or other (specific)’: roṣmóṣ
ingár randéran ‘A: Is she grazing the cows? B: korí nási neétam ‘I finished it somehow or
She isn’t grazing (them), she is just getting other (specific methods tried) (sense of
them to scrape off the scraggly grass.’ (IF) [< satisfaction).’ {MS}
Skt. (T10613)] {IF, Sonoghor}
rótsi (n) ‘practice of going to receive animals when
ronǰ (n) ‘disease affecting grain crops, causing them
they return home in the evening from grazing’
to suddenly turn yellow and dry up’ {ARC}
(MYS) ro̍tsidóyu (n) ‘group of girls or boys who
rontsíru (n) ‘male goat up to three or four years of go to receive the sheep or goats in the evening
age’ {RAKR, IF} when they return from pasture’; ‘receiving party
for goats returning to the village in the evening,
ronzík /Other pronunc: rondzík (ZMZ)/ (vtr) ‘to consisting of both boys and girls’ (IWA) rótsi
tremble (from fear, old age, weakness)’; ‘to bik (vintr) ‘to go to receive animals in the
shiver’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {ZMZ, RKB} evening’ {MYS, IWA, RAKR}
-roó suffixal bound morpheme, having several roxní (n) ‘charcoal’, ‘embers’ [< Wakhi (M:1936)]
attenuative senses: ‘-ish’; ‘rather’: phuk roó {MNN, IF}
‘smallish’, ‘rather small’; ‘somewhat’; ‘a little’:
yi roó gití nišé ‘Come this way a little and sit.’ roxtsík (vtr) ‘to forget’: hasé hatoót lu díko roxtsítay
(MNN) ṣoy roó gye ‘Come a little closer.’ ‘He forget to tell her.’ (WSiC) roxtsóku (adj)
(MNN) {MNN, RAKR} ‘forgettable’: hayá lu roxtsóku nóh ‘This word
(i.e. matter) is not forgettable.’ (SWKA)
roóṣ (adj) ‘tan (color)’; (n) ‘female duck’ (MNN); roxtséik (vtr) ‘to cause to forget’ roxtsónu (adj)
‘normal grain put into a mill after grinding ‘forgotten’: hasé roxtsónu baʋ góyan ‘It is being
germinated wheat’ (SG); ‘darkish color of
forgotten.’ (referring to one of the archaic
mulberries before they ripen’ (SG) {MNN, SG}
words under discussion) (MNN) ma sar
rorén (n) ‘nipple’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2355)] {RAKR} roxtsónu hoy ‘I have forgotten it.’ (MNN)
rošóp (n) ‘half-frozen water formed when snow falls {MNN, WSiC, MS}
into a tank or lake; mixed ice and water in roy1 (n) ‘person’: hatoγóte ǰam roy réni ‘They say

114
roy Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes sabáq

s/he is a good person.’; ‘people’ (Chitral town crumble (hard things)’ (MNN); ‘to clean by
(WSiC) royʋálu (n) ‘person who has many rubbing in the hands and blowing away the
people in his household to work’ (MAK) [< Skt. chaff (e.g. seeds)’ (IF) {MNN, IF}
(M:1973) (T10860)] {MNN, Chitral town, RAKR, rung (n) ‘salinity on surface of ground’; ‘white earth’
MAK} (MY, Laspur) rungoóγ (n) ‘water which comes
roy2 (n) ‘color’: šárum bíti horó roy γerí hay ‘From out from under a rung deposit’ (MY) [< Skt.
shame his/her color changed.’ (MNN) royík (vtr) (T10787) (T10563)] {MNN, AR, MY}
‘to dye (cloth, thread, yarn, wool)’: poṣpán rupayá (n) ‘rupee’; ‘money’ (WSiC) [< Ur. ] {MNN,
roítay ‘She dyed the wool.’ (MNN) [< Skt. WSiC}
(T10580)] {MAK, IF, MNN}
rupúš (adj) ‘hidden’: hayá lu rupúš ošóy ‘This matter
roy3 (n) nominal form meaning ‘face’, recorded with was hidden.’ (ZHD); ‘covered’; ‘veiled’ (of
locative case endings: róya c̣okík ‘to approach women) (ZHD) [< Prs.] {MNN, ZHD}
someone’, ‘to go near someone’; ‘to befall (a
bad thing to happen to someone)’: xatrá róya ruphík /Other pronunc: riphík (RKB) (idiolectal rather
than regional difference)/ (vintr) ‘to stand up’; ‘to
c ̣okítay ‘Danger has come upon us/befallen us.’
get up (from bed)’: ẓot riphíko no bétam ‘I
(RAKR) dunyoó beizzatí róya c ̣okítay dí kíča
couldn’t get up early.’ (SWKA); ‘to stop moving
bom ‘A trememdous disgrace has befallen me,
(e.g. a watch, clock, vehicle)’ (MNN, IWA): ma
now what should I do?’ (WSiC) {RAKR, WSiC}
gaɫí ruphí šer ‘My watch has stopped.’ (MNN)
róytu dik ‘to meet/encounter unexpectedly’:
aʋá ráha ta bráro róytu phrétam ‘I encountered ǰip ruphítay ‘The jeep stopped.’ (Lower Chitral
your brother on the road.’ (SWKA) [< Prs.] usage) (IWA); ‘to stand for an election (Lower
{SWKA, RAKR, WSiC} Chitral) riphonár /Other pronunc: ruphónar
(SWKA)/ (adj, adv) ‘in a standing position’
rubénḍ (n) ‘hair band’ [< Eng. ‘ribbon’] {SWKA} (RKB) ruphíru /Other pronunc: riphíru (SWKA)/
rudús (n) ‘person with disheveled hair’ {MNN} (perfective participle of riphík) (adj) ‘vertical’:
zómtu boγák ruphíru zómtu ayh nisáy ‘The
ruγoník (n) ‘species of wild grass - lasts only for a mountain climber climbed a steep mountain/
short time’ {MA} cliff.’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA, IWA, RKB}
ruík (vintr) ‘to grow, increase in size (crop, hair, rurúm (n) ‘a place near Awi’ {RAKR}
fingernails) (of inanimate entities)’ [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T10796)] {MNN, RAKR} rušuéik (vtr) ‘to brush together scattered flour in a
water mill’ rušuoóku (n) ‘flour which has been
rukát (n) ‘cycle of rising, kneeling, and prostration brushed together after grinding in a water mill’
during prayers’ [< Ar.] {WSiC} {MNN, SWKA}
rukh bik (vintr) ‘to stop’, ‘to wait’ [< Ur. rukhnā ‘to rušúk (n) ‘fee for grinding grain at a water mill, paid
stop’?] {RAKR, WSiC} in flour’ (MS)
rukhuṣík (vintr) ‘to crawl, drag oneself along the rušún /Other pronunc: rošún (MS)/ (n) ‘lamb’s
ground’; ‘to slide/scrape along the ground’ fleece used for collecting scattered flour in
(MNN) rukhuṣoóku (n, adj) ‘which has to be water mill’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, MS}
dragged’: hayá dar rukhuṣoóku- barén no boy
‘This log must be dragged; it can’t be carried on ruúṣk /Other pronunc: ruṣk/ (n) ‘large rat or ratlike
one’s back.’ (SWKA); ‘which crawls’: ma žaʋ species’: rúṣko marúr ‘Kill the rat!’ (MNN);
rukhuṣoóku bití asúr ‘My son has started to ‘bushy-tailed ratlike species, about six to eight
inches long’ (RKB) {MNN, RKB}
crawl.’ (SWKA) rakheṣík (vtr) ‘to drag
something along the ground’ {MNN, SWKA} ružáyu /Other pronunc: rožáyu/ (n) ‘daughter-in-law’
[< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, WSiC, TMFW}
rum (n) ‘tail (of animal)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6419)
(T11096)] {RAKR, MNN} sa (pro) ‘you (plural)’ (short form of pisá) {IF}
rumbúr (n) ‘one of the Kalash valleys’ rumburaánu saát (n) ‘day of the week’ [< Ar., Prs.] {MA}
(n) ‘person from Rumbur’ {MNN}
sabáq (n) ‘lesson’ sabáq reék (vtr) ‘to study (in
rumburík (vintr) ‘to be crushed or crumbled (of hard school, college)’: aʋá sabáq raʋ ošótam mágam
or fragile things)’ ramberík (vtr) ‘to crush or imtihána fel hótam ‘I was studing, but I failed

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sábur Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes sanǰ

in the examination.’ (MNN) sabáq rardú (n, a terrace)’ (MAK); ‘high place in a room’ (IF)
adj) ‘literate/educated (person)’ [< Ur. sabaq {MAK, IF}
‘lesson’] {MNN} sáma /Other pronunc: samaá/ (n) ‘tuning of sitar’
sábur /Other pronunc: sábar (SWKA)/ (n) ‘patience’ (ICS) (n) ‘tuning peg of a sitar’ (Sonoghor) (See
[< Ar., Ur. sabr ‘patience’] {SWKA, MNN} also samaá1) {ICS, Sonogor}
sabún (n) ‘soap’ (SWKA) sabunoóγ ‘soapy water’ samaá1 (n) ‘balancing the full setup for churning
(IFM, Laspur) [< Ar., Prs., Turkic, Ur.] {SWKA, buttermilk’; ‘tuning of a musical instrument’;
IF} ‘setting up the parts of something with multiple
parts’ {IF}
sadáf (n) ‘a large button’ [< Prs., Turkic sedef
‘mother of pearl’] {MNN, SWKA} samaá2 (n) ‘ornaments’, ‘jewelry’, ‘things’: zar samaá
safá (adj) ‘clear’, ‘clean’ safá korík (vtr) ‘to clean’
ki bom, ža:n, ta thanót ‘If I could become
{MNN} golden ornaments and clothes for your body…’
(line from song) {RAKR}
safár (n) ‘travel’ [< Ar. Prs.] safár nisík (vintr) ‘to set
off on a journey’ safa̍rnisík (n) ‘traditional samáčum (n) ‘long side ropes of a teliséri (willow
custom of taking part of one’s baggage out of foot-bridge)’ {MAK}
the house one day before an ill-omened day so samádar (n) ‘round wooden piece protruding from
as to avoid the consequences of starting a the ḍór, which regulates the grain flow in a
journey on that day’ {MNN} water mill’ {MNN}
safidék (n) ‘white variety of ṭuh (spikeless wheat samán (n) ‘equipment’, ‘parts’ [< Prs., Ur. sāmān
species)’ {CKT} ‘goods, equipment, things’] {RAKR}
safṭikéṭ (n) ‘certificate’ [< Eng. ‘certificate’] {Chitral samánd (adj) ‘yellowish-white (color term only used
town} for to horses)’ (MS) [< Turkic] {MS}
saγrí /Other pronunc: saxrí (IF)/ (n) ‘loin (of horse)’ samandár (n) ‘sea’ {MNN}
(MNN) ‘top of a horse’s rump’ (IF) {MNN, IF}
samlát (n) ‘mustache’ [< Prs. sablat ‘mustache’]
sahí (adj) ‘right’, ‘correct’: ta hasé lu sahí ‘What you {MNN, RAKR}
(previously) said is right.’ (SWKA); ‘truthful’
(WSiC) [< Ar., Prs., Ur. sahī ‘correct’, ‘truthful’] san (n) ‘a type of white cloth’ {NKN, RKB}
{SWKA, WSiC} sanabaáči (n) ‘salty halwa made from flour and
sahukár (n) ‘usurer’ {IF} ghee’ (MNN) (RAKR 1988) {MNN, RAKR}
sanát (n) ‘document signed in connection with sale
sal (n) ‘year’: bóγdu sal ‘last year’, ‘previous year’
of land’ [< Ar., Prs.] {MA}
salaná (adj, adv) ‘yearly’ salγereék /Other
pronunc: salγeréik/ (compound: sál ‘year’ + sandalí (n) ‘low stool’ (MNN)
γereék ‘to turn’) (n) ‘a festival held to mark the
end of the forty days of intense cold during sandóq (n) ‘box’, ‘trunk’ [< Prs.] {WSiC}
winter’ (RAKR); ‘another name for Nawruz’ (IF); sangalé (n) ‘one of qaums descended from Baba
‘change of year ceremony’ [< Prs., Ur.] {RKB, Ayub’ {MS}
MNN, SWKA, RAKR, IF}
sangaʋí (n) ‘fur-bearing water animal’ (MAK); ‘otter’
salaǰít (n) ‘a black resinous substace exuded from (Traditional lore: The otter is thought of as
rocks in mountains, used for medicinal male, while the leopard (?) is female. When the
purposes’ (See also zomó ašrú) {MNN} otter mates with a leopard, the offspring are
salakóṭi (n) ‘falling of full, heavy ears of grain leopards. Also thought that gold is to be found
in the stomach of an otter.) (See also moγaʋí)
together (i.e. a good harvest)’ salakóṭi salakóṭi
{MAK, TMF, MNN}
malakóṭi básio ‘Formulaic words (formerly)
said by men when throwing flour into the sangdíl (adj) ‘stone-hearted’; ‘hard-hearted’ {SWKA}
winter’s end bonfire (wish for a good harvest)’
{RAKR 1988} sanǰ (n) ‘lower beam beneath biteɫi, which outlines
the pherán lašṭ’ (RAKR); ‘wooden boards on the
salánu /Other pronunc: salán (IF)/ (n) ‘raised path front face of the ṭek in a traditional house’
made by building a rock wall to make a path (on (MAK) {RAKR, MAK}

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sanǰír Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes saʋá

sanǰír (n) ‘main ceiling beam’ (MNN, MA); ‘two main seems to be a good man, but in reality he is
cross beams at side of traditional house’ (MAK); not.’ (MNN) xatán pec ̣ saréran ‘The room feels
‘lengthwise main roof beam’ (IF) {MNN, MAK, warm.’ máte pec ̣ saréran ‘I feel warm.’ (MNN)
MA, IF} [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, RAKR}
sank iyá (n) ‘a poison in powder form’ (S) ‘arsenic’
h
sarék (n) ‘narrow end of an egg’ {MNN}
(MNN) {S, MNN}
sarf (n) ‘cypress’ (MNN); ‘species of evergreen tree’
sapúk (n) ‘hoof (of horse)’ sapukdík (n) ‘a children’s (Booni) sarfúkan (n) ‘species of evergreen’
game’ (The object is to keep aloft a small, coin-
(Parwak) Thuja orientalis {MNN, Booni,
shaped piece of lead by kicking it with the top of
Parwak}
the foot.) tseq sapúk (n) ‘chestnut, a growth on
a horse’s leg that appears on the front legs sarhád (n) ‘high mountainous country’ sarhadí (n)
above the knee or on the back legs below the ‘person from the high, mountainous country’
hock’ (MNN) [< Ir., Bur. (M:1936)] {MYS, IF, {IWA}
MNN, MS}
sarupá (n) ‘a complete set of clothes’ (Lit. ‘from
sapheék (vintr) ‘to putter around pretending to be head to foot’)’ {SWKA}
busy’ {MNN}
sarúz (n) ‘cypress’ (MNN); ‘cedar’ (CKT) (Parwak)
saq (n) ‘period when it is forbidden to cut fodder or Juniperus excelsa [< Skt. (T13256)] {MNN,
firewood on the public grazing ground of the CKT, Parwak}
village’ sa̍qbec̣herík (n) ‘first day of the limited
period when villagers are allowed to cut sarʋél /Other pronunc: sarʋíl (RAKR)/ (n) ‘battle’,
firewood or fodder from the common grazing ‘war’; ‘defensive trenches’ (Mastuj); ‘very high
ground’ saq korík (vtr) ‘to instruct village defensive wall’ (RAKR 1988): sáfosar ẓang
households to spend less’ {MS, IF} mizbút bangútote sarʋíl rer ‘The highest and
strongest defensive wall is called a sarʋíl.’
saqán (n) ‘marbles’ (children’s toys) {Chitral town}
(RAKR 1988) sarʋél čhiník (vtr) Id: ‘to win an
-sar /Other pronunc: -sári/ ‘(postposition, important battle’ (NKN); Id: ‘to complete
development of ablative case ending -ar) than’: something important’ (ZMZ) {NKN, Mastuj,
salím akbáro sar drúng ‘Salim is taller than RAKR 1988, ZMZ}
Akbar.’ salím ǰamáta sáfan sar drung ḍaq sasíri (adj) ‘bare (head)’ (SWKA); ‘bareheaded
‘Salim is the tallest boy in the class.’; ‘from’: hes (person)’: oráru múží kapál sasíri korí asteétam
ma sar dudéri niší asúr ‘S/he is sitting far from ‘I (had) unwittingly bared my head in sleep
me.’ {SWKA} (only discovered after waking).’ (MNN) {MNN,
sárah (adj) ‘sleeptalking’ sárah bik (adj) ‘to wake up SWKA}
from sleep while talking in sleep’; ‘to sleeptalk’ sasprú (n) ‘a flower used as a remedy for fever to
{MS}
induce sweating and restore appetite’ Ocimum
saráng /Other pronunc: suráng/ (n) ‘tunnel’ [< Skt. basilicum {IF}
(T13505)] {MNN, Proper Chitral}
satík /Other pronunc: sotík (SWKA: in Lower
sarasár (adv) ‘completely’ {SWKA} Chitral, ARC)/ (vtr) ‘to bring up (children)’, ‘to
saráy (n) ‘main central room in a traditional Chitrali nurture (someone)’: ma žaʋ bapdúri satónu bíti
house (Laspur usage)’ (báypaṣ in other areas) asúr ‘My son has been brought up in his
saraymá (adj) ‘like a saráy’ {IF} maternal grandfather’s house.’ (MS); ‘to support
sardál utsoóγ (n) ‘name of a spring in Sonoghor’ someone financially’: ma tat satélik bíti asúr-
{Sonoghor} tan kórum koóko no boyán ‘My father has
become in need of support; he can’t work
sardaʋáy (n) ‘water storage pit which functions to himself.’ (SWKA); ‘to take care of’ (SWKA); ‘to
keep water cool in summer’ [< Prs.] {MAK, IF,
save (from something)’ (ARC) {MS, SWKA,
AR}
ARC}
sareék /Other pronunc: saréik/ (vintr) ‘to seem’, ‘to
saṭák (n) ‘hammer’ {NKN}
appear to be’, ‘to be experienced as’, ‘to feel’:
hes ǰam moóš saréran mágam ásla noh ‘He saʋá (n) ‘cooperative plowing in which two persons
combine their bulls to make a pair’: reṣú obrít

117
saʋál Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes sin

saʋá očhít Prov. ‘A bull died (and) the se (pro) ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’; ‘that’ (distant, not visible)
cooperative plowing comes to an end.’ {GNK} (base form of hasé) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12815)]
{MNN, RKB, SWKA}
saʋál (n) ‘question’ saʋalát (pl n) ‘questions’ [< Ur.,
Prs., Ar.] {SWKA} seidoóγ (n) ‘hero of a well-known folk romance’
{SWKA}
saʋaɫyoóγ (n) ‘spring near a river bank, which has
formed by river water which has flowed sénkɫa (n) ‘100 cubic feet (rock, sand)’ [< Ur.
underground for a long time’ {MNN} sænkṛā ‘aggregate of one hundred’] {Chitral
town}
saʋát nisík (vintr) ‘for a mental block or hesitation to
be removed, e.g. to become confident in ser (n) ‘bridge’ telı̍ séri ‘willow bridge made from
speaking a language’: zyadá sabáq reéko ta flexible new willow shoots’ (RAKR 1988)
saʋát nisír ‘If you study a lot you will become sermóči (n) ‘expert in constructing willow
bridges’ (RAKR) payséri (n) ‘narrow bridge
fluent/confident.’ (Mastuj); ‘to speak rudely’
made from planks secured with willow wands’
(IWA) {Mastuj, IWA}
(MS) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T13585)] {RAKR 1988,
saʋdá (n) ‘goods’, ‘merchandise’ saʋdagár (n) MS}
‘merchant’, ‘trader’ {IF, WSiC}
serík (vtr) ‘to haul’, ‘to carry multiple loads
saʋsán (n) ‘(wild) iris’; ‘species of plant the roots of continuously to the same place’ (not applicable
which are ground and put in tea as a remedy for to a single bag or basket) {MNN, IF}
indigestion’ Iris japonica (IF) {MS, SWKA, IF, seríl (n) ‘shears (for cutting sheep’s wool)’ {MNN, IF}
TMF}
sešambéh (n) ‘Tuesday’ [< Prs.] {SWKA}
saʋz1 (adj) ‘green (mid shade, leaf green)’ taq saʋz
(adj) ‘dark green’ (MNN) sa̍ʋzʋarúni (adj, n) seṭ (n) ‘rich man’ [< Ur.] {RAKR, WSiC, ZK}
‘wearing green clothes’: i saʋzʋarúni heraá sexdúm (n) ‘large tan species of duck’ {MA}
góyan ‘A person wearing green clothes is
coming over there.’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA} síčum (n) ‘horizontal foothold ropes of a footbridge
made from willow (teliséri)’ {MAK}
saʋz2 (adj) ‘made’, ‘constructed’; ‘recovered (from an
illness)’: tabyát saʋz hoyaá ‘Are you/is sífát (n) ‘praise’; (n) ‘quality’, ‘characteristic’,
‘attribute’ (RKB) {RAKR, RKB}
someone recovered?’ saʋzéik /Other pronunc:
saʋzeék/ (vtr) ‘to make, construct’ [< Ir. sigréṭ (n) ‘cigarette’ [< Eng. ‘cigarette’] {SWKA}
(M:1936)] {MNN, RKB, WSiC}
sikatár (n) ‘secretary’ [< Eng. ‘secretary’] {MNN}
saʋz3 (adj) ‘light and quick (musical style)’ {IWA,
MNN} sil ‘cell (battery)’ [< Eng. ‘cell’ (battery)] {MNN}

saxt1 /Other pronunc: sax/ (adj) ‘difficult’, ‘severe’ siléṭ (n) ‘slate (for writing on)’ sileṭí (n) ‘soft white
saxtí (n) ‘hardship’ [< Prs.] {SWKA} rock used for writing on slate’ (MNN); ‘writing
stick’ (SWKA) [< Eng. ‘slate’] {SWKA, MNN}
saxt2 (n) ‘loom (for weaving cloth)’ (SG); ‘handloom’
(A) {SG, A} sílif (n) ‘starter (of vehicle)’ [< Eng. ‘self’] {Chitral
town}
sayd (n) ‘meat from a hunt’, ‘game meat’ {RAKR}
sim (n) ‘wire’ (MNN); ‘cables on sides of a
sayl (n) ‘excursion’, ‘outing’, ‘pleasure trip’ sayl footbridge’ (MA) {MNN, MA}
korík (vintr, vtr) ‘to go for an outing, excursion,
holiday, pleasure trip’ sayl nisík (vintr) ‘to go for siménu /Other pronunc: suménu (MAK)/ (n) ‘belt for
a walk’ {MNN} tying a šuqá’ (MS) suménu (n) ‘belt for
fastening šuqá closed’ (MAK) {MS, MAK}
saytmán (n) ‘people very fond of hunting’ {MAK}
siméṭ (n) ‘cement’ [< Eng. ‘cement’] {MNN}
sayúrǰ (n) ‘falcon’; ‘female of a species of falcon, the
male of which is koɫórǰ’ (MAK) (TMF); ‘female of simtíč (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ {MNN}
a species of red-eyed falcon’ (male is koɫuyúrǰ) sin /Other pronunc: sind (In Yarkhun, MS)/ (n)
(MNN) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, MAK, TMF} ‘river’; (n) ‘village in Lotkoh’ sinéku (n) ‘person
from village Sin’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
sazá (n) ‘punishment’: horó sazá diyónu boy ‘He
(T13415)] {MNN, NKN, MS}
will be given a punishment.’ [< Prs., Ur.] {MYS}

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sípusápu Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes sor

sípusápu (adj) ‘minor’, ‘insignificant, ‘unimportant’; soɫáspur /Other pronunc: sorɫáspur/ (n) ‘village in
‘unorganized’ {ZHD} upper Laspur Valley’ soɫásprík (n) ‘person from
Sor Laspur’ {SWKA}
sírfi (adj, adv) ‘only’: sírfi háte ḍaq hanún skúlote
háni ‘Only those boys came to school today.’ som (adj) ‘both (sides of body, hands, eyes, legs;
{SWKA} applies to things naturally limited to two’ [< Skt.
(T13174)] {RAKR}
síri (n) ‘barley’ Hordeum vulgare siriγeér (n) ‘field
from which barley has been cut’ sirléti (n) (síri sónak (n) ‘dish made of boiled strips of dough’
‘barley’ + le- ‘harvest’ ) ‘seventh month of (similar to káɫi); ‘type of káɫi made with long
Khowar calendar’ (one name for this month) [< round noodles’ so̍nakpóči (n) ‘time taken for
Skt. (M:1973) (T13431)] {MNN, SWKA} sónak to cook’ {RAKR (1988)}

sirǰú /Other pronunc: širǰú (Proper Chitral)/ (n) sonóγor (n) ‘village up-river from Booni, opposite
‘species of legume, lentils’ (MNN); ‘lentils’ (IF) Parwak’ sonoγríči (n) ‘person from Sonoghor’
(MNN) {SWKA, MNN}
Lens culinaris {MNN, IF}
soq (n) ‘a lazy, slow-moving person who looks
sispiléli (n) ‘the little finger’ {TMF} strong but cannot do much work’ (opposite of
sitám (n) ‘cruelty’: žanóte sitám hoy ‘He was čerčén); ‘person who walks slowly’; ‘person who
worried/troubled.’ sitamgár (n) ‘perpetrator of is wider than he is tall’ (considered a defect)
cruelty’; ‘cruel person’ [< Prs.] {NKN} {MS}

sithár (n) ‘Chitrali sitar’ (different from lowlands sitar) sor (n) ‘head (of human or animal)’ (RAKR); (n)
{MNN, SWKA} ‘head/ear of grain’ (MNN); ‘basis’, ‘importance’
(MNN): kya lúo sor níki, ingár janjál koyán
skoṭ (n) ‘Scout (in Chitral Scouts)’ [< Eng. ‘scout’] ‘There is no basis to the matter; s/he is
{IFM} quarreling for nothing.’ (MNN); ‘upright
slipér (n) ‘thong sandals’; ‘lightweight plastic wooden posts at small end of spinning wheel’;
slippers’ [< Eng. ‘slipper’] {Drosh} ‘head (of dead animal, but not human)’ (MS)
sor korík (vtr) ‘to cut the top branches of a
slip korík (vtr) ‘to slip (jeep or other vehicle)’ [< Eng.
large tree’ (RAKR, IF): hes telío sor kóyan ‘He
‘slip’] {Chitral town}
is cutting the top branches of the willow tree.’
sočíli (adj) ‘thoughtful’, ‘lost in thought’: hes sočíli (RAKR); ‘to make someone the head of a party’
hoy (Synonym: hes duníki baγáy) ‘S/he became (IF) sóri dik (vtr) ‘to pull bedclothes over
thoughtful.’ {MNN} oneself’; ‘to cover the body, e.g. with a quilt’
(IF); ‘to have responsibility for something’ sóra
soík (vtr) ‘to collect on the ground by brushing petshík (vtr) ‘to return (something to someone)’,
together with the hands (applies to light things ‘give back’ (RAKR); (n) Id. Lit. ‘a sacrifice on
like leaves, paper, straw)’; ‘to sweep up your head’ ’expression of great thanks.’
something’ (IF) soíni (n) ‘instrument for (obsolescent) (RAKR) sóri bik (vintr) ‘to side
sweeping or brushing together’: cḥ an soíni with someone in a quarrel/dispute’ (IF, MS):
‘implement for sweeping leaves together, rake’ aʋá hoó sóri hótam ‘I took his side/supported
(SWKA) soín (adj) ‘swept clean of’, ‘stripped of’ him.’ (MS) hasé tan žaʋó sóri bóyan ‘He sides
(IF) soín bik (vintr) ‘to be swept/stripped clean’: with his son.’ (IF) sorbán (n) ‘embroidered
ma žaʋ gití astáy- áči boγáʋa duró ižnárian headband worn by bride on her wedding day’
alúar ganí juʋaría pat soín korí aʋáy ‘My son (IF) sorc̣homík (n) ‘headache’ (SWKA); ‘trouble’
came (to visit). As he was leaving he stripped (IF): hatoγó ʋam máte sorcḥ omík hoy ‘His loan
all the household things, from potatoes to has become a trouble for me.’ (IF) sorčí (n)
maize, and took them away.’ (IF) por rešṭ gíko ‘leader’ (IF) loṭsóri (adj) ‘elite’ loṭsorí (n)
ma haté i kamá phordú soín bití baγáni ‘Last ‘important/elite person’ sornačúṭi (adv)
year when an avalanche came, those few trees ‘headfirst’: hasé sornačúṭi nisí ṭhor hoy ‘He fell
of mine were swept away.’ (IF) soiniʋóy (n) down headfirst.’ (IF); ‘head over heels’ (MNN);
‘flour left over from phatakdík, plus some zorí on ‘upside down’ (MNN) sorár (n) ‘cream’ (IF)
the day of phátak after the departure of the sormuɫyoóγ (n) ‘dish made with unripe wheat
phatakín, also pongiγán’ (MS) {MNN, SWKA, IF, or barley kernels’ (IF) sor nisík (vintr) ‘for an
MS} unjustified claim to be made’: ma bekóte sor

