Kurmanji Lexicon

KURDISH–ENGLISH 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 

in my opinion 

abadîn eternal 

aborî economic, financial; f economy; 

~zan economist 

‘aciz helpless, unable to cope (ji with): 

ez ji kêzikan zehf aciz im I am utterly 

incapable of coping with bugs 

Adar f March 

‘adet f custom; ~î ordinary 

aferîde m creature 

aferîn bravo; ~ ji … re good for … 

afirandin v.t. to create 

afîş f poster 

aga aware (li of) 

agadarî f information, announcement; 

awareness 

agah = aga 

agahdarî = agadarî 

agir m (obl. êgir) fire; ~ danîn bi to set 

fire to 

Agirî f Ağrı, in extreme eastern Turkey 

aheng f tune, tone 

ajotin ajo- v.t. to drive (vehicle); to 

pass, last (of time): pir neajotibû ku… 

not much time had passed before…, 

vê bêdangiya han heta sala 1980 ajot 

this silence lasted until the year 1980; 

~ ser to attack 

al 1 f flag, banner 

* 

196 

al 1 red 

ala = al 

al’al tulip 

alandin v.t. to twist 

alastin alês- v.t. to lick 

alaş thatch; ~kirî thatched 

alav f flame 

alayî f troop, regiment 

alet m instrument, tool 

alês- → alastin 

alfabe f alphabet 

‘alim m scholar 

alî 1 m side, part; bi her ~yê ve in every 

direction; dan ~yekî v.t. to put aside, 

to draw to one side; ji ~yekî / ji ~kî 

on the one hand; ji ~yê din on the 

other hand; ji ~yê … ve by (passive 

agent), on the part of 

alî 2 , arî f help; ~kar helping, helpful; 

~karî f help, support; ~karî kirin v.t. 

to help: min alîkariya wî dikir I used 

to help him 

‘alî 3 supreme 

alîkar partisan; ~î kirin v.t. to take 

s.o.’s part, be partisan 

alînegir neutral 

Alman German; ~ya f Germany 

aloz scattered, random 

amade ready; ~ kirin v.t. to make 

ready; xwe ~ kirin f to get oneself

KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY 

ready 

ambelaj f wrapping, packing 

Amerîka/Amerîqa f America; ~yî 

American 

Amûda f ‘Amūdā, a town in Syria near 

Qāmishlī 

an or; ~ na or not; an…an either…or 

ancax so much 

anîn v.t. (pres. ind. tînim, neg. naynim; 

subj. bînim, neg. subj. neynim) to 

bring 

anîzazî f cleverness 

Anteqye f Antakya, Antioch 

anuha = niha 

ap, apo m paternal uncle 

‘aqil 1 m mind, intelligence 

‘aqil 2 intelligent 

‘aqûbet f end 

ardû m fuel 

arî (dial. var.) = alî 2 

armanc f aim, goal 

armûş m a sheaf of grain 

armûxan m gift 

arnawid Albanian 

arşîv f archive 

artêş f army 

arûk m ceiling 

arxayîn confident 

asê rugged, steep; ~geh f fortification 

asê kirin v.t. to catch 

asêwarî untimely 

asiman, asîman m heaven; ~î heavenly 

asîmîlasiyon f assimilation 

asîmîle assimilated 

aso f horizon 

asteng m difficult road, rough terrain, 

obstacle 

asin m (dial. var.) = hesin 

‘aşiq in love; ~ê … bûn to be in love 

with 

aşitî f peace, truce; ease, comfort 

aşî = aşitî 

‘atifî emotional 

av f water; ~ û hewa f climate 

197 

ava 1 built up, prosperous, developed; ~ 

kirin v.t. to develop; ~ker m developer, 

founder 

ava 2 çûn v.i. to set (of the sun) 

avahî f building, edifice 

avayî = avahî 

avdayî tempered (steel) 

avêj- → avêtin 

avêş f balm 

avêtin avêj- 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 ~yekî somehow; 

bi wî ~yî by this means; bi 

hemû ~yî by all/any means 

awaz m voice, sound, singing 

awir f glance, backward look 

awur (dial. var.) = awir 

ax 1 sigh, ouch; ~ avêtin v.t. to say ouch 

ax 2 f land, earth, dirt; ~a welat homeland; 

~a Sûriyê the land of Syria 

axa m (obl axê) agha, feudal lord, master 

axaftin axiv- v.i. to speak 

axar ??? 

axil corral 

axiftin (dial. var.) = axaftin 

axiret f the other world: mirovê axiretê 

an other-worldly person 

axîn v.i. to cry, to cry out 

axpîne f patch of ground, field 

AY = Ameriqayê Yekbûyî USA 

azad free; ~ kirin v.t. to set free; ~î f 

liberty 

azar f anguish; ~ dan v.t. to torment, 

vex 

azman m sky 

b- → birin, bûn 

ba 1 m (obl bê) wind 

ba 2 m turn 

ba 3 (prep.) with, in front of, in the presence 

of; li ~ with, chez

a 4 m rheumatism; ~wî rheumatic 

babet f regard: di vê babetê de in this 

regard 

babo daddy 

ba-dan v.t. to turn, twist, wring 

badayî turned, twisted 

bager f snowstorm 

bahar = bihar 

bahlif f pillow 

bajar m (obl bajêr) city; ~î m merchant, 

citified; ~van citizen, city dweller; 

~vanî urban: jiyana bajarvaniyê urban 

life 

Baku f Baku 

bakurofe f gust of wind 

bakûr m north 

bal 1 f wing, arm 

bal 2 f attention, mind, thought; ~ kişandin 

to attract the attention: wêneyên 

min bala rojname û hunermendan 

kişandin my pictures attracted the 

attention of newspapers and artists; 

~dar attentive, discerning; ~drêj patient, 

careful; ~fireh patient, calm; 

~kêş attractive, interesting 

balaxane f balcony 

balefir m airplane; ~geh airport 

balgî m pillow 

balîf = bahlîf 

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; ~ bûn to be loaded; to bear 

up: çavên wan bar nebûbû they 

hadn’t been able to bear the sight; ~ 

kirin v.t. to load up, move (household); 

~kêş m porter 

baran f rain; ~din v.t. to rain down 

bare: di ~ya … de (prep.) about, concerning 

KURMANJI KURDISH 

198 

barîk slender, thin 

barîn/~iyan v.i. to rain down 

bask m arm, wing: baskê çepê partiya 

sosyal-demokrat the leftist wing of 

the Social-Democrat Party; ~ên xwe 

li hev xistin to flap one’s wings 

baş good; ~ kirin v.t. to improve; 

~kirin f improvement 

başok(e) falcon 

başûr m south 

bav m (voc. bavo) father; ~îtî 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…; ~î f belief, trust; ~mend 

m believer 

bawî 1 m father 

bawî 2 → ba 4 

bawîşk f yawn 

baxçe m garden, yard 

baz jump, leap; ~ dan v.t. to dance; to 

run away in fear, to flee in haste 

bazar f market; ~a reş black market 

beden m body 

bedew beautiful, splendid 

bedyûm ill-omened 

befr f (dial. var.) = berf 

behr f sea 

behs f discussion; ~kirin v.t. to discuss 

bejin f height, stature; ~bilind tall; ~ û 

bala tall stature 

bel straight; ~ kirin v.t. to straighten, 

prick up (ears, &c.) 

bela f catastrophe 

belaş for free, gratis 

belav widespread, scattered; ~ bûn v.i. 

to be scattered; ~ kirin v.t. to spread, 

broadcast, disseminate; ~ok f publication 

belayê nav … bûn v.i. to spread out 

through 

belediye f municipality 

belek speckled, spotted


belekî f water spring 

belengaz poor, destitute; ~î f poverty, 

destitution 

bélê yes 

belg m leaf 

belgih m suit, clothing; ~ girtin v.t. to 

garb oneself 

belkî maybe, perhaps 

ben = bend 

bend f bond; li ~a for the sake of, 

chained to, waiting for: divê em êdî li 

benda sibehê ranewestin we shouldn’t 

stand around waiting for tomorrow; 

~ kirin v.t. to fetter, arrest; man 

di ~a to wait for 

benderuh creature 

bendewar bûn bi to love, be in love 

with 

benzîn f gasoline 

beq m frog 

ber 1 m breast, fore; ber-dan see alphabetically; 

~ bi hev hatin v.i. to cooperate; 

~ê (ve) (adv.) before; ~î 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 ~ zanîn v.t. 

to memorize; li ~ (prep.) before, on 

account of; li ~ (+ inf.) on the verge 

of: ew hêviya ku li ber geşbûnê bû 

çilmisî that hope, which was on the 

verge of blossoming, withered; 

wek(e) ~ê as before 

ber 2 m yield, fruit; ~ wergirtin ji to derive 

a yield from 

beramber equal, equivalent; ~î f equality; 

~î … kirin v.t. to compare to: wî 

ew beramberî Anton Çexov dikir he 

used to compare him to Anton Chekhov 

beran m ram 

ber-anîn (ber-în) v.t. to imagine 

berate f carcass 

berban m ceiling 

199 

berberî f comparison 

berbêjî f prediction 

berbiçav conspicuous 

berbihevhatin f cooperation 

berbînî f imaginary image, vision 

bercênîk ??? 

berçav 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: xulamê wî ew da ber 

tifingê 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 

berdêl f equivalent; ji ~a instead of 

berdêlk = berdêl; 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 

beriqîn v.i. to glisten 

berizîn bi v.i. to fight with, do battle 

with 

berî f pocket 

berîde perplexed, lost 

berîk f pocket 

ber-ketin v.i. to feel sad

ermil f load 

bername f program 

beroş f pot, pan 

berovajî to the contrary 

berpêş kirin v.t. to suggest, to propose 

berpirsiyar responsible; m manager; ~î 

f responsibility, management 

berq f lightning 

bersîv 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 

bervajî f opposite side; ji ~yê contrariwise, 

conversely 

bervê prep. toward 

berwar m slope 

berx lamb 

berxwedan f resistance 

bes much, many a; enough 

best f plain 

best m joy, glee, relish 

beş m part; ~dar participant; ~dar bûn 

v.i. to take part, participate 

beşavend f rhyme 

beşer f flesh 

betalî f unemployment, uselessness, 

idleness 

bexçe = baxçe 

Bexda f Baghdad 

bext m luck; ~iyar fortunate, happy; 

~iyarî f good fortune, happiness; bê~ 

unfortunate 

beybûn f camomile 

bez 1 f speed: bi lez û ~ quickly, with all 

speed; bayê ~ê the racing wind; ~în 

bez- v.i. to run 

bez 2 m kind, sort 

beza fast-running, galloping 

bezir lost 

bê 1 → ba 

bê- 2 (prefix) without; see compounds alphabetically 

bêaqil stupid 


200 

bêbawer disbelieving, unsure; ~î f disbelief 

bêbest uncontrollable 

bêbext unlucky, unfortunate; ~î f unluckiness, 

misfortune 

bêçare helpless, poor; ~tî f helplessness 

bêçine useless 

bêçiqasî inordinately 

bêdar treeless, barren 

bêdeng silent; ~î f silence, obscurity 

bêdil halfhearted, unwilling 

bêfedî lack of embarrassment 

bêgav impossible, helpless 

bêgoşt skinny 

bêguman doubtless(ly) 

bêhamd reluctantly, unwillingly 

bêhawe unparalleled, extraordinary 

bêhay unconscious, unaware; dinyayê ~ 

the subconscious world 

bêhejiyan û livat without movement or 

motion 

bêhejmar innumerable 

bêhempa unparalleled, peerless 

bêhêvî without hope, in despair; ~ kirin 

v.t. to make s.o. despair 

bêhêzî f weakness, debility 

bêhişiyarî without feeling, numb 

bêhn 1 f breath; ~a min teng bû I was 

bored; ~a xwe teng kirin to bore oneself, 

let oneself get bored; ~a … 

çikandin v.t. to suffocate; ~tengî f 

boredom 

bêhn 2 f smell, odor; ~ berdan to leave 

an odor behind; ~ dan to give off an 

odor; ketin ser ~ê to pick up a scent; 

~çikîn dry-smelling 

bêhtengî = bêhntengî 

bêî prep. without; ~ ku (conj., + subj.) 

without: îro jî bêî ku mirov tu zehmetiyan 

bikişîne, mirov bi hêsanî ji wan 

tê digihê even today one easily understands 

them without going to any 

trouble 

bêîmkanî f impossibility


bêj- → gotin 

bêje f word: ~ bi ~ word by word; ~r 

speaker 

bêjing f sieve 

bêkar unemployed; ~î f unemployment 

bêkes lonely, alone, unprotected 

bê li prep. without 

bêmane fearful, dreadful 

bêmecalî f lack of opportunity 

bêminet relentless(ly) 

bênamus dishonorable 

bênav nameless, unnamed 

bênavbirî incessant 

bênihtin v.i. to freeze 

bênîşan spotless 

bêpar deprived 

bêpejnî f tranquility 

bêpîvan immeasurable 

bêr. See xêr. 

bêrî f longing; ~ kirin v.t. to long for, 

miss 

bêrik = bêrîk 

bêrîk f pocket; wek hundirê bêrika 

şalê xwe nasîn to know something 

“like the back of one’s hand” 

Bêrûd f Beirut 

bêsedem without reason, unprovoked 

bê serûbin endless 

bêşerm shameless; ~î f shamelessness 

bêşik doubtless 

bêtar storm 

bêtaw impatient, restless 

bêtir more 

bêtîn powerless, weak 

bêvil, bêvîl f nose, nostril 

bêxanî homeless 

bê xayî limitless 

bêxeber unaware (ji of); ji her derî ~ 

totally oblivious 

bêxew sleepless, suffering from insomnia; 

~î f sleeplessness, lack of sleep 

bêxudan = bêxwedî 

bêxweda godless, damned 

bêxwedî godless, ownerless, orphaned, 

201 

poor, lonely 

bêyî = bêî 

bêzarî f nuisance, headache 

bêzaro childless 

bi- subjunctive prefix 

bi … re (ccmp.; bi + wî/wê > pê) by, 

with, upon: bi tirên re by train; bi min 

re with me; bi bihîstina deng re upon 

hearing the sound 

bi … ve (ccmp.; bi + wî/wê > pê) 

through, up to: ji wê rojê pê ve from 

that day to this 

bi- subjunctive verbal prefix 

biaqil intelligent, smart; ~î f intelligence 

biçûk little; ~anî f childhood, youth 

bidardakirin → dar 

biha bûn v.i. to be valuable 

bihar f spring, springtime; ~î pertaining 

to spring 

bihin = bêhn; bi ~ with odor, with fragrance; 

~dar fragrant 

bihişmet magnificent 

bihişt f paradise; ~în paradisiacal, heavenly 

bihîstin bihîs-/bihîz- v.t. to hear, listen 

bihn = bêhn 1 

bihorîn v.i. to pass 

bihostin v.t. ??? 

bihuk insect 

bihurandîn bihurîn- v.t. to spend 

(time): ew zaroktiya xwe li Kurdistana 

Bakûr bihurandiye he spent his 

childhood in North Kurdistan 

bihurtin bihur- v.i. to pass, be spent 

bihuşt f span. See also bihişt. 

bihûr- = bihurbijarte 

choice, select 

bijartin bijêr- v.t. to choose 

bijiqandin v.t. to tear to shreds 

bijîjk m physician 

bijîn lively 

bijîv f sustenance 

bikaranîn → kar 

bikêr useful

íla (+ subj.) let: çi 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) 

bilî other than, aside from; ~ ji ditto 

bilûr f shepherd’s pipe, flute 

bin m bottom; di ~ under; ~dest underling, 

oppressed; ~geh m foundation, 

basis; ~gehê … avetin to lay the 

foundation of …; ~gehîn basic; ~xet f 

south of the Turkish border, i.e. Syria 

and Iraq 

binûr luminous 

bipêşdexistin f advancement, improvement 

biqedr worthwhile, valuable 

bir m part 

bira 1 m (obl. pl biran) brother 

bira 2 = bila 

bira 3 really 

birc f tower 

birçî hungry; ~n f hunger; ~tî f hunger 

birêvebir m leader 

birh m eyebrow 

birin b- v.t. to carry, take; ~ jêr to 

bring/take down/away; ~ jor to bring/ 

take up 

birisqîn v.i. to sparkle, shimmer 

birîn 1 f wound; ~ kirin v.t. to wound; 

~dar m wounded 

birîn 2 = birrîn 

birrîn v.t. to cut, to cross: wî sînor birrî 

he crossed the border 

birsî hungry 

birsîn f hunger 

birûsk f lightning; ~e f telegram 

biryar f decision; ~ dan v.t. to decide 

biserketin f success 

bişkul m goat and sheep droppings 

biv m buzz 

bivê nevê willy-nilly, like it or not 


202 

bivir m ax 

biwa (alternative past conditional of 

bûn) = bûya 

bixêrhatinî dan v.t. to welcome 

bixwe by oneself, personally 

biyanî m foreign(er), stranger, alien; 

~stan f any foreign place, “foreign 

parts”; ~tî f strangeness, alienation: 

jiyana biyanîtiyê life of alienation 

bizin f goat 

bizir m seed 

bizivîn v.i. to budge 

bîhin = bêhn 

bîn = bêhn 

bîn- → dîtin, anîn 

bîna (dial. var.) = mîna 

bînahî f sight 

bînanî prep. like 

bînber m sight 

bîr 1 f memory; bi ~ anîn v.t. to remember: 

baş bîne bîra xwe ku… remember 

well that…; ~a … birin to take into 

consideration; ~ hatin v.i. to remember: 

tê bîra min I remember; ji ~(a) 

kirin v.t. to forget; ~anîn f memory, 

reminiscence 

bîr 2 f well 

bîranî f memory 

bîst 1 twenty; ~salî twenty-year-old 

bîst 2 f moment, a short period of time: 

bîstek neborî it didn’t take long before 

bîstin bîs- v.t. to hear 

bîşeng f weeping willow 

bîz- = bihîz → bihîstin 

bîzbîzî matted 

bo (prep.) for; (conj.) so that, in order 

that 

boç f tail 

boçik f tail 

bombe f bomb; ~yên destan hand 

grenades 

bona prep. for: ~ vê yekê for this reason 

borandin v.t. to spend (time), make


(time) pass 

borî f pipe 

borîn v.i. to last, pass (time): çend meh 

naborin not many months passed 

(n.p.); v.t. to excuse: min bibore excuse 

me 

bostan m garden 

boş wide, widespread, abundant 

boxçe f bundle 

braştî roasted 

brûsk = birûsk 

buhar = bihar 

buhirîn v.t. to take away, clear off 

buhurandin buhurîn- v.t. to spend 

(time); ~în v.i. to pass, pass away 

buhurtin buhur- v.i. to pass, pass 

away, go out 

buhurî last, past: sala ~ last year 

bulbul nightingale 

bûk f bride, daughter-in-law; ~anî f 

wedding 

bûn b- v.i. to be, become 

bûsî f ambush 

bûyer f incident, event 

bûz ice 

BZ = berê zayînê B.C. 

