ingilizikurdi

M.L.Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin STANDARD KURDISH ORTHOGRAPHY TABLE h 1990 Michael L. Chyet, updated 1998, 1999 Roman (Hawar) A a B b C c Ç ç Ç’ ç’ D d [²] [±] E e ‘E ‘e (E') (e') Ê ê F f G g H h H h (H’) (h’) I i Î î J j K k K’ k’ L l — – M m N n O o P p P’ p’ Q q R r R rr S s Ş ş [Ş/S] [ş/s] T t T’ t’ [®/T] [/t] U u Û û V v Cyrillic А a Á Щ щ × ÷ ×’ ч’ Д д  ’  ’ E    ’ e   h h’    K K’     O  ’ Q  ’      k k’     o  ’ q  ’    ’  ’     Arabic á   • 1 • M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin W X Ù Y Z ‘ w x x y z W X ’   ‘ w x ’   • 2 • M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Pronunciation Guide Vowels a as in father Dara ga kiras mal nav Zana e as a in cat, but shorter ders dest ez Ferhad Leyla ser xwendekar ê as ay in day erê kitêb nêr wê Xecê i as first i in divine, but shorter kiras kitêb mezin î as i in machineBengîn jî enî kî min pêçî Şîrîn tilî wî o pronunciation varies from region to region: may be /o/ o in bone; /û/ oo in boot Cano mamosta Memo Zeyno u wi as in twig, but shorter guh gund tu tune û pronunciation varies from region to region: may be /û/ oo in boot; /î/ i in machine; /y/ ~ /ü/ German ü in kühl hûn namûs piçûk pirtûk Consonants c as j in jack Cano Xecê ç as ch in chat birçî çav ‘e as Arabic h as Arabic H [’ayn] + e `[hÐ’] j as s in measurejî q as Arabic ¶ [qÐf] çi Miço pêçî piçûk ‘enî [variant of enî] ‘Eyşan ‘eşîret hişk Mihê dirêj deqe qedandin qelew r trilled as in Spanish birçî ders kiras ser rr, rr double trill as in Spanish perro • 3 • qîçik quloz xwendekar rreş terr ‘erebe k’ [aspirated].M. yielding: ç [non-aspirated] . All other consonants as in Engliş • 4 • . and t occur both aspirated and non-aspirated.ç’ [aspirated]. by adding an apostrophe after the aspirated variant of each pair. k. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin s always unvoiced. oy): Zeyno ç. p [non-aspirated] . only Kurdish materials from the former Soviet Armenia maintain this distinction. In written Kurdish. k [non-aspirated] .p’ [aspirated]. ey. This distinction will be indicated in the vocabularies only. p.L. as s in soon sivik ders ş as ş in show Şîrîn hişk şil x as German ch in machen ğ(x) as Arabic ®[ghayn] pisîk Xecê xwendekar ağa Meğrebzemîn y only used as a consonant: tilîya-enîya-or as the second part of a diphthong (ay. t [non-aspirated] .t’ [aspirated]. Zeyno: Lezgîn: Z: L: Z: L: Z: L: Z: L: Z: L: Z: L: Z: II. ew tilîya te ye --. Dersdarê te kî ye? Dersdara a min Leyla ye.3} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan [proverb]: Navê gund namûsa gund e. Ew kî ye? Ew hevala min e.L.mamostayê min e.ez mamostaya wî me. 2. 2. Navê wê ‘Eyşan e. Ev çi ye? Ev destê te ye! Lê ev çi ye? Ev jî tilîya destê te ye. Ez dersdara Bengîn im -. Navê wê Dîlan e. Bengîn kî ye? Bengîn hevalê min e. Ev çi ye? Ev kitêba min e. Tu jî xwendekar î? Nexêr. ez dersdar im. Navê wî Zana ye. ez xwendekar im.1. Kirasê te ye? Erê. Ew çi ye? Ew kitêba hevalê min e. Lê ev çi ye? Ew? Ew gayê wî ye! Ev çi ye? Ev kiras e. ‘Eyşan kî ye? ‘Eyşan mamostaya min e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Pêşîn [1] {Pikkert 1. Ev kî ye? Ev hevala wî ye. Tu xwendekar î? Erê. Ev enîya min e? Nexêr.2. Tu dersdara min î? Nexêr. Dara: Şîrîn: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: Tu kî yî? Ez Lezgîn im. 2.M. kirasê min e. Navê wî Bengîn e. Tu kî yî? Ez Zeyno me. DIALOGUE: I. Ez mamosta me.12.Ev enîya te ye! • 5 • . Ew kî ye? Navê wî çi ye? Ew -. &f. Who is Bengîn? L: Bengîn is my friend.