Kurmanji Kurdish Fort The Beginners

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1
LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will learn the Kurdish alphabet small letters, capital letters, vowels and
consonants country names and some cities in Kurdistan.
By the end of this lesson;
you will produce Kurdish sounds correctly.
you will learn new words.
you will gain certain skills so that you can pronounce new words correctly.
you will learn basic greeting phrases.
you will be able to introduce yourself and ask about personal information.
Elfabe / Alphabet
The Kurdish language uses three different alphabets: The Kurdish latin alphabet based on the
Roman script; the alphabet based on the Arabic script and the alphabet on the basis of the
Cyrillic alphabet. The Kurdish Latin alphabet is the most frequently used alphabet for
Kurmanji. It is used in the parts of Kurdistan that are situated within the borders of Turkey
and Syria, and by the large Kurdish diaspora community in Europe and North America from
these two countries. The alphabet based on Arabic script is used in Iraqi and Iranian
Kurdistan, while Cyrillic is used only in ex-Soviet countries. In this course we will be using
the Roman-based alphabet.
There are 8 vowels and 23 consonants in the standard Kurdish Roman-based alphabet. In the
chart below the Kurdish letters are listed and you can listen to their pronunciation by clicking
on the sound file image next to each letter.
Roman
Script
A,a
Example
English example
IPA
agir (fire), xan (house)
father
[a]
B,b
C,c
,
D,d
E,e
ba (good), bira (brother)

cil (clothes), civak (society)
ar (four), keik (girl)
dwar (wall), beden (body)
en (forehead), dest (hand)
[b]
[]
[]
[d]
[]
,
F,f
(grief), str (star)

ferheng (dictionary),
berf (snow)
genim (wheat), seg (dog)
heyv (moon), duh (yesterday)
ciwan (young),
zivistan (winter)
ro (today), havn (summer)
jan (grief), bajar (city)
kur (boy), dayik (mother)
leymn (lemon), mil (arm)
mamoste (teacher), dem (time)
nav (name), nan (bread, food)
ode (room), roj (sun, day)
bell
jungle
butcher
door
bat (British English
pronunciation)
bait
farmer
get
head
bit
[g]
[h]
[],
[]
[i:]
[]
[k]
[l]
[m]
[n]
[o]
G,g
H,h
I,i
,
J,j
K,k
L,l
M,m
N,n
O,o
meet
beige
book
light
mother
name
odour
[e:]
[f]
P,p
Q,q
R,r
S,s
,
T,t
U,u
,
V,v
W,w
X,x
Y,y
Z,z
pit (back),
dapr (grandmother)
qelem (pen), aqil (reason)
rbar (river), bihar (spring)
party
(Arabic Qaf)
Two pronunciations, like
in Spanish (pero-perro)
One with a single tap, one
rolled front r.
ser (head), mast (yoghurt)
sun
ekir (sugar), at (peace)
share
tirs (fear), kitb (book)
table
kurd (Kurd), du (two)
bull
d (laud), bir (eyebrow)
foot
vala (empty), av (eye)
violet
welat (country), bawer (belief) wine
xewn (dream), baxe (garden) cf. Scottish: loch
yek (one), giya (grass)
yellow
zengil (bell), azad (freedom)
breeze
[p]
[q]
[]
[r]
[s]
[]
[t]
[]
[u:]
[v]
[w]
[x]
[j]
[z]
Table 1. The Vowels in Kurmanji (approximate phonetic values)

Front Central
Closed
Half-closed
Back
u
o
a
Open
The vowels represented in the writing by <i> and <u> are quite close and may be difficult to
distinguish in some varieties of Kurmanji.
Table 2. The Consonants in Kurmanji
Bilabial Labio- Dental/ Postdental Alveolar alveolar
Plosive
p b
t d
f v
Fricative
Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal

kg
s z
q
h
Affricate
Nasal
Approximant
n
y
Tap / Trill
Lateral
Note: In addition to the consonants shown in chart, some Kurmanji words contain sounds that
are not usually noted in the standard orthography, though often noted in dictionaries. They
are some special forms of the plosives and affricates. Native speakers are aware of these
sounds, and can hear and produce them readily. For learners, however, they are difficult to
perceive and at this stage need not be introduced. You will still be understood even if you do
not produce them correctly; we will discuss them in a later lesson with some examples.
Text: Rojba!
Two students sit next to each other in the first lesson at their university. They introduce
themselves to each other, saying their names and where they are from.
Zeyneb
Ehmed
Zeyneb
Ehmed
Zeyneb
Ehmed
Zeyneb
Ehmed
Zeyneb
Ehmed
Zeyneb
: Rojba. Nav min Zeyneb e. Nav te i ye?

Good day, my name is Zeyneb. What is your name?
: Rojba. Nav min Ehmed e.
Good day, my name is Ehmed.
: Tu ji ku der y Ehmed?
Where are you from, Ehmed?
: Ez ji Diyarbekir me; l tu?
I am from Diyarbekir. (And) you?
: Bi rast! Ez j ji Diyarbekir me.
Really! I am from Diyarbekir too.
: Ser avan, gelek kfxwe bm.
How nice. I am (lit. was) very happy.
: Ez j pir kfxwe bm. Tu kurd ?
I, too, am very happy. Are you a Kurd?
: Er, ez kurd im, l tu?
Yes, I am a Kurd, (and ) you?
: Ez j kurd im. Ha, mamoste t.
I am a Kurd too. Oh, the teacher is coming.
: Ba e. Em d pa biaxivin.
OK (lit. it is good). We will talk later.
: Ba e.
OK.
Greetings (Silav)
Merheba/Silav/Silamun eleykum
Beyanba/ spde bi xr/Sibeha te bi xr
Beyanba/ spde bi xr/Sibeha we bi xr
Rojba
varba/vara te bi xr
varba/vara we bi xr
evba /eva te bi xr
evba /eva we bi xr
awa y?
awa nin?
Hello
Good morning (to one person)
Good morning
(to more than one person)
Good day
Good evening (to one person)
Good evening
Good night (to one person)
Good night
How are you sg.?
How are you pl.?
Good bye (Xatirxwestin)

Bi xatir te
Bi xatir we
Good bye (to one person)

Good bye (to more than one person)
Response to bi xatir te/we

Oxir be/Oxira te ya xr be/Bi xr silamet
Good bye
Grammar / Rziman 1
A
The personal pronouns
The pronouns of Kurmanji corresponding to English I, you etc. have two forms, which we will call Direct and
Oblique. Their uses will be explained below. The forms are the following:
Person
Direct
Oblique
I
ez
min
you
tu
te
he/she
ew
w (him), w (her)
we
em
me
you
hn
we
they
ew
(e)wan
Usage
The Direct forms are used for all subjects in the present tenses, for example:
Ez kurd im I am a Kurd
and for the subjects of intransitive verbs in the past tenses.
(Intransitive verbs are verbs which cannot take a direct object, e.g. go, climb, die, laugh.)
The Oblique forms are used everywhere else, for example, to express the possessor of something:
Nav min Ehmed e. My name is Ehmed
We will discuss the use of the Direct and Oblique forms in more detail later.
Expressing to be in the present tense
In the simple present tense, there is no independent word for is, are, am in Kurdish. Instead, endings are added to
the last word of the sentence that indicate the person involved. For example, to say I am a Kurd in Kurdish we
say literally I Kurd-am. These endings are actually written separately as though they were independent words,
but they are really unstressed short forms pronounced as though they were part of the preceding word. They
have slightly different forms depending on whether the preceding word ends in a vowel or consonant. The forms
of these endings are as follows:
After consonant:
Ez kurd im
I am a Kurd
Tu kurd
You are a Kurd
Ew kurd e
He / She is a Kurd
Em kurd in
We are Kurds
Hn kurd in
You are Kurds
Ew kurd in
They are Kurds
Ez ne kurd im
Tu ne kurd
Ew ne kurd e
Em ne kurd in
Hn ne kurd in
Ew ne kurd in
I am not a Kurd
You are not a Kurd
He / She is not a Kurd
We are not Kurds
You are not Kurds
They are Kurds
After vowel:
Ez ji Diyarbekir me
...
y
...
ye
...
ne
...
ne
...
ne
I am from D.
You are ...
He / she ...
We are ...
You are ...
They are ...
Ez ne ji Diyarbekir me
...
y
...
ye
...
ne
...
ne
...
ne
I am not from D.
You are ...
He / she ...
We are ...
You are ...
They are ...
Wordlist
ba
be
biaxivin
bimne
birast
bixr
bm
i
d
ders
diim
em
er
var
ez
gelek
ha
ji
j
kfxwe
kek
kder
mamoste
merheba
min
na/ne
nav
ne
niha
pa
pir
pit
rojba
good
mayitbe(aformoftheverbbnbe,become)
letstalk(aformoftheverbaxaftintalk,speak,seefuture
lessons
mayitremain(aformoftheverbmanstay,remain)
really!
good
(I)havebecome/was(1stpers.sg.pasttenseformofthe
verbbnbe,become)
what
indicatesfuturetenseoftheverb
lesson
Igo,Iamgoing(aformoftheverbn to go)
we,2ndpers.pl.pronoun
yes
evening
I,1stpers.sg.pronoun
very,many
oh
from
too,also,aswell(usedaftertheworditrefersto:ezjItoo
...)
happy
anaddressformformales
where
teacher
hello
1stpers.sg.objectpronoun(seeGrammar1)
no
name
not(negation)
now
lateron
very,many
after
goodday;haveagoodday
seravan
ev
sibeh,beyan
silav
te
t
tu
xatirxwestin
xwendekar
xwe
youarewelcome(literally:oneyes)
night
morning
greeting
2ndpers.sg.obliquepronoun(seeGrammar1)
(he/she)comes,iscoming(presenttenseoftheverbhatin
come)
you,2ndpers.sg.pronoun
totakefarewell,tosaygoodbye
student
good,enjoyable
Exercise 1.
Two students are meeting in the school canteen. Fill in the blanks from their conversation
with the forms presented above.
Dara : Beyanba! Nav .... Dara ye. Nav .... i ye?
Daner : ...............! Nav min Daner e.
Dara : .... ji ku der y Dara?
Daner : Ez ji Qamiloy me; l tu?
Dara : .... j ji Duhok me.
Daner : Kfxwe bm kek Dara.
Dara : Ez j kfxwe bm.
Daner : Ez niha diime ders. Bi ............ te.
Dara : Oxir be!
Exercise 2.
Fill in the blanks according to the information given in the dialogue above.
Daner
Nav . Daner e. Ez ji Diyarbekir ..
. xwendekar im. Ez kurd .
Exercise 3.
Below, there are questions for you! Please write true answers for the questions.
a. Nav te i ye?
b. Tu ji ku der y?

c. Tu kurd ?
d. Tu xwendekar ?

Country names
Franse
Almanya
Ingilstan
talya
Espanya
Swd
Siws
Tirkiye
France
Germany
England
Italy
Spain
Sweden
Switzserland
Turkey
Norwc
n
Rusya
Hindistan
Iraq
Amerka
ran
Sriye
Norway
China
Russia
India
Iraq
USA
Iran
Syria
10
end bajarn Kurdistan / Some cities of Kurdistan

Bajar/city
Afrn
Agir
Amed
Amd
Bedls
Bokan
Cizr
Culemrg
Drsim
Dihok
Dlok
Efrn
Erzingan
Erzirom
Gurgum
Helebe
Hewlr
dir
lam
Kerkuk
Kirmaan
Mehebad
Melet
Mexmr
Mezra
Mrdn
Midyad
Msil
M
Qamilo
Qers
Riha
Semsr
Seqiz
Srt
Silman
Sne
Urmiye
Navn din /other

names
Afrin
Ar
Diyarbakr
Amuda
Bitlis
Bokan
Cizre
Hakkari
Tunceli
Dohuk
Antep
Afrin
Erzincan
Erzurum
Mara
Halepe
Erbil
Idr
lam
Kerkk
Kermanah
Mahabad
Malatya
Mahmur
Elaz
Mardin
Midyat
Musul
Mu
Kamili
Kars
Urfa
Adyaman
Sakz
Siirt
Sleymaniye
Sanandaj
Urmiye, Wirmiye
Dewlet/state
Sriye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Sriye
Tirkiye
ran
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Iraq
Tirkiye
Sriye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Iraq
Iraq
Tirkiye
ran
Iraq
ran
ran
Tirkiye
Iraq
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Iraq
Tirkiye
Sriye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
ran
Tirkiye
Iraq
ran
ran
11
Wan
ewlik
lih
irnex
Xarpt
Zaxo
Van
Bingl
Batman
rnak
Elezz, Elaz
Zaho
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Tirkiye
Iraq
LESSON2
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will learn numbers, colors, asking about age, describing people, kinship
terminology,moreaboutpronouns,copula,interrogativesanddosomeexercises.
Bytheendofthislesson;
youwilllearn:
theezafeconstruction
certainstructuresyoucanseeindailylife
gender
thecopulainthepresenttense:howtonegateit
Text:
GulnMalbataW
NavminGulne.Ez20salme.EzdiimeZanngehaStenbol.Ezlivir,liStenboldijm.
LmalameliMrdnye.Dayikbavminliwirdijn.NavbavminHekme.Ew45sal
ye.NavdayikaminGulcaneew43salye.Bavminfirokare.Firogehawpirnemezin
e.Dayikaminnaxebite.Ewbermalye.Dayikaminhersaltvir.Xwikekeminheye.Nav
wZilxayeew10salye.avnwreinporwdirje.Ewdiedibistanaseretay.
Ezdibetlaneyandediimecemwan.
Wordlist
ap
uncle
ba
good,well
bav
father
be(bibe)
mayyoube(presentsubjunctive2personsingularofbntobe)
bermal
housewife
bike
mayhe/shedo(presentsubjunctive3personsingularofkirintodo,to
make)
bira
brother
bir
hungry
cem
at,to,byusedinconnectionwithpeopleandtheirhomes,cf.French
chez,Persianpie.
av
eye
awa/awan
how
cotkar
farmer
dayik
mother
dide
in(circumposition)
dibistan
school
die
he/shegoes(3rdpersonsingularpresentfortheverbntogo)
diime
(I)go(1stpers.sg.presentprogressiveofntogo)
dijm
(I)live(1stpers.sg.presentprogressiveofjn/jiyantolive)

dijn
dirj
bijjk
firogeh
firokar
emr
gelek
her
heye
jin
kar
km
kurt
l
li
livir
liwir
mal
mam/ap
mamoste
mr
mezin
naxebite
nav
nexwe
pir
pirs
por
re
sal
sal
sax
seretay
betlaneyan
t
ten
(they)live(3rdpers.pl.presentprogressiveofjn/jiyantolive)
tall,long
doctor
shop
shopowner
life,age
many
every
thereis,exists(alsousedinexpressionsofpossession,seebelow)
woman
work,job
few
short
but
in(preposition)
here
there
house,home
uncle
teacher
man
big
doesnotwork(3rdpersonsingularneg.presentfortheverbxebitnto
work)
name
ill,sick
many,much
question
hair
black
year
literallyyeared,thatis,withyears,ofage
healthy
elementary,primary
holidays,vacations
he/shecomes(3rdpersonsingularpresentfortheverbhatintocome)
only

thn/t
vir
xerab
Xwed
xwikek
thirsty
here(location)
bad
God
asister(fromxwiksisterwithanindefinitesingularendingek).The
wordxwehisalsousedforsister
yours
university
child
ynte
zanngeh
zarok
Translation:
MynameisGulchin.Iam20yearsold.IgotouniversityinIstanbul.Ilivehere,inIstanbul.
ButmyhomeisinMerdin.Mymotherandfatherlivethere.MyfathersnameisHekim.He
is 45 years old. My mothers name is Guldjan and she is 43 years old. My father is a
shopkeeper. His shop is not very big. My mother does not work. She is a housewife. My
mothercomeshereeveryyear.Ihaveasister.HernameisZelikhaandsheis10yearsold.
Hereyesareblackandherhairislong.Shegoestoprimaryschool.DuringtheholidaysIgo
tothem.
Hejmar/Numbers
Thecardinalnumbersareasfollow:
1
yek
11
yanzdeh
21
bstyek
40
il
2
du/didu
12
dozdeh
22 bstdu
50
pnc
3
s/sis
13
szdeh
23 bsts
60
st
4
ar
14
ardeh
24 bstar
70
heft
5
pnc
15
panzdeh
25 bstpnc 80
het
6
e
16
anzdeh
26 bste
90
nod
7
heft
17
hevdeh
27 bstheft
100 sed
8
het
18
hejdeh
28 bsthet 101 sedyek
9
neh
19
nozdeh
29 bstneh
200 dused
10
deh
20
bst
30
s/sih
300 ssed
1000 hezar
2000 duhezar
0
net/sifir
2008duhezarhet
Compoundnumbersareformedwiththeconjuction,asin
bstyek(21)
ile(46)
nodneh(99)
sedyek(101)
1.1 Exercise
Writethenumbersinletter.
4
______ 9
______
23
______ 121 ______
35
______ 139 ______
47
______ 142 ______
33
65
54
78
______ 49
______ 51
______ 69
______ 91
______
______
______
______
Theordinalnumbersareasfollows:
yekem(n) 1st heftem(n) 7th szdem(n) 13th
nozdem(n) 19th
duyem(n) 2nd hetem(n) 8th ardem(n) 14th
bstem(n) 20th
syem(n) 3rd nehem(n) 9th panzdem(n) 15th
bstyekem(n)21st
arem(n)
4th dehem(n) 10th anzdem(n) 16th
bstduyem(n)22nd
pncem(n) 5th yanzdem(n) 11th hevdem(n) 17th
bstsyem(n)23rd
eem(n)
6th dozdem(n) 12th hejdem(n) 18th
sihem(n)
30th
Someexpressionswithordinalsare:erchanyyekemn(thefrstworldwar),cara
duyem(thesecondtime)
Askingaboutage(temenage)
Tuendsaly?
Howoldareyou?
Ewendsalye?
Howoldishe/she?
Tuendsaly?
GulnandherroommateAslitalkabouttheirfamilies.Theyaskeachothersage.
Guln:Asli,tuendsaly?
Asli:21.Ltu?
Guln:Ez20salme.Dayikbavteendsalne?
Asli:Dayikamin48salyebavminj51salye.Ynte?
Guln:Dayikamin43salyebavminj45salye.
Asli:Xwikbiraynteendsalne?
Guln:Xwikamin14salyebirayminj22salye.Ynte?
Asli:Mintenxwikekheye.Navweydaye10salye.
Guln:Bae.Xwedemrwdirjbike!
Asli:Saxbib.
Guln:Tusaxtir.
Guln:Asli,howoldareyou?
Asli:21.(And)you?
Guln:Iam20.Howoldareyourmotherandfather?
Asli:Mymotheris48andmyfatheris51.(Whatabout)yours?
Guln:Mymotheris43andmyfatheris45.
Asli:Howoldareyoursistersandbrothers?
Guln:Mysisteris14andmybrotheris22. 1 (Whatabout)yours?
Asli:Ihaveonlyonesister.HernameisSheydaandsheis10yearsold.
Guln:OK.MayGodgrantthemalonglife!
Asli:Thankyou(lit.Mayyoubehealthy,mayGodgiveyoualonglife).
Guln:Youarewelcome(lit.Youmorehealthy).
In Kurdish: is also 22.
2.1 Exercise
Readthedialogueandanswerthequestions.
1.
Asliendsalye?
2.
Gulnendsalye?
3.
DayikbavAsliyendsalne?
4.
DayikbavGulnendsalne?
5.
XwikaAsliyendsalye?
6.
XwikbiraynGulnendsalne?
...
...
...
...
...
...
KinshipTerminology(nonobligatorymaterial)
bapr
grandfather
bkzava
dapr
grandmother
jinmr
bav,bab
father
xizim,nas
dayik
mother
malbat
xwik
sister
mam,ap
bira
brother
met
ke
daughter
xalet,xalt
kur
son
xal
nev
grandchild
xwikbira
3.1. Some examples for the usage of kinship words:

a)
b)
c)
d)
brideandgroom
wifeandhusband
relative
family
fathersbrother
fatherssister
motherssister
mothersbrother
sisterandbrother
Hekm bav Guln ye.

Zilxa kea Gulcan ye.
Guln kea Gulcan ye.
Gulcan Hekm jin mrn hev in.
Grammar / Rziman 2
A
The verb to be in the present tense again: negated forms
You will remember from lesson 1 that to express to be in the present tense, a set of endings is used, as in the
following examples:
ez nexwe im
I am ill (nexwe = ill, sick)
tu t y You are thirsty (thn/t = thirsty)
To make the negative form of such sentences, the negation particle ne is positioned before the complement
(whatever is negated), and stressed. The negation marker ne can not come right before or after the copula. For
example:
Ez ne nexwe im. (I am not sick)
Em ne nexwe in. (We are not sick)
Tu ne t y.
(You are not thirsty)
Hn ne thn ne. (You are not thirsty)
Gender
All nouns in Kurmanji have gender, either masculine or feminine. It is important to know the gender of a noun
because it affects the form of the case marker, and of the Ezafe marker (see D below).
Nouns that denote persons, or higher animals, have the gender corresponding to their meaning. For example, the
nouns ap uncle, bav father and mr man are all masculine because they denote male beings. Xwik sister
and bk bride on the other hand are feminine, because they refer to feminine beings. But for nouns denoting
objects, you just have to learn the gender with the noun. For example, av eye is masculine, but mal house is
feminine. There is not a general rule organizing gender for these nouns; however some rules can be
formulated,forexample:
thenamesofcities,countriesandtownsarefeminine
abstractnounsendinginarefeminine
infinitivesusedasnounsarefeminine
theinfinitivesfromverbsarefeminine
geographicalnamesarefeminine
Numbersandcolorsaremasculineetc.
The names of items of womens clothing are generally feminine, items of mens clothing are
generallymasculine
Wordsborrowedfromotherlanguagesaremostcommonlyassignedfemininegenderwhentheydenote
objectsratherthanlivingbeings.
The indefiniteness suffix
A bare noun in Kurmanji can have a definite reading, or a very general reading, depending on the context. For
example, hesp can mean either the horse, or perhaps horses in general. There is no definite article in
Kurmanji corresponding to English the. But if we want to talk about a horse, we add the suffix -ek to the noun:
hesp-ek a horse, jinek a woman, gundek a village, mamosteyek a teacher etc.
Grammar / Rziman 2 (continued)

D
The Ezafe construction
The Ezafe is a vowel that links all kinds of attributes to a noun, for example adjectives, possessors or
prepositional phrases. In standard orthography it is written as part of the noun. Kurdish is like French or Spanish
in that the noun comes first, and then it is followed by the attribute. We refer to the initial noun as the head
noun. A typical Ezafe construction from the texts is the following:
nav
Head noun
min
Ezafe particle
Possessive modifier
The bare form of the head noun is nav name, and the Ezafe here is . The modifier can also be an adjective, as
in zarok nexwe the sick child.
The Ezafe particle takes different forms according to the gender and the number of the head noun. In the
example above, the head noun is masculine and singular. If the head noun is feminine, then the ezafe has the
form -a:
xwika min
my sister
If it is plural, the ezafe is -n
hevaln me
our friends (me=Oblique form of 1st pers. pl pronoun)
If the noun ends in a vowel, a -y- is put before the Ezafe:
birayn min
my brothers
The Ezafe also takes a different form after the indefiniteness suffix (see C above). This gives us four different
possibilities for the Ezafe in the singular:
FORM OF SUFFIX
1. FEMININE, NO INDEFINITENESS SUFFIX:
mala me (our house)
behra Wan (Lake Van)
-(y)a
2. FEMNNE, WTH NDEFNTENESS SUFFX:
sveke sor (a red apple)
jineke bedew (a beautiful woman)
-e
3. MASCULINE, NO INDEFINITENESS SUFFIX:
em Ferat (the Euphrate River) deriy darn (the wooden door)
-(y)
4. MASCULINE, WITH INDEFINITENESS SUFFIX:
mrek bilind (a tall man)
kevirek belek (a colorful stone)
-
Three further points about the Ezafe:
D1
The free or demonstrative Ezafe
First, the Ezafe can also be used without a head noun. In this case, it always takes an initial -y. It means
something like English one ... as in my one, or the red one. Consider the following example:
biray min 12 sal ye. L y te?
My brother is 12 years old. And your one? (i.e. and your

brother)?
D2
Multiple Ezafes
One noun can be modified by several modifiers, and in that case, each modifier will require its own Ezafe:
Pirtka biray min
My brothers book
Pirtka heval biray min
The book of my brothers friend
Pirtka xwika heval biray min The book of the sister of my brothers friend
D3
Possessors in the Oblique case
The Possessor in an Ezafe construction always goes into the Oblique case (see next lesson for more details on
this). You have already learned the Oblique case of the personal pronouns (see Lesson 1). This means that
whenever a pronoun is a possessor in an Ezafe, it takes the Oblique form (bav min my father, bav w her
father etc.). We will learn about the Oblique case of nouns in later lessons.
LESSON 3
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will learn new grammatical structures in the present tense and use them in
meaningful contexts, certain names for occupations, expressions of frequency and terminology
for month and the days of the week.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
Ask about jobs

Tell the time
Ask about and describe habits and routines
Use existensial expressions such as heye/hene
1. Text:
Rojeke Min / My Day (literally: one day (roj-ek) of me)
Ez xwendekar im. Nav min Salih e ez 22 sal me. Ez li Stenbol dijm, li mala mam xwe
dimnim, l malbata min li Diyarbekir dij. Ez sibehan z radibim, di saet 8an de. Pit ku ser
avn xwe diom, ez tat dixwim diim zanngeh. 5 dersn min hene. Ez gelek ji dersn xwe
hez dikim; ji ber ku em di dersan de pirtkn gelek balk dixwnin nqan ba dikin. Ez di
saet 1 de li gel hevaln xwe firavn dixwim ay vedixwim. Di zanngeh de gelek hevaln
min hene. Hindek hevaln min tirk in hindek j kurd in. Ez bi hevaln xwe yn kurd re bi kurd
diaxivim, l mixabin hindek hevaln min n kurd kurd nizanin. Pit firavn ay, em dsa
diin ders. Pit nvro ten du dersn min hene. Yek ji van dersan edebiyat e. Di dersa edebiyat
de em tekstn edebiyata amerik dixwnin. Ez taybet ji helbestn T. S. Eliot hez dikim. Di kurd
de j helbestn Eliot hene. Ez j carnan helbestan dinivsim. Dersn min di saet 5an de xelas
dibin. Pa tm mal di saet 7an de li gel mam, jinmam zarokn wan em v dixwin ay
vedixwin. Mam min mamoste ye jinmama min j parzer e. Ez piran heta 11an dersn xwe
dixebitim pa j bo saetek pirtkek dixwnim di seat 12an de dinivim.
Translation:
I am a student. My name is Salih and I am 22 years old. I live in Istanbul, I am staying at my
uncles home, but my family lives (in Kurdish plural since there are many members) in
Diyarbekir. I wake up early in the morning (in Kurdish: in the mornings) at eight 8 oclock. After
washing my face (lit. head and eye), I have (lit. eat) breakfast and go to the univerisity. I have
five courses. I like my courses very much because we read very interesting books in the courses
and have good discussions. At one oclock, I have lunch and drink tea with my friends. I have
many friends at the unversity. Some of my friends are Turks and some are Kurds. I speak
Kurmanji (Kurdish) with my Kurdish friends, but unfortunately some of Kurdish friends do not
know Kurdish. After lunch and tea we go back to the courses. In the afternoon I have only two
lessons. One of these lessons is literature. In literature class we read texts of English literature. I
particularly like the poems of T. S. Eliot. Eliots poems are also (to be found) in Kurdish
(translation). I, too, sometimes write poetry. My courses are finished at 5 oclock. Then I go
home and at 7 oclock I have (lit. eat) dinner and tea with my uncle, his wife and their
children.My uncle is a teacher and his wife is a lawyer. I generally study (lit. work on my
lessons) until 11 oclock and then I read ( a book) for one hour and at midnight I go to sleep.
1.1 Exercise
Answer the questions according to the passege.
1. Nav w i ye?
................................................................
2. Ew i kar dike?
................................................................
3. Ew li ku dij?
................................................................
4. Ew di saet endan de radibe? ................................................................
5. end dersn w hene?
................................................................
6. Ew ji kjan dersn xwe hez dike? ...............................................................
7. Ew keng v dixwin?
................................................................
8. Mam jinmama w i kar dikin? ...............................................................
2. Asking About Jobs

Tu i kar dik?
Tu bi i mijl ?
Ew i kar dike?
Bav te i kar dike?
Ez endazyar im.
Ew mamoste ye.
Dayika w wirmend e.
What is your job?

What are you busy with?
What is her/his job?
What is your fathers job?
I am (an) engineer.
S/he is (a) teacher.
His mother is (a) consultant.
3. Saet / Time
The basis of expression is saet hour
Saet end e?
Saet deh e.
Saet nzik aran e.
Ji diduyan re arkek heye
aran arkek dibore.
What time is it?

It is ten.
It is close to 4 cclock.
It is a quarter to 2.
It is a quarter past 4.
3.1. Exercise
Write the time according to the pictures below.
Saet end e?
Saet .....................
.............................
........................... .............................
Wordlist
.............................
.............................
.............................
.............................

amrn mitbax
arvan
bajar
balk
ba
bazar
bi qas saetek
carinan
cil berg
ark
ay
danstandin
ders
diaxivim
dsa
edebiyat
edebiyata amerik
kitchen utensils
flour
city
interesting
good, well
bazar
for one hour
somtimes
clothes
quarter
tea
shopping
lesson, course, work
I speak, I am speaking (1st person singular form of simple present tense
for the verb axavtin to speak)
he/she/it passes, is passing (3rd person singular form of smple present
tense for the verb bihurn to pass)
I go, I am going (1st person singular form of simple present tense for
the verb n to go)
we/you/they go/are going (1st, 2nd and 3rd person plural form of
simple present tense for the verb n to go)
we/you/they do/are doing (1st, 2nd and 3rd person plural form of
simple present tense for the verb kirin to do)
I live (1st person singular form of simple present tense for the verb
jiyan to live)
I stay/am staying (1st person singular form of simple present tense for
the verb man to stay)
I wash/am washing (1st person singular form of simple present tense
for the verb tin to wash)
I read/am reading, I study/am studying (1st person singular form of
simple present tense for the verb xwendin to read, to study)
I work/am working (1st person singular form of simple present tense
for the verb xebitn to work)
I eat/am eating (1st person singular form of simple present tense for the
verb xwarin to eat)
again, once more
literature
American literature
endazyar
erzan
fk
engineer
cheapness, low prices
fruit
dibore
diim
diin
dikin
dijm
dimnim
diom
dixwnim
dixebitim
dixwim

firavn
gelek/gelek
girng
heftey carek
helbest
hem tit
heta
heval
heye/hene
hk
hindek
ji
ji ber ku
Jinmam/jinap
kar
keng
kjan
kue
kurd
l
li aliyek din
ligel
malbat
mam/ap
mamoste
mast
mijl
mixabin
nave
nzik
nizanin
niqa
nivk
nvro
parzer
plav / sol
piran
lunch
very much
important
once in a week
poetry, poem
everything
till/until
friend
there is / there are, exists/exist (also used in expressions of possession,
see below)
egg
some
from
because, since
uncles wife
work, job, task, duty
when
which
street
Kurdish
but, however
on the other side/ part
with, together with
family
paternal uncle
teacher
yoghurt
busy
unfortunately
region
close
we/you/they do not know (negative form of 1st, 2nd and 3rd person
plural of simple present tense for the verb zann to know)
discussion
butter
noon
lawyer
shoes
majority; usually, generally, often

radibim
pa
pit ku
rken
sarinc
sebze
ser av
sibehan
ekir
wirmend
r
v
tat
taybet
tax
tekst
ten
tm
tirk
vedixwim
xelas dibin
xelk/xelq
xwarin
ya batir
ya rast
yek ji wan
zanngeh
zarok
z
I wake up (1st person singular form of simple present tense for the
verb rabn to wake up)
later, then
after
cheer, being cheerful
refrigerator
vegetable
literary head and eye, face
in the morning(s)
sugar
consultant
milk
dinner
breakfast
especially, specifically
quarter (Swedish kvarter), neighbourhood
text
alone, only
I come/am coming (1st person singular form of simple present tense for
the verb hatin to come)
Turkish
I drink/am drinkng (1st person singular form of simple present tense for
the verb vexwarin to drink)
they finish (3rd person plural form of simple present tense for the verb
xelas bn to finish)
the folk, people
food
what is more, moreover
indeed, In fact
one of them
university
child
quickly, early
Grammar / Rziman 3
A Expressions of existence (there is / there are)
To say that something exists, or is, Kurmanji uses the existential verb hebn. In fact, it is
really a combination of a particle he- plus the verb bn (to be), but most descriptions of
Kurdish treat it as a verb in its own right, and we will follow that tradition here. But it is
useful to remember that it is based on the verb bn, because this makes it easier to understand
the conjugation. In the present tense, the familiar forms of the copula endings (see Grammar
in lesson 1) are simply added to the particle he-, yielding:
Ez he-me
Tu he-y
Ew he-ye
I am, exist
you are, exist
etc.
Em he-ne
Hn he-ne
Ew he-ne
In practice, only the third person forms heye and hene are used frequently. They generally
mean there is and there are respectively:
Li bazar gelek tit hene.
Li vir jinek heye.
At the market there are many things.

There is a woman here.
The negative form is tune/nne:

Li vir jinek tuneye / nn e
there is no woman here
B Expressions of possession
Kurdish, unlike Persian, does not have a verb corresponding to English have. To say I have
two brothers, or something similar, different constructions are used in Kurmanji. They are
based on the existential verb hebn discussed above. To say I have two brothers, two
possibilities are available:
Possibility 1 (with Izafe):
Du birayn min hene
literally: two brothers of me exist
Possibility 2 (without Izafe, the possessor comes at the beginning of the sentence and
is in the Oblique case):
Min du bira hene
literally: for me two brothers exist
Both of these constructions can be found in Kurmanji; different books and descriptions prefer
different ones. We have chosen the second one here, which is more commonly used in the
south of the Kurmanji speech area, particularly in North Iraq around Zakho and Dohuk. But
the other possibility is absolutely acceptable, and in many textbooks it is preferred.
Some further examples of the second possibility:
Min xwikek heye.
I have a sister.
Du piskn te hene./Te du pisk hene.