ca (used with imperatives): ~ were come 

on!; ca bifikire ku just think what it 

would be like if … 

cam f glass 

camêr courageous, gallant, gentlemanly 

casûs m spy 

car f time; ~ ~an often, many times; 

~din again, once again; ~inan from 

time to time; ~kê = carekê once; ~na 

sometimes 

cax protective fencing 

cazîbedar interesting 

cebhe f front (mil.) 

ceger f liver (poetic); ~ şîrîn darling, 

beloved 

cejin f celebration, festival 

celeb m sort, kind: du celeb kes hene: 

203 

yên baş û yên nebaş 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 

cidî 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 xweş 

kirin v.t. to make oneself comfortable; 

~ê … girtin v.t. to take the place 

of; ~ê local; ~ê ~ê various, sundry; 

~gir occupant; bi ~ anîn to bring 

about, bring to fruition; bi ~ bûn li to 

settle in, take up residence in; di nav 

~an de in bed 

cihan f the world 

cil m clothing; ~ û berg (pl) clothes 

cin djinn, demon; ~anlêxistî possessed 

by demons 

cinewir monster 

cirecir f talk, chit-chat 

civandin civîn- v.t. to move, set in 

motion 

civak society; community; ~î social, 

societal; ~nas sociologist; ~nasî f 

sociology 

civat f society, group 

civîn v.i. to move; ~în f movement 

ciwan young, beautiful; ~tî f youth 

cixar(e) (dial. var.) = cigar 

cixiz kirin v.t. to mark, to leave marks 

in 

cî = cih 

cîhan f world

cîhêlkirin f surveillance 

cîran neighbor 

cografî geographical 

col m pack (of wolves, &c.) 

core core various 

coş enthusiasm, excited 

cot 1 m pair 

cot 2 m plow; ~kârî f agriculture 

cube m robe 

cumhûriyet f republic 

cunta f junta 

cure cure (dial. var.) = core core 

curet kirin v.t. to dare 

cûda separate; ~ kirin v.t. to separate 

cûm bûn v.i. to be obscured 

ç- → çûn 

çak good 

çakêt m jacket 

çalak active; ~î f activity 

çand f culture; ~î cultural 

çandin çîn- v.t. to plant 

çap f printing; ~ kirin v.t. to print, 

publish; ~emanî f printed matter, the 

press; ne~kirî unpublished; ~xane f 

printshop 

çar four 

çarçove f framework 

çare f remedy; bê~ helpless, poor; ~nûs 

f remedy; bi ~nûsa … ve in the interests 

of; ~ser f solution; ~ser kirin 

v.t. to solve, resolve 

çarmergî cross-legged 

çarşef, çarşev f sheet, woman’s covering; 

~ kişandin v.t. to put a sheet 

(on a bed); ~ li xwe kirin v.t. to put 

on a veil, cover oneself 

çav m eye; ~ girtin v.t. to close the eyes; 

~erênî f expectation; ~ên … xistin 

v.t. to attract the attention of; bi ~ekî 

nebaş nêrîn to have a low opinion of; 

~êş f eye ailment; ~kanî f source, 

wellspring; ~şin blue-eyed 

çavnihêrî bûn v.i. to expect, to look 


204 

expectantly 

çawa(n) how?: çawan bibe bila bibe be 

that as it may; ~ heba somehow or 

other; ~ ku as; çawahî f quality 

çax f time: wê çaxê at that time 

çay f tea; ~dan f teapot; ~xane f teahouse 

çe = çê 

çefî = kefî 

çek f weapon; ~dar armed 

çeleng cute, attractive, good-looking 

çem m river 

çen f armpit 

çend (following word construed as pl.) 

how many?; several: di çend cihan de 

in several places; çend hevalên min 

several of my friends; ~ik û çend (+ 

sing.) several: çendik û çend roj e… 

it’s been several days since…; û ~ - 

odd: bi pêncih û çend salên xwe ve in 

his fifty-odd years; ~ê for a while 

çeng f claw; ~ê li … de cih kirin v.t. to 

sink the claw into 

çengel m hook 

çeng kirin v.t. to throw, hurl 

çente m suitcase 

çep left; wrong: ew min çep fahm dike 

he misunderstands me 

çeper f shield, barricade 

çepik xistin li v.t. to applaud for 

çer what? 

çer ku (conj.) as soon as 

çerçî m peddler 

çerkez Circassian 

çerm m skin, leather; ~în leathern 

çerx f wheel 

çetel m fork, forked 

çewsandin v.t. to exploit 

çewt crooked, awry, wrong 

çê right, okay; ~-bûn v.i. to be born; to 

be right: çê nabe tu wisa bikî it’s not 

right for you to act thus; çê dibe ku ez 

biçim? is it okay for me to go?; ~kirin 

v.t. to give birth to, to make, fix,


repair, keep: wî çê dikine binê zindanê 

they keep him in the dungeon, 

min di serê xwe e plana ku … çêdikir 

I was making a plan in my head to … 

çêlik the young of any animal, puppy, 

kitten, cub, etc. 

çêl f subject, topic; ~î kirin v.t. to talk 

about 

çêre f grazing, pasturage 

çêrîn v.i. to graze 

çêtir better 

çi 1 what?; ~ bigire practically speaking, 

pretty much 

çi 2 no; ~ tiştî nothing 

çiçek = çîçek 

çiftexas m cotton batiste 

çik exhausted; ~ bûn v.i. to become exhausted, 

to sink down (into snow) 

çikandin v.t. to drip; to plant (tree); to 

push s.th. in as far as it will go 

çikîn v.t. to plant; to crackle; to dry up 

(mother’s milk): şîrê berê wê çikî her 

breast milk dried up 

çiko, çiku because 

çil 1 forty 

çil 2 greedy 

çil 3 only in çil û çiya hills and mountains 

çile f the coldest period of winter; ~ya 

paşîn January; ~ya pêşîn December 

çilmisandin v.t. to make wither 

çilmîsîn v.i. to wither 

çilvilîn = çilwilîn 

çilwilîn v.i. to gleam 

çima why? 

çimkî because 

çiqas how much 

çiqçiqî kirin v.t. to rip to shreds 

çir, çira why? 

çira f lamp, stove 

çirandin çirîn- v.t. to tear, tear up 

çirav f muck 

çire why 

çiriya paşê/paşîn f November 

205 

çiriya pêşê/pêşîn f October 

çirisîn = çirûsîn 

çirûsîn v.i. to sparkle, shine, glow 

çirûsk f spark 

çiv trick, game; ~ dan xwe v.t. to zigzag 

çivanok f a formula used in storytelling 

çivik, çivîk bird, sparrow 

çiwal m sack 

çiya m mountain; ~yî mountaineer, hillbilly 

çîçek f flower 

çîl bright 

çîmen m grassy meadow 

çîp f calf (of the leg) 

çîrîn v.i. to creak 

çîrok f story; ~van storyteller 

çîya = çiya 

çîzçîzik f buzz 

ço m stick 

çog = çok 2 

çok 1 m stream 

çok 2 f knee 

çol f desert, wilderness 

çong = çok 2 

çûçik f bird 

çûk f bird 

çûn ç- (subj. stem ç-/her-) v.i. to go 

çûr a type of sheep 

çûyîn v.i. to go 

da 1 a dialectal variant of de 1 

da 2 a preverb that forms compounds, 

generally indicating ‘down’ 

da-anîn v.t. to set down, establish: Mam 

Reşîd satil danî û li dora xwe mêze 

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 

jî li xwe danaynin bi vî zimanê xweş û 

şêrîn bipeyivin many of them can’t 

even bring themselves to speak this 

nice, sweet language 

da-avêtin v.t. to put together, throw

together 

da-çikandin v.t. to set up, plant (tree, 

flag, &c.) 

dad f justice; ~geh f court; ~gêr 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; guhên xwe ~ v.t. to prick 

up one’s ears 

dagirtî well-built 

dagîr kirin v.t. to occupy 

dahl f grove 

dahn m season, period of time 

da-hûrandin v.t. to research, investigate 

daîre 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-mezrîn- v.t. to set up, establish 

dan 1 = dahn 

dan 2 d- v.t. to give 

da-nan da-nê- v.t. to lay, put down 

da-niştin da-niş- v.i. to sit down, alight 

danîn = da-anîn 

danûstendin f transaction, exchange; 

relation 

da-qurtandin qurtên- 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 

darîn wooden 


206 

davêtin = da-avêtin 

da‘we f legal case 

da‘wet f festive occasion 

dawî f end; ~ anîn 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: polîsan 

tabeleya me daxist the police took 

down our sign 

daxwaz f request; ~ kirin v.t. to request, 

beseech; ~î f desire 

dayik m mother; ji ~ê bûn v.i. to be 

born; ~tî f motherhood, maternity 

dayin = dan 

dayîn = dan 

de 1 postposition forms the second part 

of a number of circumpositions, generally 

indicating stationary position in 

or at; see the prepositional element 

de 2 (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 

delîve f opportunity, occasion 

dem 1 

f time, season; ~a ku (conj.) 

when; ~dirêj long-term; ~kurt shortterm; 

~ û dewran f olden times 

dem 2 steeped; ~ girtin to steep (of tea) 

demançe f pistol 

deng m voice, sound, noise; ~bêj m 

singer 

dengiz sea 

depdepe wooden 

deq 1 f part, region, place: di vê deqê de 

in this place 

deq 2 m tattoo; ~ bi ~ exactly alike 

deqe = deqîqe 

deqîqe f minute 

der 1 f place; ~ek(ê) somewhere; ev ~


here; li vê ~ê here; li ku ~ê where? 

der 2 outside; ~eke foreign: welatên 

dereke foreign countries 

der 3 f door 

der-anîn v.t. to take out 

derb f blow 

derbas passing, passsage; ~ bûn v.i. to 

pass, to pass by (ji); ~ kirin v.t. to 

spend (time); ~î hundur bûn to enter 

derbaz = derbas 

derbeder bûn v.i. to be driven from 

pillar to post 

der-bûn di to burst out on 

derd m pain, trouble: her yekî derdekî 

wan hebû everyone had some trouble 

derece f degree: di çi dereceyê de to 

what degree? 

dereng late, long time; ~ man v.i. to lag 

behind, be late 

derewîn lying, false 

derêxistin = derxistin 

derfend f opportunity 

derheq: di ~(ê) … de about, concerning 

deriya = derya 

derizî cracked 

derî 1 m door; ~yê xwe girtin li ber to 

close one’s 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 

derî 2 (prep) outside of 

der-ketin v.i. to go in/out, to turn out to 

be; ~ li dijî … v.i. to oppose; ji gîra 

… ~ to fail to catch 

derman m (obl dermên) remedy, treatment, 

medicine; ~geh pharmacy; ~ 

kirin v.t. to treat 

derpê m underpants; longjohns 

ders f lesson; ~ dan v.t. to give lessons 

der û dor environs; ~a (prep.) around 

derve outside; ~karî external: wezîrê 

dervekarî minister of foreign affairs; 

~yî (prep.) outside of: derveyî welêt 

outside of the country; (adj.) foreign; 

207 

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 -xwîn- v.t. to take to task 

derya f sea; ~ya Sipî the Mediterranean 

Sea 

derzî f crack, split; see also şûjin û 

derzî 

dest 1 m hand; ~ bi ~ continuously; ~ 

bûn ji to lose, to be left without: 

destên me ji te bûne we have been left 

without you; ~ dan hevdu v.t. to join 

hands; ~ kêşan ji v.t. to let go of; ~ 

kirin bi (+ inf.) v.t. to start; ~ê xwe 

kişandin ji to give up, abandon; bi ~ 

xistin to attain, obtain; di ~ên … for 

… to do: di destên min de bi tenê 

razan mabû the only thing I could do 

was go to sleep; ji ~ kirin v.t. to lose; 

ji bin destê … by, by means of …; 

xwe avêtin ~ û lingên kesekî to 

throw oneself at someone’s feet, to 

beg; xwe dan ~ to let oneself be captured 

dest 2 f group, set 

destan f story 

destbirak m blood brother 

deste f group, set 

destenan loaf of bread 

destik m oar 

destmal f handkerchief 

destpêk f beginning 

destteng poor 

destûr f order, command; ~a ziman 

grammar 

destvala empty-handed 

destve-înan v.t. to catch 

deşt f plain 

dev m mouth; entrance; ~ berdan ji to 

leave, to give up, to stop: te dev ji 

kêşana cixarê berdaye? have you 

stopped smoking cigarettes?; dev ji 

min berde, ez bêxew im leave me

alone—I’m sleepy; ~ di … da cî 

kirin to bite down on; (li) ~ (û) dora 

prep. all around 

devendeştî f brush, brambles 

deverû face down 

devî f bush 

devken f smile 

devkî oral: edebiyata devkî oral literature 

devojenî hev bûn 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 Frensayê the state of 

France 

dewr f age, time, epoch; role; ~ leyistin 

to play a role; ~an f age, time 

dews f place, spot, trace 

dexisîn v.i. to be jealous (ji of) 

deyn m debt; ~ dan to pay a debt; ~dar 

indebted; ~ê indebted to 

dê 1 f (const diya) mother 

dê 2 future auxiliary + subj. for future 

tense 

dê 3 3rd-person sing. present indicative 

of hatin 

dêl 1 f tail 

dêl 2 f female animal; ~egur f female 

wolf; ~ik f female wolf or dog, bitch 

dêrîn ancient, of long standing 

dêv 1 m demon 

dêv 2 = dev 

dêw = dêv 1 

di … de ccmp. in: di salên 70’î de in the 

’70s; di destên min de in my hands 

di … re ccmp. by, via, upon: bi bihîstina 

deng re upon hearing the noise; 

av di tifingên wan re dihate xwar 

water ran down their rifles 

di … ve ccmp. through 


208 

dí- habitual and progressive verbal 

prefix 

dia = dua 

di bareya … de ccmp. about, concerning 

dibistan f school: dibistana destpêk elementary 

school 

Dicle f the Tigris River 

didan m tooth 

didu two; ~yan second 

difin nostril 

digel with; ~ ku although 

dihanî = dianî (see anîn) 

dijî, li (prep.) against 

dijmin m enemy; ~atî f enmity 

dijûn kirin v.t. to curse 

dijwar difficult; ~î 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 çûyîna min ya hotêlê dilê xwe 

girtin they were offended by my 

going to a hotel; ~ şewitîn bi to feel 

sorry for: dilê midûr bi vî xortê 

çeleng û evîndarê xwendinê dişewite 

the principal feels sorry for this attractive 

young man so avid to study; 

~êşî f heartache; ~germ warm, hearty, 

kind; ~geş happy; ~nexweş sorry, 

upset, ill at ease; ~pak pure of heart; 

~qayim confident; ~qayimî f confidence; 

~soz sympathetic; ~şa happy, 

glad; ~şewat heart-rending; ~şikestî f 

disappointment; ~şikestî kirin v.t. to 

disappoint, to dishearten; ~tengî f 

sadness, loneliness; ~xwaz fond of; 

bêî ~ê against the wishes of; ne bi ~ê 

min bû it did not appeal to me 

dilêr intrepid 

dilnîya assured, confident 

dilop m drop 

dilovan kind, affectionate, dear; ~î f 

affection; death (euphemism): berî


dilovaniya nivîskarê dilovan bi salekê 

a year before the dear writer passed 

away 

diltezîn ??? 

din other 

di nav … de ccmp. in the midst of: di 

nav wî erdî de in the midst of that 

land 

dinê = dinyayê (see dinya) 

dinya f (obl. dinyayê, dinê) the world, 

the weather: dinya pirr sar bû the 

weather was very cold; bi ~yê hatin 

v.i. to be born; ~dîtî worldly, sophisticated 

diran (dial. var.) = didan 

dirb track, path 

dirêj long, lengthy; ~ ajotin to last a 

long time; ~ kirin to lengthen; ~î f 

length; ~î … kirin to hand to …; 

dest ~ … kirin to stretch the hand out 

to 

diriyan v.i. to be ripped 

divabû, diviyabû (impersonal + pres. 

subj.) had to: diviyabû ku tiştekî bikin 

they had to do something; (impersonal 

+ past cond.) ought to have …, was 

supposed to have …, would have to 

…: diviyabû Sovyet ji Îranê derketa 

the Soviet ought to (was supposed to) 

have withdrawn from Iran, divabû ku 

ew kêzik bihata kuştin that bug would 

have to be killed 

divê (impersonal + pres. subj.) ought to 

dixan f smoke 

diyar clear; ~î f clarity 

diyarî f gift 

Diyarbekir f Diyarbekir 

diz m thief 

dizî secret, concealed; bi ~ secretly, 

stealthily; ~tî f secret 

dî other; yê ~ the other one 

dîl m prisoner; ~ girtin v.t. to take prisoner; 

~î f imprisonment 

dîlan f dance, dancing 

209 

dîmen f view, sight, aspect 

dîn 1 m religion; ~itî f religiosity; ~î, 

~dar religious; ~perwer religious 

dîn 2 crazy, mad; ~ bûn li ser to go crazy 

over; ~ kirin to drive s.o. crazy; ~ik 

slightly crazy, “screw loose”; ~itî f 

madness 

dîn 3 f gaze, attention 

dîrok f story, history; ~î historical 

dîsa(n) again, (+ neg) still…not 

dîtin bîn- v.t. to see 

dîwan f reception room; collected works 

of a poet; ~çe f (obl ~çê) small reception 

room 

dîwar f (obl dîwêr) wall 

dîz knee 

dîzik f pan 

do = dû 

dol valley 

dom kirin v.t. to continue 

doman v.i. to continue 

domandin domîn- v.t. to continue 

dor 1 f environs; li ~a (prep.) around; 

~hêl f environs, parts, region; ~a … 

girtin v.t. to surround 

dor 2 m turn; ~alî f circumference 

dorandor m circumference; li ~ê (prep.) 

all around 

dost friend; ~ane friendly; ~ayetî f 

friendship 

doş- → dotin 

doşab m/f grape molasses ??? 

