Kurmanji is Northern Kurdish, spoken by approximately twenty million people in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. An Indo-European language written in the Latin alphabet, it is the main Kurdish variant and the cultural voice of Diyarbakir, Qamishli and Erbil.
Kurmanji, or Northern Kurdish, is the main variant of the Kurdish language, spoken by approximately twenty million people across four countries: Turkey (southeast), Syria (Rojava), Iraq (Bahdinan) and Iran (northwest). An Indo-European language of the Iranian family, Kurdish is close to Persian in structure but clearly distinct, with its own history, poetic genius and mountains as homeland.
Kurmanji is written in the modern Latin alphabet, codified in the 1930s by Celadet Bedirxan inspired by Turkish orthography. It uses diacritic letters like ç, ş, î, ê, û, which notate sounds familiar to French speakers. This script distinguishes it from Sorani (Central Kurdish), spoken mainly in Iraqi and Iranian Kurdistan, which is written in a modified Arabo-Persian alphabet. Kurmanji grammar features rich case inflection and an aspectual opposition between past and present that recalls ancient Indo-Iranian languages.
Beyond the language, the Kurdish world carries a strong culture: Newroz on March 21st, tribal hospitality, mountain cuisine, classical poetry of Ehmedê Xanî, music of the dengbêj. Knowing a few words like "Silav" (hello), "Spas" (thank you) or "Roj baş" (good day) immediately opens hearts, especially in a region where the language was long forbidden.
This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival in Diyarbakir or Erbil, a taxi ride, a meal around nan and çay, a medical emergency and a warm departure. You will find indispensable greetings, survival phrases, key words for eating and sleeping, as well as cultural tips to respect local customs. Memorize these expressions before leaving and you will gain confidence from the very first hours on site.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You arrive at Diyarbakir airport in the early evening. An agent welcomes you with the universal "Silav" or "Roj baş" (good day). You reply warmly, and later in the night "Êvar baş" and "Şev baş" will punctuate your final exchanges.
The driver welcomes you and you want to clarify your request. You ask the key travel questions: who (kî) you are, what (çi) needs to be done, where (ku) to go, when (kengî) to leave.
You sit down in a mountain restaurant to taste Kurdish cuisine. You order water (av), a bit of milk (şîr), traditional nan (bread) and grilled meat (goşt) over coals.
You feel unwell and need to quickly explain where it hurts. You point to the affected area using key body words: head (ser), eye (çav), ear (guh), mouth (dev).
On the morning of departure, you warmly thank your host with a sincere "Spas" or "Gelek spas" (thank you very much). You confirm your final details with "Erê" (yes) or "Na" (no) depending on the questions asked.
What you need to know before travelling to a kurmanji-speaking country.
Kurmanji is the most widespread Kurdish dialect, spoken in Turkey (southeast), Syria (Rojava), northwestern Iraq and northwestern Iran. It is written in the modern Latin alphabet (created in the 1930s by Celadet Bedirxan), unlike Sorani which uses an Arabo-Persian script.
Kurdish is an Indo-European language of the Iranian family, close to Persian but clearly distinct. It has no genealogical link with Arabic or Turkish despite lexical borrowings due to centuries of coexistence.
Kurdish hospitality is legendary. Refusing tea (çay) served in a small tulip glass can be perceived as an affront. Accept at least one glass, it is a strong gesture of respect throughout the region.
Newroz, the Kurdish New Year celebrated on March 21st, is the most important national celebration. Bonfires and traditional dances around the mountains symbolically mark resistance and freedom.
Kurdish remains a politically sensitive language in Turkey. Its public teaching is restricted and use in administrative areas depends on local context. Be mindful in exchanges outside the private sphere.
Kurdish cuisine shares dishes with its neighbors: dolma, kofte, naskê (lentils), kebab. Flatbread (nan) is central to every meal and accompanies each traditional dish.
Familiar (tu) and formal (hûn) forms exist in Kurmanji as in French. With a stranger, an elder or an official, use "hûn". With a close one or a child, "tu" is natural.
Modest dress is appreciated outside city centers, especially in rural and religious areas. Cover shoulders and knees in traditional villages and during religious celebrations.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Bibore
sorry / excuse me
Çawa yî?
how are you? (sg, masc)
ez
I
tu
you (sg)
ew
he / she / it
em
we
hûn
you (pl/polite)
ew
they
min
me (oblique)
te
you (sg, oblique)
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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