Pathan
Pathan (noun) means a member of the Pashto-speaking people of Afghanistan and north-west Pakistan; another name for Pashtun. Example: “His grandfather was a Pathan from the North-West Frontier.”
How to use Pathan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn older or South-Asian-English name for the Pashtun ethnic group.
Word forms
- Plural
- Pathans
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His grandfather was a _____ from the North-West Frontier.
Etymology
Borrowed from Hindustani paṭhān — the same people are also known as Pashtun.