Vocabulary Pages: 1-13

 

Allah-u-Akbar (pg.6) - Meaning "Allah (God) is the Greatest"

Hazara (pg.7)- Derives from the Persian word hazar meaning "thousand". Persian speaking Shia Muslims that are from the central region of Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan.

Naan (pg.8)- Iraani round flatbread

Babalu (pg.8)- Meaning "Boogeyman"

Pashtuns (pg.9)- Eastern Iranian group residing in eastern and southern Afghanistan, they speak the Pashto language and practice Pastunwali "code of conduct and honor"

Sunni Muslims (pg.9)- Derives from the Arabic word Sunnah, meaning word and action of Islamic prophet Muhammad. Largest denomination of Islam

Laaf (pg.12)- Afghan tendency to exaggerate

Toophan Agha (pg.12)- Meaning "Mr. Hurricane"

Baba (pg.2)- Meaning "Father"

 

Vocabulary Pages 14-26

 

Kofta(pg.14) Meaning "Sandwich meat"

Saratan(pg.14)Cancer

Zakat(pg.14) Purification rites

Hadji(pg.15) Person who has undertaken the pilgrimage to Mecca

Sherjangi(pg.19)- A "Battle of the Poems" game

Masnawi(pg.19) A verse in the Persian Koran

Buzkashi(pg.20) Afgan sport similar to Polo

Chapandaz(pg.20) Highly skilled Buzkashi horseman

Kochi(pg.26) City in the Indian State of Kerala

Bazarris - Meaning "Bustling Crowds"

 

 Vocabulary Pages 27-39   

 

 Mard (pg.39)-Huge man

Mashallah (pg.33)- An Arabic phrase indicates respect or appreciation.

Sultan (pg.27)- An Islamic title of Muslim ruler.

Mullah (pg.28)- Title of Islamic clergy. 

Kaka (pg. 32)- Uncle

Shah (pg.36)-Title of Iranian kings.

Shahnamah (pg.29)- or Shahnameh (The Epic of Kings) tells hero tales of ancient Persia.

 

 Vocabulary Pages 40-52

 

 Watan (40)- Native country, home

Quwat (40)- Meaning "what"

Kasseef (40)-Filthy, very dirty

Eid (43)-Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan

Salaam alaykum (45)- Meaning "peace"

Agha Sahib (pg.46)- Agha meaning "Great lord; Nobleman; Commander" and Sahib meaning "Friend, Sir"

Kabul (pg.48)- Capital and largest city of Afghanistan; Over 3,000 years old

Qurma (pg.48)- Meaning "Chicken" usually found in stew

Tar (pg.50)- Meaning string in Persian; Long neck, waited lute which resembles a guitar.

Moochi (pg.51)- Meaning "shoe repairman"

Hindi (pg.51) Name given to an Indo-Aryan language, spoken in northern and central India

 

 Vocabulary Pages 53-65

 

Agha (pg 53) - Meaning grandfather

 Jan (pg 56)- Word of endearment; dear (formal). Joon is the informal form of it that literally means “life.”

 Kursi (pg57) -Meaning throne

 Panjpar (pg57) –Card game

 Sahib (pg59) –sir, master, lord

 Chapan (pg61) –A colorful coat worn over clothes in the cold months

 Diniyat (pg62) –A textbook for students in higher classes

 Boboresh (pg65) -Meaning Cut him!

 

 Vocabulary Pages 65-79

 

Mantu (pg.65)- A piece of sheep's tripe sewed up and stuffed with rice and other foods

Pakora (pg.65)- An Indian snack made of deep-fried items such as, chicken, onions, eggplants and more

Ishallah (pg.66)- meaning "God Willing"

Unabashedly (pg.67)- Not thrown into confusion or embarrassed

Tashakor (pg.67)- Meaning "Thank You"

Azan (pg.68)- Call to prayer, five times a day

Bazaar (pg.68)- Marketplace

Namaz (pg.70)- Prayer, especially those enforced by the law

Bas (Pg.72)- Meaning "Enough"

Bakhshida (pg.72)- Meaning "forgiven"

Dhu'l Hij-jah (pg.76)- 12th month of the Islamic year

Imminent (pg.77)- Ready to take place

Demise (pg.77)- Take place By Will

Guileless (pg.78)- Honest, Straight forward

 

 

(Group 2's) Vocabulary Pages 80-189 

 

Pages 80-189

 

Ahesta boro (148) - Wedding song. Literally Ahesta, slow; Boro, go

 

Ahmaq (145) - Foolish, stupid, awkward; a greater or the greatest fool

 

Alahoo (184) - God

 

Alef-beh (151) - The letters A (alef) and B (beh), used to signify the entire alphabet

 

Attan (171) - A Pashtun tribal dance performed on festive occasions and as a physical exercise in the army. It is performed to the ever-faster rhythm of drums, the tribesmen’s long hair whipping in unison, and is often continued to exhaustion. In some respects it resembles the dance of the “whirling dervishes” of the Ottoman empire. Although Pashtun in origin, it has also been adopted by other ethnic groups as the Afghan national dance.

