“No is sweeter than the tongue and no sweeter than the tongue,” says the Kurdish proverb. Which Kurdish languages are some of the most popular languages of the East?
What is Kurdish language?
Kurdish languages belong to the Iranian group. They came from the Medes, but in the Middle Ages were influenced by Arabic, Persian, and later Turkish. Currently, about 20 million people speak Kurdish. But there are significant differences between them, since they speak different dialects and use different alphabets.
This is explained by the fact that the Kurds live in territories belonging to different countries. In Iran and Iraq, the Kurds use Arabic script, in Turkey, Syria and Azerbaijan - the Latin alphabet, and in Armenia - the Armenian alphabet (until 1946) and the Cyrillic alphabet (since 1946). The Kurdish language is divided into 4 dialects - Sorani, Kurmanji, Zazai (thought) and Gorani.
Where are Kurdish languages spoken?
The Kurdish language is most widely spread in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Azerbaijan, Jordan and Armenia. 60% of Kurds live in Turkey, Northwest Iran, northern Iraq and Syria (Northwest, West, Southwest and Central Kurdistan), speak and write in Kurmanji dialect. About 30% of the Kurdish population lives in West and Southeast Iran, East and Southeast Iraq (South and Southeast Kurdistan) use the Soran dialect. The rest of the dialects used are zazai (thought) and gorani (South Kurdish).
Kurdish: the basics
For those who want to quickly learn the language of the Kurds, the Kurdish language for beginners is suitable, which includes the most basic phrases in Kurmanji, Sorani and South Kurdish.
Dem Bashi / Silav / Silam - Hello.
Choni? / Tu Bashi? / Hasid? - How are you?
Chakim / Bashim / Hasim - Great.
Supas / Seas / Seas - Thanks.
Tkaye / Tika wild / That hwa - Please.
Hwa went to bed / Mal ava / Binishte hvash - Goodbye.
Min Tom Hosh Chokes - I Love You.
Does minit hosh give? - Do you love me?
Vere bo ere / Vere - Come here / come.
Bo Qué Herroy - Where are you going?
That Chi dekey? / That Heriki cheat? - What are you doing?
Echim bo ser car - I'm going to work.
Kay Degerie? / Kay Deute? - When will you be back?
Herikim demeev; eve hatmeve / ez zivrim / le pis tiemesh - I'm coming back.
Kari then chi ye? / Chi karek wild? - What do you work with?
Min errom / min devir birr - I'm going to ...
Min Bashim / Ez Bashim - I'm fine.
Min bashim / ez neye bashim / me hves niyim - I’m not all right / - I have no mood.
Min is not good - I feel bad.
Chi ye / ev chiye / ev ches? - What is it?
Hitch / Chine / Hutch - Nothing.
Birit ekem / min birya te kriye / khurit kirdime - I miss you.
Deytive; degereite / tu ye bi zirvi / tiyedev; herred? - Will you come back?
Naymeve; nahmerremeve / ez on zivrim / nyetiyeev; Nyegerremev - I will not return.
When communicating in an unfamiliar language, one should not forget about sign language, which is practically the same in this world, with the exception of some. They can be clarified before traveling to a country where communication with the Kurds is ahead.
Navi min ... uh - My name is ...
Yek / do / se / dude / punch / shesh / heft / hasht / but / de / yazde / dzzde / sezde / charde / pansde / shanzde / hevde / hezhde / nosde / bist - one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen / fifteen / sixteen / seventeen / eighteen / nineteen / twenty.
Ducheme / Duchembe / Ducheme - Monday.
Sheshemme / shesemb / sheshem - Tuesday.
Chuvarshemme / charshembe / chvarsheme - Wednesday.
Pencheshemme / Penschem / Penscheme - Thursday.
Jumha / Haney / Jume - Friday.
Shemme / Shemi / Sheme - Saturday.
Yekshemme / eksembi / yeksheme - Sunday.
Zistan / Zivistan / Zimsan - Winter.
Behar / Bihar / Vejar - Spring.
Havin / Havin / Tavsan - Summer.
Payez / payyz / payyh - Autumn.
Resources for learning Kurdish
The best way to learn Kurdish languages is through ongoing practice, and the best form of practice is talking to a native speaker. It can be both a teacher and ordinary people for whom Kurdish is native.
You can find such people in groups on social networks dedicated to the Kurdish language and culture. Usually there you can find video tutorials for beginners, a dictionary and a phrasebook, see pictures with inscriptions in Kurdish, read poetry in the original and, if something is not clear, ask native speakers.
If you want to get better acquainted with the culture of Kurds, then you can find groups dedicated to Kurdish music and cuisine.
If there is no opportunity to communicate with a native speaker, then you can find courses for self-study of the Kurdish language.