Khel

Khel is a term used in several languages of South Asia and surrounding regions with multiple meanings. In Hindustani languages such as Hindi and Urdu, khel (खेल, کھیل) means play or a game and is used to refer to sports, leisure activities, and organized competitions. The word appears in phrases that describe activity and competition, and it is commonly heard in everyday speech.

In Pashto and other Pashtun language contexts, khel denotes a sub-tribe or clan—a lineage or sector within a larger tribe. It is widely used in naming Pashtun social groups and in discussions of genealogical descent, reflecting the region’s traditional clan structure.

Khel is also a common element in place names and local toponymy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where village and settlement names often incorporate the term to indicate tribal associations or historical settlements.

In popular culture, Khel has been used as a title for various Indian films and appears in music and literature. The usage in entertainment typically evokes the sense of play, competition, or performance.

Etymology varies by language. The gaming sense in Hindustani derives from the Sanskrit root khela or related forms meaning play, while the tribal sense in Pashto is a native term referring to a clan or sub-division. This divergence shows how the same romanized spelling can represent distinct words across languages.

Notable uses include its role as a common noun for play, its function in tribal nomenclature, and its presence in place names and cultural works.