Afghan

1 of 2

noun (1)

Af·​ghan ˈaf-ˌgan 

also -gən

1

a(1)

: pashtun

(2)

: pashto

b

: a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan

2

afghan : a blanket or shawl of colored yarn knitted or crocheted in strips or squares

3

afghan : a Turkoman carpet of large size and long pile woven in geometric designs

4

: afghan hound

Afghan adjective

or Afghani

af-ˈga-nē 

-ˈgä-

afghani

2 of 2

noun (2)

af·​ghani af-ˈga-nē  -ˈgä- 

: the basic monetary unit of Afghanistan see Money Table

Examples of Afghan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Each of the four groups gave roughly five-minute reports from their 25-minute discussions, offering ideas for how to face the challenges Afghan Americans are currently dealing with. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026

Popal, who now lives in Denmark, found a new way to lead, helping organize Afghan Women United, a soccer team made up of Afghan refugees across the globe, and leading efforts to get the team recognized by FIFA. — Time, 9 June 2026

Noun

Unlike Shafiullah, Safi stood in a parallel queue of porters with wheelbarrows helping ferry recipients’ aid packages to vehicles or homes for 30 afghani, about 34 cents. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022

Hospitals are desperately short of medicines, up to 95 percent of all households face food shortages, the poverty level is soaring toward 90 percent and the afghani, the national currency, is in free fall. — NBC News, 18 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from Persian afghān "Pashtun"

Noun (2)

borrowed from Persian afghānī, literally, "of the Pashtuns"

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun (2)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Afghan

• Afghan hound

Rhymes for Afghan

• bedpan
• began
• caveman
• chapin
• cyan
• deadpan
• dextran
• divan
• doorman
• fishman
• flagman
• fortran

Kids Definition

Afghan

noun

Af·​ghan ˈaf-ˌgan 

1

: a person born or living in Afghanistan

2

not capitalized : a blanket or shawl made of knitted or crocheted colored wool

Afghan adjective