You have two cats.
Ezmneke w heye./W ezmnek heye.
She has an exam.
Pereyn w hene./W pere nne.
He does not have money.
Pirsek ete heye./Te pirsek heye?
Do you have a question?
Li bazar penr tuneye/nn e. There is not cheese at the bazar.
C The Reflexive Xwe
The reflexive pronoun xwe has different meanings and usages. It always has the same form,
regardless of how it is used.
1. It can be used as possessive pronoun in an Izafe construction:
Ew ji dersn xwe hez dike
She likes her courses.
Ez li gel malbata xwe dimnim. I stay with my family.
Tu li kilda xwe diger?
Are you looking for your keys?
2. It can be used as reflexive pronoun as in:
Xelk ji xwe re li bazaran danstandin dikin. The people do shopping for themselves
in bazaars.
Ez xwe li ry te dibnim.
I see myself in your face.
Dayika min bi xwe mamoste ye
My mother is (a) teacher herself.
3. The reflexive xwe can only be used when it refers to the subject of the sentence it occurs in,
and in this context, it must be used. Compare the following:
Ez ji dayika xwe hez dikim
Tu ji dayika min hez dik
I love my mother (xwe refers back to the subject Ez)

You love my mother (xwe cannot be used here, because
the subject of the sentence is Tu you, not the same
person as the possessor in dayika min my mother
In contexts like this, a form of the Oblique
personal pronoun (see Lesson 2) is used.
C Dema Niha / The Simple Present Tense (Part 1)

1. Verbs in general: stems and infinitive
Each verb in Kurdish has two stems, or basic forms: a present stem, and a past stem. Each
stem is used as the basis for different tenses, moods etc., by adding various prefixes and
suffixes, which will be explained during the course. In this lesson we look at the simple
present tense.
The usual way of referring to a verb is by its infinitive, which is based on the past stem of the
verb. The infinitive is the form that a verb is listed under in the dictionary. It is formed very
simply by adding -n to the past stem. If the stem ends in a consonsant, then a short buffer
vowel -i is inserted before the -n. The formation of the present stem, on the other hand, is
often irregular (see below).
Here are examples of the basic forms of some verbs from this lesson:
MEANNG
speak, talk
INFNTVE
axaft-in
PAST STEM
axaft-
PRESENT STEM
axiv-

eat
read, study
work
see
wash
do, make, put
give
know
xwar-in
xwend-in
xebit-n
dt-in
t-in
kir-in
da-n
zan-n
xwarxwendxebitdttkirdazan-
xwxwnxebitbnokdzan-
2. The simple present tense

The simple present tense is used for all actions performed in the present, whether continuous
or regularly recurring. It is formed from the present stem (see previous point), to which a
prefix di- is attached. Then the personal endings are added according to each person.
Examples of conjugations are as follow:
Ez
di xebit im
present tense prefix

kirin (to do)
Ez di k im
Tu di k
Ew di k e
present stem
Em di k in
Hn di k in
Ew di k in
I work / am working
personal ending
xwendin (to read, study)

Ez di xwn im Em di xwn in
Tu di xwn
Hn di xwn in
Ew di xwn e
Ew di xwn in
If the verb stem ends in a vowel, the personal endings are as below:
tin (to wash)
Ez di o m
Tu di o y
Ew di o
Em di o n
Hn di o n
Ew di o n
3. The negative form of the simple present tense is derived by replacing diwith the nanegation marker:
xwarin (to eat)
Ez na xw im
Tu na xw
Ew na xw e
Em na xw in
Hn na xw in
Ew na xw in
xebitn (to work)

Ez na-xebit-im etc.
However, there are two exceptions to the negation marker. The negative form of the present
tense prefix for the verb zann (to know) and karn (to be able) is formed by replacing diwith ni- instead of na-:
zann (to know)

Ez ni zan im Em ni zan in
Tu ni zan Hn ni zan in
Ew ni zan e Ew ni zan in
karn (to know)

Ez ni kar im Em ni kar in
Tu ni kar Hn ni kar in
Ew ni kar e Ew ni kar in
3. Common irregular verbs in the present tense:

There are two irregular verbs conjugated differently both in affirmative and negative
sentences in present tense. These are hatin (to come) and ann (to bring).
Hatin (to come)
Affirmative
Ez tm
Em tn
Tu t
Hn tn
Ew t
Ew tn
Negative
Ez naym Em nayn
Tu nay Hn nayn
Ew naye Ew nayn
Ann (to bring)

Affirmative
Ez tnim Em tnin
Tu tn
Hn tnin
Ew tne
Ew tnin
Negative
Ez naynim Em naynin
Tu nayn Hn naynin
Ew nayne Ew naynin
5. Compound verbs
The verb vexwarin (to drink) which was previously used in the text is a compound verb,
based on a particle ve- plus the verb xwarin eat. We will deal with these verbs in a different
lesson, but for the time being it is important to note that the present tense prefix comes
between the preverbal particle and the present stem:
from vexwarin the first person singular present is:
from rabn get up the first person singular present is:
ve-di-xw-im
ra-di-b-im
10
6. Exercises
6.1
Translate the following phrases into Kurdish:

1. At seven O'clock I come home.
(note: destinations in Kurdish are usually put after theverb)
2. I dont know.
3. What does your father do (what is his job)?
4. They are not coming.
5. Rojbin (girls name) doesnt like her (own) teacher.
(like: hez kirin, the object is introduced with the preposition ji)
6. We are drinking water (av).
7. They are not drinking milk.
8. She studies American literature.
9. We dont work at the bazar.
10. Who is reading my book? (book is feminine - see Izafe in Lesson 2!)
11. We have a large house.
12. He has two sisters.
13. I dont have yoghurt.
14. When is your brother coming?
6.2
Translate the following into English:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Ez ro naym. (ro=today)
Hn keng diin ders?
Nav heval te i ye?
Em li gel malbata xwe dimnin.
Min xwikek heye.
Min pere nn e.
Tu ji dayika min hez dik
Tu ji dayika xwe hez dik
Ez dest xwe diom.
List the infinitives from all the verbs you used exercise 6.1 and 6.2. If you used a form of to
be, write the infinitive bn.
(for example: in the first sentence in 6.1 you used a form of the verb hatin come)
LESSON 4
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will continue to discover more about the simple present tense,
prepositions, postpositions and circumpositions and different time expressions.
By the end of this lesson you will:
have learned about prepositions, postpositions and circumpositions and contracted
prepositions
have learned a number of expressions for describing times
deepened your knowledge of the present tense of a variety of different verbs, both
simple and complex
1. Tekst: Mala Nrgiz

Nrgiz hesabgir e ew li Amed dij. Maleke Nrgiz heye. Mala w bik e; l bel pir
irn e. Di mala w de du ode, mitbexek, serokek dairek hene. Nrgiz ne zengn e; l
bel mala w pir rengn e. T de her tit heye: televzyon, palgeh, mase kurs, tabloyn
wneyan, dolab sp, xaleyeke sor, gul guldank, gelek titn din. Mala w li
dervey bajar ye. Cih mala w pir xwe e bi dar hnah ye. Li rex mala w,
parkeke lstin seyran heye. Park pir nzik mala w ye; di navbera mala w park de
bi ten kolanek heye. Park ne mezin e; l bel paqij fireh e. Di w park de her cure dar
giya hene.
Nrgiz di mala xwe de bi ten nn e; piskeke w heye. Nav piska w Kunc ye. Kunc
pir irn e; l hinek m e. Her gav derdikeve ser mase nivnan. Di cih xwe de
nasekine. Nrgiz di dawiya heftey de naxebite. Rojn em, sibeh mala xwe paqij dike
var j die cem hevaln xwe. Jiyaneke Nrgiz ya aram rihet heye. Ew ji mal hal
xwe pir raz ye.
Translation: The House of Nrgiz

Nrgiz is an accountant and she lives in Amed. Nrgiz has a house. Her house is small
but very sweet. In her house, there are two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a restroom
(toilet). Nrgiz is not rich but her house is quite colorful. There is everything in it: TV,
armchair, table, chair, paintings, cupboard and coffee table, a red carpet, a vase with
flowers, and many other things. Her house is outside of the city. The neighbourhood of
her house is green and there are trees around (lit. with trees and greenness). Next to her
house there is a park for playing and jogging. The park is very close to her house; there is
only one street between her house and the park. The park is not large (lit. big) yet it is
clean and airy. In that park, there are all kinds of tree and plants (dar giya tree and
plants are in sngl. form, the plurality is observed on the verb hene).
Nrgiz is not alone in her house; she has a cat. The name of her cat is Kunc. Kunc is
very sweet but she is little bit naughty. Always goes on the table and bedding (nivnan is
the plural form in K.) She (Kunc) does not stay in her place. Nrgiz does not work on the
weekend. On Saturdays, in the morning (sibeh) she cleans her house and in the evening
goes to her friends. Nrgiz has a calm and comfortable life. She is very content with her
situation.
Exercise
Read the text and answer the questions as accurately as possible:
1. Nrgiz li k der dij?
2. Maleke Nrgiz ya awa heye?
3. Di mala Nrgiz de end ode hene?
4. Mala Nrgiz li ku der ye? Li nav bajar ye an li dervey bajar ye? (li dervey
=outside of)
5. Park li ku der ye?
6. Di park de i i hene?
7. Nrgiz di mala xwe de bi k re dij?
8. Nrgiz kjan rojan naxebite?
9. Nrgiz keng die cem hevaln xwe?
10. Gelo Nrgiz ji mal hal xwe bzar e?
1.2 Exercise
The sentences below are taken from the text above. Fill in the blanks paying attention to
the usages of the prepositions and postpositions. It is suggested that you work on this
exercise after studying the related part in the Grammar section.
Nrgiz . Amed dij. Di mala w . du ode hene. Mala Nrgiz li .. bajar ye.
......... mala w parkek heye. Di .. mala w park de bi ten kolanek heye.
Kunc pir m e. Her gav derdikeve masey. Nrgiz .. hal xwe pir raz ye.
2. Vocabulary
2.1 Dann Roj/Times of a day
sibeh morning
nvro noon
ev night
dan sibeh the morning time

dan nvro noon
dan ev night time
berbang /efeq dawn

sibeh /beyan
morning
nvro
noon
pit nvro
afternoon
esr /bervar
late afternoon, early evening
var
evening
ev
night
nvev
midnight
El berbanga sibeh die ser kar xwe. El sets out to his work at dawn.
Nrgiz her sibeh guln xwe av dide.
Nrgiz waters her flowers every morning.
Li vira, nvro pir germ dibe.
Her, it is very hot at noon.
Zarok pit nvro diine melevaniy.
The children go swimming in the afternoon.
Salih var z vedigere mala xwe.
Salih returns home early in the evening.
Bi ev z razin da ku sibeh z rabin.
Sleep early at night to wake up early in the
morning.
Nv ev li gund me tu kes dernakeve. At midnight nobody in our village goes out.

2.2 Days of the week/Rojn heftey
Duem
Monday
Sem
Tuesday
arem
Wednesday
Pncem
Thursday
n
Friday
em
Saturday
Yekem
Sunday
ro i roj e?
ro pncem e.
What day is it today?

It is Thursday.
Nrgiz roja emiy naxebite.

Nrgiz does not work on Sunday.
Ez roja sem diime cem malbata xwe.
I am going to my family on Tuesday.
2.3 Hindek Hokern Dem /Some Time Adverbs

Duh yesterday ro today sibe tomorrow
Par last year sal this year sala t next year
Ber before niha now pa later
niha
pa
pit re
d re
ber/ber
duh
ro/ ev roj
sibe
par
sal/ev sal
sala t
ber deh salan
pit deh salan
her roj
her gav/her tim
her meh
her sal
tu/u caran
hindek caran
carinan
km caran
gelek caran
now
later
later on
afterwards
before
yesterday
today
tomorrow
last year
this year
next year
ten years ago
after ten years
every day
always
every month
every year
never
sometimes
sometimes
rarely
usually
3. Exercises
a. In the previous lesson we had explained the present tense in Kurmanji. Turn back to
the related section, if needed, and try to place the right verb in the blanks. Note that in
this exercise the verbs are already conjugated.
hez dike /dixwe /radibe /diaxive /temae dike /dij /vedigere /die
Salih xwendekarek bst du sal ye. Ew li Stenbol (1).. Salih sibehan pir z
(2).., tatiy dixwe (3) zanngeh. Firavn li zanngeh, ligel
hevaln xwe (4)... Salih li zanngeh bi kurd (5). Salih ji dersn xwe
pir (6).. Salih bi ev z (7). mal. Pit v, li televzyon
(8)... di saet 11an de radiz.
b. Conjugate the verbs in the table in the present tense.
Infinitive
birin
n
kirin
lstin
men
rabn
rnitin
tgihitin
xebitn
xwendin
xwestin
vexwarin
winda kirin
zivirn
English
bring
go
do
play
walk, take a walk
get up
sit
understand
work
read, study
request, want
drink
lose
turn (back), rotate
Ez
dibim
Tu
Ew
Em/Hn/Ew
radibe
tdigihin
vedixwe
Wordlist
av
av dide
bajar (syn. ehr)
baran
bi dar
bi roj
bi ev
bi ten
bik
bikar
kolan
awa/awan
ay
end
ente (syn. kf)
i
cih/c
water
he/she waters (3rd person singular form of simple present tense
for the verb av dan to water)
city
rain
bi: with; dar: tree. Somewhere where there are trees.
in the daytime, during daytime
at night
alone, only
small
if you can (the present subjunctive form of the verb karn to be
able to)
street
how
tea
how many
bag
what
place

ima (syn. bo i)
men
ciwan (ant. pr)
dan
dawiya heftey
delal
dereng (ant. z)
der
dernakeve
derve
zengn (ant.
xizan,
dewlemend)
di . re
di bin de
diaxive
why
lawn
young
time of the day
weekend (daw: end; hefte: week)
beatiful, lovely
late
door
he/she/it does not go out (negative form of 3rd person singular
form of simple present tense for the verb derketin to go out)
outside; abroad
feqr, wealthy
hejar,
dibare
die
dij
dil; dilan
dinive
dirj (ant. kurt, kin)
dsa j
dixwe
dolab
dr (ant. nzik)
ev jiyan
var
fireh
fncan
seyran
gtar
giya
gul
guldank
havn
heft/hefte
Through; ex: Kik di nav daran re n

Under (in locative case)
he/she/it speaks (3rd person singular form of simple present
tense for the verb axaftin to speak)
it rains (3rd person singular form of simple present tense for the
verb barn to rain)
he/she/it goes (3rd person singular form of simple present tense
for the verb n to go)
he/she/it lives (3rd person singular form of simple present tense
for the verb jiyan to live)
dil: heart; dilan: the plural of the noun dil.
he/she/it sleeps (3rd person singular form of simple present
tense for the verb nivistin to sleep)
long
again, still
he/she/it eats (3rd person singular form of simple present tense
for the verb xwarin to eat)
cupboard
far
this life (ev: this; life: jiyan)
in the evening
wide
cup
infinitive form of the verb to travel; to wander
guitar
grass
rose; flower
vase (gul: flower; dank: a suffix giving the sense of containing)
summer (payz: autumn; zivistan: winter; bihar: spring)
week

hlekan
serok
her cure
her gav (syn. Her tim)
hesabgir
hnah
heval
hevaln xwe
hez dike
hirok
skan
ji bo
jn
jr
jiyaneke aram
kal
kar
k
keng
k
kjan
k der
kullk
kunc
kurs
kurt
l bel
lstin
li dervey
li jr
li jor
li rex
li ser
li vira
ligel
xale
mal
mal hal
mam (syn. ap)
mase
melevan (syn. soban)
mitbex
mezin (ant. bik)
swing
bath
every kind (her: every, each; cure: kind (syn. tixm, babet)
always
accounter
green
friend
friends of self (Salih bi ev die cem hevaln xwe. Salih goes to
his friends at night)
he/she/it likes, loves (3rd person singular form of simple present
tense for the verb hez kirin to like, love)
teddy bear
cup for tea
for
life
clever, smart, wise
a peaceful life (jiyan+eke aram)
old
work
who (in oblique case)
when
who
which
where
flower; bud
oleaster, sesame; here the name of the cat
chair
short
but; however
the infinitive form of the verb to play
out of .. (in oblique case)
below (in oblique case, by itself jr would not be in oblique)
above (in obl. case)
next (in obl. case)
on (in obl. case)
here (in obl. case)
together with
carpet
home
general material and psychological situation of someone
uncle
table
swimming
kitchen
big

m
mzsyen
nasekine
nav
navber
nazik
nexwe
nzik (ant. dr)
nivn
ode
palgeh
paqij; paqij kirin (syn.
temz, pak, xawn)
park
pns (syn. qelem)
pere
pr (syn. kal; ant.
ciwan, cahil)
pirtk (syn. kitb)
pisk (also kitik)
piyal
por
qehwe
radibe
naughty
musicien
he/she/it does not stop, stand (negative 3rd person singular,
simple present tense of sekinn to stop, to stand)
name
interval, between
fragile
ill, fatigue
near, close
bedding
room
armchair
clean; to clean up
park
pen
money
old
book
cat
glass
hair
coffe
he/she/it wakes up (3rd person singular form of simple present
tense for the verb rabn to wake up, to stand up)
rengn
colorful
roj
day; sun
rdine
he/she/it sits down, lives (3rd person singular form of simple
present tense for the verb rnitin to sit down; to live)
eng
charm
sp
coffe table
serbest
free; freely
irn
sweet; lovely
sibeh
in the morning
sil kirin (syn. tre Infinitive of the verb to offend, to make angry
kirin; xeyidandin)
tablo
tableau
t de
in it (This usage requires a preceding context)
tebeq
floor (du tebeq: double floor)
televzyon
television
temae kirin
infinitive of the verb to watch
temz
clean
tenha/ten
alone; solitary place
terxan
satisfied; comfortable

tev chan
tiral, tembel
titn din
tu kes
dair/tuwalet
vedigere
the whole world (tev: all; chan: the world)

lazy
other things (tit: thing; din: other)
nobody
toilet
he/she/it returns (3rd person singular form of simple present
tense for the verb vegeriyan to return)
vedihese (syn. bhna he/she/it rests (3rd person singular form of simple present tense
xwe dan)
for the verb vehesiyan to rest)
v tit
this thing; this
wne
painting
xan
house
zext/xim
violence; violent act (in oblique case, see next lesson)
xurt (ant. zef; lawaz)
strong, powerful
xwendekar
student
zarok
child; children
zef (syn. lawaz)
weak
z
early; fast
Grammar / Rziman 4
A) Prepositions, Postpositions, Circumpositions and Contracted Prepositions
In Kurmanji there are prepositions, postpositions and circumpositions. The topic is quite complex, and in
this introductory course we will only be showing you the most important features of these structures.
Furthermore, there is quite a lot of variation among the different varieties of Kurmanji. However, the most
important words are constant across the different varieties. There are three basic prepositions, found in all
varieties of Kurmanji:
li at, in;
ji from;
bi through, by
In addition, there are prepositions like ser on; bin under, which may be combined with the basic three
prepositions (li ser on, about, as in li ser ziman kurd about/on the Kurdish language) or used alone, as
in ser avan on eyes, meaning at your disposal, an expression of friendly respect and agreement.
One difficult feature of Kurmanji is the widespread use of circumpositions: these are made up of a
preposition plus one of three particles which follow the relevant word (or phrase). The three particles are:
ve, de, re (in some varieties pronounced: va, da, ra). For example:
bi te re with you
ji te re for you, to you
ji ro ve from today onwards
In addition, there are circumpositions with a first element di. Unlike the basic prepositions discussed above,
this element can not occur by itself, but only in combination with a final particle:
di mala w de in her house
di ... re through
The final particles have a vague meaning, approximately as follows: de usually adds a meaning of
stationary position; while re adds some sense of togetherness; and finally ve adds some sense of getting
away from.
Note that the nouns and pronouns following the prepositions are in Oblique case. We have already
discussed the Oblique case for pronouns, and in the next lesson we look at the Oblique case for nouns.
10
Grammar / Rziman 4 (continued)

Some common prepositions and circumpositions with examples are the following:
ba/nik/cem to, towards
Ew her roj die cem hevaln xwe. (used mostly with persons)
Every day he goes to his friends.
bi with, by means of
Ez bi bisklet diim dibistan.
I go to school by bicycle.
bi re with
Bisekine! Ez j bi te re tm bazar.
Stop! (=imperative of sekinn wait, stop), I too will come to the market
with you.
bo for; to
Ji kerema xwe bo min ayek dagire.
If you would be so kind, pour a tea for me.
di nav de inside of, among Tu i dik di nav av de?
What are you putting into the water?
di navbera de between
Welat me di navbera Ferat Dcley de ye.
Our homeland is between the Euphrates and the Tigris (rivers)
heta until
Ez heta saet neh ev kar dikim.
I am working until nine Oclock in the evening.
ji from, of
Derya ji Qoser ye.
Derya is from Qoser.
Mast ji r dibe.
Yoghurt is made of milk.
ji re to
Ez ji te re dibjim l tu ji u kes re nebje (=imperative of gotin).
I tell you but dont you tell it to anyone (lit. no-one).
jive from; since
Ji saet heft sibeh ve kar dikim.
I have been working since 7 in morning.
ji bil except for; other than Di malbata wan de ji bil w tu kes kar nake.
In their family no-one works except for him.
ji bo for
Hem hewla min ji bo w ye.
All my effort is for him.
li ber in front of
Z were! (imperative of hatin come) Li ber bank li hviya te me.
Come quickly! I am waiting for you in front of the bank.
li dij against
Em li dij neheqiy tdikoin.
We struggle against injustice.
ligel with; along with
Kunc j ligel zarokan dileyze.
Kunc too plays with the children.
li gor according to
Li gor w em neheq in.
According to him, we are wrong.
li p in front of
Demhat di sinif de li p Rken rdine.
Demhat sits in front of Rken in the classroom.
li rex beside
Maln wan li rex hev in.
Their houses are next to each other.
li ser on, over
Bne, deyne (imperatives of ann bring and dann put) li ser v masey.
Bring (it) and put (it) on this table!
wek/mna like; as
Rast e, ez j wek te difikirim.
Thats right, I too think like you / think the same way as you.
pit after
Pit saet heft var vedigere mal.
After seven Oclock in the evening (he / she) returns home.
11
Contracted prepositions
When the three basic prepositions mentioned above (bi, ji and li) are used with the third person pronoun
ew, this pronoun must go into the Oblique case, either w (feminine), or w (masculine). In such
combinations, what usually happens is that the preposition blends together with the pronoun, yielding the
following forms:
bi +w/w >p through him/her/it
ji+w/w >j from him/her/it
li+w/w >l at/in him/her/it
The same thing happens to the particle di (recall from above that this particle does not occur by itself as a
preposition, but only together with a final particle as a circumposition):
di + w/w > t, for example: di w de > t de in it
Some examples are the following:
Bav w her roj j re (=ji w re) pere dine.
His father sends him money every day.
Mala ku ez t de (=di w de) dimnim gelek fireh e. The house which I stay at is very large.
Ez p (=bi w) penr hr dikim.
I am slicing the cheese with it.
Keik l (=li w) dinihre.
The girl is looking at (smb/smth).
B Conjugation of Verbs in Simple Present Tense (Continuation from previous lessons)
1. Recall that in Kurdish, each verb has two stems. The simple present tense is based o the present stem of
the verb and is created by adding the prefix di- to it. The present stem itself is extremely important, because
it also forms the basis of the subjunctive mood, the imperative, (see next lesson), and the future tense!
The main difficulty with the present stem is that for most of the common verbs in the language, it cannot
easily be predicted from the infinitive. For these verbs, then, you just have to learn the form of the present
stem off by heart. There are, however, two rules which are helpful for some verbs:
Rule i: For verbs with an infinitive ending in n, the present stem can readily be formed simply by
droppingn. For example:
Infinitive
Present stem
karn can, be able
karkirn buy
kirkenn laugh, smile
kenpirsn ask
pirsxebitn to work
xebitzann know
zanzewicn marry
zewiczivirn turn (back)
zivirRule ii: Verbs which end in -andin (or -endin) in the infinitive replace this with -n in to make the present
stem:
xwendin read, study
xwnandin send
nikandin break
iknkiandin pull
kinstandin receive
stnFor most of the other common verbs, the present stem must be learnt together with the infinitive. Here is a
list of the commonest verbs together with their present stems, and the first person singular present (I am
driving / drive etc.)
Infinitive
ajotin (to drive)
ann (to bring)
axaftin (to speak)
avtin (to throw away)
birin (to take away)
bn (to become)
bn (to be)
n (to go)
dan (to give)
dann (to place)
Present stem
ajonaxivavjbbdda-n
12
First Person Singular Present

dajom
tnim (di-nim becomes tnim)
diaxivim
davjim
dibim
dibim
-im
diim
didim
datnim (see ann above; this verb is actually
from da-ann, i.e. it has a preverb da-)
dtin (to see)
bndibnim
firotin (to sell)
firodifiroim
gihitin (to reach, to arrive)
gihdigihim
girtin (to catch)
girdigirim
hatin (to come)
tm
hlan (to allow, to leave)
hldihlim
jiyan (to live)
jdijm
ketin (to fall)
kevdikevim
kirin (to do)
kdikim
kolan (to dig)
koldikolim
lstin (to play)
leyzdileyze
mayn (to remain)
mndimnim
mirin (to die)
mirdimirim
nivistin (to sleep)
nivdinivim
nivsn (to write)
nivsdinivsim
nrn (to look)
nrdinrim
xistin (to drop, strike)
xdixim/dixnim
xwarin (to eat)
xwdixwim
xwestin (to want)
xwazdixwazim
tin (to wash)
odiom
Note that generally, the -i of the present tense prefix is dropped when the present stem of the verb begins
with a vowel: dajom (not di-ajom) I drive. Note also that the present tense of ann is tnim, rather than the
expected dnim, and from hatin come we have tm (actually a contraction of di-h-m)
LESSON 5
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will learn and be exposed to new grammatical structures in the present tense and
use them in meaningful contexts, and see the usages of the nouns in oblique case, certain names for
occupations, expressions of frequency and terminology for month and the days of the week.
Use the modal verbs for expressing the wishes, abilities and requirements,
Conjugate the verbs in present tenses and also in subjunctive form,
Detect and use the nouns in oblique case.
1. Text: va Prozbahiy The Celebration Dinner
Listen to the conversation the first time without reading the text and try to answer the questions in
Exercise 1.
In a caf in Uppsala, Naz, Serdar, Selm and Heln are sitting down talking. Naz is telling the
others a piece of news, and she also makes an offer to the others:
Diyalog/Dialog
Garson:
Serdar:
Garson:
.
Naz:
Heln:
Naz:
Serdar:
Naz:
Qehwe ya k ye?
Qehwe ya min e. Kola ya w, bra ya xanim ye av j bo heval ye.
Kerem bikin.
Ha, ez dixwazim xeberek bidime we.

Xebera xr ye nellah. De bibje Naz.
Roja n biray min Rnas ji Kurdistan t.
Rast! Welleh div em v yek proz bikin.
ba e v gav! Ez dixwazim we bikim mvan. eva emiy, li mala min.
Hn dikarin bn?
Serdar:
Pir ba dibe! Ez dikarim bm. Ez dixwazim Rnas bibnim.
Selm:
Naz tu xwarinn xwe dik?
Naz:
Zde ne xerab im bo xwarinkirin. Ez dikarim tirik qelslk kim ji
we re. Tu dixwaz by an ne?
Selm:
Mixabin ez nikarim bm. Ji ber ku eva emiy civna min heye. Div
bedar w civn bibim.
Heln:
min, ez gelek dixwazim xwarinn dest te bixwim; l bel ez niha nizanim ka
dikarim bm an nikarim (but now I do not know whether I can come or not).
Naz:
Em j gelek dixwazin tu by. Heta sibe xeberek bide me.
Heln:
Ba e, spas.
Translation:
Waiter:
For whom (whose) is the coffee?
Serdar:
The coffee is mine. The Cola is hers, the beer is for the lady and the water
is for the (this) friend.
Waiter:
Here you are!
--Naz:
Heln:
Naz:
Serdar:
Naz:
Look! I want to tell you (give you) a piece of news.

Hopefully it is good news. Say it Naz.
On (the day of) Friday my brother Rnas will come from Kurdistan.
Really! By God, we have to celebrate this (event).
Sure (lit. it is good)! I want to host you. At Saturday night, in our home.
Can you come?
Serdar:
It will be very good. I can come. I want to see (meet) Rnas.
Selm:
Naz, do you cook good food (lit. meal) ?
Naz:
I am not too bad at cooking. I can cook (prepare) tirik and qelslik for
you. Do you want to come or not?
Selm:
Unfortunately I cant come. Because on Saturday night I have a meeting. I
must (have to) participate in that meeting.
Heln:
As for me, I very much want to eat (taste) a meal cooked (prepared) by
you (your hand), but at the moment (lit. now) I do not know whether I can
come or
not.
Naz:
We also very much want you to come (lit. that you come). Tell us (give us
news) whether you come or not by tomorrow.
Heln:
Well (it is good), thanks.
1.1 Exercise
Answer the questions below according to the text.
1. end kes li masey rdinin?
2. K ji Kurdistan vedigere?
3. K hevalan vedixwne v?
4. v kjan roj ye? Keng ye?
1.2 Rast an Xelet Right or Wrong
Read the dialogue again and decide whether the sentences are right (R) or wrong (X).
a. . Biray ji Kurdistan Serdar t.
b. . Naz dixwaze hevaln xwe bike mvan.
c. . Serdar nikare bie v.
d. . v eva yekem ye.
e. . Serdar dixwaze Rnas bibne.
f. . Selm dikare bie v.
g. . Selm nikare bie v. Ji ber ku div bedar civnek bibe.
h. . Naz dikare tirik ke.
i. . Naz naxwaze Heln bie v.
j. . Heln naxwaze xwarinn dest Naz bixwe.
Navn Mehan/Names of the Months
There are a couple sets of month names in use in Kurdish; the names presented below comprise the
more widespread ones:
1. Rbendan January
7. Trmeh
July
2. Reem
February
8. Tebax
August
3. Adar
March
9. Rezber
Septembre
4. Avrl
April
10. Kewr October

5. Gulan
6. Pper
May
June
3
11. Sermawez November
12. Berfanbar December
ar demsaln sal The four seasons of the year

Bihar: Spring
Havn: Summer
Payz: Autumn
Zivistan: Winter
Adar, Nsan Gulan mehn demsala bihar ne.
March, April and May are the months of the spring season.
Pper, Trmeh Tebax havn e.
June, July and August are (the months of the) summer.
Rezber, Kewr Sermawez mehn payz ne.
September, October and November are the months of the autumn.
Mehn demsala zivistan Berfanbar, Rbendan Reem ne.
The months of winter season are December, January and February.
Celadet Al Bedirxan di 26 nsana 1893an de hatiye dinyay.
Celadet Al Bedir-Xan was born in April 26, 1893 (lit. 26 of the April of 1893)
Havn bi meha pper dest p dike.
Summer starts with (month of) June.
Zivistan, bi taybet meha rbendan, Kurdistan pir sar e.
In winter, especially in (the month of) January, Kurdistan is very cold.
Di salek de duwanzdah meh hene.
There are twelve months in a year. (Lit. In one year, twelve months exist.)
Grammar / Rziman 5
A) The modal verbs: expressing can, want and must
The two modal verbs xwestin and karn behave just like other verbs in the present tense (see last lesson); they take the
xwestin (xwaz-)
Ez dixwazim bm
I want to come
karn (kar-)
Ez dikarim bilzim
I can play
viyan (v-)
Div ez bixebitim
I must work
Tu dixwaz by
Ew dixwaze b
Em/hn/ew dixwazin bn
Tu dikar bilz
Ew dikare bilze
Em/hn/ew dikarin bilzin
Div tu bixebit
Div ew bixebite
Div em/hn/ew bixebitin
Negative
nexwestin
Ez naxwazim bm
Tu naxwaz by
Ew naxwaze b
nikarn
Ez nikarim bilzim
Tu nikar bilz
Ew nikare bilze
div neDiv ez nexebitim

Div tu nexebit
Div ew nexebite
Examples
Em naxwazin bn
Hn nikarin bilzin
Div ew nexebitin
We dont want to come
You can not play
They must not work
Tu dixwaz by snemay?
Tu dikar li bisklet siwar bib?
Div tu ji bo mthan i bik?
Do you want to come to the Can you (=do you know how to)
What do you have to do for the
cinema?
ride a bike?
examination?
present tense prefix di-, which is replaced by the negation prefix when the verb is negated. However, the present tense
negation of karn is irregular: it is ni-kar- (not the expected na-kar-).
The modal construction

In Kurmanji, instead of saying I want to go, we say literally I want I go, and the second verb (go) takes the ending for
the first person singular, just like the first verb does. The second pronoun (here: ez) is, however, normally ommitted.
The second verb in a modal construction is in a special form, the subjunctive. This form is also used to express
commands and orders, i.e. in the imperative, but with the endings -e (sg.) and -in (pl.): bide min! give me!
The Subjunctive
The subjunctive form of the verb is based on the present stem, but it takes a special bi- subjunctive prefix.
Otherwise, the verbs are conjugated just as in normal present tenses, i.e. the same set of person endings is
added to the present stems. However, the negation of the subjunctive verb is not with na-, but with ne-. This
also replaces the subjunctive prefix bi-.
In compound verbs written as one word like wergirtin (wer+girtin), vekirin (ve+kirin), derketin (der+ketin),
the subjunctive prefix bi- is often omitted:
Ez dixwazim pencerey vekim. I want to open the window.
Ez dikarim w kitb bo end rojan wergirim? Can I take that book for a few days?
Div ez derkevim. I need to leave.
2.1 Exercise
Listen to the dialogue above and fill in the blanks in the text of the dialogue below.
Garson: Qehwe k ye?
Serdar: Qehwe ya min e. Kola w, bra ya xanim ye av j bo heval ye.
Garson: Kerem bikin.
.
Naz:
Ha, ez dixwazim xeberek . we.
Heln:
Xebera xr ye nellah. De Naz.
Naz:
Roja n biray min Rnas ji Kurdistan t.
Serdar:
Rast! Welleh div em v proz ..
Naz:
ba e vga! Ez dixwazim we bikim mvan. eva emiy, li mala min. Hn
bn?
Serdar:
Pir ba dibe! Ez dikarim bm. Ez dixwazim Rnas .
Selm:
Naz tu xwarinn xwe dik?
Naz:
Zde ne xerab im bo xwarinkirin. Ez dikarim tirik qelslk .. ji we
re. Tu dixwaz by an ne?
Selm:
Mixabin ez nikarim bm. Ji ber ku eva emiy civna min heye. ez bedar
w civn bibim.
Heln:
min, ez gelek dixwazim xwarinn dest te bixwim; l bel ez niha nizanim
ka dikarim bm an ..
Naz:
Em j gelek dixwazin tu by. Heta sibeh xeberek .. me.
Heln:
Ba e, spas.
2.2 Hndar/Exercise
Complete the sentences below using the modal verbs karn and xwestin.
1. Elr dikare... (karn) bi kurd ..binivse.. (nivsandin).
2. Serdar (karn) . (n) v.
3. Heln . (xwestin) xwarinn Naz (xwarin).
4. Em .. (xwestin) li flm Nwey Mang . (temae kirin).
5. Ew ... (karn) li hesp .. (siwar bn).
6. Xwka min .. (ne/karn) trimbl . (ajotin).
7. Biray heval min (xwestin) . (bn) plot.
8. Cind . (xwestin) pirtkn bi kurd (xwendin).
9. Arjn Ciwan (ne/xwestin) sibeh z .. (rabn).
Grammar / Rziman 5 (Continue)

B) The Oblique case of nouns and pronouns
In previous lessons we had worked on two sets of pronouns in Kurdish, namely pronouns in the direct case
and pronouns in oblique case. Oblique pronouns, min, te, w/w, me, we, wan, are used (a) as subjects in
sentences with past transitive verbs; (b) as objects in all present tense verbs; (c) as possessors in an izafe
construction (as the second or following element of an izafe construction); (d) when they follow a
preposition or used in a circumposition (e) as possessors in a sentential possessive construction.
In Kurmanji the oblique case is, in addition to pronouns, also a feature of nouns as well. It is called tewang
in the grammar of Kurmanji and the nouns in the oblique case receive oblique endings. The endings which a
name receives depend on its gender, and its number. The oblique case of feminine nouns and plural nouns is
very regular, but with masculine nouns there are quite a lot of complications. Here are the feminine and
plural forms first:
in feminine nouns:
Ez jinik dibnim I see the woman
an in plural nouns:
Dara hespan difiroe Dara is selling the horses
With masculine nouns, the oblique ending is, in some varieties of Kurmanji, -, and this has become fairly
standard in the written language, though not all speakers produce this ending:
Masc.: -
Dara karker dinase. Dara knows the worker.
When the noun has an indefinite ending -ek (recall previous lessons), the endings are the same, and in these
cases, the masculine ending is perfectly regularly and consistently used:
Ez dixwazim hespek bifiroim I want to sell a horse
Em li gundek dijn
We live in a village
The demonstrative pronouns ev, ew this, that also have oblique forms. The oblique form varies according
to the intended gender and number: V, w for masculine singular, v, w for feminine singular and van, wan
for plurals regardless of gender.
V kitb bide min. Give me this book. W kitb bide min. Give me that book.
V lawik dibn? Do you see this lad?
W lawik dibn? Do you see that lad?
Van kaxezan nedirnin. Do not tear these papers.Wan nedirnin. Do not tear those.
Note 1: There is an alternative oblique form for the masculine singular nouns, if they have either a or e
in their final syllable. In the oblique case, this a or e, is changed into an vowel (technically speaking, the
vowel is raised through umlaut). Some examples with this form:
Eyan nn dipje. Eyan is baking bread (absolute form: nan bread)
Serdr gotar nivs. Serdar wrote the article. (absolute form: nan Serdar)
Some uses of the Oblique case

The noun or pronoun is in the oblique case when:
(a) they are objects in all present tense verbs:
Xec Miraz dinivne. Xec is making Miraz sleep.
Xec w dinivne.
Xec is making him sleep.
Kerm hevalan li arsiy dibne. Kerm sees the friends in the bazaar.
Kerm wan li arsiy dibne.
Kerm sees them in the bazaar.
(b) they are possessors in an izafe construction (As the second or following element in an izafe
construction);
Trimbla Daray sor e. Daras car is red.
Trimbla bav Daray sor e. Daras fathers car is red (note: only the final possessor
in an Izafe construction takes the oblique case; the ending - in bav is an Izafe, not an
oblique ending)
Nav min Guln e. My name is Guln.
Dayika te kar dike? Does your mother work?
Note that when the second or following element is an adjective, it does not take the oblique case. In this
sense, in an izafe construction like komptera erzan the cheap computer, the second element of the
construction is not in oblique form as (1) it is not a possessor and (2) also as it is not a noun or pronoun.
(c) when they follow a preposition or used in a circumposition;
Pirtk li ser masey ne. The books are on the table.
Hwa perey xwe ji Kendal dixwaze. Hwa demands her money from Kendal.
Dara ligel w dilze. Dara plays with him.
Kerm hevalan li sk dibne. Kerm sees the friends in the bazaar.
(d) as sentence-initial possessors in a possessive (have-type) construction:
Du ken Gulsmay hene. Gulsma has two daughters.

Kazim du cotn plavan hene. Kazim has two pairs of shoes.
We du otomobl hene? Do you have two cars?
Important note: The oblique case cannot occur on a noun that is already marked with an Izafe vowel! For
example:
Ez xwarinan dikim I am making food (xwarin-an has the plural Oblique ending)
Ez xwarinn xwe dikim I am making nice food (-n is the plural Izafe ending, not an oblique ending;
there is no oblique marking on the object here)
3. Exercise
3.1 We saw above and in the previous lessons that there are two sets of pronouns in Kurmanji,
those in nominative and those in oblique cases. Now, try to fill in the blanks with the appropriate
pronouns, and correct conjugation of the verb bn (to be).
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Nav ..w.. Drya ye. Ew kurd ..e..

Gtareke ....... heye. Ew mzsyen .
Nav .. Eri e. .. ji dir me.
.. bst pnc xwendekar hene. .. mamoste ne.
enteyn .. sor in. .. zarok in.
Eyan tevnker .. W deh xale ...
Rizgn gelek pns.. hene. Ew xwendekar ..
Beyanba Elf. . awan ? .. ro end ders hene?
Dayik bav .. li emznan dijn. .. ji emznan .
3.2 Find the right pronoun in the examples below.

a. Xaniy hn/we heye?
b. Ew/wan ji Amed ne.
c. end pirtkn tu/te hene?
d. Xaniy mam ez/min duqat ye.
e. Ew/w her heft svan dikire. Ew/w her roj svan dixwe.
f. Em/me her roj du fncan qehwe vedixwin.
g. Li baxey ew/w kullk hene
h. ar hirokn Daner hene. Ew/w zarok e.
i. evba Ehmedo. Ez/min diim mal.
j. Por bav min sp ye. Ew/w pnc sal ye.
k. Tu/te zengn ? Pereyn tu/te gelek in?
3.3 Fill in the blanks with one of the three oblique endings, - and and -an. Do not forget to
insert the y consonant before the ending if the word is a vowel-final word.
1. avn keik re in.
2. Por kurik zer e.
3. Rengn dwar direngne.
4. Van sv berhev bike.
5. Xwendekar li ser kurs rdinin.
6. Nrgiz li Swd dij.
7. Brvan guh dide mamoste.
8. Kunc ji ger hez dike.
9. Pik k (pl.) digire.
10. Teymr her heft pirtkek dikire.