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sóra Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes soyí

nisítay ‘Someone has made an unjustified claim after cleaning grain with a garbél’ {Parwak}
on my bag.’ (IF) sóro dik (vtr) ‘to accuse sormuɫaká (n) ‘a person who pretends to be sick in
someone of having illicit relations with order to avoid work’ {MNN}
someone’: hasé tan žaʋó ta sóro pray ‘He
accused his (own) son of having illicit relations sornapahán (adj) ‘ugly shaped (human, animal,
with you.’ (IF) sorén (n) ‘capital amount thing)’ {MNN}
without interest (money, cattle)’; (adv) ‘from soroóγ (n) ‘turn to use irrigation water’ {SWKA, IF}
above’; ‘in exchange for something (e.g. a
sórum /Other pronunc: soórum, sʋórum, suʋérum
daughter)’: hes žúro sorén mal maṣkíran ‘He is
(in Lower Chitral)/ (n) ‘gold’ Id. dosíru chutí ta
asking for something in exchange for his
hósta sʋórum γerár (A well wish) Lit. ‘May dust
daughter.’ (IF) sor dik (vintr) ‘to be exhausted’:
held in your hand turn to gold.’ Sense: ‘May
zomó gúc ̣a bi ḍaqó sor pray ‘Reaching the foot
everything you do be successful.’ (parents’
of the mountain, the boy couldn’t go any farther
blessing for a child) (GMKH) [< Skt. (M:1973)
(was exhausted).’ (IF) sorár muɫ (adj) ‘upside
(T13519)] {WSiC, SWKA, GMKH, MNN}
down’: dur sorár muɫ hoy ‘The house
completely collapsed.’ (IF) sorγóčuṣ (n) ‘skin sosirí (n) ‘a person’s turn to graze the village’s
of the head of a slaughtered animal’ (cf. goats’ sosirdóyu (n) ‘person(s) who graze(s) a
sorγothólu) (IF) sorγothólu (n) ‘skin of cow or village’s goats in turn’ {MNN}
bull’s head’ sóru (n) ‘head (of grain)’, ‘ear (of sosúruk (n) ‘species of bird, larger than a sparrow’
maize)’ (MNN) [< early Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, {MNN}
RAKR, IF, MS, SWKA}
sot (adj) ‘seven’ sotbasí (adj) ‘weekly’ [< Skt.
sóra (adv) ‘after’, ‘since’: haté sóra haníse góman (M:1973) (T13139)] {SWKA}
Lit. ‘After that I am coming now.’ Sense:
‘Since then I haven’t come until now.’ (MNN); sotk (n) ‘red-colored gemstone’; ‘coral (?)’; ‘bud’,
‘blossom (of apple, pear)’ (IF) sotkó pholók Id.
(postposition) ‘with (instrumental sense)’ (only
Lit. ‘a single grain of sotk’ Sense: ‘refers to an
with inanimate entities) Question: pušúro khyo
especially beautiful child’ (ZHD) {ARC, IF, ZHD}
sóra čhiním Answer: kutéro sóra čhiné Q:
‘What should I cut the meat with?’ A: ‘Cut it sotxáru /Other pronunc: sotxár/ ‘worms affecting
with a knife.’ (SWKA) sóra sóra ‘on top of’: the digestive tract’, e.g. ‘threadworm’,
dar uγó sóra sóra af baγáy ‘The log floated ‘hookworm’ (MNN); ‘pinworms’ (IF); ‘bugs
originating in cow dung used in a baby’s diaper
away downstream.’ (SWKA) sóra múɫa (adj,
when it is swaddled’: sotxár tseqó žibónian ‘The
adv) ‘vertically interchanged/ reversed’: kapían
bugs in the diaper are biting the baby.’
sóra múɫa lakhé ‘Put the copy which is on top
(Parwak) {MNN, IF, Parwak}
on the bottom, and the one which is on the
bottom on top. (i.e. reverse them vertically)’ sothási /Other pronunc: sotháski (Sonoghor) (AR)/
(MS) sóra dik ‘to catch red-handed’ (vtr): hasé (n) ‘species of tan-colored poisonous spider’
cḥ oγó sóra pray ‘He caught the thief red- (MNN); ‘flying insect said to have seven mouths
handed.’ (IF) sóra bik (vintr, vtr) ‘to mate which comes toward light’ (Sonoghor); ‘large
biting insect with long legs’ (AR) {MNN,
with/copulate with (of animals)’: rontsíru payó
Sonoghor, AR}
sóra baγáy ‘The male goat mounted the female
goat.’ (IF) sóra korík (vtr) ‘to miss a target’: soṭhík (vtr) ‘to bury edibles in order to store them,
hasé ṣitóte petshí sóra arér ‘He shot at the e.g. potatoes for winter’ soṭheéni /Other
target but missed it.’ (IF); ‘to tell lies’: tu frosk lu pronunc: saṭeéni, seṭéni/ (n) ‘pit dug in house
floor to store vegetables and keep them safe’
no dosán, sóra kósan ‘You aren’t telling the
(ZHD), ‘pit dug to store potatoes and other
truth; you are lying.’ (IF) so̍rabóxtu (n) ‘upper vegetables in winter’ (MAK, Sonoghor), ‘place
stone of a water mill’ (IF) {MNN, SWKA, IF, MS} where something is buried to store it’ (SWKA)
soranalí (adv) ‘reluctantly’ {MS} {ZHD, MAK, Sonoghor, SWKA}
sorbardeáli (n) ‘gift given to a baby at the phorganík soyí (n) ‘soot’ soydík (n) ‘cleaning of soot from roof
ceremony’ (See phorganík) {MNN} beams before pha̍takdík, except in those
houses where there has been a death during
sorkúṭu (n) ‘mixture of chaff and some grains left the immediately preceding year’ (MS) {MS,

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spanduúr Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes šahín

RAKR, MNN} by new bride over burqa’ (IF) {MNN, IF}

spanduúr (n) ‘species of small beans’; (n) ‘smoke surmá (n) ‘collyrium (black eye liner)’ (RAKR)
used to drive away evil influences, used for sick surmabóhrt (n) ‘antimony’ (IF) {RAKR, IF}
children’ Peganum harmala {MNN, RAKR } surʋáht (n) ‘village in Terich’ {MNN}
sroníko isprú (n) ‘species of flower which grows surxún (n) ‘white horse’ (MWT); (adj) ‘white (only of
above 10,000 feet elevation’ {IF} horses)’ (MS) [< Turkic ?] {MWT, MS}
srung (n) ‘horn (of animal)’; ‘lowest-level beams of sust (adj) ‘weak’ sust nisík (vintr) ‘to feel weakness
the alternating quadrilaterals in a traditionally after excessive coughing or weeping’; (vintr) Id.
constructed smokehole in a Chitrali house’ ‘to be completely engrossed in eating so that
ǰohǰu̍srúngi (adj) ‘twelve-horned’, (n) ‘stag’ nothing else is noticed’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
(MNN) [< Ir. (M:1936) < Skt. (M:1973)
(T12713)] {MNN, SWKA, RAKR, IF} sustéik (vtr) ‘to annoy’: bo ma sustétaʋ- kála pat phik
bom ‘You have annoyed me a lot; how long can
sudá bik (vintr) ‘to be tired from excessive walking
(animals, especially bullocks)’ {GNK, MNN} I keep quiet?’ {MNN}
sux (n) ‘point/sharp tip’ suxí (adj) ‘pointed’ {RAKR}
suγúɫu (n) ‘a coil’: šiményo suγúɫu khánǰa undí šer
‘The coil of rope is hanging on the wall.’ syahčéšum (n) ‘species of hawk which has black
{MNN} eyes and is difficult to train, but when trained is
very strong’ [(‘black’ + ‘eye’) < Prs.] {MNN}
suík (vtr) ‘to sew’, ‘to stitch’: tu ma zapán suísaá
‘Will you stitch my clothes?’ (MNN); ‘to braid syahkamán /Other pronunc: syahkhamán/ (n) ‘rifle
(hair)’: aʋá tan žúro phurán suíman ‘I am with a long muzzle’ (MNN); ‘a type of shotgun’
(RAKR 1988) {MNN, RAKR 1988}
braiding my daughter’s hair.’ (MNN) suéik
/Other pronunc: sueék (RKB)/ ‘to have stitched’ syahtáb (n) ‘type of fused rifle which could function
suíru (adj) ‘stitched’, ‘embroidered’ (MNN) [< as either rifle or shotgun’ {RAKR 1988}
Skt. (M:1973) (T13876)] {RKB, MNN}
šaázdá (n) ‘prince’ [< Prs. Turkic] {WSiC}
sulúk (n) ‘art of telling a story in great detail, with
šadí (n) ‘wedding’, ‘marriage’ [< Ur., Prs.] {RKB}
artistry’: mahmád rizá lal šiloóγ dyáʋa sulúk bo
koróy ‘Muhammad Riza Lal employs a great šafáq (n) ‘first light of dawn’ [< Turkic] {RAKR, MYS,
deal of artistry while telling stories.’ {MS} WSiC}
sum /Alternate form: su/ (postposition) ‘with šaftál /Other pronunc: šaxtál (MA)/ (n) ‘clover (used
(accompaniment)’ su ‘with (sometimes, but not for fodder)’ Trifolium resupinatum (MNN)
always, interchangeable with sum) [< Skt. {MNN, MA}
(M:1973) (T13173)] {SWKA, MYS}
šagéht (n) ‘pupil’, ‘apprentice’ šage̍htγóni ‘junior’
sumáni (n) ‘aromatic plant, the ashes of which are Lit. ‘like an apprentice’ (RKB) [< Prs. šagird
mixed with naswar (chewing tobacco)’ ‘pupil’, ‘apprentice’] {MNN, RKB}
Ephedra gerardiana {MA} šaγn (n) ‘mental image/picture’: hasé prušṭó šáγna
sumbá (n) ‘cleaning rod for rifle’ {RAKR 1988} hal boy ‘She will keep that previous mental
image (of me).’ (WSiC); ‘corruption’ (RAKR)
sum ǰústa di (postposition) ‘in spite of’: ma ḍek
{RAKR, WSiC}
cḥ omíko sum jústa di aʋá poí baγátam ‘In spite
of my leg’s hurting I went on foot.’ {SWKA} šáγun (n) ‘wish’; ‘desire’: ma šáγun čhití šeér ‘My
wish/desire is finished/gone.’ (MNN); ‘honor’
sun1 (n) ‘minar’, ‘tower’ {SWKA}
(MNN); ‘courage’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
sun2 (adj) ‘hard’: sun yoz ‘hard ice’ sun bik ‘to šáhar (n) ‘city’ (MNN) šahrí (n) ‘a city person’ (IWK):
become hard (of ice)’ {RAKR}
šahrí mestučzíkio rem ‘I call the people of
suphá ažík (vintr, n) ‘to dawn’ {MNN} Mastuj city people.’ (IWK: line from song
surbánd (n) ‘headband’: hayá surbánd bo ṣiéli ‘This
Durang Waw) [< Prs., Turkic] {WSiC, MNN,
IWK}
headband is very beautiful.’ (MNN);
‘embroidered headband with long tassels, worn šahín (n) ‘hawk’; ‘kind of falcon’ (MAK); ‘falcon’

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šahtikóɫu Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon - with cultural and etymological notes šar

(MNN) {RKB, MAK, MNN} šaltáq (n) ‘criticism (negative)’: salím tan tánte
šahtikóɫu (n) ‘wishbone’ (used for wagers: One šaltáq koríka pray ‘Salim began to criticize
player promises to give the other player himself.’ (IF) šaltáq korík (vtr) ‘to criticize’:
something valuable if he loses.) [< Prs. + Kho. {SWKA, IF}
‘bone’] {Parwak} šalúšṭung /Other pronunc: šalóšṭing (IWA),
šahtút (n) ‘large variety of mulberry, considered šalóšṭung (Parwak)/ (n) ‘droppings of sheep or
good for health’ Morus nigra [< Prs.] {Parwak} goat’ {MA, IF, IWA, Parwak}
šam (n) ‘evening’ (MNN) šamkhúr (n) ‘night
šak (adj) ‘the rest of’ (MNN, MYS, IF): troy žun hal
blindness’; ‘one afflicted by night-blindness’
bor, šak baγáni ‘Three persons stay here, the (Parwak) [< Prs.] {MNN, Parwak}
rest should go.’ (IF) {MNN, IF, MYS}
šamaá (n) ‘tea leaves left in cup after tea has been
šakaʋér (n) ‘mountain near village Zondrangram’ drunk’ {MNN}
{MNN}
šamarγónu /Other pronunc: šamarγúnu (MAK)/ (n)
šakhári (n) ‘two-storey house’ {Khot} ‘cord connecting the two kaɫí (sticks) suspended
šakha̍rphosték /Other pronunc: šakarphosték from the yoke of a plow’ (MNN); ‘part of plow:
(TMF); šakapóstek (Sonoghor), šakarpusték two pieces of wood under the chins of bulls’
(Chitral town)/ (n) ‘preparation made of (MAK) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12320)] {MNN, IWA,
pounded dried mulberries and walnuts shaped MAK, Sonoghor}
into balls’ {MNN, TMF, Sonoghor} šambéh (n) ‘Saturday’ yakšambéh ‘Sunday’
šal /Other pronunc: šaál (MNN)/ (n) ‘cattle pen’, dušambéh ‘Monday’ sešambéh ‘Tuesday’
room for cattle’: šáli phrétam ‘I have put (them, čáršambéh ‘Wednesday’ patšambéh
the animals) in the cattle pen.’ (MNN); ‘room for ‘Thursday’ [< Prs.] {SWKA}
sheep and goats’ (MYS); ‘hut in summer šandík (vtr) ‘to give importance to, pay attention to’;
pastures’ (MYS) ša̍liphesṭúk (n) ‘share of ṣoṣp ‘to recognize/acknowledge’ (as when
rubbed on the pillars of the cattle house’ (IWA) recognizing and greeting someone on the road)
ša̍lišíri /Other pronunc: šalošíri (MS)/ (n) ‘a (MY, Laspur): ma no šandí baγáy ‘He went by
supernatural being that lives near cattle and is without recognizing/ acknowledging me.’ (MY)
pacified by rubbing ṣoṣp on the pillars of the {ARC, MY, Laspur}
cattle house’ (IWA); ‘female guardian spirit of a
cattle house which receives a share of the šangúr (n) ‘intestine’ šangurtséni korík (vtr) Id. ‘to
family’s food’ (MS) (See also šíri) šalǰú (n) make one laugh very vigorously’: tu ma
‘woman who takes care of cattle-house near šangurtséni arú ‘You made me laugh so hard
home’ (contemporary usage) (See also mestú) that my intestines are tied in knots.’ (TMF)
(IWA, RAKR 1988) šaldén (n) ‘room attached šangúro bax (n) ‘anus (horse)’ (MNN) {NKN,
to the šal, where cattle attendants stay’ (MS) TMF, MNN}
ša̍lmudí (n) ‘cattle pen/house’ (MS) [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T12414)] {MNN, IWA, MS, MYS, šanṭéy (n) ‘maize cob’ {RAKR, Sonoghor}
RAKR} šapír (n) ‘wolf’: šapíro hósta pažalí Prov. Lit.
šalagú (n) ‘crocodile’ (SWKA); ‘large lizard (about ‘shepherding in the hands of the wolf’ Sense:
one and a half yards long)’ (SWKA); ‘large rock ‘entrusting a task to an untrustworthy person’
lizard’ (TMF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12345, T4286)] (NKN) (cf. the English idiom "set a fox to
{SWKA,TMF} guard the hen house"): šapír ispá keɫyán oyóy
šalák /Other pronunc: šaláx/ (n) ‘grasshopper’ [< ‘A wolf ate our sheep.’ (IF) šapírkéɫi (n) ‘a
Skt. (M:1973) (T12345)] {MNN, Uthul} children’s game’ Lit. ‘the wolf and the sheep’ [<
Skt. (M:1973) (T12293)] {SWKA, NKN, IF}
šalakulí (n) ‘variety of round, green grape
approximately 1 cm. in diameter which has šar (n) ‘file (tool for abrading wood or metal)’ (MNN);
‘knife sharpener’ (MS) šarphúku (n) ‘sawdust’
many seeds’ Vitis vinifera {TMF}
(MNN) [< Skt. (T12386)] {MNN, MS}
šalí (n) ‘unhusked rice’ (TMF) šaliphoón (n) ‘rice
šar istoník (vi) ‘to sigh heavily ‘to sigh heavily/
paddy’ (TMF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12415)]
deeply’ {GMKH}
{RAKR, MAK, SWKA, TMF}

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šára Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes šetú

šára (n) ‘markhor’ (MNN); ‘male markhor’ (AKM) Salix nigra {MNN, Reshun}
ša̍rakóṭi (n) ‘a small markhor’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
(T12331)] {MNN, AKM} šax (n) ‘vegetable (cooked or uncooked)’ (MNN)
(GNK) šatará šax (n) ‘a very bitter wild
šarán /Other forms: šaránu (SWKA), šaán/ (n) herb/green’ (ARC) šaxoóγ (n) ‘water in which
‘courtyard’, ‘verandah (entrance to house)’: Id: vegetables have been boiled’ (MNN) [< Skt.
gul xatún šarána hay Lit. ‘Gul Khatun has (M:1973) (T12370)] {GNK, ARC, MNN}
arrived at (my) courtyard.’ Sense: ‘Said when
šaxéik /Other pronunc: šaxeék/ (vtr) ‘to crush’; ‘to
something that one has been looking for turns pound’, ‘to beat’ (MY) (RAKR) (WUR) {SWKA,
up by itself unexpectedly.’ (MS) [< Skt. RAKR, WSiC, WUR, MY}
(M:1973) (T12326)] {MS, SWKA}
šaxt1 /Other pronunc: šart, šaht / (n) ‘condition’,
šarbaɫáng (n) ‘species of bird - the top of its head is ‘stipulation’ [< Ar., Prs., Turkic] {SG, Parwak}
black and the rest of its body is tan.’ {GNK}
šaxt2 (n) ‘wish’, ‘desire’: ženó bíko ma šaxt šer ‘I
šardaγéz (n) ‘in a traditional Kho house, the
want to lie down on the bed for a while
wall/partition between the nax and the šom’
(see nax and šom) {MAK} (thinking that I will feel better).’ {Parwak)

šareéγ /Other pronunc: šaréx/ (n) ‘crop newly šaydás (n) ‘village in Laspur Valley’ šaydasík
sprouted in winter’ (MNN); (n) ‘fall-sown crop’ ‘person from Shaydas’ {SWKA}
(MA) [< Skt. (T12403)] {MNN} šayír /Other pronunc: šaγír/ (n) ‘poet’ [< Ar., Prs.,
Turkic {SWKA}
šareék1 (vintr) ‘to sting‘: tez yóra γeč šarénian ‘In
bright sunlight one’s eyes sting.’ (SWKA); ‘to šer (vintr) ‘it is’ (existential or locative, of an
dazzle (bright sunlight, snow)’: him ma γečhán inanimate) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA}
šarétay ‘The snow dazzled me.’ (RKB) {SWKA, šekék (n) ‘powder horn’ (made from cow horn)
RKB} {RAKR 1988}
šareék2 (vintr) ‘to whisper’; ‘to rustle (as of wind)’ šenék (n) ‘crumbled bread re-fried in ghee’: duró
(ZMZ); ‘to blow (of light wind)’: gan šaréran ‘A dóna šenék korí máte aláni ‘They made šenék
breeze is blowing.’ (RKB) {ZMZ, RKB} in homemade ghee and brought it for me.’
šaréki /Other pronunc: šaríki/ (n) ‘myna’ (Chitral {Parwak}
town); ‘species of bird, found in lowland šeník /Other pronunc: šaník/ (vintr) ‘to feel distress,
regions’, ‘starling’ (AKM) [< Skt. (T12405)]
worry’: yaa xodáy keɫyán te kya ʋaqyá hoy reé
{Chitral town, AKM}
tseq di ma hardí šenítay ‘Thinking, "Oh God,
šargú (n) ‘droppings/dung (of horse or donkey)’ [< what has happened to the sheep?" I too became
Skt. (T12241)] {MA, MNN, IWA, Parwak} worried.’ (IF - short story kéɫi ʋál keɫítay [“The
šárum (n) ‘shame’, ‘embarassment’ (WSiC) sheperdess wept”]) [< Skt. (T3476)] {IF}
šarmandá (adj) ‘ashamed’, ‘embarassed’ šepéri (adj) ‘red’ {MNN}
(RKB) [< Prs.] {RKB, WSiC}
šepík /Other pronunc: šephík/ (vtr) ‘to dig and
šáru (adj) ‘cool’ šarí (n) ‘coolness’ (AKM): zomó remove (soil)’ {MNN}
čhaγó šarí sáfan sar ǰam isnári ‘The coolness of
the mountain shade is the best thing (in the šer1 (n) ‘lion’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
world).’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12662)] šer2 (n) ‘stanza of poetry’ [< Ar., Prs.] {MNN}
{SWKA, AKM}
šešár (n) ‘species of wild oats’ (smaller than
šast ‘fish hook’ {RAKR} aṣúṣum) {Parwak}
šatargahí (n) ‘an ancient type of weapon with šešehér (n) ‘fit of crying, excessive weeping’ {WSiC,
curved hooks to pierce and tear flesh’; (adj) RAKR}
‘metaphorically used in sense of sharp or
šetú (n) ‘buttermilk’ ‘diluted yogurt, made from trin’:
strong’ {RAKR 1988}
cḥ iír ki ta palétay šetúote phué Prov. Lit. ‘If milk
šatélik ‘species of small tree, the wood of which is has burned you, blow on buttermilk.’ Sense: ‘If
used for making three-pronged pitchforks you have had a bad experience from something,
(thrínguɫ)’ (MNN); ‘species of willow’ (Reshun)

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šeytán Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes širístu

beware of another bad experience from a šiméni (n) ‘rope’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, SWKA,
similar situation.’ (TMF) šetudreék (n) MAK}
‘ceremony when milk which has been collected šinṭíf /Other pronunc: šinṭhíf (MNN)/ (n) ‘a large
for seven days in the high pastures is made species of hawk (ṭyof) which eats sparrows’
collectively into buttermilk’; ‘sixth month of the (RAKR); ‘species of black-eyed hawk’ (MNN)
Khowar calendar (approximately May)’ {TMF, {RAKR, MNN}
MNN}
šinṭíki /Other pronunc: šinṭhíki (IF)/ (n) ‘linseed’
šeytán (n, adj) ‘evil, mischievous (person)’ (IF)
Linum usitatissimum {MNN, IWA, IF}
šaytaní (n) ‘mischief’, ‘bad behavior’: ta
šaytanío aʋá noṭ koráʋ angóman ‘I have been šinǰuúr /Other pronunc: sínǰur (IF)/ (n) ‘jujube (tree
observing your bad behavior.’ (MNN) {IF, MNN} or fruit)’: šinjuúr thul bíti šer ‘The jujube tree
has become thick.’ (MNN) šinǰúro mo pherké
šiγíɫi (adj) ‘coiled (e.g. snake, rope)’: ayí šiγíɫi bíti
‘Don’t cut down the šinǰúr.’ (MNN) Eleagnus
porí asúr ‘The snake is lying coiled up.’ (See
also suγúɫu) {MNN}
angustifolia [< Ir., old influence (M:1936)
(T13412)] {MNN, IF}
šik (vintr) ‘to be’ (existential verb, for inanimate
šip (n) ‘guy ropes in a willow bridge holding the two
entities); ‘to be in a specific place (inanimate
lower ropes together’ {RAKR 1988}
entities)’ širáy (vintr) ‘it is/was (in a particular
location, just discovered now)’, ‘turns out to be šíri (n) ‘spirit of the cattle house, who is responsible
(in a particular place)’: kúra širáy ‘Where was for the welfare of the cattle’ (no gender) (IF);
it?’ (said when something is found ‘fairies in charge of cattle’ (MNN) saʋzó šírin
unexpectedly) bazára ki doón širáy aʋá angóm ‘spirit associated with the spinning wheel’ (IF)
‘If there is ghee in the bazaar, I will bring (See also šališíri) {IF, MNN}
some.’ (i.e. ‘if there turns out to be ghee in the širíki (n) ‘bread taken on a journey when a small
bazaar’) (SWKA) šáni ‘let them be’ šar ‘let it be’ child is taken to a place for the first time, and
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T12605)] {MNN, MS, SWKA} left at a shrine on the road’ (MAK); ‘bread
cooked and distributed to fellow villagers and
šikást korík (vtr) ‘to contradict someone (e.g. an
children one day before Eid’ (RAKR 1988);
elder)’ (SWKA); ‘to resist someone’; ‘to
‘small round loaves of bread offered to fairies at
discourage someone’ (GMKH) {SWKA, GMKH}
ba̍hrtumbóht’ (MNN) šírikal (n) ‘place near
šíkil (n) ‘face’; ‘appearance’; ‘form’ (SWKA) batšíkil Bahrtumboht in Terich, where people place
(adj) ‘ugly’ [<Ar., Prs., Turkic] {MNN, SWKA, IS} offerings of small round loaves (širíki) to the
fairies’ (MNN) {MAK, RAKR 1988, MNN}
šil (n) ‘wooden splint’ šil dik (vtr) ‘to splint (a limb)’
[< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN} širín (adj) ‘sweet’ (MNN); ‘dear’ (RAKR); ‘one’s
own/real’: ma širín braár ‘my real brother’
šilbóhrt (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ {MNN}
(TMFD) širiní (n, adj) ‘something sweet to eat,
šiloóγ /Other pronunc: išloóγ/ (n) ‘story’, ‘traditional often given on a happy occasion, or to
tale’ (MNN) šiloóγ dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to tell a story’ celebrate a success’; ‘sweetness’ (SAS) širína
(SWKA) šiloóγ dyak (n) ‘storyteller’ (SWKA) [< ‘skin eruptions (boils, pimples), believed to be
Skt. (M:1973) (T12748)] {MNN, SWKA} caused by eating sweet things’ (IF) širní /Other
pronunc: šerní, šeérní/ (n) ‘mulberry juice
šiltáq (n) ‘a reply to an unwanted or displeasing
boiled and thickened - eaten with bread’
question, which expresses displeasure with the
(TMFW); ‘thick sharbat made from boiled fresh
questioner’; ‘expression of displeasure with
mulberries - used as a tonic’ (MNN) [< Prs.]
someone’ {TMF}
{MNN, RAKR, IF, SAS, TMFW}
šimán /Other pronunc:: šumán, šimánu (Lower
širíšt (n) ‘a bitter-tasting flower’ (used as a remedy
Chitral)/ (n) ‘drawsting or cord for shalwar’:
for zehrčó lehazí ‘indigestion’) (IF); ‘wild daisies’
phirʋáli šimán nezé ‘Put a drawstring in the
(MS) (Parwak); ‘wild daisy, the flowers of which
shalwar.’ (RKB) šimán nezíni ‘implement for are dried and used as medicine for stomach
threading the drawstring in a shalwar (pencil-
pain’ (Parwak) “chamomile” Matricaria
shaped piece of wood with a loop of string at
one end)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T13878)] {SWKA, chamomilla {IF, MS, Parwak}
RKB, IWK} širístu (n) ‘encouragement’; (adj) ‘encouraged’,

124
šišá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes šu

‘heartened’: uméd šer ki ispá širístu korós ‘We šoráp (n) ‘oilcake of walnuts (material left after
hope that you will encourage us.’ {ZMZ} pressing out oil from walnuts)’ (See also penáy)
{IWK}
šišá (n) ‘glass (the material)’; (n) ‘window’ [< Ur.]
{MNN, RAKR, SWKA} šoró (n) ‘the autumn season’: šoró ki hoy boikrán
raʋ kuhóte bir ‘When autumn comes flocks of
šiyáq (n) ‘mud (made for plastering walls)’ šiyáq
korík ‘to make mud (for plastering)’ {MNN}
birds go to lower areas.’ (SWKA) [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T12329)] {RAKR, SWKA, MS}
šodóng (n) ‘song in praise of a falcon’ šodóng
bašeék (vtr) ‘to sing the falcon praise song šot (n) ‘oath’ šot čhoík ‘to swear an oath’ < Skt.
when a falcon is captured’ {RAKR 1988} (M:1973) (T12289) {MNN, SWKA, RAKR}

šoγnišóm (n) ‘a waterfall in roṣgól’ {MNN} šoxolépi (n) ‘wet snowfall, with mixed large flakes
and rain’ (MNN): hayá mosíma šoxolépi
šoγór (n) ‘village in Lotkuh’ šoγoréku (n) ‘person boṣáʋtay- no boṣítay ‘In this season it used to
from Shoghor’ {MNN} rain mixed snow and rain - (but this year) it
šokhór (n) ‘sugar’ šokhórgóγu (n) ‘insect which hasn’t happened.’ (MA) {MNN, MA}
secretes honeydew (a sugary secretion)’ [< Skt.
šoxtsík (vintr) ‘to pass’: baγó nasén phar šoxtsítam ‘I
(T12338)] {MNN, RAKR, Sonoghor}
passed by the edge of the garden.’ (RAKR); ‘to
šoɫ (n) ‘reed’; ‘cane’ (SWKA) šoɫbéṭi (n) ‘hut’, ‘small pass away (i.e. die)’ (RKB) šaxtséik (vtr) ‘to
house’ (šoɫ ‘reeds’ + béṭi ‘bundle’, ‘sheaf’) cause to/allow to pass’: aʋá toníṣu phar
(SWKA) šoɫkóc̣ (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ (‘reeds’ šaxtséiru birétam ‘I missed the ibex (i.e.
+ ‘jungle/thicket’) šoɫkoc̣ík ‘person from allowed it to pass unintentionally, realized
Sholkoch’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T12343)
afterward).’ (RAKR) aʋá miṭíngo šaxtséi bóγdu
(T12622)] {MNN, SWKA, NKN}
birétam ‘I (unintentionally) went after the
šom (n) ‘lower part of house, where wood is stored’: meeting had passed (i.e. finished).’ (RAKR); ‘to
šomó mažé ‘Sweep the šom!’ (MA) šómo lakhé pass/spend (time)’ (RKB) šoxtsíru (adj) ‘past
‘Put it in the šom.’ (MA); ‘dancing ground’ (e.g. of time, an occasion)’ (GNK) [< Wakhi
(Note: In former times dancing used to take (M:1936)] {RAKR, GNK, RKB}
place in the šom.) (MNN): phoník no bíti šomó
šréxi dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to strike (one’s foot) on
bahná Prov. Lit. ‘On not being able to dance, something/trip but not stumble or fall’: aʋá
one blames the dancing ground.’ Sense: ‘One bóxta šréxi phrétam ‘I struck my foot on a rock
who is not able to do something blames (but did not fall).’{RKB}
something else.’ (GNK) (SWKA) (cf. English
A bad workman blames his tools.) {MA, MNN, šron (n) ‘upper part of thigh of human or animal’
GNK, SWKA} (IF); ‘hip’ hostán šróntu mažík (vtr) Id. Lit. ‘to
rub one’s thigh with one’s hands’ Sense: ‘to
šondór (adj) ‘angry’, ‘sulking’: šondór niší asúr ‘S/he lose something which was already in one’s
is sitting sulking.’ {MY} hands’: akrám bo muškílo sóra i thuék ganí
šongúlu /Other pronunc: šongúɫu (Chitral town)/ (n) astáy- hatoγó cḥ oγári korí hostán šróntu
‘bad grains left over after cleaning grain’ (IWK); mažítay ‘Akram bought a rifle with great
‘chopped straw and fallen grains mixed and fed difficulty. Letting it get stolen, he lost
to chickens’ (Chitral town) {IWK, Chitral town, something he already had.’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973)
IWA} (T12729)] {IF}
šont rú (n) ‘species of bird’ {MAK}
h
šrup (n) ‘a sip taken with sucking motion’ šruphík
h

/Other pronunc: šrupík/ ‘to sip (from a cup or

šonṭigál (n) ‘uncultivated land’ (Chitral town) {GNK,
glass, with a sucking motion)’; ‘to slurp’
Chitral town}
[onomatopoetic] {MNN}
šoq (n) ‘hindrance (animate entity)’ šoq bik (vintr)
šu1 (n) ‘bolt of cloth’ (MNN) šukorák ǰulá (n)
‘to be stubborn’: šoq bíti niší asúr ‘He is sitting ‘weaver’ (SWKA) šu biník (vtr) ‘to thread a
and giving no indication of leaving.’ {ZHD} loom’ šubinák (n) ‘spider’ (šú + binák) (< biník)]
šor (adj) ‘a hundred’ [< Skt. (T12278)] {MNN, < Skt. [M:1973) (T11773) {MNN, SWKA}
SWKA} šu2 (n) ‘porcupine’, ‘hedgehog’ [< Skt. (M:1973)

