Kurdish (کوردی)

travel phpto to inspire Kurdish language study
It is a tradition to jump across a fire at Newroz. Photo by Bertilvidet~commonswiki, CC BY 2.5

ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

Why Learn Kurdish?

Communication skills developed while learning Kurdish can improve your interpersonal skills in your native language as well. Adding Kurdish language skills to your business skills make you a more valuable an employee in the marketplace. Skills like problem solving, dealing with abstract concepts, are increased when you study Kurdish. Learning another language is part of a liberal education.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Kurdish?

Kurdish is rated as a category 3 language by the Foreign Service Institute. It is considered moderately difficult for English speakers to learn and takes an average of 44 weeks (or 1100 class hours) to gain professional working proficiency.

Kurdish Alphabet & Pronunciation

أ
[a]
ب
[b]
ت
[t]
ث
[th]
ج
[j]
ح
[h]
خ
[kh]
د
[d]
ذ
[th]
ر‎
[r]
ز
[z]
س‎‎
[s]
ش
[sh]
ص‎
[s]
ض‎
[d]
ط
[t]
ظ
[th]
ع
[']
غ
[gh]
ف‎
[f]
ق
[q]
ك
[k]
ل
[l]
م
[m]
ن‎
[n]
ه‎
[h]
و
[w]
ي
[i]

Basic Phrases in Kurdish

HelloSlav
GoodbyeBi xatirê te
YesErê
NoNa
Excuse meMin bibore
PleaseJi kerema xwe ve
Thank youSpas dikim
You are welcomeSerçavan
Do you speak englishGelo hûn bi Inglîzî diaxivin?
Do you understandGel min?
I understandEz têdigihîjim
I do not understandJê tênagehîjim
How are youTu çawa yî?
Fine thanksKesê ku min pêştir ev nas dikir!
What is your nameNavê te çiye?
My name isNavê min
Pleased to meet youBi nasîna te bextewar bûm

Kurdish Grammar

Kurdish Nouns

ManMêr
WomanJin
BoyXort
GirlKeçek
CatPisîk
DogSeh
FishMasî
WaterAv
Milkşîr
EggHêk
HouseXanî
FlowerKûlîlk
TreeDar
ShirtBerdilk
PantsDerpî

Kurdish Adjectives

Colors in Kurdish

BlackReş
WhiteSpî
RedSor
OrangePorteqalî
YellowZer
GreenKesk
Blueşîn
PurpleMor
PinkPembe
GrayGewr
BrownQehweyî

Numbers in Kurdish

ZeroSifir
OneYek
TwoDu
Three
FourAr
FivePênc
Six
SevenHeft
EightHeşt
NineNeh
TenDeh
ElevenYanzdeh
TwelveDiwanzdeh
TwentyBîst
ThirtySih
FortyÇil
FiftyPêncî
Sixtyşêst
SeventyHeftê
EightyHeştê
NinetyNehvêd
HundredSed
ThousandHezar

Kurdish Verbs

To beBûn
To haveRêz kirin
To wantXwestin
To needHewce bûn
To helpAlîkar kirin
To goçûn
To comeHatin
To eatXwarin
To drinkVexwarin
To speakAxaftin

Building Simple Sentences

More Complex Kurdish Sentences

Andû
OrAn
ButLebê
BecauseBo
WithBi
Also
HoweverLebê
NeitherQet
NorNe jî
IfGer
ThenPaşan

Useful Kurdish Vocabulary

Kurdish Questions

Who
Whatçi
WhenHeke
WhereKo
Whyçima
Howçawa
How manyçi qas
How muchçiqas

Days of the Week in Kurdish

MondayDuşem
TuesdaySêşem
WednesdayÇarşem
ThursdayPêncşem
FridayÎn
SaturdayŞemî
SundayYekşem
YesterdayDo
Todayîro
TomorrowSibê

Months in Kurdish

JanuaryRêbendan
FebruaryReşemî
MarchAdar
AprilAvrêl
MayGulan
JunePûşper
JulyTîrmeh
AugustTebax
SeptemberÎlon
OctoberCotmeh
NovemberMijdar
DecemberBerfanbar

Seasons in Kurdish

WinterZivistan
SpringBihar
SummerHavîn
AutumnPayiz

Telling Time in Kurdish

What time is itSaet çend e?
HoursDemjimêran
MinutesHûrdem
SecondsSanîye
O clockêvar
HalfNîv
Quarter pastçar u yek derbasdibe
BeforeBerî
AfterPiştî