How to Get Started Learning Sorani

Last Updated: August 20, 2019 References Approved

Kurdistan is a region currently divided into four parts, lying in Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey, with Iraqi Kurdistan being the most autonomous. The three main dialects of Kurdish people are Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish), Sorani (Middle Kurdish), and Kalhuri (Southern Kurdish). Sorani is spoken by a total of approximately 10 million people in Iraq and Iran. All of them are in the Iranian language family. It is the most widespread speech form of Iraqi Kurds, and is the language of a plurality of Kurds in Eastern Kurdistan. Soranî is usually written in the Arabic script, from right to left, but also has a Romanized form which we will address here.

Steps

1
There are very few online resources for learning Sorani. Here are a few expressions, words and phrases to get you started:
2
Learn the key words:
- Yes: Bale
- No: Na
- Thank you: Supas
- Please: Tkaya
- And: Woo
3
Learn some phrases.^{[1]
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Research source}
- Good morning: Bayanit bash
- Good Afternoon: Niwarot bash
- Good Evening: Ewarat bash
- Good Night: Shaw Shad
- Good day: Roj Bash
- Goodbye: Xwahafiz (Xwa= God / hafiz= protect)
- Hello: Slaw
4
Learn some common questions and answers.^{[2]
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Research source}
- How are you?: Choni? to choni?
- I am okay: Bashm(Turkish) chaakem (Iraq)
- I am very okay: Zor bashm
- I am not okay: Bash nim
- I am ill: Naxoshm
- Where are you? Lakwey?
- Where do you live? Lakwey azhit?
- I live in England: La Englestan azhim
- How old are you?: Tamant chanda?
- What is your name?: Nawt chya?
- Where are you going?: Bo kwe aroy?
- I go to work: Achm bo îsh
- When are you coming back?: Kay yatawa?
- I come back evening: Eawara demawa
- What is your job?: îsht chya?
- Did you arrive: Gayshti?
- I am going: Arom
- What?: Chi?
- How many?: Chand?
- How many brothers have you got?: Chand brat haya?
- I have one brother: Yak bram haya
- Have you got children?: Mnall't haya?
- How are you doing?: Bashee?
- Fine thanks, and you?: Bash'm supas ey to?
- Do you know what I mean?: Te agate?
5
Learn what to call people.
- You: to (pronounced 'tå')
- I:m: (A little bit complicated)
- My: Add "m" to noun ending ("My nose" becomes "lut[m]")
- Mum: Dayk
- Dad: Bawk
- Sister: Khoshk
- Brother: Bra
- Paternal uncle: Mam
- Maternal uncle: Khal
- Girl: Kch
- A girl: Kchek
- Boy: Kur (pronounced 'kooorr')
- A boy: Kurek
- Teacher: Mamosta
6
Learn the names of some foods.^{[3]
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Research source}
- I eat: Khwarden axom
- Rice: Brnj
- Tea: Cha
- Coffee: Qawa
- Water: Aaw
- Soup: Shorba
- Okra: Bamya
- Yogurt: Mast
7
Learn a few other key words.
- Car: Sayara (Old Kurdi) Aotomobel (New Kurdi)
- Life: Zhyan
- Country: Walat
- City: Shar
- Village: Ladey
- House: mal / khano
- Nation/ tribe: Khell
- Place of first date: Shweny khwazbyeny yekem
- Child: Mnall
- Shirt: Kras
- Day: Roj
- Kiss: Mach
8
Learn some expressions
- You are beautiful: To Jwanit
- I am going: Min Arom
- Do not go: Marro
- Come on: De wera
- Come to me: Wara bo laymn
- I swear to God: Ba xwa
- For example: Bo nemoona
- Good luck: Baxtawar
- You are a very nice girl: To kcheki zor jwani
- You are a very nice boy: To kureki zor jwani
- I love you: Khoshm aweyt (xoshm aweyt)
- Life is nice: Zhyan khosha (Zhyan xosha)
9
Learn some descriptive words.^{[4]
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Research source}
- Together: Pekawa
- In: la naw
- Above (on): sar
- Below (under): zher
- Beside: Tanisht
- Back: Psht
- Go: Bero
- Nice: Khosh
- OK: Bash
- Many/very: Zor
- Pain: zhan
10
Learn a few major body parts.
- Head: Sar
- Neck: Mel
- Eye/ eyes: Chaw
- Nose: Loot
- Mouth: Dam
- Eyebrow: Brä
- Ear/ ears: Gwe
- Hair: Qzh
- Cheek: Roomat
- Hand: Dast
- Shoulder: Shan
- Chest: Sng
- Breast: Mamk
- Abdomen: Sk
- Umbilicus: Nawk
- Foot/ feet/ lower limb: qach
- Fingers: Panja
- Back: Psht
- Knee: Azhnoo
11
Learn to count.^{[5]
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Research source}
- 1: yiek
- 2: doo
- 3: ce
- 4: chwar
- 5: penj
- 6: shash
- 7: hawt
- 8: hasht
- 9: noh
- 10: de
- 11: yanza
- 12: dwanza
- 13: syanza
- 14: chwarda
- 15: panza
- 16: shanza
- 17: havda
- 18: hazhda
- 19: nozda
- 20: bist
- 21: bist u yak
- 30: ci
- 40: chl
- 50: penja
- 60: shast
- 70: hafta
- 80: hashta
- 90: nawa
- 100: saa
- 101: saa u yak
- 1000: hazar

Community Q&A

Question

What does "chawakam" mean?

Community Answer

Basically it is translated as "my eyes", and is used as a friendly or romantic speech.
Question

How do I say "I miss you" in Sorani?

Community Answer

In Sorani you can say "Bert dakam", pronounced /b/ /e/ /r/ /t/ /d/ /e/ /k/ /e/ /m/.
Question

How do I say "I love you too" in Sorani?

Community Answer

You can say I love you too like this:'mnish xoshm awet' pronounced mee-nish hosh-m aw-yet.
Question

How do I say "my name is" in Sorani?

Community Answer

You say “nawm....(insert name),” it is pronounced like the word “now” in English, and you put the ‘m’ after it, as it belongs to you. You add an ‘a’ or ‘ya’ (if it's a vowel ending) after your name . E.g Person: “Nawt chya?” You: “Nawm Hana-ya”.
Question

How do I say "let's play" in Sorani?

Community Answer

Wara ba kaya bkin. "Wara ba" here means let's, and "kaya" means play. We need "to do" in Kurdish, which is "bkin" in this sentence.
Question

How do I say "Praise Allah" in Sorani?

Community Answer

We say "Supas Bo Khwa" - /s/ /w/ /p/ /a/ /s/ /b/ /o/ /kh/ /w/ /a/.
Question

How can I say "You are in my heart forever" in Sorani?

Ishrat Hussain Mohammad

Community Answer

You can say: "Hûn her dem di dilê min de ne" (هن ھر دم دی دل من دے نے).