11. Ez d ligel Hesen(masc.) naaxivim. I do not speak with Hesen anymore.
12. Dest Mistefa(masc.) ikest.
13. Alan mna Zerya(fem.) dinivse.
14. Ji kerema xwe v piyal dagire.
15. Znet kullk berhev dike.
16. Xwendekar di nav baxey dibistan de gul dinin.
3.4 Choose the correct sentence. Pay attention to the usage of prepositions as well as the case of
the noun (oblique or nominal) following the preposition.
1.
a. Mala Nrgiz li rex park e.
b. Mala Nrgiz li rex park ye.
2.
a. Dila ji pirtkan hez dike.
b. Dila ji pirtk hez dike.
3.
a. Erdewan li ser kursiy rdine.
b. Erdewan li ser kurs rdine.
4.
a. Sorgul ji Mu t.
b. Sorgul di Mu t.
5.
a. Ev kar ji bo Xezal hsan e.
b. Ev kar ji Xezal hsan e.
6.
a. Gotar di nav dosyay de ye.
b. Gotar di nav dosya ye.
Wordlist
an, yan
av f.
bm
bn
berhev bike
bedar bn
bibnim
bidime
bra f.
or (Ex: Tu qelem sor dixwaz an y re? Do you want the red

pencil or the black one?)
water
to come e.g. ez j diwazim bm. I also want to come. (1sg.
pres. subjunctive form for the verb hatin to come)
to come e.g. l em nikarin bn. But we cant come. (1pl.
pres. subjunctive form for the verb hatin to come)
to collect (1) 3sg. pres. subjunctive form for the verb berhev
kirin to collect.
collect! (2) Sing. imperative form of the same verb.
to participate; to join
to see e.g. div ez ev Eyan bibnim. I need to see Eyan
tonight. (1sg. pres. subjunctive form for the verb dtin to see)
to give e.g. ez dixwazim v defter bidime te. (1sg. pres.
subjunctive form for the verb dan to give); bidim+e (e:
directionality)
beer

bo/ji bo
carinan
end
civn f.
cixare f.
cixare kan
k f. syn. ivk
vedixwne
derman m.
zengn/dewlemend
ant. xizan/feqr
andin
dikare
dwar m.
dosya f.
min,
d
fncan f.
gern
germ ant. sar
gtar f.
gotar f.
guh dan
heft f.
her roj/ her ro
hsan ant.
dijwar/zehmet
heval
hewa m.
hirok f.
hiyar be
nellah
ji ber ku syn. inku
ji bo ku syn. da ku
ka
kar kirin
kerem bikin
kullk f.
li mala min
(1) for (also ji bo with this meaning);

(2) to
(3) at
e.g. ez ne xirab im bo xwarinkirin. I am not bad at cooking.
sometimes
(1) how many, how much;
(2) some
meeting
cigarette
smoking
bird
he/she invites (3sg. pres. indicative of the present tense form for the
verb dawet kirin to invite)
medicine
rich
to plant (present tense stem: n; ex: Zarok gulan dinin)
he/she can (3sg. pres. indicative of the verb karn can; to be
able to)
wall
file
me, as for me
anymore
cup
to wander
warm, hot
guitar
article, discourse
to listen to (present stem: guh -d-; ex: ew guh dide)
week
everyday
easy
friend
weather
teddy bear
to wake up, to be careful, to be alert (Ex: Li xwe hiyar be.
Take care of yourself)
God willing, I hope that
because
so that, for
hay (dried grass); (2) where (Ex: Ka pika sp? Where is the
white cat)
to work
here you are, please come in
flower
in my house

li rex
li xwe kirin
xale/mafr m.
mixabin
kirin mvan
mweyn taze
nexwe ketin
nikare
park f.
pns m.syn. qelem
pere m.
proz bikin
pirtk f. syn. kitb

pik f. syn. kitik
piyal f. syn. qedeh
qehwe f.
qelslk f.
ikest
v f.
str ant. tenik
tenik syn. zirav
tevnker
tirik f.
xanim
xeber
xwarin f.
xwarinkirin
ya min
yn min
zde
next to
to put on
carpet
unfortunately
to host
fresh fruits
to get sick
he/she cant (3sg. pres. indicative negative form of the verb
karn can; to be able to)
park
pen, pencil
Money
to celebrate, celebrate! e.g. Em d newroz proz bikin. We
will celebrate newroz ( 1,2,3 pl. pres. subjunctive form for the
verb proz kirin to celebrate & also the plural imperative form
for the same verb);
book
cat
glass, cup
coffee
a local meal of Diyarbekir
Duh cama mal ikest. Yesterday the window of the house
broke(3sg. simple past tense of the intransitive verb ikestin to
break)
dinner
thick
thin (zirav: slim)
weaver
a local meal of Diyarbekir region
lady, (2) an address form for the women
news, word
meal, to eat
cooking
mine (predicative) (Ex: W kill nebe! Ew ya min e. Do not
take away that key, its mine); (also: ya te yours; ya w his; ya
me ours; ya we yours(pl); ya wan theirs)
mine (predicative) (Ex: Wan kitban nebe! Ew yn min in. Do
not take away those books, they are mine); (also: yn te yours;
yn w his; yn me ours; yn we yours(pl); yn wan theirs)
too much (French: trop)
10
LESSON 6
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will learn new grammatical structures in the simple future tense and
comparision and contrast together with the present tense conditional in Kurmanji.
By the end of this lesson students will be able to:
make predictions and talk about future
use present tense conditional clauses
comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.
Text: Em d biin Wan

Nav min Zer ye. Ez xwendekar im. Dersn me heta heftiyek xelas dibin betlane dest p
dike. Ji bo betlaney em d biin Wan. Em d heftiyek li Wan bimnin. Li Wan gelek
xizmn me hene. Em d biin serdana wan. Yek ji wan xizman, mam min e. Em d li mala
mam min bimnin. Kurek du ken mam min hene. Navn wan Ferhad, Asya Meyrem
in. Meyrem ji Ferhad Asyay mezintir e. Ew li Enqerey dixwne d bibe bijjk. Meyrem
j d di betlaney de b Wan em d bi hev re biin Behra Wan em d li wir avjeniy
bikin. Her end ji behrek biktir be j, kurd ji w gol re dibjin Behra Wan. Li wir dra
Axtamar heye em d w dr j bibnin. Dra Axtamar yek ji kevintirn cihn Wan ye. Ji
bil behr dr, ez zarokn mam min, em d Keleha Wan j bibnin. Ev keleh ji dra
Axtamar kevintir e. Ez d li wan deran gelek wneyan bigirim; ji ber ku ez gelek ji cihn
drok hez dikim. Mixabin em nain cihn din. Her wiha, ez ji bazarn Wan cil bergn
kurdewar j bikirim. Ev cil berg ji yn modern bihatir in, l dsa j ez bistnim; ji ber ku li
gor min ew cil li ser ry dinyay ciln her xweik in. Havnan, evn Wan gelek xwe
dibin. Ez bawer dikim ku her ev xizmn me yn li wir d bn mvantiy em d suhbetn
gelek germ bikin di wan evn havn de.
Translation
Text: We will go to Wan
My name is Zer. I am a student. Our classes are finishing in a week and the holidays begin.
For the holiday we will go to Wan. We will stay in Wan for one week. We have lots of
relatives in Wan. We will visit them. One of these relatives is my uncle. We will stay at my
uncles house. My uncle has a son and two daughters. Their names are Ferhad, Asya and
Meyrem. Meyrem is older than Ferhad and Asya. She studies in Ankara and she will be a
doctor. Meyrem will also come to Wan for the holidays, and we will go to lake Wan together
and we will swim. Although it is smaller than a sea, Kurds call this lake the Wan Sea. The
Axtamar Church is there and we will visit it as well. The Axtamar Church is one of the oldest
places of Wan. Apart from the lake and the church, I and my uncles children will visit the
Wan Fortress as well. This place is older than the Axtamar Church. I will take a lot of photos
in these places because I love historical (lit. old) places very much. Unfortunately we will not
go to any other places. However, I will buy Kurdish clothes from the bazaar. These clothes
are more expensive than the modern ones but still I will buy them because I think they are the
most attractive clothes in the world. The nights in summer become very pleasant. I believe
that our relatives there will come to visit every night and we will have very lively discussions
on those summer nights.
1.1. Exercise
A) Answer the questions according to the text.
a) Zer malbata w d biin ku?
b) Ew d li ku der bimnin?
c) Meyrem d bibe i?
d) Ew d li Wan i bikin?
e) Kjan cih kevintir e li Wan?
f) Ew d li Wan i bikirin?
g) Kjan cil berg erzantir in? Ciln kurdewar an yn modern?
B) Form sentences in the future tense with the words given below.
Ex: Sibe / kar bike / deh saetan/ d / Alan
Alan d sibe deh saetan kar bike.
1. Zerya / d / bixwne / pirtka xwe
..
2. Serhad / bie / havin / Fransey / d
.
3. d /Ez / heftiya t / hevaln xwe / bibnim.
.
4. Bav min/ d / pere / bine/ / ji bo min
.
5. Elr / sala t / erebeyek / d / bikire
.
2. Comparatives and Superlatives (Read the grammar section below before doing these
exercises.)
2.1 Use the adjectives in brackets in the comparative form.
Amed ji Wan .................... e (mezin). L ji bo min Wan ji Amed ................. e (xwe).
Hewaya Amed ji y Wan................... e (germ). Cil berg, mwe sebze li Wan ...............
in (erzan) l li Amed .............. in (zde).
2.2 Write the comparative and superlative forms of the adjectives
Adjective
comparative
superlative
kurt
xwe
dr
girng
teng
bedew
zehmet
bik
xerab
dereng
rehet
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................

erzan
qelew
bilind
ciwan
zirav
dirj
3
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
3.1 Li Kurdistan Bazar
Li Kurdistan bazar gelek girng in. Li hem bajar, nave taxan bazar hene. Bazar heftiy
carek hene. Hn dikarin hem pdiviyn xwe ji bazar bikirin. Heke hn biin bazar, hn
dikarin titn gelek erzan peyda bikin. Her wiha heke hn fk sebzeyn xwe ji bazar
bikirin d batir be; ji ber ku ew tezetir in. Heke perey we tra we neke, hn dikarin bi deyn
j titan bistnin ji ber ku baweriya bazarvan muteriyan bi hev t. Heke hn bi xelet zde
pere bidin, bazarvan d perey we li we vegernin. Wek din, heke hn danstandina bazar
bibnin, hn d tkiliyn mirovan batir fahm bikin.
Bazaars in Kurdistan
Bazaars are very important in Kurdistan. There are bazaars in all city, town and quarters.
They are once a week. You can buy all your necessities from bazaars. If you go to the bazaar,
you can find the things for very cheap. Moreover, it is better for you to buy your fruits and
vegetables (from the bazaar) because they are more fresh. If your money does not suffice, you
can buy things as a loan because the bazaar people and customers rely on each other. If you
pay more money by mistake, they will return your money. Furthermore, if you see the
shopping in the bazaars, you will understand the relationship of people better.
3.2. For the following sentences mark (R) (Rast) if correct and () (ewt) if false.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Bazar her roj hene.

Heke hn biin bazar, hn j sd wergirin.
Heke hn biin bazar, hn kmtir pere bidin.
Heke perey we tr neke hn nikarin danstandin bikin. .....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
5. Bazar ji bo famkirina tkiliyn mirovan girng e.
.....
.....
3.3 Put the words in right order to form sentences of the present conditionals.
1. ew / bikin / heke / mala me/ em/ / v / bn
2. bimirim/ heke / ez/ bike / d / avdriya bax min/ k
3. bim / ez / ne a / were / ew / / sibeh / Heke
Grammar / Rziman 6
A) Dema B / Future Tense
We use future tense when we talk about an action to take place in the future. It can be something arranged or a
prediction about the future. In Kurmanji we form simple future tense by using the future marker d after the
subject, and before the verb, and conjugating the verb with the subjunctive bi-. Remember from the lesson 5 we
learned how to use subjuntive by adding bi- prefix to the verb and conjugating the verb as in normal present
tenses, i.e. the person endings are added to the present stems of the verbs. The logic is the same in the future
tense except that we add a special particle d, which comes after the subject:
Affirmative
Ez d bixwnim.
Tu d bixwn.
Ew d bixwne.
Em d bixwnin.
Hn d bixwnin.
Ew d bixwnin.
I will read
you will read
He/she/it will read
We will read
You will read
They will read
The above rule for the position of d applies when the subject is in first position in the sentence, which it usually
is. However, when the first position in the sentence is not occupied by the subject, different rules may apply, but
they need not concern us here.
Negative
As for their negative forms, it can be done in two fashions.
1) Either, exactly in the way the negation works in present tenses: the future marker d dropped, and nareplaces the subjunctive bi-. As is seen from the sample text, this form is used more frequently.
Ez naxwnim.
Tu naxwn.
Ew naxwne.
Em naxwnin.
Hn naxwnin.
Ew naxwnin.
I will not read

You will not read
He/she/it will not read
We will not read
You will not read
They will not read
2) Or ne- replaces the subjunctive bi-, and the future marker d remains.
Ez d nexwnim.
I will not read
Tu d nexwn.
You will not read
Ew d nexwne.
He/she/it will not read
Em d nexwnin.
We will not read
Hn d nexwnin.
You will not read
Ew d nexwnin.
They will not read
Examples
Ez d sibeh biim nexwexaney
Tu d keng by mala me?
Em d tu car w nebnin
Ew d awa we nas bikin?
I will go the hospital tomorrow.

When will you come to our home?
We will never see her again.
How will they know you?
Note
a) There are alternative forms of the future tense auxilary verb d, namely , w. When the auxilary verb follows
a consonant-final subject it may take the form of .
b) "Tu d" is sometimes contracted as t (Tu d bi You will go becomes T bi).
c) The future marker in the form of can be attached to the subject pronouns ez, em and ew in writing. (Ez
biim snemay I will go to cinema)
B) Comparatives
To yield the comparative form of adjectives we (1) add the tir suffix to the positive form (the first form) of the
adjective and (2) use the preposition ji from before the compared noun. However, if the last letter of the
adjective is already t, then we drop the t of the comparative suffix.
Examples:
Meyrem ji biray xwe mezintir e.
Ev cil berg ji yn modern bihatir in
Hevokn min ji yn te dirjtir in.
Tu ji min batir dixebit.
Ew ji me hemyan bileztir dibezin.
Meyrem is older than her brother.

These clothes are more expensive than the modern ones.
My sentences are longer than yours.
You work better than me.
They run faster than all of us.
However, some adjectives also have irregular comparative forms as well as the regular one discussed above:
pir >pirtir or btir
ba > batir or tir
mezin >mezintir or meztir
much > more

good > better
big > bigger
C) Superlatives
There are two ways of forming superlatives in Kurmanji.
1) It is formed by adding tirn to the adjective.
Examples:
Navdartirn nivskar kurd Mehmed Uzun e.
Diya min xwetirn xwarinn chan dike.
Mehmed Uzun is the most famous Kurdish author.

My mother cooks the best meals (lit. the tastiest) of the
world.
Note that superlative adjectives formed with tirn have a different syntax to normal adjectives: they do not
follow the noun they describe in an Izafe-construction, but are placed in front of that noun.
2) It is formed by using the word her before the adjective.
Mehmed Uzun nivskar kurd her navdar e.
Mehmed Uzun is the most famous Kurdish author.
Diya min xwarinn her xwe n chan dike.
My mother cooks the best meals of the world.
Zek di nav xwendekaran de y her jr e.
Zek is the most clever among the students.
D) Conditionals
The conditional is formed by using one of the words heke, ku, ger, eger, heger (all meaning if ) at the beginning
of the sentence and conjugating the verb in the present subjuntive form, as in future tense. For the present lesson
we will focus only on the conditionals in the present tense. We will prefer heke conditional word as it is the most
frequent word for forming conditional sentences. As for the negative form of the present conditional, we simply
replace the subjunctive bi- with the negation marker ne- and keep the rest untouched.
Heke, ku, ger, eger, heger: if
Present
Affirmative
Heke ez biim.
Heke tu bi.
Heke ew bie.
Heke em biin.
Heke hn biin.
Heke ew biin.
If I go
If you go
If he/she/it goes
If we go
If you go
If they go
Negative
Heke ez neim
Heke tu ne
Heke ew nee
Heke em nein
Heke hn nein
Heke ew nein
If I do not go
If you do not go
If she/he/it does not go
If we do not g
If you do not go
If they do not go
We do not use conditional sentences on their own, but in relation to a following sentence. We usually use simple
future tense, the modal karn (can), or simple present tense in the second sentence. Some examples are as
follows:
- Heke zarokn me kurd fr nebin, d xetereke mezin be.
If our children do not learn Kurdish, there will be a big danger.
- Heke hn biin bazar, hn dikarin titn gelek erzan peyda bikin.
If you go to bazaar, you can find very cheap things.
- Heke ez ne xelet bim, ew li Stenbol dixwne.
If I am not wrong, he studies in Istanbul.
Not: Other uses of conditionals and wishes will be dealt with in lesson 9.
Wordlist
dema b
d also , w
xelas dibin
biin
xizm
serdan
mezin
behr f. syn. derya, zerya
avjen m.
her end also her iqas
bik ant. mezin
dr f.
cil berg m.
yek ji....
ji bil also ji xeyn
zarok
future tense
will (see grammar section for details of the future tense)
we, you, they finish dersn me heta heftiyek xelas dibin
my lessons will finish within a week (pl. form of the simple
present tense for the verb xelas bn to finish )
we, you, they will go ji bo tatl em biin Wan we will
go to Van for the holidays (pl. form of the future tense for the
verb n to go)
relative
visit
big, old
sea
swimming
although
small, little
church
dress, costume
one of the... - yek ji kevntirn cih Wan one of the oldest
places in Van. This phrase is productively used with the
superlative phrases.
other than - ji bil behr dr Other than the sea and the
church
child

kevin also kevn
keleh f.
wne m. syn. resm
der syn. cih, c
mixabin
wek din syn. her wiha
biha
modern syn. njen
l dsa j
old, historical, ancient

fortress
photo, picture
place
unfortunately
moreover, furthermore
expensive
modern
but still - ev cil berg ji yn modern bihatir in l dsa j ez
bistnim these clothes are more expensive than the modern
ones but still I will buy them
li gor min syn. bi ya for me, in my opinion - li gor min irntirn ciln chan ne
min
(In my opinion, they are the prettiest clothes of the world.)
irn
sweet, cute, pretty, pleasant
chan f. syn. dunya f.
world, globe, earth
havn f.
summer
ez bawer dikim
I suppose, I think, I believe
ev f.
night
mvant
being a guest
suhbet
chat, talk, conversation
germ
warm, here: nice
pere syn. dirav
money
erebe
syn.
seyare, car, vehicle
tirimbl
hewa m.
weather
fk
fruit
sebze
vegetables
zde
abundant, much
kurt
short
xwe
good, fine
xweik
pretty, pleasant, cute
dr
far
girng
important, essential
teng
narrow
bedew syn. ciwan, speh beautiful
zehmet syn. zor
difficult
xerab
bad, evil, defective, broken
dereng
late
rehet
comfortable, easy
erzan
cheap
qelew
fat, big, large
bilind
tall
ciwan
young
zirav
thin, slim, delicate
heke syn. ku, ger, eger, if (see grammar section for details of the present conditional)
heger
helbest syn. ir
poem
bajar m. syn. ehr
town, city
kurdewar
Kurdish, according to Kurdish tradition

mna syn. wek
rbar m. syn. em
bdeng
r m.
dev m.
av f.
berf m.
bdeng
dever
eq f. syn. evn
v f.
bimirim
avdr f.
yek
cran
ji nv riy
a
betlane
man
xwendin
avjen kirin
dtin
hez kirin
kan
kirn
standin
andin
av dan
vegern
mirin
like ez j mna te xwendekar im I am a student like you, too

river
silent
face
mouth
water
snow
silence
region, place
love
dinner
(if) I die (1 sg. form of conjuctive for the verb mirin to die)
observation
one, unite
neighbour
from the half way
wrong, mistaken
holiday, vacation
to stay (mn-)
to study (xwn-)
to swim (avjen k-)
to see (bn-)
to love, to like (hez k-)
(1) to pull (2) to last (3) to smoke (cixare kan)
to buy (kir-)
to take (stn-)
to send (n-)
to water (av d-)
to return (veger-). The causative form of this verb is
vegerandin (vegern-)
to die (mir-)

LESSON 7
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will learn about the simple past tense and the past continuous tense. At the
same time you will get to know how to express past habits.
Express past events,
Conjugate the verbs in simple past and past continuous tense,
Detect and use the nouns in oblique case in different positions.
1. Text: Dawiya Heftiy The Weekend
Zelal and Cind are speaking about the weekend in school canteen at a break-time.
Zelal: Cind, dawiya heftiy awa derbas b?
Cind: Ba derbas b. Roja emiy sibeh hinek dereng rabm.
Zelal: Di saet endan de raby?
Cind: Welleh, ez di dora saet neh nvan de hiyar bm. Hewa pir xwe b. Lewma ez
dayika xwe em n derve ji bo tat.
Zelal: iqa xwe! Xweziya we! We tat i xwar?
Cind: Min zeytn, penr hkn keland xwarin. Dayika min j to hingiv Wan y
navdar xwar.
Zelal: We pit tat i kir?
Cind: Em bhnek li nav sk geriyan. Pa em ne bazar me ji min re cotek
plavn spor kirn. Pa dayika min mal ez j m cem hevaln xwe. Te
i kir di dawiya heftiy de?
Zelal: Roja emiy ez her li mal bm. Min odeya xwe da hev. Pit nvro min li
bernameyeke muzk temae kir. Bi ev j min pirtk xwend.
Cind: Ango tu h derneket derve?
Zelal: Mixabin! Lbel yekem ber bi var ez ligel hevalek xwe m snemay. Me li
flm daw y Behmen Qobad temae kir.
Cind: Flmek awa b? Te j hez kir?
Zelal: Flmek pir xwe b. Ji br neke, tu j temae bike.
Cind: Ba e, ez d emiya t temae bikim.
.
Translation
Zelal: Cind, how did you spend the weekend?
Cind: It was good (lit. I spent it well). On Saturday morning I woke up a bit late.
Zelal: At what time did you wake up?
Cind: Well, I woke up at about 9.30. The weather was very good. Therefore I and my
mother went out to have breakfast.
Zelal: How nice! I am jealous! What did you eat for breakfast?
Cind: I ate olives, cheese and boiled eggs. My mother ate cream and the famous honey
fromWan.
Zelal: What did you do after breakfast?
Cind: For a while we walked around in the market. Then we went to the bazar and
Zelal:
Cind:
Zelal:
Cind:
Zelal:
Cind:
bought a pair of sport shoes for me. Then my mother went home and I went to my
friends. What did you do at the weekend?
On Saturday I was just at home. I tidied my room. In the afternoon I watched a
music program (TV understood by the verb watch). In the evening I read a
book/books.
That means that you did not go out (at all)?
Unfortunately not! But on Sunday evening I went to the cinema with a friend of
mine. We saw the last film by Behmen Ghobad.
How was the film? Did you like it?
The film was very good. Dont forget to see it, you too!
OK, I will watch it next Saturday.
1.1. Exercise
The sentences below are taken from the text above. Find the sentence of each verb and
fill in the blanks paying attention to the form of the verbs.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Rabm/ / b/ geriyan/ kir/ xwarin

Em bstek li nav sk
Ez roja emiy hinek dereng .
Te i di dawiya heftiy de?
Min zeytn, penr hkn keland .
Pa dayika min .. mal.
Hewa pir xwe ..
1.3. Complete the conjugation of the verbs in simple past tense.

(in some sentences you should not add anything)
a) Ez roja emiy, sibeh hinek dereng rab.
b) Ez dayika xwe em . derve ji bo tat.
c) Te di tatiy de i .
d) Me ji bo min cotek plav kir.
e) Tu h derneket .?
f) Ez roja emiy li mal ma.
g) Ez li mal b.?
h) Hn keng vegeriya. mal?
Grammar 7
A) Dema Bor / Simple Past Tense
With intransitive verbs:
Consider first the simple past tense forms of the intransitive verbs n go and rabn get up:
:
Sibeh
In the morning
Ez m Wan
Ez z rabm.
Duh
Yesterday
Tu y Wan
Tu z raby.
Pr
The day before yesterday
Ew __ Wan
Ew z rab__.
Par payz Last year in autumn
Em n Wan
Em z rabn.
Hn n Wan
Hn z rabn.
Ew n Wan
Ew z rabn.
As it is seen in the examples above, for conjugating the intransitive verbs in the simple past tense in
Kurmanji, we add a set of personal endings to the past tense stems of the verbs. The past stem of the verbs
is very simply found by deleting the ending -(i)n from the infinitive:
Infinitive
Past stem
n
Em n bazar. We went to the market.

axaftin
axaft
El pir ba axaft. El spoke very well.
nivistin
nivist
Tu di saet endan de nivist? What time did you sleep?
hatin
hat
Em ber du saetan hatin. We came two hours ago.
ketin
ket
Pirtkn min ketin. My books fell down.
kenn
ken
Ez li ber flm pir kenm. I laughed too much at the film.
As for the personal endings, the personal endings are the same as they were in the present tenses except for
the third person ending. There is no ending for the third person in simple past tense; so, the past stem of the
verb functions as the third person conjugation of the verb. Below there is a chart of the endings:
After a vowel
Ez m
Tu y
Ew -Pirs / Question form:
Em n
Hn n
Ew n
After a consonant
Ez im
Em in
Tu
Hn in
Ew -Ew in
Tu duh y cem heval xwe? Did you go to your friend yesterday?

Hn sibeh di saet endan de rabn? What time did you get up in the morning?
Tu tgihit? Did you understand?
With transitive verbs:

The way we make sentences with the past tense forms of transitive verbs is quite different from the way we
make sentences with other verb forms. Therefore, you will need to pay careful attention to this section.
First of all, note that the past stem of the verb itself is made in just the same as it is for intransitive verbs,
i.e. deletion of -(i)n:
Infinitive
Past stem
Infinitive
Past stem
xwendin read, study
xwend
dtin see
dt
There are three major changes in the past tense transitive sentences that must be learned:
First, the same set of personal endings is added to the past stem as we learned above. But the personal
endings do NOT refer to the subject, but the OBJECT.
Second, the SUBJECT goes into the Oblique case.
Consider the following examples, noting these two differences: the oblique case of the subject pronouns,
and the ending of the verb:
Min helbestek xwend
I read a poem
Min ew dt
I saw him/her.
Te helbestek xwend
Te ew dt
You saw him/her.
W helbestek xwend
W/w ew dt
He/she saw him/her.
Me helbestek xwend
Me ew dt
We saw him/her.
We helbestek xwend
We ew dt
You saw him/her.
Wan helbestek xwend
Wan ew dt
They saw him/her.
As you can see, the verb forms are in the form for the third person singular (which is the same as the bare
stem), because the object in all sentences is third person singular (a poem, or him/her).
Third, the OBJECT is in the absolute or unmarked case.
Compare now the first of the above sentences with the corresponding present tenses forms:
Ez helbestek- dixwn-im
Ez w dibnim
I read/am reading a poem
I see him
The differences between sentences with past and present transitive verbs are summed up below:
Simple present
Simple past
Case of subject
Absolute
Oblique
Case of object
Oblique
Absolute
Person endings on verb Agrees with subject
Agrees with object
Now observe how the three principles mentioned above apply to the examples below:
Min tu dt. I saw you.
lan cil tin. lan washed the clothes.
Min ew dt. I saw hm/her.
Mesd xwarin kir. Mesud cooked (the meal).
Min hn dtin. I saw you
Tu duh li mal by? Were you at home yesterday?
Min ew dtin. I saw them
W rok xwendin. He read (the) stories.
Min ivkek dt. I saw a bird.
Te end pirtk kirn? How many books did you buy?
Min du ivk dtin. I saw two birds.
Hostayan du xan ava kirin. The masters built two houses.
Note that when the object is plural, the verb gets plural ending in. In this case, the plural conjugation of
the past tense transitive verb is in the same form of the infinitive form of the verb. For example, when the
plural ending is added to the past stem dt-, it becomes dtin which is at the same time the infinitive form of
the verb. So, as a practical way, in the past tense plural verbs take the infinitive form of the verb as it is.
Negative, transitive and intransitive verbs:

For yielding the negative form, all other rules being the same, we prefix the negative marker ne-, as in:
Min helbest nexwend. I did not read the poem.
Min helbest nexwendin. I did not read (the) poems.
Gundiyan zeviyn xwe av nedan. The villagers did not water their fields.
Elxan dersa xwe nekir. Elxan did not study his lesson.
Ez z ranebm. I did not get up early.
Grammar 7 (Continue)
B) Past Continuous
For conjugating a verb in past continuous tense, either transitive or intransitive verb, we prefix di- to the
past stem of the verb. In this sense, the only difference from simple past tense is prefixing the di-, all other
processes being the same.
Gava ew gihite mal ez dinivistim. When s/he arrived at home I was sleeping.
Rbar gund mna lehiy diherik. The village river was flowing like a flood.
Dema ji dukan derket, dinya d tar dib. When he got out of the shop it was getting dark.
Gava min ew dt, w cil berg dikirn. When I saw him, he was buying clothes.
Note that the same construction is also used for expressing past habits. See the examples below:
Dema ez zarok bm, ez tim hildikiiyam ser daran. When I was a child, I used to climb trees.
Hing, em her gav bi hev re digeriyan. Then, we always used to hang out together.
Min stran digotin te j guhdar dikir. I used to sing and you used to listen.

Li ber mala me darek heb her gav ivk dihatine ser. There used to be a tree in front of our
house and the birds would go on it all the time.
As for the negative form of the past continuous and past habitual, the negative marker ne- is prefixed to the
verb. Note that, unlike the present tense negation, the past continuous prefix di- remains intact; it is not
replaced by the negation marker. Check the examples below:
Dema ez li hundir bm, baran nedibar. When I was inside, it was not raining.
axa ku ez li Wan bm, min u kes nas nedikir? When I wan in Wan, I did not know anybody.
Hind min j re digot, fam nedikir. No matter how much I was telling to him, s/he would not
understand.
Wexta ez hatim vira, min ji bil Kurd bi u zimanan nedizan. When I came here, I did not
know any language other than Kurdish
Compound verbs in the past tenses
Note that as it was the case with the compound verbs in present tense, all the grammatical processes are
applied to the verbal part of the compound verb. See the examples below:
Min s lre ji w wergirtin. (wer+girt+in) I received three liras from him
Min her roj s lre ji w werdigirtin. (wer+di+girt+in) Every day I used to ...
Me behsa edebiyata kurd ya njen kir. (behs kir) We discussed modern Kurdish literature
Me behsa edebiyata kurd ya njen dikir. (behs di+kir) We used to discuss ...
Me behsa edebiyata kurd ya njen nedikir. (behs ne+di+kir)
2. Exercise
Below there is the folk story that we worked on for conjugating the verbs in present tense
in the fourth lesson. Now, read the story and then rewrite it in the simple past tense. The
first two sentences are already done and the words that you will need to change are
shown in italics.
Text: Kr Kevik
In present tense:
Rojek, mirovek li malek dibe mvan. Dema xwarin ye. Kebaniya mal sifrey radixe,
xwarinan li ser rz dike. D re, mvan gelek li benda kevikan dimne, l kebaniya mal
kevikan nayne. Mrik ji kebaniya mal re dibje:
Sitiya keban, ji kerema xwe ji min re krek bne. Keban li ser sifrey dinihre, tu
tit ku bi kr b qut kirin nn e dibje:
Mvan birz, tu d bi kr i bik? Mvan dibje:
Ez d guh xwe j bikim, bikim kevik da ku p xwarin bixwim.
In simple past tense:
Rojek, mirovek li malek b mvan. Dema xwarin b. Kebaniya mal sifre
raxist,..
..
..
.
.
3. Rast (R) an ewt () /Right (R) or Wrong ()

Choose the correct conjugation of the verb, simple past or past continuous/habitual.
1. R Ez duh m melevaniy.
Ez duh dim melevaniy.
2.
Min her roj ser xwe dit.
Min her roj ser xwe t.
3.
Dema ez zarok bm min r vexwar.
Dema ez zarok bm min r vedixwar.
4. Duh var ez li sk rast w hatim.
Duh var ez li sk rast w dihatim.
5.
Me her sibeh bi hev re tat dixwar.
Me her sibeh bi hev re tat xwar.
4. Below there are questions about your Saturday. Try to provide real answers.
1. Tu roja emiy sibeh li ku der by?
..
2. Tu roja emiy di saet endan de raby?
..
3. Tu keng ji mal derket?
..
4. Te firavn li ku xwar?
..
5. Pit nvro te i kir?
..
6. Tu di saet endan de hat mal?
..
7. Te pit v i kir?
..
8. Tu di saet endan de nivist?
..
5. In each of the sentences below the pronoun is wrong. Rewrite the sentences with the
correct form of the pronoun.
1. Min sibeh z rabm.
Ez sibeh z rabm.
2. Tu min dt.
.
3. W duh li sk geriya.
.
4. Ew li zarok dinihr.
.
5. Em her sibeh bi hev re ay vedixwar.
6. Min pnc salan li dukana w xebitm.
6. Conjugate the verbs in brackets in the correct tense and form.

25 Rezber / arem
Hevala delal agul,
Ez duh var . (gihitin) vir, Kirmaan. Bi rast ans min heb, min otleke
pir rehet erzan (peyda kir). ro sibeh z (rabn) min di
kafeteryaya otl de tatyeke edet (xwar). Bi rast pir xwe (b).
Min pir j (hez kirin). D re .(derketin) da ku di nav bajar de
bigerim.. Li trimblek siwar bm (n) Taq Bostan. Taq Bostan hem
parkeke pir mezin e hem j ciheke pir kevnare .. (bn). Pa dsa li trimblek
.. (siwar bn) m Bstn. Li wir min fgrn kevnare yn li ser zinaran
(dtin). Ya Reb! iqas seyr delal bn! Min li wir gelek (wne
girtin). ro pir westiyam niha li odeya xwe .. (bhn vedan) sibeh j ez d
. (n) Ciwanroy. Li Ciwanroy Xor Qela (hebn). Keleheke pir
mezin e. Ez d li wir j wneyan bigirim ji te re (andin). Ez d heta s
heftiyan . (vegeriyan) Wan. W hing ez d bi dr dirj ji te re behsa sefera
xwe bikim. Niha bi xatir te
Bi xr xwe.
Aram
baran f.
bhna xwe veda
bername f. syn. program
bi dr dirj
bi hev re
birz
bstek syn. bhnek
end
cil li xwe kirin ant. cil ji
ber xwe kirin
cil f. syn. kinc
cil berg m.
cran f.m.
rok f.
ivk f.
cotek plav
u kes also tu kes
n
da ku syn. da, ji bo ku
rain
he/she took a rest Selm bstek bhna xwe veda Salim
rested for a while (3 sg. of the simple past tense for the verb
bhna xwe vedan to rest)
program
in detail, at length
together
dear, worthy
for a while
how many/how much (It has also a usage for surprise:
iyayek end bilind e! What a high mountain)
to put on ant. to take off ones clothes
clothes
dress, costume
neighbour ( mala cranan. (S/he) went to neighbours.)
story
bird
a pair of shoes (cot: pair; cot+ek: a pair)
anybody, nobody
we, you, they went zarok n dibistan the children went to
school (pl. of the simple past tense for the verb n to go)
so that (ciln germ li xwe bike da ku nesax neb wear warm
daran (dar f.)

daw
dema syn. wext, gava,
axa
derbas b
dereng ant. z
dibne
dihatine ser daran
diherik
dtim
dor f.
d re syn. pa, pitre
edet
erzan ant. biha
flm daw
gava syn. wext, dema,
axa
geriyan
gihite
guh
guhdar kirin
hkn keland
her
her gav syn. tim, her
dem
ax syn. heyam
h
hind syn. bi qas
hinek also hindek
hing syn. w dem
hingiv m.also hingivn
hosta m.
clothes so that you do not get sick )

the plural oblique form of the noun dar: tree, stick (min j re
got wan daran nebire I told him not to cut those trees.)
last, end (cara daw last time)
when, while, at the time (dema em li gund bn, hal me ba
b When we were in the village, our situation was good)
he/she passed Ciwan z derbas b Jiwan passed quickly (3
sg. of the simple past tense for the verb derbas bn to pass)
late
he/she sees erf bi beravkan batir dibne Sharif sees
better with glasses (3 sg. of the simple present tense for the
verb dtin to see)
We, you, they used to climb trees (pl. form of the past
contiunous tense for the verb n to go; -e: directionality
suffix; ser: on)
it was flowing ava rbar bi aram diherik the water of the
river was flowing quietly (3rd pers. sg. form of the past
continuous tense for the verb herikn to flow)
saw me Xezal ez dtim Khazal saw me (1sg. form of the
simple past tense for the verb dtin to see)
turn (dora min e. It is my turn.)
then, afterwards
traditional, customary
cheap
last film
when, while, at the time (gava min mar dt, dest piyn min
lerizn When I saw the snake, I shuddered)
to wander, to travel
he/she arrived Zelal duh var dereng gihite mal Zalal
arrived home late yesterday (3 sg. form of the simple past
tense of the verb gihitin to arrive, to reach)
ear
to listen to
boiled eggs
each; (2) all through ez duh her li mal bm yesterday I was
at home the whole day
always
period, term
none, never
as much as
some
then
honey
master

hundir syn. jr
j
ji br neke
keban f.
keleh m.
kr f.
kevik m.
kir
kirn
lewma
li benda (somebody)
man
mixabin
navdar syn. mehr
mvan m.
nayne
nedibar
ngar f.
penr m.
peyda kir
kevnare syn qedm
to f.. tomast
rast yek hatin
rehet ant. nerihet
rz dike
andin
ans m.
sefer f.
ser m.
dan hev / serber kirin
seyr syn. balk, ecb
inside
a contracted preposition meaning from (him/her/somebody)
Ex: min duh El dt min pirtka xwe j xwest yesterday I
saw Ali and I wanted my book from him see Lesson 4
do not forget
housewife
castle
knife
spoon
he/she did w bi qas deh salan li wir kar kir he worked
some ten years there (3 sg. of the simple past tense of the
verb kirin to do, to make)
to buy
hence, therefore
to wait for somebody; Ex: em du saetan li benda otobs man
we waited for the bus for two hours
unfortunately
famous
guest
he/she does not bring jinik kevikan nane the woman does
not bring spoons (3 sg. of the simple present tense of the
verb ann to bring)
it was not raining/snowing hewa hinek sar bi ewr b l
bel berf nedibar the weather was a little bit cold and cloudy
but it was not snowing (3 sg. of the past continuous tense of
the verb barn to rain, to snow)
figure
cheese
found it Zelal duh krek peyda kir Zalal found a knife
yesterday (3rd prs. sngl. form of the simple past tense of the
verb peyda kirin to find)
ancient
cream
to run into somebody
comfortable
he/she puts in order garson piyalan li ser masey rz dike
the waiter puts the glasses in order on the table (3 sg. simple
present tense of the verb rz kirin to put (orderly), to
arrange)
to send
luck
voyage
head
To put in order, to arrange
interesting

r m.
sit
siwar bn
stran gotin
tim syn. her gav
vegeriyan
wne m.
wne girtin
wexta
xwar
xweziya we!
ya Reb!
ango/yan
zeytn f.
zinar m.
milk
lady, an address form for women.
to get on
to sing
always
to return
picture
to take picture
when, while, at the time
ate it 3 sg. simple past tense of the verb xwarin to eat
I wish I were in your (pl.) shoes.
oh my God!
that is to say, I mean, namely
olives
rock
10
LESSON 8
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will discover about the present perfect tense and past perfect tense; and at
the same time you will continue to discover more about the usages of the simple past
tense.
By the end of this lesson you will:
have learned how to narrate an event or story by present perfect tense and past
perfect tense.
have learned how to express an event in the past following a previous event in
past perfect tense.
have practiced and deepened your knowledge of all the basic verb forms and also
vocabulary related to vegetables and fruits as well as animals.
1. Text: roka Ker Guran / The story of the donkey and the wolves
Heb tuneb, carek ji caran, li dora gundek kerek bxwed heb. Pir rezl bib. Ji ber ku her kesek ku
titek w hebye bi w ker kiriye her kesek ku barek w hebye li w bar kiriye. Ker d ji xelk bzar
bye, bi ber iy ve ye. Di r de rast roviyek hatiye. Rov gotiye:
-Ho kero, tu di ku?
Ker gotiye:
- Ez ji gundiyan bzar bme, ber bi iy ve diim.
Rov gotiye:
- Tu min bi xwe re nab?
Ker gotiye:
- Ma ima nebim?
Her du bi hev re ne, ne rast beranek hatine. Beran gotiye:
- Ho kero, tu di ku?
Ker gotiye:
Beran gotiye:
- Tu min j bi xwe re nab?
Ker gotiye:
- Ma ima nebim?
Ker, rov beran bi hev re ne, ne rast dkek hatine. Dk gotiye:
Ker gotiye:
Dk gotiye:
Ker gotiye:
- Ma ima nebim?
Ker, rov, beran dk bi hev re ne, ne rast kvrkek hatine. Kvrk gotiye:
Ker gotiye:
Kvrk gotiye:
Ker gotiye:
- Ma ima nebim?
Ker, rov, beran, dk kvrk bi hev re ne, ne di r de ker gotiye:
- Gel hevalan, zirra min hat, div ez bizirrim.
Hevaln w j re gotine:
- Mal ava, tu d awa bizirr. Em di nav v iyay de ne, gur d me seh bikin, d me hemyan bixwin.
Ker gotiye:
- Nabe, div ez bizirrim.