&f.M. What L: This is my book. His name is Zana. f. is this? What is this? This is your hand! But what is this? This is the finger of (on) your hand. II.).L. that is your finger --. I am an instructor. Z: Who is your teacher? L: My teacher (f. f.This is your forehead! what lesson teacher hand is forehead k’î? who mal. it is my şirt. I am a student. Z: Are you a student? L: Yes.I am his instructor. Dara: Şîrîn: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: D: Ş: VOCABULARY: çi? ders. house mamosta. I am Bengîn's teacher -. Her name is Dîlan. I am a teacher. Is it your şirt? Yes.) is Leyla. of me mê feminine • 6 • . Her name is Eyşan. Are you my teacher? Z: No. teacher me [I] am min my. Who are you? Z: I am Zeyno. e enî. dersdar. Zeyno: Who are you? Lezgîn: I am Lezgîn. His name is Bengîn. f. m. Who is şe? Şe is my friend. Is this my forehead? No. But what is this? That? That is his ox! What is this? This is a şirt. m. What is that? That is the book of my friend. dest. L: Who is he? What is his name? Z: He is my teacher. m. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin DIALOGUE (translation): I. Who is Eyşan? Eyşan is my teacher. L: Who is this? Z: This is his friend (f. Are you a student too? Z: No. finger tu you (sing. of her wî his. me Ez kî me? me I am Simko. şe. I am Eyşan.&f. im Ez ‘Eyşan im. It is Şirin) 1Note that the k.) wê her. [also: bêçî] finger ser. If the name ends in a vowel.in kiras in non-aspirated. gund. me I am Zana. Ez Dîlan im. me Who am I? [literally: I who am?] I am Khej. f. honor nav. bull proverb village friend you (pl. k’itêb . f. m. It is Ferhad) Ew Şîrîn e = SHE is Şirin (or. f. instead of im we say me: Ez Simko me.L. Ez Leyla me. he. im Ez Bengîn im. me Ez Zana me.M. name nexêr no nêr masculine pêçî. heval. 1 yes this that. Ez Xecê me. f. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin erê ev ew ez ga. Ez Simko me b.) [I] am [they] are [you] are also. m.]) are … Tu Bengîn î? Are you Bengîn? Tu Dîlan î? Are you Dîlan? If the name ends in a vowel. it I ox. of you t’ilî. Ew … e = He/Şe/It is … Tu Xecê yî? yî Are you Khej? Ew Ferhad e = HE is Ferhad (or. student ye is yî [you] are GRAMMAR: a. I am Leyla. Remember: Ez Lezgîn im . head te your.&f. I am Bengîn. instead of î we say yî: Tu kî yî? yî = Who are you? Tu Simko yî? Are you Simko? yî c. while the k. hûn im in î jî kiras. m. too şirt book namûs. m. im I am Dîlan. f. m. Tu … î = You (singular [sing. of him xwendek’ar. Ez … im = I am … Ez Lezgîn im. m. m. • 7 • . im I am Lezgîn.in k’itêb and in k’î is aspirated. gotina pêşîyan. ]) mala a min [my house] kitêba a te [your book] tilîya ya wî/pêçîya ya wî [his finger] enîya ya wê [her forehead] g. If the friend is a man or boy (Memo. Navê te Memo ye. Bengîn). Tu kî yî? Navê te çi ye? Ez : Min Tu : Te •My Navê min Dara ye. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin If the name ends in a vowel. Kurmanji nouns have gender.) dersdar [teacher/instructor] • 8 • . Your name is Memo. A noun is either masculine or feminine. heval = friend. ew = he/şe/it and that e.) xwendekara a te your student (f. heval will be masculine. Her name is Zîn.]) Navê wê Zîn e. wê. •Your Navê te çi ye? What is your name? Navê te Bengîn e. Wê •Her Navê wê çi ye? What is her name? (feminine [f. Ew : Wî •His Navê wî çi ye? What is his name? (masculine [m. [m. His name is Memo.L.M. Ev çi ye? What is this? Ew çi ye? What is that? Remember: ev = this . f.) xwendekar [student] xwendekarê ê te your student (m. Some nouns can be of either gender. depending on the sex of the person. heval will be feminine. One way of telling a noun's gender is the ending it takes before pronouns like min. Your name is Bengîn. My name is Dara.) hevala a min my friend (f. heval [friend] hevalê ê min my friend (m. wî. Zeyno). For example. If the friend is a woman or girl (Xecê. te. This ending is called ezafe: -[y]ê (nêr = masc.]) navê ê min [my name] destê ê te [your hand] kirasê ê wî [his şirt] gayê yê wê [her ox] -[y]a (mê = fem. [f. instead of e we say ye: Ew kî ye? Who is he/she/it? ye Ew Cano ye He/it is Jano Ew Zeyno ye Şe/it is Zeyno d.]) Navê wî Memo ye. ]). 