doşeg f mattress 

doşik = doşeg 

dot f daughter; ~mam f cousin 

dotin doş- v.t. to milk 

doz f cause, reason; aim, ideal; revenge; 

~a … kirin to aim for; ~ger vengeful, 

litigant 

du two 

du‘a f prayer; ~ kirin, ~ xwendin v.t. to 

pray 

ducar kirin v.t. to repeat 

dudil hesitant, of two minds; ~î f hesita-

tion 

duduyan (dial. var.) = diduyan 

duh(î) yesterday 

dunya = dinya 

durû hypocritical; ~tî f hypocrisy 

duşemb f Monday 

duv = dû 

duwemîn second: şerê dinyayê yê 

duwemîn World War II 

duyem(în) second 

dû 1 behind; ~dirêj of long standing; ~re 

then, afterwards; li ~ hev re one after 

the other; li ~ xwe behind oneself; bi 

~ … ketin v.i. to pursue 

dû 2 m smoke 

dûkel f smoke 

dûman f smoke 

dûpişk f scorpion 

dûr far; ~ xistin v.t. to throw away, exile; 

bi ~ ketin to go/get away; ~ nêzîk 

sooner or later; ~ahî f remoteness, 

distance; ~bîn farsighted 

dûre → dû 1 

dûrebîn f binoculars 

dûv m tail, end 

dûvre = dûre 

ebeden (+ neg.) never, not at all 

‘ecem Persian 

‘ecêb strange; ~mayî dumbfounded, stupified 

edebiyat f literature; ~van literateur 

edebî literary 

‘edilandin v.t. to ameliorate, make better 

edîb m litérateur 

efendî m westernized gentleman; ~tî f 

gentlemanliness 

efraz up 

‘efû f amnesty; ~ya giştî general amnesty 

‘egal f headband 

eger if 

ekîb f team 


210 

ekol f school 

ekonomîk economic 

elbik f wooden bucket 

elektrîk f flashlight 

elem pain 

‘eleqedar kirin v.t. to concern 

‘eleyh: di ‘eleyhê … da ccmp. against; 

~dar m supporter; ~darî kirin v.t. to 

support 

elman German; ~î German (language) 

em (obl. me) we 

emanet m deposit, anything held on 

loan or for safekeeping 

emir 1 f order, command 

‘emir 2 m age 

emperyalîsm f imperialism 

‘en‘anetî traditional 

endam m member 

enerjî f energy 

‘enî f forehead; front (mil.) 

enstîtu f institute 

‘eql m mind, reason 

‘erd f earth; li erdê dan to throw to the 

ground 

erdim f region 

‘erdhêj f earthquake 

‘ereb Arab; ~î Arabic 

‘erebe f cart, carriage, any wheeled 

vehicle 

‘Erebistan f Arabia 

erê yea, yes 

erk f responsibility 

ermen Armenian 

ermîşim silk 

Ernewid Albanian 

erz f hope; ~a … şikandin v.t. to dash 

s.o.’s hopes 

erzan cheap 

‘erzihal f description, report, petition 

Erzerom f Erzurum 

esas m foundation, basis; ~î basic, essential, 

original 

eser f work, monument: esereke edebî a 

literary work


esil m origin; bi ~ê xwe originally 

esilzade aristocratic 

‘esker m soldier; ~î f the military; (adj) 

military 

‘esman = azman 

esmer olive complected 

‘eşîr f tribe; ~tî tribal 

eşkere clear, obvious 

eşk û teşk tangled (hair) 

ev (obl. masc. sing. vî, obl. fem. sing. 

vê, obl. pl. van) he, she, it, they, this, 

these 

evîn f love, affection; ~dar desirous, in 

love: ew evîndarê xwendinê bû he 

was desirous of studying 

evqasî so much 

ew (obl. masc. sing. wî, obl. fem. sing. 

wê, obl. pl. wan, pl. const. ewên) he, 

she, it, they, that, those 

‘ewd m revenge 

ewel, ewelî first 

ewên pl. const. of ew; ~ din the others 

ewir = ewr 

ewle security, reliance, assurance; ~ bûn 

to be secure 

‘ewr m cloud 

ewraq (pl) papers 

Ewrûpa f Europe; ~yî European 

Ewrûpî European 

‘ewt f bark; ~e ~ constant or repeated 

barking; ~în v.i. to bark 

‘eynî the same: di eynî salê de in the 

same year 

ey O (vocative) 

‘Eyndîwer ‘Ayn Dīwār, a small place in 

Syria south of Cizre 

Eyûb Job; ~î Job-like 

eywan f salon, sitting room 

ez (obl. min) I 

ezbenî sir (mode of polite address) 

‘ezman m sky, heaven 

‘ezîz dear 

‘Ezrayîl Azrael, the angel of death 

211 

ê 1 = yê 

ê 2 future auxiliary + subj. for future 

tense 

êdî now; still, yet 

êgir → agir 

êh: gewro êh berçavara nedihat 

“Whitey” didn’t notice it 

ên = yên 

êrîş = hêriş 

êş f pain, ache; ~andin êşîn- v.t. to hurt, 

cause pain, trouble; ~iyan êş- v.i. to 

hurt, suffer pain: ser û çavê te neêşe 

“may your head and eye not suffer 

pain,” thank you 

êvar f evening 

êxur m stable 

êzing m firewood 

fahm (dial. var.) = fehim 

fal f augury, omen, fate; ~ vekirin to 

predict: ev fala ko herkesî 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; ~î f Persian (language) 

faşîst fascist 

fedakar, fedekar self-sacrificing, devoted; 

~î f self-sacrifice 

fedî 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; 

felsefî philosophical 

fen f trick; bi ~ û fîtan by hook or by 

crook 

fener f lamp 

feodalî feudal 

feqeh m theology student 

feqî Muslim cleric; ~tî f the clerical pro-

fession 

feqîr poor; ~tî f poverty 

fer one, single item (of a pair) 

ferheng f culture: wezareta ferhengê 

ministry of culture; dictionary 

ferman f order, command; ~a … derxistin 

v.t. to issue an order for … 

fermî formal 

fermo please (said when offering s.th.) 

ferq f difference: çi ferqa me û cîranên 

me dimîne? 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 fexê to put in a trap 

feyde f benefit, profit; bi ~ beneficial 

fêde f (const. fêda) benefit: ji bo fêda 

xwe for one’s one benefit, in one’s 

own interests 

fêhm = fehim 

fêlbazî f cunning 

fêre bûn v.i. to learn; fêreyî … bûn to 

learn s.th., to become accustomed to 

s.th. 

fêrî … bûn v.i. to learn: ew di demeke 

kurt de fêrî tirkî bû he learned Turkish 

in a short time 

fihêt kirin v.t. to assess, to price 

fikar(e) f worry 

fikir f idea, thought; ~în v.i. to think, 

contemplate 

filitîn ji v.i. to get rid of 

filosof m philosopher 

find f candle 

fir- → firîn 

firaq m dishes 

firar kirin to escape, to flee 

firavîn f lunch, midday meal 

firax (pl) dishes, pots and pans; ~ şustin 

v.t. to wash the dishes 

fireh open, wide, spacious; ~ kirin v.t. 

to open; dil ~ kirin to gladden the 

heart 


212 

firiyan v.i. to fly away 

firîn fir- v.i. to jump, fly: Mûsa ji kêfan 

difire Musa is jumping for joy 

firîşte m angel 

firk a rapid motion 

firne f bakery 

firotin froş- v.t. to sell 

firq = ferq 

firtone f storm, gale 

fitil dan v.t. to twist and turn 

fîstan m dress 

fort m boast 

fransiz m/f French (person) 

frensî f French (language) 

frensizî French (language) 

froş- → firotin 

fursend f opportunity 

fûrîn v.i. to bubble, gurgle, boil 

galegal f conversation 

galon m gallon 

gamêş ox 

garan f herd of cattle 

garis m millet; ~ê misrî corn 

garsîn f village square 

gav 1 f time; moment, instant; ~a (ku) 

when (sub. conj.); ~ û saet at all 

times; di ~ê da in an instant; li ~ê de 

at that moment 

gav 2 m step, pace; ~ kirin v.t. to step, 

cross; ~ avetin to take steps: edebiyata 

kurdî di van salên dawî de 

gavine baş avetiye Kurdish literature 

has taken some good steps in these 

recent years 

gavan cowherd; ~tî f herding 

gazin = gazind 

gazind m rebuke, complaint; ~ kirin v.t. 

to rebuke, reproach; ~ok rebuking, 

complaining 

gazî 1 m warrior 

gazî 2 f call, shout; ~ kirin v.t. to call, 

speak to 

geh when; geh … geh sometimes …


sometimes 

-geh suffix of place 

gehandin (dial. var.) = gihandin 

gehîştin (dial. var.) = gihîştin 

gel much, many, most; ~ejmar plural; 

~ek(î) very, a lot, many: ~ek ji wan 

many of them; ~êrî popular 

gelemper general, public; bi ~î mostly, 

generally 

gelî m mountain pass, canyon 

gelo whether; interrogative particle, “I 

wonder if” 

gemar f filth 

gemî f ship 

genim m wheat 

ger if; ~çi even if, although 

gerandin gerîn- v.t. to turn, rotate; to 

take for a walk; to produce 

gerden f neck 

gerdenî f necklace 

gerdûnî universal 

gerek necessary, should, must, ought to; 

~ bûn 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 havînê the heat of 

summer; ~a, ~ayî f warmth; ~î f 

warmth 

Germanya f Germany 

gerş dirty 

geş red, blossoming, flaming, happy; ~ 

bûn to blossom, flame up (fire), be 

happy; ~î f happiness, flourishment 

gevde f mange; bi ~ mangy 

gevez crimson 

gevizandin v.t. to make writhe; xwe ~ to 

roll oneself around 

gevizîn v.i. to writhe 

gewde m body; ~ê xwe dan hev to curl 

up; ~ê xwe girtin to hug oneself 

gewr light grey, whitish; ~o “whitey” 

gewre large, big 

213 

gêj dizzy, spinning; ~ bûn v.i. to be 

dizzy; ~ kirin v.t. to make dizzy, 

make lightheaded: germa havînê tu 

gêj kiribûyî the heat of summer had 

made you dizzy 

gêr crooked, uneven 

gêrik ant 

gêrt lethargic 

ghêj- → gihîştin 

giha = giya 

gihan gihê- v.i. to reach; ~din -gihînv.t. 

to deliver; xwe gihandine ser to 

get oneself to 

gihaştin gehîj- v.i. to reach, arrive; to 

mature 

gihîştin gihîj-/gîj-/gihêj-/ghêj- v.i. to 

reach, arrive 

gihîj- → gihîştin 

gijgijîn v.i. to be knit (brow) 

gincir ??? 

gir m hill 

gir m rancorous, grudging; ~-girtin v.t. 

to have a grudge 

gir- → girtin 

giramgîr respectful 

giramî f respect 

giran heavy, deep (voice); serious, 

grave, plodding; ~î f gravity, weightiness; 

~biha precious, expensive; ~ 

firotin v.t. to sell at a high price, 

overcharge 

girav f island 

gircî gircî frozen solid 

girê f knot, tumor; ~-dan v.t. to tie, to 

connect: navê bajêr li cem min bi 

navê nanê firnê, şekir û helawê hatibû 

girêdan for me the word ‘city’ was 

connected to the words ‘bakery 

bread,’ ‘sugar,’ and ‘halvah’; pişta 

xwe ~ dan bi to turn one’s back on, 

to be unmindful of 

girêkî Greek 

girik f conundrum; hillock 

giriyan v.i. to weep

girî m weeping, crying 

girîn v.i. to weep; f weeping 

girîng important; ~î f importance 

girs great; bi ~î greatly 

girtin gir- v.t. to catch, seize 

girtîgeh f prison 

girtîxane f prison, place of detention 

giştî general, public; totally 

givaştin givêş- v.t. to press, squeeze 

givegiv f gentle blowing of the wind 

givîn v.i. to roar (wind) 

giya f grass, greenery 

giyan m soul 

gîj- = gihîjgîr 

f grasp; xistin ~ û helboqê v.t. to ensnare 

gîrodarî f struggle 

gîr û helboq f trap, entrapment 

gîya = giya 

gol f lake: ~a Wanê Lake Van 

golik m calf 

gopal m stick; ~ das sickle 

gor 1 f method, manner, way; li ~(a) … 

according to, in the opinion of 

gor 2 f grave; ~istan f cemetery 

gorî f sacrifice; ez bi ~ please 

gorn f tomb 

goşt m meat 

gotar f article 

gotin bêj- v.t. to say: tu bêjî nebêjî 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 berhemên ku 

bi zimanên din têne nivîsandin re 

bibêje berhemên kurdî? I wonder if 

can one call works that are written in 

other languages Kurdish works?; 

~xweş well-spoken 

gotûbêj f talk, conversation 

gov f barn 

govend f Kurdish line dance; ~ê girtin 

v.t. to dance a line dance 

goya you’d think 

gr- = gir- (girtin) 


214 

guçik m/f ??? ear 

guh m ear; ~ dan v.t. to listen; bi ~ 

girtin v.t. to grab by the ear; ~dar m 

listener; ~darî kirin v.t. to listen; ber 

guhan ketin v.i. to be heard 

guhan m udder 

guhar m/f pearl ??? earring??? 

guharîn v.i. to change 

guhartin guhêr- v.t. to change 

guhastin = guhaztin 

guhaztin guhêz- v.t. to transport, carry, 

move; mala xwe ~ to move one’s 

home 

guhdar m listener; ~î kirin v.t. to listen 

guherandin guherîn- v.t. to change 

guhertin (dial. var.) = guhartin 

guj fierce (storm) 

gujîn 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 

gulî m braid, tress 

gulle = gule 

gulte f clump 

gund m village; ~î m/f villager; ~îtî f 

rusticity 

guneh m sin, fault; ~karî f crime, offense, 

fault; avêtina ~ên xwe expiation 

for one’s sins 

gungilî thick, matted 

gunîçin ??? a thick protective mat 

against thorns, etc. 

gupe gup kirin v.t. to pound (heart) 

gur 1 m wolf 

gur 2 strong, powerful; ~ kirin to fill 

gurdarî f attention; ~ kirin to pay rapt 

attention 

gurg = gur 1 

gurî bald, scabby 

gurîn f clamor, noise 

gurmîn gurm- v.i. to make a loud noise 

gurz m hank of hair

guvahî f testimony 

guvaştin (dial. var.) = givaştin 

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.) = al’al 

han (in constr. w/ word it modifies) this 

very, that very: wê roja han on that 

very day; ev tirsa han bi serpêhatiya 

te girêdayî bû this very fear was connected 

to your experience 

hatin yê-/wer- (v.i., pres. ind. têm, neg. 

nayêm, pres. subj. bêm/werim) to 

come; (+ inf.) passive 

hatî f future 

havêtin (dial. var.) = avêtin 

havîn f summer 

havîtin (dial. var.) = avîtin 

hawîrdor f surroundings, environment; 

~ên wê those around him 

hawurdor (dial. var.) = hawîrdor 

hay f feeling, awareness (ji of), attention: 

~a min jê tune bû I had no 

awareness of it; ~dar aware 

hazir ready, present; ~î f preparation; ~î 

kirin to make preparations 

heb 1 m grain, bit; pill: ~ekî aqil a grain 

of sense; ~ek(î) a little, a bit, slightly 

heb 2 f a single thing, item, individual, 

one 

hebandin v.t. to love 

hebe nebe one way or another 

hebkî = hebekî (see heb) 

hebûn v.i. to exist: di zimanê me de pir 

gotinên kurdî hene ku me nebihîstine 

there are many Kurdish words in our 

language we haven’t heard; (with 

subject + possessive) to have; hebû 

tunebû once upon a time 

hechecik martin, swallow 

215 

hecûm f attack, assault 

heçê whatever, whoever 

hedam sense ??? 

hedef f goal 

heft seven; ~e f week: bi ~yekê within a 

week; ~eyî weekly; ~ê seventy 

heger if 

hej movement; li ~ û liv û weş ketin v.i. 

to toss and turn 

hej = hez 

hejandin v.t. to shake: wî serê xwe hejand 

he shook his head; min destê wî 

hejand I shook his hand 

hejar poor: ~ên kurdan the poor Kurds 

hejiyan v.i. to move, shake 

hejîk love, affection 

hejîn = hejiyan 

hejmar f number, issue (of a journal) 

hejmartin hejmêr- v.t. to count, enumerate: 

dihatin hijmartin le ser her 

deh tiliyên destan they could be 

counted on all ten fingers of the hands 

hejmêr- → hejmartin 

hek m right; di ~ê 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 û bêhn breath 

hel-pekandin li xew v.t. to rouse from 

sleep 

helqe f ring 

hem…hem both…and 

hema thus 

heman that very 

hember equal; ~î f equality; li ~î

towards, vis-à-vis, across from 

hembêz = hemêz 

hemd m will, volition; bê ~ reluctantly, 

involuntarily; hatin ser ~ê xwe to 

come to one’s senses 

hemdemî contemporary 

hemêşe always 

hemêz, hembêz f bosom, embrace; ~ 

kirin v.t. to embrace 

hemî = hemû 

hemmanê scarcely, barely 

hemû all, every; ~ya(n) all of them 

hengam time: di ~ekê de at one and the 

same time, at once 

heps f prison, imprisonment; ~xane f 

prison 

her every; ~ û ~ always and ever; ~ku 

… -tir the more … the more: dengê ji 

ezmên herku diçû bêtir dibû the sound 

from the sky kept getting louder; ~ 

tenê at least: her tenê çend heftiyan 

carekê at least once every few weeks 

her- → çûn 

herbî f war department 

herd valley ??? 

herehereyî worldly strife, turmoil 

herejor steep 

herê = erê 

herêm f district, region 

herf f letter of the alphabet 

herikîn v.i. to move, to flow 

herimandin v.t. to ruin, make a mess of: 

wî jiyan li wan herimandiye it has 

ruined their lives 

herî 1 very, exceedingly, most (superlative 

prefix) 

herî 2 f mud 

hertim always; ~î 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- 


216 

bînin they don’t count themselves as 

Kurds 

hesin m iron; ~gêr m blacksmith; ~î 

made of iron; ~ker m blacksmith 

hesiyan/hesîn 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 

hestî m bone 

heşî = êşîn 

heşîn green; ~ahî f greenness 

heşt eight; ~ê eighty 

heta even; (prep.) up to, until; ~ (ku) 

(conj. + neg. subj.) until: heta neyê 

guhartin jî dê wiha bidome until it is 

changed it will remain like that 

hetanî = 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; 

