Kurdish phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Kurdish phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Kurdish with translation. | Free & useful

Kurdish phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Kurdish culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Kurdish phrases you should know

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Greet someone in Kurdish

If you want to greet someone in Kurdish, it’s actually quite easy:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Welcome!	Bi xêr hatî!	[bɪ xɛːɾ haˈtiː]
Good day to you!	Rojek baş ji te re!	[ɾoːʒɛk baːʃ ʒɪ tɛ ɾɛ]
Good morning to you!	Spêde baş ji te re!	[spɛːˈdɛ baːʃ ʒɪ tɛ ɾɛ]
Good evening!	Êvar baş!	[ʔeːˈvaɾ baːʃ]
Good to see you.	Kêfxweş bûm ku ez te dîtim.	[keːf.xwɛʃ buːm ku ɛz tɛ ˈdiːtɪm]
I’m glad to see you.	Ez kêfxweş im ku te dîtim.	[ɛz keːf.xwɛʃ ɪm ku tɛ ˈdiːtɪm]

If you are greeted in Kurdish, the best way to respond is as follows:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Have a nice day too!	Rojekê baş jî bo te be!	[ɾoːʒɛkɛː baːʃ ʒiː bo tɛ bɛ]
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too.	Spas, kêfxweş e ku ez jî te dîtim.	[spɑːs keːf.xwɛʃ ɛ ku ɛz ʒiː tɛ ˈdiːtɪm]

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
How are you doing?	Tu çawa yî?	[tu ˈt͡ʃɑː.wɑ jiː]
Are you doing well?	Tu baş î?	[tu baːʃ iː]

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Thank you for asking, I am fine.	Spas ji bo pirsinê, ez baş im.	[spɑːs ʒi bo pɪɾ.sɪˈneː ɛz baːʃ ɪm]
Thank you, I am fine.	Spas, ez baş im.	[spɑːs ɛz baːʃ ɪm]
Thank you, I am not doing so well.	Spas, ez çend baş nînim.	[spɑːs ɛz t͡ʃɛnd baːʃ ˈniː.nɪm]
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing?	Spas, ez baş im. Tu çawa yî?	[spɑːs ɛz baːʃ ɪm | tu ˈt͡ʃɑː.wɑ jiː]

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More information about the Kurdish Language Course.

How do I say goodbye to someone in Kurdish?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Kurdish is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Goodbye!	Bi xatirê te!	[bɪ xaːˈtɪɾɛ tɛ]
Take care of yourself!	Xwe biparêze!	[xwɛ bɪ.pa.ˈɾeː.zɛ]
Goodbye	Bi xatirê te	[bɪ xaːˈtɪɾɛ tɛ]
See you tomorrow	Ta sibê!	[ta sɪˈbeː]
See you soon	Ta demek nêzîk!	[ta dɛːˈmɛk nɛːˈziːk]
See you later	Paşê em ê hev bibînin!	[paːˈʃe ʔɛm ʔeː hɛv bɪˈbiː.nɪn]
Good night	Şev baş!	[ʃɛv baːʃ]
Sleep well	Xewê şîrîn bibîn!	[xɛːˈwɛ ʃiːˈɾiːn bɪˈbiːn]
Talk to you later.	Paşê biaxivîn!	[paːˈʃe bɪ.jaː.xɪˈviːn]
Nice to have met you!	Kêfxweş bû ku ez bi te re nas bûm!	[keːf.xwɛʃ buː ku ɛz bɪ tɛ ɾɛ naːs buːm]

How do I introduce myself in Kurdish?

When travelling in Syria, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Kurdish and know who you’re talking to.

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
My name is Jonas.	Navê min Jonas e.	[naːˈvɛ mɪn ˈjoːnas ɛ]
What is your name?	Navê te çi ye?	[naːˈvɛ tɛ t͡ʃiː jɛ]
What is your surname?	Paşnavê te çi ye?	[paːʃ.naːˈvɛ tɛ t͡ʃiː jɛ]
What is your first name?	Navê sereke ya te çi ye?	[naːˈvɛ sɛ.ɾɛˈkɛ jaː tɛ t͡ʃiː jɛ]
What is your surname?	Paşnavê te çi ye?	[paːʃ.naːˈvɛ tɛ t͡ʃiː jɛ]

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Where do you come from?	Tu ji ku derê yî?	[tu ʒi ku dɛˈɾeː jiː]
I am from London.	Ez ji Londra me.	[ɛz ʒi ˈlon.dɾa mɛ]
Are you from Birmingham?	Tu ji Birmingham yî?	[tu ʒi ˈbɪɾ.mɪŋ.ham jiː]
No, I’m from Madrid.	Na, ez ji Madrid me.	[naː ɛz ʒi maˈdɾid mɛ]
Great, I’m from Madrid too.	Xweş e, ez jî ji Madrid me.	[xwɛʃ ɛ ɛz ʒiː ʒi maˈdɾid mɛ]
Where do you live?	Tu li ku dijî?	[tu lɪ ku dɪˈʒiː]
I live in Berlin.	Ez li Berlin dijîm.	[ɛz lɪ bɛɾˈliːn dɪˈʒiːm]

