# What is the literal meaning of "Taliban" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-literal-meaning-of-taliban/83346 "2001-09-23T15:51:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![berdollos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@berdollos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/berdollos)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-literal-meaning-of-taliban/83346/1 "2001-09-23T15:51:07Z")
and what language does it come from? I just want info, no diatribes please. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-literal-meaning-of-taliban/83346/2 "2001-09-23T15:54:52Z")
It’s today’s word of the day at [yourDictionary](http://www2.yourdictionary.com/cgi-bin/wotd.cgi): > [@](#): > > Definition 1: A Sunni Islamic student group organized in 1994 by an Islamic mullah (teacher), Muhammad Omar, that has ruled Afghanistan since September 27, 1996. > > Usage 1: Taliban “students” is the plural of talib “student (of Islamic theology)” so some say the “Taliban are” rather than “is.” No adjectives or verbs have been derived from this word (yet). ---
**Author:** ![AndyUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AndyUK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyUK)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-literal-meaning-of-taliban/83346/3 "2001-09-25T01:05:14Z")
The name Taliban is from the Russians nickname of the Afgans. They called them the telly banners which got shortened to Taliban. They used english words as the Taliban were supported by America at the time. If you don’t believe me go to [http://www.dis.is/gir/bidge](http://www.dis.is/gir/bidge) ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_the\_Advancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Lance\_the\_Advancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_the_Advancer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-literal-meaning-of-taliban/83346/4 "2001-09-25T01:15:57Z")
I’ve never heard an American seriously call a television a “telly”. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-literal-meaning-of-taliban/83346/5 "2001-09-25T01:37:39Z")
I believe these are the people who work at grocery stores and keep a tally of bananas. As in “hey, Mr. Taliban, tally me banana.” They were sick of their jobs, so they moved to Afghanistan and became rebels to the world. Their troops are quite ineffective since they fight only at night. When daylight comes, they want to go home. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-literal-meaning-of-taliban/83346/6 "2001-09-25T04:02:39Z")
Nothing to add except… ::groooooooooooooooooooooooooan:: ---
**Author:** ![Joaquim\_Matilda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@Joaquim\_Matilda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joaquim_Matilda)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2001, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-literal-meaning-of-taliban/83346/7 "2001-09-27T00:41:17Z")
it means student or seeker of religious truth. This according to [http://www.afgha.com](http://www.afgha.com) , the official site of the Afghan resistance