Khowari language

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June 30, 2026

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Khowar is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in northwest Pakistan, primarily in the Chitral district. It is considered part of the Dardic languages group, which are spoken in Pakistan, Kashmir, and Afghanistan. The exact classification of Dardic languages within the Indo-Iranian language family has been debated among scholars, with some believing Khowar to be Indo-Aryan. Khowar differs from other Indo-Iranian languages in its sound systems and retains words that have been lost in other regions. The word "Khowar" itself is derived from the Khowar word for the people and area of Chitral.12

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Dardic languages
…three subgroups: Kafiri, or Western; Khowari, or Central (spoken in the Chitrāl district of northwestern Pakistan); and the Eastern group, which includes Shina and Kashmiri. (Some scholars use the term Dardic to refer only to the Eastern subgroup of languages and use the name Pisaca to refer to the group…
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…three subgroups: Kafiri, or Western; Khowari, or Central (spoken in the Chitrāl district of northwestern Pakistan); and the Eastern group, which includes Shina and Kashmiri. (Some scholars use the term Dardic to refer only to the Eastern subgroup of languages and use the name Pisaca to refer to the group…
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