Axir, kirine nekirine, ker qayil nebye. Ker ser xwe bilind kiriye dest bi zirrn kiriye:
- Ah, ah, ah!
Li deverek nzk wan heft gur hebne. Wan deng ker bihstiye. Her heftan ji hev re gotine:
- Gelo ev i deng e?
Yek ji wan gotiye:
- Ka ez biim, bizanim ev i deng e.
Hevaln w gotine:
- De here!
Gur hatiye dtiye ku ker hevaln w di nava mrg de ne, bxwed ne, hema kfa w hatiye nzk wan
ve ye. Ji nik ve ye, xwe avtiye ser ker. Ker j sity gur idandiye ew zeft kiriye. Beran, Dk,
Rov Kvrk bazdane ser gur bi v away gur bbhn hitine pa berdane.
Gur nvmir ye cem hevaln xwe. Hevaln w j pirsne:
- Birayo, te i dt?
Gur nvmir gotiye:
- Birano, qet deng nekin. Ez m, min qewmek li w der dt, kes nebne. Wan meraq kirine gotine:
- awa?
W gotiye:
- Gava ku ez m, hema ser min kirin nava du keviran, bi du akan li min dan. Yek ji wan yasn li ser
min xwend, yek erm min dirand. Yek j gora min kola.
Gava guran ev xeber bihstine, tirs ketiye dil wan hem bi hev re ji w cih revne, gotine:
- ikir ji Xwed re ku em ji ber lepn wan xelas bne.
Werger / Translation
Once upon a time there was a donkey without an owner. He was in a terrible state, because anyone who had
some work would do it with the donkey, and anyone who had a load would load it up on to the donkey. The
donkey was tired of the people and headed off towards the mountain. On the way, he met a fox. The fox
said:
- Hey Donkey, where are you going?
The donkey said:
- I have become tired of the villagers, I am going towards the mountain.
The fox said:
- Would you take me with you? (literally: you dont take me with you)
The donkey said:
- Why not? (literally: Why do not I take? meaning: yes, ok!)
Both of them set off together, and then they met a ram. The ram said:
The donkey said:
The ram said:
- Would you take me with you?
The donkey said:
- Why not?
The donkey, the fox and the ram went on together, and met a rooster. The rooster said:
The donkey said:
The rooster said:
The donkey said:
- Why not?
The donkey, the fox, the ram and the rooster continued on together, then they met a rabbit. The rabbit said:
The donkey said:

The rabbit said:
The donkey said:
- Why not?
The donkey, the fox, the ram, the rooster and the rabbit went on together, on the way the donkey said:
- Oh friends, I feel the urge to bray (literally: my braying came), I must bray.
His friends said to him:
- Hey, what do you mean, bray! (lit. how will you bray). We are in the middle of this mountainous
region (lit. within this mountain), the wolves will become aware of us and they will eat us all.
The donkey said:
- There is no other way, I must bray.
Finally, no matter what they did (lit. they did, they did not), the donkey refused to agree. The donkey raised
his head and began to bray:
- Ah, ah, ah!
At a place near to them there were seven wolves. They heard the voice of the donkey, all seven said to each
other:
- What could that noise be?
One of them said:
- Let me go and find out (literally: know) what that noise is?
His friends said:
- Yes, go.
The wolf went and saw that the donkey and his friends were in the middle of the pasture, without an owner,
immediately he was pleased and approached them. Suddenly he ran and threw himself at the donkey. But
the donkey squeezed the wolfs neck and held him tight. The ram, the rooster, the fox and the rabbit got on
top of the wolf and in this manner knocked the breath out of him (literally: left him without breath), then let
him go. The wolf, half dead, went back to his friends. His friends asked him:
- Oh brother, what did you see?
The half-dead wolf said:
- Oh brothers, how could I tell you (lit. dont make a sound). I went and saw a kind/sort (of creatures),
that I hope nobody will ever meet (lit. such that may no one see).
The other wolves were curious, saying:
- What were they like?
- When I went they immediately put my head between two stones, and beat me with two hammers. One
of them read a Sura of the Koran over me, one of them skinned me (tore my skin). And one of them dug my
grave.
When the wolves heard this news, fear came into their hearts and they all fled together from that place,
saying:
- Thanks to God that we have been saved from their paws!
1.1 Exercise
a) Read the folk story above once and answer the questions below.
1. Di rok de kjan ajal (heywan) hene?
2. K ji xelk bzar bye?
3. Ker die ku?
4. Ker di r de cara pn rast kjan ajal t?
b) The sentences below are taken from the text above. Fill in the blanks paying attention to the form of the
verbs.
1. Her kesek ku barek w hebye li w bar .. (kirin)
2. Di r de rast roviyek .. (hatin)
3. Ez ji gundiyan . (bzar bn), ber bi iy ve diim.
4. Ker rov bi hev re (n), ne rast beranek . (hatin)
5. Kirine nekirine, ker qayil ............. (ne/bn)
6. Li deverek nzk wan heft gur ............... (hebn)
7. Ker j sty gur (idandin) ew zeft kiriye.
8. Beran, Dk, Rov Kvrk bazdane ser gur bi v away gur bbhn hitine pa ew ...
(berdan)
9. Wan .(meraq kirin) (gotin)
10. Gava guran ev xeber .. (bihstin), tirs ketiye dil wan hem bi hev re ji w cih
. (revn), gotine:
- ikir ji Xwed re ku em ji ber lepn wan (xelas bn).
c) Answer the questions according to the fable. Note that the questions are proposing something
wrong according to the fable. Try to write the correct answer.
1. Ker di gund xwe de xwehal (happy) e?
Ne, Ker di gund xwe de ne xwehal e. Ker d ji xelk bzar bye.
2. Gelo ker di r de cara pn rast kikek hatiye?
.
3. Gelo ker bi ten ber bi iy ve ye?
.
4. Gelo di r de dk bang daye (sing out), lewma gur bi wan hesiyane?
.
5. Dema gur nzk ker heywann din bye gelo heywan revne?
.
6. Gelo gur her pnc heywan xwarine?
.
7. Gelo gur sax peyt vegeriyaye cem hevaln xwe?
.
8. Dawiy, hem gur kfxwe bne hem bi hev re ne ser heywanan?
.
2. Peyv / Vocabulary
beran m.
bizin f.
lek f.
ik/ccik m.
dk m.
ga m.
gur m.
hesp m.
hir m.
ker m.
kvrk/krguh f.
kew
ks/kso m.
mar m.
mas
m m.
meymn
m f.
mirk f.
mik
pisk
rov m.
se/kik m.
r m.
ram
goat
cow
bird
cockerel, rooster
ox
wolf
horse
bear
donkey
rabbit
partridge
turtle
snake
fish
bee
monkey
sheep
chicken
mouse
cat
fox
dog
lion
ale f.
bihok f.
tfireng f.
findiq f.
glaz f.
gz f.
hjr f.
hinar f.
hirm f.
lmon f.
mz f.
porteqal f.
sv f.
tir m.
t f.
xox m.
zebe m.
pamdor/bacan/firing
gizr f.
bber f.
kartol f.
pvaz f.
xiyar f.
plum
quince
strawberry
hazelnut
cherry
walnut
fig
pomegranate
pear
lemon
banana
orange
apple
grape
mulberry
peach
watermelon
tomato
carrot
pepper
potato
onion
cucumber
Hesp lek heywann ked ne.

Horse and cows are domestic animals.
Lavn heta hing qet t nexwaribn.

Lavn had not eaten mulberries up to then.
Kew di nav kurdan de pir girng e.

The partridge is very important among the
Kurds.
Alan w roj li nav rl hirek dtib.
Alan had seen a bear that day in the forest.
Ez nikarim bbern tj bixwim.

I can not eat hot peppers.
Gur ketibn nava keriy wan deh m bizinn

wan xwaribn.
The wolves had raided in their herd and had
eaten ten sheeps and goats.
Li Kurdistan ji gz bigire heta hjr gelek cure

mwe digihjin.
In Kurdistan from walnut to figs many kinds of fruits
are grown.
Zebe Diyarbekir li hem Kurdistan navdar e.
The watermelon of Diyarbekir is famous all around
Kurdistan.
Navn Ajalan (Heywanan)/Animals
Mwe Sebze/Fruits and Vegetables
Grammar 8
A) Present Perfect Tense
In Kurmanji present perfect tense is used to express an event that has taken place in the past and its effect is
related to the present situation. In this sense it can be compared to the present perfect tense in English. But
it is also often used for the narration of the traditional tales, fables etc. as in the above text. As for the
formation of the verbs in the present perfect tense, it changes in intransitive and transitive verbs.

Consider first the present perfect tense forms of the intransitive verbs ketin fall and nivistin to sleep:
Ez ji dar ketime. I have fallen from the tree. Ez duh ev z nivistime.I fell asleep early last night.
Tu ji dar ketiy.
Tu duh ev z nivistiy.
Ew ji dar ketiye.
Ew duh ev z nivistiye.
Em ji dar ketine.
Em duh ev z nivistine.
Hn ji dar ketine.
Hn duh ev z nivistine.
Ew ji dar ketine.
Ew duh ev z nivistine.
The above sentences can be expressed in simple past tense as well but when they are expressed in present
perfect tense either:
(a) the event is related to present as in:
A- Ekrem ima ro pir westiyay xuya dike? Why does Ekrem seem very tired today?
B- Ew duh ev dereng nivistiye. He has slept late last night?
(b) an event or story is narrated as in:
Rojek ks rov li ser riyek rast hev hatine. Roviy ji ksiy re gotiye
One day the turtle and the fox ran into each other on the way. The fox told the turtle that
(c) the speaker is not the witness of the event; s/he narrates a hearsay as in:
A- Mrza ima ro nehatiye dibistan? Why has not Mrza come to school today?
B- Dayika w got ku ew duh ji dar ketiye. His mother said that he has fallen from the tree yesterday?
As for the form of present perfect tense, we had learned how to derive the past stems of the verbs to
conjugate them in the simple past tense in the previous lesson; for present perfect tense of intransitive
verbs, as it is seen above, we again add a set of personal endings to the past tense stems of the verbs. The
personal endings, in bold type in the examples above, are shown in the chart below:
After a vowel
Ez me
Em ne
Tu ye
Hn ne
Ew --ye
Ew ne
After a consonant
Ez ime
Em ine
Tu iye
Hn ine
Ew iye
Ew ine
Some examples of present perfect tense of some intransitive verbs:

n
Ez heta niha s caran me Mehabad. I have been to Mehabad three times.

axaftin axaft
Mamoste di civn de ba axaftiye. The teacher has spoken well in the meeting.
nivistin nivist
Di w navber de du saetan nivistine. They slept two hours during that while.
hatin
hat
Ker di r de rast roviyek hatiye. The donkey has run into a fox on the way.
ketin
ket
Te dizanib ku kur wan ji dar ketiye xwar? Have you known that their son has
fallen from the tree?
kenn
ken
W ev heta sibeh ji xwe re suhbet kirine kenne. That night they have
chatted and laughed until morning.
bn
b
Li van bajarn mezin em winda bne. We have been lost in these big cities.
The present perfect tense of transitive verbs in Kurmanji works exactly in the same way as it is with their
simple past tense forms, except for the personal endings. In this sense, keeping stable all other rules related
to simple past tense, we should simply replace the simple past tense personal endings with the present
perfect tense personal endings. Thus, there are three major changes in the present perfect tense transitive
sentences that must be learned:
First, the same set of personal endings is added to the past stem as we learned above. But the personal
endings do NOT refer to the subject, but the OBJECT.
Second, the SUBJECT goes into the Oblique case.
Consider the following examples, noting these two differences: the oblique case of the subject pronouns,
and the ending of the verb:
Min helbestek xwendiye. I have read a poem

Te helbestek xwendiye.
W helbestek xwendiye.
Me helbestek xwendiye.
We helbestek xwendiye.
Wan helbestek xwendiye.
Min ew dtiye.
Te ew dtiye.
W/w ew dtiye.
Me ew dtiye.
We ew dtiye.
Wan ew dtiye.
I have seen him/her

You have seen him/her.
He/she has seen him/her.
We have seen him/her.
You have seen him/her.
They have seen him/her.
As it is seen, the verb forms are in the form for the third person singular (which is past stem+iye), because
the object in all sentences is third person singular (a poem, or him/her).
The differences between present perfect tense of intransitive and transitive verbs are summed up below:
Intransitive
Transitive
Case of subject
Absolute
Oblique
Case of object
Absolute
Person endings on verb Agrees with subject
Agrees with object
Check the below examples with different
principles.
a) W ez dtime. She has seen me.
W tu dtiy. She has seen you.
W ew dtiye. She has seen him/her.
objects and pay attention to the application of the above

W em dtine. She has seen us.
W hn dtine. She has seen you (pl.).
W ew dtine. She has seen them.
b) Min ro s piyaln av vexwarine.

Te end pirtkn kurd xwendine heta niha?
Avestay gelek pirtkn kurd ap kirine.
Xanzad em duh di konser de dtine.
Her wiha w gelek nivs di kovara
Hawar de weandine.
I have drunk three glasses of water today.

How many books in Kurdish have you read up to now?
Avesta has published many books in Kurdish.
Xanzad has seen us in the concert yesterday.
Also, he has published a lot of articles in
the Hawar magazine.

For yielding the negative form, all other rules being the same, the negative marker ne- is prefixed, as in:
Min ro nan nexwariye.
I have not eaten today.
Ew hat l zarok bi xwe re neanne. He came but he has not brought the children with him.
Xezal hj ez ferq nekirime.
Xezal has not noticed me yet.
Ev mehek e gundiyan zeviyn xwe av nedane. It is one month that the villagers have not watered
their fields.
Ders dest p kiriye, l agirt hj neketine sinifn xwe. The lesson has started but the students have
not entered into their classes yet.
B) Past Perfect Tense (or Pluperfect)
Past perfect tense in Kurmanji functions just as the past perfect tense in English. In this sense, it is used to
express an event or situation in the past preceding another past event or situation. Thus, for expressions
such as we had eaten (me xwarib) they had left (ew derketibn) past perfect tense is used in Kurmanji.
Moreover, past perfect tense works, as all other tenses in Kurmanji, in different ways with intransitive and
transitive verbs.
Consider first the simple past tense forms of the intransitive verbs axaftin speak and man stay:
Ez ligel w axaftibm. I had talked to him.
Ez li wir mabm. I had stayed there.
Tu ligel w axaftiby.
Tu li wir maby.
Ew ligel w axaftib.
Ew li wir mab.
Em ligel w axaftibn.
Em li wir mabn.
Hn ligel w axaftibn.
Hn li wir mabn.
Ew ligel w axaftibn.
Ew li wir mabn.
The past perfect tense is formed by (1) the past stem+(2) past tense form of bn to be. In the past stems
ending with a consonant, such as axaftin-axaft in the above examples, i is inserted between the past stem
and the past tense form of bn.
Some examples to past perfect tense of some intransitive verbs:
Ez w roj bi qas neh saetan nivistibm.
That day I had slept more or less nine hours.
Ma tu par by Lali?
Had you been to Lali last year?
Xell bi halek xerab vegeriyab mal.
Xell had returned home in a bad situation.
Di qezay de bi ten tiliyeke w ikestib.
In the accident only one of his fingers had broken.
Em hj n ji mal derketibn ku telefona min l da. We had just gone out of the house that my phone rang.
Past perfect tense of the transitive verbs are formed in the same way with the intransitive verbs, that is past
stem+past tense form of the bn; however, as it is with the other past tenses, the subject goes into oblique
case and the verb agrees with the object. Note that in the below examples the verb is conjugated according
to the same object (nan) so regardless of the different subjects the verb is in the same form.
Min nan xwarib. I had eaten.
Me nan xwarib.
We had eaten.
Te nan xwarib.
You had eaten.
We nan xwarib.
You had eaten.
W nan xwarib.
She had eaten.
Wan nan xwarib. They had eaten
Note the changes in the conjugation of the verbs according to different objects in the below examples:
Di qada Newroz de gelek mirov kom bibn. A lot of people had gathered in Newroz field.
Dema ez gihitime mal wan ay vexwarib. When I arrived at home they had (already) drank tea.
We ew pirtk bi hev re kirbn? Had you bought those books together?
Zlan Kerem li dibistan nas kirib. Zlan had got acquianted with Kerem in the school.
Xurd duh tu li bazar dtiby. Xurd had seen you in the market place yesterday.
Bab min em ligel xwe nebiribn dukan. My father had not taken us to the shop (together with himself).
For the negative forms of the verbs the negative marker ne- is prefixed as in:
Min marek ewqas mezin qet nedtib. I had not seen a snake as big as that.
W ev w em venexwendibn v.
He had not invited us to dinner that night.
W roj tu kes sparteya xwe nekirib l mamoste h hrs nebib.
Nobody had done his homework but the teacher was not annoyed at all.
Wordlist
avtib
axaftin f.
axir
bal f.
bar m.
bavo
bbhn
bhn dikirin
beran m.
berdan
ber v
he had thrown Beyday killa mal avtib nav deryay Beyda had
thrown the key of the house into the sea (3 sg. past perfect tense for
the verb avtin to throw)
speech, talk
in conclusion, at the end
attention (bal kiandin: to attract attention)
load (bar kirin: to load)
father (vocative case, which means direct address) (it has also a
general usage for a specific father similar to bav min my father)
out of breath (b: without, out; bhn: breath)
they were smelling gurn bir hestiyn li ser berf bhn dikirin the
hungry wolves were smelling the bones on the snow (3 pl. past
continuous tense for the verb bhn kirin to smell)
ram
to leave, to release, to set free
before dinner (ber: before; v f.: dinner)

bxwed
bzar bn
ber bi iy ve
bi carek de
bi hev re
bihstin syn. seh kirin
bilind kirin
birayo
bizanim
bizirrim
ak m.
rok f.
civandin
iy m.
da ku
danbn
day
de here
delaliyn min
dendik
dest p kirin
dev m.
dever f. syn. cih
di r de
dk m.
domandin
ale
gel hevalan
gor f.
gotin
gur m.
heb tuneb
hejmartin
helbet
hema
hemyan
her du
her xirab
heta
hew
ownerless (b: without, less; xwed also xwedan: owner)

to get fed up with, to be tired of
towards the mountain (ber bi ve: towards somewhere)
at once
together
to hear, to perceive
to raise
brother (vocative case, direct address) (o and yo are the vocative
case markers for masculine nouns as in bav+o; xal+o; heyran+o)
that I know, I should know etc. ez dixwazim rastiya meseley
bizanim I want to know the truth about (lit. of) the issue (1sg.
subjunctive form for the verb zann to know)
that I bray, I should bray etc. ker dibje div ez bizirrim The donkey
says that I need to bray (1 sg. subjunctive form for the verb zirrn to
bray)
Hammer
Story
...gathered them dapr zarok li dora xwe civandin da ku ji wan re
rokek bje The grandmother gathered the children around herself
to tell them a story. (3 pl. of the simple past tense for the verb
civandin to gather)
mountain, (also iyay; in oblique case)
so that, so as to
...had put them El kitbn xwe danbn ser masey Ali had put his
books on the table. (3 pl. of the past perfect tense for the verb dann
to put, to leave)
Mother ( vocative case) ( and y are the vocative case markers for
feminine nouns as in yar+; xuk+; dayik+)
let you go
my dears
the seed
to begin, start; they began (saet het dest bi leystin kirin They
started playing at eight )
mouth
region
on the way
cock
to continue
plum
oh friends (gel is a plural adress form (vocative) with the same
function with (i)no as in heval-ino, bira-no)
grave
to say; word, saying
wolf
once upon a time (lit. there was (and) there was not)
to count
of course
thus
all of them (in the oblique case)
both
the worst (her + adj is the superlative form of the adjectives as in
pirsa her zehmet, dersa her hsan, xaniy her mezin the most
difficult question, the easiest lesson, the biggest house)
until
no longer

hitin
ho kero
j
ji ber
ji hev re
ji nik ve
ka
kf f.
kefen m.
km
kenbn
ker m.
kes m.f.
(bila) kes w nebne
kvrk/kvrok f.
kirbn
kirin nava titek
kirine nekirine
kola
law m. syn. kur
lawir/rawir m. syn.
heywan
lep
li dora
loma also lewma
ma
mal ava
maye
mr m.
meraq kirin
mrg f.
mrik m.
mwe f.syn. fk
mezin ant. bik
neba syn. xerab
nebiriye
nzik ant. dr
nvmir
parve kirin
pencere
qayil bn
qet syn. h
qewm
10
to leave
oh donkey
from him/her
because of
to each other
suddenly
attention-getting particle (ka ez l binrim awa ye now let me have
a look at it to see how it is)
enjoy, joy (kf hatin: to be happy)
shroud
few; little; lacking
we, you, they had laughed em bi henekn w pir kenbn We had
laughed a lot at his jokes (pl. of the past perfect tense for the verb
kenn to laugh)
Donkey
person (when used with a negative predicate it means anybody)
lit. may anybody do not see him
Rabbit
we, you, they had bought Xezal du klo bacan du klo j porteqal
kirbn Xezal had bought two kilos of tomatoes and two of oranges.
(pl. of the past perfect tense for the verb kirn to buy)
to put into something
whatever they have done; no matter what they have done
dug it Ev baxe hem min bi ten kola I dug the whole garden on
myself. (3 sg. of the simple past tense for the verb kolan to dig)
lad, son
animal
claw
around (smt.) (li dora mal around the house)
therefore, for this reason
interrogative particle (ma tu nay bi me re? are not you coming with
us?)
(1) thank you; (2) hey! (an expression used at the beginning of a
contrasting statement)
it remains, it is left di sarinc de bi ten hinek penr maye. There is
only some cheese left in the fridge. (3 sg. of the present perfect tense
for the verb man to remain)
husband, man
to wonder
meadow
man
fruit
big
bad (nenot +ba good)
has not taken it Sdar swana xwe bi xwe re nebiriye ro Sdar
has not taken his umbrella today. (3 sg. negative of the present
perfect tense for the verb birin to take)
close
half-dead
to share
window
to be content, to be convinced
never
race, people

qriyan
rahitin
rast yek hatin
revne
rezl bn
rov m.
r m.
sebze m.
seh kirin
idandin
ikir
st m.
v m.
sor bib
tas
tirs
titek
wiha
weke
xal m.
xeber m.
(ji titek/kesek) xelas
bn
xirabtir
xistin
xwn f.
yasn f.
yek ji wan
zeft kirin
zer bn
11
to scream
to pick
to come across smb., encounter, meet
they have escaped dema gur dtine hem bi hev re revne.. Upon
seeing the wolf they all have escaped. (3 pl. of the present perfect
tense for the verb revn to escape, to flee)
to get into a desperate situation
fox
face
vegetable
to hear, to realize
to press
thank (God)
neck
dinner
he had blushed ji ber nexweiy reng w sor bb. He had blushed
because of the illness (3 sg. of the past perfect tense for the verb sor
bn to blush, to redden)
bowl
fear (tirsn: to fear)
something (anything when used with a negative predicate)
thus, such, like this
like, as
(1) uncle (mothers brother); (2) dot, point
news
to get rid of something or somebody
worse (xirab+tir: tir is the comparision particle as in mezin+tir
bigger; ba+tir better; re+tir darker
to drop, to beat
blood
the name of a sura in the Koran recited when somebody is about to
die
one of them (one is masculine and in oblique)
to capture
to become yellow
LESSON 9
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will repeat some of the verb forms you have learned, and find a brief introduction to
two new verb forms: the past perfect (or pluperfect) tense, and the passive voice. At the end of this
lesson you will:
be more fluent in the use of different verb forms
be able to formulate passive sentences in the commonest tenses
practice the pluperfect tense
be able to use some common expressions related to the preparation of foods
1. Text: A short excerpt from the novel Siyabend Xec

This novel was written by Zeynelabidn Zinar and published in 1992 by Pencnar publishers
in Stockholm. It is an attempt to adapt one of the most famous Kurdish legends, that of
Siyabend Xec, into the form of a novel. This short passage has been slightly modified
compared to the original work. The main character, Siyabend, is spending the night in a
bleak and lonely place alone. He has crawled into a thicket (bushes, in Kurdish dev (f.) and
is trying to sleep, but he cannot fall sleep. He keeps hearing a voice (deng), but cannot see
where it is coming from.
Siyabend ji nava w deviy rab kete nava deviyeke din xwe dirj kir ku rakeve, l kir
nekir di xewa w nehat. Er hj di xew re neb, dsa ew deng ber hat guhn w; mna ku
yek bang w bike. Rab ser lingan li der dora xwe nihr; l tu tit nedt, dsa xwe li erd
dirj kir. Dsa ew deng bihst; gava kir ku rabe ser lingan, dt ku zilamek li ber lingn w
sekiniye. Dema Siyabend ew dt, hinek tirsiya. Pa li zilam nihr; l ev tar b, ji ber v
hind titek j dernexist. Di w navber de qederek bihur, zilam ev got:
-Siyabend min. Metirse! Ez Xocey Xizir im qasid Xwed me, ji bo alkariya te hatime
vir. Xwed sozek daye te ku tu bi destn mirovan neyy kutin.
Zilam ev trek kevanek dan Siyabend, dsa li axaftina xwe domand:
-Ha ji te re! Xwed ev tr kevan ji bo te wek diyar hinartine. L rabe, ji v welat here! Ev
welat d ji te re nabe war! [...]
Werger / Translation
Siyabend stood up from that bush, went into another bush and lay down so that he could
sleep but whatever he did, he could not sleep. No (lit. yes), he had not fallen asleep yet, when
he heard the same voice (lit. that former voice came to his ears) as if it called him. He stood
up (on his legs), wandered around but did not see anything, (and then) he lay down again. He
heard that voice again; when he was about (lit. when he did) to stand up, he saw that a man
was standing in front of his feet (lit. legs). When Siyabend saw him, he got a bit afraid. Then
he looked at the man, but the night was dark so he could not notice anything. Meanwhile,
some time passed and the man of the night said:
-Dear Siyabend (lit. My Siyabend). Do not be afraid! I am Hodja Xizir and I am a
messenger of God and I came to help you. God gave a promise to you that you will not be
killed by a human being.
The man of the night gave a bow and arrow and then continued his speech again:
- Here you are. God sent this bow and arrow for you as a gift but get up and leave this
country!
This country cant be home for you anymore! [...]
1.1. Exercise
a) Read the text above and answer the questions below.
1. Siyabend i bihst?
2. Zilam ev ima hatiye?
3. Zilam ev i dan Siyabend?
4. Xwed i soz da Siyabend?

5. Li gor we, Zilam ev ima ji Siyabend xwest ku ew bie welatek din?
b) The following verb forms are taken from the text. Identify the infinitive form of these verb
forms, and write which form they are in (check back to the preceding lessons if you are not
sure!). The first ones are done for you:
Conjugated
Infinitive
Meaning
rab
rabn
simple past verb form get up
simple past verb form go
ket(e)
ketin
kir
kirin
this is the simple past verb form plus a suffix -e often used with
verbs
denoting direction, here therefore: go into, enter (literally fall)
simple past verb form do
rakeve
raketin
present subjunctive verb form fall asleep
nehat
bike
geriya
nedt
bihst
rabe
sekiniye
hatiye
dernexist
Metirse! /this
could also be:
netirse!/
hatime
neyy kutin
(go
to
the
grammar part
below)
domand
here/bie
rabe
hatin
kirin
gern
dtin
bihstin
rabn
sekinn
hatin
derxistin
tirsn
negative form of simple past verb 'come'
negative form of simple past verb 'see'
negative form of simple past verb ' '
hatin
hatin kutin
domandin
yn
rabn
Grammar / Rziman 9
A) The Passive Voice
When we use transitive verbs, we can express events and activities involving two things or people.
The simplest way of using such verbs is called the active voice: the doer of the action is the subject,
and the thing that is done, or that is affected, is the object:
Ez xwarinek dikim.
I (subject) am making a meal (object).
Siyabend pirtkek dixwne.
Siyabend (subject) is reading a book (object)
However, we can also make sentences using the so-called passive voice, a particular sentence type
using a special form of the verb. In the passive voice, we are only interested in hearing about the
person or thing that has been affected, or had something done to it (for example, the meal, or the
book in the above sentences).
To make the passive voice in Kurmanji, we take a form of the verb hatin come and combine it
with the infinitive of the verb we wish to use:
ACTVE
Ez xwarinek dikim
Siyabend pirtkek dixwne
PASSVE
Xwarinek t kirin.
Pirtkek t xwendin.
A meal is being made

A book is being read
In the passive voice, the old object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive one.
That means that the oblique case marker (- in the above examples) is not needed. The old subject,
on the other hand, is normally simply dropped from the sentence.
The auxiliary verb hatin can be conjugated in all persons and tenses. In the above examples, it is
the third person of the present tense. The infinitive form of the main verb, on the other hand,
always stays the same. The above examples in the simple past tense would be:
PASSVE, PRESENT TENSE
Xwarinek t kirin.
Pirtkek t xwendin.
PASSVE, SMPLE PAST TENSE

Xwarinek hat kirin.
Pirtkek hat xwendin.
As for the negative form of passive construction, we simply negate the helping verb hatin in the
same way as it is normally negated. But recall the negative form of hatin in the present tense.
Some examples in all persons in the most familiar tenses and moods are given below:
Simple Present Tense
(I am/will be known= recognised)
Ez tm nasn
Em tn nasn
Tu ty nasn
Hn tn nasn
Ew t nasn
Ew tn nasn
(I am not/will not be known=recognised)

Ez naym nasn
Em nayn nasn
Tu nayy nasn
Hn nayn nasn
Ew nay nasn
Ew nayn nasn
Present Subjunctive
(that I be known= recognised)
Ez bm nasn
Em bn nasn
Tu by nasn
Hn bn nasn
Ew b nasn
Ew bn nasn
(that I be not known)

Ez neym nasn
Tu neyy nasn
Ew ney nasn
Simple Past Tense

(I was known= recognised)
Ez hatim nasn
Em hatin nasn
Tu hat nasn
Hn hatin nasn
Ew hat nasn
Ew hatin nasn
Present Perfect Tense
(I have been known= recognised)
Ez hatime nasn Em hatine nasn
Tu hatiy nasn
Hn hatine nasn
Ew hatiye nasn
Ew hatine nasn
Em neyn nasn
Hn neyn nasn
Ew neyn nasn
(I was not known= recognised)

Ez nehatim nasn
Em nehatin nasn
Tu nehat nasn
Hn nehatin nasn
Ew nehat nasn
Ew nehatin nasn
Past Perfect Tense

(I had been known= recognised)
Ez hatibm nasn
Em hatibn nasn
Tu hatiby nasn
Hn hatibn nasn
Ew hatib nasn
Ew hatibn nasn
(I have not been known= recognised)

Ez nehatime nasn
Em nehatine nasn
Tu nehatiy nasn
Hn nehatine nasn
Ew nehatiye nasn
Ew nehatine nasn
(I had not been known= recognised)
Ez nehatibm nasn Em nehatibn nasn
Tu nehatiby nasn Hn nehatibn nasn
Ew nehatib nasn
Ew nehatibn nasn
It is possible to express the doer of the action by using a complex circumposition ji aliy............ve in
front of the helping verb. This is really only used in more formal styles of written Kurdish; it is not part
of normal everyday speech.
Du romann n ji aliy Ensttuya Kurd ya Stenbol ve hatin wergerandin weandin.
Two new novels have been translated and published by Istanbul Kurdish Institute.
Lstika bi nav Rojnivska Dnek ji aliy Gogol ve hatiye nivsandin.
The play named Diary of a Madman was written by Gogol.
Div mirov bibje ku di destpk de thamn wiha ji aliy piraniya mirovan ve j dihatin
qeblkirin.
It should be said that in the begining such claims were being accepted by most of the people.
Exercise
Change the active sentences below into passive sentences.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Mirov bi ev biryan naxwin.

d mirov cil bergan bi ciloyan dion.
Heval nameyan ji hev re dinin.
Kurd piran ay vedixwin.
Li Tirkiyey mirov zde kovaran naxwnin.
Em her roj li mal xwarin dikin.
Biryan bi ev nay xwarin.

............................................
............................................
............................................
............................................
............................................
Wordlist
alkar f. also arkar
an / yan
ango
axaftin
bang (- yek) kirin
bbext f.
ber
bi
bihst
bihur
bike
biryan f.
ilo also awa, ito
dan
daye
di.de
dema
deng m.
dernexist
dest m.
dev f.
dew m.
dike
din
dirj
dsa
help
or
in another term, namely
to speak
to call (smb.), (bang: message)
treachery, mercilessness
before
with, by, (bi is a preposition which functions as the initial particle of
many circumpositions. Ex. Ez bi te re me. I am with you.)
heard it Siyabend dengek bihst. Siyabend heard a voice (3rd prs.
sng. past simple form for the verb bihstin to hear)
he/she passed Siyabend di ber mala me re bihur. Siyabend passed
by our house (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb bihurn to
pass by)
do! Wan kartol balcanan sor bike ji bo v. Fry those potatoes
and aubergines for dinner (imperative form for the verb kirin to do)
a traditional kurdish dish with meat
how
to give
have/has given it Siyabend hesp xwe daye qaaxiyan. Siyabend
has given his horse to smugglers. (3rd prs. sng. present perfect of the
verb dan to give)
in, at (di is a preposition used together with the postposition de ) di
rok de in the story
when
voice
did not take it out Siyabend r xwe dernexist. Siyabend didnt
take out his sword (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb
derxistin to take out) (t derxistin (as in the text): to understand, to
notice)
hand
bush
airan (a cold drink made of youghurt, in India called lassi, in Iran
dugh)
he/she does Evn i kar dike. What does Evn do? (3rd prs. sng.
form of the simple present tense for the verb kirin to do)
other
long, tall
again

dt
diyar f.
domand
d
erd m.
er
ev
fikar f.
firotin
gava
geriya
giran
girtin
got m.
got
gram
guh
hat
hatime
hatiye
hawrdor syn. der dor
f.
hj
here
hev also hevdu or hev
din
hinartine
hinek also hindek
sot f.
j
ji
kete
kevan f.
kevanek
klo f.
kir
kir nekir
ku
saw it Siyabend zilamek dt. Siyabend saw a man (3rd prs. sng.
past simple form for the verb dtin to see)
gift
continued it Siyabend mea xwe domand. Siyabend continued his
walk (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb domandin to
continue)
anymore, no longer
land
yes
this
concern
to sell
when
he/she wandered Siyabend li ber mala w geriya. Siyabend
wandered around her home (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the
verb gern/geriyan to wander around)
heavy, expensive
to grasp, to take, to hold
meat
said it Zilam ev got. The man of the nigh said (3rd prs. sng. past
simple form for the verb gotin to say)
gram
ear
he/she came Zilam hate nik Siyabend. The man came near
Siyabend (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb hatin to come)
I have come Ez hatime suhbeta we. I have come to your talk (1st prs.
sng. present perfect form for the verb hatin to come)
he/she has come Zilam hatiye nik Siyabend. The man has come
near Siyabend (3rd prs. sng. present perfect form for the verb hatin to
come)
environment, aroundhood
still
go Here mala biray min.Go to my brothers home (imperative
form for the verb n to go)
each other (Ex: Herdu hevalan bi hesret hev hembz kirin. The two
friends embraced each other passionately.
have/has sent them Wan end diyar hinartine bo me. They have
sent some gifts for us (3rd prs. pl. present perfect form for the verb
hinartin to send)
some
hot pepper
from him/her
from
he/she fell down Siyabend kete nav brek. Siyabend fell down in a
well (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb ketin to fall down)
bow
a bow
kilo
made it Siyabend daxwazek kir. Siyabend made a wish (3rd prs.
sng. past simple form for the verb kirin to do/ make)
whatever he/she did.
ku has many different functions in Kurdish, which cannot all be
covered here. An easy way to begin to underestand ku is to translate it
with English that, which also has many different functions. The most
important uses of ku are the following: (1) It introduces a relative
clause, as in jinika ku hat li vir the woman who/that came here, (2)
kutin
l
li
metirse!
mna
mirov
mirovan
nabe
nav
nay
neb
nedt
nehat
nekir
nihr also nr
neyy also ney
ling m.
nvro f.
p
pa also pit re
qasid
qederek f.
rab
rakeve
rehet
salete f.
sed
sekiniye
ser
ev f.
sv f.
evan
sibeh also sib f.
It introduces complement clauses, as in: gava dt ku zilamek li ber

lingn w sekiniye (he) he saw that a man was standing in front of
his feet; (3) It introduces purpose clauses: kir ku rabe ser lingan (he)
intended (lit. did) so that he would get up / he was about to get up.
to kill
but, however
in
dont be afraid!
like, as
person, human being
plural onlique form of mirov
it does not become Ev welat d ji te re nabe war! This country cant
be home for you anymore! (3rd. pr. sng. form of the simple present
tense for the verb bn to be)
inside
he/she does not come Siyabend nay daweta me. Siyabend is not
coming to our invitation (3rd prs. sng. simple present tense form for
the verb hatin to come)
he/she had not gone Siyabend neb daweta wan. Siyabend had
not gone to their invitation (3rd prs. sng. past perfect tense form for
the verb n to go)
did not see him/her/it Siyabend tu tit nedt. Siyabend didnt see
anything (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb dtin to see)
he/she did not come Siyabend nehat daweta me. Siyabend didnt
come to our invitation (3rd prs. sng. simple past tense form for the
verb hatin to come)
did not do it Siyabend tu tit nekir. Siyabend didnt do anything
(3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb kirin to do/ make)
looked at him/her/it Siyabend li zilam nihr. Siyabend looked at
the man (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb nihrn to look
at)
if etc. you dont come Div tu li vir pir hiyar b da ku neyy
xapandin. You should be very careful here not to be deceived. (2nd
pr. sngl. form of the present subjunctive form for the verb hatin to
come; the same verb is used in forming passive forms as in the
example above.)
leg, foot
noon
with her/him or smth/smb (it is a contracted form of bi w/w)
then, later on
envoy
for a time
he/she stood up Siyabend rab ser piyan. Siyabend stood up (3rd
prs. sng. past simple form for the verb rabn to stand up)
sleep! Bi ev z rakeve da ku sibeh z rab. Sleep early in the night
so that you get up early in the morning. (2nd pr. sngl. imperative form
for the verb raketin to sleep)
comfortable, easy
salad
hundred
he/she has stopped Siyabend li ber der sekiniye. Siyabend has
stoopped in front of the door (3rd prs. sng. present perfect form for
the verb sekinn to stop, to stay)
on, over
night
apple
at nights
morning, in the morning

sozek
tar f.
te
t
tn
ten also bi ten
tr kirin
tr f.
trek
tir m.
tirsiya
v
v
vira
wa
war m.
welat m.
welat
w
wisa also wesa
xwarin
Xwed
yek
yek
zilam m.
zilamek
a promise
dark, darkness
you (in oblique case)
he/she comes Siyabend ji gund t. Siyabend is coming from the
village (3rd prs. sng. simple present form for the verb hatin to come)
they come Gund ji mizgeft tn. The villagers are coming from the
mosque (3rd prs. pl. simple present form for the verb hatin to come)
alone, only
yo be enough (Ew xwarin tra min dike This food will be enough for
me)
arrow
an arrow
pickles
he/she was afraid Siyabend ji zilam tirsiya. Siyabend was afraid of
the man (3rd prs. sng. past simple form for the verb tirsn/tirsiyan to
be afraid of)
oblique form of ev this (feminine)
oblique form of ev this (masculine)
here
here
place, land
country
citizen
oblique form of ew he
like that, in that way
to eat, food
God
one of them (one is feminine and in oblique)
one of them (one is masculine and in oblique)
man
a man
Extra material for all interested (not included in the examination)

