Kurdish phrasebook

Kurdish (Kurdî) is the language of the Kurdish people who live in the region known as Kurdistan that is divided between four countries – Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Kurdish is an Indo-European language. This phrase book is for the Kurmanji dialect which covers most of Bhadinan area of Iraqi Kurdistan and Kurdistan of southern Turkey.

(Sub dialect of Northern Kurdish will be added regarding the Kurdish people living in Central Anatolia. The dialect has been influenced a lot by the Turkish language, thus making it a sub dialect of Kurmanji. These people are located outside the Kurdistan region of Turkey.)

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a , e , ê , i , î , o , u , û , w , y

Consonants

b , c , ç , d , f , g , h , j , k , l , m , n , p , q , r , s , ş , t , v , x , z

Phrase list (Northern Kurdish)

Basics

Hello! 

Merheba! / Silav!

Hello! (formal) 

Rojbaş!

How are you? 

Tu çawa yî? / Tu çawa nî? (singular)

How are you? 

Hûn çawa ne? / Hûn çawa nin? (plural)

Fine, thank you. 

Ez baş im, sipas.

What is your name? 

Navê te çi ye?

My name is Robert. 

Navê min Robert e.

Nice to meet you. 

Serçavan. / Bi nasîna te kêfxweş im. (singular) / Bi nasîna we kêfxweş im. (plural)

Please. 

Bê zehmet / Zehmet ne bê / Bi xêra te bê

Thank you! 

Sipas! / Spas!

Thank you very much 

Gelek sipas! / Zor sipas!

You're welcome. 

Fermo. / Serçavan.

Yes. 

Belê. / Erê.

No. 

Na.

Excuse me (getting attention) 

Af bike

Excuse me (begging pardon) 

Bê zehmet

I'm sorry 

Bibûre (bim bexşe)

Goodbye 

Be xêr çî / Bi xatirê te / Oxir be

Do you speak Kurdish? 

Tu Kurdî dizanî? (informal)

Who speaks English here? 

Kî bi Îngilîzî dizane li vir?

Help! 

Hawar! / Firyam kewin! / Yarmetî!

Look out! 

Agahdar be!

Good morning! 

Beyanîbaş! / Rojbaş!

Good evening! 

Êvarbaş!

Good night! 

Şevxweş! / Şev şad / Şevbaş!

I don't understand you. 

Ez te fehm nakim.

Did you understand? 

Te fehm kir? / Tu têgihiştî?

I didn't understand. 

Min fehm nekir. / Ez tênegihiştim.

Where is the toilet? 

Hemam li ku ye? / Hemam le kiwê ye?

Right now. 

Êsta. / Nuha. / Niha.

I Love you. 

Ez te hez dikim. (In Northern Kurdish) / Min tom xoş dewêt. (Southern Kurdish)

Do you have ... ? 

... te heye? (singular, one) / ... te hene? (singular, more) / ... we heye? (plural, one) / ... we hene? (plural, more)

I am hungry. 

Ez birçî me.

I am a foreigner. 

Ez xerîb im.

Please notice: In kurdish language, pronouncation of "x" is not like in english. It sounds like "r" in german. Simply a thick "h" which comes from deep throat.

Numbers

-1 - di bin sifirin de yek

0 - sifir

½ - nîv

1 - yek

2 - du (formal) / didu (informal)

2½ - du û nîv (formal) / didu û nîv (informal)

3 - sê (formal) / sisê (informal)

4 - çar

5 - pênc

6 - şeş

7 - heft

8 - heşt / heyşt

9 - neh

10 - deh

11 - yanzdeh (formal) / deh û yek (informal)

12 - dûwanzdeh (formal) / deh û du (informal) / deh û didu (informal)

13 - sêzdeh (formal) / deh û sê (informal) / deh û sisê (informal)

14 - çardeh (formal) / deh û çar (informal)

15 - panzdeh (formal) / deh û pênc (informal)

16 - şanzdeh (formal) / deh û şeş (informal)

17 - hevdeh (formal) / deh û heft (informal)

18 - hejdeh (formal) / heyjdeh (formal) / deh û heşt (informal) / deh û heyşt (informal)

19 - nozdeh (formal) / deh û neh (informal)

