ئەمڕۆ چ ڕۆژێکە؟
Emṟo ç ṟojêke?
What day is it today?
Usage
Asks which day of the week it is
Grammar Note
چ 'which/what' + ڕۆژێک 'a day' + the copula -ە. ڕ is the trilled r (ṟ).
ئەمڕۆ هەینییە
Emṟo heynîye
Today is Friday.
Usage
States the day; Friday is the weekly day off in Iraq
Grammar Note
هەینی 'Friday' takes the copula -یە. Say the day as ئەمڕۆ + day name + copula.
ئەمڕۆ
Emṟo
Today
Usage
The basic word for today; used when talking about plans or opening days
Grammar Note
ڕ is the trilled r (ṟ), a different letter from ر.
دوێنێ
Dwênê
Yesterday
Usage
The basic word for yesterday
Grammar Note
دوێنێ شەو means 'last night'. ێ is ê.
سبەی
Sbey
Tomorrow
Usage
The everyday word for tomorrow; used for appointments and plans
Grammar Note
A longer form سبەینێ also exists. سبەی بەیانی means 'tomorrow morning'.
دووسبەی
Dûsbey
The day after tomorrow
Usage
The word for the day after tomorrow; used for bookings and meetings
Grammar Note
A compound of دوو 'two' and سبەی 'tomorrow'. وو is the long û.
ئێستا
Êsta
Now
Usage
The basic word for now
Grammar Note
Often placed at the start of the sentence. ێ is ê.
بەیانی
Beyanî
Morning
Usage
The word for morning; نانی بەیانی means breakfast
Grammar Note
It does not mean 'tomorrow' (that is سبەی). The initial ب is read be.
نیوەڕۆ
Nîweṟo
Noon
Usage
The word for noon; نانی نیوەڕۆ means lunch
Grammar Note
A compound of نیو 'half' and ڕۆ 'day'.
دوای نیوەڕۆ
Dway nîweṟo
Afternoon
Usage
Names the afternoon when giving the time of day for plans
Grammar Note
دوای 'after' + نیوەڕۆ 'noon', literally 'after noon'.
ئێوارە
Êware
Evening
Usage
The word for evening; نانی ئێوارە means dinner
Grammar Note
The initial ئێ is just ê (a word-initial ئ carries no sound).
شەو
Şew
Night
Usage
The word for night; also in شەو باش! 'Good night!'
Grammar Note
ش is ş; و is the consonant w here.
هەموو ڕۆژێک
Hemû ṟojêk
Every day
Usage
Used for daily habits or opening days
Grammar Note
هەموو 'every' + ڕۆژێک 'a day'; as in هەموو ڕۆژێک مەلە دەکەم 'I swim every day'.
ڕۆژێک
Ṟojêk
One day
Usage
Counts days; can also mean 'some day'
Grammar Note
-êk is the indefinite ending. ڕۆژێک سەردەکەویت means 'you will succeed some day'.
هەفتەیەک
Hefteyek
A week
Usage
Used for the length of a stay
Grammar Note
After a noun ending in ە the indefinite ending is -یەک, not -ێک.
مانگێک
Mangêk
A month
Usage
Used for the length of a stay
Grammar Note
مانگ means both 'month' and 'moon'. گ is g.
ساڵێک
Sałêk
A year
Usage
Used for a stay or a number of years
Grammar Note
ڵ is the dark l (ł), a different letter from ل.
کاتژمێرێک
Katjimêrêk
An hour
Usage
Used for how long something takes
Grammar Note
کاتژمێر means both 'hour' and 'clock/time'. ژ is j.
سێ کاتژمێر
Sê katjimêr
Three hours
Usage
Used for a duration or waiting time
Grammar Note
A noun after a number stays singular, with no plural ending.
دووشەممە
Dûşemme
Monday
Usage
A day name, used for bookings and opening days
Grammar Note
Weekday names count from شەممە 'Saturday': number + شەممە.
سێشەممە
Sêşemme
Tuesday
Usage
A day name, used for bookings and opening days
Grammar Note
Weekday names count from شەممە 'Saturday': number + شەممە.
چوارشەممە
Çwarşemme
Wednesday
Usage
A day name, used for bookings and opening days
Grammar Note
Weekday names count from شەممە 'Saturday': number + شەممە.
