Afganistani

Afganistani is a rarely used English-language demonym and adjective referring to Afghanistan or its people. It is not the standard term; in modern usage, Afghan serves as both the noun for a person from Afghanistan and as the adjectival form (for example, Afghan history or Afghan culture).

The form appears to be an English coinage formed by adding the -istani suffix to the country name Afghanistan, mirroring patterns in some other language formations. However, English customary demonyms do not typically use -istani for Afghanistan. Its appearance is sparse and often considered nonstandard or archaic.

In contemporary writing, Afganistani is seldom preferred; if encountered, it is typically in older literature, transliteration from other languages, or in fictional or descriptive contexts that aim to imitate non-English norms. It should not replace Afghan for people or Afghanistan-related matters in formal or neutral writing.

Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in South Asia and Central Asia, with Kabul as its capital. The country is ethnically and linguistically diverse, with major groups including Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. The official languages are Dari and Pashto. This diversity helps explain why the ordinary demonym is Afghan rather than Afghanistani, and it underscores the importance of using standard terms in formal contexts. See also: Afghanistan; Afghan people; Demonyms.