125
šualák Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes šuṭánsk

(T12766)] {MNN} ammi (Ur. aǰʋain) {A}

šualák /Other pronunc: šualék (SWKA)/ (n) ‘a hand- šunúko /Other pronunc: šunóku/ (n) ‘small biting
sewn shalwar of handspun woolen cloth’ (MS); insect; sandfly’ (Lower Chitral term; khíšun in
‘traditional trousers’ (SWKA) {MS, SWKA} Upper Chitral) {MNN, RAKR}
šuγúr (n) ‘sand’ (MNN): pálum šuγúr lámbur batír šuókaɫ (n) ‘small roofless room inside the cattle
Prov. Lit. ‘Fine sand makes a firm/strong dam.’ house (šal) for calves’ {Laspur, MY}
Sense: ‘A quiet person is very efficient and
šupingáh (n, adv) ‘two days after tomorrow’ {MNN}
effective, possibly also dangerous.’ (NKN) [<
Skt. (M:1973) (T13386)] {MNN, NKN} šuphínak (n) ‘fresh cheese made from buttermilk’
{MNN}
šuγútu (n) ‘fetlock joint of horse’ (See also krízi
kulúk) {MNN} šuqá /Other pronunc: šoqá SWKA: in Yarkhun/ (n)
‘traditional long Chitrali robe of handspun wool’
šukhúr /Other pronunc: šukúr (TMFW)/ (n) (MNN) šoqaγár (n) ‘bolt of cloth for making a
‘umbrella’ {MS, TMFW} šoqá’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA}
šulá (n) ‘rice boiled until soft and soupy, cooked in šurphílank (n) ‘swallow (bird)’ {MNN}
meat broth’ (RAKR); ‘very moist dish of rice
cooked with meat, eaten with spoon’ (Mastuj) šuruúγ (n) ‘beginning’, ‘start’ šuruúγ korík (vtr) ‘to
{RAKR, Mastuj} start, to begin’ šuruγeék /Other pronunc:
šuruγéik/ (vtr) ‘to start, to begin (a task or
šum (adj) ‘bad’ šumí (n) ‘badness’, ‘evil’ {MNN, process)’ [< Prs.] {MNN, NKN}
MAK, SWKA}
šuštú /Other form: šeštú (IF)/ (n) ‘respected
šumík (vintr) ‘to worry (e.g. about household persons of a village, not immediately related to
responsibilities)’; ‘to avoid doing something’; ‘to the bridegroom, who accompany the groom’s
want not to do something’ [< Skt. (T12542)] wedding party’ šuštudóyu (n) ‘members of the
{RAKR} groom’s marriage party’ (ARC) šeštú ‘groom’s
šumkár (n) ‘species of bird’ {MAK} marriage party going to bride’s house’ (IF) {IF,
Chitral town, ARC}
šun1 (n) ‘lip’ (MNN) šun druxík Id. Lit. ‘for lips to
itch’ Sense: ‘A guest is coming.’ (MYS) ǰušúni šušú (n) ‘chill (internal) felt by someone’: uṣák šušú
Lit. ‘having two lips’ Sense: applied to a person kóyan ‘I feel cold (internally).’ {MNN}
who says one thing to one person and
šut (adj) ‘sour’; (n) ‘sour substance made by boiling
something else to someone else’ (IWK) šúna
whey for a long time - used to add sourness in
uγ pec̣ no bik Id. Lit. ‘for water not to get warm
cooking’ (MNN); ‘dejected and unhappy (of
on the lips.’ Sense: ‘not to be able to keep a
secret’ (IF) šun losík (vtr) Id. Lit. ‘to bite the person’s mood)’: šut bíti niší asús ‘You are
lips.’ Sense: ‘to challenge, to signal that sitting unhappy and dejected.’ (MAK) šutaáku
revenge will be taken’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (n) ‘a slightly sour fruit’ (SWKA) [< Skt.
(T12516)] {MNN, MYS, IWK, IF} (M:1973) (T12504)] {MNN, SWKA, MAK}

šun2 (n) ‘rough woolen cloth’ {SWKA} šútur (n) ‘thread’; ‘yarn’ bašútur (n) ‘hair
ornament/extension made from threads, to be
šunendyék (adj, n) ‘(of) a person who gets his work braided into hair’ (SWKA) šutrá ‘thread in which
done by someone and then abandons the three or four knots have been tied by an amulet
person who helped him’ {MNN} maker’ (ZMZ) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T13561)] {MNN,
šunǰ (n) ‘needle’ šunǰ c̣akéik ‘to give an injection’: SWKA, IF, ZMZ}
hayá ta poší buhtuíran šunj c ̣akéran reé ‘She is šutxarí /Other pronunc: šutxerí (AR)/ (n) ‘failure to
afraid that you are going to give her an show respect to someone’ (Parwak): ispá
injection.’ (NKN) [< Yidgah (M:1936)] {MNN, šutxarí arér ‘S/he disrespected us/insulted us.’
NKN} (AR); (n) ‘insult’ {Parwak, AR}
šunkhík /Other pronunc: šumkhík (BA), šunkík (IF), šuṭ (adj) ‘healed (of wound)’ šuṭ gik (vintr) ‘to heal’:
ṣungkík (IWK)/ (vtr) ‘to smell’, ‘to sniff’ [< Skt. ma zaxmí šuṭ gíti šer ‘My wound has healed.’
(M:1973)] {IWK, BA, IF, IWA} {MNN}
šunǰmúk (n) ‘an aromatic seed’ Trachyspermum šuṭánsk (n) ‘species of mushroom which grows in

126
šuṭhí Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ṣaúk

clusters near cut tree stumps; it is eaten fried’ ṣabokán (n) ‘wedding garments of bride and
(MNN); ‘species of inedible mushroom’ (IF) groom’ {MNN, IF}
Agaricus arvensis {MNN, IF} ṣadáγ (n) ‘third month of Khowar calendar
šuṭ í (n) ‘species of wild plant’ {Chitral town}
h (approximately February)’ {SWKA}

šuúr (n) ‘renown’; ‘fame’: hatoγó namó dunyaá šuúr ṣadár (n) ‘person who served the Mehtar in return
areér ‘His name became famous throughout the for the grant of lands’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {RKB}
world.’ (IF) šuúr dreék (vtr) ‘to incite someone ṣadróc̣u (n) ‘dark purple variety of grape’ Vitis
to fight’ (MNN) {IF, MNN} vinifera {TMF}
šureék (vintr, vtr) ‘to misguide’, ‘to incite someone ṣágram (n) ‘village in Torkhow’ ṣagrémi (n) ‘person
against another person’ (ZHD); ‘to try to come from Shagram’ {MNN}
between two people who love each other’ (See
also syn. múž dreék) (MNN) {ZHD, MNN} ṣagróm (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ (MNN)
ṣagromíči (n) ‘person from Village Shagrom’
ṣa /Other pronunc: ṣaá (MNN)/ (adj) ‘black’ ṣuúng {MNN, Mulkhow}
ṣa (intensifier construction) (adj) ‘very dark
black, pitch black’ ṣaá počík (vintr) Prov. Lit. ṣaγéri (n) ‘a black grain grown with wheat or barley’
‘for one’s complexion to darken because of (It is given to babies for constipation.)
extreme cold or getting fat’ (MNN); Sense: ‘to Claviceps purpurea {IF}
be tired of something/someone’ (RKB)
ṣaʋarúni (adj) ‘wearing black clothes’ ṣaí (n) ṣaɫáy (n) ‘a black and white spotted rat’ {MNN}
‘blackness’ (MS) γec̣hó ṣaí (n) ‘something very ṣaɫmú (n) ‘turnip’ (IF, MNN, SWKA) ṣaɫmuγeér (n)
much disliked’ (opposite of γečhán roští) (MS): ‘field from which turnips have been harvested’
he ḍaq ma γečó ṣaí ‘I can’t stand that boy.’ (MNN) ṣaɫmoǰóšu (n) ‘a wild species of turnip
(MNN) žan ṣaá bik ‘to be revolted (by plant, the leaves of which are used for food and
something or someone)’: ma žan ṣaá bíti šer ‘I medicinal purposes’ (IFM) Brassica rapa [< Ir.
am revolted.’ (MS); ‘to be fed up with cf. Wakhi ṣolm] {IF, IFM, MNN, SWKA, RAKR}
something’: dalár ma žan ṣaá hoy ‘I am fed up ṣamṣóy korík (vtr) ‘to clean rice or pulses of stones
with (eating) dal.’ (RKB) ṣačár (n) Lit. ‘black by repeatedly washing and decanting’ {Mastuj}
cliff’. ‘village near Barenis’ (There is a dark-
colored cliff opposite this village.) ṣagóγu (n) ‘a ṣanáx (adj) ‘white-faced (of bull)’ (IF); ‘of an animal
black beetle’ (MNN); ‘species of long, thin black other than a horse with a white blaze on its
beetle’ (TMF) ṣaʋšṭáng /Other pronunc: forehead’ (AR) (MS) {IF, AR, MS}
ṣaʋštáng (SWKA)/ (adj) ‘blackish’ (MNN); ‘light ṣangaṣí (n) ‘goatskin bag’ (smaller than burdúki)
black’ (SWKA) ṣaʋšták (adj) ‘blackish’ (MNN) (IF); ‘skin bag with a drawstring closing’ (TMF)
ṣaxérum (n) ‘waste dump where trash is {IF, TMF, MNN}
burned’ (MS) (GNK) ṣayéki ‘variety of black
mulberry’ (HUR) [< Ir. (M:1936] {RKB, MS, ṣapát (n) ‘wooden paddle for stirring ṣoṣp’ {TMF}
MNN, SWKA, GNK, HUR} ṣapík (n) ‘bread’; ‘food/meal’ (MNN) ṣapík krémo
ṣabɫúki (n) ‘a fragrant wild grass with beautiful bik Id. Lit. ‘for bread to go down to the back’
fragrant flowers’; ‘wild alfalfa (IWK) (IWA): Sense: ‘applies to a grieving person who
ṣabɫúkio gaz Lit. ‘a wild alfalfa meadow’ ‘A derives no pleasure or benefit from his food’
fragrant place, one of the three attributes in (RAKR) [cf. Bur. ṣapik ‘bread’; < Ir.? (M:1936)]
traditional folk narratives of an especially {MNN, RAKR}
beautiful and auspicious place.’ (IWA); ‘clover’ ṣaraláʋ (n) ‘mixed dried herbs, eaten with bread’
(Booni) (IWK) Trifolium repens [< Wakhi {Chitral town}
(M:1936)] {RAKR, IWA, Booni, IWK} ṣatahí (n) ‘a type of embroidery done with black
ṣabóhrta kuṣíki (n) Id. Lit. ‘Reference is to idea that cross-stitch outline filled in with other colors’
one cannot get blood from a stone’ Sense: ‘a {IWA}
miserly person’ {MAK}
ṣatéli (n) ‘species of willow’ Salix nigra {IF}
ṣaboók (n) ‘bride or bridegroom when dressed in
ṣaúk (n) ‘a stitch in knitting’ {IF, MNN}
their wedding finery’ ṣaboók boík (n) ‘bird
species (red, white, and black in color)’ (MNN)

127
ṣaʋ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ṣongú

ṣaʋ (adv) ‘quickly’, ‘soon’: ṣaʋ gye ‘Come soon! ṣiík (vintr) ‘to be appropriate’, ‘to suit’ (MNN): ǰam
Come quickly!’ (MNN) [Cf. Bur. ṣáu zap quʋatíngosu ṣiúr ‘Good clothes are
‘immediately’] (Berger 1974: 7)] {MNN} appropriate for a rich person.’ (MNN); ‘to wave
ṣaʋ dreék (vtr) ‘to cook the head and feet of an gently in the wind (leaves in a breeze, wheat
animal together’ {MNN} field in a gentle wind)’ (MS): harčín ǰináli ṣiúr
‘The polo ground of Harchin waves with green
ṣaʋán (n) ‘female spirit of the mountains who looks grass.’ (IWK); ‘to look beautiful’ (MNN) ṣií ṭhor
after the mountain pastures and does not allow bik (vintr) ‘to suit someone’: ta su ṣií ṭhor hoy ‘It
the mountains to become dirty or defiled. She
becomes angry with anyone who defiles the
suits you very much.’ (NKN) ṣieéli (adj) ‘nice’,
‘pretty’, ‘beautiful’ ṣielyéik (vtr) ‘to decorate,
mountains. A ṣaʋán appears in the shape of a
beautify’ (MA) [< Skt. (T12636)] {MNN, NKN,
beautiful woman, with feet turned out. They can
MS, MA, IWK}
attack or attach themselves to people.’ (IF)
ṣaʋanán ‘plural of ṣaʋán’; ‘fairies’ (RAKR 1988) ṣimaṣáq (n) ‘nonsense’ {MAK}
{IF, RAKR 1988}
ṣinǰík (vtr) ‘to propitiate ancestral spirits or fairies’;
ṣaʋáy (n) ‘beads (necklace)’; (n) ‘mouse’ (MNN) ‘when hunting deer, to propitiate the fairies
{MNN, MAK, SWKA, IF} (ṣaʋanán) by saying certain words‘; ‘to placate
a xangí by putting out doxná and saying the
ṣaxč (n) ‘hut’ {ICS}
following words: éy pinín xangí, aʋá ta ṣinǰúman
ṣaxúr /Other pronunc: ẓáxur (Parwak)/ (n) ‘ray (of “Oh, auspicious xangí, I am propitiating you.’’’
the sun)’ (RAKR) {RAKR, Parwak} {MS, RAKR}
ṣáyoz (n) ‘glacier, old, hard, clear ice which breaks ṣir (n) ‘a whistling sound’ ṣiréni (n) ‘a whistle’ {MNN}
into icebergs and falls into river’ ṣáyoz c̣akéik
ṣíṣar (n) ‘type of bread - rolled into small bullet-
(vtr) ‘to create an artificial glacier’: ṣáyoz c ̣akéko
h h shaped cylinders and fried in fat’ ṣíṣar bik
t ariqá c ̣ etrára bo qadı̍ mári behčí girú kórum (vintr) Id. ‘to be completely burned‘ {MAK, IF}
‘The technique of making artificial glaciers is a
practice which has survived and come down to ṣit (n) ‘target’ ṣitdík (n) ‘target-shooting competition’
us from a long time ago.’ (MNN) (in Bashir (part of traditional marriage festivities) {MS,
AKM}
2008) {MNN}
ṣo dik (vtr) ‘to search for something (hidden or
ṣeγniyé (n) ‘a tribe some of whom live in Koghuzi’ [<
stolen) in someone’s house’ {MNN}
Sheghnan] {TMF}
ṣok (n) ‘footprints in snow’ (MNN, MAK); ‘path
ṣéγun (n) ‘liver’ ṣéγun ley (n) ‘blood clot’ (ZHD) [<
trodden through snow’ (SWKA, MNN): ispá
Skt. (M:1973) (T10394)] {NKN, ZHD}
ṣóko cḥ uní hátam ‘We came by stepping in the
ṣéiy (n) ‘type of wild edible greens, reddish in color’ trodden path.’ (TMFW); ‘first footprints in fresh
{Ayun} snow, in which later passersby place their feet’
ṣek (n) ‘lap’: tseq ṣéka niší asúr ‘The child is sitting (MS): ṣóko boγé ‘Walk in the footprints. (focus
in (someone’s) lap.’ ṣekṣékanišík (n) ‘a on downward motion of feet)’ (MS) ṣokén boγé
children’s game’ {RAKR} ‘Walk following the footprints’ (MS) {MNN,
MAK, SWKA, MS, MNN, TMFW}
ṣeɫ (n) ‘joint (as of two things glued together)’ ṣeɫík
(vtr) ‘to glue together (with ṣoɫéṣp)’ (RAKR); ‘to ṣoɫán /Other pronunc: ṣolán/ (n) ‘a dish made by
lie (tell falsehoods)’ (ZHD) ṣeɫák (adj) ‘sticky’, making pancakes of thin, leavened batter, then
‘gluing’; (n) ‘liar’ (ZHD) {RAKR, ZHD} stirring and cooking over a low fire for a long
time.’ {IF}
ṣic̣ (adj) ‘clear’, ‘clean (of water)’ (MAK) (Parwak);
‘transparent’ (MNN); ‘purified’ (Sonoghor) (n) ṣoɫéṣp /Other pronunc: ṣoɫóṣp/ (n) ‘glue made by
‘village in Lower Yarkhun’ (MYS); ṣic̣éik /Other boiling skins’ (See also qir) [< Skt. (M:1973),
pronunc: ṣic̣eék/ (vtr) ‘to clean, as by straining also (T12744)] {RAKR, Sonoghor}
(milk, water)’ c̣hı̍ rṣic̣eéni (n) ‘strainer for liquids ṣompɫóqi (adj) ‘fully ripe (e.g. apricot)’ ṣompɫoqí (n)
like milk, e.g. a tea strainer’ ṣic̣án (n) ‘a part of ‘a fully ripe fruit’ {TMF}
Sonoghor’ (Parwak) [< Skt. (T12511)] {MAK,
MNN, MYS, Parwak, Sonoghor} ṣongú (adj) ‘uncastrated (male animal), fit for
mating/breeding’ (MNN)

128
ṣopán ṣopán hop Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes táčing

ṣopán ṣopán hop Formulaic (magical?) utterance. off a large piece of slate’ {MNN}
Sense: ‘be completely quiet!’: ṣopán ṣopán hop
ṣuc̣ (n) ‘village in Terich valley’ {MNN}
kaá ki lu práy hamóṣ išnário žibóy ‘Be
completely quiet! Whoever speaks will eat ṣuíč (n) ‘species of sparrow with a red head’ (MNN);
some filthy thing.’ {SWKA} ‘common finch, migratory in Chitral’ (IWA)
{MNN, IWK, TMF, IWA}
ṣoqeék /Other pronunc: ṣoqheék/ (vintr) ‘to get
ready to cry (e.g. a small child)’: tseq ḍaq ṣuíst (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ ṣuistík (n) ‘person from
Shuist’ ṣustéku (n) ‘person from Shuist’
ṣoqétay ‘The little boy was getting ready to {SWKA}
cry.’ {RAKR}
ṣung (adv) ‘intensifier used with ṣa ‘black’ to mean
ṣor (adj) (adj) ‘salty’: mroyó pušúr ṣor boy ‘Ibex ‘very black’, ‘pitch black’’ {SWKA, MNN}
meat is salty.’ (SWKA); (adj) ‘(too) salty’ (MNN)
ṣorí (n) ‘saltiness’: mroyó pušúro ṣorí ma xoš ‘I ṣung dik (vtr) ‘to pierce’, ‘to hit with something
pointed’ {RAKR}
like the saltiness of ibex meat.’ (SWKA) [< Ir.
(Baghbidi 2006)] {SWKA, WSiC, MNN} ṣungaṣángi čhorburǰá (n) ‘trapezoid’, (adj)
‘trapezoidal’ {MNN}
ṣoráng (n) ‘fragrant greens cooked as vegetable’
(Ur. methī) Trigonella foenum-graecum ṣur (adj) ‘crooked’, ‘misshapen’ (see ṣu) {MNN}
{AKM} ṣurá (n) ‘salt (chemical sense)’ ṣurá c̣hutí (n)
ṣórum (n) ‘species of plant used in cooking’ {IF} ‘potash’ (used in making gunpowder) {RAKR
1988}
ṣoṣbuɫíru (n) ‘a ṣoṣp-like food given to women after
childbirth’ {Parwak} ṣuṣk /Other pronunc: huṣk (in Laspur)/ (n) ‘clay soil
used to write on a slate, light red in color’; ‘silt’,
ṣoṣp (n) ‘stiff type of halwa, with walnuts added and ‘loess’ (TMF) ṣuc̣koóγ (n) ‘solution of clay in
slightly sweetened by including flour from water’: ṣuṣkó ṣuc ̣koóγ saʋzáʋe ‘Make a liquid
sprouted wheat’ ṣoṣp žoó (n) ‘dried sprouted solution/preparation from the clay.’ (MA)
wheat’ (used in making ṣoṣp) (MNN, IF) {SWKA, IF, TMF, MA}
ẓoɫaṣóṣp (n) ‘ṣoṣp made with walnuts’ (BM)
ṣoṣpkáɫi (n) ‘ṣoṣp when thin and soft, and not ṣuzt (n) ‘village in Yarkhun ‘ {MYS}
yet in firmly cooked state’ [< Skt. (T12364) also -t /Other pronunc: -te, -ten, -tene/ (dative
cf. Wakhi ṣuṣp ] {MNN, IF, BM} postposition) ‘to’, ‘for’ {MNN}
ṣotár (n) ‘dry, rocky part of a river bed; rocky flood taám /Other pronunc: tahám (RKB)/ (n) ‘rich food’,
plain’ [< Prs. cf. Prs. šatt ‘river bank’] {MNN, ‘special dish’, ‘feast’: kya taám korí asúmi
RAKR} (ironic) ‘What a rich feast you have prepared!’
ṣotkipót (n) ‘a Wakhi-speaking village’ {RAKR} (MNN); ‘a good, cooked dish’ (RAKR) [< Ar.,
Prs.] {MNN}
ṣox (n) ‘miser’ (adj) ‘miserly’ {MNN, ZHD}
tab angík (vintr, vtr) ‘to tolerate’; ‘to withstand’: aʋá
ṣoy1 (n) ‘species of wild greens’ {IF}
garmía tab angíko no bétam ‘I couldn’t tolerate
ṣoy2 (adv) ‘near’, ‘close’: ta dur ṣoy šeraá ‘Is your the heat.’ (GMKH); ‘to resist (something)’ (ZMZ)
house nearby?’ (SWKA); (n) ‘nearness, near {ZMZ, GMKH}
place’: hasé ṣóya gíti di no pašír ‘S/he can’t see
tabarukí (adj) ‘revered’; ‘blessed’ {< Ar., Prs.] {IWK}
even from close up.’ (SWKA) ṣoóyṣóy
(reduplicative intensifier construction) ‘very tabyatí (adj) ‘happy’ {WSiC}
near’ (MNN) ṣoyeék (vtr, vintr) ‘to come near táčap bik ‘to suddenly fall silent in the middle of a
to’, ‘to approach’ (RAKR); ‘to bring near’
conversation’: γarumár lu dyáʋa táčap hoy ‘In
(RAKR) [< Skt. (T12684)] {MNN, RAKR,
SWKA} the middle of talking continuously he suddenly
fell silent.’; ‘to suddenly vanish from sight’: uγó
ṣu1 (adj) ‘crooked’, ‘distorted’, ‘misshapen (as of a sóra boγáʋa áči táčap hoy ‘While floating on
circle or square)’ (See also syn. ṣur) {MNN} the surface of the water, it suddenly vanished
ṣu2 (n) ‘a layer of a rock that splits naturally into from sight.’ {RAKR}
layers (e.g. slate)’ ṣu nezík (vtr) ‘to split a layer
táčing (n) ‘skin leggings (when worn by persons of

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taf Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes tapačúk bik

upper classes)’ (See also syn. kirkóṭ) [< Bur. ‘trouble (at a non-specific time)’: taklífio nasíb
(Lorimer 1938: 336)] {MS} ‘(Someone’s) fate is troubles.’ (IF) dunyaá aʋá
taf (n) ‘heat’, ‘warmth’: léšu taf bíti braf dóyan bo taklífi poší asúm ‘I have seen many troubles
‘Feeling hot, the cow is panting.’ (MNN) tafó in this world.’ (MS) {MS, IF}
šáru koríko báče pankáh c ̣akáʋe ‘Turn on the takɫá (adj) ‘strong (of humans or animals)’ [< Ur.,
fan to cool us off.’ (MNN) taf korík (vtr) ‘for Panjabi tagṛā ‘strong’] {MNN}
heat to affect (a living being)’: ma taf koríka
takhaburí (n) ‘ungratefulness’ (SWKA) takhaburí
pray ‘I began to feel hot.’ (SWKA) [< Skt. √tap korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to be ungrateful’ (GMKH)
(T5670)] {RKB, SWKA, MNN} {SWKA, GMKH}
tafá /Other pronunc: thaʋá (in Laspur, IF)/ (adj) talx e ǰan khedán (n) Id. Lit: ‘last moments of life’
‘somewhat better’: tafá koṭ anǰí asús ‘You are Sense: ‘to be in great difficulty‘ [< Prs.]
wearing a somewhat better coat.’ (MNN) tafá {Parwak}
tafá zapán parečhítay ‘S/he threw away
taɫ (n) ‘key’: taɫó sóra qulfó huré ‘Open the lock with
perfectly good clothes.’ (SWKA); (adv, adj)
‘good’; ‘nicely’ (WSiC), ‘well’: prúšṭi sabáq no
the key.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1963)] {MNN, RKB,
TMFW}
raʋ ošóy- haníse tafá réran ‘Previously s/he
wasn’t studying, now s/he is studying well.’ taɫ bik (vintr) ‘to hold onto something tightly’ taɫ
(RAKR) {MNN, SWKA, RAKR, WSiC, IF} c̣akeék (vtr) ‘to bite and hold on tightly‘ {MNN}

taγarmá (n) ‘village about 145 km. below Khunjerab táɫu (n) ‘tonsils’ táɫu xomík (vintr) ‘for the tonsils to
in Chinese Turkestan’ (Reputed to be the first become infected’ {IF}
village where apricots can ripen. Some Khowar taɫx (adj) ‘enthusiastic’, ‘eager’ taɫxí (n)
speakers live in this village.) {IF} ‘enthusiasm’, ‘concentration’: kya kormó ki
taγzí (n) ‘breed of long-legged hunting dog, found in taɫxía korín hoy kamyáb bin boy ‘Work which
Badakhshan’; ‘imaginary creature with the is done with enthusiasm and application and
shape of a (yellow) dog’ {IWA} concentration will be successful.’ {SWKA}
tahnál (n) ‘metalwork on the end of a scabbard’ tamatdún (n) ‘daily life’; ‘way of life’ {RAKR}
{RAKR 1988}
tan (reflexive adj) ‘self’s’; (pro) ‘one’s self’: hes tan
taít (n) ‘charm’; ‘talisman’; ‘amulet’ (often worn sóro phik ganítay ‘He kept himself quiet.’
around the neck) (IF) {RAKR, IF}
(MNN) tanár (adv) ‘automatically’; ‘of its own
taǰ /Other pronunc: thaǰ (in Upper Chitral: TMF)/ accord’; ‘by itself’; (adj) ‘pure, unmixed’
‘crown’; ‘part of proper names’ [< Ar., Prs., (opposite of améli ‘mixed’: hayá tanár ǰuʋarí
Turkic] {TMF} ‘This is pure/unmixed/unadulterated maize.’
táǰup (adj) ‘wonderful’, ‘marvelous’ taǰúp (n) (IF) tanár nisík (vintr) ‘to go off by itself (e.g.
‘mavelous thing’ [< Ar., Prs.] {WSiC} rifle)’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T5766)] {MNN, IF}

tak (n) ‘decorated tassel on a šuqá’ (MNN); ‘secret tan (adv) ‘intensive’: tu tan tan ráha poloóγ dití asús.
love token/gift sent by a boy to a girl’: ḍaq Prov. Lit. ‘You yourself have put a thorn fence
kumórote tak andzétay ‘The boy sent a token of in your path.’ Sense: ‘You have caused your
love to the girl.’ (MNN); ‘gift’ (RKB: The sense own problems.’ (MYS); ‘indeed’, ‘exactly’: hes
of ‘gift’ in general is found in Lower Chitral.) tan ‘exactly like that’ (IF) tančitabég (n)
ta̍kadreéni (n) ‘buttons or decoration put in a ‘person who does only what he wants and does
buttonhole’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA, RKB} not take advice from anyone’ (MNN) {MYS, IF,
MNN}
ta kála pat (conjunction) ‘until’ {RAKR}
taná korík (vtr) ‘to accuse (someone of something)’;
taklíf (adj) ‘experiencing trouble or problems’ (MS): ‘to taunt’ [< Ur. tāna ‘a taunt, taunting’] {RAKR,
hayá dur xúrte behčíru - aʋá hayaá taklíf tan WSiC}
hótam ‘This house is going to the dogs; I have
nothing but trouble here.’ (MS); (n) ‘trouble or tanhá (adj) ‘separate’ tanhá korík (vtr) ‘to separate’
[< Ur. tanhā ‘separate’] {SWKA}
problem (on specific occasion)’: ta taklíf aártam
‘I have troubled/bothered you.’ (IF) taklífi (n) tapačúk bik (vintr) ‘to suddenly fall silent during

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taploó Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes tay

conversation’ (See also syn. táčap bik, first suffix)] {MNN}

sense) {RAKR}
tat (n) ‘father’ tatgíni (pl n) ‘fathers’ (kinship term
taploó (adj) ‘specially raised and fed for some plural) ʋetátu (adj) ‘fatherless’: (applies to a
special task (of horses)’ {RAKR, WSiC} person who acts in contravention of social
taq1 (adv) ‘dark, intense - intensifier added to some mores); (n) ‘orphan’ [cf. Wakhi tat ‘father’; also
color terms: oc ̣ ‘green/blue’, saʋz ‘green’, dzehč T5754] {MNN}
‘yellow’’ {MNN} tatáɫi (n) ‘male mallard duck’ – It has dark green
taq2 (n) ‘one piece’; ‘an odd number’ {MNN, RAKR} neck and head, and curled tail feathers, (ǰurúni)’
(see ʋaʋáɫi) {MNN}
taq3 (n) ‘decoration on front of šuqá’ {DAT}
ṭaṭár xaɫáʋ ‘species of small rodent, weak, with a
taq4 (n) ‘place in a river where the water flows small tail’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T3840)] {IF}
slowly, forming a pool’ {MA}
taʋ1 (adj) ‘steep’ (synonym of ruphíru) (Chitral town)
taqát ‘strength, power’ (SWKA); ‘expression of taʋzóm (n) ‘a steep cliff’ taʋteɫíng /Other
affection’: ma taqa̍tán ‘my dear ones’ (said by pronunc: taʋtiɫíng/ (adj) ‘very slippery’:
women to children with love) (Warijun women) taʋteɫíng bíti šeér ‘It has become very slippery
[< Prs.] {SWKA, Warijun women} (e.g. a thin layer of ice frozen on the road)’
táraɫak (n) ‘small piece of wood that rides on the (MNN) {MNN, Chitral town}
upper millstone and moves the xorapáru’ taʋ2 (n) ‘iron cooking plate/griddle’ táʋ dreék (vtr) ‘to
(Synonyms: called droɫúk in Torkhow, and start to cook bread (for a specific function or
ṭáxaɫúk in Mastuj and Booni (MNN) {MNN, celebration)’ (MNN) táʋ petshík ‘to start
Parwak} cooking bread (daily routine in home)’ (MNN) [<
tarázu (n) ‘scale (balance)’; ‘the constellation Orion’ Skt. (T5768)] {RKB, MNN}
{MNN} taʋaríč /Other pronunc: thaʋaríč/ (n) ‘planks laid on
taréz (n) ‘gusset (small piece of cloth attached top of, perpendicular to ceiling beams’ (MNN);
between larger pieces in a garment)’ [< Prs.] ‘roof beams laid on top of the naxdáru’ (IF)
{IF} {MNN, IF}

taríx (n) ‘history’: haté čhor taríx rak naʋǰuʋán ḍaq taʋén /Other pronunc: taʋún/ (n) ‘small cabinet’
‘those four young history students’ (SWKA); (MNN); ‘wooden chest’ (MAK); ‘large box for
‘date (specific day)’ [< Ur., Prs. tārīx ] {SWKA} grain storage’ (IF) {MNN, MAK, IF}

tarkáš (n) ‘narrow torn strip of cloth, used, for taxaɫúk /Other pronunc: ṭaxaɫúk (in Mastuj and
example, to tie up socks’ {SWKA} Booni (MNN)/ (n) ‘tapper which controls the flow
of grain in a water mill’ (Parwak) taxaɫúk boht
tarpál (n) ‘tarpaulin’ [< Eng. ‘tarpaulin’] {MNN} (n) ‘small weight used to regulate the flow of
tartíb (n) ‘order’, ‘arrangement’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur.] grain from the ḍor to the grinding stone‘ (MS)
{MNN} {Parwak, MS}
taxminá (n) ‘estimate’ {SWKA}
táru (adj) ‘quick’, ‘speedy (of a person)’: táru moóš
‘a quick learner’ (ZHD) tarí (n) ‘speed’: istoró taxt1 (n) ‘large blanket of white wool, double in size’
taríen aʋá nast nisátam ‘Because of the horse’s (This word is used in Laspur and Ghezur only.)
speed I went ahead.’ (MNN) {MNN, ZHD} {IF}

tarxán /Other pronunc: tarkhán/ ‘military taxt2 (n) ‘raised platform for sitting’, ‘throne’
commander in Turkic armies’ darxanándeh taxtabándi (n) ‘arrangement in hotels
/Other pronunc: tarxanándeh/ ‘village in Lower (restaurants) for taxts for guests to sit on’ taxtá
Chitral, possibly originally settled by a tarxán’ [< (n) ‘large stool used to hold things’ (MAK)
Turkic] {TMF} taxtamazagú (n) Lit. ‘one who enjoys the
throne’; Id. ‘index finger’ (TMF) {SG, MNN,
tarxána (n) ‘piece of bone under the wires at the MAK, TMF}
stem end of a sitar’ {Sonoghor}
tay (n) ‘toy’: tay tay tay tay tay tay tay . . . ‘repeated
tašbíh (n) ‘simile’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur.] {TMF} six or seven times, this is spoken to distract and
taṣnagí (n) ‘thirst’ [< Skt. (T5941, T5943) + Prs. pacify a child while washing its face or bathing

