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 al1 red in my opinion ala = al abadîn eternal al’al tulip aborî economic, financial; f economy; alandin v.t. to twist ~zan economist alastin alês- v.t. to lick ‘aciz helpless, unable to cope (ji with): alaş thatch; ~kirî thatched ez ji kêzikan zehf aciz im I am utterly alav f flame incapable of coping with bugs alayî f troop, regiment Adar f March alet m instrument, tool ‘adet f custom; ~î ordinary alês- → alastin aferîde m creature alfabe f alphabet aferîn bravo; ~ ji … re good for … ‘alim m scholar afirandin v.t. to create alî1 m side, part; bi her ~yê ve in every afîş f poster direction; dan ~yekî v.t. to put aside, aga aware (li of) to draw to one side; ji ~yekî / ji ~kî agadarî f information, announcement; on the one hand; ji ~yê din on the awareness other hand; ji ~yê … ve by (passive agah = aga agent), on the part of agahdarî = agadarî alî2, arî f help; ~kar helping, helpful; agir m (obl. êgir) fire; ~ danîn bi to set ~karî f help, support; ~karî kirin v.t. fire to to help: min alîkariya wî dikir I used Agirî f Ağrı, in extreme eastern Turkey to help him aheng f tune, tone ‘alî3 supreme ajotin ajo- v.t. to drive (vehicle); to alîkar partisan; ~î kirin v.t. to take pass, last (of time): pir neajotibû ku… s.o.’s part, be partisan not much time had passed before…, alînegir neutral vê bêdangiya han heta sala 1980 ajot Alman German; ~ya f Germany this silence lasted until the year 1980; aloz scattered, random ~ ser to attack amade ready; ~ kirin v.t. to make al1 f flag, banner ready; xwe ~ kirin f to get oneself 196 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY ready ava1 built up, prosperous, developed; ~ ambelaj f wrapping, packing kirin v.t. to develop; ~ker m devel- Amerîka/Amerîqa f America; ~yî oper, founder American ava2 çûn v.i. to set (of the sun) Amûda f ‘Amūdā, a town in Syria near avahî f building, edifice Qāmishlī avayî = avahî an or; ~ na or not; an…an either…or avdayî tempered (steel) ancax so much avêj- → avêtin anîn v.t. (pres. ind. tînim, neg. naynim; avêş f balm subj. bînim, neg. subj. neynim) to avêtin avêj- v.t. to throw, throw away, bring throw out; lay (foundation); ~a ji text anîzazî f cleverness de dethronement; dest ~ … to touch Anteqye f Antakya, Antioch s.th. anuha = niha awa f manner, means; bi ~yekî some- ap, apo m paternal uncle how; bi wî ~yî by this means; bi ‘aqil1 m mind, intelligence hemû ~yî by all/any means ‘aqil2 intelligent awaz m voice, sound, singing ‘aqûbet f end awir f glance, backward look ardû m fuel awur (dial. var.) = awir arî (dial. var.) = alî2 ax1 sigh, ouch; ~ avêtin v.t. to say ouch armanc f aim, goal ax2 f land, earth, dirt; ~a welat home- armûş m a sheaf of grain land; ~a Sûriyê the land of Syria armûxan m gift axa m (obl axê) agha, feudal lord, mas- arnawid Albanian ter arşîv f archive axaftin axiv- v.i. to speak artêş f army axar ??? arûk m ceiling axil corral arxayîn confident axiftin (dial. var.) = axaftin asê rugged, steep; ~geh f fortification axiret f the other world: mirovê axiretê asê kirin v.t. to catch an other-worldly person asêwarî untimely axîn v.i. to cry, to cry out asiman, asîman m heaven; ~î heavenly axpîne f patch of ground, field asîmîlasiyon f assimilation AY = Ameriqayê Yekbûyî USA asîmîle assimilated azad free; ~ kirin v.t. to set free; ~î f aso f horizon liberty asteng m difficult road, rough terrain, azar f anguish; ~ dan v.t. to torment, obstacle vex asin m (dial. var.) = hesin azman m sky ‘aşiq in love; ~ê … bûn to be in love with b- → birin, bûn aşitî f peace, truce; ease, comfort ba1 m (obl bê) wind aşî = aşitî ba2 m turn ‘atifî emotional ba3 (prep.) with, in front of, in the pres- av f water; ~ û hewa f climate ence of; li ~ with, chez

197 KURMANJI KURDISH ba4 m rheumatism; ~wî rheumatic barîk slender, thin babet f regard: di vê babetê de in this barîn/~iyan v.i. to rain down regard bask m arm, wing: baskê çepê partiya babo daddy sosyal-demokrat the leftist wing of ba-dan v.t. to turn, twist, wring the Social-Democrat Party; ~ên xwe badayî turned, twisted li hev xistin to flap one’s wings bager f snowstorm baş good; ~ kirin v.t. to improve; bahar = bihar ~kirin f improvement bahlif f pillow başok(e) falcon bajar m (obl bajêr) city; ~î m merchant, başûr m south citified; ~van citizen, city dweller; bav m (voc. bavo) father; ~îtî f father- ~vanî urban: jiyana bajarvaniyê ur- hood, paternality ban life bawer believing: ez ~ im ku… I believe Baku f Baku that …; ~ kirin v.t. to believe: gelek bakurofe f gust of wind kes bawer dikin ku… many people be- bakûr m north lieve that…; ~î f belief, trust; ~mend bal1 f wing, arm m believer bal2 f attention, mind, thought; ~ kişan- bawî1 m father din to attract the attention: wêneyên bawî2 → ba4 min bala rojname û hunermendan bawîşk f yawn kişandin my pictures attracted the baxçe m garden, yard attention of newspapers and artists; baz jump, leap; ~ dan v.t. to dance; to ~dar attentive, discerning; ~drêj pa- run away in fear, to flee in haste tient, careful; ~fireh patient, calm; bazar f market; ~a reş black market ~kêş attractive, interesting beden m body balaxane f balcony bedew beautiful, splendid balefir m airplane; ~geh airport bedyûm ill-omened balgî m pillow befr f (dial. var.) = berf balîf = bahlîf behr f sea ban m roof behs f discussion; ~kirin v.t. to discuss ban ban kirin v.t. to shout, to yell bejin f height, stature; ~bilind tall; ~ û bandev f summit bala tall stature bandor f influence bel straight; ~ kirin v.t. to straighten, bang f call, cry; ~ dan v.t. to give out a prick up (ears, &c.) cry, to herald; ~ kirin v.t. to shout bela f catastrophe banz = baz belaş for free, gratis bar m load; ~ bûn to be loaded; to bear belav widespread, scattered; ~ bûn v.i. up: çavên wan bar nebûbû they to be scattered; ~ kirin v.t. to spread, hadn’t been able to bear the sight; ~ broadcast, disseminate; ~ok f publica- kirin v.t. to load up, move (house- tion hold); ~kêş m porter belayê nav … bûn v.i. to spread out baran f rain; ~din v.t. to rain down through bare: di ~ya … de (prep.) about, con- belediye f municipality cerning belek speckled, spotted

198 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY belekî f water spring berberî f comparison belengaz poor, destitute; ~î f poverty, berbêjî f prediction destitution berbiçav conspicuous bélê yes berbihevhatin f cooperation belg m leaf berbînî f imaginary image, vision belgih m suit, clothing; ~ girtin v.t. to bercênîk ??? garb oneself berçav visible, clear, before the eyes; ~ belkî maybe, perhaps anin v.t. to pay attention ben = bend ber-dan v.t. to release, let go; to put on bend f bond; li ~a for the sake of, (clothes); to close, stop, give up: dev chained to, waiting for: divê em êdî li ~ ji to close the mouth to, stop, give benda sibehê ranewestin we should- up; ~ ser to direct toward; tiving ~ to n’t stand around waiting for tomor- fire a rifle at: xulamê wî ew da ber row; ~ kirin v.t. to fetter, arrest; man tifingê his servant fired the rifle at di ~a to wait for him; xwe ~ ser to turn oneself to- benderuh creature ward, direct oneself to bendewar bûn bi to love, be in love berdest servant with berdewam continual(ly), constant(ly); ~ benzîn f gasoline kirin v.t. to continue beq m frog berdêl f equivalent; ji ~a instead of ber1 m breast, fore; ber-dan see alpha- berdêlk = berdêl; bi ~ equivalent in betically; ~ bi hev hatin v.i. to coop- value erate; ~ê (ve) (adv.) before; ~î ku berebere more and more, ever more; (conj.) before; ji ~ kirin v.t. to mem- gradually, little by little orize; ji ~ jmartin v.t. to reel off from bereket m blessing; bi ~ luckily memory; ji ~ ku because (conj.); ji ~ berev = berhev … ve (ccmp.) before; ji ~ zanîn v.t. berf f snow to memorize; li ~ (prep.) before, on berferih spacious; ~ kirin v.t. to open, account of; li ~ (+ inf.) on the verge initiate of: ew hêviya ku li ber geşbûnê bû bergeh f view, vista çilmisî that hope, which was on the berhem m product, literary work; ~bar verge of blossoming, withered; productive wek(e) ~ê as before berhev gathered, collected; ~ kirin v.t. ber2 m yield, fruit; ~ wergirtin ji to de- to prepare, gather; xwe ~ kirin v.t. to rive a yield from pull oneself together beramber equal, equivalent; ~î f equal- berhevok f collection ity; ~î … kirin v.t. to compare to: wî berik f bullet ew beramberî Anton Çexov dikir he beriqîn v.i. to glisten used to compare him to Anton Che- berizîn bi v.i. to fight with, do battle khov with beran m ram berî f pocket ber-anîn (ber-în) v.t. to imagine berîde perplexed, lost berate f carcass berîk f pocket berban m ceiling ber-ketin v.i. to feel sad

199 KURMANJI KURDISH bermil f load bêbawer disbelieving, unsure; ~î f dis- bername f program belief beroş f pot, pan bêbest uncontrollable berovajî to the contrary bêbext unlucky, unfortunate; ~î f un- berpêş kirin v.t. to suggest, to propose luckiness, misfortune berpirsiyar responsible; m manager; ~î bêçare helpless, poor; ~tî f helplessness f responsibility, management bêçine useless berq f lightning bêçiqasî inordinately bersîv f answer, reply; ~ dan bi to reply bêdar treeless, barren to, answer; ~a … dan to satisfy the bêdeng silent; ~î f silence, obscurity needs of; ~andin v.t. to respond, bêdil halfhearted, unwilling reply bêfedî lack of embarrassment berten f trousers bêgav impossible, helpless bervajî f opposite side; ji ~yê contrari- bêgoşt skinny wise, conversely bêguman doubtless(ly) bervê prep. toward bêhamd reluctantly, unwillingly berwar m slope bêhawe unparalleled, extraordinary berx lamb bêhay unconscious, unaware; dinyayê ~ berxwedan f resistance the subconscious world bes much, many a; enough bêhejiyan û livat without movement or best f plain motion best m joy, glee, relish bêhejmar innumerable beş m part; ~dar participant; ~dar bûn bêhempa unparalleled, peerless v.i. to take part, participate bêhêvî without hope, in despair; ~ kirin beşavend f rhyme v.t. to make s.o. despair beşer f flesh bêhêzî f weakness, debility betalî f unemployment, uselessness, bêhişiyarî without feeling, numb idleness bêhn1 f breath; ~a min teng bû I was bexçe = baxçe bored; ~a xwe teng kirin to bore one- Bexda f Baghdad self, let oneself get bored; ~a … bext m luck; ~iyar fortunate, happy; çikandin v.t. to suffocate; ~tengî f ~iyarî f good fortune, happiness; bê~ boredom unfortunate bêhn2 f smell, odor; ~ berdan to leave beybûn f camomile an odor behind; ~ dan to give off an bez1 f speed: bi lez û ~ quickly, with all odor; ketin ser ~ê to pick up a scent; speed; bayê ~ê the racing wind; ~în ~çikîn dry-smelling bez- v.i. to run bêhtengî = bêhntengî bez2 m kind, sort bêî prep. without; ~ ku (conj., + subj.) beza fast-running, galloping without: îro jî bêî ku mirov tu zehme- bezir lost tiyan bikişîne, mirov bi hêsanî ji wan bê1 → ba tê digihê even today one easily under- bê-2 (prefix) without; see compounds al- stands them without going to any phabetically trouble bêaqil stupid bêîmkanî f impossibility

200 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY bêj- → gotin poor, lonely bêje f word: ~ bi ~ word by word; ~r bêyî = bêî speaker bêzarî f nuisance, headache bêjing f sieve bêzaro childless bêkar unemployed; ~î f unemployment bi- subjunctive prefix bêkes lonely, alone, unprotected bi … re (ccmp.; bi + wî/wê > pê) by, bê li prep. without with, upon: bi tirên re by train; bi min bêmane fearful, dreadful re with me; bi bihîstina deng re upon bêmecalî f lack of opportunity hearing the sound bêminet relentless(ly) bi … ve (ccmp.; bi + wî/wê > pê) bênamus dishonorable through, up to: ji wê rojê pê ve from bênav nameless, unnamed that day to this bênavbirî incessant bi- subjunctive verbal prefix bênihtin v.i. to freeze biaqil intelligent, smart; ~î f intelligence bênîşan spotless biçûk little; ~anî f childhood, youth bêpar deprived bidardakirin → dar bêpejnî f tranquility biha bûn v.i. to be valuable bêpîvan immeasurable bihar f spring, springtime; ~î pertaining bêr. See xêr. to spring bêrî f longing; ~ kirin v.t. to long for, bihin = bêhn; bi ~ with odor, with fra- miss grance; ~dar fragrant bêrik = bêrîk bihişmet magnificent bêrîk f pocket; wek hundirê bêrika bihişt f paradise; ~în paradisiacal, heav- şalê xwe nasîn to know something enly “like the back of one’s hand” bihîstin bihîs-/bihîz- v.t. to hear, listen Bêrûd f Beirut bihn = bêhn1 bêsedem without reason, unprovoked bihorîn v.i. to pass bê serûbin endless bihostin v.t. ??? bêşerm shameless; ~î f shamelessness bihuk insect bêşik doubtless bihurandîn bihurîn- v.t. to spend bêtar storm (time): ew zaroktiya xwe li Kurdis- bêtaw impatient, restless tana Bakûr bihurandiye he spent his bêtir more childhood in North Kurdistan bêtîn powerless, weak bihurtin bihur- v.i. to pass, be spent bêvil, bêvîl f nose, nostril bihuşt f span. See also bihişt. bêxanî homeless bihûr- = bihur- bê xayî limitless bijarte choice, select bêxeber unaware (ji of); ji her derî ~ bijartin bijêr- v.t. to choose totally oblivious bijiqandin v.t. to tear to shreds bêxew sleepless, suffering from insom- bijîjk m physician nia; ~î f sleeplessness, lack of sleep bijîn lively bêxudan = bêxwedî bijîv f sustenance bêxweda godless, damned bikaranîn → kar bêxwedî godless, ownerless, orphaned, bikêr useful

201 KURMANJI KURDISH bíla (+ subj.) let: çi dibe bila bibe what- bivir m ax ever happens, let it happen biwa (alternative past conditional of bilbil nightingale bûn) = bûya bilez quick, hasty bixêrhatinî dan v.t. to welcome bilind high; ~ kirin v.t. to raise, to bixwe by oneself, personally elevate; ~cih m height, high place biyanî m foreign(er), stranger, alien; biliyan v.i. to arise (sound) ~stan f any foreign place, “foreign bilî other than, aside from; ~ ji ditto parts”; ~tî f strangeness, alienation: bilûr f shepherd’s pipe, flute jiyana biyanîtiyê life of alienation bin m bottom; di ~ under; ~dest under- bizin f goat ling, oppressed; ~geh m foundation, bizir m seed basis; ~gehê … avetin to lay the bizivîn v.i. to budge foundation of …; ~gehîn basic; ~xet f bîhin = bêhn south of the Turkish border, i.e. Syria bîn = bêhn and Iraq bîn- → dîtin, anîn binûr luminous bîna (dial. var.) = mîna bipêşdexistin f advancement, improve- bînahî f sight ment bînanî prep. like biqedr worthwhile, valuable bînber m sight bir m part bîr1 f memory; bi ~ anîn v.t. to remem- bira1 m (obl. pl biran) brother ber: baş bîne bîra xwe ku… remember bira2 = bila well that…; ~a … birin to take into bira3 really consideration; ~ hatin v.i. to remem- birc f tower ber: tê bîra min I remember; ji ~(a) birçî hungry; ~n f hunger; ~tî f hunger kirin v.t. to forget; ~anîn f memory, birêvebir m leader reminiscence birh m eyebrow bîr2 f well birin b- v.t. to carry, take; ~ jêr to bîranî f memory bring/take down/away; ~ jor to bring/ bîst1 twenty; ~salî twenty-year-old take up bîst2 f moment, a short period of time: birisqîn v.i. to sparkle, shimmer bîstek neborî it didn’t take long be- birîn1 f wound; ~ kirin v.t. to wound; fore ~dar m wounded bîstin bîs- v.t. to hear birîn2 = birrîn bîşeng f weeping willow birrîn v.t. to cut, to cross: wî sînor birrî bîz- = bihîz → bihîstin he crossed the border bîzbîzî matted birsî hungry bo (prep.) for; (conj.) so that, in order birsîn f hunger that birûsk f lightning; ~e f telegram boç f tail biryar f decision; ~ dan v.t. to decide boçik f tail biserketin f success bombe f bomb; ~yên destan hand bişkul m goat and sheep droppings grenades biv m buzz bona prep. for: ~ vê yekê for this reason bivê nevê willy-nilly, like it or not borandin v.t. to spend (time), make