~tî f friendship 

hevedudanîn v.t. to put together, to 

compound 

hevdû each other 

hevgirtî assembled 

hevîr m dough 

hevkar m/f co-worker; ~î f cooperation 

hevok f sentence; ~sazî syntax 

hevpeyvîn f conversation 

hevraz (dial. var.) = efraz 

hevrîşim m silk 

hevwelatî m/f compatriot 

hew no more, not any more: hew dixwim 

I can’t eat any more 

hewa f air, weather; ~ guhastin v.t. to 

have a change of climate


hewale m air 

hewandin -hewîn- v.t. to give shelter to, 

protect 

hewcedar needy, in need; ~î 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 

hewranî m a type of cloak; ~yekî reş a 

black cloak, a sign of mourning 

hewş f courtyard 

hey continuously, (+ verb) to keep on 

heya = heta for, up to, until: heya 

demeke dirêj for a long time; ~ ku 

(conj.) while, as long as 

heybet m fearfulness; ~girtî fearful 

heyecan m excitement 

heyf f pity; ~a … it’s too bad about …; 

~a … hatin bi to feel sorry for: heyfa 

min bi te tê I feel sorry for you 

heyhat alas! 

heyîn v.i. to live 

heyran amazing!, incredible! 

heyşt eight 

heyştê eighty 

heyv f moon, month; ~a çarde şevê the 

full moon 

heyran … çi? what do you mean …? 

heywan f animal 

hez kirin ji v.t. to like, enjoy: min jê hez 

kir I liked it 

hezar thousand 

hê still, yet 

hêç furious, quick-tempered 

hêdî hêdî little by little 

hêdîka slowly, softly 

hêj still, (with comparative) even 

hêja valuable, worthy; ne ~ worthless 

hêk f egg 

hêl 1 f side, direction 

hêl 2 vigor, strength, power; bi ~ vigor- 

217 

ously, aloud 

hêl 3 trace, track 

hêl- → hiştin 

hêlan v.t. to leave 

hêlûn f bird’s nest; ~ kirin v.t. to nest, 

to settle in 

hênik cool; ~ayî f coolness 

hêre kirin v.t. to look 

hêriş f attack; ~ kirin/anîn/birdin v.t. to 

make an attack: cendirme hêrişî ser 

malê dikin the gendarmes are attacking 

the house 

hêrişker attacking 

hêrs f anger; ~ kirin v.t. to anger; ~ê 

ketin v.i. to get angry 

hêsan easy; ~ kirin v.t. to facilitate, 

make easy; ~î easy 

hêsir m tear 

hêsîr captive, prisoner 

hêstir 1 f mule 

hêstir 2 = hêsir 

hêşîn green (of plants), bluish (of animals); 

~ayî f greenery, verdure; ~î f 

greenery 

hêştir f camel 

hêt f thigh 

hêvar = êvar 

hêvî f hope; ~dar hopeful; bê~ hopeless; 

li ~ya … bûn to wait for, be in 

expectation of …; (li) ~ya … man to 

lie in wait for … 

hêwan f porch 

hêwir at rest, calm 

hêz f strength, power 

hicûm f attack 

hijmartin hijmêr- (dial. var.) = hejmartin 

hikim m sovereignty, power; verdict, 

judgment; hatine ser ~ to come to 

power; ~ dayîn to make a judgment 

hilanî kept, preserved 

hil-anîn (hil-în-) v.t. to take away; to 

keep, preserve 

hil-avîtin v.t. to go, stick (li … ra

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-kêşan 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-qedimîn v.i. to stand up 

hil-şandin li ser v.t. to bring down on 

hil-weşandin v.t. to break up, split 

apart: piştî hilweşandina sîstema Sovyetê 

after the break-up of the Soviet 

system 

hil-weşîn v.i. to break up, split apart 

him…him both…and 

himber (dial. var.) = hember 

himbêz kirin v.t. to embrace 

himêz armful; ~ kirin = himbêz kirin 

hin some, a few, several: hin rûpel a 

few pages, several pages; hin ji wan a 

few of them; ~ên wan some of them; 

~ekan … ~ekan some … others 

hinarok cheek 

hind 1 = hin; hinde cara hindek every 

once in a while 

hind 2 f measure, extent: ji ber hindê jî to 

a certain extent; ~ik slight, few, little 

bit; ~ikahî f minority 

hinda prep. until 

hindav f direction; ~a …da toward 

hindir = hundur 

hiner = huner 

hingê then, at that time; therefore, for 

that reason 

hingiv m honey 

hingî then, at that time 

hingûr f twilight 

hirî f wool 

hirşiyan v.i. to fall down, spill over or 


218 

out 

hiş m awareness, sense; ~ be be quiet!; 

bi ~ intelligent, smart 

hişin = hêşîn 

hişk dry, solid, frozen; ~ bûn v.i. to 

freeze; ~ahî f solidity, rigidity; ~asayî 

f dry, cold air 

hiştin hêl- v.t. to let go, leave, allow; 

Xwedê te bihêle may God preserve 

you! 

hişyar awake, sober; ~ bûn v.i. to 

awaken; ~ kirin v.t. to wake 

hizandin (dial. var.) = hejandin 

hizib f political party 

hizir f thought, idea; li hizra … da bûn 

to be thinking about … 

hîm 1 m foundation, basis; ~avêj m 

founder 

hîm 2 = hîn 2 

hîn 1 still, yet: ew ~ nehatiye he hasn’t 

come yet; ~ bêtir even more 

hîn 2 : ~ bûn v.i. to learn; ~î kirin v.t. to 

teach: wê ez hînî pir tiştan kirim she 

taught me many things; ~î … bûn to 

learn how to (+ inf.)\ 

hîna = hîn 1 

hînga = hingê 

hîs f feeling, emotion; ~ kirin v.t. to feel 

hîştin = hiştin 

hîv (dial. var.) = heyv 

hîvî (dial. var.) = hêvî 

hîz m/f skin sack 

hogiç m mountain ram 

hogir accustomed, intimate friend; m 

environment 

hol f environment, surroundings; xwe 

gihandin ~ê to come forth, come 

about, arrive 

holê thus, in this manner; in view 

holik f hut 

hon (dial. var.) = hun 

honik cool; ~ kirin v.t. to cool down; 

dilê xwe ~ kirin bi to console oneself 

with


hov wild; ~îtî f wildness 

hovan over there 

hoy m condition, circumstance: di hoyên 

teng de in narrow straits, in a tight 

spot 

hozantî f poetry 

h.p. = heta paşî etc., et al. 

hukum m order; ~darî f rule; ~darî 

kirin v.t. to rule 

hukûmet f government 

humanîst m humanist; ~î humanistic 

hun (obl. we) you (pl.) 

hundir (dial. var.) = hundur 

hundur m inside; ~ê prep. inside of; di 

~ê … de within: di ~ê deh salan de 

within ten years 

huner, hiner f art, skill; ~mend m artist 

hur free, at liberty 

hurmetgir respectful 

hustu m neck 

huzûr f presence 

hûn = hun 

hûr 1 small, little; ~ ~ in little bits, in 

small pieces; ~ ~(î) bûn v.i. to be 

smashed to bits; ~ kirin v.t. to crumble; 

~ mûr small items, little things 

hûr 2 m paunch 

hûrik m small piece, bit, sliver; ~ ~ 

slight(ly) 

hwd (her wekî din) etc. 

(because the distinction between initial i 

and î is not consistently maintained, 

the two letters are alphabetized together) 

î‘dam f execution, death sentence 

idare kirin v.t. to direct, manage 

îdeolojî f ideology 

ifade f testimony 

iflas f bankruptcy; çûne ~ v.i. to go 

broke 

î‘lan kirin v.t. to announce 

ilham f inspiration 

‘ilmî scientific 

219 

Îlon f September 

imkan m possibility 

împaratorî f empire 

imtihan f examination 

imtiyaz f concession: imtiyaza neftê oil 

concession 

înca then, in that case 

Îngilîstan f England 

Îngilîz m/f English; ~î f English language 

inkar kirin v.t. to deny 

insan human being, one; pl people 

inşa m composition 

iptidaî elementary 

îrad f objection 

Îran f Iran 

Iraq f Iraq 

îro, îroj today 

îrû (dial. var.) = îro 

îsal this year 

îsfehanî wrought silver 

Îskenderûn f İskenderun, Alexandretta 

Islamiyet f the religion and traditional 

learning of Islam 

ispat kirin v.t. to prove, establish 

israf f expenditure: israfeke enerjiyê an 

expenditure of energy 

israr kirin v.t. to insist 

istifade kirin ji v.t. to make use of 

îstgah f station 

‘îsyan f rebellion 

îş m work, affair, job: çi îşê min bi 

tirkan re heye? What do I have to do 

with the Turks? 

îşellah God willing, I hope 

îşev tonight 

işk dry 

işkence f torture; ~ kirin bi v.t. to torture, 

torment 

işkestin (dial. var.) = şikestin 

îtiraz f objection 

‘iyar m skin, pelt 

jahr (dial. var.) = jehr

jan f pain, ache; ~ dan v.t. to pain 

jar poor; ~î f poverty 

jehr f poison 

jendirme f gendarmerie 

jengorî rusty 

jê = ji + wî/wê 

jêhatî worthy 

jê-kirin v.t. to excise, cut out, cut off 

jêr down 

jêrbar heavy laden; ~î f being heavy 

laden 

ji prep. from, to, for, with 

ji … re ccmp. with 

ji … ve ccmp. from 

ji ber … ve ccmp. before 

jibîrkirin → bîr 

jihevdeketî fragmented, fallen apart: 

civateke ~ a fragmented society 

jimar f number 

jin f woman, wife; ~ik f woman 

jinûvezayin f rebirth, renaissance 

ji weşdaketî scattered about 

jiyan 1 f life 

jiyan 2 jî- v.i. to live 

jiyin = jiyan 2 

jî enclitic also, even, emphasizes preceding 

word 

jî- → jiyan 2 , jîn 

jîn jî- v.i. to live 

jîndar alive, living; dinya ~ the world 

of the living 

jîr talented, skillful; ~î f diligence, talent 

jmartin jmêr- v.t. to count, to enumerate 

jor above, up 

k- → kirin 

ka (attention-getting particle): ka mêze 

ke come, look!; ka li ku ye? now 

where is it? 

ka f straw, hay 

kabûs f nightmare 

kafiye (dial. var.) = qafiye 

kal aged; m old man, grandfather; ~e- 


220 

mêr m elderly gentleman 

kalîte m good quality 

kalkabûs m nightmare demon 

kalo m old man 

kambax ruined, devastated; devastating; 

~ kirin v.t. to ruin, devastate 

kanê = kanî 2 

kanî 1 f spring, source 

kanî 2 where is/are? 

kanîn (dial. var.) = karîn 

kanun pl winter months 

kapan a narrow, steep mountain road 

kapik f bran 

kar 1 m job, work; ~bidest m authority; 

~ker m/f worker; ~ûbar m work, business, 

everything entailed by s.th.; ~ 

kirin to work, to penetrate; bi~ anîn 

v.t. to use 

kar 2 kid (goat, deer, &c.) 

karik kid goat 

karîn (v.i., neg. pres. níkarim, past 

(dí)karibûm, neg. past. níkaribûm, 

subj. (bi)karibim) to be able (+ subj. 

to) 

karneval f carneval 

karto stale 

karxezal baby deer, fawn 

karzan expert 

kasik m globe 

kastîn f howl 

kaş m slope, hill; ~ bûn to fall backwards 

kat kirin v.t. to divulge 

kaxet = kaxez 

kaxez f paper 

kaxiz = kaxez 

kazkaz f wail 

kebanî f lady: kebaniya malê the lady of 

the house 

keç f girl; ~ik f little girl 

ked f stick; ~a kesekî xwarin to get 

beaten by s.o. 

kef 1 f foam: ~a sawûnê soapsuds; ~ dan 

v.t. to foam


kef 2 f palm (of the hand) 

kefen m burial shroud; ~ kirin v.t. to 

shroud 

kefî f kefiya, Arab headdress 

kefteleft f activity, work, enterprise 

kej f fur; ~ da-bûn v.i. to get long fur 

kek m elder brother 

kel 1 boiling; ~ û gerî crying and weeping 

kel 2 m bull 

kelandin kelîn- v.t. to boil 

kelaş m corpse, body 

kelberû wild 

kel f an outcropping of rock 

kelem 1 oak 

kelem 2 m thorn; obstacle, difficulty, 

trick 

kelem 3 m cabbage; ~ê Brukselê Brussel 

sprout 

kelemçe f handcuff; ~ kirin v.t. to handcuff 

kelên f opportunity, chance 

kemîn f ambush; ~ girtin to lie in ambush 

ken m laughter; ~iyan v.i. to laugh 

ken- → kenîn 

kendal f side, slope, bank 

kengê, kengî when? 

kenîn v.i. to laugh 

ker 1 donkey; ne ker ketiye, ne hîz 

diriyaye, û ne doşab rijiyaye (prov.) 

“no donkey has fallen, no skein has 

been ripped, and no molasses has 

been spilled,” i.e. nothing at all has 

happened 

ker 2 deaf 

ker 3 quiet, silent 

keramet f miracle 

kerb f sorrow, grief; bi ~a … çûn v.i. to 

empathize with … 

kerem generosity, benefit; ji ~a xwe 

please, if you would be so kind 

kerî f herd; piece 

kermî f snout 

221 

kerpîç m sun-baked mud brick 

kerwan m caravan 

keser f sorrow, grief; ~vedan f sorrowing 

kesk green 

keşf kirin v.t. to discover 

keştî f boat 

ketin kev- v.i. to fall; ~ li ber … to object 

to, oppose; bi ser ~ to come up, 

to surface 

kev- → ketin 

kevanî = kebanî 

kevçî 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 

kewanî = kebanî 

kewtîn v.i. to bark 

keys f opportunity, advantage 

kezeb f liver; womb; ~ şewitan to feel 

sorry, be distressed 

kezî f braid of hair 

kezk f strand of hair 

kez kirin v.t. to bite 

kê → kî 

kêf f pleasure, joy: li ~a wî nedihat she 

wasn’t enjoying it; ~xweş happy; 

~xweşî f happiness, pleasure, rejoicing; 

~ û sefa pleasure 

kêl m grave 

kêlek f side, edge 

kêm few, little bit; ~ kirin v.t. to lessen; 

~ mabû ku (+ subj.) almost: kêm 

mabû ku dila te ji kêfa ji sînga te 

derkeve your heart almost leapt out of 

your breast from joy; ~anî f deficiency, 

inadequacy; ~asî f paucity; ~ 

û zêde more or less; bê~asî flawless(ly); 

bi ~anî f at least

kêr 1 f knife 

kêr 2 f benefit, profit, effect; bi ~î … 

hatin to be of benefit to …: bi kêrî çi 

tê? what’s the use of it?; bi~ useful 

kêrûşk rabbit 

kês = keys 

kêşan v.t. to pull, draw; cixar ~ to 

smoke cigarettes 

kêz f bug, insect; ~ik f bug 

kibrît match; ~firoş matchseller 

kifş clear, apparent 

kil 1 f collyrium; ~ kirin to paint the eyes 

with collyrium 

kil 2 kirin v.t. to wave; dest ~ ji … re to 

wave the hand at 

kim m corner 

kin short; ~î f shortness; bi ~î shortly, 

slightly 

kinc pl clothes 

kincik m rag 

kir → kirin 

kiras m shirt 

kirêt ugly, shameful; ~î f ugliness, defilement, 

shame 

kirêwe m blizzard 

kirin k- v.t. to do; ~ ku (+ pres. subj.) to 

make (as if to do s.th.), almost to do 

s.th.: wî kir ku tiştekî bibêje, lê ne got 

he almost said something, but he 

didn’t; ji xwe ~ to take off (clothes), 

disrobe: min kincên xwe ji xwe kir I 

took off my clothes; te dikir û nedikir 

do what you might; min kir û 

nekir no matter what I did 

kirîn kir- v.t. to buy 

kirûmat in stony silence 

kişandin kişîn- v.t. to pull, draw; dest ~ 

ji to withdraw from 

kişkişandin v.t. to drag 

kitêb f book; ~xane f library 

kitkit f detail 

kivş = kifş 

kî (obl. kê) who? 

kîjan which? 