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tayár Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes n

it’ (MS); (adj) ‘pretty’, ‘nice’, ‘clean’: gye bísi ta terék (n) ‘poplar’ Populus deltoides {MNN, IF,
muxó ta hostán tay kom ‘Come on, I’ll clean up Booni}
your face and hands.’ (MS) ta kapála uγ dreé ta terít /Other pronunc: tirít/ (n) ‘dish of bread soaked
tay zapán ta anjém ‘I’ll wash your hair and put in some liquid food, like milk or some curry’
your nice clean clothes on you.’ (MS) tayéik {Chitral town}
(vtr) ‘to misuse some useful object, i.e. to treat it
like a toy’ (MNN) {MAK, MS, MNN} tez (adv, adj) ‘fast’, ‘intelligent’, ‘clever’, ‘active’: hasé
bo tez moóš ‘He is a very intelligent active
tayár (adj) ‘ready’ tayár korík (vtr); ‘to make ready’,
man.’ (SWKA) tezeék (vintr) ‘to hasten, hurry
‘to prepare’ [< Ur.] {RKB, MNN}
up’ (MYS); ‘to act quickly’ (IF) [< Prs. Turkic,
tayγún (n) ‘a falcon said to be born of a union Ur.] {SWKA, MYS, IF}
between a sajúrǰ and koɫoyúrǰ at the right mating
tic̣ (n) ‘large male goat (fattened for slaughter)’
time; has white feathers’ (TMF) [< Turkic] {TMF}
(MNN); ‘large male goat five or six years of age’
tayqá dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to lean on something for (RAKR) tic̣híri (n) ‘skin of large male goat’ [<
support’: aʋá khánǰtu tayqá díti asúm ‘I am Skt. (T5839)] {MNN, RAKR, IF}
leaning against the wall.’) {SWKA} tikón (n) ‘triangle’ (See also troyburǰá) {AKM}
tazá (adj) ‘well’; ‘healthy’; ‘fine’: múxa loɫíko tazá tikrár korík (vtr) ‘to repeat something
nayúran mágam leház ‘Looking at his face, he unnecessarily’: ma sum tikrár mo koré ‘Don’t
seems healthy, but he is ill.’ (MNN); ‘whole, keep repeating things unnecessarily.’ {TMFW}
undamaged (e.g. clothes)’ (WSiC); ‘alive’ tazagí
(n) ‘good health’; ‘happiness’ [< Prs.] {MNN} tilá (n) ‘massage’ {ARC}

tazián droc̣ (n) ‘variety of grape - very sweet, tir (n) ‘arrow’ [< Prs.] tirdán (n) ‘carrying pouch for
whitish in color, with large seeds’ Vitis vinifera arrows, made of leather’, ‘quiver’ [< Prs.]
{RAKR 1988}
{TMF}
tirnóq (adj) ‘having a wide nose and large nostrils’
teγ (n) ‘a thin, raised scar on the body’; ‘a sharp
{MNN}
mountain ridge’: moóš haté teγó ṭéka ruphí astáy
‘The man was standing on the top of that sharp tit (adj) ‘soft’: phostó murí tit arér ‘S/he softened the
ridge.’ teγ ruphík (vintr) ‘for a thin scar to be skin by kneading it with her/his feet.’ {NKN}
formed, as when skin is struck by some thin
tobráh /Other pronunc: tobrá (MS), toprá (IF)/ (n)
object like a knife’ {MNN}
‘feedbag (for horse)’ toprá (n) ‘a horse’s
tel (n) ‘oil’ [< Ur. most recently, also (T5958)] {MNN} nosebag’ (IF) {IWA, MS, IF}
telí (n) ‘willow’ Salix illiensis teliséri ‘footbridge točhík /Other pronunc: točík (WSiC/ (vtr) ‘to peel
made from willow ropes’ (MAK) pušitéli (n) (vegetables)’ (MNN); ‘to cut/shape (wood)’
‘species of willow’ (cf. Eng. pussywillow) Salix (RAKR); ‘to chop wood (as with a small adze)‘
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T5620)] {MNN, RAKR, WSiC}
tetrasperma (MNN) {MAK, MNN}
toγolí (n) ‘thick hard tree bark’ {MNN}
telíki (n) ‘share of food given by a household to
shepherds on the occasion of the birth of a kid tóγun dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to sit on eggs to hatch them
in the pasture to one of the goats belonging to (e.g. hen)’ {MS}
that household; or when an animal is tokhéik /Other pronunc: tokhóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/
slaughtered’ (MS); ‘boiled lentils or other (vtr) ‘to give something and then take it back’:
legumes given to shepherds’ (MS) tilíki (n)
tokhéik ǰam noh ‘It is not good to give
‘boiled beans given to shepherds on the
occasion of their taking goats to a specific side something and then take it back.’ {IF}
valley for the first time’ (RAKR 1988) {MS, tolayí /Other pronunc: toláy (IWA)/ (n) ‘padding for
RAKR 1988} bedding’; ‘thin mattress for bed’ (MNN) (IWA)
telnaγóɫi (adj) ‘dirty’, ‘slippery’, ‘greasy’; (n) ‘a dirty (This term has come into use with more
person (e.g. with oil on top of dirty hair)’ {MNN} generalized prosperity.) [< Ur. talāi ‘thin
mattress’] {MNN, IWA}
téndur (n) ‘sheep gut strings of a γarbá’ {MS}
ton (n) ‘warp (in weaving)’ [< Skt. T5661)] {MNN,

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tond Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes toxmirán

RKB} dik (vtr) ‘to make someone feel obligated’ tóri

dreék (vtr) ‘to raise the level of a road, bridge,
tond (n) ‘big belly’, ‘potbelly’ [cf. Ur. ton ‘potbelly’]
watercourse’: aʋá žoyó tóri drétam ‘I raised the
{SWKA}
level of the irrigation channel.’ (MNN) [< Skt.
tongparatóng /Other pronunc: paratóng (MNN)/ (n) (M:1973) (T1779)] {RAKR, SWKA, MNN}
‘species of juniper - used for a type of medicinal
tea’ Juniperous macropoda {MNN} torík (vintr) ‘to reach’, ‘to arrive at’: ta xat másu
toórtay Lit. ‘Your letter reached me.’ Sense: ‘I
toníṣu (n) ‘male ibex’ (MNN): toníṣu zomó naʋahtsía received your letter.’ (SWKA) čhúči rahí korí
asítay ‘The ibex was at a dangerous place of the ʋezénote koγúzia torín bóy ‘By setting out in
mountain.’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA} the morning one can reach Koghuzi by
tonǰ (adj) ‘lost’, ‘destroyed’, ‘disappeared’ tonǰéik evening.’ hatoγó ṭilifón gití ošóy ki ési troy
(vtr) ‘to lose’, ‘destroy’, ‘ruin’, ‘spoil’: zapán mo bajaá taríran ‘His (phone) call came (saying)
tonǰáʋe ‘Don’t spoil (your) clothes!’ hamó ǰam that the A.C. is arriving at three o’clock.’
lakhé ʋangáh tonǰén boy ‘Put this away (IWA); ‘to ripen (of crop)’; ‘to hit a target (bullet)’
carefully, otherwise it can get spoiled.’ (MNN) taréik (causative of torík) ‘to cause to reach a
tonǰí (n) ‘bad fortune, ruin’, ‘destruction’: tonǰío place’: čeyó apáka taréi loɫítam ki troq biray
nasíp ‘unfortunately’ (SWKA) tonǰíru (adj) ‘When I put the tea in my mouth and tasted it, it
‘ruined’, ‘destroyed’: tonǰíru mitár khen ganí turned out to be bitter.’ (SWKA) hayá kitábo
žangóte bir Prov. Lit. ‘When a Mehtar has lost hatoγó sum taráʋe ‘Get this book to him/her.’
his power, he takes a spade to war.’ Sense: (SWKA); ‘to hand something to someone’:
‘When a person loses his real power he qalámo mat taráʋe ‘Hand the pen to me.’
becomes desperate.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (MNN) phar taráʋe ‘Hand it (to someone) over
(T5628)] {MNN, RAKR, WSiC, SWKA} there.’ (RAKR) toʋlioó hoót af taráʋe ‘Hand the
towel down to him/her.’ (RAKR) toríru (adj)
tonžibáṣu (n) ‘person who cannot eat much without ‘successful’, ‘important’ (of a person)
feeling bad’; ‘person who does not do much ‘respectable’ (MK); ‘ripened (of crop)’ (IWA) [<
productive work because of laziness’ {MNN} Skt. (M:1973) (T5702) and (T5796)] {MNN,
toq (n) ‘mud (naturally occurring after rain)’ (TMF) SWKA, RAKR, MK, IWA}
toqnatóqi (adj) ‘all muddy’ (n) ‘marshy (land)’ totí (n) ‘parrot’ [< Prs. tutī ‘parrot’] {MNN}
(MNN) [< Skt. (T5626)] {MNN, TMF}
totíru (n) ‘species of partridge’ (MNN); ‘large bird
toqabaánǰi /Other pronunc: troqabánǰ (in Chitral found in mountains’, ‘pheasant’ (MAK); ‘quail’
town)/ (n) ‘variety of apricot - so called because (MNN) {MNN, MAK}
its kernel is bitter’ (See also ṭhošṭák) Prunus
toxmát (n) ‘blame’: boγdúo sóra toxmát mo angyé
armeniaca {TMF, MS}
‘Don’t blame a person who has gone.’ (as when
toqúm (n) ‘lightweight horse blanket, used by polo talking about a person who has died) {SWKA}
players’ {MS}
toxmirán (n) ‘mother of one’s daughter-in-law; father
tóri (adv) ‘upward’ (SWKA); ‘ahead’ tóri roó (adv) of one’s son-in-law’ (MNN): toxmirán di bir-
‘slightly ahead’; ‘eastward’ (sun rises in east) totíru pušúro di žibín boy Prov. Lit. ‘The
(RAKR); ‘above’ (MNN): tóri dosíko múɫi haʋás (disliked) in-law will go and quail meat will be
- múɫi dosíko tóri haʋás Prov. Lit. ‘If one grabs eaten.’ Sense: ‘Even bad times will pass.’
something from above a sound comes from (MNN); ‘person who accompanies the bride to
below; if one grabs from below a sound comes the groom’s house’ (This is a person of high
from above.’ Sense: ‘Applies when whatever status, the most honored member of the
one says to someone he objects to or disagrees bárdóyu.) (SWKA) toxmirán bánu (n) ‘a
with it.’ (MNN); tu kya tóri díti gití asúsáá Lit. special, huge batch of food cooked for the
‘Have you come above?’ Sense: ‘Why have member of a bride’s family (usually mother’s
you exceeded your proper place/status?’ (MNN) brother) who goes with the bride to her
(adj) ‘upper’ (SWKA); ‘superior’, ‘good’: hes bo husband’s home.’ (Traditional customs
tóri moóš ‘He is a very superior man.’ (MNN) associated with this: This food is distributed by
tóri bik (vintr) ‘to make progress’ (MNN) tóri order of the toxmirán to all members of his

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tprušéy Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes tuléni

family, village, etc. The toxmiran stays for a ‘bread filled with cheese and ground walnuts’
maximum of two days. When he departs, the (DAT) troq khardačí (n) ‘a wild green which
relatives of the groom have to bring out their grows in water’ (ARC); ‘watercress’ Nasturtium
bulls or rifles, from which the toxmiran picks officinale (ARC) troq zuálu (n) Id. Lit. ‘the
one of each of his choosing. Someone from the bitter and the sweet’ Sense: ‘all aspects of life’:
groom’s family carries the things to the house of
tu troq zuálan ma ganí žibósan ‘You include
the toxmiran.) (TMF) {MNN, MS, SWKA, TMF}
me in all aspects of your life.’ (MNN) [< Skt.
tprušéy (interjection) ‘go away!’ (call to send away (M:1973) (T5617)] {MNN, DAT, ARC, SWKA}
sheep) (See also prṷṷ prṷu̬) {MNN}
troy (adj) ‘three’ troín (n) ‘three of them (total
trac̣ dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to sit with knees bent, legs apart number previously stated)’: ponj ̣ beɫúan múži
and arms on knees’; ‘to stand with legs apart troíno čhorgán alú petshítam ʋa ǰuíno ponjgán ̣
and hands on hips’; ‘to refuse to obey’ {MNN} ‘Of the five baskets, I put four potatoes in each
trac̣ón (n) ‘carpenter’ [< Skt. (T5621)] {RAKR, of three of them and five in each of two of
SWKA, WSiC} them.’ (SWKA) troyburǰá (n) ‘triangle’ (MNN)
(See also tikón) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T5994)]
trang /Other pronunc: tang/ (adj) ‘tight’; (n) ‘band to
{SWKA, MNN}
bind a horse blanket’ (IF); ‘saddle girth’ ‘cinch
strap’ (MS) trangeék /Other pronunc: trangéik/ trup /Other pronunc: thrup (TMF: ‘radish’, in Proper
(vintr, vtr) ‘to tighten’: istoró trangó trangáʋe Chitral)/ (n) ‘salt (MNN) (MAK) (apparently
‘Tighten the horse’s saddle girth.’ (MNN); ‘to be Vedic meaning); ‘radish’ (MA) (TMF)
tight (of clothes)’, ‘to pinch (of shoes)’: phuphúk (apparently later meaning) trupc̣horík (n) Id.
trangéran ‘It is a little tight.’ (SWKA); ‘to Lit. ‘a scattering of salt’ Sense: ‘an insignificant
embrace tightly’ (MNN) {SWKA, IF, MNN, MS} matter’ (sometimes used in a phrase to soothe
a child when s/he falls down and hurts
traq (n) ‘crevasse in a glacier’: moóš ṣayózo tráqo himself/herself) (MNN): ma sazá no bíti ǰirmaná
γerí obrítay ‘The man fell into a crevasse in the ki hoy the ma háqa trupcḥ orík ‘If instead of
glacier and died.’ {MNN} getting a (real) punishment I (merely) get a fine,
trax (adv) ‘intensifier used with kruy ‘red’ to mean it is an insignificant thing for me.’ (MNN)
‘dark red’’ {MNN, SWKA} trupoóγ (n) ‘salty water’: trupoóγ bukhó
h
c ̣ omíkot ǰam ‘Salty water is good for a sore
trez (n) ‘splinter (of wood)’: daró trez bi šer ‘(I) have throat.’ (SWKA); ‘too salty liquid’: hayá čey
a splinter.’ (See also syn. ničúht) {IF} trupoóγ bití šer ‘This tea is too salty.’ (SWKA)
trin /Other pronunc: tring (MYS: in Laspur)/ (n) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T5848)] {MAK, MNN, MA,
‘yogurt made from cold milk’ (IWA): ṭhóšṭa ṭip TMF, SWKA}
trin, tríno trup pin ‘The bowl is full of yogurt; tu (pro) ‘you (singular)’ [< Skt.] {SWKA}
the yogurt is too salty.’ (IWA) (This is a well-
-tu /Other pronunc: After /š/, /-tu/ is sometimes
known tongue twister.) ‘yogurt’ (IF) (See syn.
heard as [-ṭu] (locative case ending) ‘up
mac̣ ír) trinmúži (n) ‘bread filled with yogurt’
h
toward’, ‘up against‘ {SWKA}
(DAT) (MS) {DAT, MS, IWA, MYS, IF}
tuḍí (n) ‘white cars smuggled from Afghanistan’
trínguɫ /Other pronunc: thrínguɫ/ (n) ‘three-pronged
{Chitral town}
winnowing fork made from a single limb and its
attached branches’ (made of willow, šatélik) [< tuγ (n) ‘flags, pieces of cloth hung at a shrine
Skt. (M:1973) (T6040)] {MNN} (zyarat)’ {Sonoghor}
troc̣ík (vtr) ‘to split lengthwise (e.g. wood)’ (MNN): tuγfá (n) ‘gift’ [< Prs., Ar.] {RKB}
haté daró troc ̣ín no hoy ‘That wood couldn’t be
tuhrkušún (n) ‘cheerful, noisy activity of a group of
split.’ (MNN); ‘to cut a fallen tree into several people’, ‘hullabaloo’ {RAKR}
large pieces’ (NR) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, NR}
tuláx /Other pronunc: thuláx (MNN) (MS)/ (n) ‘sickle’
troq (adj) ‘(very) bitter’ (taste); ‘bitter (hurtful)’: tu {IF, MNN, MS MA}
hayá troq lúo no raxtsúsaá Lit. ‘Won’t you
forget this bitter word?’ i.e. ‘Please forget this tuléni (n) ‘implement for applying collyrium (eye-liner
makeup)’ {ICS}
bitter/hurtful word.’ (SWKA) troqmúži (n)

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tum Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes thaʋší

tum (n) ‘sap of trees other than edible fruit-bearing quivering.’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
ones’ (See žuɫčák) {MNN}
thalóq (n) ‘bag made of patchwork, used for carrying
tumturúq (n) ‘an extremely poor person’ {MNN} things while traveling’ {MNN}
tunúk (adj) ‘fine’, ‘delicate’, ‘easily broken’, ‘fragile’ thalóʋ (n) ‘bucket-like wooden vessel made of single
(e.g. very fine thread, tiny piece of wood) piece of wood’ {MNN, RAKR}
{MNN}
thalʋáhrt (n) ‘schist’ {MAK}
tup (n) ‘cannon’ [< Prs., Turkic] {WSiC}
thaɫxá (n) ‘gall bladder’: thaɫxó phat koríko pušúr troq
tuq (adv) (intensifier) ‘completely’ tuq p ɫís (adj)
h
boy ‘If the gall bladder is broken, the meat
‘completely naked’ {MNN} becomes bitter.’ (It is thought that the gall
tur (n) ‘species of tree - has small leaves’ (CKT); bladder is the first part of an animal to be
‘species of tree - used for firewood’ (Sonoghor) affected by severe cold.) {MNN}
Fraxinus xanthoxyloides {CKT, Sonoghor} thamámu (adj, n) ‘all’; ‘too much’: thamámu thamámo
turá korík (vtr) ‘to accomplish a great task’; ‘to do a lu mo det Id. Sense: ‘Don’t speak above your
great deed’ {TMF} status.’ {MNN}
turtúr (adj) ‘big’: čapotío turtúr nasó phuk ḍaq khyo thamíz (n) ‘proper behavior’: thamíza lu det ‘Speak
žibóyan? ‘How can the little boy eat such a big courteously/properly.’ {MNN}
piece of bread?’ {MNN}
than (n) ‘body’ (MNN); ‘trunk of tree’ (MAK, MA);
turúγ (adj) ‘brown (of horses only)’ [< Turkic] {MS} ‘stem (of flower)’ (RAKR) than dik (vtr) ‘to agree
to’, ‘to obey’ (MNN) (SG) [< Skt. (T13753)]
turúɫuk (n) ‘small stones used to fill a drystone wall’
{MNN, MAK, MA, SG, RAKR}
{IF}
thanáʋ /Other pronunc: thaná (Chitral town)/ (n)
túrum (n) ‘bugle’ {RAKR}
‘rope which turns spindle, attached to main
tuṣ (n) ‘straw (dried grass stalks)’: tuṣó múɫo uγ hoy wheel of spinning wheel’ (RAKR); ‘string’, ‘cord’
Id. Lit. ‘There was water under the straw (which (MS); ‘cord or belt which turns the spinnning
is not visible).’ Sense: ‘Applies to a situation wheel’ (Parwak) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {RAKR, MS,
when a wrongdoing is not visible.’ (MNN) tuṣó Parwak, Proper Chitral}
múži šunǰ maṣkík Id. Lit. ‘to search for a needle thánu (adj, adv) ‘leaning backwards’ (See also
in straw’ Sense: ‘to make useless efforts’ uthánu) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {TMF}
(MNN) (cf. English “to look for a needle in a thaqtáqi mazagí (n) ‘thumb’ (archaic usage) {IWA}
haystack”) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T5892)] {MNN,
RAKR} thariqá (n) ‘method’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
tuú (adv) ‘down there’ (base form of hatuú) {SWKA) tharmás (n) ‘thermos’ [< Eng. ‘thermos’] {SWKA}
tužúk (n) ‘above-ground leaves of a sprouted thas (n) ‘small round dish’ {SWKA}
seedling’ {RKB} thasík (Other pronunc: thosik GNK) (vtr) ‘to
thaáγ (n) ‘small branch’ (RAKR); ‘tree branch, rend/tear continuously (of hair or clothes)’ (See
subdivision of ʋáɫu’ (MA); ‘a tree branch thinner also ) {MNN, GNK}
than a kambóx’ (MNN) {RAKR, MA, MNN} thasmá (n) ‘leather bands used to attach barrel to
thabíb (n) ‘healer’ [< Ar., Prs. tabīb ‘healer’] {IFM} stock of rifle’ [< Prs.] {RAKR 1988}
thaγaníṣ (n) ‘a person who possesses every aspect thasúruk (n) ‘thread wound on a hollow reed or a
of beauty’ (can be used as an endearment): ée stick, which is inserted into the shuttle in
ma thaγaníṣ ‘O, my beautiful darling!’ (e.g. weaving’ [< Skt. (T5744)] {SWKA, IF}
mother to child) {MNN} thašúš (adj) ‘joyful’ (MNN); ‘eagerly anticipating’
(ZHD) thašúš bik (vintr) ‘to be eagerly
thalnatháli (adj) ‘quivering, as of a thick liquid (e.g.
expecting something’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
mercury, melted lead, oil spilled on dry soil)’
(MNN): tel cḥ utía ulií thalnatháli hoy ‘Having thaʋší (n) ‘wooden bowl for a moist dish (dzah)’
spilled on the soil, the (surface of) the oil was (MAK); ‘small wooden bowl, about 6 inches in

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thé Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes thundást

diameter’ (IF); ‘round wooden serving vessel for such a hurry?’ {IWK}
moist dishes, larger than pataáts’ (MNN) {MAK,
IF, MNN} thóski (adv) ‘straight ahead or back (horizontally)’
{MNN, RAKR}
thé (adv) ‘then’, ‘so’ thé tu kyá résan ‘So what do you
thošnúk (n) ‘wood shavings (from planing)’ {MNN}
say?’ (MS); (interjection, topic marker - links
current utterance and shared understanding of thraṣk (n) ‘scraping sound of foot on ground’ thraṣík
prior context) (MS): boy the hes tán, mágam /Other pronunc: throṣík in Lower Chitral/ (vtr)
‘Indeed, that will happen, but …’ (SWKA) [< ‘to peel by scraping, with motion away from
Skt. (T5647)] {RKB, SWKA, MS} body (e.g. carrot)’ (MNN) thraṣkéik (vtr) ‘to
scrape (feet on ground)’, ‘to scratch and make
theč (n) ‘a flexible green shoot that will not break’ noise’; (vintr) ‘to rustle (as of dry leaves)’ (MNN)
{IF} thriṣku thráṣku (n) ‘sound of something rustling
theník dreék (vtr, vintr) ‘to come repeatedly to a (e.g. paper) or scraping (e.g. shoes)’ (MNN)
certain field (of birds)’ {MNN} {RAKR, WSiC, MNN}

thespúk (n) ‘twigs’, ‘wood chips’, ‘small branches’ threnc̣kík (vintr) ‘to stretch one’s body to dispel
(RAKR); ‘wild plant’ (See also syn. droón) (MA) sleepiness’ {ZMZ}
{RAKR, MA} thruṣní (adj) ‘thirsty’; (n) ‘a thirsty person’ (See also
thésu /Other pronunc: thésum (SWKA)/ (adv) ‘just taṣnagí) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T5941)] {RAKR}
now’: mahbúb thésu gíti asúr ‘Mahbub has come thuék (n) ‘rifle’ thuékandáz (n) ‘hunter’ [< Ir.
just now.’ (MNN) {MNN, SWKA} (M:1936)] {MNN}
theš (n) ‘small quantity of grain or flour given to a thufthúf (interjection) ‘expression of dismay’
beggar’ theš ʋečhák (n) ‘one who begs for (reduplicated form): thufthúf ma qalám čhirdú
grain’ {MS} ‘Oh dear, my pen broke. (unseen by me)’
thiík1 (vintr) ‘to stay firmly/securely in one place’: thií {MNN}
nišúr ‘Sit still!’ (MNN) héra bi thiín boy ‘It can thuhrt /Other pronunc: thuht, tuxt, thuxt (RKB)/ (n)
go there and stop moving.’ (MNN); ‘to be ‘a ford in a river’; ‘river crossing place’ (RKB)
patient’, ‘to sit still’ (IF); ‘to stop (moving)’ (IWA: thúhrti dik /Other pronunc: túxti dik (RKB)/
Ghezur usage): ǰíp thiítay ‘The jeep stopped.’ (vintr) ‘to wade across a river’; ‘to ford a river’
(IWA) thiyék (vtr) ‘to cause to be still, come to tuxtánu (n) ‘place in river where water is
rest’: hostán thiáʋen ‘Keep your hands still.’ shallow and it can be forded’ (RKB), ‘shallow
place in the river’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973)
(MA); ‘to stop (of inanimate things, e.g.
(T5903)] {MNN, RKB, SWKA}
vehicles: ḍrayʋér moṭéro thiéytay ‘The driver
stopped the vehicle.’ (Ghezur usage) (IF) [< thuík (vintr) ‘to spit’ thuíni (n) ‘spittoon, thing to spit
Skt. (M:1973) (T13768)] {MNN, MA, IF, IWA} in’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T6102)] {SWKA}
thiík2 (vintr) ‘to form fruit (e.g. melons, tomatoes, thukúnu /Other pronunc: tukhúnu, tukúnu (WSiC)/
squash)’: paṭingéɫ no thiítani ‘The tomatoes (adj) ‘sharp (thorn, knife, vision)’: dzox ažíka
have not fruited.’ {MNN} thukúnu Prov. Lit. ‘A thorn is sharp from birth.’
Sense: ‘A clever person is clever from birth.’
thóba (interjection) ‘expression of surprise’ {SWKA}
(IF) γečhó thukuní (n) ‘sharpness of vision’
thong /Other pronunc: thonk/ (adj) ‘thin (of flat things (MS) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {RAKR, WSiC, MS, IF}
like bread, cloth, paper, carpet)’ thonkéik (vtr)
thul (adj) ‘fat (of person, animal)’; ‘thick (e.g. of tree)’
‘to make thin’; ‘to spread thinly (e.g. layer of
thul bubúk (n) ‘thigh’ thulí (n) ‘fatness’ (SWKA)
grain on threshing floor, seed being sown,
thuthúl (adj) ‘thick (plural)’ (reduplicated form) [<
bread on the taʋ’ thoóthóng ‘very thin’ (MNN)
Skt. (M:1973) (13776)] {MNN, SWKA}
[< Ir./Prs. (M:1936)] {MNN}
thulfár (n) ‘an imaginary fast horse’ [< Turkic tulpár,
thorní /Other pronunc: throní (IF)/ (n) ‘species of wild
‘a mythological winged horse’] {RAKR}
rose’ Rosa webbiana {MNN, SWKA, MA, IF}
thun (adj) ‘angry’ thun bik (vintr) ‘to be angry,
thorodí (adj) ‘standing without moving’: thorodí bíti annoyed’ {RAKR, WSiC, ARC}
kyaní bosán Id. Ironic sense: ‘Why are you in
thundást (adv) ‘quickly’, ‘in a hurry’: aʋá thundást

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thup dik Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes tsirirí

rahí aártam- táte kya niṣán no hoy ‘I left in a tsehtík /Other pronunc: tsertík (IF)/ (n) ‘species of
hurry and couldn’t bring a gift for you.’ {MNN} dark-colored mushroom shaped like a
loudspeaker’ (MNN) {MNN, IF}
thup dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to jump across something’ {TMF}
tseník (vtr) ‘to pick fruit from a tree by hand’: paloóγ
thur (n) ‘species of oak found in Upper Chitral, which
tsenónu bití šéni ‘The apple trees have been
has dense, hot-burning wood’ {MNN}
picked.’ {RKB}
thurú (n) ‘village in Torkhow’ {MA}
tsentsén (adj) ‘broken/cut into tiny pieces (e.g.
thuš dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to prepare the way for asking for meat, body, long stick)’: ʋethúk tsentsén hoy
something by flattery’ {MNN} ‘The stick broke into small pieces.’ {MNN}
thušeék /Other pronunc: thušéik/ (vtr) ‘to flatter‘: ma tseq (adj) ‘small’, ‘junior’, ‘younger’ (MNN); (n) ‘child’
grambéṣan másu bo thušénian kya jošán ispát (TMF): tseq nisí loṭó c ̣akér Prov. Lit. ‘From
doyáá reé ‘My neighbors are flattering me a lot, small things can follow large consequences.’
thinking that I may give them some fodder.’ (For example, adults can get into fights based
(Parwak) thušéik insáno sum šum nayúran on children’s quarrels.) (TMF) tseqapéki (tseq
‘Flattery does not become a person.’ (MNN) [< ‘small’ + apék ‘mouth’) Lit. ‘having a small
Skt. (T5897) (T5982)] {Parwak, MNN} mouth’ Sense: ‘a person who finds fault with
others while boasting that his own standard is
thux (n) ‘steam’ {MNN}
better’ (MNN): hoó dura kya ǰam ṣapík néki-
tsadár (n) ‘shawl’: ma tsadár dzóxi c ̣okítay ‘My xuró dúra ingár tseqapéki boyán ‘There is no
shawl got caught on (the/a) thorn(s).’ (SWKA); good food in his house, but when he goes to
‘sheet’ (IWA) {SWKA, IWA, Chitral town} someone else’s house he pretends to be a rich
tsaγdáy /Other pronunc: saγdáy (IWA) / (n) ‘thin man.’ (MNN); ‘chatterbox’, ‘gossip’ (TMF); ‘one
mattress for bed’ (TMF); ‘a thin mattress for who says things inappropriate to the occasion,
bed’ (IWA: term used by upper classes) {TMF, for example joking at a serious time’ (RKB)
IWA} tseétséq (intensifier construction) (adj) ‘very
small’ (MNN) tsetséq (pl n) ‘children’; (adj)
tsaɫaxdúri (n) ‘window’ (See also čaɫaxdúri) {IF} ‘smallish’, ‘plural’: tsetséq ḍaq háni ‘The
tsapí (n) ‘tongs (e.g. for use in fire)’ {MNN} small/smaller boys came.’ (MNN) tseqí (n)
‘childhood’ (RKB) (MYS): tseqía aʋá di hamóṣ
tsapheék /Other pronunc: sapheék/ (vintr) ‘to grope
in the darkness’ (MNN) tsaptsap korík (vintr, kórum korák ošótam mágar haníse ma rah bi
vtr) ‘to feel around for something’ (RAKR, šer ‘In my childhood I also used to do like this,
WSiC) {MNN, RAKR, WSiC} but now I am no longer able to.’ (RKB)
tsetséqan lehazí (n) Lit. ‘disease of children’
tsarandáru /Other pronunc: tsarambéru (in Lower Sense: ‘tetanus’ (IF) {MNN, RKB, IF, MYS,
Chitral) (IF)/ (n) ‘doorframe’ {MNN, Mastuj, IF, TMF}
Sonoghor}
tsikróndzu /Other pronunc: tsirkónzu, tsirkóndzu
tsáraq bik (vintr) ‘to indulge in excesses’; ‘to exceed (IF) (with metathesis)/ (n) ‘species of wild
limits’ (GMKH) {SWKA, GMKH} greens which has reddish leaves’, ‘species of
tsareéni (n) ‘door of house (door + frame)’ (Note: wild greens’; ‘species of wild plant eaten as a
This word is losing general currency but is still vegetable’ Rumex crispus {TMF, SWKA, IF}
in use by carpenters.) {Mastuj}
tsingúr /Other pronunc: singúr/ (n) village above
tsat (adj) ‘enough’, ‘complete’, ‘full’ {SWKA} Chitral town tsingúru /Other pronunc: singúru/
(n) ‘person from Singur’ {MNN}
tsátur /Other pronunc: tshátur (RAKR)/ (n) ‘spindle’
(IF) {RAKR, IF} tsipéik /Other pronunc: tsipeék/ (vintr) ‘to blink’; ‘for
the eyes to be tired/to ache’ {RKB}
tsaxt (n) ‘temporary barrier to close an opening of a
field or orchard’ {SG} tsipíri (adj) ‘small (of eyes)’ tsipirγéči (adj) ‘having
small eyes (person)’ {MNN}
tsehrtík (n) ‘a disease of sheep, in which flat worms
in the lungs move to the liver and the animal tsirirí (n) ‘species of sparrow with red crown and tan
finally dies’ {SWKA} body’ [onomatopoetic name from the sound of