If you have problems with your Kurdish, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Do you speak English?	Tu îngilîzî diaxivî?	[tu ʔɪn.gɪˈliː.zɪ dɪ.aˈxɪ.viː]
Yes, I speak English.	Erê, ez îngilîzî diaxivim.	[ʔɛˈɾeː ɛz ʔɪn.gɪˈliː.zɪ dɪ.aˈxɪ.vɪm]
Yes, I speak some English.	Erê, ez hin îngilîzî diaxivim.	[ʔɛˈɾeː ɛz hɪn ʔɪn.gɪˈliː.zɪ dɪ.aˈxɪ.vɪm]
No, I do not speak any English.	Na, ez tu îngilîzî nizanim biaxivim.	[naː ɛz tu ʔɪn.gɪˈliː.zɪ nɪˈza.nɪm bɪ.aˈxɪ.vɪm]
I only speak English.	Tenê îngilîzî diaxivim.	[tɛˈneː ʔɪn.gɪˈliː.zɪ dɪ.aˈxɪ.vɪm]
I understand some Kurdish.	Ez hin kurdî têgihîştim.	[ɛz hɪn kuɾˈdiː teː.ɡɪˈhɪʃ.tɪm]

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Kurdish and express your wishes and concerns:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
I am English.	Ez îngilîz im.	[ɛz ʔɪn.gɪˈliːz ɪm]
I am injured.	Ez birîndar im.	[ɛz bɪ.ɾiːnˈdaɾ ɪm]
I am here.	Ez li vir im.	[ɛz lɪ vɪɾ ɪm]
I am hungry.	Ez birçî me.	[ɛz bɪɾˈt͡ʃiː mɛ]
I am thirsty.	Ez teşnê me.	[ɛz tɛʃˈneː mɛ]
I am a single person.	Ez kesekî serbixwe me.	[ɛz kɛ.sɛˈkiː sɛɾ.bɪxˈwɛ mɛ]
I need help!	Hevîya alîkariyê heye!	[hɛˈviː.ja ʔa.liː.ka.ɾiːˈjɛ hɛˈjɛ]
I am tired.	Ez westiyayî me.	[ɛz wɛs.ti.jaˈjiː mɛ]
I am happy.	Ez kêfxweş im.	[ɛz keːf.xwɛʃ ɪm]
I am sad.	Ez xemgîn im.	[ɛz xɛmˈɡiːn ɪm]
I am in love.	Ez di evînê de me.	[ɛz dɪ ʔɛ.viːˈneː dɛ mɛ]
I am ill.	Ez nexweş im.	[ɛz nɛxˈwɛʃ ɪm]
I am ready.	Ez amade me.	[ɛz ʔa.maːˈdɛ mɛ]
I am busy.	Ez mijûl im.	[ɛz mɪˈʒuːl ɪm]
I am lost.	Ez wenda bûm.	[ɛz wɛnˈdaː buːm]
I am a tourist.	Ez gerrêk im.	[ɛz ɡɛˈrɛːk ɪm]
I am new here.	Ez nû im li vir.	[ɛz nuː ɪm lɪ vɪɾ]
I am confident.	Ez xwe bawer im.	[ɛz xwɛ baːˈwɛɾ ɪm]
I am proud.	Ez serbilind im.	[ɛz sɛɾ.bɪˈlɪnd ɪm]
I am a teacher.	Ez mamoste me.	[ɛz maː.moːsˈtɛ mɛ]
I am late.	Ez dirêj bûm.	[ɛz dɪˈɾeːʒ buːm]
I am 30 years old.	Ez 30 salî me.	[ɛz siː ˈsɑː.liː mɛ]
I am in a hurry.	Ez lez dixwazim.	[ɛz lɛz dɪxˈwaː.zɪm]
I am happy.	Ez kêfxweş im.	[ɛz keːf.xwɛʃ ɪm]
I am surprised.	Ez şaş bûm.	[ɛz ʃɑʃ buːm]
I am angry.	Ez tehlîme.	[ɛz tɛhˈliː mɛ]

Apologising in Kurdish

Here’s how to apologise to a Kurdish speaker:

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
I apologise.	Ez biborî dixwazim.	[ɛz bɪ.boːˈɾiː dɪxˈwaː.zɪm]
Sorry, that was not the intention.	Bibore, ew ne bû armanca min.	[bɪ.boːˈɾɛ ʔɛw nɛ buː ʔaɾˈman.d͡ʒa mɪn]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.	Bibore, ez wê bi qesd nekir.	[bɪ.boːˈɾɛ ɛz weː bɪ qɛsd nɛˈkɪɾ]
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me.	Bibore, ew gelek bêleketîya min bû.	[bɪ.boːˈɾɛ ʔɛw ˈɡɛ.lɛk beː.lɛ.kɛˈtiː.ja mɪn buː]

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More information about the Kurdish Intermediate Course.