Lkern tkildar xwarin xwarin-kirin /
Verbs related to foods and preparing meals
qelatin
sor kirin
qijilandin
biratin
pehtin
qelandin
kelandin
qewartin
sar kirin
xw p werkirin
sotin/ewitandin
to slice
to fry
to fry
to grill
to cook
to roast
to boil
to hollow out
to cool
to salt
to burn
Xwarinn Tat
penr
mast
hingivn
r
xoav
jaj
xiyar
tamates/bacan
zeytn
ral
nivk
hkn keland
cheese
yoghurt
honey
milk
compote
a kind of soft cheese
cucumber
tomates
olives
jam
butter
boiled egg
Hindek xwarin vexwarinn sereke / some essential food and

beverages
salete
got
nsk
birinc
fasliye
savar
mas
ay
qehwe
dew
salad
meat
lentil
rice
bean
dried crushed wheat
fish
tea
coffe
airan (a drink consisting of yoghurt and water, Indian: lassi)
88
LESSON 10
INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will have an opportunity to practice the things you have learned by working on a
selection of genuine Kurdish texts. We have attempted to select texts from fairly typical genres,
and provide translations and notes to the texts as well as complementary exercises for each of
them. The texts we have chosen include a contemporary short story from Firat Cewer, a poem
from Berken Bereh and a folk tale.
In addition, we would like to draw your attention to the website:
http://www.dibistanakurdi.com/index.php
a Swedish-based website with a lot of very useful resources for learning Kurdish. Under the menu
rok (story) you will find some short traditional texts which can also be listened to (you will
need Flash player on your computer). For this lesson you will need to listen to the the story Pr
Rov first (The old lady and the fox) on the following link:
http://www.dibistanakurdi.com/cirok2004/pire_rovi.htm
Text 1: rok / Short story

end agah li ser nivskar rok
Nivskar v rok, Firat Cewer, di sala 1959an de li gundek Mrdn hatiye dinyay. Ji ser
saln 1980 ve li Swd dij ku li w der wek nivskar, wergr weangerek kurd pir navdar bye. Heta
niha romanek end pirtkn rokan nivsandine her wiha berhemin ji Dostoevsky, Steinbeck, Chechov
Yaar Kemal wergerandine kurd. Bi qas deh salan kovareke edeb ya bi nav Ndem derxistiye. Ji bil
kar xwe y nivskariy, w weanxaneyeke bi nav Ndem j ava kiriye ku bye yek ji girngtirn
serkefttirn weanxaneyn kurd. Ndem, di sala 1998an de bi edtoriya Firat Cewer, koleksiyoneke du
cild ya hem hejmarn kovara Hawar (ya ku di navbera saln 1932 1943an de ap bib) belav kirin. Di
w kovar de birayn Bedirxan rewenbrn din n kurd, bingehn kurmanciya nivsk ya standard
danbn. Berhemeke din a pir girng a Firat Cewer j, amadekirina Antolojiya rokn Kurd (2003, du
cild) ye; ku bguman, firehtirn koleksiyona berdest a edebiyata kurd ye.
roka ku me ji bo v ders bijartiye, li ser adeta kurdan a razana ser banan, ku havnan li
Kurdistan pir berbelav e, hatiye hnandin. Qehreman rok, mirovek ji bajar Kurdistan y Mrdn
ye, ku demeke dirj li Ewrpay jiyaye. Gava ku di nav xeyaln rabirdy de li ser ban xan li esman
strkn ronak temae dike, dingedingek t ji mala cnaran. Nivskar, v rdan bi xuricna strkek ve
girdide.
rok ji pirtka nivskar ya bi nav Kevoka Sp hatiye wergirtin (Swd, Ndem, 1996).
Some information on the writer and the story
The author of this short story, Firat Cewer, was born in 1959 near Mrdn in southeastern
Turkey, quite near the Syrian border. He has been living in Sweden since the early 1980s, where
he has become extremely well known as a Kurdish writer, translator and publisher. He has
written a novel and several collections of short stories and has also translated works of
Dostoevsky, Steinbeck, Chechov and Yaar Kemal into Kurdish. He directed a litarary magazine
called Ndem for about ten years. Apart from his work as a writer, he has also established the
publishing company Ndem as one of the most important and successful Kurdish publishers
world-wide. In 1998 Ndem published a two-volume collection of all the issues of the journal
Hawar (originally published between 1932 and 1943), edited by Firat Cewer. In that journal, the
Bedirxan (Bedirkhan) brothers and other Kurdish intellectuals had laid the foundations for
modern standard written Kurmanji. Another extremely important work of Firat Cewer is the
recent publication of an anthology of Kurdish short stories (Antolojiya rokn Kurd, 2003, two
volumes), undoubtedly the most comprehensive collection of Kurdish literature currently
available.
The story that we have chosen, picks up a culturally very widespread custom in Kurdistan, namely
sleeping on the rooves of houses during the summer. The protagonist of the story is a man from
Mrdn, a city of Kurdistan, who has lived in Europe for a long time and returned home. While he
is deep into the retrospect on the roof of the house looking at the luminious sky and stars, there
comes a noise from the neighbours which the author relates to the slide of a star on the sky. The
story is taken from his collection of short stories titled as Kevoka Sp (Sweden, Ndem, 1996).
Strkek ji ezman me xuric /A star slid (down) from our sky
(1) Pit bernameyeke televzyon, ez bi After (watching) a TV programme, I climbed the
cangiran ji plekan re derketim jor stairs sluggishly [can=body, soul, spirit;
m ser xn.
giran
heaviness,
lit.
with
bodyheaviness] and went up on (to the roof of) the
house.
(2) Yek ji titn ku min deh salan li One of the things that I had longed for [lit.
Ewrpay hesreta w kiandib j, longing of-it draw] for ten years in Europe,
razana li ser banan b.
was sleeping on the roof [razan-a, razan is the
infinitive from to sleep, the -a is an Izafe]
[ban-a, is the colloqual plural form of ban
roof, whose written standard would be
banan rooves].
(3) Min gelek ji razana li ser bn hez I liked sleeping on the roof very much [bn is
dikir her var hetan nv ev min xwe one of the two singular oblique forms for
li ser nivnn xwe dirj dikir, destn xwe ban; the other and most commonly used
dixistin bin ser xwe min li strkn one being ban] and every evening until midezman welt dinihr.
night I would lie down on my bed, put my hands
under my head and stare at stars of the sky of the
country. [this sentence uses the past
progressive to express past habits, often
translatable as used to ...]
(4) W ev j min wilo kir.
That night also I did like that. [wilo so, in this
manner There are many regional variants
of this word, for example wesa, wisa,
wusa...]
(5) By ku ez kincn xwe ji xwe bikim, Not having taken my clothes off, I lay down on my
min xwe li ser nivnn xwe dirj kir, bed, put my hands under my head and looked at
destn xwe xistin bin ser xwe di bin the stars in the sky under the soft and cool
bay payiz y sivik hnik de li strkn autumn wind.
ezmn nihr.
(6) Gelo ber j ezman welt ewend Were there so many stars in the sky of the
bistrk b?
homeland before as well? [lit. was the sky of
the homeland (welt: oblique singular of
welat) with so many stars before also].
(7) iqas strkine xweik in, iqas How lovely stars, how much they were sparking.
diirisn.
(8) Ez di w nav de li Leyla Mecnn At that moment I thought of Leyla Mecnn [a
fikirm, min ew j dtin.
constellation named after the beloved couple
Laila and Majnun], I saw them as well.
(9) Min avn xwe li riya Kadiz gerand, I glanced at the Milky Way, I saw it as well.
min ew j dt.
(10) Min demeke dirj bala xwe berda For a long time I paid attention [the idiomatic
Leyla Mecnn ez li benda expression is bala xwe berdan pay ones
hevramsana wan rawestiyam.
attention to; the basic verb is dan give
with a preverb ber-] to Leyla Mecnn and I
waited for them to kiss [lit. rested in the
expectation of ...].
(11) Min hevramsana wan bidta, min If I had seen them kissing, I would have wished,

ji xwe re titin bixwestana, titin hv
bikirana.
(11) Qet nebe me di zaroktiy de wilo
bawer dikir.
(12) Em heta derengiya ev li benda
hevramsana wan diman em wilo di
xew re din.
(13) Tit ecb, gava ez li wan rojn xwe
yn zaroktiy difikirm, min xwe mna
zarokan hs dikir.
hoped some things [tit+indefinite plural

ending] for myself.
At least we used to believe it like this in
childhood.
We would wait until late at night for them to kiss
[see (10) above) stay in the expectation of
their kiss] and we would fall asleep in that way.
The interesting thing (was that), when I was
thinking of my childhood days [lit. days of own
childhood], I would feel like a child [lit. I
would feel myself like the children].
(14) ewqa strkn ezmn ez dibirim The luminosity of the stars of the sky [ezmn is
saln min yn zaroktiy.
the Oblique singular of ezman] would take
me to my childhood years.
(15) Di saln xwe yn zaroktiy de ez In my childhood days I admired the luminosity of
heyrana ewqa elektrka bajar Mrdn the electricity (lights) of the city of Mrdn.
bm.
(16) Nizanim gelo we tu car bi ev di I wonder, have you ever travelled close to Mrdn
nzk Mrdn re rwt kiriye?
in the night time? [lit. I do not know whether
you have ever travelled close to Mrdn in
the night time?].
(17) ewqa elektrkn bajr wilo germ, The luminosity of the city lights is so warm, so
wilo dostane ye, bajar ewend bilind e ku friendly, the city is so high that you [lit. man]
mirov dibje qey ew bi strkn li ezmn might think that it challenges the stars in the sky.
re qayi dikine.
(18) Ez di xeyalan de kr bm.
I was deep in imagination [lit. I had gone (past
perfect tense, see Lesson 8) deep in
imagination].
(19) Ez li ezman ewqas bilind bstn I was [past perfect of man] surprised at the so
ecbmay mabm.
high and columnless sky.
(20) Di w nav de ne ji deng diya min At that moment, if it was not for my mothers
nebya, belk ez bi saetan ji xeyaln voice, perhaps I would not return from my
xwe venegeriyama jiyana rast.
imagination to the real life for hours.
(21) --- Ma tu firek eqilmast venaxw
Would you not like to drink a sip of buttermilk,
law min?
my son?
(22) Ez bi deng diya xwe veciniqbm, [this sentence is in the past perfect
min ew tasa eqilmst a ko hn qeaya throughout] I was startled by my mothers
w neheliyab ji dest w girtib, end voice, I had taken that bowl of buttermilk whose
gulp j vexwaribn, min pa ew tas glace had not melted from her hand, I had taken
danb ser pirketek li ber ser xwe, min several gulps (sips) from it, than I had put that
dsa xwe li ser pit dirj kirib li bowl on a briquet next to my head, I had lied
ezman b ser bin li strkn bi ewq down on my back again and I had looked at the
ron nihrb.
endless [lit. without top or bottom] sky and
the luminous and shiny stars.
(23) ez wilo di xew re bm.
And I had thus fallen asleep.
(24) L ez nizanim iqas t de b, ez bi However I do not know how much (time) had
deng teqneke ku bdeng kerritiya passed through [lit. in-it had gone, see
prepositions in Lesson 4], I woke up by the
ev irand ve iyar bm.
sound of a blast which tore apart the silence and
stillness of the night.
(25) Bi iyarbn re min dt ku ew strka Upon waking up I saw that the star next to Leyla
li nzk Leyla Mecnn rijiya erd.
Mecnn slid to the Earth.
[...]
[section omitted here]
(26) Sibeh z li mala cran me dengn Early in the morning, at our neighbours house,
llandin epikan dihat.
there was coming the sound of cheering and
applauses.
(27) Min ji diya xwe pirs, w got: I asked my mother and she said: A star slid from
Strkek ji ezman me xuric, keika our sky, our neighbours daughter who was at the
crana me ya berzewac ehd ket.
age of marriage has fallen as a martyr [the verb
is ehid ketin, used generally for people
who die in heroic struggles].
[...]
[section omitted here]
(28) Her ku roj bilindtir dib, dengn As the sun was getting higher, the sound of
llandin epikan zdetir dibn.
cheering and applauses was getting more and
more.
Key expressions from the story.

ji titek/kesek hez kirin:
bala xwe berdan:
li titek ecebmay bn:
xwe dirj kirin:
di xew re n:
iyar bn:
ji kesek pirsn:
li benda kesek/titek man/bn:
like, love something/someone

pay attention to
be amazed at something
lie down, lit. make oneself long
fall asleep, lit. go through sleep
wake up
ask someone ((question)/whether .) (ex: Min ji Zelal
pirs ka mtihana w awa derbas bye.)
to wait for somebody or something
Text 2: Helbest / Poem

Hindek agah li ser helbestvan helbest
Berken Bereh
Berken Bereh di sala 1954an de li irnex hatiye dinyay. Di sala 1978an de dest bi nivsandina bi ziman
kurd kir. Helbestn w yekem car di Trj de, yekem kovara bi kurd li bakur Kurdistan, belav bn. D
re di gelek kovarn kurd de helbest nivsarn w hatine belavkirin. Heta niha s dwann (collection of
poems) w derne: (2001), agirtn Evn (2003) Pandomm (2006).
Ev helbest ji yekem dwana w hatiye wergirtin di v helbest de taybetiyn girng n welat helbestvan
li p in.
Berken Bereh
Berken Bereh was born in Shirnakh (irnex) in 1954. He started to write in Kurdish in 1978. Initially, his
poems appeared in Trj, the first magazine in Kurdish in the north Kurdistan. Afterwards, his poems and
writings were published in many Kurdish magazines. Up to now three poem collections by him have
appeared: (2003), agirtn Evn (2003) and Pandomm (2006).
This poem has been taken from the first poem collections and in this poem some important features of the
poets country are thematized.
Ger hn bixwazin
If you want
(1) Ger hn bixwazin
Binasin jan kovaniy
evek li welat min bibin mvan
If you want [ger=if, also. heke, eger. In each stanza the

present conditional form is used (See lesson 6); in
this sense the first three sentences actually form one
single sentence)]
To get to know pain, sorrow and grief
Be guest one night in my country [bibin mvan, is in imperative
form (see lesson 5)]
(2) Ger hn bixwazin

Binasin mirin
Li baskn qulingn kober binihrin
Bhna ewat t ji wan.
If you want
To get to know the death
Look at the wings of the emigrant cranes
They smell burnt [lit. the smell of burning comes from them]
(3) Ger hn bixwazin

Evn binasin
Taldeya rojhilata dil xwe bipelnin
B awa diteyisin bi ken strk.
If you want
To get to know the love
Look into the nook of the east of your heart
How the stars glare merrily. [b is a particle giving some
emphasis to the word awa; it cannot be readily
translated into English]
If you want
To get to know my country
Open [imperative plural of vekirin] the door of fire and sun
The human-lover pigeon with seven colors [mirov (human being)hez (the verbal element of the complex verb hez kirin to like, to
love); a very frequent way of word formation in Kurdish. Also
in similar forms, welat-parz (patriot), kitb-firo (book-seller),
kef-gr (colander) etc.]
(4) Ger hn bixwazin

Welat min binasin
Vekin deriy agir roj
Kevoka mirovhez a heftreng
D bifire bi we.
D bifire bi we: Will fly to you. [d is th future particle,

see lesson 6; bi we is used to give the meaning of an
action towards a certain direction; in this sense, it is
more common to use it with a postposition, namely
6
in the form of bi we de (towards you). (see lesson 4)]
Key expressions from the poem.

xwestin:
mvan bn:
b awa:
teyisn:
mirovhez:
heftreng:
bhna titek hatin ji
titek/kesek:
to want (the verb following xwestin is always in subjuntcive form as in

bixwazin binasin/ biin/bikirin)
to be a guest (As in the poem the verb can be in the form of bn mvan
also especially in imperative form. Ex: Min j re got were bibe mvan
min.)
how (b functions more like an attention getting particle here, it does
not add substantially to the meaning)
to glare
human-lover; human-friendly (mirov-hez)
seven-coloured (heft-reng)
to smell (lit. the smell of something comes from smt./smb.)
KURDISHENGLISH VOCABULARY
Abbreviations: adj. = adjective; Ar. = Arabic; ccmp. = circumposition; const. =
construct case; demon. = demonstrative; dial. var. = dialectal variant; f = feminine;
impt. = imperative; m = masculine; mil. = military; n.p. = narrative present
(couched in the present tense; past-tense translational value); obl. = oblique; Pers. =
Persian; pl = plural; pron. = pronoun; pres. = present; subj. = subjunctive; Syr. Ar.
= Syrian Arabic; Tk. = Turkish; v.i. = verb intransitive; v.t. = verb transitive (here
transitive means that the past tense is formed on the ergative model, not that the verb
necessarily takes a direct object either in Kurdish or in English); voc. = vocative
*
a = ya; bi ~ in the opinion of: bi a min al1 red
in my opinion
ala = al
abadn eternal
alal tulip
abor economic, financial; f economy; alandin v.t. to twist
~zan economist
alastin als- v.t. to lick
aciz helpless, unable to cope (ji with): ala thatch; ~kir thatched
ez ji kzikan zehf aciz im I am utterly alav f flame
incapable of coping with bugs
alay f troop, regiment
Adar f March
alet m instrument, tool
adet f custom; ~ ordinary
als- alastin
aferde m creature
alfabe f alphabet
afern bravo; ~ ji re good for
alim m scholar
afirandin v.t. to create
al1 m side, part; bi her ~y ve in every
af f poster
direction; dan ~yek v.t. to put aside,
aga aware (li of)
to draw to one side; ji ~yek / ji ~k
agadar f information, announcement;
on the one hand; ji ~y din on the
awareness
other hand; ji ~y ve by (passive
agah = aga
agent), on the part of
agahdar = agadar
al2, ar f help; ~kar helping, helpful;
agir m (obl. gir) fire; ~ dann bi to set
~kar f help, support; ~kar kirin v.t.
fire to
to help: min alkariya w dikir I used
Agir f Ar, in extreme eastern Turkey
to help him
aheng f tune, tone
al3 supreme
ajotin ajo- v.t. to drive (vehicle); to alkar partisan; ~ kirin v.t. to take
pass, last (of time): pir neajotib ku
s.o.s part, be partisan
not much time had passed before, alnegir neutral
v bdangiya han heta sala 1980 ajot Alman German; ~ya f Germany
this silence lasted until the year 1980; aloz scattered, random
~ ser to attack
amade ready; ~ kirin v.t. to make
al1 f flag, banner
ready; xwe ~ kirin f to get oneself
196
KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY
ready
ambelaj f wrapping, packing
Amerka/Amerqa f America; ~y
American
Amda f Amd, a town in Syria near
Qmishl
an or; ~ na or not; anan eitheror
ancax so much
ann v.t. (pres. ind. tnim, neg. naynim;
subj. bnim, neg. subj. neynim) to
bring
anzaz f cleverness
Anteqye f Antakya, Antioch
anuha = niha
ap, apo m paternal uncle
aqil1 m mind, intelligence
aqil2 intelligent
aqbet f end
ard m fuel
ar (dial. var.) = al2
armanc f aim, goal
arm m a sheaf of grain
armxan m gift
arnawid Albanian
arv f archive
art f army
ark m ceiling
arxayn confident
as rugged, steep; ~geh f fortification
as kirin v.t. to catch
aswar untimely
asiman, asman m heaven; ~ heavenly
asmlasiyon f assimilation
asmle assimilated
aso f horizon
asteng m difficult road, rough terrain,
obstacle
asin m (dial. var.) = hesin
aiq in love; ~ bn to be in love
with
ait f peace, truce; ease, comfort
a = ait
atif emotional
av f water; ~ hewa f climate
ava1 built up, prosperous, developed; ~

kirin v.t. to develop; ~ker m developer, founder
ava2 n v.i. to set (of the sun)
avah f building, edifice
avay = avah
avday tempered (steel)
avj- avtin
av f balm
avtin avj- v.t. to throw, throw away,
throw out; lay (foundation); ~a ji text
de dethronement; dest ~ to touch
s.th.
awa f manner, means; bi ~yek somehow; bi w ~y by this means; bi
hem ~y by all/any means
awaz m voice, sound, singing
awir f glance, backward look
awur (dial. var.) = awir
ax1 sigh, ouch; ~ avtin v.t. to say ouch
ax2 f land, earth, dirt; ~a welat homeland; ~a Sriy the land of Syria
axa m (obl ax) agha, feudal lord, master
axaftin axiv- v.i. to speak
axar ???
axil corral
axiftin (dial. var.) = axaftin
axiret f the other world: mirov axiret
an other-worldly person
axn v.i. to cry, to cry out
axpne f patch of ground, field
AY = Ameriqay Yekby USA
azad free; ~ kirin v.t. to set free; ~ f
liberty
azar f anguish; ~ dan v.t. to torment,
vex
azman m sky
b- birin, bn
ba1 m (obl b) wind
ba2 m turn
ba3 (prep.) with, in front of, in the presence of; li ~ with, chez
197
KURMANJI KURDISH
4
ba m rheumatism; ~w rheumatic
babet f regard: di v babet de in this
regard
babo daddy
ba-dan v.t. to turn, twist, wring
baday turned, twisted
bager f snowstorm
bahar = bihar
bahlif f pillow
bajar m (obl bajr) city; ~ m merchant,
citified; ~van citizen, city dweller;
~van urban: jiyana bajarvaniy urban life
Baku f Baku
bakurofe f gust of wind
bakr m north
bal1 f wing, arm
bal2 f attention, mind, thought; ~ kiandin to attract the attention: wneyn
min bala rojname hunermendan
kiandin my pictures attracted the
attention of newspapers and artists;
~dar attentive, discerning; ~drj patient, careful; ~fireh patient, calm;
~k attractive, interesting
balaxane f balcony
balefir m airplane; ~geh airport
balg m pillow
balf = bahlf
ban m roof
ban ban kirin v.t. to shout, to yell
bandev f summit
bandor f influence
bang f call, cry; ~ dan v.t. to give out a
cry, to herald; ~ kirin v.t. to shout
banz = baz
bar m load; ~ bn to be loaded; to bear
up: avn wan bar nebb they
hadnt been able to bear the sight; ~
kirin v.t. to load up, move (household); ~k m porter
baran f rain; ~din v.t. to rain down
bare: di ~ya de (prep.) about, concerning
bark slender, thin

barn/~iyan v.i. to rain down
bask m arm, wing: bask ep partiya
sosyal-demokrat the leftist wing of
the Social-Democrat Party; ~n xwe
li hev xistin to flap ones wings
ba good; ~ kirin v.t. to improve;
~kirin f improvement
baok(e) falcon
bar m south
bav m (voc. bavo) father; ~t f fatherhood, paternality
bawer believing: ez ~ im ku I believe
that ; ~ kirin v.t. to believe: gelek
kes bawer dikin ku many people believe that; ~ f belief, trust; ~mend
m believer
baw1 m father
baw2 ba4
bawk f yawn
baxe m garden, yard
baz jump, leap; ~ dan v.t. to dance; to
run away in fear, to flee in haste
bazar f market; ~a re black market
beden m body
bedew beautiful, splendid
bedym ill-omened
befr f (dial. var.) = berf
behr f sea
behs f discussion; ~kirin v.t. to discuss
bejin f height, stature; ~bilind tall; ~
bala tall stature
bel straight; ~ kirin v.t. to straighten,
prick up (ears, &c.)
bela f catastrophe
bela for free, gratis
belav widespread, scattered; ~ bn v.i.
to be scattered; ~ kirin v.t. to spread,
broadcast, disseminate; ~ok f publication
belay nav bn v.i. to spread out
through
belediye f municipality
belek speckled, spotted
198
belek f water spring
belengaz poor, destitute; ~ f poverty,
destitution
bl yes
belg m leaf
belgih m suit, clothing; ~ girtin v.t. to
garb oneself
belk maybe, perhaps
ben = bend
bend f bond; li ~a for the sake of,
chained to, waiting for: div em d li
benda sibeh ranewestin we shouldnt stand around waiting for tomorrow; ~ kirin v.t. to fetter, arrest; man
di ~a to wait for
benderuh creature
bendewar bn bi to love, be in love
with
benzn f gasoline
beq m frog
ber1 m breast, fore; ber-dan see alphabetically; ~ bi hev hatin v.i. to cooperate; ~ (ve) (adv.) before; ~ ku
(conj.) before; ji ~ kirin v.t. to memorize; ji ~ jmartin v.t. to reel off from
memory; ji ~ ku because (conj.); ji ~
ve (ccmp.) before; ji ~ zann v.t.
to memorize; li ~ (prep.) before, on
account of; li ~ (+ inf.) on the verge
of: ew hviya ku li ber gebn b
ilmis that hope, which was on the
verge of blossoming, withered;
wek(e) ~ as before
ber2 m yield, fruit; ~ wergirtin ji to derive a yield from
beramber equal, equivalent; ~ f equality; ~ kirin v.t. to compare to: w
ew beramber Anton exov dikir he
used to compare him to Anton Chekhov
beran m ram
ber-ann (ber-n) v.t. to imagine
berate f carcass
berban m ceiling
berber f comparison
berbj f prediction
berbiav conspicuous
berbihevhatin f cooperation
berbn f imaginary image, vision
bercnk ???
berav visible, clear, before the eyes; ~
anin v.t. to pay attention
ber-dan v.t. to release, let go; to put on
(clothes); to close, stop, give up: dev
~ ji to close the mouth to, stop, give
up; ~ ser to direct toward; tiving ~ to
fire a rifle at: xulam w ew da ber
tifing his servant fired the rifle at
him; xwe ~ ser to turn oneself toward, direct oneself to
berdest servant
berdewam continual(ly), constant(ly); ~
kirin v.t. to continue
berdl f equivalent; ji ~a instead of
berdlk = berdl; bi ~ equivalent in
value
berebere more and more, ever more;
gradually, little by little
bereket m blessing; bi ~ luckily
berev = berhev
berf f snow
berferih spacious; ~ kirin v.t. to open,
initiate
bergeh f view, vista
berhem m product, literary work; ~bar
productive
berhev gathered, collected; ~ kirin v.t.
to prepare, gather; xwe ~ kirin v.t. to
pull oneself together
berhevok f collection
berik f bullet
beriqn v.i. to glisten
berizn bi v.i. to fight with, do battle
with
ber f pocket
berde perplexed, lost
berk f pocket
ber-ketin v.i. to feel sad
199
KURMANJI KURDISH
bermil f load
bername f program
bero f pot, pan
berovaj to the contrary
berp kirin v.t. to suggest, to propose
berpirsiyar responsible; m manager; ~
f responsibility, management
berq f lightning
bersv f answer, reply; ~ dan bi to reply
to, answer; ~a dan to satisfy the
needs of; ~andin v.t. to respond,
reply
berten f trousers
bervaj f opposite side; ji ~y contrariwise, conversely
berv prep. toward
berwar m slope
berx lamb
berxwedan f resistance
bes much, many a; enough
best f plain
best m joy, glee, relish
be m part; ~dar participant; ~dar bn
v.i. to take part, participate
beavend f rhyme
beer f flesh
betal f unemployment, uselessness,
idleness
bexe = baxe
Bexda f Baghdad
bext m luck; ~iyar fortunate, happy;
~iyar f good fortune, happiness; b~
unfortunate
beybn f camomile
bez1 f speed: bi lez ~ quickly, with all
speed; bay ~ the racing wind; ~n
bez- v.i. to run
bez2 m kind, sort
beza fast-running, galloping
bezir lost
b1 ba
b-2 (prefix) without; see compounds alphabetically
baqil stupid
bbawer disbelieving, unsure; ~ f disbelief

bbest uncontrollable
bbext unlucky, unfortunate; ~ f unluckiness, misfortune
bare helpless, poor; ~t f helplessness
bine useless
biqas inordinately
bdar treeless, barren
bdeng silent; ~ f silence, obscurity
bdil halfhearted, unwilling
bfed lack of embarrassment
bgav impossible, helpless
bgot skinny
bguman doubtless(ly)
bhamd reluctantly, unwillingly
bhawe unparalleled, extraordinary
bhay unconscious, unaware; dinyay ~
the subconscious world
bhejiyan livat without movement or
motion
bhejmar innumerable
bhempa unparalleled, peerless
bhv without hope, in despair; ~ kirin
v.t. to make s.o. despair
bhz f weakness, debility
bhiiyar without feeling, numb
bhn1 f breath; ~a min teng b I was
bored; ~a xwe teng kirin to bore oneself, let oneself get bored; ~a
ikandin v.t. to suffocate; ~teng f
boredom
bhn2 f smell, odor; ~ berdan to leave
an odor behind; ~ dan to give off an
odor; ketin ser ~ to pick up a scent;
~ikn dry-smelling
bhteng = bhnteng
b prep. without; ~ ku (conj., + subj.)
without: ro j b ku mirov tu zehmetiyan bikine, mirov bi hsan ji wan
t digih even today one easily understands them without going to any
trouble
bmkan f impossibility
200
bj- gotin
bje f word: ~ bi ~ word by word; ~r
speaker
bjing f sieve
bkar unemployed; ~ f unemployment
bkes lonely, alone, unprotected
b li prep. without
bmane fearful, dreadful
bmecal f lack of opportunity
bminet relentless(ly)
bnamus dishonorable
bnav nameless, unnamed
bnavbir incessant
bnihtin v.i. to freeze
bnan spotless
bpar deprived
bpejn f tranquility
bpvan immeasurable
br. See xr.
br f longing; ~ kirin v.t. to long for,
miss
brik = brk
brk f pocket; wek hundir brika
al xwe nasn to know something
like the back of ones hand
Brd f Beirut
bsedem without reason, unprovoked
b serbin endless
berm shameless; ~ f shamelessness
bik doubtless
btar storm
btaw impatient, restless
btir more
btn powerless, weak
bvil, bvl f nose, nostril
bxan homeless
b xay limitless
bxeber unaware (ji of); ji her der ~
totally oblivious
bxew sleepless, suffering from insomnia; ~ f sleeplessness, lack of sleep
bxudan = bxwed
bxweda godless, damned
bxwed godless, ownerless, orphaned,
poor, lonely
by = b
bzar f nuisance, headache
bzaro childless
bi- subjunctive prefix
bi re (ccmp.; bi + w/w > p) by,
with, upon: bi tirn re by train; bi min
re with me; bi bihstina deng re upon
hearing the sound
bi ve (ccmp.; bi + w/w > p)
through, up to: ji w roj p ve from
that day to this
bi- subjunctive verbal prefix
biaqil intelligent, smart; ~ f intelligence
bik little; ~an f childhood, youth
bidardakirin dar
biha bn v.i. to be valuable
bihar f spring, springtime; ~ pertaining
to spring
bihin = bhn; bi ~ with odor, with fragrance; ~dar fragrant
bihimet magnificent
bihit f paradise; ~n paradisiacal, heavenly
bihstin bihs-/bihz- v.t. to hear, listen
bihn = bhn1
bihorn v.i. to pass
bihostin v.t. ???
bihuk insect
bihurandn bihurn- v.t. to spend
(time): ew zaroktiya xwe li Kurdistana Bakr bihurandiye he spent his
childhood in North Kurdistan
bihurtin bihur- v.i. to pass, be spent
bihut f span. See also bihit.
bihr- = bihurbijarte choice, select
bijartin bijr- v.t. to choose
bijiqandin v.t. to tear to shreds
bijjk m physician
bijn lively
bijv f sustenance
bikarann kar
bikr useful
201
KURMANJI KURDISH
bla (+ subj.) let: i dibe bila bibe whatever happens, let it happen
bilbil nightingale
bilez quick, hasty
bilind high; ~ kirin v.t. to raise, to
elevate; ~cih m height, high place
biliyan v.i. to arise (sound)
bil other than, aside from; ~ ji ditto
bilr f shepherds pipe, flute
bin m bottom; di ~ under; ~dest underling, oppressed; ~geh m foundation,
basis; ~geh avetin to lay the
foundation of ; ~gehn basic; ~xet f
south of the Turkish border, i.e. Syria
and Iraq
binr luminous
bipdexistin f advancement, improvement
biqedr worthwhile, valuable
bir m part
bira1 m (obl. pl biran) brother
bira2 = bila
bira3 really
birc f tower
bir hungry; ~n f hunger; ~t f hunger
birvebir m leader
birh m eyebrow
birin b- v.t. to carry, take; ~ jr to
bring/take down/away; ~ jor to bring/
take up
birisqn v.i. to sparkle, shimmer
birn1 f wound; ~ kirin v.t. to wound;
~dar m wounded
birn2 = birrn
birrn v.t. to cut, to cross: w snor birr
he crossed the border
birs hungry
birsn f hunger
birsk f lightning; ~e f telegram
biryar f decision; ~ dan v.t. to decide
biserketin f success
bikul m goat and sheep droppings
biv m buzz
biv nev willy-nilly, like it or not
bivir m ax
biwa (alternative past conditional of
bn) = bya
bixrhatin dan v.t. to welcome
bixwe by oneself, personally
biyan m foreign(er), stranger, alien;
~stan f any foreign place, foreign
parts; ~t f strangeness, alienation:
jiyana biyantiy life of alienation
bizin f goat
bizir m seed
bizivn v.i. to budge
bhin = bhn
bn = bhn
bn- dtin, ann
bna (dial. var.) = mna
bnah f sight
bnan prep. like
bnber m sight
br1 f memory; bi ~ ann v.t. to remember: ba bne bra xwe ku remember
well that; ~a birin to take into
consideration; ~ hatin v.i. to remember: t bra min I remember; ji ~(a)
kirin v.t. to forget; ~ann f memory,
reminiscence
br2 f well
bran f memory
bst1 twenty; ~sal twenty-year-old
bst2 f moment, a short period of time:
bstek nebor it didnt take long before
bstin bs- v.t. to hear
beng f weeping willow
bz- = bihz bihstin
bzbz matted
bo (prep.) for; (conj.) so that, in order
that
bo f tail
boik f tail
bombe f bomb; ~yn destan hand
grenades
bona prep. for: ~ v yek for this reason
borandin v.t. to spend (time), make
202
(time) pass
bor f pipe
born v.i. to last, pass (time): end meh
naborin not many months passed
(n.p.); v.t. to excuse: min bibore excuse me
bostan m garden
bo wide, widespread, abundant
boxe f bundle
brat roasted
brsk = birsk
buhar = bihar
buhirn v.t. to take away, clear off
buhurandin buhurn- v.t. to spend
(time); ~n v.i. to pass, pass away
buhurtin buhur- v.i. to pass, pass
away, go out
buhur last, past: sala ~ last year
bulbul nightingale
bk f bride, daughter-in-law; ~an f
wedding
bn b- v.i. to be, become
bs f ambush
byer f incident, event
bz ice
BZ = ber zayn B.C.
ca (used with imperatives): ~ were come
on!; ca bifikire ku just think what it
would be like if
cam f glass
camr courageous, gallant, gentlemanly
cass m spy
car f time; ~ ~an often, many times;
~din again, once again; ~inan from
time to time; ~k = carek once; ~na
sometimes
cax protective fencing
cazbedar interesting
cebhe f front (mil.)
ceger f liver (poetic); ~ rn darling,
beloved
cejin f celebration, festival
celeb m sort, kind: du celeb kes hene:
yn ba yn neba there are two

kinds of people, good and evil
celx m/f slit, crack
cem m group; side; a large basket; li ~
beside, with: li cem wan beside them,
with them
cendek m body, corpse
ceng f battle
cerg f liver
ceribandin v.t. to try, test
cewr m pup; ~ik m puppy
ceza f fine, penalty; ~ wergirtin v.t. to
receive a penalty, to be fined
cid serious
cigar(e) f cigarette
cih m place; pl bed; ~ bi ~ from place to
place; ~ girtin v.t. to take place; ~
kirin v.t. to put, place; ~ li xwe xwe
kirin v.t. to make oneself comfortable; ~ girtin v.t. to take the place
of; ~ local; ~ ~ various, sundry;
~gir occupant; bi ~ ann to bring
about, bring to fruition; bi ~ bn li to
settle in, take up residence in; di nav
~an de in bed
cihan f the world
cil m clothing; ~ berg (pl) clothes
cin djinn, demon; ~anlxist possessed
by demons
cinewir monster
cirecir f talk, chit-chat
civandin civn- v.t. to move, set in
motion
civak society; community; ~ social,
societal; ~nas sociologist; ~nas f
sociology
civat f society, group
civn v.i. to move; ~n f movement
ciwan young, beautiful; ~t f youth
cixar(e) (dial. var.) = cigar
cixiz kirin v.t. to mark, to leave marks
in
c = cih
chan f world
203
KURMANJI KURDISH
chlkirin f surveillance
cran neighbor
cograf geographical
col m pack (of wolves, &c.)
core core various
co enthusiasm, excited
cot1 m pair
cot2 m plow; ~kr f agriculture
cube m robe
cumhriyet f republic
cunta f junta
cure cure (dial. var.) = core core
curet kirin v.t. to dare
cda separate; ~ kirin v.t. to separate
cm bn v.i. to be obscured
- n
ak good
akt m jacket
alak active; ~ f activity
and f culture; ~ cultural
andin n- v.t. to plant
ap f printing; ~ kirin v.t. to print,
publish; ~eman f printed matter, the
press; ne~kir unpublished; ~xane f
printshop
ar four
arove f framework
are f remedy; b~ helpless, poor; ~ns
f remedy; bi ~nsa ve in the interests of; ~ser f solution; ~ser kirin
v.t. to solve, resolve
armerg cross-legged
aref, arev f sheet, womans covering; ~ kiandin v.t. to put a sheet
(on a bed); ~ li xwe kirin v.t. to put
on a veil, cover oneself
av m eye; ~ girtin v.t. to close the eyes;
~ern f expectation; ~n xistin
v.t. to attract the attention of; bi ~ek
neba nrn to have a low opinion of;
~ f eye ailment; ~kan f source,
wellspring; ~in blue-eyed
avnihr bn v.i. to expect, to look
expectantly
awa(n) how?: awan bibe bila bibe be
that as it may; ~ heba somehow or
other; ~ ku as; awah f quality
ax f time: w ax at that time
ay f tea; ~dan f teapot; ~xane f teahouse
e =
ef = kef
ek f weapon; ~dar armed
eleng cute, attractive, good-looking
em m river
en f armpit
end (following word construed as pl.)
how many?; several: di end cihan de
in several places; end hevaln min
several of my friends; ~ik end (+
sing.) several: endik end roj e
its been several days since; ~ odd: bi pncih end saln xwe ve in
his fifty-odd years; ~ for a while
eng f claw; ~ li de cih kirin v.t. to
sink the claw into
engel m hook
eng kirin v.t. to throw, hurl
ente m suitcase
ep left; wrong: ew min ep fahm dike
he misunderstands me
eper f shield, barricade
epik xistin li v.t. to applaud for
er what?
er ku (conj.) as soon as
er m peddler
erkez Circassian
erm m skin, leather; ~n leathern
erx f wheel
etel m fork, forked
ewsandin v.t. to exploit
ewt crooked, awry, wrong
right, okay; ~-bn v.i. to be born; to
be right: nabe tu wisa bik its not
right for you to act thus; dibe ku ez
biim? is it okay for me to go?; ~kirin v.t. to give birth to, to make, fix,
204
repair, keep: w dikine bin zindan they keep him in the dungeon,
min di ser xwe e plana ku dikir
I was making a plan in my head to
lik the young of any animal, puppy,
kitten, cub, etc.
l f subject, topic; ~ kirin v.t. to talk
about
re f grazing, pasturage
rn v.i. to graze
tir better
i1 what?; ~ bigire practically speaking,
pretty much
i2 no; ~ tit nothing
iek = ek
iftexas m cotton batiste
ik exhausted; ~ bn v.i. to become exhausted, to sink down (into snow)
ikandin v.t. to drip; to plant (tree); to
push s.th. in as far as it will go
ikn v.t. to plant; to crackle; to dry up
(mothers milk): r ber w ik her
breast milk dried up
iko, iku because
il1 forty
il2 greedy
il3 only in il iya hills and mountains
ile f the coldest period of winter; ~ya
pan January; ~ya pn December
ilmisandin v.t. to make wither
ilmsn v.i. to wither
ilviln = ilwiln
ilwiln v.i. to gleam
ima why?
imk because
iqas how much
iqiq kirin v.t. to rip to shreds
ir, ira why?
ira f lamp, stove
irandin irn- v.t. to tear, tear up
irav f muck
ire why
iriya pa/pan f November
iriya p/pn f October

