A member of the Pashtun ethnic group native to Afghanistan and Pakistan, also spelled Pakhtun.
From Persian/Pashto origin, related to Sanskrit 'Parthava' and Greek 'Parthoi' (Parthians). The term has been used for centuries to refer to the Pashtun people, though modern usage varies—'Pashtun' is now often preferred as the term is used by the people themselves.
The term 'Pathan' shows how history layers onto geography—the word likely traces back through Parthian empires and Persian dynasties, carrying thousands of years of Central Asian history in its syllables, and the shift toward 'Pashtun' reflects the importance of letting people self-identify rather than using colonial-era terminology.
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