137
tsiró Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ṭareék

the bird’s cry] {MNN, TMF} tshangéik (vtr) ‘to shake down (e.g. grain in a sack)’:
tsiró (adj) ‘younger’ (IF: in Laspur); (n) ‘little one’;
žoó burdúkio dráʋa tshangéi af nišáʋe ‘While
‘the smaller (of two children)’ (MS) {IF, MS} putting the grain in the sack shake it down
well.’; ‘to lift a person by the hand and take him
tsirtsír (adj) ‘strong’, ‘firm’, ‘tight’: qalámi c ̣okí tsirtsír outside’ {IF}
bití hal hoy ‘He held onto the pen tightly (e.g. if
tshar (n) ‘ceremonial food prepared for villagers on
someone tried to take it from him).’; (n) ‘greedy
third day after a person’s death’: tan tsharó
person, e.g. a child’: pyalái c ̣okí tsirtsír bití
gané ‘Take food prepared for your funeral
asúr ‘S/he has grabbed greedily onto the cup.’
{MNN}
feast!’ (an ill wish or curse) (IWA) táte tshar
bay Lit. ‘Let there be ceremonial funeral food
tsixéy (interjection) ‘call to drive away dog’ (MNN) for you.’ Sense: A curse, ill wish (IWA)
tsex (interjection) ‘a shout to drive away a dog’ tsharγár (n) ‘provisions and supplies for a tshar’
(SG) {MNN, SG} {MNN, IWA, IF}
tson (adj) ‘short (e.g. clothes, tail)’ [< Skt. (T4889) tshok (n) ‘bundle of thin sticks’ (RAKR); ‘small
(T:p.c.)] {Mastuj} bundle of thorn bushes after cutting them to
tsopík (vtr) ‘to crochet’; ‘to pick up small things one- size’ (MS) {RAKR, MS}
by-one’ (MNN); ‘to pick out one by one’ (RAKR tshoɫumdóyu (n) ‘a person who tags along
1988); ‘to knit’ (IF) qalín tsopík (vtr) ‘to weave unwanted behind someone else’ (See also
a handloom woolen carpet’ (MA) [< Ir. (M:1936) tshaɫumdóyu) {MNN}
< Skt. (T4674)] {MNN, MA, RAKR 1988, IF}
tshóndzur (n) ‘straight awl, used by shoemakers’
tsopí thanáʋ (n) ‘border of an embroidered cap’ {IF} {MNN}
tsoqík (vtr) ‘to lap up (cat, dog)’; ‘to drink messily’, tshoʋú /Other pronunc: tsoγú (MYS)/ (n) ‘orphan’ [<
‘to slurp’ tsoqéy (interjection) ‘an expression of Skt. (T12618 < Nuristani?)] {MNN, MYS}
anger’ {MNN, TMF}
ṭakór korík (vtr) ‘to apply heat to a wound with a
tsrap (adj, adv) ‘firmly’: duʋáhto tsrap koré ‘Close heated stone’ {MY}
the door firmly.’ (RAKR); ‘completely silent’:
ṭakuráɫi (n) ‘part of watermill’ (See also syn. ṭaxaúk
tsrap hoy ‘S/he became completely quiet.’
dár)’ {IF}
(RAKR) tsriptsráp /Other pronunc: čripčráp/
(interjection) ‘magic formula to make things ṭambíṭ /Other pronunc: ṭambít (TMF)/ (n) ‘board for
freeze (See also xrizo xráš)’ {RAKR, SWKA, rolling dough when making bread’ (SWKA);
MYS, MA} ‘wooden board used for making bread.’
(Traditional custom: the face of a djinn would be
tsraq no korík (vintr) ‘not to move even slightly’ drawn on it, then scraped off and put in the fire.
(negative polarity item): bohrtó zuq díko tsraq This ‘burning the djinn’ was done to stop
tán no areér ‘When I pushed the rock it didn’t children from crying.) (TMF) {SWKA, TMF}
even budge.’ aʋá ayh utíko aslám tsraq tán no
ṭanḍík (n) ‘to wrap and tie up something’ ṭanḍíni (n)
areér ‘When I entered the room Aslam didn’t
‘a long woven band used to wind around and
move at all (i.e. didn’t even stand up).’ {GMKH} secure a swaddling cloth on a baby’ (MNN,
tsrex /Other pronunc: tsrix/ (n) ‘spark’ (See also MAK, IF) {MNN, MAK, MS, IF}
tsriʋ) tsrexík (vintr) ‘to spark (wood in fire)’ [< ṭará (n) ‘mulberry wine - made from dried mulberries’
Ir. (M:1936)] {RAKR, ZMZ, MS} {TMF}
tsrík (n) ‘species of sparrow’ {MNN} ṭárbaṭ /Other pronunc: ḍarbaṭ/ (n) ‘ṣoṣp made with
tsriʋ (n) ‘spark’ (See also tsréx) {GMKH, MS} animal fat’ (BM); ‘ṣoṣp made with walnut oil or
animal fat’ (SWKA); ‘ṣoṣp made with animal fat
tsroṭ (n) ‘a jump’ tsroṭ korík /Other pronunc: tshoṭ and wheat flour’ (IWA) {BM, SWKA, IWA}
korík/ (vintr, vtr) ‘to jump’; ‘to jump forward’
{RAKR, WSiC} ṭareék /Other pronunc: ṭaréik/ (vintr) ‘to rave (e.g. of
a madman)’ (MNN); ‘to talk nonsense/
ts áɫum ‘food distributed to exiles among villagers’
h
incoherently’: leház ṭaréran ‘The sick person is
(an old custom) tshaɫumdóyu ‘a recipient of
tsháɫum’ (See also tshoɫumdóyu) {RKB}
talking incoherently (as in a semi-conscious

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ṭarkí Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ṭóqi

state).’ (MNN) ‘to speak’ (IA); ṭargasáni (n) ‘a ṭin (n) ‘metal stove’; ‘corrugated metal roof’ [< Eng.
person who talks nonsense’ (MNN) {MNN, IA} ‘tin’] {SWKA}
ṭarkí (n) ‘turkey’ [< Eng. ‘turkey’] {AR} ṭindz /Other pronunc: ṭinz, ṭinǰ (IWA)/ (n) ‘a vertical
jump’ ṭinz dik /Other pronunc: ṭindz dik/ (vtr,
ṭaṭ (n) ‘floor matting’ {SWKA} vintr) ‘to gambol’, ‘frolic’, ‘prance’ (of animals)’
ṭaṭóri /Other pronunc: ṭaṭhóri/ (n) ‘millet bread’; (MNN); ‘to rear’, ‘buck’ (of horse)’ (SWKA)
‘flowers of certain herbs’ (IWA) ṭaṭhóri ṣoṣp ṭinzík /Other pronunc: ṭindzík/ (vintr) ‘to run
‘ṣoṣp (halwa) made from millet flour’ (NKN) about in a disorderly way, gambol (e.g. of lambs
(IWK) {IWA, NKN, IWK} or kids)’; Id. ‘to run’ (MYS, Mastuj, MNN)
{MNN, SWKA, MYS, Mastuj, IWA}
ṭaxaɫúk (n) ‘part of water mill’ (see táraɫak’ {MNN}
ṭinsk /Other pronunc: ṭinzk, ṭindzk/ (n) ‘species of
ṭax dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to smack the lips’; ‘to wait bird’; ‘small, sparrow-sized bird - does not sit in
impatiently for something’ {MNN} trees but stays in crops - comes in spring and
ṭa̍ypkoríni (n) ‘typewriter’ [Eng. ‘type’ + Khowar verb fall - when sitting, it moves its tail up and down’
korik ‘do’ with instrumental suffix -íni] {SWKA} (MNN) [TMF: The bird’s name is probably from
ṭindz and based on its behavior.] {TMF, MNN}
ṭek (n) ‘top’: raʋléyo ṭek ‘Lowari Top’ sabún
almarío ṭéka balṭío andréno šer ‘The soap is ṭip (adj) ‘full’: uγ balṭía ṭip bíti šer ‘The bucket is full
inside the bucket on top of the cabinet.’ of water.’ (SWKA); ‘lots of’, ‘many’: magás ṭíp
(SWKA) goló ṭéka ruphí asur ‘(some asúni ‘There are lots of flies.’ (MNN) ṭipeék
person/animal) is standing on the bank of the (vtr) ‘to fill‘: balṭío úγ ṭipáʋe ‘Fill the bucket with
stream.’ (MNN); ‘raised area on the inner/upper water.’ (SWKA) ṭip korík (vtr) ‘to fill’: uγó balṭia
side of a traditional Chitrali house’: ayh ṭéktu ṭip koré ‘Top up the water in the bucket.’
nisé ‘Go up onto the ṭek.’ (SWKA) ṭéka (adv) (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA}
‘after’, ‘afterwards’: žúro ṭéka žaʋ ažítay ‘After ṭir /Other pronunc: ṭiír (MNN)/ (adj) ‘deeply asleep’,
the daughter, a son was born.’ (IF) ǰoʋarío ṭéka ‘unconscious’: oreéi ṭir bíti asúr ‘S/he is
goóm kiṣítam ‘After the maize I sowed wheat.’ sleeping soundly.’ (TMF) ‘completely insane’
(IF) ṭek korík (vtr) ‘to blame someone for (MNN) ṭiír bik (vintr) ‘to be completely insane’
something’: hasé lúo máte ṭek areér ‘He blamed (MNN) ṭiír dik (vtr) ‘to deceive’, ‘mislead’ (MNN)
me for his own mistake.’ (MNN) ṭéka neéik (TMF) ṭirgátsi korík /Other pronunc: ṭirγátsi
(vtr) ‘to complete something flawlessly’: šukaryá korík/ (vtr) ‘to deceive’ (RAKR) {MNN, TMF,
tan kardúo ṭéka neétaʋ ‘Thank you, you have RAKR}
completed the service you were to do for me.’ ṭirapaṭár (n) ‘useless words or speech’ {MAK}
(MNN) {MNN, SWKA, IF}
ṭirík (vintr) ‘to defecate’, ‘to shit’, ‘to poop’ ṭiríka
ṭexṭexáyki (adj) ‘smiling-faced’ {MNN} dreék (vtr) ‘to persecute’, ‘to terrify someone’
ṭeyprikáṭ ‘tape recorder’ [< Eng. ‘tape recorder’] ṭiroóṣ (n) ‘little pooper’ (affectionately used for
{SWKA} baby) ṭirángu ‘little pooper’ (affectionately used
for baby) (RAKR) {MNN, RAKR}
ṭibí (n) ‘tuberculosis’ [< Eng. ‘TB’] {IF}
ṭirmolúk (n) ‘a very short person’ {MNN}
ṭíki (n) ‘thick, about 6 inches in diameter, slightly
ṭixík (vintr) ‘to be cheerful and happy (of women)’
sweet unleavened bread, baked in ashes’: ṭíki
ṭixṭixáki (adj) ‘cheerful’, ‘gay’, ‘laughing’ (of
di mo čhiár- ḍaq di mo keɫár Prov. Lit. ‘May the women, in a negative context) (ARC) ṭikṭik osík
bread not break and the child not cry.’ Sense: (vintr) ‘to laugh happily’ (ZHD) {ARC, ZHD}
‘may good results happen’ (MNN) mušṭíki
(muži + ṭíki) (n) ‘type of leavened bread cooked ṭong (n) ‘variety of pear’ Pyrus communis [< Skt.
in a vessel and in which there is usually some (M:1973)] {MNN}
sort of filling’ mušṭíki pačeéni /Other pronunc:
ṭophéik (vintr) ‘to plop’; ṭopṭóp (n) ‘sound of
mušṭíkpačeéni/ (n) ‘covered iron pot for
plopping’ [onomatopoetic] {MNN}
cooking mušṭíki’ (MNN), (MS) čeyṭíki (n)
‘synonym for mušṭíki’ ṭikipóči (n) ‘time taken for ṭóqi (n) ‘ridicule’, ‘making fun of’, ‘teasing’ ṭóqi korík
a ṭíki to cook’ (RAKR 1988) {MNN, MS, RAKR (vintr, vtr) ‘to make fun of someone’, ‘to make
1988} jokes’ ṭoqnaṭóqi (adj) ‘confused’, ‘upset (as if

139
ṭrekṭér Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ṭhonǰké

being made fun of)’ (SWKA); (n) ‘state of ṭhašṭ ‘flat round vessel used for kneading flour’
looking around in surprise to figure out what (MNN, SWKA) (See also lagán); ‘metal plate’
has happened’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN} (Chitral town) {MNN, Chitral town, SWKA}
ṭrekṭér (n) ‘tractor’: trekṭéro sar kiíṣtay ‘He plowed ṭhaxéik /Other pronunc: ṭaxéik; ṭhaxeék, ṭhaxóik,
(it) with a tractor.’ (IF: Laspur usage) [< Eng. ṭhakéik, ṭhakhéik/ (vtr) ‘to knock’; ‘to beat
‘tractor’] {IF} (lightly)’: hasé hatoó ṭaxéru biráy ‘(I have found
out that) s/he beat him/her a little.’ (used in a
ṭuh (n) ‘variety of wheat with no spikes’ Triticum joking sense) (MNN); ‘to pound (as when
aestivum {CKT} working metal)’ (WSiC); Id. ‘to print (money)’:
ṭuk (n) ‘a wooden latch that goes vertically down into aʋá kya ṭhaxémanáá- kurár angóman? ‘Do you
a hole in the ground’ ṭuk dik ‘to close a wooden think I print money myself; where should I
latch’ {RAKR} bring it from?’ (Context: reply when someone
asks speaker for a large amount of money)
ṭukɫá (n) ‘piece’ [< Ur. ṭukṛā ‘piece’] {AKM}
(MNN) ṭhakéik /Other pronunc: ṭakéik, ṭaxéik/
ṭumbúki (n) ‘a half-opened bud’ (MII); ‘variety of (vtr) ‘to knock (with hand or something raised)’:
grape’ (TMF) {MII, TMF} ṭhakéiko mašṭér hatií astaái ‘When he knocked,
ṭun (adj) ‘filled/stuffed tightly’, ‘overstuffed’ {MNN} the teacher turned out to be (in) there.’ (MAK);
‘to water fields quickly (a little)’; ‘to shake off
ṭung (adj) ‘hornless (sheep or goat)’ {MNN} something from a cloth’ (IF); (vtr, vintr) ‘to
ṭungṭáng /Other pronunc: ṭumṭáng (SWKA)/ (adj) approach something in a state of agitation (e.g.
‘completely dark’: ṭumṭáng čhuy ‘completely a hungry dog approaching food)’ (GNK) {MNN,
dark (of night, of a thick dust cloud)’ (MNN); WSiC, MAK, GNK, MAK, IF}
(n) ‘cloud of dust’ ṭungṭáng lačhéik (vtr) ‘to stir ṭhešṭú /Other pronunc: threšṭú (IF) thešṭú (MNN)/ (n)
up a cloud of dust’ {RAKR, SWKA, MYS, MNN} ‘onion’ Allium cepa ṭhešṭuγeér (n) ‘field from
ṭunǰ (n) ‘earthenware vessel (generic term)’; which onions have been harvested’ ṭhešṭusóru
‘earthenware vessel for keeping dough’ (MAK); (n) ‘onion tops’ (ZMZ) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T5938)]
‘earthenware vessel for kneading dough’ (IF) {MNN, IF, MA, ZMZ}
{RAKR, MAK, WSiC, IF} ṭhiíng /Other pronunc: ṭhing/ (adj) ‘sloping’, ‘slanted’
ṭur (adj) ‘rotten’ (IF: Lower Chitral usage) {IF} (opposite of lašṭ); (n) ‘slope’ ṭhiíngṭhíng
(intensifier construction employing vowel
ṭureék (vintr) ‘to croak (of frog)’ {MA} lengthening and reduplication) ‘very sloping,
ṭyof (n) ‘species of small hawk’ (MNN); ‘smallest steep’ (MNN) ṭhingaṭhíngi ‘of a place containing
species of hawk’ (SWKA) [SWKA: both flat and steep places’ (Parwak) ṭhíng (n)
onomatopoetic from sound of bird’s cry]; ‘kind of ‘mountain slope’, ‘sloping land’ ṭhíng c̣hétur (n)
falcon’ (MAK); ‘a bird which eats crickets’ ‘terraced field’ (Chitral town) [cf. Bur. ṭiṅ sg.
(RAKR) {MNN, MAK, SWKA, RAKR} ‘peak (of mountain’) (Berger 1998:446)] {MNN,
SWKA, Parwak}
ṭhak (adv) ‘only (with numbers)’: ma ṭhak i léšu
ṭhingdás (n) ‘village in Punyal’
asítay, hasé doṣ bihtí baγáy ‘I had only one
cow; yesterday it died.’ ma ṭhak i ǰoɫá dasmuzá ṭhix /Other pronunc: ṭhex (Ayun)/ (n) ‘species of wild
šéni ‘I have only one pair of gloves.’ (MNN) edible greens which grow in Lotkuh area’
ṭhak korí (adv) ‘completely’, ‘entirely’ (Laspur) (Ayun); ‘species of wild greens which grows in
(IF) {MNN, RAKR, WSiC, IF, IFM} the mountains’ (SWKA) Eremurus
ṭhamráyi (n) ‘a mentally deficient person’; ‘a person stenophyullus {SWKA, Ayun}
who is subject to spasms and cannot walk ṭhok (n) ‘species of tree with very hard wood’
properly’ {MNN} ṭhoktám (n) ‘fruit of the ṭhok tree’ {S, MNN}
ṭhargaséni /Other pronunc: ṭhargasáni; ṭhargási (in ṭhóki (n) ‘a big festival meal presented by a rich
Warijun)/ (n) ‘person who goes on talking person’ {TMF}
heedless of what s/he says’ {MNN, ZHD}
ṭhongí (n) ‘small axe’ (IF); ‘axe’ (Chitral town) [< Skt.
ṭhári (n) ‘ball for games’ (IF) (cf. pɫínǰu in other (T5427) (Z:p.c.) {IF, Chitral town}
dialects) {IF}
ṭhonǰké /Other pronunc: ṭhunǰké/ (interjection)

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ṭhor Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes uγurík

‘expression of anger at one who drinks too ṭhux (adv) ‘suddenly’: ṭhux bihtí baγáy ‘S/he died
much’ {TMF} suddenly.’ (MNN); (adj) ‘a little bit’ (MNN); (n)
ṭhor (adj) ‘fallen down (of animate beings)’ ṭhor bik ‘bodily strength, energy’ (MNN): ta kya ṭhux čití
(vintr) ‘to fall down’: ṭhor bósan kyá ‘You will šer ‘You haven’t lost your (physical) strength,
fall down.’ (Spoken to a child running have you?’ (MNN) ṭhuxéik /Other pronunc:
carelessly) (SWKA) ṭhoréik (vtr) to cause to fall ṭhuxeék/ (vtr) ‘to tap’; ‘to cough lightly’: doṣár
down: hamít no ṭhorénian ‘These (shoes) don’t yíri ṭhuxéran ‘S/he has been coughing lightly
make one fall (i.e. they aren’t slippery or too since yesterday.’ (MNN) ṭhux korík ‘to tap
loose)’ (SWKA); ‘to knock down’ (RAKR) [< (continuously)’; ‘to cough lightly’ {IF, MNN,
Skt. (T5638)] {MNN, RAKR, SWKA} RKB}

ṭ orpíču (n) ‘skylark’ (MNN) (GNK); ‘spinning top’

h ṭhúxi dik (vintr) ‘to doze off (with head falling
(MS) {MNN, GNK, MS} forward)’: aʋá ṭhúxi phrétam ‘I dozed off.’
{MNN}
ṭhos (adj) ‘of nondescript dull color (e.g. gray, tan)’
ṭhos boík (n) ‘small gray duck (female)’ {MNN} ṭhúxi nisík (vintr) ‘to fall down’; Id. ‘to have a great
desire to do something’ {MNN}
ṭhošṭ (n) ‘larger version of γaán’ (holds
approximately 20 kg. of flour) (MNN); ‘large ubulík (vintr) ‘to increase’: ubulí ubulí ḍum bos ‘May
bowl’ (IWA) {MNN, IWA} you increase and become many.’ (a formulaic
ṭhošṭák /Other pronunc: ṭhošṭáku (SWKA)/ (n)
blessing, expression of good wishes), ma kuɫúči
‘variety of apricot with a slightly bitter kernel’ ubulí ubulí bíšir ponǰ hóni ‘My chickens have
(TMF) (See also toqabánǰi); (adj) ‘slightly bitter multiplied and become twenty-five.’ ubuleék
(e.g. an apricot seed which is neither sweet nor (vtr) ‘to cause to increase’: xodáy ta ubulér
completely bitter)’ {TMF, MNN, SWKA, MS} ‘May God make you increase.’ (a blessing, well
wish) {IF}
ṭhukéik /Other pronunc: ṭhukeék/ (vtr) ‘to nod the
head vertically’: ʋesórote dodór di sor ṭhukeér učútu (adj) ‘intelligent’ (SWKA); ‘shrewd’, ‘clever’,
Prov. Lit. ‘Even a lizard nods its head to a ‘acute’, ‘sharp in mind’ (RKB) [< Skt. (M:1973)
widow.’ Sense: ‘When a woman is widowed (T1646)] {SWKA, RKB}
even a low status person tries to marry her.’ udú (n) ‘groom’s marriage party on the way to the
{MNN} groom’s house’ (Torkhow word) {IF}
ṭhumán (n) ‘bonfire’ (IWA); ‘bonfire marking the end ududú (adj) ‘fast’, ‘high’, ‘strong (of wind)’: ududú
of winter’ (RAKR 1988) {IWA, RAKR} gan nisí šer ‘A high wind is blowing.’ {MNN}
ṭhun (n) ‘vertical wall beam (in a newer style house)’ udɦulík (vintr) ‘to spread (a rumor)’ udɦuleék /Other
(MA); ‘pillar (in a traditional Chitrali house)’ pronunc: udɦuléik/ (transitive/causative
(MNN); ‘honeycomb’ (MNN) šeró ṭhun (n) ‘main formation of udɦulík) (vtr) ‘to cause to be spread
pillar in a traditional house, located at the center by someone (e.g. rumor)’ {MNN}
of the wall behind/above the ṭek’ (SWKA) (TMF)
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T13774)] {MA, MNN, MAK, uγuɫík (vtr) ‘for the delivery date of an offspring
SWKA, TMF} (human or domestic animal) to be past due’:
léšoó nyof masár zyad hoy - bacḥ oóɫ no arér-
ṭhungšál (n) ‘twelfth month of Khowar calendar
(approximately November)’; ‘first month of
mas uγuɫí šer ‘The cow has been pregnant for
winter’ {SWKA} more than nine months and has not delivered a
calf. The month for delivery has passed.’ phar
ṭhur (n) ‘a sip’, ‘a swallow’: ta ley máte ṭhur no besír dúri bečío mas uγuɫi šak biráy ‘I have heard
‘Your blood wouldn’t be even a sip for me.’ that the delivery of the lady in the next house is
(WSiC) ṭhurík (vtr) ‘to sip’, ‘to swallow’; ‘to drink past due.’ {ZMZ}
from a spoon’ ṭhureék (vtr) ‘to cause to sip’; ‘to
give someone a sip of something’: ḍaqó cḥ iír uγurík (vtr) ‘to make the mud roof on a mud-brick
ṭhuráʋe ‘Give the child a sip of milk.’ (MNN) house’: af duró braár xatáno uγuréru biráy
{RAKR; WSiC, MNN, TMF, NKN} ‘The man in the house below has roofed his
house with mud (learned by speaker upon being
ṭhuš (adj) ‘cute (of animate or inanimate entity)’; (n)
told about this or seeing roofed house).’ {ZMZ}
Id. ‘a plumpish, pretty girl’ {MNN}

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úǰur dik Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes usík

úǰur dik /Other pronunc: úžur dik/ (vintr, vtr) ‘to ‘to have someone else hang’: tat ma c ̣akéi
suddenly fly up and then settle down, not to šiményo khánja undétay ‘Father had/made me
take off into continuous flight (of birds, hang the rope on the wall.’ ma undéru šiméni
especially chickens)’ [cf. Yasin Bur. úǰur ɛt- ‘to yu γeértay ‘The rope which I was made to hang
dash up with force (of water)’ (Lorimer 1962: 7)
(on the wall) fell down.’ [< Skt. (M:1973) also
{RAKR}
(T788)] {MNN}
uǰuṣúm (n) ‘rushing, turbulent state of a river when
undruík (vintr) ‘for two things that are normally
passing over rocks or through a narrow gorge’
(MNN) uǰuṣúm korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to rush together to separate from each other’: phost
turbulently’ (SWKA); ‘to roil’ {MNN, SWKA} pušúrar undruítay ‘The skin separated from the
flesh.’ (MS); Id. ‘for a person to be filled with
uluík /Other pronunc: uliík (Yarkhun)/ (vintr) ‘to fly fear and hatred’ (e.g. when s/he sees such a
(of bird)’: boík kanó ačén uluítay ‘The bird flew bad scene that s/he is filled with fear and
behind the tree.’ (RKB); ‘to fall down’, ‘collapse hatred’ (MS) {MS, MNN}
(house, wall, rock, mountain)’: ma duró khanǰ
ungík (vintr) ‘to increase’: yomún bíko haté ǰu qésma
uliítay ‘The wall of my house collapsed.’
ṣáyoz har kyaγ tan ʋoṣkyáro ungí góni ‘When
(IWA); ‘to spill (of liquids)’: tel uluítay ‘The oil
winter comes, these two kinds of ice each
spilled.’ (MS) čay uleén hoy ‘The tea spilled.’
increase and come out from their own sides.’
(Drosh usage) (NR) uluárum (n) ‘flying
creatures’ (MS) uluoóku (adj) ‘about to fall‘: (MNN); ‘to have a tantrum’: tseq ungí asúr ‘The
hayá khanǰ uluóku nayúran ‘This wall seems child is having a tantrum.’ (ZHD) {MNN, ZHD}
like it is about to fall.’ (SWKA) uleék (vtr) ‘to unkhurík (vintr) ‘to swell (as when something like
spill (liquids)’ (MNN): čeyó kapía mo uláʋe ṣoṣp is being cooked and absorbs water)’
‘Don’t spill (your) tea on your notebook.’ {RAKR}
(MNN); ‘to throw (away)’: gosnán af uláʋe unú (n) ‘chin’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T13966)] {MNN, MS}
‘Throw out the trash.’ (SWKA); ‘to make fly
away’: aʋá c ̣aγɫío ulétam ‘I made the rook fly -únu (adj) ‘bound suffixal morpheme meaning V-
able’: čhiakúnu ‘breakable’ {SWKA}
away (e.g. from a field)’ (SWKA); ‘to cut down
(tree)’ (Lower Chitral usage) uluéik /Other uphuík ‘to fall out (hair, feathers)’; ‘to be uprooted
pronunc: ulueék/ (vtr) ‘to make fly (intentionally, (young sprouts)’ uphuidú koɫú Id. Lit. ‘a chakor
with some control, as with falcons)’: aʋá sayúrjo whose feathers have fallen out.’ Sense: ‘applied
uluétam ‘I flew the falcon. (i.e. made it fly from to a very poor person who has nothing’ aphéik
my hand)’ (SWKA) (see also alueék) [< Skt. (vtr) ‘to pluck (hair, feathers)’ {MNN, IF}
(M:1973) (T2061)] {MNN, MS, SWKA, IWA, ururú (n) ‘roaring sound (as of thunder, an
RKB, NR} approaching flood, strong wind)’ [seems
uluṣík (vintr) ‘to tear’, ‘rip (cloth)’; ‘to split (wood, onomatopoetic] {MNN}
ground)’ (MNN) uluṣoóku (adj) ‘easily torn’: ma urusí (n) ‘type of fused rifle’ (Lit. ‘Russian’) [< Prs. ?]
zap paránu bíti uluṣoóku bíti šéni ‘My clothes {RAKR 1988}
have gotten old and liable to tear.’ (SWKA)
usán /Other pronunc: usánu/ (n) ‘sharpening stone
aleṣík (vtr) ‘to tear, rip (intentionally)’ (RKB)
(for axe, knife)’ usán bóhrtu (n) ‘sharpening
(SWKA); ‘to split (wood)’ [< Skt. (T2062)]
stone’ (MAK) usán dik (vtr) ‘to sharpen a blade’
{SWKA, MNN, RKB}
[< Ir. (M:1936)] {SWKA, MAK, MS}
umčhík (vintr) ‘to adjust oneself/adapt to an
usél (n) ‘gift given to the naxanišák / toxmirán when
environment’: hayá žuúr tan móšo dúra no
he departs on the day after a marriage’; ‘gift
umčhítay ‘This girl has not adjusted herself in given to an honored guest or dignitary when he
her husband’s house.’ {SWKA} leaves a house he has visited’ {MS}
unaʋč (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ unaʋčík (n) ‘person usík (vintr) ‘to climb (e.g. tree)’: Prov. Lit. kántu
from Unawch’ {SWKA} usáʋa troq čey pií usí astáʋ- yuú γeríko kya ta
undík (vtr) ‘to hang’: aʋá šiményo khánǰa undíman ‘I léšu bacḥ oóɫ aréraá Lit. ‘You climbed the tree
am hanging the rope on the wall.’ ma undíru after drinking bitter tea (without milk); now
šiméni ‘The rope which I hung’ undéik (vcs) when you come down do you think your cow