irisn = irsn
irsn v.i. to sparkle, shine, glow
irsk f spark
iv trick, game; ~ dan xwe v.t. to zigzag
ivanok f a formula used in storytelling
ivik, ivk bird, sparrow
iwal m sack
iya m mountain; ~y mountaineer, hillbilly
ek f flower
l bright
men m grassy meadow
p f calf (of the leg)
rn v.i. to creak
rok f story; ~van storyteller
ya = iya
zzik f buzz
o m stick
og = ok2
ok1 m stream
ok2 f knee
ol f desert, wilderness
ong = ok2
ik f bird
k f bird
n - (subj. stem -/her-) v.i. to go
r a type of sheep
yn v.i. to go
da1 a dialectal variant of de1
da2 a preverb that forms compounds,
generally indicating down
da-ann v.t. to set down, establish: Mam
Red satil dan li dora xwe mze
kir Uncle Rashid set the bucket down
and looked around himself; ~ li xwe
(+ subj.) to lower oneself, deign,
bring oneself to do s.th.: gelek ji wan
j li xwe danaynin bi v ziman xwe
rn bipeyivin many of them cant
even bring themselves to speak this
nice, sweet language
da-avtin v.t. to put together, throw
205
KURMANJI KURDISH
together
da-ikandin v.t. to set up, plant (tree,
flag, &c.)
dad f justice; ~geh f court; ~gr m judge
da-dan v.t. to place, put in, install; to
light (fire)
da-gerandin v.t. to turn, send back
dagirker m occupier
da-girtin v.t. to occupy, take over, to
take down; guhn xwe ~ v.t. to prick
up ones ears
dagirt well-built
dagr kirin v.t. to occupy
dahl f grove
dahn m season, period of time
da-hrandin v.t. to research, investigate
dare f office
da-ketin v.i. to fall down, come down,
swoop down, subside; to be lowered
(gaze); ~ bi to take up, involve oneself with
da ku (+ subj.) in order that
da-kutan v.t. to shake
da-liqandin v.t. to string up, hang
da-liqiyan v.i. to hang, dangle
da-mezran v.i. to be set up, established;
~din da-mezrn- v.t. to set up, establish
dan1 = dahn
dan2 d- v.t. to give
da-nan da-n- v.t. to lay, put down
da-nitin da-ni- v.i. to sit down, alight
dann = da-ann
danstendin f transaction, exchange;
relation
da-qurtandin qurtn- v.t. to swallow
dar f tree, stick, gallows; bi ~ ve kirin
v.t. to hang; bi ~ da-kirin v.t. to
hang; ~istan f forest
dar m wood
darbe f blow; ~ xwarin v.t. to suffer a
blow
darik m stick
darn wooden
davtin = da-avtin
dawe f legal case
dawet f festive occasion
daw f end; ~ ann v.t. to put an end to;
~ hatin v.i. to end, come to an end;
~n (adj) last, final
dax f brand; sorrow
da-xistin v.t. to take down: polsan
tabeleya me daxist the police took
down our sign
daxwaz f request; ~ kirin v.t. to request,
beseech; ~ f desire
dayik m mother; ji ~ bn v.i. to be
born; ~t f motherhood, maternity
dayin = dan
dayn = dan
de1 postposition forms the second part
of a number of circumpositions, generally indicating stationary position in
or at; see the prepositional element
de2 (precedes an imperative): de were
come on!
defter f register, roll, notebook
deh ten
dehl f valley; orchard
dehol f drum
dek f trick
delal dear, beloved
delve f opportunity, occasion
dem1 f time, season; ~a ku (conj.)
when; ~dirj long-term; ~kurt shortterm; ~ dewran f olden times
dem2 steeped; ~ girtin to steep (of tea)
demane f pistol
deng m voice, sound, noise; ~bj m
singer
dengiz sea
depdepe wooden
deq1 f part, region, place: di v deq de
in this place
deq2 m tattoo; ~ bi ~ exactly alike
deqe = deqqe
deqqe f minute
der1 f place; ~ek() somewhere; ev ~
206
here; li v ~ here; li ku ~ where?
der2 outside; ~eke foreign: welatn
dereke foreign countries
der3 f door
der-ann v.t. to take out
derb f blow
derbas passing, passsage; ~ bn v.i. to
pass, to pass by (ji); ~ kirin v.t. to
spend (time); ~ hundur bn to enter
derbaz = derbas
derbeder bn v.i. to be driven from
pillar to post
der-bn di to burst out on
derd m pain, trouble: her yek derdek
wan heb everyone had some trouble
derece f degree: di i derecey de to
what degree?
dereng late, long time; ~ man v.i. to lag
behind, be late
derewn lying, false
derxistin = derxistin
derfend f opportunity
derheq: di ~() de about, concerning
deriya = derya
deriz cracked
der1 m door; ~y xwe girtin li ber to
close ones door to; li ~ dan v.t. to
knock at a door; ~ girtin v.t. to shut a
door; ~ li ser xwe girtin to shut oneself up
der2 (prep) outside of
der-ketin v.i. to go in/out, to turn out to
be; ~ li dij v.i. to oppose; ji gra
~ to fail to catch
derman m (obl dermn) remedy, treatment, medicine; ~geh pharmacy; ~
kirin v.t. to treat
derp m underpants; longjohns
ders f lesson; ~ dan v.t. to give lessons
der dor environs; ~a (prep.) around
derve outside; ~kar external: wezr
dervekar minister of foreign affairs;
~y (prep.) outside of: dervey welt
outside of the country; (adj.) foreign;
ji ~ from outside
der-xistin v.t. to bring out (publication),
to issue (an order), to cast out; ji hev
~ to to tell apart, to discern
der-xwendin -xwn- v.t. to take to task
derya f sea; ~ya Sip the Mediterranean
Sea
derz f crack, split; see also jin
derz
dest1 m hand; ~ bi ~ continuously; ~
bn ji to lose, to be left without:
destn me ji te bne we have been left
without you; ~ dan hevdu v.t. to join
hands; ~ kan ji v.t. to let go of; ~
kirin bi (+ inf.) v.t. to start; ~ xwe
kiandin ji to give up, abandon; bi ~
xistin to attain, obtain; di ~n for
to do: di destn min de bi ten
razan mab the only thing I could do
was go to sleep; ji ~ kirin v.t. to lose;
ji bin dest by, by means of ;
xwe avtin ~ lingn kesek to
throw oneself at someones feet, to
beg; xwe dan ~ to let oneself be captured
dest2 f group, set
destan f story
destbirak m blood brother
deste f group, set
destenan loaf of bread
destik m oar
destmal f handkerchief
destpk f beginning
destteng poor
destr f order, command; ~a ziman
grammar
destvala empty-handed
destve-nan v.t. to catch
det f plain
dev m mouth; entrance; ~ berdan ji to
leave, to give up, to stop: te dev ji
kana cixar berdaye? have you
stopped smoking cigarettes?; dev ji
min berde, ez bxew im leave me
207
KURMANJI KURDISH
aloneIm sleepy; ~ di da c
kirin to bite down on; (li) ~ () dora
prep. all around
devendet f brush, brambles
dever face down
dev f bush
devken f smile
devk oral: edebiyata devk oral literature
devojen hev bn li ser to squabble
with each other over
devok f accent
dewam kirin v.t. to continue
dewar m domestic animal, cattle
dewir = dewr; f circle; ~ dan v.t. to
circle
dewlemend rich, wealthy
dewlet f state: ~a Frensay the state of
France
dewr f age, time, epoch; role; ~ leyistin
to play a role; ~an f age, time
dews f place, spot, trace
dexisn v.i. to be jealous (ji of)
deyn m debt; ~ dan to pay a debt; ~dar
indebted; ~ indebted to
d1 f (const diya) mother
d2 future auxiliary + subj. for future
tense
d3 3rd-person sing. present indicative
of hatin
dl1 f tail
dl2 f female animal; ~egur f female
wolf; ~ik f female wolf or dog, bitch
drn ancient, of long standing
dv1 m demon
dv2 = dev
dw = dv1
di de ccmp. in: di saln 70 de in the
70s; di destn min de in my hands
di re ccmp. by, via, upon: bi bihstina deng re upon hearing the noise;
av di tifingn wan re dihate xwar
water ran down their rifles
di ve ccmp. through
d- habitual and progressive verbal

prefix
dia = dua
di bareya de ccmp. about, concerning
dibistan f school: dibistana destpk elementary school
Dicle f the Tigris River
didan m tooth
didu two; ~yan second
difin nostril
digel with; ~ ku although
dihan = dian (see ann)
dij, li (prep.) against
dijmin m enemy; ~at f enmity
dijn kirin v.t. to curse
dijwar difficult; ~ f difficulty
dikan f shop
dike nake no matter what s/he did
dil m heart; hope: min dil heye (+ subj.)
I hope to; ~ girtin bi to be offended
by: bi yna min ya hotl dil xwe
girtin they were offended by my
going to a hotel; ~ ewitn bi to feel
sorry for: dil midr bi v xort
eleng evndar xwendin diewite
the principal feels sorry for this attractive young man so avid to study;
~ f heartache; ~germ warm, hearty,
kind; ~ge happy; ~nexwe sorry,
upset, ill at ease; ~pak pure of heart;
~qayim confident; ~qayim f confidence; ~soz sympathetic; ~a happy,
glad; ~ewat heart-rending; ~ikest f
disappointment; ~ikest kirin v.t. to
disappoint, to dishearten; ~teng f
sadness, loneliness; ~xwaz fond of;
b ~ against the wishes of; ne bi ~
min b it did not appeal to me
dilr intrepid
dilnya assured, confident
dilop m drop
dilovan kind, affectionate, dear; ~ f
affection; death (euphemism): ber
208
dilovaniya nivskar dilovan bi salek
a year before the dear writer passed
away
diltezn ???
din other
di nav de ccmp. in the midst of: di
nav w erd de in the midst of that
land
din = dinyay (see dinya)
dinya f (obl. dinyay, din) the world,
the weather: dinya pirr sar b the
weather was very cold; bi ~y hatin
v.i. to be born; ~dt worldly, sophisticated
diran (dial. var.) = didan
dirb track, path
dirj long, lengthy; ~ ajotin to last a
long time; ~ kirin to lengthen; ~ f
length; ~ kirin to hand to ;
dest ~ kirin to stretch the hand out
to
diriyan v.i. to be ripped
divab, diviyab (impersonal + pres.
subj.) had to: diviyab ku titek bikin
they had to do something; (impersonal + past cond.) ought to have , was
supposed to have , would have to
: diviyab Sovyet ji ran derketa
the Soviet ought to (was supposed to)
have withdrawn from Iran, divab ku
ew kzik bihata kutin that bug would
have to be killed
div (impersonal + pres. subj.) ought to
dixan f smoke
diyar clear; ~ f clarity
diyar f gift
Diyarbekir f Diyarbekir
diz m thief
diz secret, concealed; bi ~ secretly,
stealthily; ~t f secret
d other; y ~ the other one
dl m prisoner; ~ girtin v.t. to take prisoner; ~ f imprisonment
dlan f dance, dancing
dmen f view, sight, aspect

dn1 m religion; ~it f religiosity; ~,
~dar religious; ~perwer religious
dn2 crazy, mad; ~ bn li ser to go crazy
over; ~ kirin to drive s.o. crazy; ~ik
slightly crazy, screw loose; ~it f
madness
dn3 f gaze, attention
drok f story, history; ~ historical
dsa(n) again, (+ neg) stillnot
dtin bn- v.t. to see
dwan f reception room; collected works
of a poet; ~e f (obl ~) small reception room
dwar f (obl dwr) wall
dz knee
dzik f pan
do = d
dol valley
dom kirin v.t. to continue
doman v.i. to continue
domandin domn- v.t. to continue
dor1 f environs; li ~a (prep.) around;
~hl f environs, parts, region; ~a
girtin v.t. to surround
dor2 m turn; ~al f circumference
dorandor m circumference; li ~ (prep.)
all around
dost friend; ~ane friendly; ~ayet f
friendship
do- dotin
doab m/f grape molasses ???
doeg f mattress
doik = doeg
dot f daughter; ~mam f cousin
dotin do- v.t. to milk
doz f cause, reason; aim, ideal; revenge;
~a kirin to aim for; ~ger vengeful,
litigant
du two
dua f prayer; ~ kirin, ~ xwendin v.t. to
pray
ducar kirin v.t. to repeat
dudil hesitant, of two minds; ~ f hesita-
209
KURMANJI KURDISH
tion
duduyan (dial. var.) = diduyan
duh() yesterday
dunya = dinya
dur hypocritical; ~t f hypocrisy
duemb f Monday
duv = d
duwemn second: er dinyay y
duwemn World War II
duyem(n) second
d1 behind; ~dirj of long standing; ~re
then, afterwards; li ~ hev re one after
the other; li ~ xwe behind oneself; bi
~ ketin v.i. to pursue
d2 m smoke
dkel f smoke
dman f smoke
dpik f scorpion
dr far; ~ xistin v.t. to throw away, exile; bi ~ ketin to go/get away; ~ nzk
sooner or later; ~ah f remoteness,
distance; ~bn farsighted
dre d1
drebn f binoculars
dv m tail, end
dvre = dre
ebeden (+ neg.) never, not at all
ecem Persian
ecb strange; ~may dumbfounded, stupified
edebiyat f literature; ~van literateur
edeb literary
edilandin v.t. to ameliorate, make better
edb m litrateur
efend m westernized gentleman; ~t f
gentlemanliness
efraz up
ef f amnesty; ~ya git general amnesty
egal f headband
eger if
ekb f team
ekol f school
ekonomk economic
elbik f wooden bucket
elektrk f flashlight
elem pain
eleqedar kirin v.t. to concern
eleyh: di eleyh da ccmp. against;
~dar m supporter; ~dar kirin v.t. to
support
elman German; ~ German (language)
em (obl. me) we
emanet m deposit, anything held on
loan or for safekeeping
emir1 f order, command
emir2 m age
emperyalsm f imperialism
enanet traditional
endam m member
enerj f energy
en f forehead; front (mil.)
ensttu f institute
eql m mind, reason
erd f earth; li erd dan to throw to the
ground
erdim f region
erdhj f earthquake
ereb Arab; ~ Arabic
erebe f cart, carriage, any wheeled
vehicle
Erebistan f Arabia
er yea, yes
erk f responsibility
ermen Armenian
ermim silk
Ernewid Albanian
erz f hope; ~a ikandin v.t. to dash
s.o.s hopes
erzan cheap
erzihal f description, report, petition
Erzerom f Erzurum
esas m foundation, basis; ~ basic, essential, original
eser f work, monument: esereke edeb a
literary work
210
esil m origin; bi ~ xwe originally
esilzade aristocratic
esker m soldier; ~ f the military; (adj)
military
esman = azman
esmer olive complected
er f tribe; ~t tribal
ekere clear, obvious
ek tek tangled (hair)
ev (obl. masc. sing. v, obl. fem. sing.
v, obl. pl. van) he, she, it, they, this,
these
evn f love, affection; ~dar desirous, in
love: ew evndar xwendin b he
was desirous of studying
evqas so much
ew (obl. masc. sing. w, obl. fem. sing.
w, obl. pl. wan, pl. const. ewn) he,
she, it, they, that, those
ewd m revenge
ewel, ewel first
ewn pl. const. of ew; ~ din the others
ewir = ewr
ewle security, reliance, assurance; ~ bn
to be secure
ewr m cloud
ewraq (pl) papers
Ewrpa f Europe; ~y European
Ewrp European
ewt f bark; ~e ~ constant or repeated
barking; ~n v.i. to bark
eyn the same: di eyn sal de in the
same year
ey O (vocative)
Eyndwer Ayn Dwr, a small place in
Syria south of Cizre
Eyb Job; ~ Job-like
eywan f salon, sitting room
ez (obl. min) I
ezben sir (mode of polite address)
ezman m sky, heaven
ezz dear
Ezrayl Azrael, the angel of death
1 = y
2 future auxiliary + subj. for future
tense
d now; still, yet
gir agir
h: gewro h beravara nedihat
Whitey didnt notice it
n = yn
r = hri
f pain, ache; ~andin n- v.t. to hurt,
cause pain, trouble; ~iyan - v.i. to
hurt, suffer pain: ser av te nee
may your head and eye not suffer
pain, thank you
var f evening
xur m stable
zing m firewood
fahm (dial. var.) = fehim
fal f augury, omen, fate; ~ vekirin to
predict: ev fala ko herkes ji min re
vedikir, wusan derneket the prediction everyone was making for me did
not turn out like that
fam (dial. var.) = fehim
faqa under (prep.); ketin ~ to fall beneath
faris pl Persians; ~ f Persian (language)
fast fascist
fedakar, fedekar self-sacrificing, devoted; ~ f self-sacrifice
fed f embarrassment; ~ kirin to be embarrassed
fed-kirin v.t. to look, watch
fehim kirin v.t. to understand
felat f freedom, liberation
felsefe f philosophy;
felsef philosophical
fen f trick; bi ~ ftan by hook or by
crook
fener f lamp
feodal feudal
feqeh m theology student
feq Muslim cleric; ~t f the clerical pro-
211
KURMANJI KURDISH
fession
feqr poor; ~t f poverty
fer one, single item (of a pair)
ferheng f culture: wezareta ferheng
ministry of culture; dictionary
ferman f order, command; ~a derxistin v.t. to issue an order for
ferm formal
fermo please (said when offering s.th.)
ferq f difference: i ferqa me crann
me dimne? what difference is left between us and our neighbors?; ~iyet f
distinction
ferz kirin v.t. to assume
fetwa legal opinion
fex f trap; xistin fex to put in a trap
feyde f benefit, profit; bi ~ beneficial
fde f (const. fda) benefit: ji bo fda
xwe for ones one benefit, in ones
own interests
fhm = fehim
flbaz f cunning
fre bn v.i. to learn; frey bn to
learn s.th., to become accustomed to
s.th.
fr bn v.i. to learn: ew di demeke
kurt de fr tirk b he learned Turkish in a short time
fiht kirin v.t. to assess, to price
fikar(e) f worry
fikir f idea, thought; ~n v.i. to think,
contemplate
filitn ji v.i. to get rid of
filosof m philosopher
find f candle
fir- firn
firaq m dishes
firar kirin to escape, to flee
firavn f lunch, midday meal
firax (pl) dishes, pots and pans; ~ ustin
v.t. to wash the dishes
fireh open, wide, spacious; ~ kirin v.t.
to open; dil ~ kirin to gladden the
heart
firiyan v.i. to fly away

firn fir- v.i. to jump, fly: Msa ji kfan
difire Musa is jumping for joy
firte m angel
firk a rapid motion
firne f bakery
firotin fro- v.t. to sell
firq = ferq
firtone f storm, gale
fitil dan v.t. to twist and turn
fstan m dress
fort m boast
fransiz m/f French (person)
frens f French (language)
frensiz French (language)
fro- firotin
fursend f opportunity
frn v.i. to bubble, gurgle, boil
galegal f conversation
galon m gallon
gam ox
garan f herd of cattle
garis m millet; ~ misr corn
garsn f village square
gav1 f time; moment, instant; ~a (ku)
when (sub. conj.); ~ saet at all
times; di ~ da in an instant; li ~ de
at that moment
gav2 m step, pace; ~ kirin v.t. to step,
cross; ~ avetin to take steps: edebiyata kurd di van saln daw de
gavine ba avetiye Kurdish literature
has taken some good steps in these
recent years
gavan cowherd; ~t f herding
gazin = gazind
gazind m rebuke, complaint; ~ kirin v.t.
to rebuke, reproach; ~ok rebuking,
complaining
gaz1 m warrior
gaz2 f call, shout; ~ kirin v.t. to call,
speak to
geh when; geh geh sometimes
212
sometimes
-geh suffix of place
gehandin (dial. var.) = gihandin
gehtin (dial. var.) = gihtin
gel much, many, most; ~ejmar plural;
~ek() very, a lot, many: ~ek ji wan
many of them; ~r popular
gelemper general, public; bi ~ mostly,
generally
gel m mountain pass, canyon
gelo whether; interrogative particle, I
wonder if
gemar f filth
gem f ship
genim m wheat
ger if; ~i even if, although
gerandin gern- v.t. to turn, rotate; to
take for a walk; to produce
gerden f neck
gerden f necklace
gerdn universal
gerek necessary, should, must, ought to;
~ bn to be necessary
geremol f complexity, confusion
gerihan (dial. var.) = geriyan
geriyan v.i. to go around, roam around;
~ li (pey) to look for
germ warm, hot: ~a havn the heat of
summer; ~a, ~ay f warmth; ~ f
warmth
Germanya f Germany
ger dirty
ge red, blossoming, flaming, happy; ~
bn to blossom, flame up (fire), be
happy; ~ f happiness, flourishment
gevde f mange; bi ~ mangy
gevez crimson
gevizandin v.t. to make writhe; xwe ~ to
roll oneself around
gevizn v.i. to writhe
gewde m body; ~ xwe dan hev to curl
up; ~ xwe girtin to hug oneself
gewr light grey, whitish; ~o whitey
gewre large, big
gj dizzy, spinning; ~ bn v.i. to be

dizzy; ~ kirin v.t. to make dizzy,
make lightheaded: germa havn tu
gj kiriby the heat of summer had
made you dizzy
gr crooked, uneven
grik ant
grt lethargic
ghj- gihtin
giha = giya
gihan gih- v.i. to reach; ~din -gihnv.t. to deliver; xwe gihandine ser to
get oneself to
gihatin gehj- v.i. to reach, arrive; to
mature
gihtin gihj-/gj-/gihj-/ghj- v.i. to
reach, arrive
gihj- gihtin
gijgijn v.i. to be knit (brow)
gincir ???
gir m hill
gir m rancorous, grudging; ~-girtin v.t.
to have a grudge
gir- girtin
giramgr respectful
giram f respect
giran heavy, deep (voice); serious,
grave, plodding; ~ f gravity, weightiness; ~biha precious, expensive; ~
firotin v.t. to sell at a high price,
overcharge
girav f island
girc girc frozen solid
gir f knot, tumor; ~-dan v.t. to tie, to
connect: nav bajr li cem min bi
nav nan firn, ekir helaw hatib
girdan for me the word city was
connected to the words bakery
bread, sugar, and halvah; pita
xwe ~ dan bi to turn ones back on,
to be unmindful of
girk Greek
girik f conundrum; hillock
giriyan v.i. to weep
213
KURMANJI KURDISH
gir m weeping, crying
girn v.i. to weep; f weeping
girng important; ~ f importance
girs great; bi ~ greatly
girtin gir- v.t. to catch, seize
girtgeh f prison
girtxane f prison, place of detention
git general, public; totally
givatin giv- v.t. to press, squeeze
givegiv f gentle blowing of the wind
givn v.i. to roar (wind)
giya f grass, greenery
giyan m soul
gj- = gihjgr f grasp; xistin ~ helboq v.t. to ensnare
grodar f struggle
gr helboq f trap, entrapment
gya = giya
gol f lake: ~a Wan Lake Van
golik m calf
gopal m stick; ~ das sickle
gor1 f method, manner, way; li ~(a)
according to, in the opinion of
gor2 f grave; ~istan f cemetery
gor f sacrifice; ez bi ~ please
gorn f tomb
got m meat
gotar f article
gotin bj- v.t. to say: tu bj nebj no
matter what you say; f word: bi ~eke
din in other words; ji X re Y ~ to call
X Y: gelo mirov kane ji berhemn ku
bi zimann din tne nivsandin re
bibje berhemn kurd? I wonder if
can one call works that are written in
other languages Kurdish works?;
~xwe well-spoken
gotbj f talk, conversation
gov f barn
govend f Kurdish line dance; ~ girtin
v.t. to dance a line dance
goya youd think
gr- = gir- (girtin)
guik m/f ??? ear

guh m ear; ~ dan v.t. to listen; bi ~
girtin v.t. to grab by the ear; ~dar m
listener; ~dar kirin v.t. to listen; ber
guhan ketin v.i. to be heard
guhan m udder
guhar m/f pearl ??? earring???
guharn v.i. to change
guhartin guhr- v.t. to change
guhastin = guhaztin
guhaztin guhz- v.t. to transport, carry,
move; mala xwe ~ to move ones
home
guhdar m listener; ~ kirin v.t. to listen
guherandin guhern- v.t. to change
guhertin (dial. var.) = guhartin
guj fierce (storm)
gujn v.i. to howl
gul f flower
gulan f May
gule f bullet; ~baran kirin v.t. to fire,
open fire on
gulik f flower
gul m braid, tress
gulle = gule
gulte f clump
gund m village; ~ m/f villager; ~t f
rusticity
guneh m sin, fault; ~kar f crime, offense, fault; avtina ~n xwe expiation for ones sins
gungil thick, matted
gunin ??? a thick protective mat
against thorns, etc.
gupe gup kirin v.t. to pound (heart)
gur1 m wolf
gur2 strong, powerful; ~ kirin to fill
gurdar f attention; ~ kirin to pay rapt
attention
gurg = gur1
gur bald, scabby
gurn f clamor, noise
gurmn gurm- v.i. to make a loud noise
gurz m hank of hair
214
guvah f testimony
guvatin (dial. var.) = givatin
guveguv (dial. var.) = givegiv
ha = han
hakim m ruler, governor
hal m condition, state; ji ~ ketin to be
exhausted, worn out
halan f yell, shout
halhalk (dial. var.) = alal
han (in constr. w/ word it modifies) this
very, that very: w roja han on that
very day; ev tirsa han bi serphatiya
te girday b this very fear was connected to your experience
hatin y-/wer- (v.i., pres. ind. tm, neg.
naym, pres. subj. bm/werim) to
come; (+ inf.) passive
hat f future
havtin (dial. var.) = avtin
havn f summer
havtin (dial. var.) = avtin
hawrdor f surroundings, environment;
~n w those around him
hawurdor (dial. var.) = hawrdor
hay f feeling, awareness (ji of), attention: ~a min j tune b I had no
awareness of it; ~dar aware
hazir ready, present; ~ f preparation; ~
kirin to make preparations
heb1 m grain, bit; pill: ~ek aqil a grain
of sense; ~ek() a little, a bit, slightly
heb2 f a single thing, item, individual,
one
hebandin v.t. to love
hebe nebe one way or another
hebk = hebek (see heb)
hebn v.i. to exist: di ziman me de pir
gotinn kurd hene ku me nebihstine
there are many Kurdish words in our
language we havent heard; (with
subject + possessive) to have; heb
tuneb once upon a time
hechecik martin, swallow
hecm f attack, assault

he whatever, whoever
hedam sense ???
hedef f goal
heft seven; ~e f week: bi ~yek within a
week; ~ey weekly; ~ seventy
heger if
hej movement; li ~ liv we ketin v.i.
to toss and turn
hej = hez
hejandin v.t. to shake: w ser xwe hejand he shook his head; min dest w
hejand I shook his hand
hejar poor: ~n kurdan the poor Kurds
hejiyan v.i. to move, shake
hejk love, affection
hejn = hejiyan
hejmar f number, issue (of a journal)
hejmartin hejmr- v.t. to count, enumerate: dihatin hijmartin le ser her
deh tiliyn destan they could be
counted on all ten fingers of the hands
hejmr- hejmartin
hek m right; di ~ prep. concerning,
about
heke if
hel m protected place
helaw f halvah
helbest f poetry, verse: ~a serbest free
verse; ~kar m poet; ~van m poet
helbet of course
hel-bijartin v.t. to select, choose
hel-dirandin v.t. to tear apart
Heleb f Aleppo
heliyan v.i. to melt, disappear
heliz an herb
helk bhn breath
hel-pekandin li xew v.t. to rouse from
sleep
helqe f ring
hemhem bothand
hema thus
heman that very
hember equal; ~ f equality; li ~
215
KURMANJI KURDISH
towards, vis--vis, across from
hembz = hemz
hemd m will, volition; b ~ reluctantly,
involuntarily; hatin ser ~ xwe to
come to ones senses
hemdem contemporary
heme always
hemz, hembz f bosom, embrace; ~
kirin v.t. to embrace
hem = hem
hemman scarcely, barely
hem all, every; ~ya(n) all of them
hengam time: di ~ek de at one and the
same time, at once
heps f prison, imprisonment; ~xane f
prison
her every; ~ ~ always and ever; ~ku
-tir the more the more: deng ji
ezmn herku di btir dib the sound
from the sky kept getting louder; ~
ten at least: her ten end heftiyan
carek at least once every few weeks
her- n
herb f war department
herd valley ???
hereherey worldly strife, turmoil
herejor steep
her = er
herm f district, region
herf f letter of the alphabet
herikn v.i. to move, to flow
herimandin v.t. to ruin, make a mess of:
w jiyan li wan herimandiye it has
ruined their lives
her1 very, exceedingly, most (superlative prefix)
her2 f mud
hertim always; ~ usual
herweha thus, so also
herwiha (dial. var.) = herweha
hes f feeling, emotion; ~asiyet f sensitivity
hesibandin v.t. to count, take into consideration: ew xwe weke kurd nahesi-
bnin they dont count themselves as

Kurds
hesin m iron; ~gr m blacksmith; ~
made of iron; ~ker m blacksmith
hesiyan/hesn v.i. to feel; ~ bi to perceive, be aware of
hesp m horse
hesret f pining, longing, regret; li ~a
longing for
hest f feeling
heste f lighter
hestik m bone
hest m bone
he = n
hen green; ~ah f greenness
het eight; ~ eighty
heta even; (prep.) up to, until; ~ (ku)
(conj. + neg. subj.) until: heta ney
guhartin j d wiha bidome until it is
changed it will remain like that
hetan = heta
hev each other, together, co-, same; ba
~ hatin to get together, cooperate; bi
~du re together; bi ~ re with each
other, together; ji ~ ketin to fall apart;
li ~ together; li ser ~ altogether; ~
dan v.t. to collect, put together
heval m/f friend; ~bend m proponent;
~t f friendship
hevedudann v.t. to put together, to
compound
hevd each other
hevgirt assembled
hevr m dough
hevkar m/f co-worker; ~ f cooperation
hevok f sentence; ~saz syntax
hevpeyvn f conversation
hevraz (dial. var.) = efraz
hevrim m silk
hevwelat m/f compatriot
hew no more, not any more: hew dixwim
I cant eat any more
hewa f air, weather; ~ guhastin v.t. to
have a change of climate
216
hewale m air
hewandin -hewn- v.t. to give shelter to,
protect
hewcedar needy, in need; ~ f need,
necessity
hewe (dial. var.) = we
hewes f passion
hewg f throat
hewil f attempt; ~-dan v.t. to attempt
hewk = hewg
hewqas that much, so much
hewran m a type of cloak; ~yek re a
black cloak, a sign of mourning
hew f courtyard
hey continuously, (+ verb) to keep on
heya = heta for, up to, until: heya
demeke dirj for a long time; ~ ku
(conj.) while, as long as
heybet m fearfulness; ~girt fearful
heyecan m excitement
heyf f pity; ~a its too bad about ;
~a hatin bi to feel sorry for: heyfa
min bi te t I feel sorry for you
heyhat alas!
heyn v.i. to live
heyran amazing!, incredible!
heyt eight
heyt eighty
heyv f moon, month; ~a arde ev the
full moon
heyran i? what do you mean ?
heywan f animal
hez kirin ji v.t. to like, enjoy: min j hez
kir I liked it
hezar thousand
h still, yet
h furious, quick-tempered
hd hd little by little
hdka slowly, softly
hj still, (with comparative) even
hja valuable, worthy; ne ~ worthless
hk f egg
hl1 f side, direction
hl2 vigor, strength, power; bi ~ vigor-
ously, aloud
hl3 trace, track
hl- hitin
hlan v.t. to leave
hln f birds nest; ~ kirin v.t. to nest,
to settle in
hnik cool; ~ay f coolness
hre kirin v.t. to look
hri f attack; ~ kirin/ann/birdin v.t. to
make an attack: cendirme hri ser
mal dikin the gendarmes are attacking the house
hriker attacking
hrs f anger; ~ kirin v.t. to anger; ~
ketin v.i. to get angry
hsan easy; ~ kirin v.t. to facilitate,
make easy; ~ easy
hsir m tear
hsr captive, prisoner
hstir1 f mule
hstir2 = hsir
hn green (of plants), bluish (of animals); ~ay f greenery, verdure; ~ f
greenery
htir f camel
ht f thigh
hvar = var
hv f hope; ~dar hopeful; b~ hopeless; li ~ya bn to wait for, be in
expectation of ; (li) ~ya man to
lie in wait for
hwan f porch
hwir at rest, calm
hz f strength, power
hicm f attack
hijmartin hijmr- (dial. var.) = hejmartin
hikim m sovereignty, power; verdict,
judgment; hatine ser ~ to come to
power; ~ dayn to make a judgment
hilan kept, preserved
hil-ann (hil-n-) v.t. to take away; to
keep, preserve
hil-avtin v.t. to go, stick (li ra
217
KURMANJI KURDISH
through something)
hil-bijartin v.t. to choose
hil-dan v.t. to lift, raise
hil-dirandin (dial. var.) = hel-dirandin
hil-girtin v.t. to bear, endure; to shoulder (a responsibility, burden)
hil-ketin v.i. to come about by chance
hil-kan v.i. to climb up, out
hil-kutan v.t. to knock, rattle
hilmis poke; ~ dan bi to poke
hil-pekandin (dial. var.) = helpekandin
hil-qedimn v.i. to stand up
hil-andin li ser v.t. to bring down on
hil-weandin v.t. to break up, split
apart: pit hilweandina sstema Sovyet after the break-up of the Soviet
system
hil-wen v.i. to break up, split apart
himhim bothand
himber (dial. var.) = hember
himbz kirin v.t. to embrace
himz armful; ~ kirin = himbz kirin
hin some, a few, several: hin rpel a
few pages, several pages; hin ji wan a
few of them; ~n wan some of them;
~ekan ~ekan some others
hinarok cheek
hind1 = hin; hinde cara hindek every
once in a while
hind2 f measure, extent: ji ber hind j to
a certain extent; ~ik slight, few, little
bit; ~ikah f minority
hinda prep. until
hindav f direction; ~a da toward
hindir = hundur
hiner = huner
hing then, at that time; therefore, for
that reason
hingiv m honey
hing then, at that time
hingr f twilight
hir f wool
hiriyan v.i. to fall down, spill over or
out
hi m awareness, sense; ~ be be quiet!;
bi ~ intelligent, smart
hiin = hn
hik dry, solid, frozen; ~ bn v.i. to
freeze; ~ah f solidity, rigidity; ~asay
f dry, cold air
hitin hl- v.t. to let go, leave, allow;
Xwed te bihle may God preserve
you!
hiyar awake, sober; ~ bn v.i. to
awaken; ~ kirin v.t. to wake
hizandin (dial. var.) = hejandin
hizib f political party
hizir f thought, idea; li hizra da bn
to be thinking about
hm1 m foundation, basis; ~avj m
founder
hm2 = hn2
hn1 still, yet: ew ~ nehatiye he hasnt
come yet; ~ btir even more
hn2: ~ bn v.i. to learn; ~ kirin v.t. to
teach: w ez hn pir titan kirim she
taught me many things; ~ bn to
learn how to (+ inf.)\
hna = hn1
hnga = hing
hs f feeling, emotion; ~ kirin v.t. to feel
htin = hitin
hv (dial. var.) = heyv
hv (dial. var.) = hv
hz m/f skin sack
hogi m mountain ram
hogir accustomed, intimate friend; m
environment
hol f environment, surroundings; xwe
gihandin ~ to come forth, come
about, arrive
hol thus, in this manner; in view
holik f hut
hon (dial. var.) = hun
honik cool; ~ kirin v.t. to cool down;
dil xwe ~ kirin bi to console oneself
with
218
hov wild; ~t f wildness
hovan over there
hoy m condition, circumstance: di hoyn
teng de in narrow straits, in a tight
spot
hozant f poetry
h.p. = heta pa etc., et al.
hukum m order; ~dar f rule; ~dar
kirin v.t. to rule
hukmet f government
humanst m humanist; ~ humanistic
hun (obl. we) you (pl.)
hundir (dial. var.) = hundur
hundur m inside; ~ prep. inside of; di
~ de within: di ~ deh salan de
within ten years
huner, hiner f art, skill; ~mend m artist
hur free, at liberty
hurmetgir respectful
hustu m neck
huzr f presence
hn = hun
hr1 small, little; ~ ~ in little bits, in
small pieces; ~ ~() bn v.i. to be
smashed to bits; ~ kirin v.t. to crumble; ~ mr small items, little things
hr2 m paunch
hrik m small piece, bit, sliver; ~ ~
slight(ly)
hwd (her wek din) etc.
(because the distinction between initial i
and is not consistently maintained,
the two letters are alphabetized together)
dam f execution, death sentence
idare kirin v.t. to direct, manage
deoloj f ideology
ifade f testimony
iflas f bankruptcy; ne ~ v.i. to go
broke
lan kirin v.t. to announce
ilham f inspiration
ilm scientific
lon f September
imkan m possibility
mparator f empire
imtihan f examination
imtiyaz f concession: imtiyaza neft oil
concession
nca then, in that case
ngilstan f England
ngilz m/f English; ~ f English language
inkar kirin v.t. to deny
insan human being, one; pl people
ina m composition
iptida elementary
rad f objection
ran f Iran
Iraq f Iraq
ro, roj today
r (dial. var.) = ro
sal this year
sfehan wrought silver
skendern f skenderun, Alexandretta
Islamiyet f the religion and traditional
learning of Islam
ispat kirin v.t. to prove, establish
israf f expenditure: israfeke enerjiy an
expenditure of energy
israr kirin v.t. to insist
istifade kirin ji v.t. to make use of
stgah f station
syan f rebellion
m work, affair, job: i min bi
tirkan re heye? What do I have to do
with the Turks?
ellah God willing, I hope
ev tonight
ik dry
ikence f torture; ~ kirin bi v.t. to torture, torment
ikestin (dial. var.) = ikestin
tiraz f objection
iyar m skin, pelt
jahr (dial. var.) = jehr
219
KURMANJI KURDISH
jan f pain, ache; ~ dan v.t. to pain
jar poor; ~ f poverty
jehr f poison
jendirme f gendarmerie
jengor rusty
j = ji + w/w
jhat worthy
j-kirin v.t. to excise, cut out, cut off
jr down
jrbar heavy laden; ~ f being heavy
laden
ji prep. from, to, for, with
ji re ccmp. with
ji ve ccmp. from
ji ber ve ccmp. before
jibrkirin br
jihevdeket fragmented, fallen apart:
civateke ~ a fragmented society
jimar f number
jin f woman, wife; ~ik f woman
jinvezayin f rebirth, renaissance
ji wedaket scattered about
jiyan1 f life
jiyan2 j- v.i. to live
jiyin = jiyan2
j enclitic also, even, emphasizes preceding word
j- jiyan2, jn
jn j- v.i. to live
jndar alive, living; dinya ~ the world
of the living
jr talented, skillful; ~ f diligence, talent
jmartin jmr- v.t. to count, to enumerate
jor above, up
k- kirin
ka (attention-getting particle): ka mze
ke come, look!; ka li ku ye? now
where is it?
ka f straw, hay
kabs f nightmare
kafiye (dial. var.) = qafiye
kal aged; m old man, grandfather; ~e-
mr m elderly gentleman
kalte m good quality
kalkabs m nightmare demon
kalo m old man
kambax ruined, devastated; devastating;
~ kirin v.t. to ruin, devastate
kan = kan2
kan1 f spring, source
kan2 where is/are?
kann (dial. var.) = karn
kanun pl winter months
kapan a narrow, steep mountain road
kapik f bran
kar1 m job, work; ~bidest m authority;
~ker m/f worker; ~bar m work, business, everything entailed by s.th.; ~
kirin to work, to penetrate; bi~ ann
v.t. to use
kar2 kid (goat, deer, &c.)
karik kid goat
karn (v.i., neg. pres. nkarim, past
(d)karibm, neg. past. nkaribm,
subj. (bi)karibim) to be able (+ subj.
to)
karneval f carneval
karto stale
karxezal baby deer, fawn
karzan expert
kasik m globe
kastn f howl
ka m slope, hill; ~ bn to fall backwards
kat kirin v.t. to divulge
kaxet = kaxez
kaxez f paper
kaxiz = kaxez
kazkaz f wail
keban f lady: kebaniya mal the lady of
the house
ke f girl; ~ik f little girl
ked f stick; ~a kesek xwarin to get
beaten by s.o.
kef1 f foam: ~a sawn soapsuds; ~ dan
v.t. to foam
220
2
kef f palm (of the hand)