202 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY (time) pass yên baş û yên nebaş there are two borî f pipe kinds of people, good and evil borîn v.i. to last, pass (time): çend meh celx m/f slit, crack naborin not many months passed cem m group; side; a large basket; li ~ (n.p.); v.t. to excuse: min bibore ex- beside, with: li cem wan beside them, cuse me with them bostan m garden cendek m body, corpse boş wide, widespread, abundant ceng f battle boxçe f bundle cerg f liver braştî roasted ceribandin v.t. to try, test brûsk = birûsk cewr m pup; ~ik m puppy buhar = bihar ceza f fine, penalty; ~ wergirtin v.t. to buhirîn v.t. to take away, clear off receive a penalty, to be fined buhurandin buhurîn- v.t. to spend cidî serious (time); ~în v.i. to pass, pass away cigar(e) f cigarette buhurtin buhur- v.i. to pass, pass cih m place; pl bed; ~ bi ~ from place to away, go out place; ~ girtin v.t. to take place; ~ buhurî last, past: sala ~ last year kirin v.t. to put, place; ~ li xwe xweş bulbul nightingale kirin v.t. to make oneself comfort- bûk f bride, daughter-in-law; ~anî f able; ~ê … girtin v.t. to take the place wedding of; ~ê local; ~ê ~ê various, sundry; bûn b- v.i. to be, become ~gir occupant; bi ~ anîn to bring bûsî f ambush about, bring to fruition; bi ~ bûn li to bûyer f incident, event settle in, take up residence in; di nav bûz ice ~an de in bed BZ = berê zayînê B.C. cihan f the world cil m clothing; ~ û berg (pl) clothes ca (used with imperatives): ~ were come cin djinn, demon; ~anlêxistî possessed on!; ca bifikire ku just think what it by demons would be like if … cinewir monster cam f glass cirecir f talk, chit-chat camêr courageous, gallant, gentlemanly civandin civîn- v.t. to move, set in casûs m spy motion car f time; ~ ~an often, many times; civak society; community; ~î social, ~din again, once again; ~inan from societal; ~nas sociologist; ~nasî f time to time; ~kê = carekê once; ~na sociology sometimes civat f society, group cax protective fencing civîn v.i. to move; ~în f movement cazîbedar interesting ciwan young, beautiful; ~tî f youth cebhe f front (mil.) cixar(e) (dial. var.) = cigar ceger f liver (poetic); ~ şîrîn darling, cixiz kirin v.t. to mark, to leave marks beloved in cejin f celebration, festival cî = cih celeb m sort, kind: du celeb kes hene: cîhan f world

203 KURMANJI KURDISH cîhêlkirin f surveillance expectantly cîran neighbor çawa(n) how?: çawan bibe bila bibe be cografî geographical that as it may; ~ heba somehow or col m pack (of wolves, &c.) other; ~ ku as; çawahî f quality core core various çax f time: wê çaxê at that time coş enthusiasm, excited çay f tea; ~dan f teapot; ~xane f tea- cot1 m pair house cot2 m plow; ~kârî f agriculture çe = çê cube m robe çefî = kefî cumhûriyet f republic çek f weapon; ~dar armed cunta f junta çeleng cute, attractive, good-looking cure cure (dial. var.) = core core çem m river curet kirin v.t. to dare çen f armpit cûda separate; ~ kirin v.t. to separate çend (following word construed as pl.) cûm bûn v.i. to be obscured how many?; several: di çend cihan de in several places; çend hevalên min ç- → çûn several of my friends; ~ik û çend (+ çak good sing.) several: çendik û çend roj e… çakêt m jacket it’s been several days since…; û ~ - çalak active; ~î f activity odd: bi pêncih û çend salên xwe ve in çand f culture; ~î cultural his fifty-odd years; ~ê for a while çandin çîn- v.t. to plant çeng f claw; ~ê li … de cih kirin v.t. to çap f printing; ~ kirin v.t. to print, sink the claw into publish; ~emanî f printed matter, the çengel m hook press; ne~kirî unpublished; ~xane f çeng kirin v.t. to throw, hurl printshop çente m suitcase çar four çep left; wrong: ew min çep fahm dike çarçove f framework he misunderstands me çare f remedy; bê~ helpless, poor; ~nûs çeper f shield, barricade f remedy; bi ~nûsa … ve in the in- çepik xistin li v.t. to applaud for terests of; ~ser f solution; ~ser kirin çer what? v.t. to solve, resolve çer ku (conj.) as soon as çarmergî cross-legged çerçî m peddler çarşef, çarşev f sheet, woman’s cov- çerkez Circassian ering; ~ kişandin v.t. to put a sheet çerm m skin, leather; ~în leathern (on a bed); ~ li xwe kirin v.t. to put çerx f wheel on a veil, cover oneself çetel m fork, forked çav m eye; ~ girtin v.t. to close the eyes; çewsandin v.t. to exploit ~erênî f expectation; ~ên … xistin çewt crooked, awry, wrong v.t. to attract the attention of; bi ~ekî çê right, okay; ~-bûn v.i. to be born; to nebaş nêrîn to have a low opinion of; be right: çê nabe tu wisa bikî it’s not ~êş f eye ailment; ~kanî f source, right for you to act thus; çê dibe ku ez wellspring; ~şin blue-eyed biçim? is it okay for me to go?; ~- çavnihêrî bûn v.i. to expect, to look kirin v.t. to give birth to, to make, fix,

204 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY repair, keep: wî çê dikine binê zin- çiriya pêşê/pêşîn f October danê they keep him in the dungeon, çirisîn = çirûsîn min di serê xwe e plana ku … çêdikir çirûsîn v.i. to sparkle, shine, glow I was making a plan in my head to … çirûsk f spark çêlik the young of any animal, puppy, çiv trick, game; ~ dan xwe v.t. to zigzag kitten, cub, etc. çivanok f a formula used in storytelling çêl f subject, topic; ~î kirin v.t. to talk çivik, çivîk bird, sparrow about çiwal m sack çêre f grazing, pasturage çiya m mountain; ~yî mountaineer, hill- çêrîn v.i. to graze billy çêtir better çîçek f flower çi1 what?; ~ bigire practically speaking, çîl bright pretty much çîmen m grassy meadow çi2 no; ~ tiştî nothing çîp f calf (of the leg) çiçek = çîçek çîrîn v.i. to creak çiftexas m cotton batiste çîrok f story; ~van storyteller çik exhausted; ~ bûn v.i. to become ex- çîya = çiya hausted, to sink down (into snow) çîzçîzik f buzz çikandin v.t. to drip; to plant (tree); to ço m stick push s.th. in as far as it will go çog = çok2 çikîn v.t. to plant; to crackle; to dry up çok1 m stream (mother’s milk): şîrê berê wê çikî her çok2 f knee breast milk dried up çol f desert, wilderness çiko, çiku because çong = çok2 çil1 forty çûçik f bird çil2 greedy çûk f bird çil3 only in çil û çiya hills and moun- çûn ç- (subj. stem ç-/her-) v.i. to go tains çûr a type of sheep çile f the coldest period of winter; ~ya çûyîn v.i. to go paşîn January; ~ya pêşîn December çilmisandin v.t. to make wither da1 a dialectal variant of de1 çilmîsîn v.i. to wither da2 a preverb that forms compounds, çilvilîn = çilwilîn generally indicating ‘down’ çilwilîn v.i. to gleam da-anîn v.t. to set down, establish: Mam çima why? Reşîd satil danî û li dora xwe mêze çimkî because kir Uncle Rashid set the bucket down çiqas how much and looked around himself; ~ li xwe çiqçiqî kirin v.t. to rip to shreds (+ subj.) to lower oneself, deign, çir, çira why? bring oneself to do s.th.: gelek ji wan çira f lamp, stove jî li xwe danaynin bi vî zimanê xweş û çirandin çirîn- v.t. to tear, tear up şêrîn bipeyivin many of them can’t çirav f muck even bring themselves to speak this çire why nice, sweet language çiriya paşê/paşîn f November da-avêtin v.t. to put together, throw

205 KURMANJI KURDISH together davêtin = da-avêtin da-çikandin v.t. to set up, plant (tree, da‘we f legal case flag, &c.) da‘wet f festive occasion dad f justice; ~geh f court; ~gêr m judge dawî f end; ~ anîn v.t. to put an end to; da-dan v.t. to place, put in, install; to ~ hatin v.i. to end, come to an end; light (fire) ~n (adj) last, final da-gerandin v.t. to turn, send back dax f brand; sorrow dagirker m occupier da-xistin v.t. to take down: polîsan da-girtin v.t. to occupy, take over, to tabeleya me daxist the police took take down; guhên xwe ~ v.t. to prick down our sign up one’s ears daxwaz f request; ~ kirin v.t. to request, dagirtî well-built beseech; ~î f desire dagîr kirin v.t. to occupy dayik m mother; ji ~ê bûn v.i. to be dahl f grove born; ~tî f motherhood, maternity dahn m season, period of time dayin = dan da-hûrandin v.t. to research, investigate dayîn = dan daîre f office de1 postposition forms the second part da-ketin v.i. to fall down, come down, of a number of circumpositions, gen- swoop down, subside; to be lowered erally indicating stationary position in (gaze); ~ bi to take up, involve one- or at; see the prepositional element self with de2 (precedes an imperative): de were da ku (+ subj.) in order that come on! da-kutan v.t. to shake defter f register, roll, notebook da-liqandin v.t. to string up, hang deh ten da-liqiyan v.i. to hang, dangle dehl f valley; orchard da-mezran v.i. to be set up, established; dehol f drum ~din da-mezrîn- v.t. to set up, estab- dek f trick lish delal dear, beloved dan1 = dahn delîve f opportunity, occasion dan2 d- v.t. to give dem1 f time, season; ~a ku (conj.) da-nan da-nê- v.t. to lay, put down when; ~dirêj long-term; ~kurt short- da-niştin da-niş- v.i. to sit down, alight term; ~ û dewran f olden times danîn = da-anîn dem2 steeped; ~ girtin to steep (of tea) danûstendin f transaction, exchange; demançe f pistol relation deng m voice, sound, noise; ~bêj m da-qurtandin qurtên- v.t. to swallow singer dar f tree, stick, gallows; bi ~ ve kirin dengiz sea v.t. to hang; bi ~ da-kirin v.t. to depdepe wooden hang; ~istan f forest deq1 f part, region, place: di vê deqê de dar m wood in this place darbe f blow; ~ xwarin v.t. to suffer a deq2 m tattoo; ~ bi ~ exactly alike blow deqe = deqîqe darik m stick deqîqe f minute darîn wooden der1 f place; ~ek(ê) somewhere; ev ~

206 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY here; li vê ~ê here; li ku ~ê where? ji ~ from outside der2 outside; ~eke foreign: welatên der-xistin v.t. to bring out (publication), dereke foreign countries to issue (an order), to cast out; ji hev der3 f door ~ to to tell apart, to discern der-anîn v.t. to take out der-xwendin -xwîn- v.t. to take to task derb f blow derya f sea; ~ya Sipî the Mediterranean derbas passing, passsage; ~ bûn v.i. to Sea pass, to pass by (ji); ~ kirin v.t. to derzî f crack, split; see also şûjin û spend (time); ~î hundur bûn to enter derzî derbaz = derbas dest1 m hand; ~ bi ~ continuously; ~ derbeder bûn v.i. to be driven from bûn ji to lose, to be left without: pillar to post destên me ji te bûne we have been left der-bûn di to burst out on without you; ~ dan hevdu v.t. to join derd m pain, trouble: her yekî derdekî hands; ~ kêşan ji v.t. to let go of; ~ wan hebû everyone had some trouble kirin bi (+ inf.) v.t. to start; ~ê xwe derece f degree: di çi dereceyê de to kişandin ji to give up, abandon; bi ~ what degree? xistin to attain, obtain; di ~ên … for dereng late, long time; ~ man v.i. to lag … to do: di destên min de bi tenê behind, be late razan mabû the only thing I could do derewîn lying, false was go to sleep; ji ~ kirin v.t. to lose; derêxistin = derxistin ji bin destê … by, by means of …; derfend f opportunity xwe avêtin ~ û lingên kesekî to derheq: di ~(ê) … de about, concerning throw oneself at someone’s feet, to deriya = derya beg; xwe dan ~ to let oneself be cap- derizî cracked tured derî1 m door; ~yê xwe girtin li ber to dest2 f group, set close one’s door to; li ~ dan v.t. to destan f story knock at a door; ~ girtin v.t. to shut a destbirak m blood brother door; ~ li ser xwe girtin to shut one- deste f group, set self up destenan loaf of bread derî2 (prep) outside of destik m oar der-ketin v.i. to go in/out, to turn out to destmal f handkerchief be; ~ li dijî … v.i. to oppose; ji gîra destpêk f beginning … ~ to fail to catch destteng poor derman m (obl dermên) remedy, treat- destûr f order, command; ~a ziman ment, medicine; ~geh pharmacy; ~ grammar kirin v.t. to treat destvala empty-handed derpê m underpants; longjohns destve-înan v.t. to catch ders f lesson; ~ dan v.t. to give lessons deşt f plain der û dor environs; ~a (prep.) around dev m mouth; entrance; ~ berdan ji to derve outside; ~karî external: wezîrê leave, to give up, to stop: te dev ji dervekarî minister of foreign affairs; kêşana cixarê berdaye? have you ~yî (prep.) outside of: derveyî welêt stopped smoking cigarettes?; dev ji outside of the country; (adj.) foreign; min berde, ez bêxew im leave me

207 KURMANJI KURDISH alone—I’m sleepy; ~ di … da cî dí- habitual and progressive verbal kirin to bite down on; (li) ~ (û) dora prefix prep. all around dia = dua devendeştî f brush, brambles di bareya … de ccmp. about, concern- deverû face down ing devî f bush dibistan f school: dibistana destpêk ele- devken f smile mentary school devkî oral: edebiyata devkî oral litera- Dicle f the Tigris River ture didan m tooth devojenî hev bûn li ser to squabble didu two; ~yan second with each other over difin nostril devok f accent digel with; ~ ku although dewam kirin v.t. to continue dihanî = dianî (see anîn) dewar m domestic animal, cattle dijî, li (prep.) against dewir = dewr; f circle; ~ dan v.t. to dijmin m enemy; ~atî f enmity circle dijûn kirin v.t. to curse dewlemend rich, wealthy dijwar difficult; ~î f difficulty dewlet f state: ~a Frensayê the state of dikan f shop France dike nake no matter what s/he did dewr f age, time, epoch; role; ~ leyistin dil m heart; hope: min dil heye (+ subj.) to play a role; ~an f age, time I hope to; ~ girtin bi to be offended dews f place, spot, trace by: bi çûyîna min ya hotêlê dilê xwe dexisîn v.i. to be jealous (ji of) girtin they were offended by my deyn m debt; ~ dan to pay a debt; ~dar going to a hotel; ~ şewitîn bi to feel indebted; ~ê indebted to sorry for: dilê midûr bi vî xortê dê1 f (const diya) mother çeleng û evîndarê xwendinê dişewite dê2 future auxiliary + subj. for future the principal feels sorry for this at- tense tractive young man so avid to study; dê3 3rd-person sing. present indicative ~êşî f heartache; ~germ warm, hearty, of hatin kind; ~geş happy; ~nexweş sorry, dêl1 f tail upset, ill at ease; ~pak pure of heart; dêl2 f female animal; ~egur f female ~qayim confident; ~qayimî f confi- wolf; ~ik f female wolf or dog, bitch dence; ~soz sympathetic; ~şa happy, dêrîn ancient, of long standing glad; ~şewat heart-rending; ~şikestî f dêv1 m demon disappointment; ~şikestî kirin v.t. to dêv2 = dev disappoint, to dishearten; ~tengî f dêw = dêv1 sadness, loneliness; ~xwaz fond of; di … de ccmp. in: di salên 70’î de in the bêî ~ê against the wishes of; ne bi ~ê ’70s; di destên min de in my hands min bû it did not appeal to me di … re ccmp. by, via, upon: bi bihîs- dilêr intrepid tina deng re upon hearing the noise; dilnîya assured, confident av di tifingên wan re dihate xwar dilop m drop water ran down their rifles dilovan kind, affectionate, dear; ~î f di … ve ccmp. through affection; death (euphemism): berî

208 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY dilovaniya nivîskarê dilovan bi salekê dîmen f view, sight, aspect a year before the dear writer passed dîn1 m religion; ~itî f religiosity; ~î, away ~dar religious; ~perwer religious diltezîn ??? dîn2 crazy, mad; ~ bûn li ser to go crazy din other over; ~ kirin to drive s.o. crazy; ~ik di nav … de ccmp. in the midst of: di slightly crazy, “screw loose”; ~itî f nav wî erdî de in the midst of that madness land dîn3 f gaze, attention dinê = dinyayê (see dinya) dîrok f story, history; ~î historical dinya f (obl. dinyayê, dinê) the world, dîsa(n) again, (+ neg) still…not the weather: dinya pirr sar bû the dîtin bîn- v.t. to see weather was very cold; bi ~yê hatin dîwan f reception room; collected works v.i. to be born; ~dîtî worldly, sophis- of a poet; ~çe f (obl ~çê) small recep- ticated tion room diran (dial. var.) = didan dîwar f (obl dîwêr) wall dirb track, path dîz knee dirêj long, lengthy; ~ ajotin to last a dîzik f pan long time; ~ kirin to lengthen; ~î f do = dû length; ~î … kirin to hand to …; dol valley dest ~ … kirin to stretch the hand out dom kirin v.t. to continue to doman v.i. to continue diriyan v.i. to be ripped domandin domîn- v.t. to continue divabû, diviyabû (impersonal + pres. dor1 f environs; li ~a (prep.) around; subj.) had to: diviyabû ku tiştekî bikin ~hêl f environs, parts, region; ~a … they had to do something; (imperson- girtin v.t. to surround al + past cond.) ought to have …, was dor2 m turn; ~alî f circumference supposed to have …, would have to dorandor m circumference; li ~ê (prep.) …: diviyabû Sovyet ji Îranê derketa all around the Soviet ought to (was supposed to) dost friend; ~ane friendly; ~ayetî f have withdrawn from Iran, divabû ku friendship ew kêzik bihata kuştin that bug would doş- → dotin have to be killed doşab m/f grape molasses ??? divê (impersonal + pres. subj.) ought to doşeg f mattress dixan f smoke doşik = doşeg diyar clear; ~î f clarity dot f daughter; ~mam f cousin diyarî f gift dotin doş- v.t. to milk Diyarbekir f Diyarbekir doz f cause, reason; aim, ideal; revenge; diz m thief ~a … kirin to aim for; ~ger vengeful, dizî secret, concealed; bi ~ secretly, litigant stealthily; ~tî f secret du two dî other; yê ~ the other one du‘a f prayer; ~ kirin, ~ xwendin v.t. to dîl m prisoner; ~ girtin v.t. to take pris- pray oner; ~î f imprisonment ducar kirin v.t. to repeat dîlan f dance, dancing dudil hesitant, of two minds; ~î f hesita-