222 

kîn f revenge, feud: kîna xwe bi hev re 

hene they are having a feud; ~ girtin 

v.t. to take revenge 

kînga ever; when 

kîs m sack, bag; ji ~ê xwe out of one’s 

own pocket 

kîso f tortoise 

klasifikasyon f classification 

klaşnîkov f Klashnikov rifle 

ko = ku 2 

koç kirin v.t. to decamp, move; ~î … 

kirin to move to 

kok 1 f stitch 

kok 2 f root, stub 

kolan f street 

kolan kol- v.t. to dig, dig out, research; 

~din kolîn- v.t. to dig 

kole 1 

trick, deceit; ~ kirin v.t. to 

deceive; ~dar tricky, deceitful 

kole 2 captive, slave 

kolonyalîst colonialist 

kom f pile, group; ~ bûn to gather, assemble; 

~a san pack of dogs 

komar f republic: Komara Mehabadê 

the Republic of Mahabad 

komel f society, organization: Komela 

Karkerên Kurd Kurdish Workers 

Society; ~ayetî social 

komik f small group 

kon m tent 

kongre f congress 

kor, kûr blind; ~ ~ fikirîn to be lost in 

thought 

kor û kend m depression 

koşik f pavilion 

kovar f journal 

kovî wild, ferocious 

kox f coop: koxa mirîşkan chicken coop 

koxik f hut, shack 

ku 1 where?; ji ~ where from?, li ~ 

where, where at? 

ku 2 that (subordinating conj.); unless 

kuç f large rock 

kuderê where?


kufuk m snot; kufkê poz snot; kufkê 

guh earwax; ~girtî snotty 

kuj m corner 

kuj- → kuştin 

kul f wound, pain, suffering; adj. infected, 

inflamed, suffering 

kulav m felt mat 

kulek f smoke hole 

kulfet f job, duty: xudê kulfet employed, 

holding down a job; maid, female servant; 

wife 

kulik m finger; ~ekî dan ser to put a 

finger on, point to 

kulî f flake of snow 

kulîlk f wild flower 

kullî cotton 

kulm f fist; ~ik f fist 

kulmoz m beehive 

kultur f culture 

kum m cap; keça ~sor Little Red 

Riding Hood 

kun f hole; kun kun kirin v.t. to poke 

holes in 

kundkî rûniştin v.i. to hunker down 

kunkunî 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; ~ayetî f 

Kurdishness; ~hiz Kurdophile; ~iyetî 

f Kurdishness; ~î Kurdish 

kurdmancî Kurmanji Kurdish 

kurm m worm; ~ik m little worm; ~î 

wormy, mangy, maggoty 

kursî f chair, seat: kursiya şerefê the 

seat of honor 

kurş f frozen snow; ~enegirtî not frozen 

solid 

kurt short, brief; ~ayî f shortness: bi 

kurtayî briefly; ~eçîrok f short story; 

~edem f moment 

kuruf f mound of snow 

kusan how 

kuskusandin v.t. to squint 

223 

kuştin kuj- v.t. to kill 

kut xistin li v.t. to take a puff on (a 

cigarette) 

kut peck, (dog’s) bark; ~ kirin v.t. to 

clack, clatter, rattle 

kutan v.t. to strike; çavên xwe jê ~ to 

blink the eyes 

kutatirîn least 

kuxîn v.i. to cough 

kuxuyan v.i. to cough 

kûç call to a dog 

kûçe f (obl kûçê) lane 

kûçik m dog 

kûd lame 

kûl f ??? 

kûlîlk = kulîlk 

kûr 1 (dial. var.) = kor 

kûr 2 deep; ~ nêrîn to look closely; ~ahî 

f depth; ~anî f depth 

kûşke small, tiny 

kûvî (dial. var.) = kovî 

kwîr blind 

kwêsî, kwîsî (dial. var.) = kîso 

labîrent f labyrinth 

lablabik m marsh: kwêsiyê lablabik 

marsh turtle 

laîk secular 

lal mute, speechless 

lampe f lamp, light 

land f belly 

landik f cradle 

laş m body, corpse 

lat f boulder 

latînî Latin 

lava kirin v.t. to plead; ~yî f pleading 

lavan = lava 

law m/f youth, child; ~ik m infant 

lawur m wild animal 

layiq worthy 

lazim necessary 

lebitîn v.i. to move about 

leheng m champion, hero 

lehî f flood, torrent

lekim m/f tentacle ??? 

lenger f tray 

lep m paw 

leplepî twinkling ??? 

lerizîn = lerzîn 

lerizîner trembling 

lerizok trembling 

lerz m trembling 

lerzandin lerzîn- v.t. to shake 

lerzîn v.i. to tremble, shake 

leş m body; ~bizdîn ??? 

leşker m soldier 

lev aimless ???; ~ ketin v.i. to chatter 

(of the teeth) 

lewaş thin flat bread 

lewhe f sign 

lewma for this reason, therefore 

lewra, ji lewra because 

leyistin leyiz-, lîz- v.t. to play, play (a 

part); to play around (bi with): wî bi 

nivîsên min dileyist he used to play 

around with my writings 

leyiztin (dial. var.) = leyistin 

leylan f mirage 

Leypiçig f Leipzig 

lez m haste; ~ kirin v.t. to make haste; 

bi ~ in haste, hastily; bi ~ û bez in all 

haste, as fast as possible 

lezandin lezîn- v.t. to hasten, to accelerate 

lezet f pleasure 

lê 1 but; ~belê on the other hand 

lê 2 = li + wî/wê 

lê bûn bi to be afflicted with 

lê-dan lê-d- v.t. to strike, play (instrument); 

cut off: bila mîr serê min lêbidit 

let the prince cut my head off 

lê-gerîn v.t. collect 

lêh: di lêhê … de ccmp. for, in support 

of 

lêkolîn f research; ~er m researcher 

lêv f lip, seashore 

lêvişkestî with a broken lid 

lê-xistin v.t. to beat, to play (musical 


224 

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 

lihêf f quilt 

lihîstin (dial. var.) = lîstin 

likumîn v.i. to trip 

ling m foot, leg; li ser ~an standing, on 

foot 

lipaşmayî backward; ~n f backwardness 

liq f branch 

liqandin v.t. to hang; xwe ~ to hang 

(int.) 

liser vebûn v.t. to diagnose 

liv f motion, movement; ~ lê dan, ~ lê 

xistin v.t. to put in motion 

livandin livîn- v.t. to move, put in motion: 

destikên keştiyê zû dilivandin he 

was moving the oars of the boat 

quickly 

liviyan = livîn 1 

livîn 1 v.i. to move, be in motion, stir 

livîn 2 m bed, bedding 

livok unstable 

lixwekirin f manner of dress 

lîlandin v.t. to ululate 

lîsê f high school; ~ xwendin to attend 

high school 

lîstik f game, play, sport 

lîstin lîz- v.i. to play 

lîz- → lîstin 

lojman f lodging 

loma for that reason, therefore 

luht naked, bare 

luks deluxe 

lûle f pipe, barrel (of a rifle) 

lûrîn v.i. to bay 

lûsîn v.i. to perch 

ma interrogative particle: with affirma-


tive questions a negative answer is 

expected: ma rast e? that’s not right, 

is it?; with negative questions an affirmative 

answer is expected: ma ne 

rast e? isn’t that right?; with other 

interrogatives ma gives the sense of 

“ever”: ma tu yê çi bikî bi kêrê? What 

ever are you going to do with a knife? 

maç kirin v.t. to kiss 

Maden f Maden, also known as Paxirmaden, 

city northwest of Diyarbekir 

maf m share, portion; right; ~nas appreciative 

makîne f machine, car 

mal 1 f house, home: mala min mala te 

my house is your house; ~bat f family; 

~mezin belonging to a great family; 

~xwê paterfamilias 

mal 2 m goods, possessions, wealth: ~ê 

ticaretê commercial goods 

mal- → maliştin, miştin 

malava (vocative particle) hey!, see 

here! 

maliştin mal- v.t. to rub, rub out 

maliye f tax office 

ma‘lûmat (pl) information 

mam m paternal uncle 

mamostatî/etî f pedagogy; ~atî/etî 

kirin v.t. to teach: wî mamostetiya 

zimanê erebî dikir he used to teach 

the Arabic language 

mamostayî kirin v.t. to teach: wî 

mamostayiya rewşenbîrî ya gelek 

rewşenbîrên kurd kir he taught many 

Kurdish intellectuals how to be intellectuals 

mamoste m teacher; 

man mîn- 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 

225 

mandî exhausted; ~bûn f exhaustion 

ma‘ne (const ma‘na) f meaning; ~wî 

moral, spiritual 

mange f cow 

manî constraint, obstacle 

mantiq m logic 

ma‘qûl reasonable; ~ dîtin to consider 

reasonable: wî pêşniyaza min maqûl 

dît he considered my proposal reasonable 

mar m (obl mêr) snake 

mar kirin v.t. to marry (li to) 

marş f march, anthem 

mase f (obl masê) table 

mast m yogurt 

maşellah goodness! (said to ward off 

the evil eye when something is admired 

or praised) 

mat silent 

matmayîn f astonishment 

mayî(n) other 

mazlûm 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 bûn) they may not be: gelek 

mebin jî even though they may not be 

many 

mecal f opportunity: ta niha mecal tune 

bû until now there has been no opportunity; 

~ birrîn v.t. to take an opportunity 

away 

mecbûr obliged; ~ kirin v.t. to oblige, 

force 

meclis parliament 

medeniyet f civilization 

medinî civil 

medrese f religious school 

mefhûm f concept 

meh f month

Mehabad f Mahabad 

mehkeme f court 

mehkûm condemned; ~ kirin v.t. to 

condemn 

mehlûl dissolved; ~ bûn to be dissolved 

mehr f marriage contract; ~ birîn to 

conclude a marriage contract 

mehrûm ji deprived of 

mehû kirin v.t. to wipe out 

mejî m marrow 

mejûl occupied; ~ bûn li ser v.i. to be 

occupied, busy with 

mekan stance, position 

mekteb f school 

mela m (obl. melê) mulla 

mele (dial. var.) = mela 

melevan m swimmer; ~î f swimming 

melkemot the angel of death 

me’mûr government official 

mencel a copper pot 

mendik an herb 

meqale f article 

merasîm f ceremony 

merbend f bond, fetter 

mereqdarî 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 cihekî dimîne when one stays 

in a place 

merîd m disciple, devotee 

merkez f center; ~î central: hukûmeta 

merkezî central government 

mesaj f message 

mesel f example; ~en for example 

mesele f matter 

mestir larger, bigger 

mes’ûliyet f responsibility 

meş f walking: meşa xwe domand he 

continued walking; ~andin v.t. to put 

into practice; ~iyan/-în v.i. to walk 


226 

metleb ??? 

mewlûd f a poem celebrating the birth 

of the Prophet Muhammad, traditionally 

recited on festive occasions 

mexsed f intent, intention 

meydan f field; anîn ~ê v.t. to bring to 

the fore 

meyeldar, meyildar = meyldar 

meyîn v.i. to remain 

meyl f inclination; ~dar predisposed (ji 

…re to); ~darî f bias, predisposition 

mezel 1 m grave, tomb 

mezel 2 f room 

mezheb m sect 

mezin big, large, great; ~ bûn v.i. to 

grow up; ~ kirin v.t. to raise, bring 

up; ~ahî f greatness; bi ~bûna … as 

vast as 

mê f female 

mêj long ago; ji ~ ve from long ago 

mêjî f brain, mind 

mêjîn v.i. to suck, suckle 

mêjvemayî remnant, relic 

mêr 1 m man, husband; ~anî f manliness; 

~ik m fellow, guy; ~xas m gentleman 

mêr 2 → mar 

mêrg f meadow 

mêrxas brave 

mêş f bee; ~a hingivî honeybee 

mêtro f metro, subway 

mêvan m/f guest; ~darî f visit; ~perwerî 

f hospitality; ~xane f reception 

room 

mêze kirin li v.t. to look at, see 

miç shut, closed; ~ kirin v.t. to shut, 

cover 

mideh m period of time 

midûr m director, principal 

mihî ??? 

mihrican f celebration, festival 

mij m mist 

mijîn (dial. var.) = mêjîn 

mijûl bi … ve occupied, involved with; 

~î f occupation, activity


mikan = mekan 

mil m neck, shoulder; support, aid; side, 

direction; bi ~ê yekî girtin v.t. to 

come to s.o.’s aid, to lessen s.o.’s burden; 

ji ~ê din on the other hand 

milet m nation; ~perwer nationalistic 

milî national 

min → ez 

mindal m child 

minet f obligation; bê ~ generous 

minnet = minet 

miqam m musical mode 

miraz ??? wish 

mircan coral, coral bead 

mirin mir-/mr- (dimire, dimre) v.i. to 

die 

miriyan = mirin 

mirî dead 

mirîd m devotee 

mirîşk f chicken 

mirov m man; f woman; m/f person; 

~atî f humanity, humaneness, chivalry 

mirwarîd m/f ??? pearl 

misilman Moslem 

Misir f Egypt; misrî Egyptian 

mişt ji full of, filled to the brim with 

miştin mal- v.t. to sweep 

mit man v.i. not to make a sound 

mit û mat utterly silent 

mixabin unfortunately 

mizgîn m good news; ~î f present given 

to a person bearing good news 

mî f sheep 

mîh = mî 

mîn- → man 

mîna (prep.) like; ~ ku (conj.) as, while 

mînak equal, similar; m example: weke 

mînak for example; ~î f similarity 

mîr 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) 

227 

moz(e) flying insect 

mr- → mirin. 

mudet m period 

mudîr m school principal 

muesese f institution 

muhlet f grace period, respite 

munaqeşe f debate; ~ kirin v.t. to debate 

munasebet f occasion; bi ~a on the occasion 

of 

muxtar m village chief, elder 

muzîk f music 

mû m hair, strand of hair; iota: ne mûwek 

not an iota 

mûrî f ant 

na- (negative prefix for present indicative 

verbs) not 

nalîn v.i. to wail, cry out 

name f letter 

namûs f honor; womenfolk 

nan m bread; ~pêjî f bakery 

nar m pomegranate 

narîn 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 

nav 1 f middle; di ~a … de in the midst 

of; li ~ hev de girtin to surround; ~în 

middle (adj.), central: Rojhilata Navîn 

the Middle East 

nav 2 m name; ~ kirin v.t. to name; 

~andin v.t. to name; ~dar famous, renowned; 

~no notorious; ~notî f notoriety 

navbera prep. between, among 

naverok f contents 

navik f waist 

navneteweyî international 

navnîşan f address

navteng f girth 

naxêr no 

naxir f herd 

naxwe this being so 

naylon f plastic: tûrikên ~ plastic bags 

naynik = neynik 

nazik fine, delicate 

ne not; ~ … ~ neither … nor; ~ … lê not 

… but; ne- (negative prefix for subjunctive, 

imperative, and past-tense 

verbs) not 

nebeled uninformed, unknowing 

neçar helpless; ~ man to have no alternative; 

~î f helplessness; ji ~î with no 

alternative 

nedarî f poverty 

nedî 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 karîn to control oneself; 

~piçûk humble; ~piçûkî, ~piçûkahî 

f humility 

neft f oil 

neh nine 

neheqî f injustice 

nehy prohibition 

nejihevûdurebûyîn f indivisibility and 

inseparability 

nema not…again 

nemaze especially 

nemir undying, immortal: dibe xwediyê 

navekî nemir he possesses an immortal 

name 

nemirovane unmanly, cowardly 

nenas unacquainted, unfamiliar, unknown; 

~ê unacquainted with 

nepixandin nepixîn- v.t. to blow up, inflate 

nepixîn v.i. to swell 

neqandin v.t. to select, choose 

nerazî discontent; ~bûn f discontent- 


228 

ment 

nerindî evil 

nerm soft, gentle, fine; ~ahî f softness, 

gentleness; ~ik softly, gently 

nesir f prose 

neşên unhappy 

netewe f nation; ~yên Yekbûyî the 

United Nations; ~yî national; ~yîtî f 

nationalism 

nevî m/f grandchild, offspring 

Nevroz f Persian New Year’s day 

newal f valley 

nexş miracle; ~în miraculous 

nexşe f map 

nexwe otherwise 

nexweş sick, ill; unpleasant; ~î f sickness, 

disease; ~xane f hospital 

nexuyayî invisible 

neyar m enemy, opponent, foe 

neyînî f destitution 

neynik f mirror 

neynok f fingernail, toenail 

neynûk = neynok 

nezanî f ignorance 

nêçirvan m hunter 

nêçîr f game, prey; çûn ~ê v.i. to go 

after game 

nêçîrvan m hunter 

nêrevan m scout 

nêrîn v.i. to look; f view, speculation 

nêşan f target, mark; ~ kirin v.t. to take 

aim at, to focus on 

nêv (dial. var.) = nîv 

nêvî (dial. var.) = nîvî 

nêzîk near; ~ahî f proximity; ~î near to, 

nearly 

nêzîkatî kirin bi v.t. to approach 

nifirîn f malediction, curse 

nifş m generation 

nifûs f identity card 

nig m foot; ~ên xwe zêdeyî xwe avêtin 

to overstep one’s bounds 

nigardar beautiful 

niha now; berî ~ before now, ago


nihe = niha 

nihêran expectant, apprehensive 

nihêrîn li v.i. to look at, to notice; to 

look upon, regard (wek as) 

nihêrtin (dial. var.) = nihêrîn 

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 nikilên- v.t. to peck 

nimêj f prayer; ~ kirin v.t. to pray 

nimûne f example: ji bo nimûne as an 

example, for example; ~nde f example 

niqutandin v.t. to drip 

niqutîn v.i. to drip 

nisbet bi relative to 

nisxe = nusxe 

nişan = nîşan 

nişk: ji ~ê (~a) ve suddenly 

niştin nê-/niş- v.i. to sit 

nitilandin v.t. to draw, to mark 

nivistin -niv- v.i. to sleep 

niviz ??? 

nivîn 1 m (usually pl) bed; ~ê nexweşiyê 

sick bed; destek ~ a set of sheets and 

bedding material 

nivîn 2 -niv- v.i. to lie down, sleep 

nivîsandin v.t. to write 

nivîsar f writing, text 

nivîsevan m writer 

nivîsîn v.t. to write 

nivîskar m/f writer; ~î kirin to write, 

engage in writing 

nivîskî written 

nivş = nifş 

nivz half 

niwal f small valley 

niyet f intention 

nixabtin = nuxumandin 

nixamtin = nuxumandin 

nixumandin = nuxumandin 

229 

nizar m mountain side (where the sun 

never shines) 

nizim low 

nîjad = nijad 

nîn none, nothing 

nîsan f April 

nîşan f sign, mark, military decoration; 

~ dan v.t. to show; ~ kirin v.t. to indicate 

nîv half; ~ saetê half an hour; ~cî half 

done; ~ê şevê midnight; ~roj f noon; 

~sedsal f midpoint of a century 

nîvek f half 

nîveruh half-dead 

nîvişkestî cracked 

nîvî f middle, midpoint, half 

nîzing (dial. var.) = nêzîk 

nod ninety 

nojdarû f panacea 

nok f chickpea; ~a tahtê pebble 

nola (prep.) like: nola hev like each 

other 

noqim bûn v.i. ??? 

not = nod 

nozdeh nineteen 

nu new; ji ~ ve all over again 

nuçêbûyî new-born 

nudem modern 

nuh = nu 

nuha (dial. var.) = niha 

nuhatî new, newly come about: nivşê 

nu the new generation 

nuhîtî f newness, novelty 

nujen newly invented, new-fangled, 

modern 

nuka (dial. var.) = nuha 

nusxe f copy 

nuvejîn f renaissance 

nuxumandin v.t. to cover, veil 

nuxumîn v.i. to be covered, veiled 

nuyîtî f novelty 

nuzewicî newly-wed 

nû = nu 

nûh = nu

nûjen = nujen 

nûner representative 

NY = Neteweyên Yekbûyî the United 

Nations 

oda, ode f (obl odê) room 

okyanûs f ocean 

ol f religion; ~dar religious; ~î religious; 

~perwer religious 

ordî f army: Ordiya Sor the Red Army 

ordu = ordî 

‘orre ‘or f roar 

orte f middle 

Osmanî Ottoman 

otorîte f authority 

pag stable 

pak pure, clean; ~hilanîn ji v.t. to get 

rid of 

pakêt package 

pal 1 f mountainside 

pal 2 dan v.t. to push 

palas ??? 

pale m worker 

pan wide, broad 

panatî f expanse, breadth 

pansiman kirin v.t. to bandage 

papor f stove 

paqij pure, clean; ~ kirin v.t. to clean; 