پێنجشەممە
Pêncşemme
Thursday
Usage
A day name, used for bookings and opening days
Grammar Note
Weekday names count from شەممە 'Saturday': number + شەممە.
هەینی
Heynî
Friday
Usage
A day name. Friday is the weekly day off in Iraq, and many shops and offices close
Grammar Note
Unlike the other weekdays it is not built on شەممە. The final ی is î.
شەممە
Şemme
Saturday
Usage
A day name. It is the first day of the week, and the other weekday names count from it
Grammar Note
The base of the other weekday names: یەکشەممە is literally 'one (day) after Saturday'.
یەکشەممە
Yekşemme
Sunday
Usage
A day name, used for bookings and opening days
Grammar Note
Weekday names count from شەممە 'Saturday': number + شەممە.
گەشتەکە چەند کاتژمێر دەخایەنێت؟
Geşteke çend katjimêr dexayenêt?
How many hours does the trip take?
Usage
Asks how long a journey takes
Grammar Note
چەند + singular noun means 'how many'. دەخایەنێت means 'takes (time)'. -ەکە is the definite suffix. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.
کەی دەست پێدەکات؟
Key dest pêdekat?
When does it start?
Usage
Asks when an event or service begins
Grammar Note
دەست پێکردن 'to begin' is a compound verb (دەست 'hand' + پێ + کردن); here it takes the 3sg form. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.
کەی تەواو دەبێت؟
Key tewaw debêt?
When does it end?
Usage
Asks when an event or service ends
Grammar Note
The present of تەواو بوون 'to finish', the same pattern as in ساڵی خوێندن کەی تەواو دەبێت؟ 'When does the school year end?'. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.
هیچ کات نەماوە
Hîç kat nemawe
There is no time left.
Usage
Said when you need to hurry
Grammar Note
نەماوە is the negative of ماوە 'remains'. هیچ goes with a negative verb.
سبەی دەتانبینینەوە
Sbey detanbînînewe
We will see you tomorrow.
Usage
Said at parting to confirm you will meet again the next day
Grammar Note
-tan marks 'you (plural/polite)' as the object. دەبینین 'we see' plus -ەوە 'again'.
دووسبەی دەتبینم
Dûsbey detbînim
I will see you the day after tomorrow.
Usage
Used with someone close to fix a meeting for the day after tomorrow
Grammar Note
-t marks 'you (singular)' as the object; use -tan for polite or plural addressees.
زۆر درەنگە
Zor direnge
It is very late.
Usage
Said when it is getting late
Grammar Note
درەنگ 'late' takes the copula -ە. The opposite 'early' is زوو. Composed from attested words and patterns rather than quoted from a source sentence; worth confirming with a native speaker.
تا کاتژمێر دە ناکەینەوە
Ta katjimêr de nakeynewe
We do not open until ten.
Usage
What staff say to give the opening time
Grammar Note
Time is given as کاتژمێر + number. ناکەینەوە is the negative present of کردنەوە 'to open'.
کۆبوونەوەیەکم لە کاتژمێر دوو و نیو هەیە
Kobûneweyekim le katjimêr dû û nîw heye
I have a meeting at half past two.
Usage
Gives the time of a meeting or appointment
Grammar Note
Half past is the number + و نیو 'and a half'. Possession is -m + هەیە 'I have'.
پلانی هیچت هەیە بۆ ئێوارە؟
Plan-î hîçit heye bo êware?
Do you have any plans for this evening?
Usage
Asks someone close about their evening plans
Grammar Note
-t means 'your' (singular); use -tan for a polite addressee.
سبەی ئێوارە دێم بۆ بینینتان
Sbey êware dêm bo bînînitan
I will come to see you tomorrow evening.
Usage
Politely announces a visit for the next evening
Grammar Note
بینین 'seeing' plus -tan 'your (polite/plural)'. Used with polite or plural addressees.
سبەی پشوو دەدەم
Sbey pişû dedem
I am taking tomorrow off.
Usage
Says you will take a day off
Grammar Note
پشوو دان 'to take a rest' is literally 'give rest'. ش is ş and وو is the long û.
More Central Kurdish (Sorani) phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Nightlife
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Car Rental & Driving
- Hiking & Trekking
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences