Directions

1. نازانم بە لای چەپ بسوڕێمەوە یان ڕاست

   Nazanim be lay çep bisuṟêmewe yan ṟast

   I don't know whether to turn left or right

   Usage

   Opening line when you are unsure of the way and ask a passer-by

   Grammar Note

   لای چەپ / لای ڕاست are 'left side / right side'. یان is the 'or' of alternatives.

2. ڕاست

   Ṟast

   Right

   Usage

   Means both 'right (side)' and 'true'; context decides

   Grammar Note

   ڕاست is both 'right' and 'true'. Saying لای ڕاست 'right side' avoids confusion.

3. چەپ

   Çep

   Left

   Usage

   Gives the left direction; 'the left side' is لای چەپ

   Grammar Note

   چەپ means 'left'. The letter چ is the ch sound.

4. باکوور

   Bakûr

   North

   Usage

   For matching a map or sign with directions

   Grammar Note

   The وو in باکوور is a long û. Compass points work as nouns.

5. باشوور

   Başûr

   South

   Usage

   For matching a map or sign with directions

   Grammar Note

   The وو in باشوور is a long û.

6. ڕۆژهەڵات

   Ṟojhełat

   East

   Usage

   For matching a map or sign; it literally means 'where the sun rises'

   Grammar Note

   A compound of ڕۆژ 'sun, day' and هەڵات 'rising'.

7. ڕۆژاوا

   Ṟojawa

   West

   Usage

   For matching a map or sign; it literally means 'where the sun sets'

   Grammar Note

   A compound of ڕۆژ 'sun, day' and ئاوا 'setting'.

8. ڕاستەوخۆ بڕۆ

   Ṟastewxo biṟo

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   The basic direction; the plural form is ڕاستەوخۆ بڕۆن

   Grammar Note

   ڕاستەوخۆ means 'directly' or 'straight'. بڕۆ is the imperative of چوون 'to go'. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

9. تکایە لێرە بوەستن

   Tikaye lêre biwestin

   Please stop here

   Usage

   Tells a taxi driver where you want to get off

   Grammar Note

   The imperative of وەستان 'to stop'. The plural -n is the polite form to a driver or stranger. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

10. نەخشەم نییە

    Nexşem nîye

    I don't have a map

    Usage

    Explains why you are asking for directions

    Grammar Note

    X-m nîye means 'I don't have X'. نەخشە is 'map' or 'plan'. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

11. شەقام

    Şeqam

    Street

    Usage

    Used when asking a street name or giving an address

    Grammar Note

    شەقام means 'street' or 'avenue'; ڕێگا 'road' is more general.

12. ئەوێ نزیکە؟

    Ewê nizîke?

    Is it near there?

    Usage

    Checks whether a place is within walking distance

    Grammar Note

    نزیک 'near' takes the copula -e, and the question is marked by intonation. The opposite is دوور. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

13. ئەوێ دوورە؟

    Ewê dûre?

    Is it far?

    Usage

    Decides whether to walk or take a taxi

    Grammar Note

    The وو in دوور is a long û. Ask for the distance with چەند دوورە؟. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.

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