Everyday Kabul Speech: ده for In and To

Level 3

ده before a counted thing is the number ten, as in ده نفر, so look at the next word.

How It Works

In Kabul, friends shorten در (in) to one quick sound, da, and write it ده in messages. They say it before a place, just as writing says در or به.

Everyday speechWritten DariMeaning
ده خانه (da khāna)در خانهin the house
ده کابل (da Kābul)در کابلin Kabul
ده مکتب (da maktab)در مکتبat school
ده بازار (da bāzār)به بازارto the bazaar

You hear ده in the street, in the bazaar and in films, and you read it in friends' messages. In your own writing, use در and به.

ده is also the number ten. When a counting word follows, as in ده نفر (ten people) or ده دانه (ten pieces), it is the number. Before a place, it is the short form of در.

Examples (5)

  1. ما ده کابل زندگی می‌کنیم.

    We live in Kabul.

    Everyday speech: ده. In writing: در.

  2. مریم ده خانه است.

    Maryam is at home.

    Everyday speech: ده. In writing: در.

  3. فردا ده بازار می‌رویم.

    Tomorrow we are going to the bazaar.

    Everyday speech: ده. In writing: به.

  4. احمد ده مکتب درس می‌خواند.

    Ahmad studies at school.

    Everyday speech: ده. In writing: در.

  5. روز جمعه ده پغمان میله کردیم.

    On Friday we went on a picnic in Paghman.

    Everyday speech: ده. In writing: در.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the speech word ده in a school essay or a letter.

    او ده کابل زندگی می‌کند.
    او در کابل زندگی می‌کند.

    ده belongs to speech. Essays, letters and news use در and به.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Everyday Kabul Speech: ده for In and ToLevel 3

Learn This First

This row is for listening. The written در and به come first, and ده is how people in Kabul say them.

Words in This Pattern

دهدربه