20 - bîst

21 - bîst û yek

30 - sîh / sih / sihi

40 - çel / çil

50 - pênçî

60 - şêst

70 - heftê

80 - heştê / heyştê

90 - nod

100 - sed

126 - sed û bîst û şeş

200 - du sed (formal) / du sud (informal)

274 - du sed û heftê û çar (formal) / du sud û heftê û çar (informal)

300 - sê sed

395 - sê sed û nod û pênc

400 - çar sed

500 - pênc sed

600 - şeş sed

700 - heft sed

748 - heft sed û çil û heşt (çel, heyşt)

800 - heşt sed / heyşt sed

900 - neh sed

999 - neh sed û nod û neh

1000 - hezar

1500 - hezar û pênc sed

2000 - du hezar

20000 - bîst hezar

500000 - pênc sed hezar

1000000 - yek mîlyon

1923842 (just for fun) - yek mîlyon û neh sed û bîst û sê hezar û heyşt sed û çel û du

Time

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

_____ deqe/Xulek

_____ hour(s) 

_____ sahat/dem

_____ day(s) 

_____ roj

_____ week(s) 

_____ hafta/Hewtu

_____ month(s) 

_____ mang

_____ year(s) 

_____ sal

Days

Monday - Duşembi

Tuesday - Sêşembi

Wednesday - Çarşembi

Thursday - Pêncşembi

Friday - Eyînî

Saturday - Şembi

Sunday - Yekşembi

Months

January - Rêbendan

February - Reşemî

March - Adar

April - Avrêl

May - Gulan

June - Pûşper

July - Tîrmeh

August - Gelawêj

September - Rezber

October - Kewçêr

Novembre - Sermawez

December - Berfanbar

Colors

Red 

Sor

Yellow 

Zar

Green 

Kesk

Black 

Reş

White 

Spî

Blue 

Şîn

Transportation

Neql/guhastin

Bus and train

Bus : Pass Train : Kitar / Shamenafer

Directions

Right: Rast Left: çep Turn: bsurewe Go Straight: Rast bro Street: Şeqam Lane: Kolan Neighborhood: Gerek City : Şahar Market : Bazar

Taxi

Taksî

Money

Para / Dinar / Diraf

Eating

Xwarin

Bars

What do you want to drink? 

Tu çi dixwazê vexê?

I want to drink a cup of tea 

Ez dixwazim qedehik çay vexim.

Shopping

Bazar kirîn

Driving

Harjortin/le xurin

Authority

This phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has an introduction and a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

Phrase list (Central Kurdish)

Basics

Hello 

Sław

Hello (formal) 

How are you? 

Çon'î? / Baş'î? / Xas'î? (singular)

How are you? 

Çon'in? / Baş'in? / Xas'in? (plural)

Fine, thank you. 

Baş'im, sipas

What is your name? 

Naw-î to çî'ye?

My name is Robert 

Naw-î min Robert'e

Nice to meet you. 

Xoş hał'im be nasîn'it

Please. 

Bê zehmet / Zehmet nebê

Thank you. 

Sipas / Spas

Thank you very much 

Zor sipas

You're welcome. 

Fermû

Don't mention it. 

Şayenî nî'ye

Yes 

Erê

Yes (formal)

Bełê

No 

Na / Ne

Excuse me (getting attention) 

Excuse me (begging pardon) 

Bê zehmet

I'm sorry 

Bibûre / Bimbexşe / Boxşî

Goodbye 

Xwa hafîz / Xwa't legeł

Do you speak Kurdish? 

To Kurdî dezanî? (informal)

Who speaks English here? 

Kê Îngilîzî dezanêt le êra?

Help! 

Hawar! / Firyam kewin! / Yarmetî!

Look out! 

Agadar be!

Good morning 

Roj baş / Beyanî't baş

Good evening 

Evare baş

Good night 

Şew xoş / Şew şad

I don't understand you 

Min le to tê nageyem

Did you understand? 

Tê geyişt'î? (informal)

I didn't understand 

Tê negeyam

Where is the toilet? 

Hemam le kwê'ye?

Right now. 

Êsta

I Love you 

Min tom xoş dewêt

Do you have .... ? 

....'it heye?

I am hungry. 

Min birsî'me.

I am a foreigner. 

Min ğerîbe'm.

Please notice: In kurdish language, pronouncation of "x" is not like in english. It sounds like "r" in german. Simply a thick "h" which comes from deep throat.

