Khowar language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Khowar, Arniya |
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|---|---|
| Native to | Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
| Native speakers | 290,000 (2016) |
| Language family |
Indo-European
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Khowar (pronounced "Kho-war") is a language spoken by many people, mainly in a beautiful mountainous region called Chitral District in Pakistan. The name "Khowar" actually tells you a bit about the language itself! "Kho" refers to the people who live in Chitral, and "War" means "language." So, Khowar simply means "the language of the Kho people."
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Where Khowar is Spoken
Khowar is the main language of the Kho people. Most Khowar speakers live in the Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. It is also spoken in other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, especially in the Ghizar District, including areas like the Yasin Valley, Golaghmuli Valley, Phandar, Ishkoman, and Gupis. You can also find Khowar speakers in parts of Upper Swat, specifically in Mateltan Village, Pakistan.
Khowar Speakers Across Borders
Beyond Pakistan, Khowar is spoken by some people in Jammu and Kashmir, India. There are also smaller groups of Khowar speakers in other countries like Afghanistan, China, and Tajikistan.
Khowar in Big Cities
Many Khowar speakers have moved from their mountain homes to bigger cities in Pakistan. You can find significant populations of Khowar speakers in major urban centers such as Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
Khowar as a Second Language
In some areas, Khowar is not the main language, but many people learn it as a second language. This is common in the rest of the Gilgit region and the Hunza, showing how important Khowar is in these parts of Pakistan.