~î f cleanliness 

paqiş (dial. var.) = paqij 

par 1 f part, share 

par 2 last year 

par 3 f back; ji ~ re from behind 

parçe, perçe m piece: du sê perçên 

kaxizên two or three pieces of paper; 

~ bûn v.i. to be fragmented; ~ kirin 

v.t. to fragment 

parastin parêz- v.t. to protect, guard 

Parîs f Paris 

parsî Persian language 

partî f political party: partiyên kurd yên 

siyasî Kurdish political parties 

parve kirin v.t. to distribute 


230 

paseport f passport 

paş m the back; li ~ serê prep. behind; 

~ê xwe avetin bi v.t. to throw oneself 

into s.th.; ~eroj f past, the past; ~îngê 

later; ~verû backward; ~verûtî f 

backwardness 

paşil f bosom 

paşî f end; heta paşiyê until the end 

patik f back of the head 

paye f high rank, place of honor; ~tî f 

honor 

payîz f autumn 

pejirandin v.t. to accept 

pekiyan = pekîn 

pekîn pek- v.i. to splash, splatter, rise 

up suddenly 

pekok: stêrka pekok shooting star 

pel m leaf, page 

pelikan stairs, stairway 

pelk leaf 

pembo m cotton 

pena f refuge, asylum; ~ber m/f refugee; 

~berî f refugee status 

pencere f window 

peng ??? 

pengizandin pengizîn- v.t. to make 

jump, spurt 

pengizîn v.i. to spray, spurt 

penîr m (obl. penêr) cheese 

per 1 m side 

per 2 m feather 

per 3 f piece 

peran heavy: cezayê peran heavy penalty 

perçe = parçe 

perçîn rivet; bi hev ~ kirin to rivet 

together, to patch together 

perde f (const. perda) curtain 

perdî f ceiling beam 

pere m money 

pergal m compass; bi ~ derketin to be 

encompassed 

pergî (+ construct) hatin v.i. to come 

across, find; çûn ~ to go to find


perpitîn v.i. to flutter: dilê min diperpite 

I get sick at my stomach 

perwaz f flight 

perwerdî f education 

pesin m praise; ~andin v.t. to praise, to 

approve of; wesf û pesnê … dan to 

praise and extol 

pesnê m trace 

petrol f petrolium 

pevgirêdan f connection 

pexşan f prose; ~nivîskar m prosewriter 

pey: li ~ (prep.) behind, after; di ~ … de 

(prep.) after 

peya m man 

peya bûn v.i. to get out, off, down (from 

vehicle) 

peyda bûn v.i. to be found: min zanîbû 

wê saetê 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 

peyivîn v.i. to talk, speak: ez zêde pê re 

nepeyivîm I didn’t speak to him long 

peyî hev one after the other 

peyman f pact, agreement; ~ê girêdan 

ligel to conclude a pact with 

peyv f conversation, talk, words: me 

peyv dagerand ser huner û edebiyatê 

we turned the conversation to art and 

literature; ~ik f expression 

peywendî f relation: peywendiyên navneteweyî 

international relations 

pez f sheep 

pezkîvî (dial. var.) = pezkûvî 

pezkûvî mountain sheep 

pê 1 = bi + wî/wê 

pê 2 m foot 

pêçandin pêçîn- v.t. to wrap, roll 

pêçîn pêç- v.t. to roll, wrap; 

pêjin f feeling 

pêjîn pêj- v.i. to be cooked; v.t. to light 

(cigarette) 

pêk together; ~-anîn v.t. to get together, 

231 

collect, arrange; ~-hatin v.i. to come 

about, come to be; ~-hatin ji v.i. to 

consist of 

pê-ketin v.i. to catch (fire) 

pêkol kirin v.t. to stick together (snow) 

pêkva together 

pê-xistin v.t. to light (fire), to switch on 

pêl f wave; ~ bûn v.i. to spread out 

pêlpêlî wavy, undulating 

pênc five; ~ih, ~î fifty 

pêra along with him (see pê) 

pêrgî → pergî 

pêsîr f collar; windpipe; forefront; area 

just below the summit of a mountain 

pêş forward: mirov ê bi pêş de biçe one 

will go forward; ~-ketin to advance; 

bi ~ derketin to come out to the fore; 

~eroj f the future; ~de xistin to promote; 

~ketî advanced 

pêşayîk f forefront 

pêşber m guide, leader; ketin ~ê to be 

faced with; ~î in the lead, leadership, 

(prep.) in front of; ~î … derketin to 

lead, go out ahead of 

pêşdexistin f promotion, advancement 

pêşeng m leader, vanguard 

pêşepêşa, li prep. out in front of 

pêşeroj f future 

pêşevan m leader 

pêşgotin f foreword 

pêşiya prep. before, in front of 

pêşî adj. first: cara pêşî the first time, di 

du-sê salên pêşî de during the first 

two or three years; f advance: ~ya … 

girtin v.t. to prevent 

pêşîk avant-garde, forerunner 

pêşîn first 

pêşkeş f present, gift, tribute; ~ kirin v.t. 

to offer (as a gift), to present 

pêşmerge m guerrilla 

pêşniyaz f proposal, suggestion 

pêşveketin f advancement, progress 

pêt f flame 

pêtgiran lazy, indolent

pêwendî bi f connection to 

pêwîst necessary; ~î f necessity, requirement 

pêxember m prophet 

pê-xistin -xê- v.t. to light, turn on (light) 

pêxwas barefooted 

piç 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 

pifinî kirin v.t. to hiss 

pij scattered 

pijandin v.t. to cook 

pijîn v.i. to be cooked 

pijiqandin v.t. to make (blood) gush 

pijiqîn v.i. to explode, to blow up 

piling m tiger 

pilot m/f spark ??? 

pilpilî ??? 

piqpiqok f bubble 

pir 1 very, many, much; ~anî f most, 

majority: piraniya wan most of them; 

pirraniya caran most of the time 

pir 2 f bridge 

pirç 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; 

~girêk f question: pirsgirêka kurdî 

the Kurdish question 

pirsan v.t. to ask (a question) 

pirtepirt f sputtering ??? 

pirtik f sheet (glass, paper) 

pirtûk f paper, sheet of paper 

pirtve kirin v.t. to tear to pieces 

pisîk f cat 

pismam m cousin 

pispor, pispûr m expert; ~î f expertise 

pişaftin v.t. to assimilate 

pişirîn to ruminate (?) 

pişt f back, hill; ~a prep. behind, on the 

other side of; ~a xwe dan v.t. to turn 

one’s back; ~î prep. after; ~î ku conj. 

after; ~germ supported, protected; 


232 

~gir m supporter; ~girî f support; ~re 

then, later, afterward; ~xwar 

hunched-over 

piyale f glass, goblet 

piyes f play 

pizot m torch: çavên wê wek du pizotên 

êgir bûn his eyes were like two fiery 

torches 

pîjame m pyjamas 

pîn f kick; ~-avêtin v.t. to kick 

pîne ??? 

pîpoq f glass 

pîr old; m/f old man, old woman; ~ik f 

grandmother 

pîratî f old age 

pîrhepok m monster ??? 

pîroz sacred, holy; ~ kirin v.t. to celebrate; 

to congratulate: ew wê roja han 

mîna karnevalekê pîroz dikin they 

celebrate that day like a carneval; 

~bahî f congratulations; ~wer holy 

pîs bad, dirty; ~ik nasty, awful; ~itî f 

obscenity 

pîsîr (dial. var.) = pêsîr 

pîvan f measurement, criterion; ~din 

pîvên- v.t. to measure 

PKK = Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê 

Kurdish Workers’ Party 

plan f plan; ~çêker m planner; ~ çêkirin 

to make a plan 

pola m steel 

polîtîka f politics; policy 

ponijîn v.i. to be engrossed in thought 

por m hair (on the head); ~reş blackhaired; 

~zer blonde 

poşman regretful; ~ bûn li to regret 

s.th./doing s.th. 

poxsîde sad 

poz m nose, snout 

prensîp m principle 

proje f project 

protesto kirin v.t. to protest, go on 

strike, boycott 

PTT = Post Telefon Telexraf Post, Tel-


ephone, and Telegraph 

pûç useless, unuseable 

pûk f snowstorm, blizzard 

pûrt f hair, fur, pelt; ~ û per feathery 

coat 

pûtperest idolator; ~î f idolatry 

PZ = piştî zayînê anno domini (AD) 

qaçaxçî m smuggler 

qad f field, place; ~a şer field of battle 

qaf f head 

qahf m cave, cavern 

qail bûn to accept (bi) 

qal f statement; ~ kirin v.t. to state; ~ û 

ceng f fight 

qalçikdayî frostbitten ??? 

qalik m shell, husk 

qalind thick, fat 

qam f stature, height; measurement for 

the height of the sun in the sky 

qamçî m whip 

qamiş reed 

qanser f cancer 

qanûn f law 

qarîn v.i. to cry bitterly 

qasid m messenger, envoy 

qasî ku as much as 

qatil m murderer 

qayiş, qayîş f strap, thong, belt; rivalry, 

competition; bi … re ketin ~ê to 

compete against: te digot qey ew bi 

min re ketibû qayîşê you’d think he 

was in competition with me 

qaymeqam m provincial governor 

qaz m goose 

qazaxî f butane 

qe no, none, at all: ez qe naxwênim I 

don’t read at all 

qebûl kirin v.t. to accept; wek … hatin 

qebûlkirin to be accepted as 

qedandin v.t. to finish, to complete 

qedeh f cup, goblet 

qeder 1 m amount; ~ê … for the length 

of … 

233 

qeder 2 f fate, destiny 

qedexe f prohibition; (adj) prohibited; ~ 

kirin to prohibit, to ban 

qedir m worth; qedrê … zanîn to appreciate; 

qedrê xwe girtin to esteem 

oneself; ~gir appreciative, estimable 

qediyan v.i. to end, be finished 

qefilandin v.t. to tire 

qefilîn v.i. to get tired 

Qefqasya f the Caucasus 

qefsing f breastbone 

qehbik f harlot 

qehbîtî = qehpetî 

qeherîn (dial. var.) = qehirîn 

qehir f wrath, rage; 

qehirîn v.i. to get angry (ji at) 

qehpe f prostitute; ~tî f prostitution 

qehwe f coffee 

qelaş split open, wounded 

qelaştin -qelêş- v.t. to split, split open; 

qelaştina cerahî surgical incision 

qelaw fat 

qelem f pen 

qelemrew m realm 

qelew (dial. var.) = qelaw 

qelêş- → qelaştin 

qelişandin qelişîn- v.t. to split, cleave 

qelişîn v.i. to be split 

qelizandin v.t. to make disappear; xwe 

~ to slip away 

qelîşt f crack 

qels weak: kultura devkî ya Kurdî xurt e 

lê kultura nivîskî qels e Kurdish oral 

culture is strong, but the written culture 

is weak; ~î f weakness 

qelş = qelîşt 

qelşqelşî cracked 

qenc good, pretty, nice; ~î beauty, charitable 

act, good deed 

qerar decision 

qerax f edge, shore 

qerçimî wrinkled 

qerebalix f crowd, confusion; ~ kirin 

v.t. to act up, to flail around

qereqol m police station 

qerisîn v.i. to freeze solid 

qermiç f wrinkle; ~î wrinkled 

qerpeçe kirin v.t. to hold tightly in 

one’s embrace 

qesir f palace 

qest f intention, purpose; ~a … kirin 

v.t. to head toward 

qeşa f ice 

qet (+ neg.) never, not at all 

qetan v.i. to be finished; be cut 

qetandin qetîn- v.t. to finish; break, cut: 

kurdên li derveyî welêt ev zincîra 

kirêt 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 

qewimîn v.i. to happen 

qewirandin v.t. to drive away 

qewîn strong 

qewl f promise; ji ~ên xwe vekişiyan to 

reneg on one’s promises, go back on 

one’s word 

qey hey; why?; te digot qey you’d 

think, it was as though 

qeyd f bond, fetter 

qeyde f rule 

qeytankêş kirin v.t. ??? 

qeza 1 f district 

qeza 2 f accident; fate; ~ û bela misfortune, 

calamity 

qezenc f profit, earnings, advantage: bi 

qezenca … to the advantage of …; ~ 

kirin v.t. to earn, gain, win 

qêrîn v.i. to scream 

qijak raven 

qijik f crow 

qilêr(în) filthy 

qir kirin v.t. to eliminate, exterminate 

qiral m king 

qirax (dial. var.) = qerax 


234 

qirçeqirç creak, splintering sound 

qirdik m clown 

qirik 1 f crow 

qirik 2 f throat; ~talî f bitter aftertaste 

qirş f stem, branch; ~ik f twig 

qise f conversation, talk 

qismet m fate 

qiyamet f resurrection; roja ~ê doomsday 

qizwan terebinth, a small tree 

qîjeqîj f loud cry, scream 

qîjiyan v.i. to scream 

qîl m fang, canine tooth; ber ~an dan to 

sink the fangs into 

qîm f contentment, satisfaction; ~a xwe 

anîn bi to consent to 

qîmet f worth, value 

qîr f cry, shout; ~ kirin v.t. to shout; 

~ewîr f cry, shout; ~în v.i. to cry out, 

screech 

qîrçîn v.i. to scream, screech 

qîz f daughter 

qoç m horn (of an animal) 

qonax f inn; a one-day’s distance on a 

journey 

qontrol f check 

qufulîn v.i. to feel very cold 

qul f hole, opening: qula rêviyan fox 

hole; ~ kirin to pierce 

qulibîn v.i. to fall down, collapse, 

scramble down 

quling crane 

quloç m league (measure of distance) 

quloz bûn v.i. to rise up 

qulqulî full of holes 

qulubîn = qulibîn 

qumandan m commandant 

qunc f corner; xistine ~ekî asê 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 one’s cause


qurm m tree stump: mîna qurmê dara 

mirî like a dead tree stump 

qut cut, cut off; ~ bûn v.i. to get cut off 

qutî f box 

quwet power; bi ~ powerful 

qûç f cliff, height, summit 

qûn f back; ~a çiyê mountain skirt; li 

ser ~ê xistin to topple 

qûntar = quntar 

qutîk f small box 

ra = re 

ra-bûn v.i. to rise, arise, get up; to 

abandon, give up (li s.th.) 

ra-girtin v.t. to pick up; xwe ~ to recover 

rahetî f ease, comfort 

ra-hiştin 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 

navê ~ to eliminate 

raman f stance 

ra-man -mîn- v.i. to stand, stay, remain 

standing; to be perplexed 

ra-medandin v.t. to lay down 

ra-mûsan -mûs- v.t. to kiss 

ran m thigh 

ra-pelikîn v.i. to crawl, creep 

ra-pîvan 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 ~î 

really; ~e prep. straight toward; 

~erast really and truly; ~erê correct; 

~nivîsîn 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 

235 

ra-xistin v.t. to spread 

ray f opinion 

ra-zan -zê- v.i. to lie down, sleep 

razdar mysterious 

razî 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; ~ û 

penc roots 

rehet easy, comfortable, quiet; ~î f 

comfort, ease 

rehm f mercy; ~ kirin li to have mercy 

on; ~etî the late 

rehmet f God’s mercy; çûn ~ê to pass 

away 

reîs m head, chief; ~î cumhûrê president 

of the republic 

rencberî f hardship, trouble 

reng m color; bi ~ colored, multicolored; 

bi çi ~î how?; ~e~ of all 

colors; ~dêr f description, quality, adjective; 

~în varied, colorful 

renî f avalanche 

req 1 m turtle 

req 2 stiff; ~ û rût stiff as a board 

reqem f number 

reqisîn v.i. to dance 

resim m picture 

resmî official 

reş black; ~ girêdan v.t. to go into 

mourning; ~ kirin v.t. to blacken 

reş û reşatî f anything black or blackish 

in color 

reşatî 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 

revîn = revan 

rewneq brightness, brilliance

ewrewik f mirage 

rewş f style, manner 

rewşenbîr 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 

rê f (const. riya) road, way: bi wê riyê 

in that way; bi riya via; ~ girtin v.t. 

to block the road, stop, prevent: kê rê 

li ber wan girtiye? who’s stopped 

them?; (bi) ~ ketin to set off, start 

out; ~ kirin to dispatch, send; bi ~ 

kirin to see off 

rêbendan f February 

rêber m leader; ~î f leadership; ~î kirin 

to lead 

rêbwar m wayfarer 

rêçe f trace, track; ~ hildan v.t. to pick 

up a trail 

rêj kirin v.t. to wash 

rêk-xistin v.t. to arrange, put in order 

rêkxistin f coalition 

rêl f forest, wood 

rêncberî kirin v.t. to struggle, suffer 

hardship 

rêveçûn f gait, walk 

rêvebir = birêvebir 

rêvî m fox 

rêvîng m traveler 

rêwitî f journey 

rêwî m/f traveler; ~tî f journey, trip 

rêz f line; ~ bûn v.i. to line up; ~kirin 

v.t. to line up, arrange 

rêz-girtin ji v.t. to respect, have respect 

for 

rêzik f law, rule 

rêziman f system, arrangement, grammar 

ricaf f shaking, trembling 

ricifîn v.i. to tremble 


236 

rih f beard 

rihet (dial. var.) = rehet 

rihm (dial. var.) = rehm 

rijandin rijîn- v.t. to pour out 

rijiyan v.i. to flow, to spill 

rijî f scorched part at the bottom of a pot 

rik stubbornness, relentlessness, nervousness 

rikrikîn v.i. to chatter (of the teeth) 

rind good, beautiful; well: ew bi zimanê 

îngilîzî rind dizanibû he knew English 

well 

risk = rizq 

rivî (dial. var.) = rêvî 

rivîn f flame 

riyê → rû 

rizan v.i. to rot 

rizandin v.t. to let rot 

rizgar saved, rescued; ~ bûn v.i. to 

escape, be rescued; ~ kirin v.t. to 

save, rescue; ~kirî saved, liberated 

rizî rotten 

rizîn di … de v.t. to be thrown into 

rizq m sustenance 

rîş f beard 

rîtm m rhythm 

ro f sun: di bin ro(ye)ka havînê de under 

a hot summer sun 

roava m west, dusk; ~yî western 

rohilat m dawn, east 

rohnî bright 

roj f day; ew ~ ev ~ e from that day to 

this: ew roj ev roj e malbata min li vî 

bajarî rûdinê my family has lived in 

this city from that day to this; ~ane 

daily; ~ava west; ~hilat f east: Rojhilata 

Navîn the Middle East; ~name 

f newspaper; ~namegerî f journalism 

rokrol f role 

rom m the Ottoman Empire; Ottoman, 

Turk 

roman f novel; ~nivîs novelist 

ronahî f light, brightness; bi ~yê derketin 

to come to light


ronakbîr intellectual 

ronayî = ronahî 

rondik f tear 

ronesans f renaissance 

ruh m spirit, soul; ~iyet f morale, spirit 

ruhnî f brightness; ruhniya çavan light 

of the eyes, favorite 

rutbe m rank 

ruvî (dial. var.) = rêvî 

rû m (const riyê, rûwê) face 

rûbar m river 

rûhşêrîn convivial, amusing, lighthearted 

rûj (dial. var.) = roj; ~kê = rojekê one 

day, some day 

rûkenî f smile, smiling 

rûmet f honor, respect 

rûn m oil 

rûniştevan m inhabitant 

rû-niştin -nê- v.i. to sit, dwell (the 

present tense is used only for habitual 

action; the pres. perf. tense rûniştiye 

means ‘s/he is sitting,’ and the past. 

