Basic Words

1. بەڵێ

   Bełê

   Yes

   Usage

   The basic affirmative answer

   Grammar Note

   ێ (ê) and ڵ (ł) are Sorani-specific letters. In casual speech ئەرێ is also used, but it doubles as 'hey / by the way'.

2. نەخێر

   Nexêr

   No

   Usage

   The basic negative answer; a short 'نا' also works

   Grammar Note

   ە is short e, خ is x, ێ is ê. نا is also the present-tense negative prefix نا-, so do not confuse the two.

3. تکایە

   Tikaye

   Please

   Usage

   Politeness word added to requests, e.g. 'تکایە، پەلەبکە' (please hurry)

   Grammar Note

   The short i is not written but is pronounced ti-kaye (the romanization includes it). Final ە is short e.

4. تێناگەم

   Tênagem

   I don't understand

   Usage

   Use when you cannot follow; 'ببوورن، بەڵام تێناگەم' = sorry, but I don't understand

   Grammar Note

   Present negative = نا- before the stem; 'I' is the ending -m, so من is not needed.

5. تێدەگەم

   Têdegem

   I understand

   Usage

   Says you follow what was said; the negative is تێناگەم

   Grammar Note

   The positive of تێناگەم. Note the present prefix دە- sits between تێ and the stem.

6. باسی مەکە

   Basî meke

   Don't mention it

   Usage

   A reply to thanks or an apology; literally 'don't talk about it'. Politely: باسی مەکەن

   Grammar Note

   The prohibitive is مە- + stem. For several people or politely, add -n (مەکەن).

7. ببوورە

   Bibûre

   Sorry / Excuse me

   Usage

   Singular form for friends, peers and children; to elders use ببوورن

   Grammar Note

   The singular of ببوورن. بەداخەوە also works as a plain 'I'm sorry'.

8. هێواشتر قسە بکەن

   Hêwaştir qise biken

   Please speak more slowly

   Usage

   A polite request when you cannot keep up; to one friend say هێواشتر قسە بکە

   Grammar Note

   قسە کردن 'to speak' is a compound verb; in the imperative only the کردن part inflects.

9. ئینگلیزی دەزانیت؟

   Îngilîzî dezanît?

   Do you speak English?

   Usage

   Sorani uses the verb زانین 'to know' for speaking a language. Politely: ئینگلیزی دەزانن؟

   Grammar Note

   Language name + زانین 'to know' means 'speak that language'. A question keeps the word order; only the rising intonation and ؟ mark it. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

10. دەتوانن یارمەتیم بدەن؟

    Detwanin yarmetîm biden?

    Can you help me?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask for help; to a friend: دەتوانیت یارمەتیم بدەیت؟

    Grammar Note

    یارمەتی دان 'to help' is a compound verb; the person helped is shown by the clitic -m on the noun.

11. تکایە چاوەڕێ بن

    Tikaye çaweṟê bin

    Please wait

    Usage

    A polite request to wait; to a friend: تکایە چاوەڕێ بە

    Grammar Note

    چاوەڕێ بوون 'to wait' is a compound; the imperative uses the plural of بوون, بن. ڕ is ṟ. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

12. دەتوانم بێمە ژوور؟

    Detwanim bême jûr?

    May I come in?

    Usage

    Asks permission to enter a room or shop; ژوور means 'room'

    Grammar Note

    دەتوانم + subjunctive means 'may I / I can'. The final -e on بێمە marks direction 'into'.

13. ئەمە

    Eme

    This

    Usage

    Used while pointing at something near

    Grammar Note

    ئەمە is 'this' and ئەوە is 'that'. Before a noun it shortens to ئەم, as in ئەم دوگمەیە.

14. ئەوە

    Ewe

    That

    Usage

    Points to something farther away or already mentioned

    Grammar Note

    The counterpart of ئەمە 'this'. ئەوە is often a subject and can also introduce a statement.

15. لێرە

    Lêre

    Here

    Usage

    Refers to the place where you are

    Grammar Note

    Pairs with ئەوێ 'there'. ێ is ê.

16. ئەوێ

    Ewê

    There

    Usage

    Points to a place farther away, e.g. ئایا ئەوێ گەرمە؟ 'Is it hot over there?'

    Grammar Note

    ئەوێ 'there' looks like ئەوە 'that' but ends in ێ and is a different word.

17. من

    Min

    I / me

    Usage

    'I'. The verb ending already shows the subject, so it is dropped unless emphasized

    Grammar Note

    Sorani pronouns have no gender. من is 'I', تۆ is 'you'.

18. تۆ

    To

    You (informal)

    Usage

    'You' to family, friends and children; to elders or strangers use ئێوە

    Grammar Note

    تۆ goes with the verb endings -î/-ît; ئێوە goes with -n.

19. بەیەکەوە

    Beyekewe

    Together

    Usage

    'Together', for doing something with others

    Grammar Note

    An adverb built on یەک 'one'. ی sits between vowels, so it is y.

20. زیاتر

    Zyatir

    More

    Usage

    'More', e.g. asking for more food

    Grammar Note

    Contains the comparative ending -tir. ی becomes y before a.

21. کەمێک

    Kemêk

    A little

    Usage

    Means a small amount; 'I'm a little worried' is کەمێک نیگەرانم

    Grammar Note

    Formed with the indefinite suffix -êk. ێ is ê.

22. هەموو

    Hemû

    All

    Usage

    'All', placed before or after a noun

    Grammar Note

    وو is long û. هەمووان means 'everyone'.

23. بەسە

    Bese

    Enough

    Usage

    'That's enough', also handy to decline more food

    Grammar Note

    ئەوەندە بەسە 'that much is enough' is a longer form.

24. ئێستا

    Êsta

    Now

    Usage

    'Now', a time adverb

    Grammar Note

    Works at the start or in the middle of a sentence. ێ is ê.

25. یەک کەس

    Yek kes

    One person

    Usage

    For giving a head-count; the noun stays singular after a number

    Grammar Note

    The noun stays singular after a number. Always write کەس with the ە. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

26. دوو کەس

    Dû kes

    Two people

    Usage

    For giving a head-count; hold up two fingers as well

    Grammar Note

    In دوو the وو is long û. The noun stays singular after the number. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

27. سێ کەس

    Sê kes

    Three people

    Usage

    For giving a head-count

    Grammar Note

    سێ contains ê. The noun stays singular after the number. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

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