209 KURMANJI KURDISH tion ekol f school duduyan (dial. var.) = diduyan ekonomîk economic duh(î) yesterday elbik f wooden bucket dunya = dinya elektrîk f flashlight durû hypocritical; ~tî f hypocrisy elem pain duşemb f Monday ‘eleqedar kirin v.t. to concern duv = dû ‘eleyh: di ‘eleyhê … da ccmp. against; duwemîn second: şerê dinyayê yê ~dar m supporter; ~darî kirin v.t. to duwemîn World War II support duyem(în) second elman German; ~î German (language) dû1 behind; ~dirêj of long standing; ~re em (obl. me) we then, afterwards; li ~ hev re one after emanet m deposit, anything held on the other; li ~ xwe behind oneself; bi loan or for safekeeping ~ … ketin v.i. to pursue emir1 f order, command dû2 m smoke ‘emir2 m age dûkel f smoke emperyalîsm f imperialism dûman f smoke ‘en‘anetî traditional dûpişk f scorpion endam m member dûr far; ~ xistin v.t. to throw away, ex- enerjî f energy ile; bi ~ ketin to go/get away; ~ nêzîk ‘enî f forehead; front (mil.) sooner or later; ~ahî f remoteness, enstîtu f institute distance; ~bîn farsighted ‘eql m mind, reason dûre → dû1 ‘erd f earth; li erdê dan to throw to the dûrebîn f binoculars ground dûv m tail, end erdim f region dûvre = dûre ‘erdhêj f earthquake ‘ereb Arab; ~î Arabic ebeden (+ neg.) never, not at all ‘erebe f cart, carriage, any wheeled ‘ecem Persian vehicle ‘ecêb strange; ~mayî dumbfounded, stu- ‘Erebistan f Arabia pified erê yea, yes edebiyat f literature; ~van literateur erk f responsibility edebî literary ermen Armenian ‘edilandin v.t. to ameliorate, make bet- ermîşim silk ter Ernewid Albanian edîb m litérateur erz f hope; ~a … şikandin v.t. to dash efendî m westernized gentleman; ~tî f s.o.’s hopes gentlemanliness erzan cheap efraz up ‘erzihal f description, report, petition ‘efû f amnesty; ~ya giştî general am- Erzerom f Erzurum nesty esas m foundation, basis; ~î basic, es- ‘egal f headband sential, original eger if eser f work, monument: esereke edebî a ekîb f team literary work

210 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY esil m origin; bi ~ê xwe originally ê1 = yê esilzade aristocratic ê2 future auxiliary + subj. for future ‘esker m soldier; ~î f the military; (adj) tense military êdî now; still, yet ‘esman = azman êgir → agir esmer olive complected êh: gewro êh berçavara nedihat ‘eşîr f tribe; ~tî tribal “Whitey” didn’t notice it eşkere clear, obvious ên = yên eşk û teşk tangled (hair) êrîş = hêriş ev (obl. masc. sing. vî, obl. fem. sing. êş f pain, ache; ~andin êşîn- v.t. to hurt, vê, obl. pl. van) he, she, it, they, this, cause pain, trouble; ~iyan êş- v.i. to these hurt, suffer pain: ser û çavê te neêşe evîn f love, affection; ~dar desirous, in “may your head and eye not suffer love: ew evîndarê xwendinê bû he pain,” thank you was desirous of studying êvar f evening evqasî so much êxur m stable ew (obl. masc. sing. wî, obl. fem. sing. êzing m firewood wê, obl. pl. wan, pl. const. ewên) he, she, it, they, that, those fahm (dial. var.) = fehim ‘ewd m revenge fal f augury, omen, fate; ~ vekirin to ewel, ewelî first predict: ev fala ko herkesî ji min re ewên pl. const. of ew; ~ din the others vedikir, wusan derneket the predic- ewir = ewr tion everyone was making for me did ewle security, reliance, assurance; ~ bûn not turn out like that to be secure fam (dial. var.) = fehim ‘ewr m cloud faqa under (prep.); ketin ~ to fall be- ewraq (pl) papers neath Ewrûpa f Europe; ~yî European faris pl Persians; ~î f Persian (language) Ewrûpî European faşîst fascist ‘ewt f bark; ~e ~ constant or repeated fedakar, fedekar self-sacrificing, de- barking; ~în v.i. to bark voted; ~î f self-sacrifice ‘eynî the same: di eynî salê de in the fedî f embarrassment; ~ kirin to be em- same year barrassed ey O (vocative) fed-kirin v.t. to look, watch ‘Eyndîwer ‘Ayn Dīwār, a small place in fehim kirin v.t. to understand Syria south of Cizre felat f freedom, liberation Eyûb Job; ~î Job-like felsefe f philosophy; eywan f salon, sitting room felsefî philosophical ez (obl. min) I fen f trick; bi ~ û fîtan by hook or by ezbenî sir (mode of polite address) crook ‘ezman m sky, heaven fener f lamp ‘ezîz dear feodalî feudal ‘Ezrayîl Azrael, the angel of death feqeh m theology student feqî Muslim cleric; ~tî f the clerical pro- 211 KURMANJI KURDISH fession firiyan v.i. to fly away feqîr poor; ~tî f poverty firîn fir- v.i. to jump, fly: Mûsa ji kêfan fer one, single item (of a pair) difire Musa is jumping for joy ferheng f culture: wezareta ferhengê firîşte m angel ministry of culture; dictionary firk a rapid motion ferman f order, command; ~a … der- firne f bakery xistin v.t. to issue an order for … firotin froş- v.t. to sell fermî formal firq = ferq fermo please (said when offering s.th.) firtone f storm, gale ferq f difference: çi ferqa me û cîranên fitil dan v.t. to twist and turn me dimîne? what difference is left be- fîstan m dress tween us and our neighbors?; ~iyet f fort m boast distinction fransiz m/f French (person) ferz kirin v.t. to assume frensî f French (language) fetwa legal opinion frensizî French (language) fex f trap; xistin fexê to put in a trap froş- → firotin feyde f benefit, profit; bi ~ beneficial fursend f opportunity fêde f (const. fêda) benefit: ji bo fêda fûrîn v.i. to bubble, gurgle, boil xwe for one’s one benefit, in one’s own interests galegal f conversation fêhm = fehim galon m gallon fêlbazî f cunning gamêş ox fêre bûn v.i. to learn; fêreyî … bûn to garan f herd of cattle learn s.th., to become accustomed to garis m millet; ~ê misrî corn s.th. garsîn f village square fêrî … bûn v.i. to learn: ew di demeke gav1 f time; moment, instant; ~a (ku) kurt de fêrî tirkî bû he learned Turk- when (sub. conj.); ~ û saet at all ish in a short time times; di ~ê da in an instant; li ~ê de fihêt kirin v.t. to assess, to price at that moment fikar(e) f worry gav2 m step, pace; ~ kirin v.t. to step, fikir f idea, thought; ~în v.i. to think, cross; ~ avetin to take steps: edebi- contemplate yata kurdî di van salên dawî de filitîn ji v.i. to get rid of gavine baş avetiye Kurdish literature filosof m philosopher has taken some good steps in these find f candle recent years fir- → firîn gavan cowherd; ~tî f herding firaq m dishes gazin = gazind firar kirin to escape, to flee gazind m rebuke, complaint; ~ kirin v.t. firavîn f lunch, midday meal to rebuke, reproach; ~ok rebuking, firax (pl) dishes, pots and pans; ~ şustin complaining v.t. to wash the dishes gazî1 m warrior fireh open, wide, spacious; ~ kirin v.t. gazî2 f call, shout; ~ kirin v.t. to call, to open; dil ~ kirin to gladden the speak to heart geh when; geh … geh sometimes …

212 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY sometimes gêj dizzy, spinning; ~ bûn v.i. to be -geh suffix of place dizzy; ~ kirin v.t. to make dizzy, gehandin (dial. var.) = gihandin make lightheaded: germa havînê tu gehîştin (dial. var.) = gihîştin gêj kiribûyî the heat of summer had gel much, many, most; ~ejmar plural; made you dizzy ~ek(î) very, a lot, many: ~ek ji wan gêr crooked, uneven many of them; ~êrî popular gêrik ant gelemper general, public; bi ~î mostly, gêrt lethargic generally ghêj- → gihîştin gelî m mountain pass, canyon giha = giya gelo whether; interrogative particle, “I gihan gihê- v.i. to reach; ~din -gihîn- wonder if” v.t. to deliver; xwe gihandine ser to gemar f filth get oneself to gemî f ship gihaştin gehîj- v.i. to reach, arrive; to genim m wheat mature ger if; ~çi even if, although gihîştin gihîj-/gîj-/gihêj-/ghêj- v.i. to gerandin gerîn- v.t. to turn, rotate; to reach, arrive take for a walk; to produce gihîj- → gihîştin gerden f neck gijgijîn v.i. to be knit (brow) gerdenî f necklace gincir ??? gerdûnî universal gir m hill gerek necessary, should, must, ought to; gir m rancorous, grudging; ~-girtin v.t. ~ bûn to be necessary to have a grudge geremol f complexity, confusion gir- → girtin gerihan (dial. var.) = geriyan giramgîr respectful geriyan v.i. to go around, roam around; giramî f respect ~ li (pey) to look for giran heavy, deep (voice); serious, germ warm, hot: ~a havînê the heat of grave, plodding; ~î f gravity, weighti- summer; ~a, ~ayî f warmth; ~î f ness; ~biha precious, expensive; ~ warmth firotin v.t. to sell at a high price, Germanya f Germany overcharge gerş dirty girav f island geş red, blossoming, flaming, happy; ~ gircî gircî frozen solid bûn to blossom, flame up (fire), be girê f knot, tumor; ~-dan v.t. to tie, to happy; ~î f happiness, flourishment connect: navê bajêr li cem min bi gevde f mange; bi ~ mangy navê nanê firnê, şekir û helawê hatibû gevez crimson girêdan for me the word ‘city’ was gevizandin v.t. to make writhe; xwe ~ to connected to the words ‘bakery roll oneself around bread,’ ‘sugar,’ and ‘halvah’; pişta gevizîn v.i. to writhe xwe ~ dan bi to turn one’s back on, gewde m body; ~ê xwe dan hev to curl to be unmindful of up; ~ê xwe girtin to hug oneself girêkî Greek gewr light grey, whitish; ~o “whitey” girik f conundrum; hillock gewre large, big giriyan v.i. to weep

213 KURMANJI KURDISH girî m weeping, crying guçik m/f ??? ear girîn v.i. to weep; f weeping guh m ear; ~ dan v.t. to listen; bi ~ girîng important; ~î f importance girtin v.t. to grab by the ear; ~dar m girs great; bi ~î greatly listener; ~darî kirin v.t. to listen; ber girtin gir- v.t. to catch, seize guhan ketin v.i. to be heard girtîgeh f prison guhan m udder girtîxane f prison, place of detention guhar m/f pearl ??? earring??? giştî general, public; totally guharîn v.i. to change givaştin givêş- v.t. to press, squeeze guhartin guhêr- v.t. to change givegiv f gentle blowing of the wind guhastin = guhaztin givîn v.i. to roar (wind) guhaztin guhêz- v.t. to transport, carry, giya f grass, greenery move; mala xwe ~ to move one’s giyan m soul home gîj- = gihîj- guhdar m listener; ~î kirin v.t. to listen gîr f grasp; xistin ~ û helboqê v.t. to en- guherandin guherîn- v.t. to change snare guhertin (dial. var.) = guhartin gîrodarî f struggle guj fierce (storm) gîr û helboq f trap, entrapment gujîn v.i. to howl gîya = giya gul f flower gol f lake: ~a Wanê Lake Van gulan f May golik m calf gule f bullet; ~baran kirin v.t. to fire, gopal m stick; ~ das sickle open fire on gor1 f method, manner, way; li ~(a) … gulik f flower according to, in the opinion of gulî m braid, tress gor2 f grave; ~istan f cemetery gulle = gule gorî f sacrifice; ez bi ~ please gulte f clump gorn f tomb gund m village; ~î m/f villager; ~îtî f goşt m meat rusticity gotar f article guneh m sin, fault; ~karî f crime, of- gotin bêj- v.t. to say: tu bêjî nebêjî no fense, fault; avêtina ~ên xwe expia- matter what you say; f word: bi ~eke tion for one’s sins din in other words; ji X re Y ~ to call gungilî thick, matted X Y: gelo mirov kane ji berhemên ku gunîçin ??? a thick protective mat bi zimanên din têne nivîsandin re against thorns, etc. bibêje berhemên kurdî? I wonder if gupe gup kirin v.t. to pound (heart) can one call works that are written in gur1 m wolf other languages Kurdish works?; gur2 strong, powerful; ~ kirin to fill ~xweş well-spoken gurdarî f attention; ~ kirin to pay rapt gotûbêj f talk, conversation attention gov f barn gurg = gur1 govend f Kurdish line dance; ~ê girtin gurî bald, scabby v.t. to dance a line dance gurîn f clamor, noise goya you’d think gurmîn gurm- v.i. to make a loud noise gr- = gir- (girtin) gurz m hank of hair

214 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY guvahî f testimony hecûm f attack, assault guvaştin (dial. var.) = givaştin heçê whatever, whoever guveguv (dial. var.) = givegiv hedam sense ??? hedef f goal ha = han heft seven; ~e f week: bi ~yekê within a hakim m ruler, governor week; ~eyî weekly; ~ê seventy hal m condition, state; ji ~ ketin to be heger if exhausted, worn out hej movement; li ~ û liv û weş ketin v.i. halan f yell, shout to toss and turn halhalk (dial. var.) = al’al hej = hez han (in constr. w/ word it modifies) this hejandin v.t. to shake: wî serê xwe he- very, that very: wê roja han on that jand he shook his head; min destê wî very day; ev tirsa han bi serpêhatiya hejand I shook his hand te girêdayî bû this very fear was con- hejar poor: ~ên kurdan the poor Kurds nected to your experience hejiyan v.i. to move, shake hatin yê-/wer- (v.i., pres. ind. têm, neg. hejîk love, affection nayêm, pres. subj. bêm/werim) to hejîn = hejiyan come; (+ inf.) passive hejmar f number, issue (of a journal) hatî f future hejmartin hejmêr- v.t. to count, enu- havêtin (dial. var.) = avêtin merate: dihatin hijmartin le ser her havîn f summer deh tiliyên destan they could be havîtin (dial. var.) = avîtin counted on all ten fingers of the hands hawîrdor f surroundings, environment; hejmêr- → hejmartin ~ên wê those around him hek m right; di ~ê prep. concerning, hawurdor (dial. var.) = hawîrdor about hay f feeling, awareness (ji of), atten- heke if tion: ~a min jê tune bû I had no hel m protected place awareness of it; ~dar aware helaw f halvah hazir ready, present; ~î f preparation; ~î helbest f poetry, verse: ~a serbest free kirin to make preparations verse; ~kar m poet; ~van m poet heb1 m grain, bit; pill: ~ekî aqil a grain helbet of course of sense; ~ek(î) a little, a bit, slightly hel-bijartin v.t. to select, choose heb2 f a single thing, item, individual, hel-dirandin v.t. to tear apart one Heleb f Aleppo hebandin v.t. to love heliyan v.i. to melt, disappear hebe nebe one way or another heliz an herb hebkî = hebekî (see heb) helk û bêhn breath hebûn v.i. to exist: di zimanê me de pir hel-pekandin li xew v.t. to rouse from gotinên kurdî hene ku me nebihîstine sleep there are many Kurdish words in our helqe f ring language we haven’t heard; (with hem…hem both…and subject + possessive) to have; hebû hema thus tunebû once upon a time heman that very hechecik martin, swallow hember equal; ~î f equality; li ~î