perf. tense rûniştibû means ‘s/he was 

sitting’); odeya rûniştinê sitting 

room 

rûpel f page, sheet 

rûs Russian; ~î Russian (language) 

rût naked, bare 

rûxan v.i. to collapse 

rûxandin v.t. to destroy 

sa f (const. siya) shadow; ser siya … 

ketin v.i. to get anywhere near … 

sa‘et 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 

237 

sayî bûn 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: 

êdî sebra min nemaye now I’ve 

lost my patience 

sed hundred; ~sal f century; ~salî f centennary; 

ji ~î per cent; bo ~î 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; ~î native of Siirt 

sekinan/-în v.i. to settle down, to be 

quiet, to dwell; to tarry; to light 

(gaze) (li ser upon): ez dixwazim li 

ser pirsekê 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; 

çûn ser v.i. to attack; ~ê xwe bi … re 

êşandin v.t. to trouble oneself with, 

bother with: serê xwe bi kultura kurdî 

re naêşînin they don’t bother with 

Kurdish culture; ~ û bin m the “ins 

and outs,” everything: ser û binê vî 

gundî ez ê bikanibim ji vî pîremêrî 

hîn bibim I could learn all there is to 

know about this village from this old 

man; bê ~ û bin endless 

seranser: li ~î (prep.) all over: li seranserê 

dinyayê all over the world 

serbajar m capital

serberdayî stray, wandering 

serbest free; ~î f freedom 

serbilind bi proud of; ~ahî/~î f pride 

serbixwe free; ~bûn f liberation 

serdar m leader; ~î f leadership, command 

serdest m overlord; ~î f mastery, rule; ~î 

kirin v.t. to rule: yên ku îro serdestiya 

kurdan dikin those who rule over the 

Kurds today 

sereke main 

serencam f end, outcome 

serêşî f headache 

serfirazî f distinction 

sergerdan perplexed 

sergevez pride 

sergiran important 

sergîn m dung 

sergovend f dance line; bi serê ~ê girtin 

to lead a dance line 

serhed f frontier, border 

serî m head; ear (of grain); ~ birdin to 

complete; ~ hil-dan to rebel; ~ xistin 

li to visit; to apply to; çûn serî to 

come to fruition 

serîhildan f uprising 

serjorek û serjêrek ups and downs 

serkarî f direction, leadership 

serketin f success 

serma f cold, coldness 

sermawêj Libra 

sermîyan m capital 

sernivîs f fate 

sernuxumandî veiled 

serok m leader; ~atî f leadership; ~cumhûrê 

m president; ~eşîr m chieftain; 

~wezîr m prime minister 

serpêhatî f adventure 

serqot bare-headed 

serraf m jeweler 

sersal f new year’s day 

serserî careless 

ser-şuştin v.t. to take a bath 

sertûj towering 


238 

serve bûn v.i. to be attached 

serwer m leader 

serwext informed, knowledgeable 

sewî f level: rojnameyên me yên roja 

îroyîn negihîştine sewiya wan our 

newspapers of today have not reached 

their level 

sewsen lily 

seyda m savant 

seyr f view; adj strange 

seyran f outing; ~ çê-kirin v.t. to arrange 

an outing; ~geh f park, promenade, 

place for an outing 

sê 1 three 

sê 2 f (constr. siya) shadow; di bin siya 

… de under the aegis of 

sêpî f tripod 

sêwî m orphan 

sêwlek m sole (of a shoe) 

sibat f February 

sibeh f morn, dawn: sibeh heta êvarê 

from morning till night; ~ê tomorrow; 

vê ~ê this morning 

sibetir f the next morning; ~a wê şevê 

the morning after that night 

sibê = sibeh 

sih 1 angry, irritated; ~itî f irritation 

sih 2 = sî 2 

sijî f puss, filth; ~n v.i. to ooze 

sik û sar very sad (heart) ??? 

silav f greeting 

silawat (pl) benedictions; ~an kêşandin 

v.t. to give benedictions 

simbêl m mustache 

simsimîn v.i. to leave tracks, to make a 

trail 

sincirî flaming, burning 

sindoq f box, trunk 

sing f breast 

sinif f class, grade 

sipartin sipêr- = spartin 

sipî = spî 

sipîndar f poplar 

sipîta f whiteness


sir f cold wind; ~ û seqem, ~ û serma f 

biting cold weather 

sirf only, purely 

sirgûn f exile; ~ bûn to be exiled 

siruşt f nature 

sisê three 

sist weak; ~ kirin v.t. to weaken, make 

weak 

sitar f protection 

sitêrk = stêrk 

sitirî m thorn 

sitran = stran 

siwarî mounted, on horseback 

siya → sa 

siyaset f politics; ~van m politician 

siyasî political 

sivik light, not heavy 

sî 1 thirty 

sî 2 f shadow; ~ dan to cast a shadow 

sîleh (pl) arms, armament: sîlehên sivik 

light arms 

sîng f breast 

sînor m border, boundary 

sîstem m system 

sîtil f (dial. var.) = satil 

Sîwas f Sivas 

sîwaxnekirî unpenetrated 

sobe f heating stove; ~ vêxistin to light 

a stove 

sofî Sufi, respectful term of address for 

an old man; ~tî f Sufism, mysticism 

sohbet f conversation, talk 

sol f shoe; ~çêker m shoemaker 

sond f oath; ~ xwarin to swear an oath 

sor red; threshed (wheat); ~ahî f redness 

sorav red grape; ~î(n) dark red 

sorgul rose 

sosin f iris 

sosret unusualness; bi ~ unusual 

soz dan v.t. to promise 

sparin spêr- v.t. to entrust 

spartin = sparin 

spas thank you; ~ kirin v.t. to thank; 

~darî f gratitude 

239 

spehî good-looking, pretty, attractive 

spêda, spêde f dawn 

spêr- → sparin 

spî white; ~tî f whiteness 

standin (dial. var.) = stendin 

stasyon f railway station 

stelih ordinary, common 

stemkarî f oppression 

Stenbol f Istanbul 

stendin stîn- v.t. to take, get; bi paş de 

~ to take back 

steyr = stêr 

stêr f star; ~k f star; ~nas m astronomer; 

~nasî f astronomy 

stiran stirê- v.t. to sing 

stîn- → stendin 

sto = stû 

stran f song; ~bêj singer 

stû m neck; ~xwar obedient, cowed 

stûn f column 

stûr thick, stout 

sufrik m tablecloth 

sur f breeze 

sur‘et f speed 

surgûn = sirgûn 

suwar on horseback; ~ bûn to mount 

sûç m crime, fault 

sûd m profit; ~ wergirtin ji v.t. to profit 

from 

sûl m waterfall 

Sûriya f (obl Sûriyayê, Sûriyê) Syria 

sûxte m theological student 

Swêd f Sweden 

şa happy, glad; ~ bûn bi v.i. to be happy 

with, rejoice over s.th.; ~ kirin v.t. to 

gladden: wê pirtûkê dilê min şa kiribû 

that book had gladdened my heart; 

~hî f gladness, happiness 

şafiî Shafiite (school of Islamic jurisprudence) 

şagirt m pupil, apprentice 

şah m king 

şahîd m witness

şahîk shining, brilliant 

şaîr m poet 

şal m traditional baggy Kurdish trousers 

şalûl m magpie 

şandin şîn- v.t. to send 

şanî kirin, ~ dan v.t. to show 

şano f stage 

şans m chance 

şareza competent; ~yî f competence, expertise 

şaş wrong; ~ bûn v.i. to be wrong: ez ne 

şaş bim I wouldn’t be wrong; ~ kirin 

v.t. to mistake; reya xwe ~ kirin v.t. 

to lose one’s way; ~î f mistake, fault 

şaşfêhmkirin f misunderstanding 

şaşik f turban; ~ spî white-turbaned 

şax m branch 

şe = şeh 

şeh m comb; ~ kirin v.t. to comb 

şehîd m martyr 

şehsiwar m expert horseman 

şekal f old shoe 

şekir m sugar 

şemitandin v.t. to make slide 

şemitîn v.i. to slip, to slide 

şeng tuft of hair 

şep f blow, slap in the face 

şepe f snowdrift 

şepîn v.i. to sink down (into snow) 

şeqeşeq noisy sound, chatter 

şequdeq “hard knocks” 

şer m war: şerê cîhanê yê yekemîn 

World War I; ~ kirin, ~ dan (dayîn) 

v.t. to fight war 

şeref f honor 

şerît f the Sharia, Islamic law 

şerm f shame; ~dar modest; ~darî f 

modesty; ~ kirin ji v.t. to be ashamed 

of: min ji xwe şerm kir I was ashamed 

of myself 

şerpeze destitute; ~ bûn v.i. to be destitute; 

~ kirin v.t. to put s.o. in a bad 

situation, to best 

şert f condition, qualification 


240 

şervan m warrior 

şeş six 

şeşt sixty 

şev f night; ~reş f dark night 

şewat f fire 

şewitandin v.t. to burn 

şewitîn v.i. to burn 

şexs person; ~î personal; ~iyet f personality 

şewq f light; ~a elektrîkê flashlight 

şê- → şiyan 

şêlandin şêlîn- v.t. to exploit 

şêlî turbid, murky 

şêlû (dial. var.) = şêlî 

şênî m inhabitant, (pl) people 

şêrîn sweet 

şêx m sheikh 

şidet violence, strength 

şifêr m driver 

şiîr f poetry 

şidandin şidîn- v.t. to strike (a match) 

şik f doubt; bê ~ doubtless(ly) 

şikandin şikîn- v.t. to break 

şikeft f cave 

şikêr m rock, mountain crag 

şikestin şikê- v.i. to break, be defeated 

şikir thanks: şikir ji Xweda re thank 

God 

şikil form, symbol 

şil damp, wet; ~ kirin v.t. to wet, dampen 

şilfûtazî buck naked 

şipê on foot 

şiqitîn v.i. to slip 

şirket f company 

şirove f interpretation; ~ kirin v.t. to 

interpret 

şistin şo- v.t. to wash 

şivan m (obl. şivên) shepherd 

şivantî f shepherding; ~ kirin v.t. to 

shepherd, to be a sheep herder 

şivên → şivan 

şivir m mountain goat 

şixul m work; ~în v.i. to work, occupy


oneself 

şiyan şê- v.i. to be able 

şiyar awake; ~ bûn v.i. to wake up; ~ 

kirin v.t. to wake s.o. up 

şîn 1 blue, green 

şîn 2 = şwîn 

şîn- → şandin 

şîndar = şwîndar 

şîr m milk 

şîret f advice; ~ kirin li v.t. to advise 

şîrîn sweet, pretty, nice 

şît aware, sober 

şîv f sunset; ~a êvarê nightfall 

şkandin şkîn- = şikandin 

şkev f cupboard 

şo- → şistin 

şop f footprint, trace; ~ê ji ser xwe 

winda kirin to throw a pursuer off 

track; ~gerên scout, tracker; ~ hiştin 

v.t. to leave a trace 

şor 1 salty, brackish (water); ~ayî f saltiness 

şor 2 talk, words; ~ kirin v.t. to talk, chat 

şorbe f soup 

şoreş f rebellion, uprising; ~ger m rebel, 

revolutionary: şoreşgerekî bolşevîk a 

Bolshevik revolutionary 

şorezar f desert, wasteland 

şun = şûn 

şuştin (dial. var.) = şistin 

şuxul m work, occupation; ~ kirin v.t. 

to work; ~andin v.t. to put to work; 

~în v.i. to work 

şû spouse 

şûjin û derzî bûn v.i. to stand on end 

(the hair) 

şûlikîn v.i. to move stealthily 

şûm gloomy, inauspicious 

şûn f place; track, wake: divê ew têkeve 

şûna bavê xwe he must follow in his 

father’s footsteps; ~a … girtin v.t. to 

follow in the wake of, take the place 

of; ~da after: ji wê salê şûnda after 

this year; nuha ~da henceforth; di ~a 

241 

ku (conj.) instead of 

şûş quick, nimble, sleek; mirina ~ sudden 

death 

şûşaşûş pieces of glass 

şûşe f glass 

şûştin (dial. var.) = şistin 

şwîn f mourning; ~dar in mourning 

ta 1 prep. & conj. until: ta niha up till 

now 

ta 2 m fever 

tab m illumination; ~ anîn v.t. to illuminate 

tabî‘et f nature 

tacir m merchant; ~î f commerce 

taht f rock; noka ~ê pebble 

tal bitter, sharp 

talde f shelter 

talyanî Italian 

tam f taste 

tamar = temar 

tanq f tank (mil.) 

taqet endurance 

ta‘qîb f surveillance: di bin taqîba 

polîsan de under police surveillance; 

~ kirin to keep under surveillance 

tar f a path through snow 

Taran f Tehran 

tarî dark; ~tî f darkness 

tarîx f history 

tas f bowl 

taşt m breakfast 

tat m rise, hill 

tav 1 f light, sunlight 

tav 2 f rainshower 

tavik f sunlight 

tavilê quickly, soon; immediately 

taybetî special; bi ~ especially 

tayek kişandin ji v.t. to shake 

ta‘yîn kirin v.t. to determine, assign, 

appoint 

tazî naked; ~ kirin v.t. to strip naked 

te → tu 

tebî‘î natural

Tebrîz f Tabriz 

tecrube f experience 

tedrîcen gradually 

tefandin -tefîn- v.t. to put out (light, 

candle) 

tefeş f face, countenance 

tefîn v.i. to go out (light, candle) 

tefsîr Koranic commentary 

tehlûke f danger 

tehqîr f deprecation 

tehsîldar m tax collector 

teht m mountain range 

tejî (dial. var.) = tijî 

tek single, alone, by oneself; ~ û tenê 

alone, all by oneself 

tekane lone 

teko alone, singly 

telaş 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 

temaşa kirin v.t. to watch, to look at 

temaşe = temaşa 

temaşevan spectator, watcher 

tembel lazy; ~î f laziness 

temen m life, lifespan, age 

temene respect; bi ~ respectfully 

temirîn v.i. to die ??? 

temiz kirin v.t. to clean 

temsîlkar m representative 

tena = tenha 

tendûr f oven, pit; ~a zik the pit of the 

belly 

tenê alone, only, except for; bi ~ only: 

em ferz bikin ku tu bi tenê bikaribî 

Kurdistanekê çêbikî let’s assume that 

you could only create one Kurdistan; 

ne bi ~ … lê jî not only… but also; 

~tî f misery, loneliness 

teng narrow, tight; ~asî f difficulty, 


242 

straits 

tenha alone; bi ~ xwe by him/her/itself, 

alone 

tenîşta next to 

teorî 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; ~-û-req loud sound 

teqandin teqîn- v.t. to burst, explode, to 

fire, shoot (gun) 

teqîn v.i. to burst, explode 

ter fresh, verdant; ~î f freshness 

tercîh kirin v.t. to prefer 

tercuman m translator 

teres pimp 

terikî chapped 

te‘rîf kirin v.t. to describe (ji … re for, 

to) 

terîqet 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 

terorîzm f terrorism 

terpilîn v.i. to roll 

terrî f tail 

terş livestock 

tesewif Sufism; ~î Sufistic 

te’sîr f influence 

teslîm kirin v.t. to turn in, to turn over, 

to submit 

teşkîl f organization, formation 

teşt f trough 

teşwîq encouragement; ~ kirin v.t. to 

encourage 

teşxele f trouble, turmoil 

tetik, tetîk f trigger 

tev all, entire, altogether; together with; 

~a all, entirely, totally; ~ahî/~ayî f 

entirety: di tevayiya Ewrûpa all over 

Europe; ~da, ~ de altogether, entire-


ly; bi ~ayî entirely, in toto; xwe 

~girê-dan v.t. to get oneself together 

tevdîr f plan 

tevger f industry, activity, movement: 

Tevgera Rizgariya Kurdistanê Kurdish 

Liberation Movement 

tevizî numb 

tevizîn f numbness; ~ok f numb feeling 

tevî (prep.) along with; ~hev altogether; 

~ ku (conj.) although 

tevlihev confused, mixed up; ~î f confusion 

tevlî f awareness 

tewqif kirin v.t. to arrest 

texçik f shelf 

texlît sort, kind: her du texlît nivîsar 

both sorts of writers 

texmîn f guess, thought; ~ kirin v.t. to 

guess, estimate 

text m throne 

texte m board 

teyan a large basin used in bathhouses 

teyr, têr m bird; ~ û tûy birds and fowl 

teze new(ly), fresh(ly); ~ kirin to refresh 

tê 1 = di + wî/wê 

tê 2 = tu + ê 

tê 3 coming, next: meha ~ the coming 

month 

tê-gihîştin v.i. to understand, realize 

têk çûn v.i. to break up, split apart 

têkelî prep. along with 

tê-ketin v.i. to go to, wind up (somewhere): 

ew dixwaze têkeve cepheyan 

he wants to go to the fronts; ~ şûna to 

take the place of: kengê azadî û 

serbestî ê têkevin şûna sitemkarî û 

zordariyê? when will freedom and independence 

take the place of injustice 

and oppression? 

têkil connected; ~bûn f connectedness; 

