Useful Phrases

1. من ژاپۆنیم

   Min japonîm

   I'm Japanese

   Usage

   Introduces your nationality; swap in any other nationality

   Grammar Note

   A nationality adjective in -î takes the 1st-person copula -m (ژاپۆنی + م).

2. من گەشتیارم

   Min geştyarim

   I'm a tourist

   Usage

   Tells guards or guides that you are a visitor

   Grammar Note

   گەشتیار is گەشت 'trip' with the agent suffix; the clitic -m is the copula 'I am'.

3. من بە تەنیا گەشت دەکەم

   Min be tenya geşt dekem

   I'm traveling alone

   Usage

   States you travel alone; use it judiciously for safety

   Grammar Note

   گەشت کردن means 'to travel'. بە تەنیا means 'alone'.

4. یەکەم جارە؟

   Yekem care?

   First time?

   Usage

   A conversation opener asking if it is someone's first visit

   Grammar Note

   یەکەم جار means 'first time'. The subject is dropped and the question is marked by intonation.

5. با وێنەیەک بگرین

   Ba wêneyek bigirîn

   Let's take a photo

   Usage

   Invites someone to pose for a photo together; ask for consent first

   Grammar Note

   با + the 1st-person plural subjunctive means 'let us …'. -yek is the indefinite 'a/one'.

6. من کوردی دەزانم

   Min kurdî dezanim

   I know Kurdish

   Usage

   Says that you know Kurdish; add کەمێک for 'a little'

   Grammar Note

   Knowing a language uses زانین 'to know'. Add کەمێک for 'a little'.

7. ئێوە ڕاست دەکەن!

   Êwe ṟast deken!

   You're absolutely right!

   Usage

   Agrees with what someone has said

   Grammar Note

   ڕاست کردن means 'to be right'. ڕاست means both 'true' and 'right (side)'.

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