Spingiri

سپينږيرى

Spingiri literally means “white beards.”  In an area where attaining an advanced age is considered an accomplishment (according to the CIA World Factbook the male life expectancy in Afghanistan is currently 44 years), the term is used as a term of respect.  Spingiri, however, are not the same as mashran (مشران) (i.e., elders) although often mashran are spingiri.