Buzz
Kurdistan, a region currently divided into four parts among Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, showcases Iraqi Kurdistan as its most autonomous sector. The Kurdish community primarily employs three main dialects: Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish), Sorani (Middle Kurdish), and Kalhuri (Southern Kurdish). Sorani, spoken by approximately 10 million individuals in Iraq and Iran, belongs to the Iranian language family. It stands as the predominant dialect among Iraqi Kurds and serves as the primary language for many Kurds in Eastern Kurdistan. Sorani is typically transcribed using the Arabic script, read from right to left, although it also possesses a Romanized version, which we'll explore further here.
Exploring the Steps Ahead
Scarcity of online learning materials for Sorani is notable. Here, we'll introduce a handful of expressions, words, and phrases to kickstart your journey:
Mastering Key Vocabulary:
- Yes: Bale
- No: Na
- Thank you: Supas
- Please: Tkaya
- And: Woo
Phrases to Familiarize Yourself With
- Good morning: Bayanit bash
- Good Afternoon: Niwarot bash
- Good Evening: Ewarat bash
- Good Night: Shaw Shad
- Good day: Roj Bash
- Goodbye: Xwahafiz (Xwa= God / hafiz= protect)
- Hello: Slaw
Common Questions and Answers to Learn
- How are you?: Choni? to choni?
- I am okay: Bashm(Turkish) chaakem (Iraq)
- I am very okay: Zor bashm
- I am not okay: Bash nim
- I am ill: Naxoshm
- Where are you? Lakwey?
- Where do you live? Lakwey azhit?
- I live in England: La Englestan azhim
- How old are you?: Tamant chanda?
- What is your name?: Nawt chya?
- Where are you going?: Bo kwe aroy?
- I go to work: Achm bo îsh
- When are you coming back?: Kay yatawa?
- I come back evening: Eawara demawa
- What is your job?: îsht chya?
- Did you arrive: Gayshti?
- I am going: Arom
- What?: Chi?
- How many?: Chand?
- How many brothers have you got?: Chand brat haya?
- I have one brother: Yak bram haya
- Have you got children?: Mnall't haya?
- How are you doing?: Bashee?
- Fine thanks, and you?: Bash'm supas ey to?
- Do you know what I mean?: Te agate?
Addressing People Appropriately
- You: to (pronounced 'tå')
- I:m: (A little bit complicated)
- My: Add 'm' to noun ending ('My nose' becomes 'lut[m]')
- Mum: Dayk
- Dad: Bawk
- Sister: Khoshk
- Brother: Bra
- Paternal uncle: Mam
- Maternal uncle: Khal
- Girl: Kch
- A girl: Kchek
- Boy: Kur (pronounced 'kooorr')
- A boy: Kurek
- Teacher: Mamosta
Discovering Food Vocabulary
- I eat: Khwarden axom
- Rice: Brnj
- Tea: Cha
- Coffee: Qawa
- Water: Aaw
- Soup: Shorba
- Okra: Bamya
- Yogurt: Mast
Exploring Essential Words
- Car: Sayara (Old Kurdi) Aotomobel (New Kurdi)
- Life: Zhyan
- Country: Walat
- City: Shar
- Village: Ladey
- House: mal / khano
- Nation/ tribe: Khell
- Place of first date: Shweny khwazbyeny yekem
- Child: Mnall
- Shirt: Kras
- Day: Roj
- Kiss: Mach
Expand Your Vocabulary with Expressions
- You are beautiful: To Jwanit
- I am going: Min Arom
- Do not go: Marro
- Come on: De wera
- Come to me: Wara bo laymn
- I swear to God: Ba xwa
- For example: Bo nemoona
- Good luck: Baxtawar
- You are a very nice girl: To kcheki zor jwani
- You are a very nice boy: To kureki zor jwani
- I love you: Khoshm aweyt (xoshm aweyt)
- Life is nice: Zhyan khosha (Zhyan xosha)
Enhance Your Descriptive Skills
- Together: Pekawa
- In: la naw
- Above (on): sar
- Below (under): zher
- Beside: Tanisht
- Back: Psht
- Go: Bero
- Nice: Khosh
- OK: Bash
- Many/very: Zor
- Pain: zhan
Discover Key Body Parts
- Head: Sar
- Neck: Mel
- Eye/ eyes: Chaw
- Nose: Loot
- Mouth: Dam
- Eyebrow: Brä
- Ear/ ears: Gwe
- Hair: Qzh
- Cheek: Roomat
- Hand: Dast
- Shoulder: Shan
- Chest: Sng
- Breast: Mamk
- Abdomen: Sk
- Umbilicus: Nawk
- Foot/ feet/ lower limb: qach
- Fingers: Panja
- Back: Psht
- Knee: Azhnoo
Master the Art of Counting
- 1: yiek
- 2: doo
- 3: ce
- 4: chwar
- 5: penj
- 6: shash
- 7: hawt
- 8: hasht
- 9: noh
- 10: de
- 11: yanza
- 12: dwanza
- 13: syanza
- 14: chwarda
- 15: panza
- 16: shanza
- 17: havda
- 18: hazhda
- 19: nozda
- 20: bist
- 21: bist u yak
- 30: ci
- 40: chl
- 50: penja
- 60: shast
- 70: hafta
- 80: hashta
- 90: nawa
- 100: saa
- 101: saa u yak
- 1000: hazar