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usneék Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes uṣúng

has given birth to a calf?’ Sense: ‘Applies to a made me sneeze.’ (RKB) žanár ištruxík (vintr)
person who asks for something which he should Id. ‘to take risks’ (MNN) {MNN, RKB}
know is not there.’ (MAK); ‘to boil up (e.g. milk ušṭú /Other pronunc: išṭú/ (n) ‘brick’ (MNN); ‘mud
in a pot, tea)’ (MNN): cḥ iír usí góyan ‘The milk brick’ (NKN) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T1600)] {MNN,
is boiling over.’ (TMFW) {MAK, TMFW, MNN} NKN}
usneék (vintr) ‘to swim’ (MNN) usnaánu (n) ‘place ušṭurík (vintr) ‘to run away’: púši rényo poší
for swimming (where current is not fast)’ ušṭuríran ‘The cat is running away from the
usnátru (n) ‘swimmer’ (MS, RKB) < Skt. dog.’ (SWKA) háte durzán ḍaq ušṭurí baγáy
(M:1973) (T13787) usnaák (n) ‘swimmer’ (MS)
‘The mischievous boy ran away.’ (SWKA); ‘to
{RKB, MNN, MS}
escape’ ušṭureék (vintr) ‘to jump’ (SWKA)
usní (n) ‘a slip’, ‘a falling down’ usní dik (vtr, vintr) (TMF): hasé ušṭureáʋa hatoó ḍek očítay ‘While
‘to fall down hard’: hes ponén boγáʋa usní pray s/he was jumping her/his leg broke.’ (SWKA)
‘While going along the road he fell very hard.’ ušṭuréik (vtr) ‘to cause to run away’; ‘to elope
usní gik (vintr) ‘to slip and fall backwards’ with’: hamít tan bóko ušṭuréy aláy ‘Hamid
{MNN} brought his wife by elopement.’ (AR) ‘to
usník (vintr) ‘to rise’, ‘stand up’, ‘get up’; ‘to go away abduct’, ‘kidnap’, ‘cause to elope’: salímo
(e.g. illness)’ (IF): hasé baʋúri žibíko ki bétay ispsáro ka ušṭuréru ‘Who eloped with Salim’s
hatoγó lehazí di usnír ‘If he is able to eat food sister?’ (SWKA); ‘to rescue (e.g. from
for patients, he will recover.’ (IF) usnéik (vtr) confinement, jail)’ (AR) [< Yidgah (M:1936)]
‘to lift’ (SWKA) (MNN) usneák (n) ‘lifter’ (MS) [< {RAKR, SWKA, IF, TMF, AR}
Skt. (M:1973) (T1873)] {MNN, RAKR, RKB, MS, ušuík /Other pronunc: ušiík (in Yarkhun)/ (vintr) ‘to
IF, SWKA} soften in water (e.g. dal, soil, rice, dried
ustád /Other pronunc: ustát (ZK)/ (n) ‘teacher’; (n) apricots)’: ušuidú ṣapík tseqó báče ǰam
‘master craftsman’; ‘blacksmith’ (ZK) ustadí (n) ‘Softened bread is good for a small child.’; ‘to
‘craftsmanship’: pisá nóqul nóqul išnári korí tan thaw (frozen ground, meat)’; ‘to soften (e.g. cold
ustadío éra ma pašáʋur ‘You (plural) make a butter)’ ušuoóku (adj) ‘able to be softened (in
unique thing and show your craftsmanship in water)’: čambór ušuoóku išnári ‘Dried apricots
it!’ (WSiC) [< Prs., Turkic] {MNN, ZK, WSiC} are easily softened in water.’ {SWKA}
ustáz (n) ‘teacher’; ‘skilled worker’ ustazí (n) ušupík (vintr) ‘to slip (of humans and animals)’
‘teaching (in a school)’ [< Prs., Turkic] {SWKA} ušupeék (vtr) ‘to make/cause to fall’; ‘to
misguide, to mislead’: šum royán su mo nišé- ta
usukík (vintr) ‘to leave mother’s milk’ (SWKA); ‘to ušupéni ‘Don’t sit (i.e. associate) with bad
dry up (of animal’s milk)’; ‘to stop giving milk (of people; they will misguide you.’ ušupoóku
animals)’ (TMF) aʋsekík (vtr) ‘to wean (MNN)
(adj) ‘slippery (of shoes, ground)’: ǰiphó ḍrayʋér
(TMF): tseqó aʋsekítam ‘I weaned the child.’
ušupoóku ponén bíko no zaúran ‘The jeep
(TMF) usukóku (adj) ‘able to leave mother’s
driver isn’t agreeing to go by the slippery road.’
milk when bodily development allows this’
ušupeyák (n) ‘something which causes
usukónu (adj) ‘at the proper age for weaning’:
h something / someone to slip’ [< Skt. (M:1973)]
tseq usukónu ki hoy t e aʋsekélik ‘When a child {SWKA}
has reached the age of weaning, then s/he
should be weaned.’ (SWKA); ‘weaned, having uṣák (adj) ‘cold’ (MNN) (SWKA) uṣák istarí (n) ‘the
left mother’s milk’ {MNN, SWKA, TMF} morning star’ (MNN) uṣák bašardóyu (n) Id.
‘one who expresses insincere condolences
usurík (vintr) ‘to disappear (of a plant species)’ after a death’ (MNN) uṣák roy ‘unrelated
(believed to happen when seeds of a species people (non-relatives)’ (MNN) uṣák gan (n) Id.
are taken away to another place) {IF} Lit. ‘cold wind’ Sense: ‘trouble’ (MNN) uṣák
uštéy (interjection) ‘go away!’ (call to drive away šoró (n) ‘the last part of autumn’ (MNN) uṣák
cow or bull) {MNN} šúni (adj) ‘of one who says bad things about
others, bad-mouths’ (MNN) uṣakí (n) ‘coldness,
uštruxík /Other pronunc: ištruxík (RKB) (MNN)/ cold’ [< Skt. (T2561)] {MNN, SWKA}
(vintr) ‘to sneeze’ uštruxéik (vtr) ‘to cause to
sneeze’: tamáku ma uštruxétay ‘The tobacco uṣúng (n) ‘male ibex, two to ten years of age’

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(Pasum); ‘small male ibex’ (IF) [< Skt. (M:1973) summon cow or to get her to give milk’ {MNN}
(T1856)] {Pasum, IF}
uxár (n) ‘ladder’ (MNN) (IF): tseq deqdéq uxárar
utík (vintr) ‘to enter (e.g. a house)’ (MNN): gul nayáb γerír ošóy ‘The child was about to fall from the
xatáni utáy ‘Gul Nayab entered the room.’ ladder (but didn’t).’ (SWKA); ‘wooden stairs’
(TMF) cḥ oγ kumaɫén af utítay ‘The thief came (MAK) [also in Wakhi (M:1936)] {MNN, MAK,
down into the house through the smokehole.’ SWKA, IF}
(RKB); ‘to begin’ (TMF): ǰanʋarí mas utáy ‘The úxti /Other pronunc: úhrti (MNN)/ (adj) ‘next,
month of January has begun.’ [< Skt. (T227) coming’: hasé úxti adinén šadí korák biráy ‘He
(T:p.c.) (TMF) {MNN, TMF, RKB} is reportedly going to get married next Friday.’
utruc̣ík (vintr) ‘to rip, be torn (e.g. clothes)’: bápo {RKB, MNN}
pirán utruc ̣íru ‘The old man’s shirt is torn.’ uxtík (vintr) /Other pronunc uhtík/ ‘to turn back’: uxtí
(SWKA) utruc̣oóku (adj) ‘easily torn, delicate’: áči hay ‘S/he turned and came back.’ {RKB}
utruc ̣oóku zap mo angyé ‘Don’t bring easily
torn cloth.’ (SWKA) atrec̣ík /Other pronunc: uzgurík (vintr) ‘to start laying eggs (again)’ {MNN}
atrac̣ík (MNN)/ (vtr) ‘to tear, rip (cloth)’ (SWKA, uzguṭhík (vintr) ‘to vomit’ uzguṭhéik (vtr) ‘to cause to
MNN); ‘to split (wood)’ (SWKA) {SWKA, MNN} vomit’: gandá ṣapík ma uzguṭhétay ‘Bad food
utupík (vintr) ‘to warm oneself (as by the fire)’: aʋá made me vomit.’ (RAKR) {RAKR, RKB}
angár utupíman ‘I am warming myself by the uzuík (vintr) ‘to freeze (of living things)’ (MNN):
fire.’ atepík (vtr) ‘to warm (someone)’: he moóš uzuidúote angár korélik ‘We should make a fire
ǰam angár korí ispá atepítay ‘That man made a for the (nearly) frozen person.’ (MNN); ‘to feel
good fire and warmed us.’ [< Skt. (T1763)] extremely cold’, ‘to be freezing’ (Mastuj): uzuí
{MNN} asúm ‘I am freezing.’ (GMKH) uzuídu kuɫúči
ut ánu (adj) ‘reclining’, ‘lying down’: aʋá uthánu bíti
h (n) Id. Lit. ‘a shivering chick’ Sense: ‘one
crouched over from cold’ (IWA) {MNN, Mastuj,
niší asúm ‘I am reclining.’ (See also thánu) GMKH, IWA}
uthánu dik (vintr) ‘to fall on one’s back’ [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T1785)] {MNN} užád (adj) ‘insistent’ (ZHD) užadí (n) ‘insistence’
{MNN, ZHD}
uthún (n) ‘responsibility’ {MNN}
užnú (n) ‘village in Torkhow’ užnék (n) ‘person from
uts (n) ‘spring (water source)’ [< Skt. (M:1973)
Village Uzhnu’ {MNN}
(T1869)] {MNN}
užurík (vintr) ‘to flow here and there out of the usual
uṭúṭi (n) ‘chaff (wheat)’ {MNN}
channel (of water)’ (for example, as water in a
uγ /Other pronunc: uúγ/ (n) ‘water’ uγ dreék (vtr) ‘to frozen stream flows around the frozen part)
give water from canal by turns (involves closing {NKN}
off other outlets upstream)’ uγó múɫa (adj)
uẓ (adj, n) ‘bristling (of hair) (animals)’; ‘fluffing up of
‘irrigated (as opposed to rain-fed, land or crop)’
feathers (birds)’ uẓ bik (vintr) ‘to bristle (of
uγdén (n) ‘specific place in a stream where
animals)’; ‘to fluff up feathers (birds)’ {MNN}
drinking water is brought from’; ‘hole cut in ice
in winter in order to get water’ (MNN); ‘place uẓgúr (n) ‘a single glowing coal’ {MS}
where water is collected’ (MNN) uγ c̣akeék (vtr)
uẓurík (vintr) ‘to scatter’: ma ṣaʋáy uẓurín hóni ‘My
‘to irrigate’ uγ dik (vtr) ‘to irrigate’; ‘to water
(livestock)’, ‘give water to drink’ (either by hand beads have scattered.’ (vtr) ‘to sprinkle (water on
or by taking them to water) (MNN) uγ korík (vtr) something)‘ uẓuréik (vtr) (Causative of uẓurík)
‘to irrigate’, uγ laákik (vintr, vtr) ‘to urinate’ Lit. ‘to have something scattered by someone else’:
‘to release water’ (RAKR) uγdóyu (n) ‘one who aʋá hoó c ̣akéi ṣaʋayán uẓurétam ‘I got him/her
brings water’ (MNN) uγeéɫ (n) ‘black-colored to scatter the beads.’ [< Skt. (T1675)] {ZMZ}
diving bird which lives near rivers’ (MNN) (See uẓúẓum korík (vtr) ‘to reach out helplessly for
also -oóγ) [< Skt. (M:1973)] {MNN, MA, SWKA, something attractive (of a child)’ {MNN}
RAKR}
uẓʋaht (n) ‘village near Shagram in Torkhow’ {MNN}
uúšté (interjection) ‘come here!’ (call to summon
cow or bull)’ úuušté (interjection) ‘call to ʋa (adj) ‘more’; ‘else’; ‘additionally’: ta sum ʋa ka

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ʋá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ʋanagá

asítay ‘Who else was with you?’ (MNN); naʋáhts mo bos ‘Don’t be an obstacle for me.’
(conjunction) ‘and’: ma braár mešṭér (ʋa) aʋá (i.e. ‘Get out of my way. Don’t oppose me.’)
dukandár ‘My brother is a teacher and I am a (SWKA) cḥ etráro pon bo naʋáhts ‘The road to
shopkeeper.’ (SWKA); (adv) ‘again’ (RKB) ʋádi Chitral is very dangerous.’ (SWKA) naʋahtsí
(conjunction) ‘even so’: agárki ma lu γalát biráy (n) ‘inconvenience’, ‘danger, ‘dangerous place’:
ʋádi háni noh. ‘Even if what I say turns out to moṭér naʋahtsía ispá róytu pray ‘The vehicle
be wrong, still it is not so very wrong.’ (MNN) came face-to-face with us at a dangerous place.’
{MNN, SWKA, RKB} (SWKA) naʋatshéik (vtr) ‘to cause difficulty,
inconvenience’ (SG) [< Bur. warts ‘in proper
ʋá (interjection) ‘stressed exclamatory particle,
order; right; well-done, correct’ (Berger 1998:
which when appearing sentence finally, adds a
465) (Lorimer 1938: 371)] {MNN, SWKA, SG}
sense of emphasis, something like “definitely”’:
ma γoš birúa aʋá boγesám ʋá ‘If I had had ʋáhum (n) ‘fear’; (adj) ‘afraid’ ʋáhum bik (vintr) ‘to
time, I definitely would have gone.’ (MNN) [< be afraid that something will happen’:
Prs. (M:1936)] {MNN, SWKA) RKB} [Sentence] reé ʋáhum bik ‘to fear that
something [Sentence] will happen’: hanún baṣír
ʋaáž /Other pronunc: ʋaž (NKN) (Proper Chitral);
ʋanǰ (Laspur women)/ (n) ‘adze’ [< Skt.
reé ʋáhum asúm ‘I am afraid that it will rain
(T11588) (Z:p.c.) {MNN, NKN, Laspur women, today.’ (IF) ʋáhum korík (vtr) ‘to frighten’ (MS);
Chitral town} ‘to fear’ (IF) N-OBL sar ʋáhum korík ‘to fear N’
(IF) ʋahmí (adj) ‘(habitually) fearful’ {IF, MS}
ʋafá (n) ‘faithfulness’, ‘trustworthiness’ beʋafá (adj)
‘faithless’, ‘unfaithful’ [< Prs.] {RAKR} ʋaǰá(h) (n) ‘reason’ beʋaǰá (adj, adv) ‘for no reason’
[< Ar., Prs.] {SWKA}
ʋaγ1 (n) ‘price’ ʋaγ c̣akéik (vtr) ‘to set a price on
something’ ʋaγí (adj) ‘expensive’; ‘precious’ ʋal (n) ‘guardian’, ‘caretaker’ ʋalí (n) ‘one’s turn to
ʋáγa bik (vintr) ‘to be sold at a good price’ look after/stand watch over something’: aʋá
beʋáγ (adj) ‘cheap’; ‘of little value’ [< Ir. ʋalíot bi astam ‘I went/had gone for my turn at
(M:1936)] {MAK, IF} watch.’ (MAK) reṣuʋalí ma gíti šer ‘It is my
ʋaγ2 (n) ‘howling’, ‘wailing’ ʋaγeék /Other pronunc: turn to watch the bull(s).’ (MAK) žoyʋalí ‘turn
ʋaγóik (in Torkhow), ʋaγéik (RAKR)/ (vintr) ‘to to guard/ watch over the water channel’ (MAK)
wail (e.g. child)’: the tseq di ʋaγeéka pray ‘Then {WSiC, MAK}
she also began to wail a little.’ (WSiC); ‘to howl ʋalaγbéɫu (n) ‘time shortly before dawn’; ‘last hours
(e.g. fox)’ ʋaγ korí sóra dik (vintr) ‘to shout at of night’ {MNN}
someone in anger’ (IF) ʋáγuʋáγu korík (vintr,
vtr) ‘to cry continuously (of a child)’ (IF) [< Ir. cf. ʋaldúzi (n) ‘chain stitch embroidery’ {IWA}
Wakhi ʋāγ ‘lamentation’ ‘outcry’ (Lorimer 1958: ʋalóγun (n, adv) ‘three days after tomorrow’ {MNN}
276); also Yaghnobi waγ- and vaγon- ‘to cry,
weep’] {WSiC, IF, RAKR} ʋáɫu1 (n) ‘one of two main branches of a tree trunk’;
‘main stem of a tree’ (IF): troyʋaɫí ‘three-
ʋaγší korík (vtr) ‘to nourish’, ‘to bring up’ {MNN} stemmed tree’ (IF); ‘nostril’ (IF); ‘part of a taxt
ʋah (n) ‘a bad smell’, ‘stink’, ‘foul smell’ ʋah ločhík (blanket)’ (IF); ‘one of two things which usually
(vintr) ‘to give off a bad smell’, ‘to stink’: loqó occur together’ (ZMZ) {ZMZ, IF}
mo paláʋe, ʋah lačhúran ‘Don’t burn the rags; a ʋáɫu2 (n) ‘unit of measure’: čhór béɫu i ʋáɫu ‘Four
bad smell is coming.’ {MNN} béɫu are equal to one ʋáɫu.’ (SWKA); ‘measure
ʋahrkéṭi /Other pronunc: ʋarkhéṭi (Parwak)/ (n) equal to two maunds’ (IF) ʋaɫí burdíki (n) ‘skin
‘small cylindrical basket made of bark used for bag which holds one ʋáɫu (made from a bull
carded wool’ (RAKR); ‘two-compartmented box skin)’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN, IF}
where pižónu (bunches of carded wool) are ʋam (n) ‘loan’ (SWKA); (adv) ‘on credit’ (ARC)
kept’ (Parwak) {MAK, RAKR 1988, Parwak} ʋamdár (n) ‘debtor’ (TMF) {SWKA, ARC, TMF}
ʋahts /Other pronunc: ʋahrts, ʋaáhts (MNN)/ (adj) ʋanagá /Other pronunc: ʋanagáh (SWKA) (Chitral
‘convenient’, ‘easy’, ‘safe’ ʋaáhts (adj) ‘safe’, town)/ (adv) ‘by chance’: ʋanagá pišáʋura ki
‘not dangerous’, ‘comfortable’, ‘convenient’
bóγdu biráʋ máte malṭá anzáʋe ‘If you happen
(MNN) naʋáhts (adj) ‘dangerous’,
to go to Peshawar, send me some oranges.’
‘inconvenient’, ‘obstacle-like’, ‘difficult’: máte

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ʋángah Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ʋaṭ

(MNN); ‘possibly (in negative sentences)’: máte Prov. Lit. ‘Even if a ʋardú is broken it can still
kórum ki nisáy ʋanagáh gíko no bom ‘If an be valuable.’ Sense: ‘Something that is first
(unexpected) task turns up, I may not be able to perceived as a loss can turn out to be a gain.’
come.’ (SWKA); ‘maybe’: ganísi ʋanagáh ‘We (This proverb might be applied in the case
may (want to) buy it.’ (Chitral town) when a daughter is divorced but then remarried
ʋa̍nagahíut (adv) ‘suddenly’: γarámar niší in a better place.) (MAK); ‘stone vessel in which
asítam ʋa̍nagahíut thuék nisáy ‘I was sitting dishes containing liquid are cooked’ (MS)
peacefully when suddenly a rifle went off.’ ʋardék (n) ‘lid of ʋárdu’ ʋard (n) ‘round stone
(MNN) {MNN, SWKA, Chitral town} heated to cook bread on’ (MS) [< Skt. T11348
√vṛt ] {MAK, MS}
ʋángah ‘rarely’: hasé ʋángah ʋáxta goy ‘He rarely
ʋaremún /Other pronunc: ʋarimún/ (n) ‘village in
comes on time.’ hayá uts ʋánga čhiúr (a) ‘This
Terich valley’ {MNN}
spring rarely runs dry.’ (b) ‘Let this spring not
run dry.’; ‘possibly’: tu ponγosíote mo boγé- ʋarγaán /Other pronunc: ʋarγán/ (n) ‘carcass of
hanún ʋángah baṣír ‘Don’t go travelling, it slaughtered animal’ (RAKR); ‘dead body of
may rain today.’ (SWKA: Similar to ʋanagáh animal, corpse‘ (IF) {RAKR, IF}
but apparently with some semantic change, and ʋaršigúm (n) ‘the Yasin valley’ {IWK}
not always interchangeable) {SWKA}
ʋarú (n) ‘summer rainfall’ (MNN); ‘liquid
ʋanǰ /Other pronunc: ʋánǰi (Laspur, Gupis, precipitation’ (SWKA) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN,
Ishkoman, Ghizar) / (n) ‘adze’ (cf. ʋaáž or ʋáž SWKA}
in other dialects)’ (See also ʋaáž) {Laspur,
GNK} ʋáru (n) ‘crop’: goóm tez ažák ʋáru ‘Wheat is a fast-
sprouting crop.’, ‘yield (of crop)’ (obsolescent
ʋaqayá (n) ‘event’, ‘occasion’ [> Ar., Prs.] {IF} word) {SWKA}
ʋaqayí (interjection, adv) ‘indeed’; ‘really’ {SWKA}
-ʋarúni (adj) ‘bound morpheme, suffixed to color
ʋaqhík /Other pronunc: ʋakhík, ʋaxeék/ (vintr) ‘to terms indicates a person wearing clothes of that
bark (dog)’ [Probably < Ir., cf. Yaghnobi waγ- color’ [< Skt. (M:1973)] {SWKA}
and vaγon- ‘to cry, weep’] {MNN}
ʋarʋár korIk (vtr) ‘to tear up’, ‘to rip’ {RAKR}
-ʋar (n) ‘nominal morpheme meaning language or
ʋarz (n) ‘beginning’, ‘start’, ‘origin’; ‘top’: bazáro
specific form of expression’ khoʋár ‘language
ʋárza kya dukán šéni ‘What shops are at the
of the Kho people’ alγaniʋár ‘Pashto language’
top/beginning of the bazaar?’ (MS); ‘far
(MNN); ‘tune or melody characteristic of some end/front (of a room)’ (AR); ‘head of the bed of
activity’: γaɫʋár ‘traditional tune/song played at
a seriously ill person’ (AR): aʋá axerí ṭéma toó
polo matches’ {MNN} ʋárza tóortam ‘I reached his/her bedside at the
ʋaraγí (n) ‘leather straps to tie inflated skin used as last moment.’ (AR) ʋárza c̣akéy ‘starting from
a float (dril) to the body of a swimmer ’: driló the beginning’ (RAKR) ʋrazní (n) ‘pillow’ (MNN)
ʋaraγí ‘straps of an inflated skin float’ (SWKA); [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, RAKR, WSiC, MS}
‘motion of the arms while swimming’ (MS) ʋarzík (vtr) ‘to bear a kid (baby goat) out of season’
{SWKA, MS} {SWKA}
ʋaráng (n) ‘skin cape worn to protect one’s back ʋásum (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ ʋasmík (n) ‘person
from thorns when carrying loads on the back’: from Vasum’ {SWKA}
sóra šoqá níki- ʋaráng ‘There is no woolen
cloak on his back - only a skin cape’ (IWK) ʋašél (n) ‘washer (used in plumbing)’ [< Eng.
ʋarángo γon Lit. ‘like a skin cape’ Sense: ‘big ‘washer’] {Chitral town}
and wide’, ʋarángo báhrki Lit. ‘as big as a skin ʋašlí (n) ‘graft (of tree)’ ʋašlí korík (vtr) ‘to graft (a
cape’ Fig. ‘very big and wide’: ʋarángo báhrki tree)’ {MNN}
korí aláy ‘It is snowing with big wet
-ʋat (n) ‘time’ (occurs in compound words like
snowflakes.’ (N) {MNN, RKB, IF, IWK, N} kyáʋat ‘when?)’ {MNN}
ʋardú /Other pronunc: ʋárdu (MS)/ (n) ‘vessel made ʋaṭ (n) ‘a piece of stone split off from a larger rock’
of muc ̣k (soapstone?)’: ʋardú čhíti ʋáγa porík [< Skt. (T11348)] {RAKR}

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ʋaʋ Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ʋeṣeék

ʋaʋ (n) ‘grandmother’; ‘old woman’ (can be used to ʋelayatí gambúri (n) ‘phlox’ Lit. ‘foreign flower’
refer to any woman, signifying neither extreme Phlox paniculata {Booni}
respect, nor disrespect) (Laspur women)
ʋaʋgíni (pl n) ‘grandmothers’ ʋaʋí (n) -ʋéni (adj) ‘bound morpheme suffixed to nouns,
‘respectful/ affectionate term for grandmother or meaning ‘someone who has/owns X’, where X
old woman’ (SWKA) {SWKA, Laspur women} is the referent of the noun’ bokʋéni ‘married,
having a wife (of man)’ mošʋéni ‘married,
ʋaʋáɫi (n) ‘female of the mallard duck species having a husband (of woman)’ durʋéni ‘owning
whose male is tatáɫi’ {MNN} a house’ {MNN}
ʋaxší (adj) ‘lovingly cuddled and coddled (as by a ʋerán (adj) ‘bored’: aʋá hatoγó sar ʋerán hótam ‘I
mother to her child)’; ‘pampered’; ‘spoiled (as of got bored with him/her.’ (RKB) ʋerán korík
a child by too much pampering)’ {SWKA} (vtr) ‘to pester someone’ (RAKR); ‘to ask
ʋaxt /Other pronunc: ʋat/ (n) ‘time’ ʋaxtamái ʋaxta someone to do something he doesn’t want to
‘a long time ago’; ‘once upon a time’ {MNN, do’ (RAKR); ‘to bore someone’ (RKB) {RAKR,
SWKA, RKB} RKB}
ʋaz (n) ‘sermon’; ‘advice’ [< Prs., Turkic] {SWKA} ʋerčík (n) ‘inhabitant of the Yasin Valley (ʋaršigúm)’
ʋerčíkʋár ‘Burushaski dialect spoken in Yasin’
ʋazír (n) ‘minister’, ‘adviser’ ʋazirí (n); ‘good, clever {IWK}
advice’ ʋazirí korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to give good and
clever advice’ [ Ar., Prs.] {RAKR, RKB} ʋereéγ (adj) ‘visible’, ‘in view (from a specific point)’
ʋereγí (n) ‘visibility’ {SWKA}
ʋaẓík (vtr) ‘to wind (e.g. ball of yarn)’: hes šutró
ʋaẓíran ‘Sh/e is winding the thread.’ or ‘S/he is ʋerkhálu (n) ‘male sheep more than four years of
playing with thread.’; ‘to plow a second time’ age’ (RAKR); ‘large ram, larger than bran’ (IF)
{MNN} {RAKR, IF}

ʋe- (adj) ‘negative prefix which added to nouns ʋerkhú /Other pronunc: ʋehrkú (RAKR) (IF)/ (n)
forms adjectives or nouns meaning ‘without x’, ‘lamb’ ʋerkhuγíši (n) ‘lamb skin’ [Probably < Ir.]
or ‘x-less’, where x is the noun to which it is {MNN, SWKA, RAKR, IF}
added’ ʋedúru (adj) ‘homeless’ (SWKA) ʋexál ʋeruúm (n) ‘felt (cloth of matted wool)’ {SWKA}
(adj) ‘tasteless’, ‘bland’ {GNK} [Prs. < Ir.
ʋesanátu /Other pronunc; ʋetanásu (by
(M:1936)] {SWKA, GNK}
metathesis)/ (adj) ‘ugly’; ‘fearsome’ {SWKA,
ʋeažirú (n) ‘childless person’ ʋeažíru (adj) RAKR}
‘childless’ {MNN}
ʋesík (vtr, vintr) ‘to wait for someone’: ʋesíru sayúrǰo
ʋebósu (adj) ‘silly’; ‘laughable’ (e.g. the butt of a sar dosíru kiṣípi ǰam Prov. Lit. ‘A caught
joke) {SWKA} magpie is better than an awaited falcon.’ (Cf.
ʋeč ík (vtr) ‘to ask for something’; ‘beg alms’
h the Eng. proverb: ‘A bird in the hand is worth
(SWKA); ‘to formally request/propose a two in the bush.’) (TMF) (MNN) tu gíka pat aʋá
marriage’ (MYS); ‘to ask for in marriage’ ta ʋesím ‘I will wait for you until you come.’
(SWKA) ʋečhárum ‘things that can be (MNN) {MNN, SAS, TMF}
borrowed, e.g. an agricultural implement or
animal borrowed for a short period of time and ʋesóru (n) Lit. ‘without a head’; ‘widow’ (MYS),
then returned’ (MS): ʋečhármo ʋam níki ‘There ‘widower’ (SWKA) ʋesorí (n) ‘widowhood’ (IF):
is no required replacement of a borrowed thing aʋá ʋesorí kóri hétan bardétam. ‘I brought
(in case it is broken or has died).’ (IF); ‘things them up enduring widowhood.’ (IF) {MYS,
that can be given as alms to a beggar’ (RKB) [< SWKA, IF}
Skt. (M:1973) (T2322)] {MS, MYS, SWKA, ʋeširáʋ (adj) ‘vulgar’, ‘silly’ {SWKA}
RKB, IF}
ʋeškál (adj) ‘one-headed’ {IF}
ʋedác̣u (adj) ‘ugly’ < Ir. + Skt. [ʋe- ‘without’ + T6116
(Z:p.c.)] {SWKA} ʋeṣeék /Other pronunc: ʋeṣéik/ (vtr) ‘to send (a
person, e.g. a daughter to her groom’s house)’
ʋedínkot (n) ‘village in Baroghil’ ʋedinkotík (n) (SWKA) (IWA): tu tán boγé xur kos mo ʋeṣáʋe
‘person from Wedinkot’ {SWKA} ‘You go yourself; don’t send anyone else.’