215 KURMANJI KURDISH towards, vis-à-vis, across from bînin they don’t count themselves as hembêz = hemêz Kurds hemd m will, volition; bê ~ reluctantly, hesin m iron; ~gêr m blacksmith; ~î involuntarily; hatin ser ~ê xwe to made of iron; ~ker m blacksmith come to one’s senses hesiyan/hesîn v.i. to feel; ~ bi to per- hemdemî contemporary ceive, be aware of hemêşe always hesp m horse hemêz, hembêz f bosom, embrace; ~ hesret f pining, longing, regret; li ~a kirin v.t. to embrace longing for hemî = hemû hest f feeling hemmanê scarcely, barely heste f lighter hemû all, every; ~ya(n) all of them hestik m bone hengam time: di ~ekê de at one and the hestî m bone same time, at once heşî = êşîn heps f prison, imprisonment; ~xane f heşîn green; ~ahî f greenness prison heşt eight; ~ê eighty her every; ~ û ~ always and ever; ~ku heta even; (prep.) up to, until; ~ (ku) … -tir the more … the more: dengê ji (conj. + neg. subj.) until: heta neyê ezmên herku diçû bêtir dibû the sound guhartin jî dê wiha bidome until it is from the sky kept getting louder; ~ changed it will remain like that tenê at least: her tenê çend heftiyan hetanî = heta carekê at least once every few weeks hev each other, together, co-, same; ba her- → çûn ~ hatin to get together, cooperate; bi herbî f war department ~du re together; bi ~ re with each herd valley ??? other, together; ji ~ ketin to fall apart; herehereyî worldly strife, turmoil li ~ together; li ser ~ altogether; ~ herejor steep dan v.t. to collect, put together herê = erê heval m/f friend; ~bend m proponent; herêm f district, region ~tî f friendship herf f letter of the alphabet hevedudanîn v.t. to put together, to herikîn v.i. to move, to flow compound herimandin v.t. to ruin, make a mess of: hevdû each other wî jiyan li wan herimandiye it has hevgirtî assembled ruined their lives hevîr m dough herî1 very, exceedingly, most (superla- hevkar m/f co-worker; ~î f cooperation tive prefix) hevok f sentence; ~sazî syntax herî2 f mud hevpeyvîn f conversation hertim always; ~î usual hevraz (dial. var.) = efraz herweha thus, so also hevrîşim m silk herwiha (dial. var.) = herweha hevwelatî m/f compatriot hes f feeling, emotion; ~asiyet f sensi- hew no more, not any more: hew dixwim tivity I can’t eat any more hesibandin v.t. to count, take into con- hewa f air, weather; ~ guhastin v.t. to sideration: ew xwe weke kurd nahesi- have a change of climate

216 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY hewale m air ously, aloud hewandin -hewîn- v.t. to give shelter to, hêl3 trace, track protect hêl- → hiştin hewcedar needy, in need; ~î f need, hêlan v.t. to leave necessity hêlûn f bird’s nest; ~ kirin v.t. to nest, hewe (dial. var.) = we to settle in hewes f passion hênik cool; ~ayî f coolness hewg f throat hêre kirin v.t. to look hewil f attempt; ~-dan v.t. to attempt hêriş f attack; ~ kirin/anîn/birdin v.t. to hewk = hewg make an attack: cendirme hêrişî ser hewqas that much, so much malê dikin the gendarmes are attack- hewranî m a type of cloak; ~yekî reş a ing the house black cloak, a sign of mourning hêrişker attacking hewş f courtyard hêrs f anger; ~ kirin v.t. to anger; ~ê hey continuously, (+ verb) to keep on ketin v.i. to get angry heya = heta for, up to, until: heya hêsan easy; ~ kirin v.t. to facilitate, demeke dirêj for a long time; ~ ku make easy; ~î easy (conj.) while, as long as hêsir m tear heybet m fearfulness; ~girtî fearful hêsîr captive, prisoner heyecan m excitement hêstir1 f mule heyf f pity; ~a … it’s too bad about …; hêstir2 = hêsir ~a … hatin bi to feel sorry for: heyfa hêşîn green (of plants), bluish (of ani- min bi te tê I feel sorry for you mals); ~ayî f greenery, verdure; ~î f heyhat alas! greenery heyîn v.i. to live hêştir f camel heyran amazing!, incredible! hêt f thigh heyşt eight hêvar = êvar heyştê eighty hêvî f hope; ~dar hopeful; bê~ hope- heyv f moon, month; ~a çarde şevê the less; li ~ya … bûn to wait for, be in full moon expectation of …; (li) ~ya … man to heyran … çi? what do you mean …? lie in wait for … heywan f animal hêwan f porch hez kirin ji v.t. to like, enjoy: min jê hez hêwir at rest, calm kir I liked it hêz f strength, power hezar thousand hicûm f attack hê still, yet hijmartin hijmêr- (dial. var.) = hej- hêç furious, quick-tempered martin hêdî hêdî little by little hikim m sovereignty, power; verdict, hêdîka slowly, softly judgment; hatine ser ~ to come to hêj still, (with comparative) even power; ~ dayîn to make a judgment hêja valuable, worthy; ne ~ worthless hilanî kept, preserved hêk f egg hil-anîn (hil-în-) v.t. to take away; to hêl1 f side, direction keep, preserve hêl2 vigor, strength, power; bi ~ vigor- hil-avîtin v.t. to go, stick (li … ra

217 KURMANJI KURDISH through something) out hil-bijartin v.t. to choose hiş m awareness, sense; ~ be be quiet!; hil-dan v.t. to lift, raise bi ~ intelligent, smart hil-dirandin (dial. var.) = hel-dirandin hişin = hêşîn hil-girtin v.t. to bear, endure; to shoul- hişk dry, solid, frozen; ~ bûn v.i. to der (a responsibility, burden) freeze; ~ahî f solidity, rigidity; ~asayî hil-ketin v.i. to come about by chance f dry, cold air hil-kêşan v.i. to climb up, out hiştin hêl- v.t. to let go, leave, allow; hil-kutan v.t. to knock, rattle Xwedê te bihêle may God preserve hilmis poke; ~ dan bi to poke you! hil-pekandin (dial. var.) = hel- hişyar awake, sober; ~ bûn v.i. to pekandin awaken; ~ kirin v.t. to wake hil-qedimîn v.i. to stand up hizandin (dial. var.) = hejandin hil-şandin li ser v.t. to bring down on hizib f political party hil-weşandin v.t. to break up, split hizir f thought, idea; li hizra … da bûn apart: piştî hilweşandina sîstema Sov- to be thinking about … yetê after the break-up of the Soviet hîm1 m foundation, basis; ~avêj m system founder hil-weşîn v.i. to break up, split apart hîm2 = hîn2 him…him both…and hîn1 still, yet: ew ~ nehatiye he hasn’t himber (dial. var.) = hember come yet; ~ bêtir even more himbêz kirin v.t. to embrace hîn2: ~ bûn v.i. to learn; ~î kirin v.t. to himêz armful; ~ kirin = himbêz kirin teach: wê ez hînî pir tiştan kirim she hin some, a few, several: hin rûpel a taught me many things; ~î … bûn to few pages, several pages; hin ji wan a learn how to (+ inf.)\ few of them; ~ên wan some of them; hîna = hîn1 ~ekan … ~ekan some … others hînga = hingê hinarok cheek hîs f feeling, emotion; ~ kirin v.t. to feel hind1 = hin; hinde cara hindek every hîştin = hiştin once in a while hîv (dial. var.) = heyv hind2 f measure, extent: ji ber hindê jî to hîvî (dial. var.) = hêvî a certain extent; ~ik slight, few, little hîz m/f skin sack bit; ~ikahî f minority hogiç m mountain ram hinda prep. until hogir accustomed, intimate friend; m hindav f direction; ~a …da toward environment hindir = hundur hol f environment, surroundings; xwe hiner = huner gihandin ~ê to come forth, come hingê then, at that time; therefore, for about, arrive that reason holê thus, in this manner; in view hingiv m honey holik f hut hingî then, at that time hon (dial. var.) = hun hingûr f twilight honik cool; ~ kirin v.t. to cool down; hirî f wool dilê xwe ~ kirin bi to console oneself hirşiyan v.i. to fall down, spill over or with

218 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY hov wild; ~îtî f wildness Îlon f September hovan over there imkan m possibility hoy m condition, circumstance: di hoyên împaratorî f empire teng de in narrow straits, in a tight imtihan f examination spot imtiyaz f concession: imtiyaza neftê oil hozantî f poetry concession h.p. = heta paşî etc., et al. înca then, in that case hukum m order; ~darî f rule; ~darî Îngilîstan f England kirin v.t. to rule Îngilîz m/f English; ~î f English lan- hukûmet f government guage humanîst m humanist; ~î humanistic inkar kirin v.t. to deny hun (obl. we) you (pl.) insan human being, one; pl people hundir (dial. var.) = hundur inşa m composition hundur m inside; ~ê prep. inside of; di iptidaî elementary ~ê … de within: di ~ê deh salan de îrad f objection within ten years Îran f Iran huner, hiner f art, skill; ~mend m artist Iraq f Iraq hur free, at liberty îro, îroj today hurmetgir respectful îrû (dial. var.) = îro hustu m neck îsal this year huzûr f presence îsfehanî wrought silver hûn = hun Îskenderûn f İskenderun, Alexandretta hûr1 small, little; ~ ~ in little bits, in Islamiyet f the religion and traditional small pieces; ~ ~(î) bûn v.i. to be learning of Islam smashed to bits; ~ kirin v.t. to crum- ispat kirin v.t. to prove, establish ble; ~ mûr small items, little things israf f expenditure: israfeke enerjiyê an hûr2 m paunch expenditure of energy hûrik m small piece, bit, sliver; ~ ~ israr kirin v.t. to insist slight(ly) istifade kirin ji v.t. to make use of hwd (her wekî din) etc. îstgah f station ‘îsyan f rebellion (because the distinction between initial i îş m work, affair, job: çi îşê min bi and î is not consistently maintained, tirkan re heye? What do I have to do the two letters are alphabetized to- with the Turks? gether) îşellah God willing, I hope î‘dam f execution, death sentence îşev tonight idare kirin v.t. to direct, manage işk dry îdeolojî f ideology işkence f torture; ~ kirin bi v.t. to tor- ifade f testimony ture, torment iflas f bankruptcy; çûne ~ v.i. to go işkestin (dial. var.) = şikestin broke îtiraz f objection î‘lan kirin v.t. to announce ‘iyar m skin, pelt ilham f inspiration ‘ilmî scientific jahr (dial. var.) = jehr

219 KURMANJI KURDISH jan f pain, ache; ~ dan v.t. to pain mêr m elderly gentleman jar poor; ~î f poverty kalîte m good quality jehr f poison kalkabûs m nightmare demon jendirme f gendarmerie kalo m old man jengorî rusty kambax ruined, devastated; devastating; jê = ji + wî/wê ~ kirin v.t. to ruin, devastate jêhatî worthy kanê = kanî2 jê-kirin v.t. to excise, cut out, cut off kanî1 f spring, source jêr down kanî2 where is/are? jêrbar heavy laden; ~î f being heavy kanîn (dial. var.) = karîn laden kanun pl winter months ji prep. from, to, for, with kapan a narrow, steep mountain road ji … re ccmp. with kapik f bran ji … ve ccmp. from kar1 m job, work; ~bidest m authority; ji ber … ve ccmp. before ~ker m/f worker; ~ûbar m work, bus- jibîrkirin → bîr iness, everything entailed by s.th.; ~ jihevdeketî fragmented, fallen apart: kirin to work, to penetrate; bi~ anîn civateke ~ a fragmented society v.t. to use jimar f number kar2 kid (goat, deer, &c.) jin f woman, wife; ~ik f woman karik kid goat jinûvezayin f rebirth, renaissance karîn (v.i., neg. pres. níkarim, past ji weşdaketî scattered about (dí)karibûm, neg. past. níkaribûm, jiyan1 f life subj. (bi)karibim) to be able (+ subj. jiyan2 jî- v.i. to live to) jiyin = jiyan2 karneval f carneval jî enclitic also, even, emphasizes pre- karto stale ceding word karxezal baby deer, fawn jî- → jiyan2, jîn karzan expert jîn jî- v.i. to live kasik m globe jîndar alive, living; dinya ~ the world kastîn f howl of the living kaş m slope, hill; ~ bûn to fall back- jîr talented, skillful; ~î f diligence, talent wards jmartin jmêr- v.t. to count, to enumer- kat kirin v.t. to divulge ate kaxet = kaxez jor above, up kaxez f paper kaxiz = kaxez k- → kirin kazkaz f wail ka (attention-getting particle): ka mêze kebanî f lady: kebaniya malê the lady of ke come, look!; ka li ku ye? now the house where is it? keç f girl; ~ik f little girl ka f straw, hay ked f stick; ~a kesekî xwarin to get kabûs f nightmare beaten by s.o. kafiye (dial. var.) = qafiye kef1 f foam: ~a sawûnê soapsuds; ~ dan kal aged; m old man, grandfather; ~e- v.t. to foam

220 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY kef2 f palm (of the hand) kerpîç m sun-baked mud brick kefen m burial shroud; ~ kirin v.t. to kerwan m caravan shroud keser f sorrow, grief; ~vedan f sorrow- kefî f kefiya, Arab headdress ing kefteleft f activity, work, enterprise kesk green kej f fur; ~ da-bûn v.i. to get long fur keşf kirin v.t. to discover kek m elder brother keştî f boat kel1 boiling; ~ û gerî crying and weep- ketin kev- v.i. to fall; ~ li ber … to ob- ing ject to, oppose; bi ser ~ to come up, kel2 m bull to surface kelandin kelîn- v.t. to boil kev- → ketin kelaş m corpse, body kevanî = kebanî kelberû wild kevçî m spoon kel f an outcropping of rock kever spotlessly white kelem1 oak kevin ancient kelem2 m thorn; obstacle, difficulty, kevir m stone, rock trick kevnar ancient kelem3 m cabbage; ~ê Brukselê Brussel kevnebajar f ancient seat sprout kevneperest conservative kelemçe f handcuff; ~ kirin v.t. to hand- kevnesovyet f the ex-Soviet Union cuff kew partridge kelên f opportunity, chance kewanî = kebanî kemîn f ambush; ~ girtin to lie in am- kewtîn v.i. to bark bush keys f opportunity, advantage ken m laughter; ~iyan v.i. to laugh kezeb f liver; womb; ~ şewitan to feel ken- → kenîn sorry, be distressed kendal f side, slope, bank kezî f braid of hair kengê, kengî when? kezk f strand of hair kenîn v.i. to laugh kez kirin v.t. to bite ker1 donkey; ne ker ketiye, ne hîz kê → kî diriyaye, û ne doşab rijiyaye (prov.) kêf f pleasure, joy: li ~a wî nedihat she “no donkey has fallen, no skein has wasn’t enjoying it; ~xweş happy; been ripped, and no molasses has ~xweşî f happiness, pleasure, rejoic- been spilled,” i.e. nothing at all has ing; ~ û sefa pleasure happened kêl m grave ker2 deaf kêlek f side, edge ker3 quiet, silent kêm few, little bit; ~ kirin v.t. to lessen; keramet f miracle ~ mabû ku (+ subj.) almost: kêm kerb f sorrow, grief; bi ~a … çûn v.i. to mabû ku dila te ji kêfa ji sînga te empathize with … derkeve your heart almost leapt out of kerem generosity, benefit; ji ~a xwe your breast from joy; ~anî f defi- please, if you would be so kind ciency, inadequacy; ~asî f paucity; ~ kerî f herd; piece û zêde more or less; bê~asî flaw- kermî f snout less(ly); bi ~anî f at least

221 KURMANJI KURDISH kêr1 f knife kîn f revenge, feud: kîna xwe bi hev re kêr2 f benefit, profit, effect; bi ~î … hene they are having a feud; ~ girtin hatin to be of benefit to …: bi kêrî çi v.t. to take revenge tê? what’s the use of it?; bi~ useful kînga ever; when kêrûşk rabbit kîs m sack, bag; ji ~ê xwe out of one’s kês = keys own pocket kêşan v.t. to pull, draw; cixar ~ to kîso f tortoise smoke cigarettes klasifikasyon f classification kêz f bug, insect; ~ik f bug klaşnîkov f Klashnikov rifle kibrît match; ~firoş matchseller ko = ku2 kifş clear, apparent koç kirin v.t. to decamp, move; ~î … kil1 f collyrium; ~ kirin to paint the eyes kirin to move to with collyrium kok1 f stitch kil2 kirin v.t. to wave; dest ~ ji … re to kok2 f root, stub wave the hand at kolan f street kim m corner kolan kol- v.t. to dig, dig out, research; kin short; ~î f shortness; bi ~î shortly, ~din kolîn- v.t. to dig slightly kole1 trick, deceit; ~ kirin v.t. to kinc pl clothes deceive; ~dar tricky, deceitful kincik m rag kole2 captive, slave kir → kirin kolonyalîst colonialist kiras m shirt kom f pile, group; ~ bûn to gather, as- kirêt ugly, shameful; ~î f ugliness, de- semble; ~a san pack of dogs filement, shame komar f republic: Komara Mehabadê kirêwe m blizzard the Republic of Mahabad kirin k- v.t. to do; ~ ku (+ pres. subj.) to komel f society, organization: Komela make (as if to do s.th.), almost to do Karkerên Kurd Kurdish Workers s.th.: wî kir ku tiştekî bibêje, lê ne got Society; ~ayetî social he almost said something, but he komik f small group didn’t; ji xwe ~ to take off (clothes), kon m tent disrobe: min kincên xwe ji xwe kir I kongre f congress took off my clothes; te dikir û nedi- kor, kûr blind; ~ ~ fikirîn to be lost in kir do what you might; min kir û thought nekir no matter what I did kor û kend m depression kirîn kir- v.t. to buy koşik f pavilion kirûmat in stony silence kovar f journal kişandin kişîn- v.t. to pull, draw; dest ~ kovî wild, ferocious ji to withdraw from kox f coop: koxa mirîşkan chicken coop kişkişandin v.t. to drag koxik f hut, shack kitêb f book; ~xane f library ku1 where?; ji ~ where from?, li ~ kitkit f detail where, where at? kivş = kifş ku2 that (subordinating conj.); unless kî (obl. kê) who? kuç f large rock kîjan which? kuderê where?