kefen m burial shroud; ~ kirin v.t. to
shroud
kef f kefiya, Arab headdress
kefteleft f activity, work, enterprise
kej f fur; ~ da-bn v.i. to get long fur
kek m elder brother
kel1 boiling; ~ ger crying and weeping
kel2 m bull
kelandin keln- v.t. to boil
kela m corpse, body
kelber wild
kel f an outcropping of rock
kelem1 oak
kelem2 m thorn; obstacle, difficulty,
trick
kelem3 m cabbage; ~ Bruksel Brussel
sprout
keleme f handcuff; ~ kirin v.t. to handcuff
keln f opportunity, chance
kemn f ambush; ~ girtin to lie in ambush
ken m laughter; ~iyan v.i. to laugh
ken- kenn
kendal f side, slope, bank
keng, keng when?
kenn v.i. to laugh
ker1 donkey; ne ker ketiye, ne hz
diriyaye, ne doab rijiyaye (prov.)
no donkey has fallen, no skein has
been ripped, and no molasses has
been spilled, i.e. nothing at all has
happened
ker2 deaf
ker3 quiet, silent
keramet f miracle
kerb f sorrow, grief; bi ~a n v.i. to
empathize with
kerem generosity, benefit; ji ~a xwe
please, if you would be so kind
ker f herd; piece
kerm f snout
kerp m sun-baked mud brick

kerwan m caravan
keser f sorrow, grief; ~vedan f sorrowing
kesk green
kef kirin v.t. to discover
ket f boat
ketin kev- v.i. to fall; ~ li ber to object to, oppose; bi ser ~ to come up,
to surface
kev- ketin
kevan = keban
kev m spoon
kever spotlessly white
kevin ancient
kevir m stone, rock
kevnar ancient
kevnebajar f ancient seat
kevneperest conservative
kevnesovyet f the ex-Soviet Union
kew partridge
kewan = keban
kewtn v.i. to bark
keys f opportunity, advantage
kezeb f liver; womb; ~ ewitan to feel
sorry, be distressed
kez f braid of hair
kezk f strand of hair
kez kirin v.t. to bite
k k
kf f pleasure, joy: li ~a w nedihat she
wasnt enjoying it; ~xwe happy;
~xwe f happiness, pleasure, rejoicing; ~ sefa pleasure
kl m grave
klek f side, edge
km few, little bit; ~ kirin v.t. to lessen;
~ mab ku (+ subj.) almost: km
mab ku dila te ji kfa ji snga te
derkeve your heart almost leapt out of
your breast from joy; ~an f deficiency, inadequacy; ~as f paucity; ~
zde more or less; b~as flawless(ly); bi ~an f at least
221
KURMANJI KURDISH
1
kr f knife
kr2 f benefit, profit, effect; bi ~
hatin to be of benefit to : bi kr i
t? whats the use of it?; bi~ useful
krk rabbit
ks = keys
kan v.t. to pull, draw; cixar ~ to
smoke cigarettes
kz f bug, insect; ~ik f bug
kibrt match; ~firo matchseller
kif clear, apparent
kil1 f collyrium; ~ kirin to paint the eyes
with collyrium
kil2 kirin v.t. to wave; dest ~ ji re to
wave the hand at
kim m corner
kin short; ~ f shortness; bi ~ shortly,
slightly
kinc pl clothes
kincik m rag
kir kirin
kiras m shirt
kirt ugly, shameful; ~ f ugliness, defilement, shame
kirwe m blizzard
kirin k- v.t. to do; ~ ku (+ pres. subj.) to
make (as if to do s.th.), almost to do
s.th.: w kir ku titek bibje, l ne got
he almost said something, but he
didnt; ji xwe ~ to take off (clothes),
disrobe: min kincn xwe ji xwe kir I
took off my clothes; te dikir nedikir do what you might; min kir
nekir no matter what I did
kirn kir- v.t. to buy
kirmat in stony silence
kiandin kin- v.t. to pull, draw; dest ~
ji to withdraw from
kikiandin v.t. to drag
kitb f book; ~xane f library
kitkit f detail
kiv = kif
k (obl. k) who?
kjan which?
kn f revenge, feud: kna xwe bi hev re

hene they are having a feud; ~ girtin
v.t. to take revenge
knga ever; when
ks m sack, bag; ji ~ xwe out of ones
own pocket
kso f tortoise
klasifikasyon f classification
klankov f Klashnikov rifle
ko = ku2
ko kirin v.t. to decamp, move; ~
kirin to move to
kok1 f stitch
kok2 f root, stub
kolan f street
kolan kol- v.t. to dig, dig out, research;
~din koln- v.t. to dig
kole1 trick, deceit; ~ kirin v.t. to
deceive; ~dar tricky, deceitful
kole2 captive, slave
kolonyalst colonialist
kom f pile, group; ~ bn to gather, assemble; ~a san pack of dogs
komar f republic: Komara Mehabad
the Republic of Mahabad
komel f society, organization: Komela
Karkern Kurd Kurdish Workers
Society; ~ayet social
komik f small group
kon m tent
kongre f congress
kor, kr blind; ~ ~ fikirn to be lost in
thought
kor kend m depression
koik f pavilion
kovar f journal
kov wild, ferocious
kox f coop: koxa mirkan chicken coop
koxik f hut, shack
ku1 where?; ji ~ where from?, li ~
where, where at?
ku2 that (subordinating conj.); unless
ku f large rock
kuder where?
222
kufuk m snot; kufk poz snot; kufk
guh earwax; ~girt snotty
kuj m corner
kuj- kutin
kul f wound, pain, suffering; adj. infected, inflamed, suffering
kulav m felt mat
kulek f smoke hole
kulfet f job, duty: xud kulfet employed,
holding down a job; maid, female servant; wife
kulik m finger; ~ek dan ser to put a
finger on, point to
kul f flake of snow
kullk f wild flower
kull cotton
kulm f fist; ~ik f fist
kulmoz m beehive
kultur f culture
kum m cap; kea ~sor Little Red
Riding Hood
kun f hole; kun kun kirin v.t. to poke
holes in
kundk rnitin v.i. to hunker down
kunkun pitted, pockmarked
kur m boy, son
kur kirin v.t. to cut (the hair)
kurd m/f Kurd; ~andin v.t. to Kurdicize; ~istan f Kurdistan; ~ayet f
Kurdishness; ~hiz Kurdophile; ~iyet
f Kurdishness; ~ Kurdish
kurdmanc Kurmanji Kurdish
kurm m worm; ~ik m little worm; ~
wormy, mangy, maggoty
kurs f chair, seat: kursiya eref the
seat of honor
kur f frozen snow; ~enegirt not frozen
solid
kurt short, brief; ~ay f shortness: bi
kurtay briefly; ~erok f short story;
~edem f moment
kuruf f mound of snow
kusan how
kuskusandin v.t. to squint
kutin kuj- v.t. to kill

kut xistin li v.t. to take a puff on (a
cigarette)
kut peck, (dogs) bark; ~ kirin v.t. to
clack, clatter, rattle
kutan v.t. to strike; avn xwe j ~ to
blink the eyes
kutatirn least
kuxn v.i. to cough
kuxuyan v.i. to cough
k call to a dog
ke f (obl k) lane
kik m dog
kd lame
kl f ???
kllk = kullk
kr1 (dial. var.) = kor
kr2 deep; ~ nrn to look closely; ~ah
f depth; ~an f depth
kke small, tiny
kv (dial. var.) = kov
kwr blind
kws, kws (dial. var.) = kso
labrent f labyrinth
lablabik m marsh: kwsiy lablabik
marsh turtle
lak secular
lal mute, speechless
lampe f lamp, light
land f belly
landik f cradle
la m body, corpse
lat f boulder
latn Latin
lava kirin v.t. to plead; ~y f pleading
lavan = lava
law m/f youth, child; ~ik m infant
lawur m wild animal
layiq worthy
lazim necessary
lebitn v.i. to move about
leheng m champion, hero
leh f flood, torrent
223
KURMANJI KURDISH
lekim m/f tentacle ???
lenger f tray
lep m paw
leplep twinkling ???
lerizn = lerzn
lerizner trembling
lerizok trembling
lerz m trembling
lerzandin lerzn- v.t. to shake
lerzn v.i. to tremble, shake
le m body; ~bizdn ???
leker m soldier
lev aimless ???; ~ ketin v.i. to chatter
(of the teeth)
lewa thin flat bread
lewhe f sign
lewma for this reason, therefore
lewra, ji lewra because
leyistin leyiz-, lz- v.t. to play, play (a
part); to play around (bi with): w bi
nivsn min dileyist he used to play
around with my writings
leyiztin (dial. var.) = leyistin
leylan f mirage
Leypiig f Leipzig
lez m haste; ~ kirin v.t. to make haste;
bi ~ in haste, hastily; bi ~ bez in all
haste, as fast as possible
lezandin lezn- v.t. to hasten, to accelerate
lezet f pleasure
l1 but; ~bel on the other hand
l2 = li + w/w
l bn bi to be afflicted with
l-dan l-d- v.t. to strike, play (instrument); cut off: bila mr ser min lbidit let the prince cut my head off
l-gern v.t. collect
lh: di lh de ccmp. for, in support
of
lkoln f research; ~er m researcher
lv f lip, seashore
lvikest with a broken lid
l-xistin v.t. to beat, to play (musical
instrument), to ring (telephone)

li prep. in, at, to; also forms the first element of a number of compound prepositions; see the second element
lib m copy (of a book), flake (of snow),
drop (tear); unit, single item
liberxwe free, unhindered
Libnan f Lebanon
lihf f quilt
lihstin (dial. var.) = lstin
likumn v.i. to trip
ling m foot, leg; li ser ~an standing, on
foot
lipamay backward; ~n f backwardness
liq f branch
liqandin v.t. to hang; xwe ~ to hang
(int.)
liser vebn v.t. to diagnose
liv f motion, movement; ~ l dan, ~ l
xistin v.t. to put in motion
livandin livn- v.t. to move, put in motion: destikn ketiy z dilivandin he
was moving the oars of the boat
quickly
liviyan = livn1
livn1 v.i. to move, be in motion, stir
livn2 m bed, bedding
livok unstable
lixwekirin f manner of dress
llandin v.t. to ululate
ls f high school; ~ xwendin to attend
high school
lstik f game, play, sport
lstin lz- v.i. to play
lz- lstin
lojman f lodging
loma for that reason, therefore
luht naked, bare
luks deluxe
lle f pipe, barrel (of a rifle)
lrn v.i. to bay
lsn v.i. to perch
ma interrogative particle: with affirma-
224
tive questions a negative answer is
expected: ma rast e? thats not right,
is it?; with negative questions an affirmative answer is expected: ma ne
rast e? isnt that right?; with other
interrogatives ma gives the sense of
ever: ma tu y i bik bi kr? What
ever are you going to do with a knife?
ma kirin v.t. to kiss
Maden f Maden, also known as Paxirmaden, city northwest of Diyarbekir
maf m share, portion; right; ~nas appreciative
makne f machine, car
mal1 f house, home: mala min mala te
my house is your house; ~bat f family; ~mezin belonging to a great family; ~xw paterfamilias
mal2 m goods, possessions, wealth: ~
ticaret commercial goods
mal- malitin, mitin
malava (vocative particle) hey!, see
here!
malitin mal- v.t. to rub, rub out
maliye f tax office
malmat (pl) information
mam m paternal uncle
mamostat/et f pedagogy; ~at/et
kirin v.t. to teach: w mamostetiya
ziman ereb dikir he used to teach
the Arabic language
mamostay kirin v.t. to teach: w
mamostayiya rewenbr ya gelek
rewenbrn kurd kir he taught many
Kurdish intellectuals how to be intellectuals
mamoste m teacher;
man mn- v.i. to remain, stay, dwell;
ne~ to cease to exist, to be no more:
nema xweya kir he never appeared
again; hindik ~ (+ subj.) to be about
to, to be on the verge of: hindik dima
fener bitemire the lamp was on the
verge of going out
mand exhausted; ~bn f exhaustion

mane (const mana) f meaning; ~w
moral, spiritual
mange f cow
man constraint, obstacle
mantiq m logic
maql reasonable; ~ dtin to consider
reasonable: w pniyaza min maql
dt he considered my proposal reasonable
mar m (obl mr) snake
mar kirin v.t. to marry (li to)
mar f march, anthem
mase f (obl mas) table
mast m yogurt
maellah goodness! (said to ward off
the evil eye when something is admired or praised)
mat silent
matmayn f astonishment
may(n) other
mazlm tyrannized; ~iyet f tyrannization
mazot f kerosene
me em
me- alternative negative subjunctive
and imperative prefix = nemebest f intent
mebin (archaic negative 3rd pl subjunctive of bn) they may not be: gelek
mebin j even though they may not be
many
mecal f opportunity: ta niha mecal tune
b until now there has been no opportunity; ~ birrn v.t. to take an opportunity away
mecbr obliged; ~ kirin v.t. to oblige,
force
meclis parliament
medeniyet f civilization
medin civil
medrese f religious school
mefhm f concept
meh f month
225
KURMANJI KURDISH
Mehabad f Mahabad
mehkeme f court
mehkm condemned; ~ kirin v.t. to
condemn
mehll dissolved; ~ bn to be dissolved
mehr f marriage contract; ~ birn to
conclude a marriage contract
mehrm ji deprived of
meh kirin v.t. to wipe out
mej m marrow
mejl occupied; ~ bn li ser v.i. to be
occupied, busy with
mekan stance, position
mekteb f school
mela m (obl. mel) mulla
mele (dial. var.) = mela
melevan m swimmer; ~ f swimming
melkemot the angel of death
memr government official
mencel a copper pot
mendik an herb
meqale f article
merasm f ceremony
merbend f bond, fetter
mereqdar f interest, inquisitiveness,
curiosity
mereq kirin v.t. to wonder
merg f death
merhele f stage: di merhela ewel de in
the first stage
meriv m person, one (impersonal): gava
meriv li cihek dimne when one stays
in a place
merd m disciple, devotee
merkez f center; ~ central: hukmeta
merkez central government
mesaj f message
mesel f example; ~en for example
mesele f matter
mestir larger, bigger
mesliyet f responsibility
me f walking: mea xwe domand he
continued walking; ~andin v.t. to put
into practice; ~iyan/-n v.i. to walk
metleb ???
mewld f a poem celebrating the birth
of the Prophet Muhammad, traditionally recited on festive occasions
mexsed f intent, intention
meydan f field; ann ~ v.t. to bring to
the fore
meyeldar, meyildar = meyldar
meyn v.i. to remain
meyl f inclination; ~dar predisposed (ji
re to); ~dar f bias, predisposition
mezel1 m grave, tomb
mezel2 f room
mezheb m sect
mezin big, large, great; ~ bn v.i. to
grow up; ~ kirin v.t. to raise, bring
up; ~ah f greatness; bi ~bna as
vast as
m f female
mj long ago; ji ~ ve from long ago
mj f brain, mind
mjn v.i. to suck, suckle
mjvemay remnant, relic
mr1 m man, husband; ~an f manliness;
~ik m fellow, guy; ~xas m gentleman
mr2 mar
mrg f meadow
mrxas brave
m f bee; ~a hingiv honeybee
mtro f metro, subway
mvan m/f guest; ~dar f visit; ~perwer f hospitality; ~xane f reception
room
mze kirin li v.t. to look at, see
mi shut, closed; ~ kirin v.t. to shut,
cover
mideh m period of time
midr m director, principal
mih ???
mihrican f celebration, festival
mij m mist
mijn (dial. var.) = mjn
mijl bi ve occupied, involved with;
~ f occupation, activity
226
mikan = mekan
mil m neck, shoulder; support, aid; side,
direction; bi ~ yek girtin v.t. to
come to s.o.s aid, to lessen s.o.s burden; ji ~ din on the other hand
milet m nation; ~perwer nationalistic
mil national
min ez
mindal m child
minet f obligation; b ~ generous
minnet = minet
miqam m musical mode
miraz ??? wish
mircan coral, coral bead
mirin mir-/mr- (dimire, dimre) v.i. to
die
miriyan = mirin
mir dead
mird m devotee
mirk f chicken
mirov m man; f woman; m/f person;
~at f humanity, humaneness, chivalry
mirward m/f ??? pearl
misilman Moslem
Misir f Egypt; misr Egyptian
mit ji full of, filled to the brim with
mitin mal- v.t. to sweep
mit man v.i. not to make a sound
mit mat utterly silent
mixabin unfortunately
mizgn m good news; ~ f present given
to a person bearing good news
m f sheep
mh = m
mn- man
mna (prep.) like; ~ ku (conj.) as, while
mnak equal, similar; m example: weke
mnak for example; ~ f similarity
mr m prince; f princess; ~ek princeling
mohr f seal, stamp; ~ xistin v.t. to seal,
put a stamp on
mor = mohr
more cracked (as a mud wall)
moz(e) flying insect

mr- mirin.
mudet m period
mudr m school principal
muesese f institution
muhlet f grace period, respite
munaqee f debate; ~ kirin v.t. to debate
munasebet f occasion; bi ~a on the occasion of
muxtar m village chief, elder
muzk f music
m m hair, strand of hair; iota: ne mwek not an iota
mr f ant
na- (negative prefix for present indicative verbs) not
naln v.i. to wail, cry out
name f letter
nams f honor; womenfolk
nan m bread; ~pj f bakery
nar m pomegranate
narn delicate
nas acquainted, known, familiar; ~ kirin
v.t. to know, be acquainted with, recognize; ~andin v.t. to introduce,
make known; dan naskirin v.t. to introduce
nasiyar familiar
nasnav m identity
nav1 f middle; di ~a de in the midst
of; li ~ hev de girtin to surround; ~n
middle (adj.), central: Rojhilata Navn
the Middle East
nav2 m name; ~ kirin v.t. to name;
~andin v.t. to name; ~dar famous, renowned; ~no notorious; ~not f notoriety
navbera prep. between, among
naverok f contents
navik f waist
navnetewey international
navnan f address
227
KURMANJI KURDISH
navteng f girth
naxr no
naxir f herd
naxwe this being so
naylon f plastic: trikn ~ plastic bags
naynik = neynik
nazik fine, delicate
ne not; ~ ~ neither nor; ~ l not
but; ne- (negative prefix for subjunctive, imperative, and past-tense
verbs) not
nebeled uninformed, unknowing
near helpless; ~ man to have no alternative; ~ f helplessness; ji ~ with no
alternative
nedar f poverty
ned ve, ji suddenly
nefel f clover
nefes dan v.t. to huff and puff; to be out
of breath
nefret f hatred; ~ kirin ji v.t. to hate,
abhor
nefs f self; ~a xwe karn to control oneself; ~pik humble; ~pik, ~pikah f humility
neft f oil
neh nine
neheq f injustice
nehy prohibition
nejihevdurebyn f indivisibility and
inseparability
nema notagain
nemaze especially
nemir undying, immortal: dibe xwediy
navek nemir he possesses an immortal name
nemirovane unmanly, cowardly
nenas unacquainted, unfamiliar, unknown; ~ unacquainted with
nepixandin nepixn- v.t. to blow up, inflate
nepixn v.i. to swell
neqandin v.t. to select, choose
neraz discontent; ~bn f discontent-
ment
nerind evil
nerm soft, gentle, fine; ~ah f softness,
gentleness; ~ik softly, gently
nesir f prose
nen unhappy
netewe f nation; ~yn Yekby the
United Nations; ~y national; ~yt f
nationalism
nev m/f grandchild, offspring
Nevroz f Persian New Years day
newal f valley
nex miracle; ~n miraculous
nexe f map
nexwe otherwise
nexwe sick, ill; unpleasant; ~ f sickness, disease; ~xane f hospital
nexuyay invisible
neyar m enemy, opponent, foe
neyn f destitution
neynik f mirror
neynok f fingernail, toenail
neynk = neynok
nezan f ignorance
nirvan m hunter
nr f game, prey; n ~ v.i. to go
after game
nrvan m hunter
nrevan m scout
nrn v.i. to look; f view, speculation
nan f target, mark; ~ kirin v.t. to take
aim at, to focus on
nv (dial. var.) = nv
nv (dial. var.) = nv
nzk near; ~ah f proximity; ~ near to,
nearly
nzkat kirin bi v.t. to approach
nifirn f malediction, curse
nif m generation
nifs f identity card
nig m foot; ~n xwe zdey xwe avtin
to overstep ones bounds
nigardar beautiful
niha now; ber ~ before now, ago
228
nihe = niha
nihran expectant, apprehensive
nihrn li v.i. to look at, to notice; to
look upon, regard (wek as)
nihrtin (dial. var.) = nihrn
niho (dial. var.) = niha
nijad m race; ~perest racist
nijde f brigandage
nik f side, direction; toward, to; prep.
next to, with, to, for
nikil m beak
nikilandin nikiln- v.t. to peck
nimj f prayer; ~ kirin v.t. to pray
nimne f example: ji bo nimne as an
example, for example; ~nde f example
niqutandin v.t. to drip
niqutn v.i. to drip
nisbet bi relative to
nisxe = nusxe
nian = nan
nik: ji ~ (~a) ve suddenly
nitin n-/ni- v.i. to sit
nitilandin v.t. to draw, to mark
nivistin -niv- v.i. to sleep
niviz ???
nivn1 m (usually pl) bed; ~ nexweiy
sick bed; destek ~ a set of sheets and
bedding material
nivn2 -niv- v.i. to lie down, sleep
nivsandin v.t. to write
nivsar f writing, text
nivsevan m writer
nivsn v.t. to write
nivskar m/f writer; ~ kirin to write,
engage in writing
nivsk written
niv = nif
nivz half
niwal f small valley
niyet f intention
nixabtin = nuxumandin
nixamtin = nuxumandin
nixumandin = nuxumandin
nizar m mountain side (where the sun

never shines)
nizim low
njad = nijad
nn none, nothing
nsan f April
nan f sign, mark, military decoration;
~ dan v.t. to show; ~ kirin v.t. to indicate
nv half; ~ saet half an hour; ~c half
done; ~ ev midnight; ~roj f noon;
~sedsal f midpoint of a century
nvek f half
nveruh half-dead
nvikest cracked
nv f middle, midpoint, half
nzing (dial. var.) = nzk
nod ninety
nojdar f panacea
nok f chickpea; ~a taht pebble
nola (prep.) like: nola hev like each
other
noqim bn v.i. ???
not = nod
nozdeh nineteen
nu new; ji ~ ve all over again
nuby new-born
nudem modern
nuh = nu
nuha (dial. var.) = niha
nuhat new, newly come about: niv
nu the new generation
nuht f newness, novelty
nujen newly invented, new-fangled,
modern
nuka (dial. var.) = nuha
nusxe f copy
nuvejn f renaissance
nuxumandin v.t. to cover, veil
nuxumn v.i. to be covered, veiled
nuyt f novelty
nuzewic newly-wed
n = nu
nh = nu
229
KURMANJI KURDISH
njen = nujen
nner representative
NY = Neteweyn Yekby the United
Nations
oda, ode f (obl od) room
okyans f ocean
ol f religion; ~dar religious; ~ religious;
~perwer religious
ord f army: Ordiya Sor the Red Army
ordu = ord
orre or f roar
orte f middle
Osman Ottoman
otorte f authority
pag stable
pak pure, clean; ~hilann ji v.t. to get
rid of
pakt package
pal1 f mountainside
pal2 dan v.t. to push
palas ???
pale m worker
pan wide, broad
panat f expanse, breadth
pansiman kirin v.t. to bandage
papor f stove
paqij pure, clean; ~ kirin v.t. to clean;
~ f cleanliness
paqi (dial. var.) = paqij
par1 f part, share
par2 last year
par3 f back; ji ~ re from behind
pare, pere m piece: du s pern
kaxizn two or three pieces of paper;
~ bn v.i. to be fragmented; ~ kirin
v.t. to fragment
parastin parz- v.t. to protect, guard
Pars f Paris
pars Persian language
part f political party: partiyn kurd yn
siyas Kurdish political parties
parve kirin v.t. to distribute
paseport f passport
pa m the back; li ~ ser prep. behind;
~ xwe avetin bi v.t. to throw oneself
into s.th.; ~eroj f past, the past; ~ng
later; ~ver backward; ~vert f
backwardness
pail f bosom
pa f end; heta paiy until the end
patik f back of the head
paye f high rank, place of honor; ~t f
honor
payz f autumn
pejirandin v.t. to accept
pekiyan = pekn
pekn pek- v.i. to splash, splatter, rise
up suddenly
pekok: strka pekok shooting star
pel m leaf, page
pelikan stairs, stairway
pelk leaf
pembo m cotton
pena f refuge, asylum; ~ber m/f refugee;
~ber f refugee status
pencere f window
peng ???
pengizandin pengizn- v.t. to make
jump, spurt
pengizn v.i. to spray, spurt
penr m (obl. penr) cheese
per1 m side
per2 m feather
per3 f piece
peran heavy: cezay peran heavy penalty
pere = pare
pern rivet; bi hev ~ kirin to rivet
together, to patch together
perde f (const. perda) curtain
perd f ceiling beam
pere m money
pergal m compass; bi ~ derketin to be
encompassed
perg (+ construct) hatin v.i. to come
across, find; n ~ to go to find
230
perpitn v.i. to flutter: dil min diperpite
I get sick at my stomach
perwaz f flight
perwerd f education
pesin m praise; ~andin v.t. to praise, to
approve of; wesf pesn dan to
praise and extol
pesn m trace
petrol f petrolium
pevgirdan f connection
pexan f prose; ~nivskar m prosewriter
pey: li ~ (prep.) behind, after; di ~ de
(prep.) after
peya m man
peya bn v.i. to get out, off, down (from
vehicle)
peyda bn v.i. to be found: min zanb
w saet ava germ peyda nabe I knew
there was no warm water to be found
at that time; ~ kirin v.t. to find
peyitandin v.t. to prove
peyivn v.i. to talk, speak: ez zde p re
nepeyivm I didnt speak to him long
pey hev one after the other
peyman f pact, agreement; ~ girdan
ligel to conclude a pact with
peyv f conversation, talk, words: me
peyv dagerand ser huner edebiyat
we turned the conversation to art and
literature; ~ik f expression
peywend f relation: peywendiyn navnetewey international relations
pez f sheep
pezkv (dial. var.) = pezkv
pezkv mountain sheep
p1 = bi + w/w
p2 m foot
pandin pn- v.t. to wrap, roll
pn p- v.t. to roll, wrap;
pjin f feeling
pjn pj- v.i. to be cooked; v.t. to light
(cigarette)
pk together; ~-ann v.t. to get together,
collect, arrange; ~-hatin v.i. to come

about, come to be; ~-hatin ji v.i. to
consist of
p-ketin v.i. to catch (fire)
pkol kirin v.t. to stick together (snow)
pkva together
p-xistin v.t. to light (fire), to switch on
pl f wave; ~ bn v.i. to spread out
plpl wavy, undulating
pnc five; ~ih, ~ fifty
pra along with him (see p)
prg perg
psr f collar; windpipe; forefront; area
just below the summit of a mountain
p forward: mirov bi p de bie one
will go forward; ~-ketin to advance;
bi ~ derketin to come out to the fore;
~eroj f the future; ~de xistin to promote; ~ket advanced
payk f forefront
pber m guide, leader; ketin ~ to be
faced with; ~ in the lead, leadership,
(prep.) in front of; ~ derketin to
lead, go out ahead of
pdexistin f promotion, advancement
peng m leader, vanguard
pepa, li prep. out in front of
peroj f future
pevan m leader
pgotin f foreword
piya prep. before, in front of
p adj. first: cara p the first time, di
du-s saln p de during the first
two or three years; f advance: ~ya
girtin v.t. to prevent
pk avant-garde, forerunner
pn first
pke f present, gift, tribute; ~ kirin v.t.
to offer (as a gift), to present
pmerge m guerrilla
pniyaz f proposal, suggestion
pveketin f advancement, progress
pt f flame
ptgiran lazy, indolent
231
KURMANJI KURDISH
pwend bi f connection to
pwst necessary; ~ f necessity, requirement
pxember m prophet
p-xistin -x- v.t. to light, turn on (light)
pxwas barefooted
pi small, little; ~ek a little bit, for a
moment; a little thing
pife pif f huff and puff
pif kirin v.t. to blow, puff
pifin kirin v.t. to hiss
pij scattered
pijandin v.t. to cook
pijn v.i. to be cooked
pijiqandin v.t. to make (blood) gush
pijiqn v.i. to explode, to blow up
piling m tiger
pilot m/f spark ???
pilpil ???
piqpiqok f bubble
pir1 very, many, much; ~an f most,
majority: piraniya wan most of them;
pirraniya caran most of the time
pir2 f bridge
pir f body hair
piroze kirin v.t. to tear to shreds
pirs f question; ~ek ji kirin v.t. to ask
a question of s.o.; ~gir skeptic;
~girk f question: pirsgirka kurd
the Kurdish question
pirsan v.t. to ask (a question)
pirtepirt f sputtering ???
pirtik f sheet (glass, paper)
pirtk f paper, sheet of paper
pirtve kirin v.t. to tear to pieces
pisk f cat
pismam m cousin
pispor, pispr m expert; ~ f expertise
piaftin v.t. to assimilate
piirn to ruminate (?)
pit f back, hill; ~a prep. behind, on the
other side of; ~a xwe dan v.t. to turn
ones back; ~ prep. after; ~ ku conj.
after; ~germ supported, protected;
~gir m supporter; ~gir f support; ~re

then,
later,
afterward;
~xwar
hunched-over
piyale f glass, goblet
piyes f play
pizot m torch: avn w wek du pizotn
gir bn his eyes were like two fiery
torches
pjame m pyjamas
pn f kick; ~-avtin v.t. to kick
pne ???
ppoq f glass
pr old; m/f old man, old woman; ~ik f
grandmother
prat f old age
prhepok m monster ???
proz sacred, holy; ~ kirin v.t. to celebrate; to congratulate: ew w roja han
mna karnevalek proz dikin they
celebrate that day like a carneval;
~bah f congratulations; ~wer holy
ps bad, dirty; ~ik nasty, awful; ~it f
obscenity
psr (dial. var.) = psr
pvan f measurement, criterion; ~din
pvn- v.t. to measure
PKK = Partiya Karkern Kurdistan
Kurdish Workers Party
plan f plan; ~ker m planner; ~ kirin to make a plan
pola m steel
poltka f politics; policy
ponijn v.i. to be engrossed in thought
por m hair (on the head); ~re blackhaired; ~zer blonde
poman regretful; ~ bn li to regret
s.th./doing s.th.
poxsde sad
poz m nose, snout
prensp m principle
proje f project
protesto kirin v.t. to protest, go on
strike, boycott
PTT = Post Telefon Telexraf Post, Tel-
232
ephone, and Telegraph
p useless, unuseable
pk f snowstorm, blizzard
prt f hair, fur, pelt; ~ per feathery
coat
ptperest idolator; ~ f idolatry
PZ = pit zayn anno domini (AD)
qaax m smuggler
qad f field, place; ~a er field of battle
qaf f head
qahf m cave, cavern
qail bn to accept (bi)
qal f statement; ~ kirin v.t. to state; ~
ceng f fight
qalikday frostbitten ???
qalik m shell, husk
qalind thick, fat
qam f stature, height; measurement for
the height of the sun in the sky
qam m whip
qami reed
qanser f cancer
qann f law
qarn v.i. to cry bitterly
qasid m messenger, envoy
qas ku as much as
qatil m murderer
qayi, qay f strap, thong, belt; rivalry,
competition; bi re ketin ~ to
compete against: te digot qey ew bi
min re ketib qay youd think he
was in competition with me
qaymeqam m provincial governor
qaz m goose
qazax f butane
qe no, none, at all: ez qe naxwnim I
dont read at all
qebl kirin v.t. to accept; wek hatin
qeblkirin to be accepted as
qedandin v.t. to finish, to complete
qedeh f cup, goblet
qeder1 m amount; ~ for the length
of
qeder2 f fate, destiny

qedexe f prohibition; (adj) prohibited; ~
kirin to prohibit, to ban
qedir m worth; qedr zann to appreciate; qedr xwe girtin to esteem
oneself; ~gir appreciative, estimable
qediyan v.i. to end, be finished
qefilandin v.t. to tire
qefiln v.i. to get tired
Qefqasya f the Caucasus
qefsing f breastbone
qehbik f harlot
qehbt = qehpet
qehern (dial. var.) = qehirn
qehir f wrath, rage;
qehirn v.i. to get angry (ji at)
qehpe f prostitute; ~t f prostitution
qehwe f coffee
qela split open, wounded
qelatin -qel- v.t. to split, split open;
qelatina cerah surgical incision
qelaw fat
qelem f pen
qelemrew m realm
qelew (dial. var.) = qelaw
qel- qelatin
qeliandin qelin- v.t. to split, cleave
qelin v.i. to be split
qelizandin v.t. to make disappear; xwe
~ to slip away
qelt f crack
qels weak: kultura devk ya Kurd xurt e
l kultura nivsk qels e Kurdish oral
culture is strong, but the written culture is weak; ~ f weakness
qel = qelt
qelqel cracked
qenc good, pretty, nice; ~ beauty, charitable act, good deed
qerar decision
qerax f edge, shore
qerim wrinkled
qerebalix f crowd, confusion; ~ kirin
v.t. to act up, to flail around
233
KURMANJI KURDISH
qereqol m police station
qerisn v.i. to freeze solid
qermi f wrinkle; ~ wrinkled
qerpee kirin v.t. to hold tightly in
ones embrace
qesir f palace
qest f intention, purpose; ~a kirin
v.t. to head toward
qea f ice
qet (+ neg.) never, not at all
qetan v.i. to be finished; be cut
qetandin qetn- v.t. to finish; break, cut:
kurdn li dervey welt ev zincra
kirt qetandine Kurds outside the
country have broken this shameful
chain; ji hev ~ to part from one
another
qeter m scales, balance; ~ kirin v.t. to
spy (something in the distance)
qetiyan = qetan
qewimn v.i. to happen
qewirandin v.t. to drive away
qewn strong
qewl f promise; ji ~n xwe vekiiyan to
reneg on ones promises, go back on
ones word
qey hey; why?; te digot qey youd
think, it was as though
qeyd f bond, fetter
qeyde f rule
qeytank kirin v.t. ???
qeza1 f district
qeza2 f accident; fate; ~ bela misfortune, calamity
qezenc f profit, earnings, advantage: bi
qezenca to the advantage of ; ~
kirin v.t. to earn, gain, win
qrn v.i. to scream
qijak raven
qijik f crow
qilr(n) filthy
qir kirin v.t. to eliminate, exterminate
qiral m king
qirax (dial. var.) = qerax
qireqir creak, splintering sound

qirdik m clown
qirik1 f crow
qirik2 f throat; ~tal f bitter aftertaste
qir f stem, branch; ~ik f twig
qise f conversation, talk
qismet m fate
qiyamet f resurrection; roja ~ doomsday
qizwan terebinth, a small tree
qjeqj f loud cry, scream
qjiyan v.i. to scream
ql m fang, canine tooth; ber ~an dan to
sink the fangs into
qm f contentment, satisfaction; ~a xwe
ann bi to consent to
qmet f worth, value
qr f cry, shout; ~ kirin v.t. to shout;
~ewr f cry, shout; ~n v.i. to cry out,
screech
qrn v.i. to scream, screech
qz f daughter
qo m horn (of an animal)
qonax f inn; a one-days distance on a
journey
qontrol f check
qufuln v.i. to feel very cold
qul f hole, opening: qula rviyan fox
hole; ~ kirin to pierce
qulibn v.i. to fall down, collapse,
scramble down
quling crane
qulo m league (measure of distance)
quloz bn v.i. to rise up
qulqul full of holes
qulubn = qulibn
qumandan m commandant
qunc f corner; xistine ~ek as to corner
quncik f little bit
quntar f foot of a mountain
quran f the Koran
qurane f hinge
qurban f sacrifice, victim; qurbana
armanca xwe a martyr to ones cause
234
qurm m tree stump: mna qurm dara
mir like a dead tree stump
qut cut, cut off; ~ bn v.i. to get cut off
qut f box
quwet power; bi ~ powerful
q f cliff, height, summit
qn f back; ~a iy mountain skirt; li
ser ~ xistin to topple
qntar = quntar
qutk f small box
ra = re
ra-bn v.i. to rise, arise, get up; to
abandon, give up (li s.th.)
ra-girtin v.t. to pick up; xwe ~ to recover
rahet f ease, comfort
ra-hitin v.t. to put down
ra-ketin v.i. to sleep
ra-kirin v.t. to take away, pick up; to
wake up (trs.); to cancel, abolish; ji
nav ~ to eliminate
raman f stance
ra-man -mn- v.i. to stand, stay, remain
standing; to be perplexed
ra-medandin v.t. to lay down
ra-msan -ms- v.t. to kiss
ran m thigh
ra-pelikn v.i. to crawl, creep
ra-pvan v.t. to pick up; gav ~ to tread
rapor f report
raser superior
rast right, correct; ~ hatin li to come
across; ~ kirin v.t. to correct; bi ~
really; ~e prep. straight toward;
~erast really and truly; ~er correct;
~nivsn f orthography
rav f hunting
ra-westan v.i. to stand up, stop, stand
still; li ser ~ to dwell on, stand up
against
ra-westandin v.t. to make stop
ra-westiyan = ra-westan
rawir wild animal
ra-xistin v.t. to spread

