What is the difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun?
Re: difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun
Pathan and Pashtun is the same thing.
Khan was a title given to muslim rulers, and now is a common surname which is commonly used by the Pashtun people, due to the aryanisation of that particular part of asia.
Re: difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun
non pahtoo speaking call pashtoo speaking pathans.
Actual word is pahtoon.
Pathan and Pashtun is the same thing.
Khan was a title given to muslim rulers, and now is a common surname which is commonly used by the Pashtun people, due to the aryanisation of that particular part of asia.
I wonder if Genghis Khan was a muslim ruler.
Hi Maroush,
Thanks for the reply. Can you please clarify the meaning of the phrase 'due to aryanisation of the that particular part of asia'?
Pathan and Pashtun is the same thing.
Khan was a title given to muslim rulers, and now is a common surname which is commonly used by the Pashtun people, due to the aryanisation of that particular part of asia.
Re: I wonder if Genghis Khan was a muslim ruler. (Kakabali)
His question is valid. Genghis Khan was not a muslim.
Re: difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun
i think its just a title they give to some one at big post or ruling the place or to some one senior just to honor him.
Now jungez khan, he is known as Alexander the great. These pushtoon might have given him the title of 'khan' at that time.
If we compare Peshawar and Quetta two cities, they both are located in two different provinces but they seems to have similar language which is generally called Pashto! BUT in reality both the cities are entirely different with entirely different cultures, language ... it seems similar but is different, ... people from Peshawar are Pakhtoons while people from Quetta are Pashtoon ...
Khan is sub diviion of Pakhtoons! ... all the Khans are Pathans (either pashto or Urdu speaking) but all the pathans are not Khan! ...
Re: difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun
huh? ppl in quetta speak pashto?? 
really?
Bachia, I will tell you.
Pathan, Pashtoon, Pukhtun etc are the names given to the Pakhtun tribal people of north-west Pakistan and some in Afghanistan. As with people of all races, there are variations in accents and pronunciations in different dialects. Some Pakthuns speak with a "KH" pronunciation and some speak with a "SH" pronunciation for the same words. I would guess that Quetta and Afghan people are more likely to have the "SH" variety.
So the "KH" say we are "PuKHtana" and the "SH" say we are "PaSHtana" but they are both the same race.
Usually people who are not of the Pukhtun / Pashtun race refer to them as PaTHans, I'm guessing bcos they are not used to pronouncing KH in much of their language so they take the easy way out and say PaTHaan. This is bcos the people of the rest of pakistan and india have weak tongues, due to the lack of naswaar in their early years.
Lafanter, ALexander the Great and Jenghiz Khan are NOT one and the same. Alexander was a Greek ruler who travelled the world and established a massive empire, from west to east.
Jenghis Khan was a Mongolian leader who travelled the world and established an empire from east to west. He did travel through parts of Afghanistan and you can still see the descendents of his people today, with their strongly resembling Mongolian features (not pathan tho).
There are various theories as to the origins of Pathans, some say they are descended from Alexander the Great's soldiers who settled in some areas of Swat, others say they are descended from the lost tribes of Isreal. Who knows.
As for the term "Khan", in tribal areas this term originally applied to the chief landowning families who had the surrounding labourers work the land for them, and in payment the workers received a portion of the crop. These rich chiefs who didn't have to work themselves were known as the "Khan". These days almost everyone has the name Khan as their surname, otherwise they would be known as "John, the son of James the Pathaan Naswaar Seller". However not everyone who is pathan has a surname of khan, and not everyone who has the surname khan is a pathan.
OK, that about sums it up. You should be very grateful for this answer bcos I had to read an incredibly boring book to find some information. In the end I gave up on the reading and put together bits of knowledge I already had. If anyone dares argue with what I have to say, please don't do it whilst I am in an opium induced state of mind.
Thank you kindly.
RH is right. Its just that ppl from different areas pronounce the same word differently.
Pathan, Pashtoon, Pukhtun etc are the names given to the Pakhtun tribal people of north-west Pakistan and some in Afghanistan...
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OK, that about sums it up. You should be very grateful for this answer bcos I had to read an incredibly boring book to find some information...
Hi RH,
Thank you very much for all this information. I need give it some time to understand the subtle distinctions, I will do this in the evening.
Best wishes,
-H.
Re: difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun
All Khans are not Pathan. Ghalat fehmi. Haha.
In the past, people have adapted the last name "Khan," thinking it to be a last name. It's not a last name - it's a title given out of respect. Most through-and-through Pukhtuns do not have the last name "Khan."
Pathan is the anglicized way of saying "Pukhtun" (or Pashtun). It's also a word used to describe those of Afghan ancestry, but who are not Pashto speaking, while Pukhtun/Pashtun refers to those "Pathans" who still carry the Afghan culture and traditions (Pashto-speaking and so forth).
Some pashto Classic songs:
Rubab Tune:
Javed Akhtar Songs
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i think its just a title they give to some one at big post or ruling the place or to some one senior just to honor him.
Now jungez khan, he is known as Alexander the great. These pushtoon might have given him the title of 'khan' at that time.
Alexander was known as............... Sikander...........and never was called Khan!
All Khans are not Pathan. Ghalat fehmi. Haha.
In the past, people have adapted the last name "Khan," thinking it to be a last name. It's not a last name - it's a title given out of respect. Most through-and-through Pukhtuns do not have the last name "Khan."
Pathan is the anglicized way of saying "Pukhtun" (or Pashtun). It's also a word used to describe those of Afghan ancestry, but who are not Pashto speaking, while Pukhtun/Pashtun refers to those "Pathans" who still carry the Afghan culture and traditions (Pashto-speaking and so forth).
Yes, Khan is a pretty common name amongst Bangladeshis as well. I think I know an Indian Khan as well..
Yes, Khan is a pretty common name amongst Bangladeshis as well. I think I know an Indian Khan as well..
I know several, Salman, Shahrukh, Amir my goodness there are but loads of them coming out of the woodwork.
Re: difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun
Heck, i know European Khans, who have no south asian origins… 
Re: difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun
They were Kahn's to begin with, until one of their ancestor's became dyslexic...
Re: difference between Khan, Pathan, and Pashtun
yeah right, YOU know it all and have enlighten the world with your so informative clues with so true historical backgrounds and proof! … 
so there were two different ppl who ruled the world
one came for west and the other from east . . . .
nature keeps its balance, wow 