222 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY kufuk m snot; kufkê poz snot; kufkê kuştin kuj- v.t. to kill guh earwax; ~girtî snotty kut xistin li v.t. to take a puff on (a kuj m corner cigarette) kuj- → kuştin kut peck, (dog’s) bark; ~ kirin v.t. to kul f wound, pain, suffering; adj. in- clack, clatter, rattle fected, inflamed, suffering kutan v.t. to strike; çavên xwe jê ~ to kulav m felt mat blink the eyes kulek f smoke hole kutatirîn least kulfet f job, duty: xudê kulfet employed, kuxîn v.i. to cough holding down a job; maid, female ser- kuxuyan v.i. to cough vant; wife kûç call to a dog kulik m finger; ~ekî dan ser to put a kûçe f (obl kûçê) lane finger on, point to kûçik m dog kulî f flake of snow kûd lame kulîlk f wild flower kûl f ??? kullî cotton kûlîlk = kulîlk kulm f fist; ~ik f fist kûr1 (dial. var.) = kor kulmoz m beehive kûr2 deep; ~ nêrîn to look closely; ~ahî kultur f culture f depth; ~anî f depth kum m cap; keça ~sor Little Red kûşke small, tiny Riding Hood kûvî (dial. var.) = kovî kun f hole; kun kun kirin v.t. to poke kwîr blind holes in kwêsî, kwîsî (dial. var.) = kîso kundkî rûniştin v.i. to hunker down kunkunî pitted, pockmarked labîrent f labyrinth kur m boy, son lablabik m marsh: kwêsiyê lablabik kur kirin v.t. to cut (the hair) marsh turtle kurd m/f Kurd; ~andin v.t. to Kurdi- laîk secular cize; ~istan f Kurdistan; ~ayetî f lal mute, speechless Kurdishness; ~hiz Kurdophile; ~iyetî lampe f lamp, light f Kurdishness; ~î Kurdish land f belly kurdmancî Kurmanji Kurdish landik f cradle kurm m worm; ~ik m little worm; ~î laş m body, corpse wormy, mangy, maggoty lat f boulder kursî f chair, seat: kursiya şerefê the latînî Latin seat of honor lava kirin v.t. to plead; ~yî f pleading kurş f frozen snow; ~enegirtî not frozen lavan = lava solid law m/f youth, child; ~ik m infant kurt short, brief; ~ayî f shortness: bi lawur m wild animal kurtayî briefly; ~eçîrok f short story; layiq worthy ~edem f moment lazim necessary kuruf f mound of snow lebitîn v.i. to move about kusan how leheng m champion, hero kuskusandin v.t. to squint lehî f flood, torrent

223 KURMANJI KURDISH lekim m/f tentacle ??? instrument), to ring (telephone) lenger f tray li prep. in, at, to; also forms the first ele- lep m paw ment of a number of compound prep- leplepî twinkling ??? ositions; see the second element lerizîn = lerzîn lib m copy (of a book), flake (of snow), lerizîner trembling drop (tear); unit, single item lerizok trembling liberxwe free, unhindered lerz m trembling Libnan f Lebanon lerzandin lerzîn- v.t. to shake lihêf f quilt lerzîn v.i. to tremble, shake lihîstin (dial. var.) = lîstin leş m body; ~bizdîn ??? likumîn v.i. to trip leşker m soldier ling m foot, leg; li ser ~an standing, on lev aimless ???; ~ ketin v.i. to chatter foot (of the teeth) lipaşmayî backward; ~n f backwardness lewaş thin flat bread liq f branch lewhe f sign liqandin v.t. to hang; xwe ~ to hang lewma for this reason, therefore (int.) lewra, ji lewra because liser vebûn v.t. to diagnose leyistin leyiz-, lîz- v.t. to play, play (a liv f motion, movement; ~ lê dan, ~ lê part); to play around (bi with): wî bi xistin v.t. to put in motion nivîsên min dileyist he used to play livandin livîn- v.t. to move, put in mo- around with my writings tion: destikên keştiyê zû dilivandin he leyiztin (dial. var.) = leyistin was moving the oars of the boat leylan f mirage quickly Leypiçig f Leipzig liviyan = livîn1 lez m haste; ~ kirin v.t. to make haste; livîn1 v.i. to move, be in motion, stir bi ~ in haste, hastily; bi ~ û bez in all livîn2 m bed, bedding haste, as fast as possible livok unstable lezandin lezîn- v.t. to hasten, to accel- lixwekirin f manner of dress erate lîlandin v.t. to ululate lezet f pleasure lîsê f high school; ~ xwendin to attend lê1 but; ~belê on the other hand high school lê2 = li + wî/wê lîstik f game, play, sport lê bûn bi to be afflicted with lîstin lîz- v.i. to play lê-dan lê-d- v.t. to strike, play (instru- lîz- → lîstin ment); cut off: bila mîr serê min lê- lojman f lodging bidit let the prince cut my head off loma for that reason, therefore lê-gerîn v.t. collect luht naked, bare lêh: di lêhê … de ccmp. for, in support luks deluxe of lûle f pipe, barrel (of a rifle) lêkolîn f research; ~er m researcher lûrîn v.i. to bay lêv f lip, seashore lûsîn v.i. to perch lêvişkestî with a broken lid lê-xistin v.t. to beat, to play (musical ma interrogative particle: with affirma-

224 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY tive questions a negative answer is mandî exhausted; ~bûn f exhaustion expected: ma rast e? that’s not right, ma‘ne (const ma‘na) f meaning; ~wî is it?; with negative questions an af- moral, spiritual firmative answer is expected: ma ne mange f cow rast e? isn’t that right?; with other manî constraint, obstacle interrogatives ma gives the sense of mantiq m logic “ever”: ma tu yê çi bikî bi kêrê? What ma‘qûl reasonable; ~ dîtin to consider ever are you going to do with a knife? reasonable: wî pêşniyaza min maqûl maç kirin v.t. to kiss dît he considered my proposal reason- Maden f Maden, also known as Paxir- able maden, city northwest of Diyarbekir mar m (obl mêr) snake maf m share, portion; right; ~nas appre- mar kirin v.t. to marry (li to) ciative marş f march, anthem makîne f machine, car mase f (obl masê) table mal1 f house, home: mala min mala te mast m yogurt my house is your house; ~bat f fam- maşellah goodness! (said to ward off ily; ~mezin belonging to a great fami- the evil eye when something is ad- ly; ~xwê paterfamilias mired or praised) mal2 m goods, possessions, wealth: ~ê mat silent ticaretê commercial goods matmayîn f astonishment mal- → maliştin, miştin mayî(n) other malava (vocative particle) hey!, see mazlûm tyrannized; ~iyet f tyranniza- here! tion maliştin mal- v.t. to rub, rub out mazot f kerosene maliye f tax office me → em ma‘lûmat (pl) information me- alternative negative subjunctive mam m paternal uncle and imperative prefix = ne- mamostatî/etî f pedagogy; ~atî/etî mebest f intent kirin v.t. to teach: wî mamostetiya mebin (archaic negative 3rd pl subjunc- zimanê erebî dikir he used to teach tive of bûn) they may not be: gelek the Arabic language mebin jî even though they may not be mamostayî kirin v.t. to teach: wî many mamostayiya rewşenbîrî ya gelek mecal f opportunity: ta niha mecal tune rewşenbîrên kurd kir he taught many bû until now there has been no oppor- Kurdish intellectuals how to be intel- tunity; ~ birrîn v.t. to take an oppor- lectuals tunity away mamoste m teacher; mecbûr obliged; ~ kirin v.t. to oblige, man mîn- v.i. to remain, stay, dwell; force ne~ to cease to exist, to be no more: meclis parliament nema xweya kir he never appeared medeniyet f civilization again; hindik ~ (+ subj.) to be about medinî civil to, to be on the verge of: hindik dima medrese f religious school fener bitemire the lamp was on the mefhûm f concept verge of going out meh f month

225 KURMANJI KURDISH Mehabad f Mahabad metleb ??? mehkeme f court mewlûd f a poem celebrating the birth mehkûm condemned; ~ kirin v.t. to of the Prophet Muhammad, tradition- condemn ally recited on festive occasions mehlûl dissolved; ~ bûn to be dissolved mexsed f intent, intention mehr f marriage contract; ~ birîn to meydan f field; anîn ~ê v.t. to bring to conclude a marriage contract the fore mehrûm ji deprived of meyeldar, meyildar = meyldar mehû kirin v.t. to wipe out meyîn v.i. to remain mejî m marrow meyl f inclination; ~dar predisposed (ji mejûl occupied; ~ bûn li ser v.i. to be …re to); ~darî f bias, predisposition occupied, busy with mezel1 m grave, tomb mekan stance, position mezel2 f room mekteb f school mezheb m sect mela m (obl. melê) mulla mezin big, large, great; ~ bûn v.i. to mele (dial. var.) = mela grow up; ~ kirin v.t. to raise, bring melevan m swimmer; ~î f swimming up; ~ahî f greatness; bi ~bûna … as melkemot the angel of death vast as me’mûr government official mê f female mencel a copper pot mêj long ago; ji ~ ve from long ago mendik an herb mêjî f brain, mind meqale f article mêjîn v.i. to suck, suckle merasîm f ceremony mêjvemayî remnant, relic merbend f bond, fetter mêr1 m man, husband; ~anî f manliness; mereqdarî f interest, inquisitiveness, ~ik m fellow, guy; ~xas m gentleman curiosity mêr2 → mar mereq kirin v.t. to wonder mêrg f meadow merg f death mêrxas brave merhele f stage: di merhela ewel de in mêş f bee; ~a hingivî honeybee the first stage mêtro f metro, subway meriv m person, one (impersonal): gava mêvan m/f guest; ~darî f visit; ~per- meriv li cihekî dimîne when one stays werî f hospitality; ~xane f reception in a place room merîd m disciple, devotee mêze kirin li v.t. to look at, see merkez f center; ~î central: hukûmeta miç shut, closed; ~ kirin v.t. to shut, merkezî central government cover mesaj f message mideh m period of time mesel f example; ~en for example midûr m director, principal mesele f matter mihî ??? mestir larger, bigger mihrican f celebration, festival mes’ûliyet f responsibility mij m mist meş f walking: meşa xwe domand he mijîn (dial. var.) = mêjîn continued walking; ~andin v.t. to put mijûl bi … ve occupied, involved with; into practice; ~iyan/-în v.i. to walk ~î f occupation, activity

226 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY mikan = mekan moz(e) flying insect mil m neck, shoulder; support, aid; side, mr- → mirin. direction; bi ~ê yekî girtin v.t. to mudet m period come to s.o.’s aid, to lessen s.o.’s bur- mudîr m school principal den; ji ~ê din on the other hand muesese f institution milet m nation; ~perwer nationalistic muhlet f grace period, respite milî national munaqeşe f debate; ~ kirin v.t. to de- min → ez bate mindal m child munasebet f occasion; bi ~a on the oc- minet f obligation; bê ~ generous casion of minnet = minet muxtar m village chief, elder miqam m musical mode muzîk f music miraz ??? wish mû m hair, strand of hair; iota: ne mû- mircan coral, coral bead wek not an iota mirin mir-/mr- (dimire, dimre) v.i. to mûrî f ant die miriyan = mirin na- (negative prefix for present indic- mirî dead ative verbs) not mirîd m devotee nalîn v.i. to wail, cry out mirîşk f chicken name f letter mirov m man; f woman; m/f person; namûs f honor; womenfolk ~atî f humanity, humaneness, chival- nan m bread; ~pêjî f bakery ry nar m pomegranate mirwarîd m/f ??? pearl narîn delicate misilman Moslem nas acquainted, known, familiar; ~ kirin Misir f Egypt; misrî Egyptian v.t. to know, be acquainted with, rec- mişt ji full of, filled to the brim with ognize; ~andin v.t. to introduce, miştin mal- v.t. to sweep make known; dan naskirin v.t. to in- mit man v.i. not to make a sound troduce mit û mat utterly silent nasiyar familiar mixabin unfortunately nasnav m identity mizgîn m good news; ~î f present given nav1 f middle; di ~a … de in the midst to a person bearing good news of; li ~ hev de girtin to surround; ~în mî f sheep middle (adj.), central: Rojhilata Navîn mîh = mî the Middle East mîn- → man nav2 m name; ~ kirin v.t. to name; mîna (prep.) like; ~ ku (conj.) as, while ~andin v.t. to name; ~dar famous, re- mînak equal, similar; m example: weke nowned; ~no notorious; ~notî f noto- mînak for example; ~î f similarity riety mîr m prince; f princess; ~ek princeling navbera prep. between, among mohr f seal, stamp; ~ xistin v.t. to seal, naverok f contents put a stamp on navik f waist mor = mohr navneteweyî international more cracked (as a mud wall) navnîşan f address

227 KURMANJI KURDISH navteng f girth ment naxêr no nerindî evil naxir f herd nerm soft, gentle, fine; ~ahî f softness, naxwe this being so gentleness; ~ik softly, gently naylon f plastic: tûrikên ~ plastic bags nesir f prose naynik = neynik neşên unhappy nazik fine, delicate netewe f nation; ~yên Yekbûyî the ne not; ~ … ~ neither … nor; ~ … lê not United Nations; ~yî national; ~yîtî f … but; ne- (negative prefix for sub- nationalism junctive, imperative, and past-tense nevî m/f grandchild, offspring verbs) not Nevroz f Persian New Year’s day nebeled uninformed, unknowing newal f valley neçar helpless; ~ man to have no alter- nexş miracle; ~în miraculous native; ~î f helplessness; ji ~î with no nexşe f map alternative nexwe otherwise nedarî f poverty nexweş sick, ill; unpleasant; ~î f sick- nedî ve, ji suddenly ness, disease; ~xane f hospital nefel f clover nexuyayî invisible nefes dan v.t. to huff and puff; to be out neyar m enemy, opponent, foe of breath neyînî f destitution nefret f hatred; ~ kirin ji v.t. to hate, neynik f mirror abhor neynok f fingernail, toenail nefs f self; ~a xwe karîn to control one- neynûk = neynok self; ~piçûk humble; ~piçûkî, ~piçû- nezanî f ignorance kahî f humility nêçirvan m hunter neft f oil nêçîr f game, prey; çûn ~ê v.i. to go neh nine after game neheqî f injustice nêçîrvan m hunter nehy prohibition nêrevan m scout nejihevûdurebûyîn f indivisibility and nêrîn v.i. to look; f view, speculation inseparability nêşan f target, mark; ~ kirin v.t. to take nema not…again aim at, to focus on nemaze especially nêv (dial. var.) = nîv nemir undying, immortal: dibe xwediyê nêvî (dial. var.) = nîvî navekî nemir he possesses an immor- nêzîk near; ~ahî f proximity; ~î near to, tal name nearly nemirovane unmanly, cowardly nêzîkatî kirin bi v.t. to approach nenas unacquainted, unfamiliar, un- nifirîn f malediction, curse known; ~ê unacquainted with nifş m generation nepixandin nepixîn- v.t. to blow up, in- nifûs f identity card flate nig m foot; ~ên xwe zêdeyî xwe avêtin nepixîn v.i. to swell to overstep one’s bounds neqandin v.t. to select, choose nigardar beautiful nerazî discontent; ~bûn f discontent- niha now; berî ~ before now, ago

228 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY nihe = niha nizar m mountain side (where the sun nihêran expectant, apprehensive never shines) nihêrîn li v.i. to look at, to notice; to nizim low look upon, regard (wek as) nîjad = nijad nihêrtin (dial. var.) = nihêrîn nîn none, nothing niho (dial. var.) = niha nîsan f April nijad m race; ~perest racist nîşan f sign, mark, military decoration; nijde f brigandage ~ dan v.t. to show; ~ kirin v.t. to indi- nik f side, direction; toward, to; prep. cate next to, with, to, for nîv half; ~ saetê half an hour; ~cî half nikil m beak done; ~ê şevê midnight; ~roj f noon; nikilandin nikilên- v.t. to peck ~sedsal f midpoint of a century nimêj f prayer; ~ kirin v.t. to pray nîvek f half nimûne f example: ji bo nimûne as an nîveruh half-dead example, for example; ~nde f exam- nîvişkestî cracked ple nîvî f middle, midpoint, half niqutandin v.t. to drip nîzing (dial. var.) = nêzîk niqutîn v.i. to drip nod ninety nisbet bi relative to nojdarû f panacea nisxe = nusxe nok f chickpea; ~a tahtê pebble nişan = nîşan nola (prep.) like: nola hev like each nişk: ji ~ê (~a) ve suddenly other niştin nê-/niş- v.i. to sit noqim bûn v.i. ??? nitilandin v.t. to draw, to mark not = nod nivistin -niv- v.i. to sleep nozdeh nineteen niviz ??? nu new; ji ~ ve all over again nivîn1 m (usually pl) bed; ~ê nexweşiyê nuçêbûyî new-born sick bed; destek ~ a set of sheets and nudem modern bedding material nuh = nu nivîn2 -niv- v.i. to lie down, sleep nuha (dial. var.) = niha nivîsandin v.t. to write nuhatî new, newly come about: nivşê nivîsar f writing, text nu the new generation nivîsevan m writer nuhîtî f newness, novelty nivîsîn v.t. to write nujen newly invented, new-fangled, nivîskar m/f writer; ~î kirin to write, modern engage in writing nuka (dial. var.) = nuha nivîskî written nusxe f copy nivş = nifş nuvejîn f renaissance nivz half nuxumandin v.t. to cover, veil niwal f small valley nuxumîn v.i. to be covered, veiled niyet f intention nuyîtî f novelty nixabtin = nuxumandin nuzewicî newly-wed nixamtin = nuxumandin nû = nu nixumandin = nuxumandin nûh = nu