ray f opinion
ra-zan -z- v.i. to lie down, sleep
razdar mysterious
raz contented (li with)
re postposition forms the second part of
a number of circumpositions, generally indicating accompaniment; see the
prepositional element
ref m row; flock (of birds)
reh f way, road; artery, vein; root; ~
penc roots
rehet easy, comfortable, quiet; ~ f
comfort, ease
rehm f mercy; ~ kirin li to have mercy
on; ~et the late
rehmet f Gods mercy; n ~ to pass
away
res m head, chief; ~ cumhr president of the republic
rencber f hardship, trouble
reng m color; bi ~ colored, multicolored; bi i ~ how?; ~e~ of all
colors; ~dr f description, quality, adjective; ~n varied, colorful
ren f avalanche
req1 m turtle
req2 stiff; ~ rt stiff as a board
reqem f number
reqisn v.i. to dance
resim m picture
resm official
re black; ~ girdan v.t. to go into
mourning; ~ kirin v.t. to blacken
re reat f anything black or blackish
in color
reat f blackness, darkness
rev f flight, retreat
revan rev- v.i. to run away
revandin v.t. to let escape, to take away
revde m herd, pack; ~ girtin v.t. to form
a pack
revn = revan
rewneq brightness, brilliance
235
KURMANJI KURDISH
rewrewik f mirage
rew f style, manner
rewenbr intellectual
rex m side, edge, shore; (prep.) next to,
beside
rexne f criticism; ~ girtin li v.t. to criticise; ~gir m critic
rext m cartridge belt
reyan v.i. to bark
rez m vineyard, orchard
r f (const. riya) road, way: bi w riy
in that way; bi riya via; ~ girtin v.t.
to block the road, stop, prevent: k r
li ber wan girtiye? whos stopped
them?; (bi) ~ ketin to set off, start
out; ~ kirin to dispatch, send; bi ~
kirin to see off
rbendan f February
rber m leader; ~ f leadership; ~ kirin
to lead
rbwar m wayfarer
re f trace, track; ~ hildan v.t. to pick
up a trail
rj kirin v.t. to wash
rk-xistin v.t. to arrange, put in order
rkxistin f coalition
rl f forest, wood
rncber kirin v.t. to struggle, suffer
hardship
rven f gait, walk
rvebir = birvebir
rv m fox
rvng m traveler
rwit f journey
rw m/f traveler; ~t f journey, trip
rz f line; ~ bn v.i. to line up; ~kirin
v.t. to line up, arrange
rz-girtin ji v.t. to respect, have respect
for
rzik f law, rule
rziman f system, arrangement, grammar
ricaf f shaking, trembling
ricifn v.i. to tremble
rih f beard
rihet (dial. var.) = rehet
rihm (dial. var.) = rehm
rijandin rijn- v.t. to pour out
rijiyan v.i. to flow, to spill
rij f scorched part at the bottom of a pot
rik stubbornness, relentlessness, nervousness
rikrikn v.i. to chatter (of the teeth)
rind good, beautiful; well: ew bi ziman
ngilz rind dizanib he knew English well
risk = rizq
riv (dial. var.) = rv
rivn f flame
riy r
rizan v.i. to rot
rizandin v.t. to let rot
rizgar saved, rescued; ~ bn v.i. to
escape, be rescued; ~ kirin v.t. to
save, rescue; ~kir saved, liberated
riz rotten
rizn di de v.t. to be thrown into
rizq m sustenance
r f beard
rtm m rhythm
ro f sun: di bin ro(ye)ka havn de under
a hot summer sun
roava m west, dusk; ~y western
rohilat m dawn, east
rohn bright
roj f day; ew ~ ev ~ e from that day to
this: ew roj ev roj e malbata min li v
bajar rdin my family has lived in
this city from that day to this; ~ane
daily; ~ava west; ~hilat f east: Rojhilata Navn the Middle East; ~name
f newspaper; ~nameger f journalism
rokrol f role
rom m the Ottoman Empire; Ottoman,
Turk
roman f novel; ~nivs novelist
ronah f light, brightness; bi ~y derketin to come to light
236
ronakbr intellectual
ronay = ronah
rondik f tear
ronesans f renaissance
ruh m spirit, soul; ~iyet f morale, spirit
ruhn f brightness; ruhniya avan light
of the eyes, favorite
rutbe m rank
ruv (dial. var.) = rv
r m (const riy, rw) face
rbar m river
rhrn convivial, amusing, lighthearted
rj (dial. var.) = roj; ~k = rojek one
day, some day
rken f smile, smiling
rmet f honor, respect
rn m oil
rnitevan m inhabitant
r-nitin -n- v.i. to sit, dwell (the
present tense is used only for habitual
action; the pres. perf. tense rnitiye
means s/he is sitting, and the past.
perf. tense rnitib means s/he was
sitting); odeya rnitin sitting
room
rpel f page, sheet
rs Russian; ~ Russian (language)
rt naked, bare
rxan v.i. to collapse
rxandin v.t. to destroy
sa f (const. siya) shadow; ser siya
ketin v.i. to get anywhere near
saet f hour
sal f year; ~mezin aged
salon f reception room
san se
sar cold
satil f bucket
saw terror, fear
sawar f bulghur wheat, cracked wheat
sax healthy, well, whole
saxik honest
say bn v.i. to clear up (weather)

saz kirin v.t. to establish
se m (obl. pl san) dog
sebeb m reason
sebir f patience; ~ neman to be impatient: d sebra min nemaye now Ive
lost my patience
sed hundred; ~sal f century; ~sal f centennary; ji ~ per cent; bo ~ per cent
seda m/f sound ???
sedem f reason, cause
seff f classroom
seg m dog
seh f intuition, feeling; ~ kirin v.t. to
understand intuitively
sehol f ice
Seirt f Siirt; ~ native of Siirt
sekinan/-n v.i. to settle down, to be
quiet, to dwell; to tarry; to light
(gaze) (li ser upon): ez dixwazim li
ser pirsek bisekinim I want to dwell
on a question
selik f basket
semax f endurance; ~ kirin v.t. to bear,
to endure
Sen m the River Seine
seqem f dry cold
seqer f Saqar, a poison that drips from a
tree in hell
ser m head; (prep.) to, toward, on, over;
bi ~ ketin v.i. to get ahead, succeed;
n ser v.i. to attack; ~ xwe bi re
andin v.t. to trouble oneself with,
bother with: ser xwe bi kultura kurd
re nanin they dont bother with
Kurdish culture; ~ bin m the ins
and outs, everything: ser bin v
gund ez bikanibim ji v premr
hn bibim I could learn all there is to
know about this village from this old
man; b ~ bin endless
seranser: li ~ (prep.) all over: li seranser dinyay all over the world
serbajar m capital
237
KURMANJI KURDISH
serberday stray, wandering
serbest free; ~ f freedom
serbilind bi proud of; ~ah/~ f pride
serbixwe free; ~bn f liberation
serdar m leader; ~ f leadership, command
serdest m overlord; ~ f mastery, rule; ~
kirin v.t. to rule: yn ku ro serdestiya
kurdan dikin those who rule over the
Kurds today
sereke main
serencam f end, outcome
ser f headache
serfiraz f distinction
sergerdan perplexed
sergevez pride
sergiran important
sergn m dung
sergovend f dance line; bi ser ~ girtin to lead a dance line
serhed f frontier, border
ser m head; ear (of grain); ~ birdin to
complete; ~ hil-dan to rebel; ~ xistin
li to visit; to apply to; n ser to
come to fruition
serhildan f uprising
serjorek serjrek ups and downs
serkar f direction, leadership
serketin f success
serma f cold, coldness
sermawj Libra
sermyan m capital
sernivs f fate
sernuxumand veiled
serok m leader; ~at f leadership; ~cumhr m president; ~er m chieftain;
~wezr m prime minister
serphat f adventure
serqot bare-headed
serraf m jeweler
sersal f new years day
serser careless
ser-utin v.t. to take a bath
sertj towering
serve bn v.i. to be attached

serwer m leader
serwext informed, knowledgeable
sew f level: rojnameyn me yn roja
royn negihtine sewiya wan our
newspapers of today have not reached
their level
sewsen lily
seyda m savant
seyr f view; adj strange
seyran f outing; ~ -kirin v.t. to arrange an outing; ~geh f park, promenade, place for an outing
s1 three
s2 f (constr. siya) shadow; di bin siya
de under the aegis of
sp f tripod
sw m orphan
swlek m sole (of a shoe)
sibat f February
sibeh f morn, dawn: sibeh heta var
from morning till night; ~ tomorrow;
v ~ this morning
sibetir f the next morning; ~a w ev
the morning after that night
sib = sibeh
sih1 angry, irritated; ~it f irritation
sih2 = s2
sij f puss, filth; ~n v.i. to ooze
sik sar very sad (heart) ???
silav f greeting
silawat (pl) benedictions; ~an kandin
v.t. to give benedictions
simbl m mustache
simsimn v.i. to leave tracks, to make a
trail
sincir flaming, burning
sindoq f box, trunk
sing f breast
sinif f class, grade
sipartin sipr- = spartin
sip = sp
sipndar f poplar
sipta f whiteness
238
sir f cold wind; ~ seqem, ~ serma f
biting cold weather
sirf only, purely
sirgn f exile; ~ bn to be exiled
sirut f nature
sis three
sist weak; ~ kirin v.t. to weaken, make
weak
sitar f protection
sitrk = strk
sitir m thorn
sitran = stran
siwar mounted, on horseback
siya sa
siyaset f politics; ~van m politician
siyas political
sivik light, not heavy
s1 thirty
s2 f shadow; ~ dan to cast a shadow
sleh (pl) arms, armament: slehn sivik
light arms
sng f breast
snor m border, boundary
sstem m system
stil f (dial. var.) = satil
Swas f Sivas
swaxnekir unpenetrated
sobe f heating stove; ~ vxistin to light
a stove
sof Sufi, respectful term of address for
an old man; ~t f Sufism, mysticism
sohbet f conversation, talk
sol f shoe; ~ker m shoemaker
sond f oath; ~ xwarin to swear an oath
sor red; threshed (wheat); ~ah f redness
sorav red grape; ~(n) dark red
sorgul rose
sosin f iris
sosret unusualness; bi ~ unusual
soz dan v.t. to promise
sparin spr- v.t. to entrust
spartin = sparin
spas thank you; ~ kirin v.t. to thank;
~dar f gratitude
speh good-looking, pretty, attractive

spda, spde f dawn
spr- sparin
sp white; ~t f whiteness
standin (dial. var.) = stendin
stasyon f railway station
stelih ordinary, common
stemkar f oppression
Stenbol f Istanbul
stendin stn- v.t. to take, get; bi pa de
~ to take back
steyr = str
str f star; ~k f star; ~nas m astronomer;
~nas f astronomy
stiran stir- v.t. to sing
stn- stendin
sto = st
stran f song; ~bj singer
st m neck; ~xwar obedient, cowed
stn f column
str thick, stout
sufrik m tablecloth
sur f breeze
suret f speed
surgn = sirgn
suwar on horseback; ~ bn to mount
s m crime, fault
sd m profit; ~ wergirtin ji v.t. to profit
from
sl m waterfall
Sriya f (obl Sriyay, Sriy) Syria
sxte m theological student
Swd f Sweden
a happy, glad; ~ bn bi v.i. to be happy
with, rejoice over s.th.; ~ kirin v.t. to
gladden: w pirtk dil min a kirib
that book had gladdened my heart;
~h f gladness, happiness
afi Shafiite (school of Islamic jurisprudence)
agirt m pupil, apprentice
ah m king
ahd m witness
239
KURMANJI KURDISH
ahk shining, brilliant
ar m poet
al m traditional baggy Kurdish trousers
all m magpie
andin n- v.t. to send
an kirin, ~ dan v.t. to show
ano f stage
ans m chance
areza competent; ~y f competence, expertise
a wrong; ~ bn v.i. to be wrong: ez ne
a bim I wouldnt be wrong; ~ kirin
v.t. to mistake; reya xwe ~ kirin v.t.
to lose ones way; ~ f mistake, fault
afhmkirin f misunderstanding
aik f turban; ~ sp white-turbaned
ax m branch
e = eh
eh m comb; ~ kirin v.t. to comb
ehd m martyr
ehsiwar m expert horseman
ekal f old shoe
ekir m sugar
emitandin v.t. to make slide
emitn v.i. to slip, to slide
eng tuft of hair
ep f blow, slap in the face
epe f snowdrift
epn v.i. to sink down (into snow)
eqeeq noisy sound, chatter
equdeq hard knocks
er m war: er chan y yekemn
World War I; ~ kirin, ~ dan (dayn)
v.t. to fight war
eref f honor
ert f the Sharia, Islamic law
erm f shame; ~dar modest; ~dar f
modesty; ~ kirin ji v.t. to be ashamed
of: min ji xwe erm kir I was ashamed
of myself
erpeze destitute; ~ bn v.i. to be destitute; ~ kirin v.t. to put s.o. in a bad
situation, to best
ert f condition, qualification
ervan m warrior
e six
et sixty
ev f night; ~re f dark night
ewat f fire
ewitandin v.t. to burn
ewitn v.i. to burn
exs person; ~ personal; ~iyet f personality
ewq f light; ~a elektrk flashlight
- iyan
landin ln- v.t. to exploit
l turbid, murky
l (dial. var.) = l
n m inhabitant, (pl) people
rn sweet
x m sheikh
idet violence, strength
ifr m driver
ir f poetry
idandin idn- v.t. to strike (a match)
ik f doubt; b ~ doubtless(ly)
ikandin ikn- v.t. to break
ikeft f cave
ikr m rock, mountain crag
ikestin ik- v.i. to break, be defeated
ikir thanks: ikir ji Xweda re thank
God
ikil form, symbol
il damp, wet; ~ kirin v.t. to wet, dampen
ilftaz buck naked
ip on foot
iqitn v.i. to slip
irket f company
irove f interpretation; ~ kirin v.t. to
interpret
istin o- v.t. to wash
ivan m (obl. ivn) shepherd
ivant f shepherding; ~ kirin v.t. to
shepherd, to be a sheep herder
ivn ivan
ivir m mountain goat
ixul m work; ~n v.i. to work, occupy
240
oneself
iyan - v.i. to be able
iyar awake; ~ bn v.i. to wake up; ~
kirin v.t. to wake s.o. up
n1 blue, green
n2 = wn
n- andin
ndar = wndar
r m milk
ret f advice; ~ kirin li v.t. to advise
rn sweet, pretty, nice
t aware, sober
v f sunset; ~a var nightfall
kandin kn- = ikandin
kev f cupboard
o- istin
op f footprint, trace; ~ ji ser xwe
winda kirin to throw a pursuer off
track; ~gern scout, tracker; ~ hitin
v.t. to leave a trace
or1 salty, brackish (water); ~ay f saltiness
or2 talk, words; ~ kirin v.t. to talk, chat
orbe f soup
ore f rebellion, uprising; ~ger m rebel,
revolutionary: oregerek bolevk a
Bolshevik revolutionary
orezar f desert, wasteland
un = n
utin (dial. var.) = istin
uxul m work, occupation; ~ kirin v.t.
to work; ~andin v.t. to put to work;
~n v.i. to work
spouse
jin derz bn v.i. to stand on end
(the hair)
likn v.i. to move stealthily
m gloomy, inauspicious
n f place; track, wake: div ew tkeve
na bav xwe he must follow in his
fathers footsteps; ~a girtin v.t. to
follow in the wake of, take the place
of; ~da after: ji w sal nda after
this year; nuha ~da henceforth; di ~a
ku (conj.) instead of
quick, nimble, sleek; mirina ~ sudden death
a pieces of glass
e f glass
tin (dial. var.) = istin
wn f mourning; ~dar in mourning
ta1 prep. & conj. until: ta niha up till
now
ta2 m fever
tab m illumination; ~ ann v.t. to illuminate
tabet f nature
tacir m merchant; ~ f commerce
taht f rock; noka ~ pebble
tal bitter, sharp
talde f shelter
talyan Italian
tam f taste
tamar = temar
tanq f tank (mil.)
taqet endurance
taqb f surveillance: di bin taqba
polsan de under police surveillance;
~ kirin to keep under surveillance
tar f a path through snow
Taran f Tehran
tar dark; ~t f darkness
tarx f history
tas f bowl
tat m breakfast
tat m rise, hill
tav1 f light, sunlight
tav2 f rainshower
tavik f sunlight
tavil quickly, soon; immediately
taybet special; bi ~ especially
tayek kiandin ji v.t. to shake
tayn kirin v.t. to determine, assign,
appoint
taz naked; ~ kirin v.t. to strip naked
te tu
teb natural
241
KURMANJI KURDISH
Tebrz f Tabriz
tecrube f experience
tedrcen gradually
tefandin -tefn- v.t. to put out (light,
candle)
tefe f face, countenance
tefn v.i. to go out (light, candle)
tefsr Koranic commentary
tehlke f danger
tehqr f deprecation
tehsldar m tax collector
teht m mountain range
tej (dial. var.) = tij
tek single, alone, by oneself; ~ ten
alone, all by oneself
tekane lone
teko alone, singly
tela commotion
telefon f telephone
teletel on tiptoes
televizyon f television
telte f sheet (of ice), crust
tem m fog
temam perfect, complete
temar f artery, vein
temaa kirin v.t. to watch, to look at
temae = temaa
temaevan spectator, watcher
tembel lazy; ~ f laziness
temen m life, lifespan, age
temene respect; bi ~ respectfully
temirn v.i. to die ???
temiz kirin v.t. to clean
temslkar m representative
tena = tenha
tendr f oven, pit; ~a zik the pit of the
belly
ten alone, only, except for; bi ~ only:
em ferz bikin ku tu bi ten bikarib
Kurdistanek bik lets assume that
you could only create one Kurdistan;
ne bi ~ l j not only but also;
~t f misery, loneliness
teng narrow, tight; ~as f difficulty,
straits
tenha alone; bi ~ xwe by him/her/itself,
alone
tenta next to
teor f theory
tep f tap
tepan mallet
tepandin v.t. to pat, to tap
tepe m summit, mountain top
teperep kirin v.t. to rap
teq f a sharp sound; ~--req loud sound
teqandin teqn- v.t. to burst, explode, to
fire, shoot (gun)
teqn v.i. to burst, explode
ter fresh, verdant; ~ f freshness
terch kirin v.t. to prefer
tercuman m translator
teres pimp
terik chapped
terf kirin v.t. to describe (ji re for,
to)
terqet m dervish order
terk f leaving; ~ dan/kirin v.t. to leave,
abandon: gava terka mala xwe da
when s/he left home
term m corpse
terorzm f terrorism
terpiln v.i. to roll
terr f tail
ter livestock
tesewif Sufism; ~ Sufistic
tesr f influence
teslm kirin v.t. to turn in, to turn over,
to submit
tekl f organization, formation
tet f trough
tewq encouragement; ~ kirin v.t. to
encourage
texele f trouble, turmoil
tetik, tetk f trigger
tev all, entire, altogether; together with;
~a all, entirely, totally; ~ah/~ay f
entirety: di tevayiya Ewrpa all over
Europe; ~da, ~ de altogether, entire-
242
ly; bi ~ay entirely, in toto; xwe
~gir-dan v.t. to get oneself together
tevdr f plan
tevger f industry, activity, movement:
Tevgera Rizgariya Kurdistan Kurdish Liberation Movement
teviz numb
tevizn f numbness; ~ok f numb feeling
tev (prep.) along with; ~hev altogether;
~ ku (conj.) although
tevlihev confused, mixed up; ~ f confusion
tevl f awareness
tewqif kirin v.t. to arrest
texik f shelf
texlt sort, kind: her du texlt nivsar
both sorts of writers
texmn f guess, thought; ~ kirin v.t. to
guess, estimate
text m throne
texte m board
teyan a large basin used in bathhouses
teyr, tr m bird; ~ ty birds and fowl
teze new(ly), fresh(ly); ~ kirin to refresh
t1 = di + w/w
t2 = tu +
t3 coming, next: meha ~ the coming
month
t-gihtin v.i. to understand, realize
tk n v.i. to break up, split apart
tkel prep. along with
t-ketin v.i. to go to, wind up (somewhere): ew dixwaze tkeve cepheyan
he wants to go to the fronts; ~ na to
take the place of: keng azad
serbest tkevin na sitemkar
zordariy? when will freedom and independence take the place of injustice
and oppression?
tkil connected; ~bn f connectedness;
~ f connection
t-kirin v.t. to put on
tkoer m activist, combatant
tkon dan v.t. to strive, make an effort

tkz (dial. var.) = tekz
tr1 full, satisfied; ~ bn v.i. to be satisfied (hunger), to be slaked (thirst); ~
kirin v.t. to satisfy, make full, to be
sufficient: emr w tr nekir he didnt
live long enough
tr2 = teyr
tvel various, different
t-xistin v.t. to include; xwe ~ to put
oneself
tif f spit
tifik f bellows, hearth
tifing f rifle
tije brimful
tij full; ~ kirin v.t. to fill
til f finger
tilik, tilk = til
tim1 always; her~ always
tim2 f desire
timobl f automobile
tin (dial. var.) = ten
tiral lazy
tirb f grave, tomb
tirn f train; ~a di bin erd de subway; ji ~ by train
tirimpl f automobile
tirk Turk; ~ Turkish (language); ~nijad
racially Turkish
Tirkiye f (obl Tirkiyey, Tirkiy) Turkey
tirs f fear; ~an va out of fear
tirsandin v.t. to scare; to fear
tirsner frightful, frightening
tirsiyan/tirsn ji v.i. to be afraid of, fear
tir bitter; ry xwe ~ kirin to scowl
tit m thing: titek din something else
titn f tobacco
tiving f (dial. var.) = tufing
tiw = tu w
tixtor m doctor
t thirsty
tfal ???
tj (dial. var.) = tj; ~ hr nrn li to
243
KURMANJI KURDISH
look closely and carefully at, to
scrutinize
tn1 f thirst
tn2 btn
tn- ann
tp f letter of the alphabet; m type, sort
tr thick, dense, dark
traj f print run; km ~ of a small print
run, printed in small numbers
trj f sunlight, ray: trjn hviy rays
of hope
t piece, group
tol f revenge; ~ wergirtin v.t. to extract
revenge
top f cannon, cannonball
topik f pile
torbe sack
torin m person of name, person of renown; descendant, offspring
toz f dust; ~ telaz dust
trimbl f automobile
tu1 (obl. te) you (sing.)
tu2 no, not any, none, nothing; ~ caran
never; ~ kes nobody; ~ tit nothing
tucar never
tuf f spit; ~ kirin v.t. to spit
tufing f rifle, gun; ~ ber-dan to fire a
rifle at
tukes (+ neg.) nobody
tj sharp
tk f hair, fur
tle m pup, cub
tlik m cub
tr m bag; ~ik m sack
trt = turt
ttin f tobacco
ummet f religious community
umr m life
unda (dial. var.) = wenda
unverste f university
uris Russian
usa (dial. var.) = wisa
ustu = st
zez f rumble
va = ve
vala empty; ~ kirin v.t. to empty; ~h f
void; vik~ totally empty
vazo f vase
ve (postposition) forms the second part
of a number of circumpositions, generally indicating motion away from;
see the prepositional element
ve-bn v.i. to open
ve-ceniqn (dial. var.) = ve-ciniqn
ve-ciniqandin v.t. to make tremble with
fear, to make shudder, to startle
ve-ciniqn v.i. to be seized by fright, to
be startled
ve-dan v.t. to give off; deng ~ to echo
veger f return
ve-gerandin -gern- v.t. to turn, to turn
back
ve-geriyan/gern v.i. to return; ~ ser to
turn to
ve-gevizn v.i. to flounder, wallow
ve-hrandin v.t. to grind up, crunch
vehnay spread out
ve-jandin -jn- v.t. to revivify
ve-jenn v.i. to rustle
ve-jinn (dial. var.) = ve-jenn
ve-kirin v.t. to open
ve-kiandin ji v.t. to pull out of, pull
back from, withdraw from
ve-kin v.i. to withdraw
ve-maltin v.t. to roll up the sleeves
ve-man v.i. to bog down
ve-miran (ve-mirn) v.i. to go out (fire,
&c.); ~din v.t. to put out, extinguish,
quell, quench: min lampa xwe vemirand I put out my light
ve-poandin v.t. to cover
ve-qetandin v.t. to distinguish, separate
ve-qetiyan v.i. to get separated: ji ber
perebna welt riyn zaravayn kurmanc soran ji hevdu vediqetin
244
after the division of the country the
paths of the Kurmanji and Sorani dialects part from each other; ~ bi to be
distinguished by
ve-qetn = ve-qetiyan
ver-kirin to send off, dispatch
ve-artin -r- v.t. to hide, bury
ve-texirn v.i. to taper off
ve-xistin v.t. to throw down
ve-xwarin v.t. to drink
ve-zelan v.i. to lie down and roll
around; xwe ve-zelandin to throw
oneself down and roll around
ve-ziliandin = ve-zelandin
v ev
vca therefore
vcar then, so
v-geriyan = ve-geriyan
vk re together
vn f wish, desire
v-xistin v.t. to light
vikvala vala.
vir here
vizn v.i. to buzz, to hum
vizvizk tangled, knotted
v ev
vrus f virus
vzevz f blowing, rustling (of wind)
waqewaq squeal of an animal
war1 m = bar
war2 m regard, respect; di ~ de concerning; di v ~ de in this regard, in
this respect
war3 m camp, camping ground; ~geh m
camp site
warkor n to disappear without a trace
we hun
wefakar faithful
wefat f death
weha thus, such
wek (prep.) like; ~e (prep.) like; ~e ku
(conj.) as: weke ku min got as I said;
~ din anything else
wekhev alike, equal; ~ f equality: li ser

esasn wekhev on a basis of equality
wekl advocate, lawyer; ~dar f advocacy
welat m (obl. welt) country, homeland;
~hez lover of the homeland, patriot;
~parz defender of the homeland, patriot(ic); ~perwer patriot
wele = welle
weleh = wel
wel thus, like that
welle by God
wenda lost; ~ bn v.i. to be lost; ~ kirin
v.t. to lose
wer bn di v.i. to fall into
wer- hatin
werger m translator; ~van m translator
wer-gerandin v.t. to transform, translate
wer-girtin v.t. to take up (see ber wergirtin, sd wergirtin, tol wergirtin)
werimandin v.t. to cause to swell
werimn v.i. to swell
wer-kirin li v.t. to wrap around
wesiyetname f will, testament
wers m rope
wesf m attribute, quality; ~ dan to describe
westan west- v.i. to stand, stop; to be
exhausted
westiyan = westan
westiyay exhausted
weandin wen- v.t. to publish
weanxane f publishing house
wext f time: di eyn wext de at the same
time; di wexteke kurt de within a
short time; ~ ku (conj.) when
wezin f poetic meter
wezfe f duty
wezaret f ministry: Wezareta Ferheng
the Ministry of Culture
wezr m minister; ~t f ministry
w1 ew
w2 future auxiliary + subj. for future
tense
245
KURMANJI KURDISH
wje f speech, literature
wne m picture, painting; ~ger m artist,
painter
wran destroyed, ruined; ~ kirin v.t. to
destroy, ruin
wrn v.i. (+ subj.) to dare
winda (dial. var.) = wenda
wir there
wirn (dial. var.) = wrn
wisa(n) thus, such, so
w ew
wjdan m conscience
wucd f existence; hatin ~ to come
into existence
wusan (dial. var.) = wisa
x- xistin
xak f earth, ground
xal f mole
xalxal in spots, spotted
xanim f lady, mistress
xan m house
xapandin xapn- v.t. to deceive, to fool,
to play a trick on: mna ku hatibe
xapandin as though a trick had been
played on him
xapn v.i. to be deceived, to be fooled
xapok deceptive
xapxapok deceitful
xar1 crooked, bent
xar2 (dial. var.) = xwar
xarin (dial. var.) = xwarin
xastin (dial. var.) = xwestin
xask cunning, shrewd
xatir m mind, heart; ~gir considerate,
obliging; ~ girtin to be considerate
of, respect: bik mezinan xatir w
digirtin young and old were considerate of him; ~xwestin f affection; bi
xatir re w ji min re got he said to
me with affection; dan ~ to be
considerate of
xav raw, immature
xayin traitor
xaz m ghazi, holy warrior

xazk ???
xebat f work, struggle
xeber f words, speech: xebera w ye
thats what he says
xeberdan f talk, speech
xebitan li ser v.i. to work on, strive for
xebitn = xebitan
xedar pitiless, cruel
xefk f trap
xelas kirin (v.t. to finish
xelas f liberation; er xelasiy war of
liberation
xelat f prize, reward; ~ kirin v.t. to reward
xelk m (construed as sing. for case but
pl. by sense) people
xem f grief, sadness; ~ xwarin ji v.t. to
sympathize with; ~gn sorrowful;
~gn f sorrow: ez bi xemgn dibjim
ku I say with sorrow that
xemilandin v.t. to adorn
xencer f dagger
xerab ruined; ~-bn to be ruined; ~e
ruined; ~ f harm, ruination
xerez f rancor, grudge; ~kar f holding a
grudge
xerf senile
xerc kirin v.t. to spend
xerb stranger, foreigner, exiled, away
from ones homeland; ~ f estrangement, foreignness, the state of being
away from ones homeland; welat
~y foreign country
xerte f map
xertel f eagle
xesandin xesn- v.t. to twist, wring
xesar f damage, loss; ~ dtin v.t. to suffer loss, be damaged; ~nedt undamaged
xet f line
xew m sleep; ketin ~ to fall asleep; ji ~
ra-kirin to rouse from sleep
xewle lonely, desolate
246
xewl f desolation, isolation
xewn f dream; ~ dtin v.t. to dream,
have a dream; ~erojik daydream
xeyal f imagination, fantasy, dream
xeyidn ji v.i. to get angry at
xeyn other; ji ~ (prep.) other than, aside
from: ji xeyn van titan other than
these things
xeyo (Syr. Ar. khayyo, voc. only) fellow, guy, friend
xezal gazelle
xezeb f rage, wrath
xezne f treasury
xezr m father-in-law; f mother-in-law
xr f goodness; ~xwe f chitchat;
bi~hatin dan v.t. to welcome: jinek
bixrhatin da min a woman welcomed me; bi ~a re thanks to; bi ~
br very good; ji ~a re because
of, on account of; ~hatin kirin li v.t.
to welcome; hatin ~ to be a welcome guest
xz f line; ~ik ditto
xidmet f service
xilas kirin to be saved
xilmam = xilma
xilma half asleep, sleepy
xirab bad, evil
xisar f loss
xistin x- v.t. to cast, throw, put in, make
fall; ji hev de ~ to break up; ~ li to
beat
xissiyet = xussiyet
xiikn v.i. to drag along, scrape across
xir m/f ornament ???
xixi f rustling, scratching sound
xitab m address; ~ kirin v.t. to address;
~ kesek kirin to address, speak to
s.o.
xitimandin v.t. to close, seal: r hatine
xitimandin the roads have been closed
xiyal f dream, imagination
xizmet f service; ~ kirin v.t. to serve
xnji (dial. var.) = xeyn ji
xret f zeal, bravery, courage; ~ kirin

v.t. to try hard
xze-xze grating sound
xo f (dial. var.) = xwe; ~a xwe his own
self
xoce m master, teacher
xof f fear; ~ tirs f fear and trembling
xort young, young man/woman; ~an f
youth
xodiv beloved
xu (dial. var.) = xwe
xuda m (obl. xud) God; ~ hefiz goodbye
xudan m owner; b~ godless, Godforsaken, poor, pitiable
xuh f sister
xulam m slave; manservant
xunav f sprinkle, light rain
xur f itch
xure xur f snoring
xurn on an empty stomach
xurn = xurn
xurme f date
xurt strong, powerful; ~ gur strong,
puissant
xur natural
xussiyet f characteristic, distinguishing
feature
xun v.i. to rustle, to gurgle
xuk f sister
xuya clear, obvious; ~ bn v.i. to be obvious, appear, show up; ~ kirin v.t. to
seem, appear: hotel gelek xwe luks
xuya dikir the hotel looked very nice
and deluxe
xuyan v.i. to seem, to appear
xuyan familiar; ~ kirin v.t. to familiarize
xn f blood; ~a ceger livers blood,
metaphor for tears of agony and suffering
xs f snowdrift ???
xyan = xuyan
xwar down; ser da ~ bn to lean
247
KURMANJI KURDISH
over s.th.; ~ bn v.i. to descend; ~
kirin v.t. to lower, take down; hatin
~ to come down
xwarin f food
xwarin xw- v.t. to eat
xwaroviko coiled up
xwaz- xwestin
xwe oneself, -self (refers to the subject
of the clause in which it occurs); ~
girtin li ber to defend oneself
against; ji ~ in and of itself; bi~ himself, herself, itself; li ~ kirin to put
on, wear (clothes)
xwebikdtin f inferiority: kompleksa
xwebikdtin inferiority complex
xwedan m chief, head, leader
xwed m God
xwed m possessor, owner: xwediy
paseporteke Swd bm I possessed a
Swedish passport
xwehesn f self-awareness
xwefadekirin f self-expression
xwel f dust, ash; ~ li ser xwe kirin to
pour dust on ones head, to mourn;
~dan f ashtray
xwen f dream, vision
xwenas self-respecting
xwenav = xunav
xwendin xwn-/xwn- v.t. to read, study
xwende/a learned, literate; ~geh f
school, university; ~kar student;
~van m reader, scholar
xwer independent; pure(ly), exclusive(ly): ev kovar ne xwer bi kurd
ne these journals are not exclusively
in Kurdish
xweser unbridled
xwestin xwaz- v.t. to want, to ask for
xwe nice, pleasant, good; ~bn f success; ~hal pleased, happy; ~haliya
xwe gotin to express ones pleasure;
~ik nice, pretty; ~ f pleasure
xwey = xwe
xweya = xuya
xwey = xwed; ~ kirin v.t. to raise

(animals)
xwez would that, I wish (+ past conditional); ~t f desire, wish
xw f salt; sweat
xwdan v.t. to sweat
xwik f sister
xw m habit, disposition
xwn f blood; ~egot flesh and blood;
~dar bloody; ~germ fervent; ~germ
f fervor; ~rn likeable
xwsgirt damp
xwz f spit, saliva
xwk (dial. var.) = xwik
ya fem. sing. construct extender; bi ~ te
in your opinion
yad (voc. only) mother
yan or; ~ ~ either or
yan that is, i.e.
yar m friend
ya reb O Lord!
yek one; ~ bn v.i. to be united; ~by
united; ~deng f unanimity; ~dest of
one piece; ~ejmar singular; ~emn
first; ~t f unity; ~tiya Neteweyan
the League of Nations; ~netewet f
uninationalism, monoethnicity; ~ser
direct; ~ta peerless, without equal
yekser right away, immediately
y masc. sing. construct extender
yn pl. construct extender
YNK = Yektya Ntmanperwern
Kurdistan Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
yunan Greek
zabit m (obl zbit) m officer
zaf (dial. var.) = zehf
zalim m tyrant, unjust
zang sheer (cliff) ???
zann v.t. to know (neg. present nzanim, past (d)zanibm, subj. bzanibim); ~ bi to know about: xelk bi
248
siyaset nizanin the people dont
know anything about politics
zana = zane
zane learned, wise; ~bn f wisdom;
zanyar f knowledge
zar m language; ~ava m dialect; ~rn
well-spoken, articulate
zaro small, young, m/f youngster; ~k
child; ~kat, ~kt, ~t f youth,
childhood
zarn v.i. to wail, lament
zar z (pl) kids
zava m bridegroom
zayin f birth
zehf many, lots of, very, very much
zehmet f trouble; ~ kiandin v.t. to have
difficulty, go to trouble, be bothered;
~ f ditto; ~k worker, laborer
zef weak, skinny
zelal clear, limpid; ~ kirin v.t. to make
clear, clarify
zelam = zilam
zeliqandin v.t. to stick
zeliqn v.i. to stick
zell m despondent
zeman m time, era
zemzellk f icicle ???
zend f forearm
zengal m/f legging ???
zengil m bell; ~ telefon telephone
call; li ~ dr xistin to ring the doorbell
zengn rich; ~ f wealth
zer yellow; ~at f yellowness; ~by
yellowed; ~ zinar nooks and crannies
zerar f detriment, loss
Zerdet Zoroaster
zev f land, field
zewac f marriage
zewicn bi re v.i. to get married to
zewq m delight
zexim strong, sound; zexm f strength
zbit zabit
zc hide ???
zde much, a lot; ~ bn v.i. to increase;
~ kirin v.t. to increase
zr m gold; ~n golden
zrben ???
zrek f cleverness, intelligence
zihniyet f mentality
zik m belly; ~ek tr xwarin v.t. to eat
to ones fill; ~mak native, inborn
zilam m man, guy, fellow
ziliandin ve-ziliandin
zilik straw
zilim f injustice, tyranny
ziman m (obl zimn) language, tongue;
bi ~ ann v.t. to give voice to, express; ~van linguist; ~van f linguistics
zinar m (obl. zinr) rock
zing ???
zingar f rust; ~girt rusty, rusted; ~ girtin v.t. to rust, get rusty
zincr f chain, bond
zindan f prison
zind alive, energetic, lively
ziving f cave
zivistan f winter
zirav slender, slight
zivir twisted, knotted
zivirandin zivirn- v.t. to turn around,
turn back; avn xwe ~ ji de to
turn ones eyes away from , avert
ones gaze from
zivirn zivir- v.i. to turn, go/come back,
turn around, wander
ziwa dry
zixim (dial. var.) = zexim
zn z- v.i. to live, come to life
zre cumin
zrek clever
ztby ???
zv m silver
zvalzval ???
zving = ziving
zvironek sandy, dusty
249
KURMANJI KURDISH
zman = ziman
zolilk blossom, bloom
zor f force; ~ dan v.t. to force, compel;
~ kirin v.t. to use force; bi (dest) ~
by force; ~bet f oppressiveness; ~dar
forceful, oppressive; ~dar f oppression; ~dest f force, pressure; ~kirin f
violence
zozan m summer pasture, meadow
zuha (dial. var.) = ziwa
zuk f prominent, obvious
zulf m/f tress, lock (of hair) ???
zulum = zilim
zurne f clarion; ~van m clarion player
z quick, fast, soon, early; ~ an dereng

sooner or later; ~ be ~ very quickly; ~
de (+ pres. perf.) for a long time: z
de ye me hev du neditiye we havent
seen each other for a long time;
~brbir f quick thinking; ~ka, ~~ka
hurriedly, hastily, quickly; ~kan f
haste: zkaniya te i ye? whats your
hurry?; ~ ve for a long time, since
long; ji ~ de from early on
zrezr f howling
zrn v.i. to howl
zr man v.i. to be lost
250

Kurmanji Kurdish Fort The Beginners

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Kurmanji Kurdish Fort The Beginners

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Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

agir (fire), xan (house)

ba (good), bira (brother)

(grief), str (star)

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

Table 1. The Vowels in Kurmanji (approximate phonetic values)

Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

: Rojba. Nav min Zeyneb e. Nav te i ye?

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

Good bye (Xatirxwestin)

Good bye (to one person)

Response to bi xatir te/we

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

The personal pronouns

Expressing to be in the present tense

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

end bajarn Kurdistan / Some cities of Kurdistan

Navn din /other

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 1

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 2

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 2

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 2

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 2

In Kurdish: is also 22.

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 2

3.1. Some examples for the usage of kinship words:

Hekm bav Guln ye.

The verb to be in the present tense again: negated forms

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 2

The indefiniteness suffix

Grammar / Rziman 2 (continued)

The Ezafe construction

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 2

My brother is 12 years old. And your one? (i.e. and your

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3

Ask about jobs

Rojeke Min / My Day (literally: one day (roj-ek) of me)

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3

2. Asking About Jobs

What is your job?

What time is it?

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3

At the market there are many things.

The negative form is tune/nne:

there is no woman here

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3

Du piskn te hene./Te du pisk hene.

I love my mother (xwe refers back to the subject Ez)

C Dema Niha / The Simple Present Tense (Part 1)

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3

2. The simple present tense

present tense prefix

xwendin (to read, study)

xebitn (to work)

Kurmanji Kurdish, Lesson 3