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ʋeṣkú Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ʋrenǰík

(SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T2323)] {MNN, ʋird bik (vintr) ‘to be deprived of something’: cḥ oγó
SWKA, MS, IWA} purníka paysán sar di ʋird hótam ‘Because of
ʋeṣkú (n) ‘basket used for carrying things on a the thief I was deprived of my money too.’
person’s back’ {MNN, MAK, MA} {MNN}

ʋeṣú (n) ‘bullet’ (MNN); ‘arrow’ (Drosh) [< Skt. ʋírum (n) ‘first boiling’ ʋírum gik (vintr) ‘for the first
(M:1973) (T2324)] {MNN, Drosh} boiling to come’: čey ʋírum hay ‘The tea has
begun to boil.’ {SWKA}
ʋetafáru (adj) ‘ugly’ {SWKA}
ʋisál (n) ‘meeting’ [< Prs.] {ZMZ}
ʋethúk (n) ‘stick’: hes tan rényo ʋethúken dóyan ‘He
is beating his dog with a stick.’ (MNN) {MNN, ʋólṭi /Other pronunc: ʋélṭi (more common in Lower
MA} Chitral)/ ‘toward’: aʋá cḥ etráro ʋélṭi bíman ‘I am
going towards Chitral.’ (See also syn. ʋóṣki /
ʋex (n) ‘Wakhan’ (IF) ʋexík /Other pronunc: ʋoxík ʋéṣki) {SWKA}
(Parwak)/ (n) ‘person from Wakhan’: Saying:
ʋexíkot biyár ki praʋ hunót xaṣáp koróy ‘If you ʋom (n) ‘non-transparent, dirty ice’; ‘glacial ice
seat a person from Wakhan behind you on the mixed with stones and earth - looks like soil
saddle, he will grab the saddle from you.’ (IWA) from the top but is ice from below’ {MNN}
{IWA, SWKA, IF, MNN} ʋoór (adj) ‘fragrant’, ‘sweet-smelling’ (MNN) ʋorí (n)
‘fragrance’ (MNN) (WSiC) [< Ir. (cf. Wakhi)
ʋez1 (n) ‘medicine’: γéčo ʋez drém ‘I will put
(M:1936)] {MNN, WSiC}
medicine in my eye.’ (MA) ʋez korík (vtr) ‘to
treat with medicine’ (MNN) ʋezí (n) ‘cure’: ta ʋor (n) ‘weft/woof (in weaving)’ (SWKA) ʋortón
bandéru ʋez máte ʋezí arér ‘The medicine you ‘warp and weft’ (SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973)
prescribed cured me.’ (SWKA) ʋezí korík (vtr) (T2326)] {SWKA}
‘to affect’: ma nasihát hatoγóte ʋezí arér ‘My ʋorbiʋóru (n) ‘dried and ground coriander seeds’
advice had an affect on him.’ (SWKA) [< Skt. {MNN}
(T12140)] {MNN, MA, SWKA, ZHD, MYS}
ʋošík (vtr) ‘to brush off dirt, chaff, etc. from
ʋez 2
(n) ‘gunpowder’ ʋez nezík (vtr) ‘to make winnowed wheat’ ʋóšun (n) ‘soft broom used
gunpowder’ (SWKA): hanún zamanaá ʋez nezák only for collecting grain after winnowing’ (made
bo kam asúni ‘These days there are very few from stalks of žaá plant) {MNN}
gunpowder makers.’ (SWKA) ʋezmá (n) ʋóṣki /Other pronunc: ʋéṣki/ (n) ‘side’, ‘direction’:
‘leather pouch for gunpowder’ (ZHD); ‘a small ma ʋéṣkyar táte kya taklíf no boy ‘You won’t
wooden device used to weigh gunpowder for have any trouble from me.’ (SWKA);
loading a gun’ (MYS) {SWKA, ZHD, MYS} (postposition) ‘towards’; (See also syn. ʋólṭi,
ʋezén (n) ‘evening’ (MNN): ma ʋezénot sabáq rélik ʋélṭi) {MNN, SWKA, Laspur women}
‘I have to study (my lessons) in the evening.’ ʋoṭ (n) ‘vote’, ‘election’: ispá ʋóṭo baraá lu phrétam
(MNN); ‘yesterday’ (SWKA); ‘yesterday’ (IF: in ‘We talked about the election/ politics.’ [< Eng.
Laspur) ʋezeníti (n, adv) ‘2-3 hours after ‘vote’] {MNN}
sundown and before sleeping, around 7-9 p.m.’
(IF) ʋezenʋáxtu (n, adv) ‘time from sundown to ʋrázun (n) ‘wing (of bird)’ (MNN); ‘main wheel of
midnight’ (IF) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, SWKA, IF} spinning wheel’ (RAKR); ‘side pieces which
support a spinning wheel’ (Parwak); ‘blade (of
ʋezgúɫu /Other pronunc: ʋezgúɫuk (in Chitral town), fan or water wheel)’ (MNN) [< Ir. (M:1936)]
ʋesgúɫu (MNN)/ (n) ‘bangle’ {SWKA, Laspur, {MNN, RAKR, IF, Parwak}
MNN}
ʋražúnu /Other pronunc: ʋražún (MA)/ (n) ‘thread
ʋézi korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to say something (a single as it leaves spindle after being spun’ (RAKR);
word): aʋá hatoγó sar bašár arétam mágam ‘joining of two yarns or two pižónu’ (MAK);
hasé ʋézi no arér ‘I asked (about it), but he ‘connection, link’ (MAK) {RAKR, MAK}
didn’t utter a single word.’ {SWKA}
ʋrendz (n) ‘sharp pain in one’s side’ {MNN, SWKA}
ʋezʋánu (adj) ‘frightening’, ‘scary (of sound)’
ʋrenǰík (vintr) ‘to sizzle (as of roasting meat)’: pušúr
{TMFW}
ʋrenǰúran ‘The meat is sizzling.’ (SWKA) aʋá

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ʋreẓnú Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes xap

yóra ʋrenǰítam ‘I am roasting in the sun.’ Id. xalmást (n) ‘lightning that strikes the ground’ (MNN)
Sense: ‘I am extremely hot.’ (ZMZ) ʋrenǰéik See entry for halmást {MNN}
(vtr) ‘to roast’ (used metaphorically for effects of xalmút (n) ‘too large a piece of bread’: xalmút korí
hot sunlight on a person (Parwak); (ZMZ: Used
kyaní kósan ‘Why have you taken such a huge
metaphorically for negative actions by someone
against someone else) [< Ir., cf. Yidgah word piece of bread?’ (AR); ‘bread which is soft
(M:1936)] {SWKA, ZMZ, Parwak} inside’ (AR) {AR}

ʋreẓnú /Other pronunc: ʋreǰnú (IF)/ (n) ‘garlic’ xalpáč /Other pronunc: xelpéč, xelpáč/ (n) ‘cloth
placed under a horse blanket (IF) xelpáč (n)
Allium sativum [< Skt. (T2390)] {SWKA, IF, ‘piece of ordinary cloth placed directly on a
IFM} horse’s back’ (MS) {IF, MS}
xabár (adj) ‘aware of (something)’ (MNN) aʋá kya xaltá (n) ‘small bag’; ‘small, embroidered bag’
xabár ‘I don’t know’ (RAKR) (MNN) bexabár (Drosh) [< Turkic] {MNN, IWA, IF, Drosh}
(adj) ‘unaware’, ‘not knowing about something’
xabár korík (vtr) ‘to inform’, ‘make aware’: xaltabár (n) ‘co in-laws’ (See also toxmirán) (←
pišáʋurote boγáʋa máte xabár ko, ǰamaá xaltá ‘bag’ + bar ‘carry’) {IWA}
‘When you leave for Peshawar, let me know, xaɫáng (n) ‘quilt’ {MNN, SWKA}
okay?’ (MNN) xabár bíko (adv) ‘suddenly’,
xaɫáʋ (n) ‘mouse’ xaɫaʋánu (n) ‘place where a
‘immediately’ (RAKR); ‘just then’ (MNN): aʋá mouse can get in’ ṭaṭár xaɫáʋ ‘species of small
niší astám xabár bíko ma braár hay ‘I had sat rodent, weak, with a small tail’ (IF) [< Skt.
down; just then my brother came.’ (MNN); (M:1973) (T3840)] {RKB, IF}
‘maybe’: xabár bíko gul nayáb goy ‘Maybe Gul
xam (n) ‘small plateau’ {MNN}
Nayab will come.’ (TMFW); ‘just now’;
‘unexpectedly’ (RAKR) xabára gik ‘to look after xamák (n) ‘embroidery which is the same on both
something’, ‘to take care of something’ sides’ {IWA}
xabareék (vtr) ‘to inform’: aʋá hayií bi
xamaxá (adv) ‘definitely’ [< Prs.] {MNN, WSiC}
xabareém ‘I will go inside and inform (them).’
(WSiC) {MNN, RAKR, WSiC, TMFW} xambáx (n) ‘stone-lined storage pit for flour, located
in the ṭek’ (IF); ‘flour bin’ (RAKR) xambaxéni
xačíṣ (n) ‘pure barley’ Hordium vulgare {RAKR} (n) (See also syn. xambáx) (RAKR) (Note:
RAKR says that for him this is an obsolete
xaf (n) ‘dried pith (used as kindling in striking a
word; he has heard the word but not seen the
spark)’ {RAKR 1988}
object it refers to.) {IF, RAKR}
xafá (adj) ‘annoyed’, ‘angry’, ‘sad’ (MNN) xafaí (n)
xanák (n) ‘smallish wooden plate’ (word no longer in
‘anger’, ‘sadness’ xafagí (n) ‘sadness’, ‘grief’
use) (MNN); ‘flat wooden bowl for bread’ (MAK)
(MNN) {MNN, SWKA}
{MNN, MAK}
xafqán e qalb (n) ‘heart trouble’ [ARC: < Prs.
xangí (n) ‘supernatural being - household spirit
Hakims traditionally name diseases and
which protects a household, sometimes
prescriptions in Persian.] {ARC}
appears in the form of a snake’ (IWA); ‘guardian
xal (n) ‘taste’ ʋexál (adj) ‘tasteless’, ‘bland’, ‘not spirit of the house’ (MS: It appears in the form
having enough salt’ xal dik (vintr) ‘to be of a large black snake or a young woman in a
pleasing’, ‘to please’, ‘to appeal to’ xaldiyoóku green shirt and white doputtah. When annoyed,
(adj) ‘pleasing’, ‘satisfying’ ‘appealing’: ta it hides household items, makes strange
mašqulgí bo xaldiyoóku ‘Your conversation is noises, clangs dishes. On a day when a xangí
very pleasant.’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {SWKA} is seen in the form of a snake, a fragrant dish
containing ghee, (doxná), is put out for the
xalás (adj) ‘finished (of something)’; ‘finished with or xangí by a woman of the house.); ‘domestic
free from something (of person)’: bríkar kyáwat guardian spirit (no gender), which must be kept
di xalás bin no boy ‘One can never escape happy to ensure welfare of house’ (It runs away
death.’ (MAK) xalasí (n) ‘freedom from if it sees people.); ‘a snake-like being which
something’ (TMF); ‘escape from something’ lives in a house in the shape of a man’
{MNN, RAKR, MAK, TMF} (Parwak) {IWA, MS, IF, Parwak}
xalí (adv) ‘just’, ‘only’ {WSiC} xap (n) ‘a quick glance’; ‘a fleeting glance’ {ZMZ,

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xapési Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes xayginá

TMF} xatán (n) ‘room in a traditional Chitrali house

(baypaṣ or rathéni)’ xatumán (plural of xatán)
xapési /Other pronunc: xapúsi/ (n) ‘imaginary being
‘house’: aʋá dušambén xatumána c ̣akúman ‘I
which lies on top of a sleeping person and
causes him/her to utter strange sounds’; (will) start work on making (my) house on
‘incubus’: xapési ma sóri poórtay ‘An incubus Monday.’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {RKB}
lay on top of me.’ {MS} xatbár (n) ‘feather or straw used by children or
students used as a bookmark to mark their
xarbuzá (n) ‘watermelon’, ‘canteloupe’ Citrullus place while reading’ {IF}
lanatus [< Ur., < Ir.] {SWKA}
xatér (postposition) ‘for the sake of’ {RAKR}
xárik (n) ‘bridge of a sitar, which supports the
strings’ {Sonoghor} xátum bahkát (n) ‘a dish or vessel given to
bridegroom by bride’s mother when new couple
xarúš (n) ‘mange’; ‘skin disease of animals’ (MNN); is about to leave bride’s home’; ‘a copper glass’
‘eczema’; ‘fungal infection of skin’ (IF) (cf. loṭ {IWA}
cḥ omík) xarúši (adj) ‘mangy’ {IF, MNN}
xátsum (n) ‘owner’ {RKB}
xarxáɫič (n) ‘plant whose seeds are given to children
to improve their ability to articulate (certain) xaṭáki /Other pronunc: ṭaṭáki (MNN, IWA: in
sounds’ (MNN); ‘bitter tasting herb’ (IWK); Mastuj)/ ‘wooden peg at end of plowshaft which
holds the čheé in place’ (See also syn. asurγaɫi
‘wormwood (?)’ Artemisia absithium (IWA)
in Rech) (MAK) {MNN, MAK, IWA}
{MNN, IWA, IWK}
xaṭinzá (adj) ‘of a place or person where everything
xasmát (adj) ‘tired’: ḍaq kosí kosí xasmát hoy ‘The
valuable has been destroyed’: tu ma xaṭinzá
boy got tired from walking for a long time.’
arú ‘You have taken away everything I
(SWKA) xasmatí (n) ‘tiredness’, ‘weariness’,
possess.’ (MAK) žúti xaṭinzá kárdu ‘(The cattle)
‘fatigue’: porín ki hoy xasmatí nisír ‘If one can
ate everything and left (the field) bare.’ (MA);
lie down/sleep, fatigue will go away.’ (MS)
(n) ‘place where nothing at all is left’: ta dur
{SWKA, MS, RKB}
xaṭinzá ‘There is nothing at all in your house.’
xastaá (interjection) expression indicating surprise. (MA); (n) ‘uncultivated land or field, where there
‘Oh!’ ‘Is that so?’ ‘Well!’ (RAKW) is nothing valuable growing’ (in Mulkhow,
xašṭár (n) ‘dirty dishes’ xašṭár nigík (vtr) ‘to wash Torkhow, Chitral town) (GNK) {GNK, MAK, MA}
dishes’ {RAKR, WSiC} xaʋsík (vtr) ‘to request something from someone’
xašuparán (n) ‘onions and spices fried in (MS: this is an obsolescent word.); ‘to make an
preparation of a curry dish’ (Synonym: ačár in oral complaint’ (RAKR): i ḍaq i ḍaqó díko hasé
Lower Chitral) {MNN, IF} ḍaq horó táto nása xaʋsítay ‘When one boy hit
another boy, that boy (the victim) complained
xaṣáp /Other pronunc: xac̣áp/ (adv) ‘quickly’: hasé
to his (the aggressor’s) father.’ (RAKR); ‘to
ma kormó xaṣáp arér ‘He did my work ask/beg for something (e.g. a dog begging for
quickly.’ (IWA) xac̣áp (n) ‘a grabbing motion’ food)’ (RAKR) xaʋsónu (n) ‘an oral complaint
xaṣáp korík (vtr) ‘to stretch the hand forward to or request’ (RAKR) (MS) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MS,
take something from someone’ (IWA); ‘to seize’ RAKR}
(TMF); ‘to grab’ [< Bur. γaṣáp étas ‘to seize’
(Berger 1998: 173)] {IWA, TMF} xaʋúnd (adj) ‘deserving of something’: háte mehfíla
izáto xaʋúnd roy gití astáni ‘Respectable
xaṣkéik /Other pronunc: xaṣkóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/
people came out of respect for that gathering.’
(vtr) ‘to hoe’, ‘to cultivate’ (SWKA): ma thešṭú
{ZHD}
xaṣkéiko baṣ ‘My onions need to be hoed.’
(SWKA); ‘to loosen something which is stuck’ xáy /Other pronunc: xáay/ (interjection) ‘expression
(IF) {SWKA, IF} of surprise, admiration, interest (in new
information)’: xáay hasé haṣ ǰam moóš biráy
xat (n) ‘letter (correspondence)’ [< Ur., Prs.] {MNN, ‘Oh, he turns out to be such a good man.’
WSiC}
(MAK) {MNN, MAK, MA, SWKA}
xatá bik (vintr) ‘to go astray’; ‘to miss (a target)’
xayginá (n) ‘dish of raw egg cooked in milk’ {MNN}
{ZMZ}

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xel Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes xomík

xel (n) ‘sweat’, ‘perspiration’ (MNN) xelíxeli ‘plant dósan ‘Why are you speaking against me?’
with feathery green leaves - used for medicinal {SWKA}
purposes’ (TMF), ‘plant whose seeds are used
to induce sweat’ (MNN) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, xindoní /Other pronunc: xamdoní, xandoní (MNN)/
TMF} (n) ‘spaniel’ (MNN); ‘breed of dog used for
hunting’ (MNN) [< Prs. xāndānī] {MNN, IS}
xepík (vtr) ‘to wash hair (of women)’ {MWT}
xirád (n) ‘metal hook with wooden handle which
xer (n) ‘smell (e.g. of human, animal)’ (AKM); ‘smell holds the piece of wood from which γaán and
(of garlic)’ (IFM) {AKM IFM} other wooden vessels are/were made’ {MNN}
xerík (vtr) ‘to clean by blowing (nose)’: tan naskár xiš (adj) ‘disappointed’, ‘frustrated’ {RAKR, WSiC}
xeré ‘Blow your nose!’ {Parwak} xišṭ (n) ‘fried wheat flour pounded into a cake’
xerínsk (n) ‘gravel’ (Chitral town) (See also xeríz) (SWKA); ‘wheat flour, mixed with salt, fried in
{Chitral town} ghee and then pounded until it is very hard’
(RAKR) (See also syn. xešṭíki) (RAKR)
xeríz (n) ‘fine gravel’, ‘small pebbles’ (MS) (See also {SWKA, RAKR}
xerinsk) {MS}
xɫak (n) ‘mucus’ {MNN, RAKR}
xérum (n) ‘hot ashes’: noγór uluíka xérum Prov. Lit.
‘When a fort collapses it crumbles to ashes.’ xɫik (n) ‘a hiccough/hiccup’ (MNN); ‘a gasp’ (MYS);
Sense: ‘When a delicate or complex thing is ‘dying breath’ (MYS) xɫik korík (vtr) ‘to
destroyed it cannot be restored to its original hiccough’ (MNN) (RAKR): ʋrendz díko hasé xɫik
condition.’ (Applied to situations when a arér ‘When s/he felt a shooting pain in his/her
person’s feelings have been seriously hurt by ribs s/he gasped.’ xɫikhík /Other pronunc: xɫexík
(ARC), xɫikík (MNN)/ (vintr) ‘to hiccough’, ‘to
someone, and the original feeling cannot be
gasp’: ko háni keɫísan xɫikhíko baṣ ‘Why are
regained.) (MS) {MS, GNK}
you crying so much that you are about to gasp?’
xestá (Other pronunc: xistá) (adj) ‘leavened (bread)’ (MNN) {MNN, MYS, ARC, RAKR}
{RAKR}
xodáy (n) ‘God’ xodayí (n) ‘alms’, ‘sacrifice’,
xeš (n) ‘close relative’ [< Prs.] {SWKA} ‘charity’: hasé duúrdúri bi xodayí maṣkáur ‘He
xeškó nasʋár (n) ‘Title of a long poem by ARC’; Id. used to go from door to door begging for alms.’
‘a situation or action the bad effects of which (SWKA) xodaygirí (adv) ‘by God’s hand’, ‘by
are only discovered later’ {ARC} God’s power’ (WSiC) < Prs. {MNN, SWKA,
WSiC}
xešṭíki (n) (See also syn. xišṭ) {RAKR}
xoǰáy xízur (n) ‘pir associated with fields’ {IF}
xeṣ (adj) ‘satisfied’; ‘contented‘ xeṣík (vintr) ‘to
tolerate’, ‘to bear’ xeṣ bik (vintr) ‘to be pacified’ xoǰé (n) ‘name of a tribe’ {TMF}
(ZHD) xeṣeék /Other pronunc: xeṣéik/ ‘(vtr) to
xombóx /Other pronunc: kombóx (RKB)/ (n)
pacify’; ‘to placate an angry person’ {SWKA,
‘cream’ (RAKR) (IF) {RAKR, IF, RKB}
SAS, ARC, ZHD}
xomík (vintr) ‘to descend’, ‘come down’: asmán chití
xeṣgúm (n) ‘carrot’ Daucus carota xeṣgumγeér
xamíran ‘It is raining very hard.’ (Lit. ‘The sky
(n) ‘field from which carrots have been
harvested’ {MNN, SWKA, TMF}
has broken open and (rain) is falling.’) (MNN);
‘to befall’: ispá sóra γam xomí šer
xeṭ (n) ‘dirty scum appearing on surface of ghee ‘Misfortune/grief has befallen us.’ (MNN); ‘to
when it is boiled’ (RAKR); ‘second crop of arrive (guests)’: menú xomítani ‘Guests have
maize - used for fodder’ (Sonoghor) {RAKR, come.’ (MNN) xameék (vtr) ‘to invite (guest)’
Sonoghor}
(SWKA): ma tat mitár xamétay ‘My father
xezmát /Other pronunc: xizmát, xesmát (RKB)/ (n) invited/entertained the Mehtar.’ (SWKA); ‘to
‘service’, ‘help’, ‘assistance’: ta kya ki xezmát beat’: táte xamétam the huṣ kos ‘If I beat you
šer aʋá kom ‘Whatever service you desire I will (only) then will you understand.’ (SWKA); ‘to
do it.’ (WSiC) [< Prs., Ar.] {SWKA, WSiC, RKB} pick/bring down (apples or other fruit from a
tree)’; ‘to fire (an old rifle in which the hammer
xiláfa (postposition) ‘against’: ma xiláfa lu khyot
falls)’; ‘to cause to go down’ (RAKR); ‘to set

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xondzá Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes xumrí

down’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, SWKA, RAKR, {MS}

WSiC}
xošʋaqtí (n) ‘a sweet variety of apple with whitish
xondzá /Other pronunc: xonzá/ (n) ‘queen’; (often flesh’ Malus domestica {RAKR}
used as a term of respectful address for a
woman): ma xonzáa ‘My (respected) lady, …’ xotbá (adj) ‘married in Muslim ceremony’ xotbá bik
{RAKR} (vintr) ‘to be married’ {WSiC}

xonza̍čamúṭi (n) ‘variety of grape’ Vitis vinifera xoṭapár (n) ‘large variety of apricot’ Prunus
{TMF} armeniaca {RAKR}
xonzáyki /Other pronunc: xonzaíki, xondzaíki/ (n) xoy /Other pronunc: xuy/ (n) ‘contents of intestines’
‘female of a species of large, long-haired ratlike xoyánu ‘entrails’, ‘stomach’; ‘tripe (animal
animal with a long tail’ (white in color); ‘large stomach when prepared for cooking)’ (Chitral
red rat-like animal, said to eat gold from the town); ‘abdomen (of a horse)’ (MNN) loṭxoyéni
river’ (See also mirmuṣáng) {IF} (adj) ‘gluttonous’, ‘greedy’ (MNN) {SWKA,
Chitral town, MNN}
xoó (n) ‘crown of a horse’s head’ {MNN}
xoy … xoy (conjunction) ‘either … or’: xoy ma ganí
xorá (n) ‘water mill’: xorá lóna žoó gohkíra Prov. Lit. tan boγé xoy ma kos hósta tan det - ée ma žané
‘The mill in Lon and the grain in Gohkir.’ ‘Either take me with you yourself or place me
Sense: ‘Something very far away from where it yourself in someone’s hands – o my dear.’
is needed.’ (NKN) xo̍rabóhtu (n) ‘millstone’ (Line from traditional pasték song) {RAKR
(MNN) xoraá dreék (vtr) ‘to start to grind grain 1988}
in a mill’ (MNN) xo̍rapáru (n) ‘wooden channel
to catch grain falling from the ḍor and drop it xrizoxráš (interjection) ‘magic words to
into the hole in the upper millstone’ (MNN) unfreeze/thaw things’ (See also tsriptsráp)
xo̍rapéṣ (n) ‘royal miller’; ‘person in charge of a {MA}
water mill’ (WSiC) xo̍raʋáng (n) ‘tutelary
xruzg (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ xruzgík (n) ‘person
guardian of a water mill’ (MS) [< Ir. (M:1936)]
from Khruzg’ {SWKA}
{MNN, NKN, MS, WSiC}
xu (n) ‘habit’, ‘temperament’ batxú (adj) ‘bad-
xorgá (n) ‘pastern (part of a horse’s foot between
tempered’; ‘angry’ {SWKA}
the fetlock and hoof)’ {MNN}
xubán (n) ‘beautiful person’; ‘person who abides in
xormá (n) ‘date (fruit or tree)’ Phoenix dactylifera paradise’ {GNK}
{MNN, WSiC}
xuftán (n) ‘a little after evening’ (MNN); ‘night’
xoš (adj) ‘pleasing’, ‘liked’; (n) ‘beloved (person)’ (RAKR) [< Prs. xuftan ‘to sleep’] {MNN, RAKR}
(ZMZ) xoš darík (vtr, vintr) ‘to like’, ‘to love’
(SWKA): kos ki xoš darísan hamó hatoóte det xuk (n) ‘pig’ [< Prs.] {MS}
‘Give this to whomever you like (i.e. whoever xumár /Other pronunc: xomár (Parwak)/ (n) ‘intense
is pleasing to you)’ (SWKA) xošéik /Other desire’, ‘passion (for things done by instinct,
pronunc: xošeék/ (vtr) ‘to like’, ‘to prefer’ impulse, or physical needs, e.g. singing,
(SWKA) (WSiC) (MNN) [< Prs.] {MAK, SWKA, beating, sexual intercourse, eating, drinking)’
WSiC, ZMZ, MNN} (RAKR): ma horó díko bo xumár ošóy ‘I badly
xošamaté /Other pronunc: xošamadé (TMF)/ (n) ‘a wanted to beat him.’ (RAKR); ‘desire’,
lineage descended from Baba Ayub’ {MS, TMF} ‘eagerness, enthusiasm’ (Parwak) xumarí (n)
‘stranger’ (WSiC); ‘man whose weakness is
xošán (adj) ‘happy’ xošaní (n) ‘happiness’, taken advantage of by wife or children’ (see
‘celebration’ [< Prs. (M:1936)] {SWKA, RAKR, potoxóru) (MNN) ṣorxomár (n) ‘intense desire’:
MNN} mrac ̣ žibíko ṣorxomár šer ‘I really want to eat
xošp (n) ‘dream’ [< Prs. (M:1936)] {NKN, MNN, mulberries.’ (Parwak) ée ma žáan, ta khyóte
TMF, MYS} xomár góyanaá ‘O dear, do you feel like
eating/doing something?’ (Parwak) {MNN,
xošraʋé (n) ‘a tribe/clan, many of whom live in
WSiC, RAKR, Parwak}
Barenis’ {TMF}
xumrí (n) ‘species of pigeon’ {MAK}
xošʋaqté (n) ‘a lineage descended from Baba Ayub’

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xur Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes yor

xur (adj) ‘other’; ‘more’, ‘additional’; (n) ‘other {MNN, IF}

person’ [< Skt. (T434)] {MNN}
yardóyu (n) ‘person who helps in a collective task’
xurǰín (n) ‘saddlebags’ {MNN} {MNN}
xurúṣi (adj) ‘slightly annoyed with or distanced from yarxún /Other pronunc: yarkhún/ (n) ‘far northern
someone: aʋá ta sum xurúṣi asúm ‘I am region of Chitral’ {IWA, SWKA}
annoyed with you.’ xuruṣí (n) ‘slight yasár (n) ‘corner of the earth’ {WSiC}
annoyance’ [< Skt. (T10794) (Z:p.c.)] {MS}
yáṭiki korík (vtr) ‘to give a second irrigation to a
xurzí (n) ‘variety of apple - small, red, sweet’ Malus crop’ {IF}
pumila {RAKR} yaxdán (n) ‘box’, ‘trunk’ {SWKA}
xušká (n) ‘rice cooked together with mung dāl’
yekbaragí (adv) ‘all together’: kumorán hup donián
{RAKR}
yekbaragí ‘The girls are playing hup dik all
xut (adv) ‘definitely’; ‘already’: ta daʋlát xut ma hósta together’ (line from hup dik song) {IWK}
šer, čaléman ‘Your wealth is already in my
yesaʋúl /Other pronunc: yasáʋul (RAKR), yasaʋúl
hands, I am using it.’ (WSiC) {RAKR, WSiC} / (n) ‘person who distributed food in the darbar
yabú (n) ‘a fat type of horse’; Id. ‘a fat person’ of the Mehtars’ (RKB); ‘In the time of the
(pejorative) [< Turkic] {MNN} Mehtars’ rule, a servant in charge of kitchen
supplies and equipment’ (RAKR) [< Turkic]
yad (n) ‘memory’ yádi diéik (vtr) ‘to remind’: tu ma {MNN, RAKR, RKB}
yádi diétaʋ ‘You reminded me.’ (MNN) yádi
dreék (vtr) ‘to remind’: peṣíru angyé reé yádi yií (adv) ‘hither (upward, toward speaker)’ yií nisík
‘to come into view (as from a closed space, or
drétam ‘I reminded him to bring flour.’
from over a ridge, or a turn in the road)’
(SWKA) yadeék (vtr) ‘to memorize’ (SWKA) [< (SWKA) yíri (adv) ‘this way (direction)’; ‘up to
Ur., Prs.] {MNN, SWKA} now’, ‘until now (temporal)’ (MNN); ‘hither
yaftalí (n) ‘strong young man’; ‘wrestler’ (TMF); (spatial)’ (MNN, MS) {MNN, SWKA}
‘strong, powerful person’ (IWA) yaftáli (adj) yoγám (n) ‘manure (of all animals) in summer
‘refers to people of Laspur’ (TMF) [IWA: this pasture’; ‘mob’ {IF}
word may originate in the ethnonym Yaftalite
(also spelled Ephthalite or Hephthalite ‘White yóγun (n) ‘echo’ {TMF}
Huns’] {IWK, TMF, IWA}
yok (n) ‘front part of fireplace’ (MS); ‘hearth, front
yaγdíz /Other pronunc: yaxdíz, yexdíz/ (n) ‘village in part of fireplace’ (TMF); ‘low partition in front of
Torkhow, above ɫamkúṣum’, (the legendary open fireplace’ (SWKA) {MS, TMF, SWKA}
source of Dok Yaxdiz story) {MAK}
yokṣokót (n) ‘a Wakhi-speaking village in Yarkhun’
yaγí (n) ‘rebel’; ‘untrustworthy person’; ‘traitor’ [< (SWKA) (RAKR: ‘deer on the roof’, according to
Prs.] {TMF} legend so named because a deer came on the
roof of a house’) {RAKR, SWKA}
yakšambéh (n) ‘Sunday’ [< Prs.] {SWKA}
yomún (n) ‘winter’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (T14164)] {MS,
yamán (n) ‘corner of the world’ {WSiC} MNN}
yambú (n) ‘large gold or silver ingot’; (figuratively yoq /Other pronunc: yuq/ (n) ‘action of swinging the
applied to something precious) [< Turkic < arms back and forth while walking’ yoq korík
Chinese] {S, MNN} (vtr, vintr) ‘to walk swinging the arms’ (TMF); ‘to
yáqeq (n) ‘orange precious material (stone?, coral?) walk swinging the arms back and forth as
used for beads’ {MAK} soldiers do when marching’ (ZHD) yoqóṭi (n)
‘an arrogant person’ (ZHD) {TMF, ZHD}
yaráγ (n) ‘weapon’ (RAKR) yaráγdár (adj) ‘armed’
[< Turkic] (MYS) {RAKR, MYS} yor (n) ‘sun’, ‘sunshine’: yor toórtay ‘Sunlight has
yaráq /Other pronunc: yarák (IF)/ (n) ‘period when a
reached (this place).’ yor af γerítay ‘The sun
horse or bull is not given food or drink after has set.’ (MNN) yor pray ‘Sunlight has reached
working until it has urinated’ (MNN); ‘tying a this place.’ (MAK) yoro̍tmuxnokorák (n)
horse after a polo match until it urinates’ (IF) ‘sunflower’ (Lit. ‘that which does not turn its face

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yóṣkist Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes zap

to the sun’ yor-ó-t-mux-no-kor-ák ‘sun-OBL-DAT- (n) ‘a woman who has just given birth’: začó
NEG-do-AG) (IWA) yorán /Other pronunc: béri mo laáke ganγéri boy ‘Don’t let the new
yurán/ (n) ‘year’ yorána yorána (adv) ‘yearly’ mother outside; she will be affected by the
(reduplicative construction) yora̍nkán (adj) ‘one wind.’ (IWA) troq zač (adj) ‘having given birth
year old’: ma žaʋ yora̍nkán bití asúr ‘My son is recently, thus having much milk’ (See also
one year old.’ or ‘My son has turned one year meṣkúṭu) (MS) {MS, MNN, IWA}
old.’ (SWKA) yor ḍóko dik (vintr) ‘for the sun
to set’ (RKB) yoréik (vtr) ‘to put in the sun (to zaγ (n) ‘fat’, ‘solidified oil’ [< Ir. (M:1936)] {RAKR}
dry)’ (MNN) yorodzéhč (n) ‘time of day when zahmát (adj) ‘wounded’ {MYS}
the last rays of the sun are on the highest
mountain peaks’ (MNN) yoroẓúɫ (n) ‘first light zahr e halhál (n) ‘fast-acting poison’ [< Prs.] {S,
(when light is only on the highest peaks)’ (MNN) MNN}
[< Ir., cf. Wakhi yír ‘sun’] {MNN, IWA, MAK, zakharát /Other pronunc: zakharád, zekharád/ (n)
SWKA, RKB} ‘useless talk or actions’: tu zakharát kósan ‘You
yóṣkist (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ (SWKA); ‘a Wakhi- are doing useless things.’ (MAK) zekharadí (n)
speaking village’ (RAKR: Lit. ‘wolf in the ‘useless pastime’, ‘time wasting’ (IWK) {MAK,
courtyard’) (RAKR) yoṣkistík (n) ‘person from IWK}
Yoshkist’ {SWKA, RAKR, MYS} zalóki (n) ‘walnut with outer husk intact’ (SWKA);
yoz (n) ‘clear, old ice’ (MNN); ‘variety of apricot’ ‘outer husk of walnut’ (MNN); ‘unripe walnut’
(RAKR) yoz c̣okík (vintr) ‘to freeze (water)’ [< (MNN) {SWKA, MNN}
Skt. (T855) and (T10396)] {MNN, RAKR}
zamaná (n) ‘time’, ‘extent of time’ (SWKA): bo
yozúnu /Other pronunc: yozúno (IWA) (IF)/ (n) zamaná hoy ta no poší ‘I haven’t seen you for a
‘yoke, the part of a plow fastened over the long time.’ (SWKA) zamanaá (adv) ‘in a while’,
necks of two bulls to join them together for ‘afterwards’ (longer time than darbáta) (MNN)
plowing’ [< Middie Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, IWA, [< Ar. Prs. Turkic] {SWKA, MNN}
MAK, IF}
zambalé zangí (n) ‘fourth finger’, ‘ring finger’ {IWA}
yuú (adv) ‘down’, ‘downward‘; ‘down here
(directional)’ yuú dik (vintr) ‘to fall’ {MNN} zambúr (n) ‘wasp’ [< Prs.] {ARC}

yúdur (n) ‘clear sky (day or night)’: asmán yúdur zamurád (n) ‘emerald’ [< Ar., Prs.] {IF}
ṣaʋṣáʋ ‘The sky (was) completely clear.’ zamuzbulbúl (n) ‘a white, salt-like mineral used for
(SWKA) [< Skt. (M:1973) (T1612)] {MNN, medicinal purposes’ {IF}
SWKA, AKM} zang (n) ‘rust’ zang nisík (vintr), ‘for something to
yunán (n) ‘Greece’ {WSiC} begin to rust’ [< Prs.] {MNN}
yuroó (adv) ‘ahead’, ‘forward’ {RAKR} zangú (n) ‘a swinging cradle’ (IF); ‘hanging basket
used to cross a river’ (RAKR) {IF, RAKR}
yúru (n) ‘blood vessel (vein, artery, capillary)’
(RAKR) yurán dosík (vtr) Lit. ‘to take the zánu1 (n) ‘knee’: záni kuṭi dik ‘to kneel’ (RKB) záni
pulse’; Id. ‘to search for arguments’ (SWKA) [< γúɫi (n) ‘knee (of a horse)’ [poss. < Nuristani,
Skt. (M:1973) (T14113)] {SWKA, RAKR} also (T5195) (MNN) {MNN, RKB}
yuúrǰ /Other pronunc: yuúǰ; yũǰ (in Chitral Town)/ zánu2 (n) ‘leg of a chair, charpai, or spinning wheel’
(n) ‘hawk’, ‘falcon’ (MNN) yuúrǰ laákik ‘to (SWKA); ‘supporting posts for main wheel of
release a falcon into the air for hunting’ (RKB) spinning wheel’ (RAKR) {SWKA, RAKR}
{MNN, RKB}
zap (n) ‘clothes’, ‘garments (old or new)’ (MNN): zap
zab /Other pronunc: zap (with final devoicing)/ (n) tayár bíkote(n) ǰu ganṭá ganír ‘It will take two
‘insistence’; ‘stubbornness’ zab korík (vtr) ‘to hours for the clothes to be ready.’ (RKB) zap
insist’ (Parwak) ‘to beat into submission’: toó dreék (vtr) ‘to spread bedding’ zapanǰéik (n)
dití zap areér ‘He beat him so much that he ‘ceremony held by a bride’s family, to which
didn’t have the strength to move.’ (TMF) female relatives and neighbor women are
{Parwak, TMF} invited’ (Gifts, čiγéč, are brought for the bride by
these women. išperí is given to the women,
zač (adj) ‘giving milk (human or animal)’ (MNN) (n);
which in Upper Chitral is called zapanǰéik on

