English - Dari translation

English to Dari: write for the Afghan reader

Select Dari vocabulary deliberately

Dari is the Afghan Persian target on this page. It shares extensive grammar and writing conventions with other Persian varieties, but a message should use vocabulary and expressions suited to its intended Afghan readers. Do not assume every Iranian conversational expression is the default simply because the written language looks familiar.

For example, موتر is an everyday Dari word for “car,” and مکتب is used for “school.” These are useful terms in directions and family messages. A translation about a specific service should also retain that service’s established terminology. Regional suitability matters more than replacing familiar Afghan wording with a synonym chosen only from another variety’s frequency.

English “you” leaves the relationship undecided

Dari تو is singular familiar address; شما can address several people or one person respectfully. Decide who the English message addresses before choosing the target voice. A first professional contact and a close personal exchange may need different forms even if both begin with the English word “you.”

Keep the related verbal forms coherent with that choice. In ordinary Dari, a subject pronoun can often be omitted because the verb identifies the subject. Repeating a full pronoun in every sentence may be unnecessary. Retain names or pronouns where they prevent confusion, rather than insisting that every English subject must appear independently in the same position.

Read modifiers through the linking construction

Dari connects nouns and many following modifiers through ezafa. “Red apple” can be سیب سرخ, pronounced with a linking vowel between the words. English places “red” before “apple,” but Dari normally places the adjective after the noun in this construction. An accurate target phrase need not copy English order.

The link can also express possession. In a longer phrase, identify which adjective describes which noun and who owns the item. A sequence involving a person, their belongings, and a descriptive word can be ambiguous if the English is compressed. Expand the source meaning before translating so the target attaches each description to the intended item.

Preserve identity through right-to-left text

Dari uses an Arabic-based script and normally leaves many short vowels unwritten. A name’s conventional spelling is therefore more dependable than guessing from a Roman spelling alone. Use an established Dari form where available, and preserve Latin identifiers exactly when they must remain searchable or copyable.

When a message includes a date, establish its calendar before changing its representation. Translation alone does not authorise a silent conversion. Check amounts, names, and booking references separately from the prose, especially where right-to-left text sits beside Latin letters. A sentence can sound natural while still pointing to the wrong record if one character in a code or name has been altered.