Learn Key Phrases in Kurdish

Kurdistan is now split between Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. Kurdish language is spoken in three main dialects: Kurmanji (in West and North of Kurdistan), Sorani (in East and South of Kurdistan) and Kalhuri (in East and South of Kurdistan). Even if you don't speak a word of Kurdish, it will only take a few minutes to learn some basic phrases that will help you communicate. The phrases below are typically Sorani. The Kurmanji is the 2nd and the Kalhuri is the 3rd translation.

Steps

Greetings

  1. Below are some greetings.
    • Say Hello : Slaw! , Dem Baş!/ Silav/ Silam
    • Say How are you: Chonî? / Tu başî?/ Xasîd?, Xweşîd?
    • Say I'm fine: Çakim , Xasim/ başim/ Xasim
    • Say Thank you: Supas/ Spas/ Spas
    • Say Yes: balê /arê / Erî
    • Say No: Ne / Na/ Ne
    • Say I : Mn / Ez/ Me
    • Say You(singular): To / Tu/ To
    • Say He/She: Aw/ Ewe/ Ewe, Üwe
    • Say We : Éme / Em/ Éme
    • Say You(Plural): Éwe / Hun/ Éwe
    • Say They: Ewan
    • Say Good morning: Beyanî baş/ spêde baş/ Şewekî Xweş
    • Say Good Afternoon: Nîwerro baş/
    • Say Good Evening: Éwar baş /Evar baş/ Éware Xweş
    • Say Good Night: Şew baş/ Şev baş/ Şew Xweş
    • Say Goodbye: Xwa-legell(Xwa= God / Legell= With) in other words God be with you./ Mal Ava/ Binîşîte Xweş

Some Phrases

  1. Goodnight: Şew Baş /Şev baş/ Şew Xweş
  2. please: Tkaye/ Tika dikim
  3. do you love me: To minit xoş dawêt?/ Tu hez ji min dikî?
  4. I Love You: Min Tom Xoş Dawêt/ Ez hez ji te dikim
  5. Come here! : Were bo êre!/ were vêrê!
  6. Say my name is....: Nawî min .... e./ Navê min....e
  7. Where are you going?: Bo kwe erroy?/ Tu kîve diçî?
  8. what are you doing? :To çî dekey? To xerîkî çît?/ Tu çi diki?
  9. I'm going to work : Eçim bo ser kar
  10. When are you coming back?/when are you turning around? : Key degerrîtewe? / Key dêytewe?/ Tu dê kengî vegerî?
  11. I'm coming back : Xerîkim dêmewe., Ewe hatmewe./ ez zivrim/ Le pisa tîyemew.
  12. What's your job? : Karî to çî ye?/ Karê te çîye?
  13. Thank you very much: Zor supas/ Gelek spas
  14. I am going: Min errom, Min demewê birrom./ Ezê çim.
  15. I'm not ok : Min baş nîm/ Ez ne başim/ Me Xwes Nîyim
  16. I'm ok : (Min) başim./ Ez başim.
  17. I'm sick: Min Nexoşim./ Ez nexweşim.
  18. What is it? : (Ewe) çî ye?/ Eve çîye?/ Ewe çes?
  19. Nothing : Híç/ Çine/ Hüç
  20. You love me: To minit xoş ewê/ tu hez ji min di keyi./ Tu le min xweşit tîyeêd.
  21. I love you: Min tom xoş dewê/ ez hez ji te dikem/ Min le tu xweşim tîyeêd.
  22. I miss you: Bîrit ekem/ min bîrya te kirye/ Hürit kirdime
  23. Are you coming back? : Dêytewe?, Degerêytewe?/ tu ye bi zivri?/ tîyeêdew?, Gerrêdew?
  24. I'm not coming back : Nayemewe, Nagerrêmewe/ ez na zivrim/ Nyetîyemew, Nyegerrêmew

Numbers (Jimaran) 1-20

  1. Yek
  2. çuwar/çar
  3. pênc
  4. Şeş
  5. Heft
  6. Heşt
  7. No/Neh/No
  8. De/Deh/De
  9. Yazde/ Yazde/ Yanze
  10. Dvazde/ Dvazde/ Dwnze
  11. Syanze/ Sêzde/ Sênze
  12. Çarde/ Çarde/ Çwarde
  13. Panzde/ Panzde/ Panze
  14. Şanzde/ Şanzde/ Şanze
  15. Hevde
  16. Hejde
  17. Nozde
  18. Bîst/ Bîst/ Bîs
  19. Çil
  20. Penca/penci
  21. Şest/ Şest/ Şes
  22. Hefta
  23. Heşta
  24. Newed
  25. Sed
  26. Hezar

DAYS OF THE WEEK

  1. Below are the days of the week.
    • SUNDAY: Yekşemme/ êkşemb i/ Yekşeme
    • MONDAY: Dûşemme/ duşemb / Dişeme
    • TUESDAY:Seşemme/ sêşemb/ Sêşeme
    • WEDNESDAY: Çuwarşemme/ carşemb/ Çwarşeme
    • THURSDAY: Pêncşemme/ pêncşemb/ Pêncşeme
    • FRIDAY: Cúmha/ Heynî/ Cume
    • SATURDAY: Şemme / Şemî/ Şeme

Seasons Of The Year

  1. Spring: Behar/ Bihar/ Wehar
  2. Summer: Hawín/ Havîn/ Tawsan
  3. Winter: Zistan/ Zivistan/ Zimsan
  4. Autumn: Payez/ Payiz/ Payiz

Tips

  • Different regions may have slightly different dialects and expressions.
  • Use the power of body language: Pointing, drawing, gesturing and pantomiming will all help you get your point across.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  • www.ferheng.org (Kurdish<->English, Kurdish<-> German Dictionary)