afghani

Afghan is the proper term for a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan. The use of Afghani in this meaning is considered to be incorrect and is sometimes perceived as offensive. The -i in Afghani is a suffix used in the names of certain peoples in southwest and central Asia: for example, an Israeli lives in Israel; a Pakistani lives in Pakistan. However, the bordering countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan have a history of strained diplomatic relations. Therefore, objection to the use of Afghani (to refer to a person) may be explained by the word’s similarity to Pakistani, and to Paki, a synonymous but highly offensive term.