 

Awroussi (169) - Wedding ceremony

 

Bachem (139) - Word meaning “my child” or “my baby”

 

Balay (140) - Yes

 

Bismillah (110) - In the name of God!

 

Bolani (138) - Afghan dish consisting of flat bread stuffed with foods such as potatoes or leeks

 

Chilas (169) - Wedding rings

 

Chopan kabob(171) - Pieces of lamb chops marinated and broiled on a skewer

 

Dil (144) - The heart, mind, and soul

 

Dil (144) - Buttermilk

 

Ferni (183) - Rice pudding

 

Ghazal (166) - Love song or a poem

 

Hijab (174) - Veiling

 

Iftikhar (165) - Honor

 

Ihtiram (168) - Veneration, honor, reverence, respect

 

 

Kaka (83) - Uncle

 

Khala (83) - Maternal aunt (Ameh is a paternal aunt.) Calling an unrelated woman khala indicates that she is very close to the family or to the child.

 

Khastegar (142) - Suitor

 

Khastegari (161) - A suitor’s official visitation to a prospective mate’s family—usually accompanied by his mother, sister, or khala—to propose (marriage)

 

Kho dega (184) - A phrase that means "So!"

 

Khoda hafez (146) - Good bye, or in Farsi the language used it means "God keep you safe"

 

Khoshteep (166) - Handsome

 

Kolcha (138) - Kind of Bread

 

Komak (158) - Help

 

Lafz (166) - Tone of voice

 

Lochak (146) - Small Scarf

 

Maghbool (178) - Beautiful

 

Moalem (151) - Teacher

 

Moftakhir (131) - Proud

 

Mohtaram (147) - Respected

 

Mojarad (146) - Young single man

 

Mozahem (145) - An intruder

 

Namoos (145) - Reputation; fame; renown; esteem; honor; dignity

 

Nang (145) - Honor; reputation; estimation

 

Nawasa (184) - Grandson

 

Nazr (182) - A vow that is made to have a sheep slaughtered. The meat from the sheep is then given to the poor or less fourtunate

 

Nika (169) - Swearing ceremony of a wedding

 

Noor (168) - Light

 

Parchami (138) - A member of the Parcham faction of the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan

 

Pari (98) - Angel/Fairy

 

Qabuli (138) - Afghan rice dish with meat, raisins, and carrots

 

Rafiqs (112) - Comrade

 

Raka’t (108) - Section of a prayer

 

Roussi (115) - The word for Russian

 

Rowt (125) - A type of sweet

 

Sabzi challow (173) - White rice with lamb and spinach

 

Saughat (98) - A magnificent present made to kings or grandees, or sent by friends to friends; a curiosity

 

Shirini-khori (169) - An engagement party

 

Sholeh-goshti (171) - A kind of food or something

 

Shorawi (111) - The former U.S.S.R.

 

Shorwa (172) - Broth

 

Spasseba (114) - Russian for "Thank you"

 

Tandoor (85) - Traditional round shaped oven for bread making

 

Wah wah (84) - Bravo, Admirable

 

Watan (174) - Native home/country

 

Yelda (143) - The first night of winter and the longest night of the year

 

Zendagi migzara (140) - It means "Life goes on"

 

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Group One's Vocabulary Words

Pages 195 - 292    

 

Alas (216) - Used to express sorrow, regret, compassion, or grief

Arg (209) a throne/place of high authority or prestige

Ayat-ul-kursi (211) - a prayer called “The Throne Verse”

"Allah! There is no god but He,

Al-Hayy (the Ever-living), Al-Qayyum (the Self-subsisting, Eternal).

No slumber can seize Him nor sleep.

His are all things in the heavens and on earth.

Who is there that can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth?

He knoweth what appeareth to His creatures as before or after or behind them.

Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth.

His Kursi doth extend over the heavens and the earth,

and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.

He is Aliyy (the Most High), Al-Adhiim (the Supreme in glory)."