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zaq Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes zomeék

this specific occasion.) (MS) zapán petshík (vtr) zenáx (n) ‘jaw’; ‘jawbone’ {MNN}
‘to change one’s good clothes for everyday
zerbáli (n) ‘flower of thorny rose’ {CKT}
ones’ (TMFW) {MNN, RKB, MS, TMFW}
zernánu (n) ‘rainbow’ {IF}
zaq (adj) ‘big’, ‘senior’ (MNN); ‘older’ (MA); ‘grown
up’, ‘adult’, ‘elder’ (RKB) zazáq (pl n) ‘elders’ zer zábar (n) Lit. ‘the diacritics used below (zer) and
(MNN); (adj) ‘bigger’: ǰu zazáq bohrt ‘two bigger above (zábar) in the Perso-Arabic script’;
rocks’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA, MA, RKB} Figurative sense: ‘complete knowledge about
something’; ‘the process of learning a lesson’
zar (n, adj) ‘gold’, ‘golden’: zar gambúri ‘tinsel {IF}
decorations’ (MNN) zardúzi (n) ‘embroidery
with golden thread’ (IWA) zarčéšum (‘gold’ + zext (n) ‘metal tools’ (MNN); ‘cutting tools with long
‘eye’) (n) ‘species of hawk with reddish eyes, handles (e.g. axe, adze)’ (SG) {MNN, SG}
which becomes accustomed to humans quickly’ zígir /Other pronunc: zíkir/ ‘description’, ‘discussion’
(MNN) [< Prs.] {MNN, IWA} {RAKR 1988}
zarár (adj) ‘troublesome’: hayá zarár moóš ‘This is a zil1 (n) ‘blanket’, ‘woolen floor matting’ {MNN}
troublesome man.’ (IF); ‘causing loss’; ‘causing
zil2 (adj) ‘of high-pitched or gentle sounds, like a pen
grief’ {RAKR 1988, IF}
tapping on metal or glass’ {MNN, ICS}
zargarándeh (n) ‘name of a neighborhood of Chitral
zilimčá (n) ‘carpet for floor, of fine quality’ (Irani or
town’ [TMF: Original Kalash name was Zérak-
Pakistani) {SWKA}
an-deh. When gold workers were settled there
by Mehtar Aman ul Muk, the name was zimaʋarí (n) ‘responsibility’: bo zimaʋarí sóri dití
changed to Zargarandeh ‘village of the šéni ‘Many responsibilities have fallen upon
goldsmiths’.] {TMF} me.’ [< Ur. Prs.] {MS}
zarí korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to plead’ [< Prs.] {SWKA} zip (n) ‘face’; ‘good form or condition’: ma išnári kya
zarú (adj) ‘old (human, animal)’, ‘aged’: pan bezemí zípa no širáni ‘My things turned out not to be in
bezemí zarú hoy ‘He became old selling betel good condition.’ bezíp (adj) ‘ugly’ [< Prs. zeb
all his life.’ (‘He spent his whole life selling ‘beauty’] {MNN}
betel.’) (SWKA) zaružéri (n) ‘last-born child of zohč /Other pronunc: zohrč (RAKR)/ (n) ‘hair of
parents’ (MS) [< Prs. (M:1936)] {SWKA, MS} goat or yak’ (MYS, RAKR) {MYS, RAKR}
zarúr (adv) ‘definitely’, ‘surely’ [< Ar., Prs., Ur.] zoík (vintr) ‘to agree to’ (MNN), ‘to acquiesce’:
{MNN, ARC} kórum koríko no zaúnyan ‘They aren’t agreeing
zaruzár (adv) ‘continuously’ {ICS} to work.’ (IF) {MNN, IF}
zarʋaák (n) ‘a fodder plant - bad smelling’; ‘species zokáru /Other pronunc: zokáro/ (n) ‘disturbance’
of bush’ {MNN} zokáru korík (vtr) ‘to disturb’ {MNN}
zat (n) ‘race (of living beings)’ {RAKR} zom (n) ‘mountain’; ‘high, rocky mountain peaks’
(MNN) zomšáx (n) ‘species of edible wild
zatulǰám (n) ‘whooping cough’ {IF} greens’ (RKB) zomaálu /Other pronunc: zomál
záyla (n) ‘way’, ‘manner’, ‘type’, kind’ {SWKA} (IF)/ (n) ‘hill’ (MNN); ‘large boulder’ (MNN,
MAK) zomó ašrú (n) Lit. ‘tears of the
zehgír /Other pronunc: dzehgír/ (n) ‘a valuable or mountain’, ‘a black resinous substance exuded
especially significant ring’ {RAKR, WSiC, MWT} from rocks, used for medicinal purposes (IFM:
zemín (n) ‘land’ ‘earth’: asmáni maṣkáʋa zemína used as medicine for yaks. When it is given to
létam Id: Lit. ‘Searching for something in the yaks, they get stronger and more sure-footed.
Ibex habitually lick it.) Synonym: salaǰít (MNN)
sky I found it on the earth.’ Sense: ‘After
{MNN, RAKR, IF, IFM}
searching hard and unsuccessfully for
something special, to find it unexpectedly zomeék /Other pronunc: zoméik; zomóik (in
easily.’ (RAKR) zeminakí (n) ‘old method of Torkhow) (IF)/ (vintr) ‘to yawn’ (MNN): hatoó
smoking charas’ (MS) [< Prs.] {RAKR, MS} harúni oráru gyaʋ ošóy ki drung anús zomeáʋ
ošóy ‘S/he was so sleepy that s/he was yawning
zen (n) ‘chain mail’ {RAKR}
all day long.’ (MYS) [< Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, IF,

155
zondré Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes žan

RKB, MYS} palóγan bélo dráʋen ‘Put the sweet apples in

zondré (n) ‘name of a Kho lineage’ zondrángram the basket.’ (SWKA) zualí (n) ‘sweetness’
(n) ‘village in Terich Valley’ {MNN} (GNK); ‘enjoyment/ pleasure’ (GNK) {SWKA, IF,
GNK}
zophík /Other pronunc: zopík/ (vtr) ‘to tear one’s hair
and clothes (as in mourning, grieving)’ (WSiC); zulmát (n) ‘darkness’ (NKN); ‘ignorance’ (ZMZ) [<
‘to tear off’, ‘tear down’; ‘to gather (plants) by Ar., Prs.] {NKN, ZMZ}
pulling out by the roots’ {RAKR, SWKA, WSiC, zumbúl (n) ‘maidenhair fern’ (See also syn.
IFM, GNK} meržúri, which is used in Lower Chitral);
zoraʋár (adj) ‘strong’; ‘cruel (usually in poetry)’; (appears in Khowar poetry as a metaphor for
‘dominant’ {TMF} the beloved’s hair) Adiantum capillus-veneris
{MNN}
zorí (n) ‘walnuts and dried mulberries given on the
occasion of a performance like dancing, zuník (vtr) ‘to intentionally crush something using full
singing, or other festivity’ {MS} force (with hands, legs, or whatever force
available)’ {TMF}
zrand /Other pronunc: zran (MS) (SWKA)/ (adj)
‘startled (of humans or animals)’ zranγíri (adj) zuq dik (vtr) ‘to push’, ‘to shove’ {MNN)
‘affected’, ‘shocked by being startled’: ma phuk zyan (n) ‘loss’: ma kya zyan hoy- kyaáγ ki kóyan
žaʋ zranγíri bíti keɫíran ‘My little son is crying korár ‘There is no loss to me, let him/her do
after being startled.’ (MS) zran bik (vintr) ‘to be what(ever) s/he will do.’ Sense: ‘I don’t care
startled’ (MNN) zran korík (vtr) ‘to startle’
what s/he does.’ {MNN}
(SWKA) {RAKR, SWKA MS, WSiC, MNN}
žaá (n) ‘species of wild grass used for brooms’
zring (adj, n) ‘ringing, the sound of metal being
(MNN) (If eaten by cattle it causes their
struck’ [onomatopoetic] {MNN, RAKR (1988)}
stomach to swell); ‘species of bush’ (MS); ‘a
zroṭhík (vintr) ‘to untie (knot)’; ‘to unravel (knitted type of weed’ (Parwak) Artemisia scoparia
garment like sweater, sock)’ (ARC); ‘to be {MNN, MS, Parwak}
dissolved’: rištá zroṭhítay ‘They were divorced.’
žaγá (n) ‘place’, ‘space for someone or something’
(ZHD); ‘to be dispersed’: méhfil zroṭhítay ‘The
{MS}
gathering dispersed.’ (ZHD); ‘to come apart’; ‘to
tear/rip (as when a seam rips by itself)’ (RKB) žakhéik /Other pronunc: žakhóik (in Torkhow)/ (vintr)
zraṭhéik (vtr) ‘to rip apart’, ‘to unravel’; ‘to ‘to walk gracefully (e.g. of a girl)’ (IF); ‘to walk
demolish (e.g. a house)’: zraṭhéru dur swaying the body (for girls, swaying the hips;
‘demolished house’ (FQ); ‘to take apart’ {MNN, for men, swinging the shoulders)’ (GNK) {IF,
ARC, FQ, ZHD, RKB} GNK}

zrup /Other pronunc: zup (RAKR)/ (adj) ‘close žan (n) ‘life’: xaɫáʋ žan ganír, pušót išṭók sarér Prov.
together’, ‘thickly distributed’ (See also dzrap) Lit. ‘A mouse takes its life into its hands, (but) it
{SWKA} seems like a game to the cat.’ Sense: ‘What is a
zrux (adj) 'relieved, eased of some worry or distress' serious problem for one person is just a game or
(ZHD): ma žan zrux hoy 'I got relieved (of some source of amusement to another.’ (NKN) ta sóra
pain, worry, etc.) (ZHD) zrux bik (vintr) 'to be ma žan qurbán ‘I am ready to sacrifice my life
relieved, to calm down': hasé keɫí keɫí zrux hoy for you.’ (MS); (n) ‘dear one’, ‘beloved’: e žáan,
'He finally calmed down after crying tu pyalá čhinís nóo ‘O, dear one, you’ll break
continuously.' (ZHD) zruxzrúx (adv) ‘quietly (of the cup.’ (i.e. ‘Don’t break the cup’, addressing
weeping)’ (ZMZ) {ZHD, ZMZ} a child) (MNN) žáni dik (vtr, vintr) ‘to be near
death’ žanʋéni (adj, n.) ‘having life’, ‘animate’
zrúxi dik (vintr, vtr) ‘to stumble and fall (of humans)’: (not including plants) žanopáno dik (vtr, vintr)
ma pong boxt tu díti zrúxi phrétam ‘My foot hit Id. ‘to try one’s best’ (SWKA) žan pulík (vintr)
a rock and I stumbled.’ (RKB) {MNN, SWKA, ‘to feel pity for’, ‘to sympathize with’ (SWKA)
RKB} žan puluoóku (adj) ‘pitiable’, ‘pitiful’: i žan
zuálu /Other pronunc: zoγálu (Laspur) zoʋálu (IF: puluoóku tsoʋú ḍaq ráha asítay ‘There was a
Lower Chitral)/ (adj) ‘sweet’, ‘tasty’: zuálu pitiful orphan boy on the road.’ (SWKA)
phukžáni (adj) ‘cowardly’; ‘small-hearted,

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žandár Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes žingóγ

stingy’ žanó halák korík (vtr) Id. ‘to pester, nag Yarkhun, MS)/ (n) ‘charpai’ (sometimes
someone’ (WSiC) žanár ištruxík (vintr) Id. ‘to translated as ‘cot’) ženʋáγ (n) ‘protruding top of
take risks’ (MNN) žan zroṭhík (vintr) ‘for life to legs of a charpai’ (ZMZ) {MNN, GNK, Laspur,
come out of the body’; ‘to be about to die’ IF, ZMZ, MS}
{MNN, MS, NKN, SWKA, WSiC, ZMZ}
ženganíru (n) ‘the constellation Ursa Major (The
žandár (n) ‘fearsome supernatural being, e.g. a Great Bear)’ (MNN); ‘the constellation including
ghost’ (SWKA, IF); ‘large game animal’ Polaris, the North Star (Ursa Minor)’ (IF) {MNN,
(hunters’ usage) (SWKA); ‘ugly person’: suráta IF}
faqát žandár ‘His appearance is just like a žéri (n) ‘celebratory feast on a happy occasion like a
beast.’ (SWKA); ‘monster’ (TMF); ‘animal, marriage or the birth of a child’ (MNN) žeriγár
especially one slaughtered for meat’ (TMF) (n) ‘provisions/ supplies for preparing for a
{SWKA, IF, TMF} festive, celebratory occasion’ (WSiC) {MNN,
žang (n) ‘war’, ‘fighting’ (SWKA) žangí (adj) WSiC}
‘pertaining to war, military’ (RAKR) {SWKA, -žéri (n) ‘nominal morpheme indicating the offspring
RAKR} of a non-domesticated animal.’ (Domesticated
žaník /Other pronunc: ǰanIk/ (vtr) ‘to know’, ‘to animals have specific names for their young.)
recognize (animate object)’: tu hamó žanák bos pu̍šižéri ‘kitten’ (RAKR) boı̍ kžéri ‘baby bird’
‘You will become acquainted with him/her.’ (RAKR), kaγžéri ‘baby crow’ (RAKR); ‘a
(MNN) nužán (n) ‘stranger’ (SWKA) [< Skt. smaller version of something’ (IF): branžéri
(M:1973)] {MNN, IWA, SWKA} ‘small (immature) male sheep’ (IF) [< early Ir.
(M:1936)] {RAKR, IF}
žanʋár (n) ‘animal’, ‘living being’ {SWKA}
žibík (vtr) ‘to eat’; ‘to bite (e.g. dog, insect)’; ‘to graze
žaráp (n) ‘sock’ žarapγár (n) ‘material for making (of livestock)’ žibárum (‘eat’ + -árum) (n)
socks’ (MNN) žarapšútur ‘yarn/thread for ‘edibles’, ‘things to eat’: kya žibárum níkiaá
knitting socks’ (MNN) {MNN, SWKA} ‘Isn’t there anything to eat?’ (RKB) žibéik
žareék /Other pronunc: žaréik/ (vtr) ‘to absorb’ (vcs) (Causative ← žibík) ‘to cause to eat
(SWKA); ‘to digest’ žareoóku (adj) ‘digestible’ (usually used with animal agents, but
(SWKA): žareoóku ṣapík ki žibín hoy sahéto occasionally with humans)’; ‘to cause to bite
báče ǰam ‘If digestible food can be eaten it is (e.g. dog)’: ma fasló zor korí žibétay ‘He
good for the health.’ (SWKA) žaré bik ‘to be intentionally got (his cattle) to eat my crop.’
digested’ (MNN) {SWKA, MNN} (MNN, RKB) rényo c ̣akéy ma žibétay ‘S/he got
the dog to bite me.’ (MNN) kyaáγ ma žibáʋe
žaróɫi (n) ‘illegitimate child’ {RAKR, WSiC, SG}
‘Give me something to eat.’ (SWKA) žibélik
žaʋ (n) ‘son’; ‘fetus (human or animal)’ žaʋ dreék (n) ‘good-for-nothing (person)’: hes xalí žibélik
(vintr, vtr) ‘to suffer a miscarriage, abortion’ ‘He is just a good-for-nothing (i.e. only able to
(MNN) (SWKA, MS: this word applies to eat, not to do any work)’ (SWKA) žurdú /Other
animals) žižáʋ (pl n) ‘sons’ (kinship term plural) pronunc: žirdú/ (adj) ‘eaten’ oyóst (vtr) ‘I ate.’
(žaʋgíni in Lower Chitral) ʋežižáʋ (adj) ‘without (Dialectal first person singular past tense form
sons’ žaʋbéli (n) ‘son of a co-wife’ (RAKR); of žibík - Laspur and Ghezur usage.): aʋá paxtí
‘son of a former husband or wife’ (RKB)
oyóst ‘I ate rice.’ (MNN) [< Skt. (M:1973)
žaʋγeér (n) ‘son of a good father that turns out
(T10507)] {RKB, SWKA, IF, MNN}
to be not good’ žaʋánu (n) ‘uterus’ (SWKA)
žaúṭi (n) ‘shoot that grows from the roots of a žil /Other pronunc: ǰil (IF: in Chitral town, MS: In
mature tree’ (IF) žaúṭi dik (vtr) ‘to transplant Yarkhun)/ (n) ‘blanket’ {DAT, MAK, MA, IF,
shoots grown from the roots of a large tree’ (IF) GNK, Torkhow}
[< Skt. (M:1973) (T10446)] {MNN, RAKR, MS,
žiláʋ /Other pronunc: ǰiláʋ (IF: in Laspur)/ (n) ‘reins’
SWKA, IF}
{IF, MS}
žaʋaáγ (adj) ‘fully developing’, ‘fast growing’: žaʋaáγ
žindróži /Other pronunc: žindróẓi (MNN)/ (n) ‘large
čhaní ṣaʋ pay γerúr ‘A fast-developing kid centipede’ (RKB: this insect is not found in
quickly turns into a (mature) goat.’ {SWKA} Mulkhow.) (See also gaǰári) {RKB, MNN}
žen /Other pronunc: ǰen (Chitral Town; Laspur, IF; žingóγ (n) ‘scorpion’ {MNN, IF, AR}

157
žireék Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ẓang

žireék /Other pronunc: žiréik/ (vtr, vintr) ‘to tolerate’, washing hair) (SWKA); ‘sap/resin (of trees that
‘to bear’ (anger, pain)’: ma saxt qahár gití bear edible fruit)’ (MNN) (compare tum)
žirétam ‘I was very angry (but) I tolerated it.’ {SWKA, MNN, Sonoghor}
(MNN) hatoγó dišló aʋá žirétam ‘I tolerated his žuɫí /Other pronunc: ǰuɫí (IF)/ (n) ‘apricot (tree or
verbal abuse.’ (SWKA) žireoóku (adj) fruit)’ (MNN) Prunus armeniaca: žuɫí zuálu
‘tolerable’, ‘bearable’: hatoγó šum lu ma báče boy mágam mrac ̣ horó sar di zuálu bóni
žireoóku no ošóy ‘His bad words were ‘Apricots are sweet, but mulberries are even
intolerable to me.’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA} sweeter than them.’ (SWKA) žuɫisprú (< žuɫí
žiré (n) ‘one’s share of food in a meal’: bápo žiró ‘apricot’ + isprú ‘apricot blossoms’) (n) ‘fifth
h
lak é ‘Put the old man’s share aside and keep it month of the Khowar calendar (approximately
April)’ {MNN, SWKA, IF}
for him.’ {RKB}
žun /Other pronunc: ǰun (in Laspur and Gilgit side)/
žiríγ /Other pronunc: žríγ (MNN)/ (n) ‘shriek’: reéni (n) ‘persons’, ‘individuals (usually used with
ma don c ̣okíko aʋá žiríγ arétam ‘When the dog numerals)’ (MNN): troy žun ‘three persons’ bo
bit me I shrieked.’ (SWKA) žirγeék /Other žun hóro hósta tabáh hóni ‘Many people were
pronunc: žirγéik/ (vintr, vtr) ‘to shriek’ žirgást
(unintentionally) ruined by him (financially,
(n) ‘loud shriek’, ‘scream’ [< Ir. (M:1936)]
{SWKA, MNN, WSiC, RAKR} morally, their lives)’ (RKB); ‘sometimes used
as classifier noun with humans’: ponǰ žun
žirmaní ‘aluminum pot’ (Ghezur word) [< Eng. kimerián ‘five women’ (SWKA) {MNN, SWKA,
‘German’] {Laspur} RAKR, IF, RKB}
žis (n) ‘a weak, lazy, or dirty person’ (Ghezur word) -žúni (adj) ‘adjective-forming suffix meaning afflicted
{Laspur} by, suffering from’: hasé andáʋžúni bíti asúr
žoganšalagú (n Id. Lit. ‘lizard-like’ Sense: ‘thumb’ ‘S/he is suffering from a fever.’ (MNN)
{TMF} buhtunížúni ‘possessed by a djinn’ (RKB) [cf.
Pashto -zan/ -žan/ -ǰan ‘afflicted by’, e.g.
žoγúru ‘person from Village Zhogur’ {MNN}
γamzan ‘sorrowful’, tabǰan ‘feverish’] {MNN,
žoík /Other pronunc: žeík/ (vtr) ‘to have sexual RKB, MYS}
intercourse with’; ‘to copulate’ [< Skt. (M:1973)]
žúnu (adj) ‘alive’ [< Skt. (M:2973)] {MNN, WSiC, IF}
{SG}
žuṭháy (n) ‘species of dark gray duck with a large
žoɫ ‘nut kernels (e.g. apricot, walnut)’; ‘walnut
head’ {MNN}
kernels’ (SWKA) žoɫí ‘good, whole apricot
kernel (found after cracking)’ žoɫ ṣoṣp ‘ṣoṣp žuúr (n) ‘daughter’; ‘young girl or woman’ žurgíni (pl
made with apricot kernels’ žoɫdróc̣ (žoɫ ‘nut n) ‘daughters’ (plural kinship term) žurbéli (n)
kernel’ + droc ̣ ‘grape’) (adj) Id. ‘very enjoyable’: ‘daughter of co-wife’ (RAKR, RKB), ‘daughter of
hayá žoɫdróc ̣ išnári ‘This is a very enjoyable former husband or wife’ (RKB) žuúrʋeṣeék (n)
thing.’ (SWKA) {MNN, MAK, SWKA, RAKR} ‘wedding of a daughter’ (SWKA) [< Skt.
(M:1973) (T6481)] {MNN, RKB, RAKR, SWKA}
žoó /Other pronunc: žo/ (n) ‘grain’ [< Skt. (T10431)]
{MNN} ẓac̣k (n) ‘bells tied to the claws of a hawk’ (in
falconry) {MNN}
žor darík (vintr, vtr) ‘to give good nourishment and
strength (of food)’ žordarák (n, adj) ‘nutritious, ẓakdóyu (n) ‘member of wedding procession’
strength-giving (thing)’: lažék žordarák žibárum (MNN); ‘near relatives of the groom who come
‘Wheat/grain cooked with meat is a nutritious three or four days before the marriage and stay
food.’ {SWKA} for three or four days afterwards.’ (This party
includes the sisters and paternal aunts of the
žoy (n) ‘water channel (for irrigation)’ [< Skt. groom.) (MS) {MNN, MS}
(M:1973) (T10442)] {MNN, SWKA}
ẓang /Other pronunc: ẓaáng (MNN)/ (adj) ‘high’; ‘tall’
žuγ /Other pronunc: žoγ/ (n) ‘louse’ [< Skt. (M:1973) (IA) ẓangí (n) ‘height’ (MS) ẓang nisík (vintr) ‘to
(T10512)] {SG, TMF} climb on something high’ ẓaángẓáng
(reduplicative intensifier construction) ‘very
žuɫčák /Other pronunc: žuɫčék (Sonoghor); ɫučák/
high’ (MNN) {MNN, SWKA, IA, MS}
(n) ‘resin of šinǰúr (jujube) (formerly used for

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ẓaq Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ẓukúni

ẓaq (adj) ‘thick, viscous (mixture of liquid and solid)’: {MS}

uγ ẓaq bití hay ‘The water is coming mixed ẓeng (adj, adv) ‘widely spaced’ {RAKR}
with solid matter (as after rains in the
mountains)’ (RAKR) ẓaq korík (vtr) ‘to give ẓikán (n) ‘leather thongs with which kirkóṭ are tied’:
someone enough so that he is self-sufficient’ póngi kirkóṭ níki- ẓikán ‘There are no leather
(MS) {RAKR, MS} wrappings on his feet, only the laces’ (line from
lullaby pažál) (IWK); ‘leather thongs to fasten
ẓar (adv) ‘quickly’ (MNN); (adj) ‘very bitter’; (n)
táčing’ (MS) γarbaẓikán (n) ‘pejorative term for
‘poison’: ẓaró uláʋe ‘Pour out the (liquid)
a person who is thin, whose mouth is big and
poison.’ (MS) ẓaró af petshé ‘Throw out the stretched out, and who speaks haltingly’ (MS)
(solid) poison.’ (MS) ẓár dreék (vtr) ‘to inject {RAKR, MS, IWK}
poison’ (scorpion, snake) ẓaroóγ (n) ‘water in
which a solid poisonous substance has been ẓindrík (vintr) ‘to neigh (horse)’ {MNN}
dissolved’ (MS) ẓarkóṭi (n, adj) ‘(of) a quick, ẓingéik /Other pronunc: ẓingóik (in Torkhow) (IF)/
active person’: A: ta žaʋ ǰu ganṭaá gíka boyaá? (vtr) ‘to pull’; ‘to smoke (cigarette, marijuana,
B: ko no boyán - ma žaʋ ẓarkóṭi nóo- ǰu ganṭár etc.)’ (MNN); ‘to draw out’, ‘to lengthen’: ẓingéy
di prúšṭi goy ‘A: Will your son be able to come reék ‘to lengthen the pronunciaton of a
in two hours? B? Why not? My son is very sound/word’ (RAKRW) šime̍niẓingeék (n) ‘tug-
quick; he will come even before two hours.’ of-war competition’ (RAKR) {MNN, RAKR, IF,
(IF) [< Middle Ir. (M:1936)] {MNN, MS, IF} RAKRW}
ẓaromúɫ ‘a black root used in making medicinal ẓiqhéik (vintr) ‘to squeak’ {MNN}
preparations for tooth and ear problems’
ẓoγ (adj) ‘thin (of humans, animals)’ (MNN); ‘weak’:
Datura stramurium {IFM} hayá roṣú ẓoγ asúr ‘This bull is weak.’ (SG)
ẓaʋẓáʋ (adv) ‘again and again’; ‘continually’, {MNN, IF, SG}
‘continuously’: ma phuk žaʋ ẓaʋẓáʋ ma hardií ẓong (adj) ‘describes something which is taller than
góyan ‘I continuously think of my little son.’ it is wide (e.g. a glass or cup)’ (MNN): ẓong
{MNN} pyalá lášṭa no thiúran ‘The tall narrow cup
ẓaxt (n) ‘indigenous species of wheat, which has doesn’t stand firmly on the ground.’ (MNN);
long spikes’ Triticum aestivum {CKT} ‘describes a goat with vertical horns’: ma i ẓong
rontsíru asúr ‘I have a male goat with vertical
ẓay korík (vtr, vintr) ‘to move quickly in a straight
horns.’ (MNN); ‘conical’ (MNN); ‘of something
line’, ‘to shoot (e.g. of a meteor)’: stári ẓay
which is wider on one end of the vertical axis
areér ‘The star shot across the sky.’ {SG} than on the other (e.g. glass or cup)’ (MNN);
ẓeék1 (vtr) ‘to call/summon a trained hawk or falcon’ ‘applied to horns that rise vertically and then
(MNN): aʋá yuǰó ẓéman ‘I am calling (my) curve forward’ (IF) {MNN, IF}
falcon.’ (MNN); ‘to summon a falcon or hawk ẓoóng (adj) ‘with body extended/stretched to look at
by making sounds with lips’ (MS): aʋá yurǰó something’ ẓoóng bik (vintr) ‘to look/peek at
ẓeétam ‘I called the falcon.’ (MS); ẓaá ‘call! something’: istántu ẓoóng bos ‘Look up on the
summon (the falcon)!’ (singular imperative of roof.’ (MNN) ẓongeék (vintr) ‘to stretch to
ẓeék) (MS) ‘to invite to a festivity’ (SG): aʋá look/peer at something’: kumáɫa gíti ẓongétay
falanío žério páčen ẓéko bi astam ‘I went to ‘He came to the smokehole and peered in.’
invite so-and-so to a festive occasion.’ (SG) (RAKR) khanǰó sorén ẓongétay ‘S/he peeked
{MNN, MS, SG} over the wall by stretching upward.’ (RAKR)
ẓeék (adj) ‘(of stomach) completely filled’ ẓeék bik
2 {MNN, RAKR, WSiC, IF}
(vintr) ‘to be completely full/satisfied (after ẓot (n) ‘a long time ago’ (SWKA); (adv) ‘already’,
eating)’: aʋá žério žutí ẓeék hótam ‘After eating ‘before’, ‘previously’ (SWKA); ‘(too) early’
at the feast I was completely satisfied.’ (MS) (MYS): aʋá ʋezén čhúči bo ẓot ruphí astám
ẓéko baṣ (adj) ‘extremely hungry’: ispá čhúči ‘Yesterday morning I got up very early (before
ruphí ʋezéna pat žibíko kyaáγ no leé ẓéko baṣ dawn).’ (SWKA) {SWKA, MYS}
dúra toórtam ‘Not finding anything to eat from
ẓukúni (adj) ‘thin’, ‘weak’, ‘stooped over’, ‘slow-
morning to evening we reached home starving.’

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ẓupú Bashir, Khowar-English Lexicon – with cultural and etymological notes ẓupú

movlng’; (n) ‘a slow-moving person’ {MNN}

ẓupú (n) ‘village in Yarkhun’ ẓupuík (n) ‘person from
Zhupu’ {SWKA}

160