229 KURMANJI KURDISH nûjen = nujen paseport f passport nûner representative paş m the back; li ~ serê prep. behind; NY = Neteweyên Yekbûyî the United ~ê xwe avetin bi v.t. to throw oneself Nations into s.th.; ~eroj f past, the past; ~îngê later; ~verû backward; ~verûtî f oda, ode f (obl odê) room backwardness okyanûs f ocean paşil f bosom ol f religion; ~dar religious; ~î religious; paşî f end; heta paşiyê until the end ~perwer religious patik f back of the head ordî f army: Ordiya Sor the Red Army paye f high rank, place of honor; ~tî f ordu = ordî honor ‘orre ‘or f roar payîz f autumn orte f middle pejirandin v.t. to accept Osmanî Ottoman pekiyan = pekîn otorîte f authority pekîn pek- v.i. to splash, splatter, rise up suddenly pag stable pekok: stêrka pekok shooting star pak pure, clean; ~hilanîn ji v.t. to get pel m leaf, page rid of pelikan stairs, stairway pakêt package pelk leaf pal1 f mountainside pembo m cotton pal2 dan v.t. to push pena f refuge, asylum; ~ber m/f refugee; palas ??? ~berî f refugee status pale m worker pencere f window pan wide, broad peng ??? panatî f expanse, breadth pengizandin pengizîn- v.t. to make pansiman kirin v.t. to bandage jump, spurt papor f stove pengizîn v.i. to spray, spurt paqij pure, clean; ~ kirin v.t. to clean; penîr m (obl. penêr) cheese ~î f cleanliness per1 m side paqiş (dial. var.) = paqij per2 m feather par1 f part, share per3 f piece par2 last year peran heavy: cezayê peran heavy penal- par3 f back; ji ~ re from behind ty parçe, perçe m piece: du sê perçên perçe = parçe kaxizên two or three pieces of paper; perçîn rivet; bi hev ~ kirin to rivet ~ bûn v.i. to be fragmented; ~ kirin together, to patch together v.t. to fragment perde f (const. perda) curtain parastin parêz- v.t. to protect, guard perdî f ceiling beam Parîs f Paris pere m money parsî Persian language pergal m compass; bi ~ derketin to be partî f political party: partiyên kurd yên encompassed siyasî Kurdish political parties pergî (+ construct) hatin v.i. to come parve kirin v.t. to distribute across, find; çûn ~ to go to find

230 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY perpitîn v.i. to flutter: dilê min diperpite collect, arrange; ~-hatin v.i. to come I get sick at my stomach about, come to be; ~-hatin ji v.i. to perwaz f flight consist of perwerdî f education pê-ketin v.i. to catch (fire) pesin m praise; ~andin v.t. to praise, to pêkol kirin v.t. to stick together (snow) approve of; wesf û pesnê … dan to pêkva together praise and extol pê-xistin v.t. to light (fire), to switch on pesnê m trace pêl f wave; ~ bûn v.i. to spread out petrol f petrolium pêlpêlî wavy, undulating pevgirêdan f connection pênc five; ~ih, ~î fifty pexşan f prose; ~nivîskar m prose- pêra along with him (see pê) writer pêrgî → pergî pey: li ~ (prep.) behind, after; di ~ … de pêsîr f collar; windpipe; forefront; area (prep.) after just below the summit of a mountain peya m man pêş forward: mirov ê bi pêş de biçe one peya bûn v.i. to get out, off, down (from will go forward; ~-ketin to advance; vehicle) bi ~ derketin to come out to the fore; peyda bûn v.i. to be found: min zanîbû ~eroj f the future; ~de xistin to pro- wê saetê ava germ peyda nabe I knew mote; ~ketî advanced there was no warm water to be found pêşayîk f forefront at that time; ~ kirin v.t. to find pêşber m guide, leader; ketin ~ê to be peyitandin v.t. to prove faced with; ~î in the lead, leadership, peyivîn v.i. to talk, speak: ez zêde pê re (prep.) in front of; ~î … derketin to nepeyivîm I didn’t speak to him long lead, go out ahead of peyî hev one after the other pêşdexistin f promotion, advancement peyman f pact, agreement; ~ê girêdan pêşeng m leader, vanguard ligel to conclude a pact with pêşepêşa, li prep. out in front of peyv f conversation, talk, words: me pêşeroj f future peyv dagerand ser huner û edebiyatê pêşevan m leader we turned the conversation to art and pêşgotin f foreword literature; ~ik f expression pêşiya prep. before, in front of peywendî f relation: peywendiyên nav- pêşî adj. first: cara pêşî the first time, di neteweyî international relations du-sê salên pêşî de during the first pez f sheep two or three years; f advance: ~ya … pezkîvî (dial. var.) = pezkûvî girtin v.t. to prevent pezkûvî mountain sheep pêşîk avant-garde, forerunner pê1 = bi + wî/wê pêşîn first pê2 m foot pêşkeş f present, gift, tribute; ~ kirin v.t. pêçandin pêçîn- v.t. to wrap, roll to offer (as a gift), to present pêçîn pêç- v.t. to roll, wrap; pêşmerge m guerrilla pêjin f feeling pêşniyaz f proposal, suggestion pêjîn pêj- v.i. to be cooked; v.t. to light pêşveketin f advancement, progress (cigarette) pêt f flame pêk together; ~-anîn v.t. to get together, pêtgiran lazy, indolent

231 KURMANJI KURDISH pêwendî bi f connection to ~gir m supporter; ~girî f support; ~re pêwîst necessary; ~î f necessity, require- then, later, afterward; ~xwar ment hunched-over pêxember m prophet piyale f glass, goblet pê-xistin -xê- v.t. to light, turn on (light) piyes f play pêxwas barefooted pizot m torch: çavên wê wek du pizotên piç small, little; ~ek a little bit, for a êgir bûn his eyes were like two fiery moment; a little thing torches pife pif f huff and puff pîjame m pyjamas pif kirin v.t. to blow, puff pîn f kick; ~-avêtin v.t. to kick pifinî kirin v.t. to hiss pîne ??? pij scattered pîpoq f glass pijandin v.t. to cook pîr old; m/f old man, old woman; ~ik f pijîn v.i. to be cooked grandmother pijiqandin v.t. to make (blood) gush pîratî f old age pijiqîn v.i. to explode, to blow up pîrhepok m monster ??? piling m tiger pîroz sacred, holy; ~ kirin v.t. to cele- pilot m/f spark ??? brate; to congratulate: ew wê roja han pilpilî ??? mîna karnevalekê pîroz dikin they piqpiqok f bubble celebrate that day like a carneval; pir1 very, many, much; ~anî f most, ~bahî f congratulations; ~wer holy majority: piraniya wan most of them; pîs bad, dirty; ~ik nasty, awful; ~itî f pirraniya caran most of the time obscenity pir2 f bridge pîsîr (dial. var.) = pêsîr pirç f body hair pîvan f measurement, criterion; ~din piroze kirin v.t. to tear to shreds pîvên- v.t. to measure pirs f question; ~ek ji… kirin v.t. to ask PKK = Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê a question of s.o.; ~gir skeptic; Kurdish Workers’ Party ~girêk f question: pirsgirêka kurdî plan f plan; ~çêker m planner; ~ çê- the Kurdish question kirin to make a plan pirsan v.t. to ask (a question) pola m steel pirtepirt f sputtering ??? polîtîka f politics; policy pirtik f sheet (glass, paper) ponijîn v.i. to be engrossed in thought pirtûk f paper, sheet of paper por m hair (on the head); ~reş black- pirtve kirin v.t. to tear to pieces haired; ~zer blonde pisîk f cat poşman regretful; ~ bûn li to regret pismam m cousin s.th./doing s.th. pispor, pispûr m expert; ~î f expertise poxsîde sad pişaftin v.t. to assimilate poz m nose, snout pişirîn to ruminate (?) prensîp m principle pişt f back, hill; ~a prep. behind, on the proje f project other side of; ~a xwe dan v.t. to turn protesto kirin v.t. to protest, go on one’s back; ~î prep. after; ~î ku conj. strike, boycott after; ~germ supported, protected; PTT = Post Telefon Telexraf Post, Tel-

232 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY ephone, and Telegraph qeder2 f fate, destiny pûç useless, unuseable qedexe f prohibition; (adj) prohibited; ~ pûk f snowstorm, blizzard kirin to prohibit, to ban pûrt f hair, fur, pelt; ~ û per feathery qedir m worth; qedrê … zanîn to ap- coat preciate; qedrê xwe girtin to esteem pûtperest idolator; ~î f idolatry oneself; ~gir appreciative, estimable PZ = piştî zayînê anno domini (AD) qediyan v.i. to end, be finished qefilandin v.t. to tire qaçaxçî m smuggler qefilîn v.i. to get tired qad f field, place; ~a şer field of battle Qefqasya f the Caucasus qaf f head qefsing f breastbone qahf m cave, cavern qehbik f harlot qail bûn to accept (bi) qehbîtî = qehpetî qal f statement; ~ kirin v.t. to state; ~ û qeherîn (dial. var.) = qehirîn ceng f fight qehir f wrath, rage; qalçikdayî frostbitten ??? qehirîn v.i. to get angry (ji at) qalik m shell, husk qehpe f prostitute; ~tî f prostitution qalind thick, fat qehwe f coffee qam f stature, height; measurement for qelaş split open, wounded the height of the sun in the sky qelaştin -qelêş- v.t. to split, split open; qamçî m whip qelaştina cerahî surgical incision qamiş reed qelaw fat qanser f cancer qelem f pen qanûn f law qelemrew m realm qarîn v.i. to cry bitterly qelew (dial. var.) = qelaw qasid m messenger, envoy qelêş- → qelaştin qasî ku as much as qelişandin qelişîn- v.t. to split, cleave qatil m murderer qelişîn v.i. to be split qayiş, qayîş f strap, thong, belt; rivalry, qelizandin v.t. to make disappear; xwe competition; bi … re ketin ~ê to ~ to slip away compete against: te digot qey ew bi qelîşt f crack min re ketibû qayîşê you’d think he qels weak: kultura devkî ya Kurdî xurt e was in competition with me lê kultura nivîskî qels e Kurdish oral qaymeqam m provincial governor culture is strong, but the written cul- qaz m goose ture is weak; ~î f weakness qazaxî f butane qelş = qelîşt qe no, none, at all: ez qe naxwênim I qelşqelşî cracked don’t read at all qenc good, pretty, nice; ~î beauty, chari- qebûl kirin v.t. to accept; wek … hatin table act, good deed qebûlkirin to be accepted as qerar decision qedandin v.t. to finish, to complete qerax f edge, shore qedeh f cup, goblet qerçimî wrinkled qeder1 m amount; ~ê … for the length qerebalix f crowd, confusion; ~ kirin of … v.t. to act up, to flail around

233 KURMANJI KURDISH qereqol m police station qirçeqirç creak, splintering sound qerisîn v.i. to freeze solid qirdik m clown qermiç f wrinkle; ~î wrinkled qirik1 f crow qerpeçe kirin v.t. to hold tightly in qirik2 f throat; ~talî f bitter aftertaste one’s embrace qirş f stem, branch; ~ik f twig qesir f palace qise f conversation, talk qest f intention, purpose; ~a … kirin qismet m fate v.t. to head toward qiyamet f resurrection; roja ~ê dooms- qeşa f ice day qet (+ neg.) never, not at all qizwan terebinth, a small tree qetan v.i. to be finished; be cut qîjeqîj f loud cry, scream qetandin qetîn- v.t. to finish; break, cut: qîjiyan v.i. to scream kurdên li derveyî welêt ev zincîra qîl m fang, canine tooth; ber ~an dan to kirêt qetandine Kurds outside the sink the fangs into country have broken this shameful qîm f contentment, satisfaction; ~a xwe chain; ji hev ~ to part from one anîn bi to consent to another qîmet f worth, value qeter m scales, balance; ~ kirin v.t. to qîr f cry, shout; ~ kirin v.t. to shout; spy (something in the distance) ~ewîr f cry, shout; ~în v.i. to cry out, qetiyan = qetan screech qewimîn v.i. to happen qîrçîn v.i. to scream, screech qewirandin v.t. to drive away qîz f daughter qewîn strong qoç m horn (of an animal) qewl f promise; ji ~ên xwe vekişiyan to qonax f inn; a one-day’s distance on a reneg on one’s promises, go back on journey one’s word qontrol f check qey hey; why?; te digot qey you’d qufulîn v.i. to feel very cold think, it was as though qul f hole, opening: qula rêviyan fox qeyd f bond, fetter hole; ~ kirin to pierce qeyde f rule qulibîn v.i. to fall down, collapse, qeytankêş kirin v.t. ??? scramble down qeza1 f district quling crane qeza2 f accident; fate; ~ û bela misfor- quloç m league (measure of distance) tune, calamity quloz bûn v.i. to rise up qezenc f profit, earnings, advantage: bi qulqulî full of holes qezenca … to the advantage of …; ~ qulubîn = qulibîn kirin v.t. to earn, gain, win qumandan m commandant qêrîn v.i. to scream qunc f corner; xistine ~ekî asê to corner qijak raven quncik f little bit qijik f crow quntar f foot of a mountain qilêr(în) filthy quran f the Koran qir kirin v.t. to eliminate, exterminate qurane f hinge qiral m king qurban f sacrifice, victim; qurbana qirax (dial. var.) = qerax armanca xwe a martyr to one’s cause

234 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY qurm m tree stump: mîna qurmê dara ra-xistin v.t. to spread mirî like a dead tree stump ray f opinion qut cut, cut off; ~ bûn v.i. to get cut off ra-zan -zê- v.i. to lie down, sleep qutî f box razdar mysterious quwet power; bi ~ powerful razî contented (li with) qûç f cliff, height, summit re postposition forms the second part of qûn f back; ~a çiyê mountain skirt; li a number of circumpositions, general- ser ~ê xistin to topple ly indicating accompaniment; see the qûntar = quntar prepositional element qutîk f small box ref m row; flock (of birds) reh f way, road; artery, vein; root; ~ û ra = re penc roots ra-bûn v.i. to rise, arise, get up; to rehet easy, comfortable, quiet; ~î f abandon, give up (li s.th.) comfort, ease ra-girtin v.t. to pick up; xwe ~ to recov- rehm f mercy; ~ kirin li to have mercy er on; ~etî the late rahetî f ease, comfort rehmet f God’s mercy; çûn ~ê to pass ra-hiştin v.t. to put down away ra-ketin v.i. to sleep reîs m head, chief; ~î cumhûrê presi- ra-kirin v.t. to take away, pick up; to dent of the republic wake up (trs.); to cancel, abolish; ji rencberî f hardship, trouble navê ~ to eliminate reng m color; bi ~ colored, multi- raman f stance colored; bi çi ~î how?; ~e~ of all ra-man -mîn- v.i. to stand, stay, remain colors; ~dêr f description, quality, ad- standing; to be perplexed jective; ~în varied, colorful ra-medandin v.t. to lay down renî f avalanche ra-mûsan -mûs- v.t. to kiss req1 m turtle ran m thigh req2 stiff; ~ û rût stiff as a board ra-pelikîn v.i. to crawl, creep reqem f number ra-pîvan v.t. to pick up; gav ~ to tread reqisîn v.i. to dance rapor f report resim m picture raser superior resmî official rast right, correct; ~ hatin li to come reş black; ~ girêdan v.t. to go into across; ~ kirin v.t. to correct; bi ~î mourning; ~ kirin v.t. to blacken really; ~e prep. straight toward; reş û reşatî f anything black or blackish ~erast really and truly; ~erê correct; in color ~nivîsîn f orthography reşatî f blackness, darkness rav f hunting rev f flight, retreat ra-westan v.i. to stand up, stop, stand revan rev- v.i. to run away still; li ser … ~ to dwell on, stand up revandin v.t. to let escape, to take away against revde m herd, pack; ~ girtin v.t. to form ra-westandin v.t. to make stop a pack ra-westiyan = ra-westan revîn = revan rawir wild animal rewneq brightness, brilliance

235 KURMANJI KURDISH rewrewik f mirage rih f beard rewş f style, manner rihet (dial. var.) = rehet rewşenbîr intellectual rihm (dial. var.) = rehm rex m side, edge, shore; (prep.) next to, rijandin rijîn- v.t. to pour out beside rijiyan v.i. to flow, to spill rexne f criticism; ~ girtin li v.t. to criti- rijî f scorched part at the bottom of a pot cise; ~gir m critic rik stubbornness, relentlessness, ner- rext m cartridge belt vousness reyan v.i. to bark rikrikîn v.i. to chatter (of the teeth) rez m vineyard, orchard rind good, beautiful; well: ew bi zimanê rê f (const. riya) road, way: bi wê riyê îngilîzî rind dizanibû he knew Eng- in that way; bi riya via; ~ girtin v.t. lish well to block the road, stop, prevent: kê rê risk = rizq li ber wan girtiye? who’s stopped rivî (dial. var.) = rêvî them?; (bi) ~ ketin to set off, start rivîn f flame out; ~ kirin to dispatch, send; bi ~ riyê → rû kirin to see off rizan v.i. to rot rêbendan f February rizandin v.t. to let rot rêber m leader; ~î f leadership; ~î kirin rizgar saved, rescued; ~ bûn v.i. to to lead escape, be rescued; ~ kirin v.t. to rêbwar m wayfarer save, rescue; ~kirî saved, liberated rêçe f trace, track; ~ hildan v.t. to pick rizî rotten up a trail rizîn di … de v.t. to be thrown into rêj kirin v.t. to wash rizq m sustenance rêk-xistin v.t. to arrange, put in order rîş f beard rêkxistin f coalition rîtm m rhythm rêl f forest, wood ro f sun: di bin ro(ye)ka havînê de under rêncberî kirin v.t. to struggle, suffer a hot summer sun hardship roava m west, dusk; ~yî western rêveçûn f gait, walk rohilat m dawn, east rêvebir = birêvebir rohnî bright rêvî m fox roj f day; ew ~ ev ~ e from that day to rêvîng m traveler this: ew roj ev roj e malbata min li vî rêwitî f journey bajarî rûdinê my family has lived in rêwî m/f traveler; ~tî f journey, trip this city from that day to this; ~ane rêz f line; ~ bûn v.i. to line up; ~kirin daily; ~ava west; ~hilat f east: Roj- v.t. to line up, arrange hilata Navîn the Middle East; ~name rêz-girtin ji v.t. to respect, have respect f newspaper; ~namegerî f journalism for rokrol f role rêzik f law, rule rom m the Ottoman Empire; Ottoman, rêziman f system, arrangement, gram- Turk mar roman f novel; ~nivîs novelist ricaf f shaking, trembling ronahî f light, brightness; bi ~yê der- ricifîn v.i. to tremble ketin to come to light