 

Babrak Karmal (282)-a Marxist leader and President of Afghanistan supported by the Russian invader; see http://www.afghanland.com/history/karmal.html 

Beggars (245)-poor or homeless people

Bia (280) come

Biwa (275) widow

Bone-jarring (243)-ride downhill

Burqa (231) -  a women’s outer garment that covers them from head to toe including the face. This garment is worn in public, and is now rarely worn outside of Afghanistan.

Chai (203) - spiced tea

Chaman, Pakistan (200) - is located in Qilla Abdullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan

Chapan (248)-Traditional coat for men

Deh-mazang (200) - is located in Afganistan: Here is a map of Deh-Mazang; see http://www.maplandia.com/afghanistan/kabul/deh-mazang/ 

Dil roba (280)—someone that takes your breathe away (dil=heart, roba=thief) 

Dozds (235) -  Bandit

Eid of qorban (285)—the day in the celebration of Ramadan when the animal is sacrificed 

Farsi (270)—the language spoken by Persians and is spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan by certain ethnic groups.

Ghamkhori (201) – depression, feeling sorry for oneself

Ghazi Stadium (257)—soccer stadium where people were executed publicly

Hadia (238)-gift

Isfand (211) - a plant that an angel is appointed to so that through its bark, roots and branches grief and sorcery are set aside, thus very valuable for warding off evil spirits and grief.

Kalashnikov (199) - an assault rifle/submachine gun made in Russia

Khanum (206) – lady, Mrs.

Khyber Pass (228) -  A crucial strategic mountain pass that connects Pakistan and Afghanistan where bandits have attacked and robbed travelers for centuries, is pronounced with the K silent

Kocheh-Morgha/Flea Market (195) - The Chicken Bazaar/flea market

Lotfan (252)-please

Mazar (276)—short for Mazar-e Sharif, a city in Afghanistan which is the fourth largest located in the north and the site of a shrine in the Muslim religion; the Taliban lead a six-day massacre there killing Hazara and other local people in 1998 which lead to the recognition of the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan by the Pakistan government

Mazar-i-Sharif, in Jalalabad (266)—a section in the city of Jalalabad (the Urdu name of Karachi) in Pakistan.  Karachi is the world’s second largest city.

Mehmanis (232) -  Parties

Mujahedin (212) -   Afghans who fought the Russian invasion and occupation and then fought among themselves for control of the country

Naswar (278) smokeless tobacco (snuff)

Nazar (211) - the evil eye; sight, view, idea

Nihari (196) - a stew made of beef or lamb shank and spices

Pakol (230) -  A soft, round-topped Afghan men’s hat

Pashtu (272)—the language spoken by Pashtuns (ethnic group) in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Peshawar (275)—the capital of the northwest tribal areas of Pakistan and is the central area of the Pashtuns in Pakistan 

Pirhan-tumban (230) - Traditional dress and pants

Poleh-Charki (282)-a prison in Afghanistan where abuse was common; see http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/51/137.html  

Prophet Muhammad (270)—the founder of the religion of Islam who lived in 570-632 C. E. in Arabia; seen as a messenger of God (Allah) to mankind and worshiping the same monotheistic God of Judaism and Christianity 

Qawali (225) -  Sufi devotional music

Qishla (200) - the military barracks near Istiqlal school

Qorban (285) Muslim ceremony commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son

Rorschach inkblot (262)—a psychological test to determine mental health 

Rubab (218) -  A lute-like musical instrument for Afghanistan

Rupia (279) unit of currency in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan 

Salaam alaykum (276) Hello to you

Samovar (224) - A metal urn used for heating water or tea

Sarak-e-Mehmana (260)—Street of the Guests, where the leaders of the Taliban lived in Kabul

Sasa (211) – Appears to mean something like Grandmother in the book

Shahbas (280)-- bravo

Shari’a (270)—the civil law based upon the teachings of Islam; there are no specific “laws” but a system of laws based upon the religious book the Koran (Quranic scriptures), hadith (sayings of Muhammad and his companions), ljma (consensus), Qiyas (reason by analogy) and debate. 

Sohrab (211) - Hassan’s favorite hero from the Shanamah 

Tabla (244)-Drum set

Talib (255)—a member of the Taliban, who overthrew the corrupt government after the Russians left Afghanistan 

Tashakor (238)-Thank you

Topen chasht (245)-Noon Cannon

Trek (243)-long journey

Tuft (244)-a bunch of feathers or elongated strands

Watani (229) -  Belonging to one’s country

Yar (195) - familiar or affectionate form of address, especially among young people

Yateem (253)-orphan

Zenda Bad Taliban (251)-long live the Taliban