Numbers

-1 -

0 - sifir

½ - nim

1 - yek

2 - du

2½ - du'w nîm

3 - sê

4 - çwar

5 - penc

6 - şeş

7 - hewt / heft

8 - heşt

9 - no

10 - de

11 - yanze

12 - diwanze

13 - siyanze

14 - çwarde

15 - panze

16 - şanze

17 - hevde

18 - hejde

19 - nozde

20 - bist

50 - penca

60 - şast

90 - newed

100 - sed

200 - dused

300 - sêsed

400 - çwarsed

500 - pencsed

600 - şeşsed

700 - hewtsed / heftsed

800 - heştsed

900 - nosed

1000 - hezar

2000 - du hezar

Time

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

_____ deqe

_____ hour(s) 

_____ seat

_____ day(s) 

_____ roj

_____ week(s) 

_____ hefte

_____ month(s) 

_____ mang

_____ year(s) 

_____ sał

Days

Monday - Duşeme

Tuesday - Sêşeme

Wednesday - Çwarşeme

Thursday - Pêncşeme

Friday - Heynî

Saturday - Şeme

Sunday - Yekşeme

Months

January - Rêbendan

February - Reşemî

March - Adar

April - Avrêl

May - Gulan

June - Pûşper

July - Tîrmeh

August - Gelawêj

September - Rezber

October - Kewçêr

Novembre - Sermawez

December - Berfanbar

Colors

Red 

Sûr

Yellow 

Zerd

Green 

Sewz

Black 

Reş / Siya

White 

Spî / Çermû

Blue 

Şîn / Kewe

Transportation

Bus and train

Bus : Pas Train : Qetar / Şemendefer

Directions

Right: Rast Left: Çep Turn: Pêç bide / La bide Go Straight: Rasa birro Street: Şeqam Lane: Kolan Neighborhood: Gerek City : Şar Market : Bazar

Taxi

Taksî

Money

Pare / Dinar

Eating

Xwardin

Bars

What do you want to drink? 

I want to drink a cup of tea 

Driving

Lêxurrîn

Authority

This phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has an introduction and a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

Phrase list (Northern Kurdish of Central Anatolia)

Basics

Hello! 

Merheba!

How are you? 

Tu çir dikî? (singular, often ends with "Tu rind î(, rihet î)?" meaning "Are you good (and comfortable)?")

How are you? 

Ûn çir dikine? (plural, often ends with "'Ûnê rind in(, rihet in)?" meaning "Are you good (and comfortable)?")

Fine, thank you. 

Saol, ezê rind im. ("saol" means "thank you" - from the Turkish word "sağol". "Saol!" can also mean "Fine, thank you.", but then it must end with one asking if the other one is fine (and comfortable) as well - "Sa'ol! Tu jî rind î(, rihet î)?")

What is your name? 

Navê te çî? (Notice that in Central Anatolian Kurdish, the "çi ye (what is it)" is "çî")

My name is Robert. 

Navê min Robert e.

Please. 

Xwedêkkî. / Boy xwedê. (For the sake of god.)

Thank you! 

Sahol! / Teşekkur (dikim)! / Spas! ("teşekkür" means "thanks" - from Turkish "Teşekkürler!" meaning "Thanks!")

Thank you very much! 

Çok sahol! / Çok teşekkur (dikim)! ("çok" means "very / much" - from the Turkish word "çok")

Yes. 

Erê. / Belê. / Er'erê. / Ê. ("belê" is uncommonly used, mostly the old ones know it)

No. 

Na. / Nana. / (also by making a quick clicking sound once or twice by sucking the upper front teeth using the tongue)

Goodbye! 

Bi xatirê te! (When leaving) / Oldi! (<- both ->) / Oxir be! (when staying) (singular, mostly used with "de", can be used without. "Oldi!" is a very common way to say "Goodbye!" - Not sure of the word's origin, perhaps the Turkish word "Oldu!" meaning "Okay!" or something - like agreeing on something)

Goodbye! 

Bi xatirê we! (when leaving) / Oldi! (<- both ->) / Oxir bin! (when staying) (plural)

Do you speak Kurdish? 

Tu Kurmancî dizanî? / Tu Kurmancî deng dikî?

Who speaks English here? 

Kî li vê derê Îngîlîzce dizane? ("-ce" ending from Turkish "İngilizce" (same pronunciation))

Good evening! 