Useful signs and notices in Kurdish

Useful signs and messages in Kurdish that you will often see.

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Entrance	Têketin	[teː.kɛˈtɪn]
Toilet	Tuvalet	[tu.vaːˈlɛt]
Exit	Derketin	[dɛɾ.kɛˈtɪn]
Attention!	Hîşyar be!	[hiːʃˈjaɾ bɛ]
Police	Polîs	[poːˈliːs]
Emergency services	Karûbarê lêzê	[ka.ɾuː.baːˈɾɛ leːˈzeː]
Fire brigade	Gundê agirkujan	[ɡunˈdɛ ʔa.ɡɪɾ.kuːˈʒan]
Passage forbidden.	Derbasbûn qedexe ye.	[dɛɾ.basˈbuːn qɛ.dɛˈxɛ jɛ]
Caution!	Hewceyî baldarî ye!	[hɛw.d͡ʒɛˈjiː bal.daːˈɾiː jɛ]
This building is under video surveillance.	Ev avahî li bin çavdêriyê ya vîdyoyê ye.	[ʔɛv a.vaːˈhiː lɪ bɪn t͡ʃɑːw.deː.ɾiːˈjɛ jaː viː.djoːˈjɛ jɛ]

Numbers to 25 in Kurdish

Counting in Kurdish is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Kurdish from 1 to 25.

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
1	Yek	[jɛk]
2	Du	[du]
3	Sê	[seː]
4	Çar	[t͡ʃɑːɾ]
5	Pênc	[peːnd͡ʒ]
6	Şeş	[ʃɛʃ]
7	Heft	[hɛft]
8	Heşt	[hɛʃt]
9	Neuf	[nœf]
10	Deh	[dɛh]
11	Yanzdeh	[jɑnzˈdɛh]
12	Dwanzdeh	[dwɑnzˈdɛh]
13	Sêzdeh	[seːzˈdɛh]
14	Çardeh	[t͡ʃɑɾˈdɛh]
15	Panzdeh	[pɑnzˈdɛh]
16	Şanzdeh	[ʃɑnzˈdɛh]
17	Hevdeh	[hɛvˈdɛh]
18	Hejdeh	[hɛʒˈdɛh]
19	Nozdeh	[nozˈdɛh]
20	Bîst	[biːst]
21	Bîst û yek	[biːst u jɛk]
22	Bîst û du	[biːst u du]
23	Bîst û sê	[biːst u seː]
24	Bîst û çar	[biːst u t͡ʃɑːɾ]
25	Bîst û pênc	[biːst u peːnd͡ʒ]

The colours in Kurdish

The most common colours in Kurdish with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Red	Sor	[soːɾ]
Blue	Şîn	[ʃiːn]
Yellow	Zer	[zɛɾ]
Green	Sevîn	[sɛˈviːn]
Black	Reş	[ɾɛʃ]
White	Spî	[spiː]
Orange	Porteqalî	[poɾ.tɛ.qaːˈliː]
Pink	Pembehî	[pɛm.bɛˈhiː]
Purple	Mor	[moːɾ]
Brown	Qehweyî	[qɛh.wɛˈjiː]

Days of the week, months and seasons in Kurdish

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Kurdish and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Kurdish.

English	Kurdish (Kurmanji)	IPA
Monday	Duşem	[duːˈʃɛm]
Tuesday	Sêşem	[seːˈʃɛm]
Wednesday	Çarşem	[t͡ʃɑːɾˈʃɛm]
Thursday	Pêncşem	[peːnd͡ʒˈʃɛm]
Friday	În	[ʔɪn]
Saturday	Şemî	[ʃɛˈmiː]
Sunday	Yekşem	[jɛkˈʃɛm]
January	Rêbendan	[ɾeː.bɛnˈdan]
February	Reşemî	[ɾɛ.ʃɛˈmiː]
March	Adar	[ʔaˈdaɾ]
April	Avrêl	[ʔavˈɾeːl]
May	Gulan	[ɡuˈlan]
June	Hezîran	[hɛˈziː.ɾan]
July	Tîrmeh	[tiːɾˈmɛh]
August	Gelawêj	[ɡɛ.laˈweʒ]
September	Rezber	[ɾɛzˈbɛɾ]
October	Kewçêr	[kɛwˈt͡ʃɛɾ]
November	Sermawez	[sɛɾ.maˈwɛz]
December	Berfanbar	[bɛɾ.fanˈbaɾ]
Spring	Bihar	[bɪˈhaɾ]
Summer	Havîn	[haˈviːn]
Autumn	Payîz	[paˈjiːz]
Winter	Zivistan	[zɪ.vɪsˈtan]

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More information about the Kurdish Business Course.

Additional links

• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
• Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
• The different types of learners when learning languages

More information about the Kurdish Course for Children.