شیطان (Shaytan)
What does شیطان (Shaytan) mean? شیطان (Shaytan) is a Dari mild that translates to “devil / little devil / evil” in English.
Literal Translation
Satan / the devil
Meaning & Usage
"devil / little devil / evil"
Used exactly the way English speakers call a mischievous child 'a little devil.' In its serious form, it accuses someone of being inspired by or allied with Satan. In its casual form, it's almost affectionate — 'this kid is a shaytan' means they're cleverly naughty, always up to something.
Examples in the Wild
این بچه شیطان صفت است، همه چیز را خراب میکند. (In bacha shaytan sefat ast, hama cheez ra kharab mekunad. - This devil-natured kid destroys everything.) — Exasperated parent about an energetic child.
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- Direct confrontation (use with caution)
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around religious or conservative communities
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Shaytan (Iblis) is the most important adversary figure in Islam — the angel who refused to bow to Adam and was cast out of heaven. Despite this cosmic theological significance, Afghans use 'shaytan' more casually than you'd expect. A child who hides the TV remote is a shaytan. A friend who convinces you to eat another plate of food is a shaytan. The distance between the theological and the colloquial is vast. However, seriously calling an adult 'shaytan' — meaning they're genuinely evil, not playfully mischievous — is a heavy accusation.
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View all →خواهرتو گایدم (Khwahareto gaydam)
“I fucked your sister”
Declaring sexual intercourse with the target's sister.
لعنتی (Lanati)
“damn / goddamn / cursed”
Someone upon whom God's curse (la'nat) has fallen. In everyday use it functions exactly like the English 'damn' — versatile, moderate, and everywhere. 'In telefon-e lanati' (this damn phone) is something every Kabuli says daily. But in its religious sense, being cursed by God is eternal damnation.
بد کاره (Bad kara)
“whore / sex worker (euphemism)”
The Afghan euphemism for a sex worker — someone whose 'work' (kaar) is 'bad.' It's the word people use when they want to accuse a woman of prostitution without using the explicit 'jenda' (whore) or the formal 'fahisha.' The euphemistic nature actually makes it more common in everyday speech, because it's considered less vulgar to say.
دیوث (Dayus)
“cuck / shameless bastard”
A man who is indifferent to his wife's adultery, or actively pimps her out.
پفیوز (Pofyooz)
“limp dick / useless bastard”
An old word for a useless, pathetic man with no backbone.
تف به رویت (Tof ba royet)
“I spit in your face / you disgust me”
The verbal equivalent of spitting in someone's face — the ultimate gesture of contempt and disgust. In many cultures spitting expresses disgust, but in Afghan culture it's particularly loaded because the face (roo) represents honor, dignity, and public reputation. Spitting on someone's face destroys their roo permanently.
نامرد (Namard)
“coward / traitor / backstabber”
This is one of the most loaded words in Afghan masculinity. It doesn't just mean coward — it means someone who broke a promise, betrayed a trust, or abandoned someone in need. A namard is someone whose word means nothing. In a culture built on oral agreements and personal honor, this can end friendships and start blood feuds.
الاغ (Olagh)
“jackass / stubborn fool”
A second word for donkey — used interchangeably with 'khar' but with a slightly more literary, formal register. It's the donkey-insult you'd hear from an educated person rather than a street vendor. Same meaning: stupid, stubborn, and unable to learn. Afghan Dari borrowed 'olagh' from Turkish, while 'khar' is pure Persian.