Êvarbaş! / Îvarbaş! (informal) / Şevbaş!

Good night! 

Şevxaş! / Şevbaş! / Şewbaş! / Şewxaş! (Reply "Ê te jî xuş we!" literally means "Yours will also be nice!")

I don't understand you. 

Ez te axinemîş/anlemîş nakim. / Ez te fam nakim. ("axinemîş/anlemîş" means "understanding" - from the Turkish verb "anlamak", which means "to understand")

Where is the toilet? 

Tiwalet le/lü kü? (Notice that in Central Anatolian Kurdish, the "li ku ye (where is it)" is "le/lü kü")

Right now. 

Niha.

I love you. 

Ez ji te hez dikim. / Ez yara te me. / Ez qurbana te me. ("Ez qurbana te me" literally means "I am your sacrifice." (if said to a much older person (mostly old ones), the reply would mostly be "Xwedê neke!", which means "God forbid!", and they would tell you that they are your sacrifice)

Do you have ... ? 

... te heye/hê? (singular, one) / ... te hene? (singular, more) / ... we heye/hê? (plural, one) / ... we hene? (plural, more)

I am hungry. 

Ez birçî me. / Ez birçî bûm(e).

I am a foreigner. 

Ez yabanci me. ("Yabanci me." means "I am a foreigner / stranger." - from Turkish "Yabancıyım.")

Numbers

0 : sifir

1 : yek

2 : du / didu

3 : sê / sisê

4 : çar

5 : pênc

6 : şeş

7 : heft

8 : heyşt

9 : nehe

10 : dehe

11 : dehûyek

12 : dehûdu / dehûdidu

13 : dehûsê / dehûsisê

14 : dehûçar

15 : dehûpênc

16 : dehûşeş

17 : dehûheft

18 : dehûheyşt

19 : dehûnehe

20 : bîst

21 : bîst(û)yek

22 : bîst(û)du / bîst(û)didu

23 : bîst(û)sê / bîst(û)sisê

24 : bîst(û)çar

25 : bîst(û)pênc

26 : bîst(û)şeş

27 : bîst(û)heft

28 : bîst(û)heyşt

29 : bîst(û)nehe

30 : sihi

31 : sihûyek

32 : sihûdu /sihûdidu

33 : sihûsê / sihûsisê

34 : sihûçar

35 : sihûpênc

36 : sihûşeş

37 : sihûheft

38 : sihûheyşt

39 : sihûnehe

40 : çel

41 : çel(û)yek

42 : çel(û)du /çel(û)didu

43 : çel(û)sê / çel(û)sisê

44 : çel(û)çar

45 : çel(û)pênc

46 : çel(û)şeş

47 : çel(û)heft

48 : çel(û)heyşt

49 : çel(û)nehe

50 : pênce

51 : pênceyek

52 : pêncedu / pêncedidu

53 : pêncesê / pêncesisê

54 : pênceçar

55 : pêncepênc

56 : pênceşeş

57 : pênceheft

58 : pênceheyşt

59 : pêncenehe

60 : şêst

61 : şêst(û)yek

62 : şêst(û)du / şêst(û)didu

63 : şêst(û)sê / şêst(û)sisê

64 : şêst(û)çar

65 : şêst(û)pênc

66 : şêst(û)şeş

67 : şêst(û)heft

68 : şêst(û)heyşt

69 : şêst(û)nehe

70 : heftê

71 : heftêyek

72 : heftêdu / heftêdidu

73 : heftêsê / heftêsisê

74 : heftêçar

75 : heftêpênc

76 : heftêşeş

77 : heftêheft

78 : heftêheyşt

79 : heftênehe

80 : heyştê

81 : heyştêyek

82 : heyştêdu / heyştêdidu

83 : heyştêsê / heyştêsisê

84 : heyştêçar

85 : heyştepênc

86 : heyştêşeş

87 : heyştêheft

88 : heyştêheyşt

89 : heyştênehe

90 : not

91 : not(û)yek

92 : not(û)du / not(û)didu

93 : not(û)sê / not(û)sisê

94 : not(û)çar

95 : not(û)pênc

96 : not(û)şeş

97 : not(û)heft

98 : not(û)heyşt

99 : not(û)nehe

100 : sed

This phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has an introduction and a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!