~î f connection 

tê-kirin v.t. to put on 

têkoşer m activist, combatant 

243 

têkoşîn dan v.t. to strive, make an effort 

têkûz (dial. var.) = tekûz 

têr 1 full, satisfied; ~ bûn v.i. to be satisfied 

(hunger), to be slaked (thirst); ~ 

kirin v.t. to satisfy, make full, to be 

sufficient: emrê wî têr nekir he didn’t 

live long enough 

têr 2 = teyr 

têvel various, different 

tê-xistin v.t. to include; xwe ~ to put 

oneself 

tif f spit 

tifik f bellows, hearth 

tifing f rifle 

tije brimful 

tijî full; ~ kirin v.t. to fill 

tilî f finger 

tilik, tilîk = tilî 

tim 1 always; her~ always 

tim 2 f desire 

timobîl f automobile 

tinê (dial. var.) = tenê 

tiral lazy 

tirb f grave, tomb 

tirên f train; ~a di binê erdê de subway; 

ji ~ê by train 

tirimpêl f automobile 

tirk Turk; ~î Turkish (language); ~nijad 

racially Turkish 

Tirkiye f (obl Tirkiyeyê, Tirkiyê) Turkey 

tirs f fear; ~an va out of fear 

tirsandin v.t. to scare; to fear 

tirsêner frightful, frightening 

tirsiyan/tirsîn ji v.i. to be afraid of, fear 

tirş bitter; rûyê xwe ~ kirin to scowl 

tişt m thing: tiştekî din something else 

titûn f tobacco 

tiving f (dial. var.) = tufing 

tiwê = tu wê 

tixtor m doctor 

tî thirsty 

tîfal ??? 

tîj (dial. var.) = tûj; ~ û hûr nêrîn li to

look closely and carefully at, to 

scrutinize 

tîn 1 f thirst 

tîn 2 → bêtîn 

tîn- → anîn 

tîp f letter of the alphabet; m type, sort 

tîr thick, dense, dark 

tîraj f print run; kêm ~ of a small print 

run, printed in small numbers 

tîrêj f sunlight, ray: tîrêjên hêviyê rays 

of hope 

tîş 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; ~ û telaz dust 

trimbêl f automobile 

tu 1 (obl. te) you (sing.) 

tu 2 no, not any, none, nothing; ~ caran 

never; ~ kes nobody; ~ tişt nothing 

tucar never 

tuf f spit; ~ kirin v.t. to spit 

tufing f rifle, gun; ~ ber-dan to fire a 

rifle at 

tukesî (+ neg.) nobody 

tûj sharp 

tûk f hair, fur 

tûle m pup, cub 

tûlik m cub 

tûr m bag; ~ik m sack 

tûrt = turt 

tûtin f tobacco 

ummet f religious community 

‘umr m life 

unda (dial. var.) = wenda 

unîversîte f university 

urisî Russian 

usa (dial. var.) = wisa 

ustu = stû 


244 

ûzeûz f rumble 

va = ve 

vala empty; ~ kirin v.t. to empty; ~hî f 

void; vikû~ 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-bûn v.i. to open 

ve-ceniqîn (dial. var.) = ve-ciniqîn 

ve-ciniqandin v.t. to make tremble with 

fear, to make shudder, to startle 

ve-ciniqîn 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 -gerîn- v.t. to turn, to turn 

back 

ve-geriyan/gerîn v.i. to return; ~ ser to 

turn to 

ve-gevizîn v.i. to flounder, wallow 

ve-hêrandin v.t. to grind up, crunch 

vehûnayî spread out 

ve-jandin -jîn- v.t. to revivify 

ve-jenîn v.i. to rustle 

ve-jinîn (dial. var.) = ve-jenîn 

ve-kirin v.t. to open 

ve-kişandin ji v.t. to pull out of, pull 

back from, withdraw from 

ve-kişîn v.i. to withdraw 

ve-maltin v.t. to roll up the sleeves 

ve-man v.i. to bog down 

ve-miran (ve-mirîn) 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-poşandin v.t. to cover 

ve-qetandin v.t. to distinguish, separate 

ve-qetiyan v.i. to get separated: ji ber 

perçebûna welêt riyên zaravayên kurmancî 

û soranî ji hevûdu vediqetin


after the division of the country the 

paths of the Kurmanji and Sorani dialects 

part from each other; ~ bi to be 

distinguished by 

ve-qetîn = ve-qetiyan 

verê-kirin to send off, dispatch 

ve-şartin -şêr- v.t. to hide, bury 

ve-texirîn 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 

vê → ev 

vêca therefore 

vêcar then, so 

vê-geriyan = ve-geriyan 

vêk re together 

vên f wish, desire 

vê-xistin v.t. to light 

vikûvala → vala. 

vir here 

vizîn v.i. to buzz, to hum 

vizvizkî tangled, knotted 

vî → ev 

vîrus f virus 

vîzevîz f blowing, rustling (of wind) 

waqewaq squeal of an animal 

war 1 m = bar 

war 2 m regard, respect; di ~ê … de concerning; 

di vî ~î de in this regard, in 

this respect 

war 3 m camp, camping ground; ~geh m 

camp site 

warkor çûn 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; 

~î din anything else 

245 

wekhev alike, equal; ~î f equality: li ser 

esasên wekhev on a basis of equality 

wekîl advocate, lawyer; ~darî f advocacy 

welat m (obl. welêt) country, homeland; 

~hez lover of the homeland, patriot; 

~parêz defender of the homeland, patriot(ic); 

~perwer patriot 

wele = welle 

weleh = welê 

welê thus, like that 

welle by God 

wenda lost; ~ bûn v.i. to be lost; ~ kirin 

v.t. to lose 

wer bûn 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, 

sûd wergirtin, tol wergirtin) 

werimandin v.t. to cause to swell 

werimîn v.i. to swell 

wer-kirin li v.t. to wrap around 

wesiyetname f will, testament 

werîs m rope 

wesf m attribute, quality; ~ dan to describe 

westan west- v.i. to stand, stop; to be 

exhausted 

westiyan = westan 

westiyayî exhausted 

weşandin weşîn- v.t. to publish 

weşanxane f publishing house 

wext f time: di eynî wextê de at the same 

time; di wexteke kurt de within a 

short time; ~ê ku (conj.) when 

wezin f poetic meter 

wezîfe f duty 

wezaret f ministry: Wezareta Ferhengê 

the Ministry of Culture 

wezîr m minister; ~tî f ministry 

wê 1 → ew 

wê 2 future auxiliary + subj. for future 

tense

wêje f speech, literature 

wêne m picture, painting; ~ger m artist, 

painter 

wêran destroyed, ruined; ~ kirin v.t. to 

destroy, ruin 

wêrîn v.i. (+ subj.) to dare 

winda (dial. var.) = wenda 

wir there 

wirîn (dial. var.) = wêrîn 

wisa(n) thus, such, so 

wî → ew 

wîjdan m conscience 

wucûd f existence; hatin ~ê to come 

into existence 

wusan (dial. var.) = wisa 

x- → xistin 

xak f earth, ground 

xal f mole 

xalxalî in spots, spotted 

xanim f lady, mistress 

xanî m house 

xapandin xapîn- v.t. to deceive, to fool, 

to play a trick on: mîna ku hatibe 

xapandin as though a trick had been 

played on him 

xapîn v.i. to be deceived, to be fooled 

xapok deceptive 

xapxapok deceitful 

xar 1 crooked, bent 

xar 2 (dial. var.) = xwar 

xarin (dial. var.) = xwarin 

xastin (dial. var.) = xwestin 

xasûk cunning, shrewd 

xatir m mind, heart; ~gir considerate, 

obliging; ~ girtin to be considerate 

of, respect: biçûk û mezinan xatirê wî 

digirtin young and old were considerate 

of him; ~xwestin f affection; bi 

xatirê re wî ji min re got he said to 

me with affection; dan ~ê … to be 

considerate of … 

xav raw, immature 

xayin traitor 


246 

xazî m ghazi, holy warrior 

xazîk ??? 

xebat f work, struggle 

xeber f words, speech: xebera wî ye 

that’s what he says 

xeberdan f talk, speech 

xebitan li ser v.i. to work on, strive for 

xebitîn = xebitan 

xedar pitiless, cruel 

xefk f trap 

xelas kirin (v.t. to finish 

xelasî f liberation; şerê xelasiyê 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; ~gîn sorrowful; 

~gînî f sorrow: ez bi xemgînî dibêjim 

ku… I say with sorrow that… 

xemilandin v.t. to adorn 

xencer f dagger 

xerab ruined; ~-bûn to be ruined; ~e 

ruined; ~î f harm, ruination 

xerez f rancor, grudge; ~karî f holding a 

grudge 

xerîfî senile 

xerc kirin v.t. to spend 

xerîb stranger, foreigner, exiled, away 

from one’s homeland; ~î f estrangement, 

foreignness, the state of being 

away from one’s homeland; welatê 

~yê foreign country 

xerîte f map 

xertel f eagle 

xesandin xesîn- v.t. to twist, wring 

xesar f damage, loss; ~ dîtin v.t. to suffer 

loss, be damaged; ~nedîtî undamaged 

xet f line 

xew m sleep; ketin ~ê to fall asleep; ji ~ 

ra-kirin to rouse from sleep 

xewle lonely, desolate


xewlî f desolation, isolation 

xewn f dream; ~ dîtin v.t. to dream, 

have a dream; ~erojik daydream 

xeyal f imagination, fantasy, dream 

xeyidîn ji v.i. to get angry at 

xeyn other; ji ~î (prep.) other than, aside 

from: ji xeynî van tiştan other than 

these things 

xeyo (Syr. Ar. khayyo, voc. only) fellow, 

guy, friend 

xezal gazelle 

xezeb f rage, wrath 

xezîne f treasury 

xezûr m father-in-law; f mother-in-law 

xêr f goodness; ~xweşî f chitchat; 

bi~hatinî dan v.t. to welcome: jinekê 

bixêrhatinî da min a woman welcomed 

me; bi ~a … re thanks to; bi ~ 

û bêr very good; ji ~a … re because 

of, on account of; ~hatinê kirin li v.t. 

to welcome; hatin ~ê to be a welcome 

guest 

xêz f line; ~ik ditto 

xidmet f service 

xilas kirin to be saved 

xilmamş = xilmaş 

xilmaş 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 

xisûsiyet = xusûsiyet 

xişikîn v.i. to drag along, scrape across 

xişr m/f ornament ??? 

xişxiş f rustling, scratching sound 

xitab m address; ~ kirin v.t. to address; 

~ê kesekî kirin to address, speak to 

s.o. 

xitimandin v.t. to close, seal: rê hatine 

xitimandin the roads have been closed 

xiyal f dream, imagination 

xizmet f service; ~ kirin v.t. to serve 

xînji (dial. var.) = xeyn ji 

247 

xîret f zeal, bravery, courage; ~ kirin 

v.t. to try hard 

xîze-xîze grating sound 

xo f (dial. var.) = xwe; ~a xwe his own 

self 

xoce m master, teacher 

xof f fear; ~ û tirs f fear and trembling 

xort young, young man/woman; ~anî f 

youth 

xoşdivî beloved 

xu (dial. var.) = xwe 

xuda m (obl. xudê) God; ~ hefiz goodbye 

xudan m owner; bê~ godless, Godforsaken, 

poor, pitiable 

xuh f sister 

xulam m slave; manservant 

xunav f sprinkle, light rain 

xur f itch 

xure xur f snoring 

xurên on an empty stomach 

xurîn = xurên 

xurme f date 

xurt strong, powerful; ~ û gur strong, 

puissant 

xurû natural 

xusûsiyet f characteristic, distinguishing 

feature 

xuşîn v.i. to rustle, to gurgle 

xuşk f sister 

xuya clear, obvious; ~ bûn v.i. to be obvious, 

appear, show up; ~ kirin v.t. to 

seem, appear: hotel gelekî xweş û luks 

xuya dikir the hotel looked very nice 

and deluxe 

xuyan v.i. to seem, to appear 

xuyanî familiar; ~ kirin v.t. to familiarize 

xûn f blood; ~a cegerê liver’s blood, 

metaphor for tears of agony and suffering 

xûs f snowdrift ??? 

xûyan = xuyan 

xwar down; ser … da ~ bûn to lean

over s.th.; ~ bûn v.i. to descend; ~ 

kirin v.t. to lower, take down; hatin 

~ to come down 

xwarin f food 

xwarin xw- v.t. to eat 

xwaroviçko 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) 

xwebiçûkdîtin f inferiority: kompleksa 

xwebiçûkdîtinê inferiority complex 

xwedan m chief, head, leader 

xwedê m God 

xwedî m possessor, owner: xwediyê 

paseporteke Swêdî bûm I possessed a 

Swedish passport 

xwehesîn f self-awareness 

xweîfadekirin f self-expression 

xwelî f dust, ash; ~ li serê xwe kirin to 

pour dust on one’s head, to mourn; 

~dan f ashtray 

xwen f dream, vision 

xwenas self-respecting 

xwenav = xunav 

xwendin xwîn-/xwên- v.t. to read, study 

xwende/a learned, literate; ~geh f 

school, university; ~kar student; 

~van m reader, scholar 

xwerû independent; pure(ly), exclusive(ly): 

ev kovar ne xwerû bi kurdî 

ne these journals are not exclusively 

in Kurdish 

xweser unbridled 

xwestin xwaz- v.t. to want, to ask for 

xweş nice, pleasant, good; ~bûn f success; 

~hal pleased, happy; ~haliya 

xwe gotin to express one’s pleasure; 

~ik nice, pretty; ~î f pleasure 

xwey = xwe 

xweya = xuya 


248 

xweyî = xwedî; ~ kirin v.t. to raise 

(animals) 

xwezî would that, I wish (+ past conditional); 

~tî f desire, wish 

xwê f salt; sweat 

xwêdan v.t. to sweat 

xwişk f sister 

xwî m habit, disposition 

xwîn f blood; ~egoşt flesh and blood; 

~dar bloody; ~germ fervent; ~germî 

f fervor; ~şêrîn likeable 

xwîsgirtî damp 

xwîzî f spit, saliva 

xwûşk (dial. var.) = xwişk 

ya fem. sing. construct extender; bi ~ te 

in your opinion 

yadê (voc. only) mother 

yan or; ~ … ~ either … or 

ya‘nî that is, i.e. 

yar m friend 

ya rebî O Lord! 

yek one; ~ bûn v.i. to be united; ~bûyî 

united; ~dengî f unanimity; ~dest of 

one piece; ~ejmar singular; ~emîn 

first; ~îtî f unity; ~îtiya Neteweyan 

the League of Nations; ~netewetî f 

uninationalism, monoethnicity; ~ser 

direct; ~ta peerless, without equal 

yekser right away, immediately 

yê masc. sing. construct extender 

yên pl. construct extender 

YNK = Yekîtîya Nîştîmanperwerên 

Kurdistanê Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 

(PUK) 

yunan Greek 

zabit m (obl zêbit) m officer 

zaf (dial. var.) = zehf 

zalim m tyrant, unjust 

zang sheer (cliff) ??? 

zanîn v.t. to know (neg. present nízanim, 

past (dí)zanibûm, subj. bízanibim); 

~ bi to know about: xelk bi


siyasetê nizanin the people don’t 

know anything about politics 

zana = zane 

zane learned, wise; ~bûn f wisdom; 

zanyarî f knowledge 

zar m language; ~ava m dialect; ~şêrîn 

well-spoken, articulate 

zaro small, young, m/f youngster; ~k 

child; ~katî, ~ktî, ~tî f youth, 

childhood 

zarîn v.i. to wail, lament 

zar û zêç (pl) kids 

zava m bridegroom 

zayin f birth 

zehf many, lots of, very, very much 

zehmet f trouble; ~ kişandin v.t. to have 

difficulty, go to trouble, be bothered; 

~î f ditto; ~kêş worker, laborer 

ze‘îf weak, skinny 

zelal clear, limpid; ~ kirin v.t. to make 

clear, clarify 

zelam = zilam 

zeliqandin v.t. to stick 

zeliqîn v.i. to stick 

zelûl m despondent 

zeman m time, era 

zemzelîlk f icicle ??? 

zend f forearm 

zengal m/f legging ??? 

zengil m bell; ~ê telefonê telephone 

call; li ~ê dêrî xistin to ring the doorbell 

zengîn rich; ~î f wealth 

zer yellow; ~atî f yellowness; ~bûyî 

yellowed; ~ û zinar “nooks and crannies” 

zerar f detriment, loss 

Zerdeşt Zoroaster 

zevî f land, field 

zewac f marriage 

zewicîn bi … re v.i. to get married to 

zewq m delight 

zexim strong, sound; zexmî f strength 

zêbit → zabit 

249 

zêc hide ??? 

zêde much, a lot; ~ bûn v.i. to increase; 

~ kirin v.t. to increase 

zêr m gold; ~în golden 

zêrbenî ??? 

zêrekî f cleverness, intelligence 

zihniyet f mentality 

zik m belly; ~ekî têr xwarin v.t. to eat 

to one’s fill; ~makî native, inborn 

zilam m man, guy, fellow 

ziliandin → ve-ziliandin 

zilik straw 

zilim f injustice, tyranny 

ziman m (obl zimên) language, tongue; 

bi ~ anîn v.t. to give voice to, express; 

~van linguist; ~vanî f linguistics 

zinar m (obl. zinêr) rock 

zing ??? 

zingar f rust; ~girtî rusty, rusted; ~ girtin 

v.t. to rust, get rusty 

zincîr f chain, bond 

zindan f prison 

zindî alive, energetic, lively 

ziving f cave 

zivistan f winter 

zirav slender, slight 

zivir twisted, knotted 

zivirandin zivirîn- v.t. to turn around, 

turn back; çavên xwe ~ ji … de to 

turn one’s eyes away from …, avert 

one’s gaze from … 

zivirîn zivir- v.i. to turn, go/come back, 

turn around, wander 

ziwa dry 

zixim (dial. var.) = zexim 

zîn zê- v.i. to live, come to life 

zîre cumin 

zîrek clever 

zîtbûyî ??? 

zîv m silver 

zîvalzîvalî ??? 

zîving = ziving 

zîvironekî sandy, dusty

zman = ziman 

zolilk blossom, bloom 

zor f force; ~ dan v.t. to force, compel; 

~ kirin v.t. to use force; bi (destê) ~ê 

by force; ~betî f oppressiveness; ~dar 

forceful, oppressive; ~darî f oppression; 

~destî 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 


250 

zû quick, fast, soon, early; ~ an dereng 

sooner or later; ~ be ~ very quickly; ~ 

de (+ pres. perf.) for a long time: zû 

de ye me hev û du neditiye we haven’t 

seen each other for a long time; 

~bîrbirî f quick thinking; ~ka, ~~ka 

hurriedly, hastily, quickly; ~kanî f 

haste: zûkaniya te çi ye? what’s your 

hurry?; ~ ve for a long time, since 

long; ji ~ de from early on 

zûrezûr f howling 

zûrîn v.i. to howl 

zûr man v.i. to be lost

Kurmanji Lexicon

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