236 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY ronakbîr intellectual sayî bûn v.i. to clear up (weather) ronayî = ronahî saz kirin v.t. to establish rondik f tear se m (obl. pl san) dog ronesans f renaissance sebeb m reason ruh m spirit, soul; ~iyet f morale, spirit sebir f patience; ~ neman to be impa- ruhnî f brightness; ruhniya çavan light tient: êdî sebra min nemaye now I’ve of the eyes, favorite lost my patience rutbe m rank sed hundred; ~sal f century; ~salî f cen- ruvî (dial. var.) = rêvî tennary; ji ~î per cent; bo ~î per cent rû m (const riyê, rûwê) face seda m/f sound ??? rûbar m river sedem f reason, cause rûhşêrîn convivial, amusing, light- seff f classroom hearted seg m dog rûj (dial. var.) = roj; ~kê = rojekê one seh f intuition, feeling; ~ kirin v.t. to day, some day understand intuitively rûkenî f smile, smiling sehol f ice rûmet f honor, respect Seirt f Siirt; ~î native of Siirt rûn m oil sekinan/-în v.i. to settle down, to be rûniştevan m inhabitant quiet, to dwell; to tarry; to light rû-niştin -nê- v.i. to sit, dwell (the (gaze) (li ser upon): ez dixwazim li present tense is used only for habitual ser pirsekê bisekinim I want to dwell action; the pres. perf. tense rûniştiye on a question means ‘s/he is sitting,’ and the past. selik f basket perf. tense rûniştibû means ‘s/he was semax f endurance; ~ kirin v.t. to bear, sitting’); odeya rûniştinê sitting to endure room Sen m the River Seine rûpel f page, sheet seqem f dry cold rûs Russian; ~î Russian (language) seqer f Saqar, a poison that drips from a rût naked, bare tree in hell rûxan v.i. to collapse ser m head; (prep.) to, toward, on, over; rûxandin v.t. to destroy bi ~ ketin v.i. to get ahead, succeed; çûn ser v.i. to attack; ~ê xwe bi … re sa f (const. siya) shadow; ser siya … êşandin v.t. to trouble oneself with, ketin v.i. to get anywhere near … bother with: serê xwe bi kultura kurdî sa‘et f hour re naêşînin they don’t bother with sal f year; ~mezin aged Kurdish culture; ~ û bin m the “ins salon f reception room and outs,” everything: ser û binê vî san → se gundî ez ê bikanibim ji vî pîremêrî sar cold hîn bibim I could learn all there is to satil f bucket know about this village from this old saw terror, fear man; bê ~ û bin endless sawar f bulghur wheat, cracked wheat seranser: li ~î (prep.) all over: li seran- sax healthy, well, whole serê dinyayê all over the world saxik honest serbajar m capital

237 KURMANJI KURDISH serberdayî stray, wandering serve bûn v.i. to be attached serbest free; ~î f freedom serwer m leader serbilind bi proud of; ~ahî/~î f pride serwext informed, knowledgeable serbixwe free; ~bûn f liberation sewî f level: rojnameyên me yên roja serdar m leader; ~î f leadership, com- îroyîn negihîştine sewiya wan our mand newspapers of today have not reached serdest m overlord; ~î f mastery, rule; ~î their level kirin v.t. to rule: yên ku îro serdestiya sewsen lily kurdan dikin those who rule over the seyda m savant Kurds today seyr f view; adj strange sereke main seyran f outing; ~ çê-kirin v.t. to ar- serencam f end, outcome range an outing; ~geh f park, prome- serêşî f headache nade, place for an outing serfirazî f distinction sê1 three sergerdan perplexed sê2 f (constr. siya) shadow; di bin siya sergevez pride … de under the aegis of sergiran important sêpî f tripod sergîn m dung sêwî m orphan sergovend f dance line; bi serê ~ê gir- sêwlek m sole (of a shoe) tin to lead a dance line sibat f February serhed f frontier, border sibeh f morn, dawn: sibeh heta êvarê serî m head; ear (of grain); ~ birdin to from morning till night; ~ê tomorrow; complete; ~ hil-dan to rebel; ~ xistin vê ~ê this morning li to visit; to apply to; çûn serî to sibetir f the next morning; ~a wê şevê come to fruition the morning after that night serîhildan f uprising sibê = sibeh serjorek û serjêrek ups and downs sih1 angry, irritated; ~itî f irritation serkarî f direction, leadership sih2 = sî2 serketin f success sijî f puss, filth; ~n v.i. to ooze serma f cold, coldness sik û sar very sad (heart) ??? sermawêj Libra silav f greeting sermîyan m capital silawat (pl) benedictions; ~an kêşandin sernivîs f fate v.t. to give benedictions sernuxumandî veiled simbêl m mustache serok m leader; ~atî f leadership; ~cum- simsimîn v.i. to leave tracks, to make a hûrê m president; ~eşîr m chieftain; trail ~wezîr m prime minister sincirî flaming, burning serpêhatî f adventure sindoq f box, trunk serqot bare-headed sing f breast serraf m jeweler sinif f class, grade sersal f new year’s day sipartin sipêr- = spartin serserî careless sipî = spî ser-şuştin v.t. to take a bath sipîndar f poplar sertûj towering sipîta f whiteness

238 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY sir f cold wind; ~ û seqem, ~ û serma f spehî good-looking, pretty, attractive biting cold weather spêda, spêde f dawn sirf only, purely spêr- → sparin sirgûn f exile; ~ bûn to be exiled spî white; ~tî f whiteness siruşt f nature standin (dial. var.) = stendin sisê three stasyon f railway station sist weak; ~ kirin v.t. to weaken, make stelih ordinary, common weak stemkarî f oppression sitar f protection Stenbol f Istanbul sitêrk = stêrk stendin stîn- v.t. to take, get; bi paş de sitirî m thorn ~ to take back sitran = stran steyr = stêr siwarî mounted, on horseback stêr f star; ~k f star; ~nas m astronomer; siya → sa ~nasî f astronomy siyaset f politics; ~van m politician stiran stirê- v.t. to sing siyasî political stîn- → stendin sivik light, not heavy sto = stû sî1 thirty stran f song; ~bêj singer sî2 f shadow; ~ dan to cast a shadow stû m neck; ~xwar obedient, cowed sîleh (pl) arms, armament: sîlehên sivik stûn f column light arms stûr thick, stout sîng f breast sufrik m tablecloth sînor m border, boundary sur f breeze sîstem m system sur‘et f speed sîtil f (dial. var.) = satil surgûn = sirgûn Sîwas f Sivas suwar on horseback; ~ bûn to mount sîwaxnekirî unpenetrated sûç m crime, fault sobe f heating stove; ~ vêxistin to light sûd m profit; ~ wergirtin ji v.t. to profit a stove from sofî Sufi, respectful term of address for sûl m waterfall an old man; ~tî f Sufism, mysticism Sûriya f (obl Sûriyayê, Sûriyê) Syria sohbet f conversation, talk sûxte m theological student sol f shoe; ~çêker m shoemaker Swêd f Sweden sond f oath; ~ xwarin to swear an oath sor red; threshed (wheat); ~ahî f redness şa happy, glad; ~ bûn bi v.i. to be happy sorav red grape; ~î(n) dark red with, rejoice over s.th.; ~ kirin v.t. to sorgul rose gladden: wê pirtûkê dilê min şa kiribû sosin f iris that book had gladdened my heart; sosret unusualness; bi ~ unusual ~hî f gladness, happiness soz dan v.t. to promise şafiî Shafiite (school of Islamic jurispru- sparin spêr- v.t. to entrust dence) spartin = sparin şagirt m pupil, apprentice spas thank you; ~ kirin v.t. to thank; şah m king ~darî f gratitude şahîd m witness

239 KURMANJI KURDISH şahîk shining, brilliant şervan m warrior şaîr m poet şeş six şal m traditional baggy Kurdish trousers şeşt sixty şalûl m magpie şev f night; ~reş f dark night şandin şîn- v.t. to send şewat f fire şanî kirin, ~ dan v.t. to show şewitandin v.t. to burn şano f stage şewitîn v.i. to burn şans m chance şexs person; ~î personal; ~iyet f person- şareza competent; ~yî f competence, ex- ality pertise şewq f light; ~a elektrîkê flashlight şaş wrong; ~ bûn v.i. to be wrong: ez ne şê- → şiyan şaş bim I wouldn’t be wrong; ~ kirin şêlandin şêlîn- v.t. to exploit v.t. to mistake; reya xwe ~ kirin v.t. şêlî turbid, murky to lose one’s way; ~î f mistake, fault şêlû (dial. var.) = şêlî şaşfêhmkirin f misunderstanding şênî m inhabitant, (pl) people şaşik f turban; ~ spî white-turbaned şêrîn sweet şax m branch şêx m sheikh şe = şeh şidet violence, strength şeh m comb; ~ kirin v.t. to comb şifêr m driver şehîd m martyr şiîr f poetry şehsiwar m expert horseman şidandin şidîn- v.t. to strike (a match) şekal f old shoe şik f doubt; bê ~ doubtless(ly) şekir m sugar şikandin şikîn- v.t. to break şemitandin v.t. to make slide şikeft f cave şemitîn v.i. to slip, to slide şikêr m rock, mountain crag şeng tuft of hair şikestin şikê- v.i. to break, be defeated şep f blow, slap in the face şikir thanks: şikir ji Xweda re thank şepe f snowdrift God şepîn v.i. to sink down (into snow) şikil form, symbol şeqeşeq noisy sound, chatter şil damp, wet; ~ kirin v.t. to wet, damp- şequdeq “hard knocks” en şer m war: şerê cîhanê yê yekemîn şilfûtazî buck naked World War I; ~ kirin, ~ dan (dayîn) şipê on foot v.t. to fight war şiqitîn v.i. to slip şeref f honor şirket f company şerît f the Sharia, Islamic law şirove f interpretation; ~ kirin v.t. to şerm f shame; ~dar modest; ~darî f interpret modesty; ~ kirin ji v.t. to be ashamed şistin şo- v.t. to wash of: min ji xwe şerm kir I was ashamed şivan m (obl. şivên) shepherd of myself şivantî f shepherding; ~ kirin v.t. to şerpeze destitute; ~ bûn v.i. to be desti- shepherd, to be a sheep herder tute; ~ kirin v.t. to put s.o. in a bad şivên → şivan situation, to best şivir m mountain goat şert f condition, qualification şixul m work; ~în v.i. to work, occupy

240 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY oneself ku (conj.) instead of şiyan şê- v.i. to be able şûş quick, nimble, sleek; mirina ~ sud- şiyar awake; ~ bûn v.i. to wake up; ~ den death kirin v.t. to wake s.o. up şûşaşûş pieces of glass şîn1 blue, green şûşe f glass şîn2 = şwîn şûştin (dial. var.) = şistin şîn- → şandin şwîn f mourning; ~dar in mourning şîndar = şwîndar şîr m milk ta1 prep. & conj. until: ta niha up till şîret f advice; ~ kirin li v.t. to advise now şîrîn sweet, pretty, nice ta2 m fever şît aware, sober tab m illumination; ~ anîn v.t. to illumi- şîv f sunset; ~a êvarê nightfall nate şkandin şkîn- = şikandin tabî‘et f nature şkev f cupboard tacir m merchant; ~î f commerce şo- → şistin taht f rock; noka ~ê pebble şop f footprint, trace; ~ê ji ser xwe tal bitter, sharp winda kirin to throw a pursuer off talde f shelter track; ~gerên scout, tracker; ~ hiştin talyanî Italian v.t. to leave a trace tam f taste şor1 salty, brackish (water); ~ayî f salti- tamar = temar ness tanq f tank (mil.) şor2 talk, words; ~ kirin v.t. to talk, chat taqet endurance şorbe f soup ta‘qîb f surveillance: di bin taqîba şoreş f rebellion, uprising; ~ger m rebel, polîsan de under police surveillance; revolutionary: şoreşgerekî bolşevîk a ~ kirin to keep under surveillance Bolshevik revolutionary tar f a path through snow şorezar f desert, wasteland Taran f Tehran şun = şûn tarî dark; ~tî f darkness şuştin (dial. var.) = şistin tarîx f history şuxul m work, occupation; ~ kirin v.t. tas f bowl to work; ~andin v.t. to put to work; taşt m breakfast ~în v.i. to work tat m rise, hill şû spouse tav1 f light, sunlight şûjin û derzî bûn v.i. to stand on end tav2 f rainshower (the hair) tavik f sunlight şûlikîn v.i. to move stealthily tavilê quickly, soon; immediately şûm gloomy, inauspicious taybetî special; bi ~ especially şûn f place; track, wake: divê ew têkeve tayek kişandin ji v.t. to shake şûna bavê xwe he must follow in his ta‘yîn kirin v.t. to determine, assign, father’s footsteps; ~a … girtin v.t. to appoint follow in the wake of, take the place tazî naked; ~ kirin v.t. to strip naked of; ~da after: ji wê salê şûnda after te → tu this year; nuha ~da henceforth; di ~a tebî‘î natural

241 KURMANJI KURDISH Tebrîz f Tabriz straits tecrube f experience tenha alone; bi ~ xwe by him/her/itself, tedrîcen gradually alone tefandin -tefîn- v.t. to put out (light, tenîşta next to candle) teorî f theory tefeş f face, countenance tep f tap tefîn v.i. to go out (light, candle) tepan mallet tefsîr Koranic commentary tepandin v.t. to pat, to tap tehlûke f danger tepe m summit, mountain top tehqîr f deprecation teperep kirin v.t. to rap tehsîldar m tax collector teq f a sharp sound; ~-û-req loud sound teht m mountain range teqandin teqîn- v.t. to burst, explode, to tejî (dial. var.) = tijî fire, shoot (gun) tek single, alone, by oneself; ~ û tenê teqîn v.i. to burst, explode alone, all by oneself ter fresh, verdant; ~î f freshness tekane lone tercîh kirin v.t. to prefer teko alone, singly tercuman m translator telaş commotion teres pimp telefon f telephone terikî chapped teletel on tiptoes te‘rîf kirin v.t. to describe (ji … re for, televizyon f television to) telte f sheet (of ice), crust terîqet m dervish order tem m fog terk f leaving; ~ dan/kirin v.t. to leave, temam perfect, complete abandon: gava terka mala xwe da temar f artery, vein when s/he left home temaşa kirin v.t. to watch, to look at term m corpse temaşe = temaşa terorîzm f terrorism temaşevan spectator, watcher terpilîn v.i. to roll tembel lazy; ~î f laziness terrî f tail temen m life, lifespan, age terş livestock temene respect; bi ~ respectfully tesewif Sufism; ~î Sufistic temirîn v.i. to die ??? te’sîr f influence temiz kirin v.t. to clean teslîm kirin v.t. to turn in, to turn over, temsîlkar m representative to submit tena = tenha teşkîl f organization, formation tendûr f oven, pit; ~a zik the pit of the teşt f trough belly teşwîq encouragement; ~ kirin v.t. to tenê alone, only, except for; bi ~ only: encourage em ferz bikin ku tu bi tenê bikaribî teşxele f trouble, turmoil Kurdistanekê çêbikî let’s assume that tetik, tetîk f trigger you could only create one Kurdistan; tev all, entire, altogether; together with; ne bi ~ … lê jî not only… but also; ~a all, entirely, totally; ~ahî/~ayî f ~tî f misery, loneliness entirety: di tevayiya Ewrûpa all over teng narrow, tight; ~asî f difficulty, Europe; ~da, ~ de altogether, entire-

242 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY ly; bi ~ayî entirely, in toto; xwe têkoşîn dan v.t. to strive, make an effort ~girê-dan v.t. to get oneself together têkûz (dial. var.) = tekûz tevdîr f plan têr1 full, satisfied; ~ bûn v.i. to be sat- tevger f industry, activity, movement: isfied (hunger), to be slaked (thirst); ~ Tevgera Rizgariya Kurdistanê Kurd- kirin v.t. to satisfy, make full, to be ish Liberation Movement sufficient: emrê wî têr nekir he didn’t tevizî numb live long enough tevizîn f numbness; ~ok f numb feeling têr2 = teyr tevî (prep.) along with; ~hev altogether; têvel various, different ~ ku (conj.) although tê-xistin v.t. to include; xwe ~ to put tevlihev confused, mixed up; ~î f confu- oneself sion tif f spit tevlî f awareness tifik f bellows, hearth tewqif kirin v.t. to arrest tifing f rifle texçik f shelf tije brimful texlît sort, kind: her du texlît nivîsar tijî full; ~ kirin v.t. to fill both sorts of writers tilî f finger texmîn f guess, thought; ~ kirin v.t. to tilik, tilîk = tilî guess, estimate tim1 always; her~ always text m throne tim2 f desire texte m board timobîl f automobile teyan a large basin used in bathhouses tinê (dial. var.) = tenê teyr, têr m bird; ~ û tûy birds and fowl tiral lazy teze new(ly), fresh(ly); ~ kirin to re- tirb f grave, tomb fresh tirên f train; ~a di binê erdê de sub- tê1 = di + wî/wê way; ji ~ê by train tê2 = tu + ê tirimpêl f automobile tê3 coming, next: meha ~ the coming tirk Turk; ~î Turkish (language); ~nijad month racially Turkish tê-gihîştin v.i. to understand, realize Tirkiye f (obl Tirkiyeyê, Tirkiyê) Tur- têk çûn v.i. to break up, split apart key têkelî prep. along with tirs f fear; ~an va out of fear tê-ketin v.i. to go to, wind up (some- tirsandin v.t. to scare; to fear where): ew dixwaze têkeve cepheyan tirsêner frightful, frightening he wants to go to the fronts; ~ şûna to tirsiyan/tirsîn ji v.i. to be afraid of, fear take the place of: kengê azadî û tirş bitter; rûyê xwe ~ kirin to scowl serbestî ê têkevin şûna sitemkarî û tişt m thing: tiştekî din something else zordariyê? when will freedom and in- titûn f tobacco dependence take the place of injustice tiving f (dial. var.) = tufing and oppression? tiwê = tu wê têkil connected; ~bûn f connectedness; tixtor m doctor ~î f connection tî thirsty tê-kirin v.t. to put on tîfal ??? têkoşer m activist, combatant tîj (dial. var.) = tûj; ~ û hûr nêrîn li to

243 KURMANJI KURDISH look closely and carefully at, to scrutinize ûzeûz f rumble tîn1 f thirst tîn2 → bêtîn va = ve tîn- → anîn vala empty; ~ kirin v.t. to empty; ~hî f tîp f letter of the alphabet; m type, sort void; vikû~ totally empty tîr thick, dense, dark vazo f vase tîraj f print run; kêm ~ of a small print ve (postposition) forms the second part run, printed in small numbers of a number of circumpositions, gen- tîrêj f sunlight, ray: tîrêjên hêviyê rays erally indicating motion away from; of hope see the prepositional element tîş piece, group ve-bûn v.i. to open tol f revenge; ~ wergirtin v.t. to extract ve-ceniqîn (dial. var.) = ve-ciniqîn revenge ve-ciniqandin v.t. to make tremble with top f cannon, cannonball fear, to make shudder, to startle topik f pile ve-ciniqîn v.i. to be seized by fright, to torbe sack be startled torin m person of name, person of re- ve-dan v.t. to give off; deng ~ to echo nown; descendant, offspring veger f return toz f dust; ~ û telaz dust ve-gerandin -gerîn- v.t. to turn, to turn trimbêl f automobile back tu1 (obl. te) you (sing.) ve-geriyan/gerîn v.i. to return; ~ ser to tu2 no, not any, none, nothing; ~ caran turn to never; ~ kes nobody; ~ tişt nothing ve-gevizîn v.i. to flounder, wallow tucar never ve-hêrandin v.t. to grind up, crunch tuf f spit; ~ kirin v.t. to spit vehûnayî spread out tufing f rifle, gun; ~ ber-dan to fire a ve-jandin -jîn- v.t. to revivify rifle at ve-jenîn v.i. to rustle tukesî (+ neg.) nobody ve-jinîn (dial. var.) = ve-jenîn tûj sharp ve-kirin v.t. to open tûk f hair, fur ve-kişandin ji v.t. to pull out of, pull tûle m pup, cub back from, withdraw from tûlik m cub ve-kişîn v.i. to withdraw tûr m bag; ~ik m sack ve-maltin v.t. to roll up the sleeves tûrt = turt ve-man v.i. to bog down tûtin f tobacco ve-miran (ve-mirîn) v.i. to go out (fire, &c.); ~din v.t. to put out, extinguish, ummet f religious community quell, quench: min lampa xwe ve- ‘umr m life mirand I put out my light unda (dial. var.) = wenda ve-poşandin v.t. to cover unîversîte f university ve-qetandin v.t. to distinguish, separate urisî Russian ve-qetiyan v.i. to get separated: ji ber usa (dial. var.) = wisa perçebûna welêt riyên zaravayên kur- ustu = stû mancî û soranî ji hevûdu vediqetin

244 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY after the division of the country the wekhev alike, equal; ~î f equality: li ser paths of the Kurmanji and Sorani dia- esasên wekhev on a basis of equality lects part from each other; ~ bi to be wekîl advocate, lawyer; ~darî f advo- distinguished by cacy ve-qetîn = ve-qetiyan welat m (obl. welêt) country, homeland; verê-kirin to send off, dispatch ~hez lover of the homeland, patriot; ve-şartin -şêr- v.t. to hide, bury ~parêz defender of the homeland, pa- ve-texirîn v.i. to taper off triot(ic); ~perwer patriot ve-xistin v.t. to throw down wele = welle ve-xwarin v.t. to drink weleh = welê ve-zelan v.i. to lie down and roll welê thus, like that around; xwe ve-zelandin to throw welle by God oneself down and roll around wenda lost; ~ bûn v.i. to be lost; ~ kirin ve-ziliandin = ve-zelandin v.t. to lose vê → ev wer bûn di v.i. to fall into vêca therefore wer- → hatin vêcar then, so werger m translator; ~van m translator vê-geriyan = ve-geriyan wer-gerandin v.t. to transform, translate vêk re together wer-girtin v.t. to take up (see ber wer- vên f wish, desire girtin, sûd wergirtin, tol wergirtin) vê-xistin v.t. to light werimandin v.t. to cause to swell vikûvala → vala. werimîn v.i. to swell vir here wer-kirin li v.t. to wrap around vizîn v.i. to buzz, to hum wesiyetname f will, testament vizvizkî tangled, knotted werîs m rope vî → ev wesf m attribute, quality; ~ dan to de- vîrus f virus scribe vîzevîz f blowing, rustling (of wind) westan west- v.i. to stand, stop; to be exhausted waqewaq squeal of an animal westiyan = westan war1 m = bar westiyayî exhausted war2 m regard, respect; di ~ê … de con- weşandin weşîn- v.t. to publish cerning; di vî ~î de in this regard, in weşanxane f publishing house this respect wext f time: di eynî wextê de at the same war3 m camp, camping ground; ~geh m time; di wexteke kurt de within a camp site short time; ~ê ku (conj.) when warkor çûn to disappear without a trace wezin f poetic meter we → hun wezîfe f duty wefakar faithful wezaret f ministry: Wezareta Ferhengê wefat f death the Ministry of Culture weha thus, such wezîr m minister; ~tî f ministry wek (prep.) like; ~e (prep.) like; ~e ku wê1 → ew (conj.) as: weke ku min got as I said; wê2 future auxiliary + subj. for future ~î din anything else tense

245 KURMANJI KURDISH wêje f speech, literature xazî m ghazi, holy warrior wêne m picture, painting; ~ger m artist, xazîk ??? painter xebat f work, struggle wêran destroyed, ruined; ~ kirin v.t. to xeber f words, speech: xebera wî ye destroy, ruin that’s what he says wêrîn v.i. (+ subj.) to dare xeberdan f talk, speech winda (dial. var.) = wenda xebitan li ser v.i. to work on, strive for wir there xebitîn = xebitan wirîn (dial. var.) = wêrîn xedar pitiless, cruel wisa(n) thus, such, so xefk f trap wî → ew xelas kirin (v.t. to finish wîjdan m conscience xelasî f liberation; şerê xelasiyê war of wucûd f existence; hatin ~ê to come liberation into existence xelat f prize, reward; ~ kirin v.t. to re- wusan (dial. var.) = wisa ward xelk m (construed as sing. for case but x- → xistin pl. by sense) people xak f earth, ground xem f grief, sadness; ~ xwarin ji v.t. to xal f mole sympathize with; ~gîn sorrowful; xalxalî in spots, spotted ~gînî f sorrow: ez bi xemgînî dibêjim xanim f lady, mistress ku… I say with sorrow that… xanî m house xemilandin v.t. to adorn xapandin xapîn- v.t. to deceive, to fool, xencer f dagger to play a trick on: mîna ku hatibe xerab ruined; ~-bûn to be ruined; ~e xapandin as though a trick had been ruined; ~î f harm, ruination played on him xerez f rancor, grudge; ~karî f holding a xapîn v.i. to be deceived, to be fooled grudge xapok deceptive xerîfî senile xapxapok deceitful xerc kirin v.t. to spend xar1 crooked, bent xerîb stranger, foreigner, exiled, away xar2 (dial. var.) = xwar from one’s homeland; ~î f estrange- xarin (dial. var.) = xwarin ment, foreignness, the state of being xastin (dial. var.) = xwestin away from one’s homeland; welatê xasûk cunning, shrewd ~yê foreign country xatir m mind, heart; ~gir considerate, xerîte f map obliging; ~ girtin to be considerate xertel f eagle of, respect: biçûk û mezinan xatirê wî xesandin xesîn- v.t. to twist, wring digirtin young and old were consid- xesar f damage, loss; ~ dîtin v.t. to suf- erate of him; ~xwestin f affection; bi fer loss, be damaged; ~nedîtî undam- xatirê re wî ji min re got he said to aged me with affection; dan ~ê … to be xet f line considerate of … xew m sleep; ketin ~ê to fall asleep; ji ~ xav raw, immature ra-kirin to rouse from sleep xayin traitor xewle lonely, desolate

246 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY xewlî f desolation, isolation xîret f zeal, bravery, courage; ~ kirin xewn f dream; ~ dîtin v.t. to dream, v.t. to try hard have a dream; ~erojik daydream xîze-xîze grating sound xeyal f imagination, fantasy, dream xo f (dial. var.) = xwe; ~a xwe his own xeyidîn ji v.i. to get angry at self xeyn other; ji ~î (prep.) other than, aside xoce m master, teacher from: ji xeynî van tiştan other than xof f fear; ~ û tirs f fear and trembling these things xort young, young man/woman; ~anî f xeyo (Syr. Ar. khayyo, voc. only) fel- youth low, guy, friend xoşdivî beloved xezal gazelle xu (dial. var.) = xwe xezeb f rage, wrath xuda m (obl. xudê) God; ~ hefiz good- xezîne f treasury bye xezûr m father-in-law; f mother-in-law xudan m owner; bê~ godless, God- xêr f goodness; ~xweşî f chitchat; forsaken, poor, pitiable bi~hatinî dan v.t. to welcome: jinekê xuh f sister bixêrhatinî da min a woman wel- xulam m slave; manservant comed me; bi ~a … re thanks to; bi ~ xunav f sprinkle, light rain û bêr very good; ji ~a … re because xur f itch of, on account of; ~hatinê kirin li v.t. xure xur f snoring to welcome; hatin ~ê to be a wel- xurên on an empty stomach come guest xurîn = xurên xêz f line; ~ik ditto xurme f date xidmet f service xurt strong, powerful; ~ û gur strong, xilas kirin to be saved puissant xilmamş = xilmaş xurû natural xilmaş half asleep, sleepy xusûsiyet f characteristic, distinguishing xirab bad, evil feature xisar f loss xuşîn v.i. to rustle, to gurgle xistin x- v.t. to cast, throw, put in, make xuşk f sister fall; ji hev de ~ to break up; ~ li to xuya clear, obvious; ~ bûn v.i. to be ob- beat vious, appear, show up; ~ kirin v.t. to xisûsiyet = xusûsiyet seem, appear: hotel gelekî xweş û luks xişikîn v.i. to drag along, scrape across xuya dikir the hotel looked very nice xişr m/f ornament ??? and deluxe xişxiş f rustling, scratching sound xuyan v.i. to seem, to appear xitab m address; ~ kirin v.t. to address; xuyanî familiar; ~ kirin v.t. to famili- ~ê kesekî kirin to address, speak to arize s.o. xûn f blood; ~a cegerê liver’s blood, xitimandin v.t. to close, seal: rê hatine metaphor for tears of agony and suf- xitimandin the roads have been closed fering xiyal f dream, imagination xûs f snowdrift ??? xizmet f service; ~ kirin v.t. to serve xûyan = xuyan xînji (dial. var.) = xeyn ji xwar down; ser … da ~ bûn to lean

247 KURMANJI KURDISH over s.th.; ~ bûn v.i. to descend; ~ xweyî = xwedî; ~ kirin v.t. to raise kirin v.t. to lower, take down; hatin (animals) ~ to come down xwezî would that, I wish (+ past con- xwarin f food ditional); ~tî f desire, wish xwarin xw- v.t. to eat xwê f salt; sweat xwaroviçko coiled up xwêdan v.t. to sweat xwaz- → xwestin xwişk f sister xwe oneself, -self (refers to the subject xwî m habit, disposition of the clause in which it occurs); ~ xwîn f blood; ~egoşt flesh and blood; girtin li ber to defend oneself ~dar bloody; ~germ fervent; ~germî against; ji ~ in and of itself; bi~ him- f fervor; ~şêrîn likeable self, herself, itself; li ~ kirin to put xwîsgirtî damp on, wear (clothes) xwîzî f spit, saliva xwebiçûkdîtin f inferiority: kompleksa xwûşk (dial. var.) = xwişk xwebiçûkdîtinê inferiority complex xwedan m chief, head, leader ya fem. sing. construct extender; bi ~ te xwedê m God in your opinion xwedî m possessor, owner: xwediyê yadê (voc. only) mother paseporteke Swêdî bûm I possessed a yan or; ~ … ~ either … or Swedish passport ya‘nî that is, i.e. xwehesîn f self-awareness yar m friend xweîfadekirin f self-expression ya rebî O Lord! xwelî f dust, ash; ~ li serê xwe kirin to yek one; ~ bûn v.i. to be united; ~bûyî pour dust on one’s head, to mourn; united; ~dengî f unanimity; ~dest of ~dan f ashtray one piece; ~ejmar singular; ~emîn xwen f dream, vision first; ~îtî f unity; ~îtiya Neteweyan xwenas self-respecting the League of Nations; ~netewetî f xwenav = xunav uninationalism, monoethnicity; ~ser xwendin xwîn-/xwên- v.t. to read, study direct; ~ta peerless, without equal xwende/a learned, literate; ~geh f yekser right away, immediately school, university; ~kar student; yê masc. sing. construct extender ~van m reader, scholar yên pl. construct extender xwerû independent; pure(ly), exclu- YNK = Yekîtîya Nîştîmanperwerên sive(ly): ev kovar ne xwerû bi kurdî Kurdistanê Patriotic Union of Kur- ne these journals are not exclusively distan (PUK) in Kurdish yunan Greek xweser unbridled xwestin xwaz- v.t. to want, to ask for zabit m (obl zêbit) m officer xweş nice, pleasant, good; ~bûn f suc- zaf (dial. var.) = zehf cess; ~hal pleased, happy; ~haliya zalim m tyrant, unjust xwe gotin to express one’s pleasure; zang sheer (cliff) ??? ~ik nice, pretty; ~î f pleasure zanîn v.t. to know (neg. present níza- xwey = xwe nim, past (dí)zanibûm, subj. bízani- xweya = xuya bim); ~ bi to know about: xelk bi

248 KURDISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY siyasetê nizanin the people don’t zêc hide ??? know anything about politics zêde much, a lot; ~ bûn v.i. to increase; zana = zane ~ kirin v.t. to increase zane learned, wise; ~bûn f wisdom; zêr m gold; ~în golden zanyarî f knowledge zêrbenî ??? zar m language; ~ava m dialect; ~şêrîn zêrekî f cleverness, intelligence well-spoken, articulate zihniyet f mentality zaro small, young, m/f youngster; ~k zik m belly; ~ekî têr xwarin v.t. to eat child; ~katî, ~ktî, ~tî f youth, to one’s fill; ~makî native, inborn childhood zilam m man, guy, fellow zarîn v.i. to wail, lament ziliandin → ve-ziliandin zar û zêç (pl) kids zilik straw zava m bridegroom zilim f injustice, tyranny zayin f birth ziman m (obl zimên) language, tongue; zehf many, lots of, very, very much bi ~ anîn v.t. to give voice to, ex- zehmet f trouble; ~ kişandin v.t. to have press; ~van linguist; ~vanî f linguis- difficulty, go to trouble, be bothered; tics ~î f ditto; ~kêş worker, laborer zinar m (obl. zinêr) rock ze‘îf weak, skinny zing ??? zelal clear, limpid; ~ kirin v.t. to make zingar f rust; ~girtî rusty, rusted; ~ gir- clear, clarify tin v.t. to rust, get rusty zelam = zilam zincîr f chain, bond zeliqandin v.t. to stick zindan f prison zeliqîn v.i. to stick zindî alive, energetic, lively zelûl m despondent ziving f cave zeman m time, era zivistan f winter zemzelîlk f icicle ??? zirav slender, slight zend f forearm zivir twisted, knotted zengal m/f legging ??? zivirandin zivirîn- v.t. to turn around, zengil m bell; ~ê telefonê telephone turn back; çavên xwe ~ ji … de to call; li ~ê dêrî xistin to ring the door- turn one’s eyes away from …, avert bell one’s gaze from … zengîn rich; ~î f wealth zivirîn zivir- v.i. to turn, go/come back, zer yellow; ~atî f yellowness; ~bûyî turn around, wander yellowed; ~ û zinar “nooks and cran- ziwa dry nies” zixim (dial. var.) = zexim zerar f detriment, loss zîn zê- v.i. to live, come to life Zerdeşt Zoroaster zîre cumin zevî f land, field zîrek clever zewac f marriage zîtbûyî ??? zewicîn bi … re v.i. to get married to zîv m silver zewq m delight zîvalzîvalî ??? zexim strong, sound; zexmî f strength zîving = ziving zêbit → zabit zîvironekî sandy, dusty

249 KURMANJI KURDISH zman = ziman zû quick, fast, soon, early; ~ an dereng zolilk blossom, bloom sooner or later; ~ be ~ very quickly; ~ zor f force; ~ dan v.t. to force, compel; de (+ pres. perf.) for a long time: zû ~ kirin v.t. to use force; bi (destê) ~ê de ye me hev û du neditiye we haven’t by force; ~betî f oppressiveness; ~dar seen each other for a long time; forceful, oppressive; ~darî f oppres- ~bîrbirî f quick thinking; ~ka, ~~ka sion; ~destî f force, pressure; ~kirin f hurriedly, hastily, quickly; ~kanî f violence haste: zûkaniya te çi ye? what’s your zozan m summer pasture, meadow hurry?; ~ ve for a long time, since zuha (dial. var.) = ziwa long; ji ~ de from early on zuk f prominent, obvious zûrezûr f howling zulf m/f tress, lock (of hair) ??? zûrîn v.i. to howl zulum = zilim zûr man v.i. to be lost zurne f clarion; ~van m clarion player

250