9) Ez Zeyno ____.M. Ez dersdarê ê te me = Ez mamostayê yê te me I am your teacher (m. 10) Ew Memo ____. 7) Cano hevalê mamostayê te ____? 8) Ez Şîrîn ____. 6) What is the name of your [sing. e/ye> 1) Ez hevalê te ____.). is my. etc.) Ez kî me? Who am I? Ez dersdar im = Ez mamosta me I am a teacher. you are my student (f.L. Translate:1) What is this? It is my book. 14) Ez Xecê ____.).) dersdara a min my instructor (f. For example: What is this? This is …. 3) Navê gundê min Gozelderê ____. etc. What is my/your/his/her name? My. KURDIŞ PERSONAL NAMES • 9 • . Navê hevala min Xecê ____. Navê min Xecê ____. 6) Tu dersdarê wê ____.).])? Hûn … in You [pl. Fill in the blanks with the correct forms: <im/me . Navê min Xec ____. 9) What is the honor of the village? The name [=reputation] of the village is the honor of the village. 10) What is that? That is your şirt. Who is he/şe? He. What is that? That is…. Ew kitêba te ____. Ew ‘Eyşan ____. Tu kî yî? Who are you? Xwendekar Memo. you are my student (m. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin mamosta [teacher/instructor] dersdarê ê min my instructor (m.] village? The name of my village is Axirmat. Zeyno. 15) Ew çi ____? Ew gayê min ____. name is…. Zeyno.]. 2) What is that? It is her head (ser [m. 2) Navê wê Zeyno ____. II.] are … Hûn xwendekarên ên min in You [pl. 8) What is her name? Her name is Leyla. 7) What is that? It is the ox of my teacher [m. … III. î/yî . 5) Who are you? I am your friend [f. Hûn kî ne? Who are you (plural [pl. tu xwendekara a min î. Make up ten sentences using the vocabulary and structures from this lesson. 4) Navê gundê wî Soybilax ____.] are my students. Navê min Bengîn ____. Ez Dîlan ____.) mamostaya ya te your teacher (f. Memo. His name is Dara. Şe is my friend. EXERCISES: I. 4) Who is that? Şe is my student. Her name is Zeyno. 11) Ev kitêba min ____.]. 5) Leyla kî ____? Ew hevala min ____.) mamostayê yê te your teacher (m. etc. 3) Who is this? He is my friend. 12) Tu Zîn ____? Tu Memo ____? 13) Ez Bengîn ____. tu xwendekarê ê min î. L.M. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Male: Bengîn Cano Dara Ferhad Lezgîn Memo Zana Female: Dîlan ‘Eyşan Leyla Şîrîn Xecê Zeyno Zîn • 10 • . [dûstan] DIALOGUE: I. Zîn xwendekar e. Ez mamosta me. û birayên min Rêdûr û Bûrhan jî xwendekar in. Ev çi ye? [pembû] Sê bira ne: hersê bira jî zikrreş in. Leyla: Ferhad. Ev jî hevalê min Rêbaz e.4} FOLKLORE: Mamik. Herdu xûşkên te jî xwendekar in? Nexêr. Xecê xwendekar nîne?! Nexêr. Ev du keç kî ne? Ew -. Dilxwaz û Dilvîn. Şîrîn. Ez mamostayê we me. Tu çawan î? Ez jî baş im.M. Tu kî yî? Navê min Miho ye. Em çar kurr in û çar keç in: Em çar bira ne û çar xûşk in. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Didua [2] {Pikkert 1.L.3. Navên wan Zîn û Xecê ne. L: Çend xûşkên te hene? F: Çar xûşkên min hene. Dara: Miho: D: M: D: M: D: M: D: M: D: M: D: M: D: Çawan î ? Baş î? Ez baş im. çend birayên te hene? Ferhad: Sê birayên min hene. Lê Bêkes hêj piçûk e! L: Hemî xûşkên te mezin in? F: Nexêr. [riddle]: Qîz pîr e. Ez Dara me. lê Dilxwaz û Dilvîn 2Çawa 3or: yî? is also possible. • 11 • . Em xwendekarên te ne. çend xwendekarên te hene? Gelek xwendekarên min hene! Gelek hevalên me jî hene! 2 3 Northern version: II. lê Xecê ne xwendekar e. 2. ew hêj piçûk e! Mamosta. L: Navên wan çi ne? F: Navên wan jî ev in: ‘Eyşan. L: Navên wan çi ne? F: Navên wan Bêkes.xûşkên min in. lê Xecê xwendekar nîne . L: Xûşk û birayên te hemî xwendekar in? F: Hemî xûşkên min xwendekar in. ‘Eyşan û Şîrîn mezin in. f. Hûn kî ne? Em xwendekar in. Rêdûr û Bûrhan in. dê cahil e. Herdu destên dîya min piçûk in. Southern version: II. L: Navêt wan çi ne? F: Navêt wan Bêkes. Şîrîn.kitêbên birayê min in. Rêdûr û Bûrhan in. Bes Bêkes hêj piçûk e! L: Hemî xûşkêt te mezin in? F: Nexêr. Herdu pîyên bavê min mezin in. û du jî piçûk in! F: Erê! Du birayêt min jî mezin in.L. Çend çavên te hene? Du çavên min hene. û didu jî piçûk in! III. Leyla: Ferhad. A: Ew çi ne? 4In southern dialects. Dilxwaz û Dilvîn. Çend kitêbên wî hene? Pênc kitêbên wî hene -. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin piçûk in. L: Navêt wan çi ne? F: Navêt wan jî eve ne: ‘Eyşan. L: Te çend xûşk hene? F: Min çar xûşk hene. and ev…-e with a noun: Eve çi ye? = What is this.kitêba min e. Ew çi ne? Ew -.kitêba min e. ‘Eyşan û Şîrîn mezin in. Ev kitêbe e kitêba min e = This book is my book. eve is used as a pronoun (without a noun). Çend guhên bavê te hene? Du guhên wî hene. Em çar kurr în û çar kiç în: Em çar bira yne û çar xûşk în. Abûzer: Eve çi ye? Meryem: Eve -. Abûzer: Meryem: A: M: A: M: A: M: A: M: A: M: A: Ev çi ye? Ev -. û birayêt min Rêdûr û Bûrhan jî xwendekar in. û du jî piçûk in! 4 III. L: Xûşk û birayêt te hemî xwendekar in? F: Hemî xûşkêt min xwendekar in. te çend bira hene? Ferhad: Min sê bira hene. L: Du xûşkêt te mezin in.û hemî piçûk in.M. L: Du xûşkên te mezin in. û didu jî piçûk in! F: Erê! Du birayên min jî mezin in. • 12 • . Tilîyên destê min çend in? Tilîyên destê te pênc in. bes Dilxwaz û Dilvîn piçûk in. m. (dîya-) [also: dayk]mother mezin big. ne [1] (we.] gelek guh. daughter bira. m. m. [S: kiç] girl. Wî çend kitêb hene? Wî pênc kitêb hene -. f. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin M: A: M: A: M: A: M: A: Ew -.kitêbêt birayê min in. eye lê but çawa[n]? how? ling. daughter both wan their all three we [also: hewe. xayîng. (p’îyê-) foot ear piçûk [also: biçûk] little. riddle dest. M: A:  Please note that dialogues II and III are provided in separate Northern and Southern dialect versions. very p’ê. boy. son ç’av. large dûstan. m. Herdu destêt dayka min piçûk in. f. m. VOCABULARY: [*Southern dialect forms will be designated as S: ] baş good in (we. leg çend? how many? mamik. f. f. • 13 • . cotton much. son cahil [also: cihêl] young. brother kurr. f. m. ignorant law. Tilîyêt destê min çend in? Tilîyêt destê te pênc in. xuh.] ew [pl. you. Te çend çav hene? Min du çav hene. they) are bav. hand me our dê. m. Herdu pîyêt babê min mezin in. sister still. hemî hene herdu hersê heye hêj [also: hê] 5Colloquially. xweyîng.M. they) are these ne [2] not they.] there is xûşk . Babê te çend guh hene? Wî du guh hene. girl. those pembû. m. tripod (one of three stones on which a pot is placed over the fire). f.L. [S: bab] father în (we) are bes [S] but keç’.û hemî piçûk in. xang may also be encountered. you. m. m. hingo] your [pl. yet -yne (we) are 5 such forms as xweh. small all pîr old (of people) there are qîz. em we ev [pl. We recommend that all students familiarize themselves with both varieties. and for the purposes of actively speaking Kurdiş choose the one that is best suited to their needs. boy. many. g. instead of in we say ne: Hûn kî ne? ne = Who are you? 6Hûn has a variant hon.: Em xwendekar în .: Sê k’itêb = three books. Em bira yne. Em mamosta ne  In southern dialects (Behdinan in Iraqi Kurdistan. and Hekkari across the border in Turkey). but when counting. e. 2 three.M. 4 five. jealous four.sê you [pl. Em dersdar in. E. ne Em bira ne. 1 two. Em … in = We are … Em xwendekar in.g. du (2) and sê (3) are used throughout. Em dersdar în and Em … yne before a vowel. If the name ends in a vowel. didu and sisê are used. e. du (2) and sê (3) are used before a noun. Em heval in.g. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin hûn [also: hûng] NUMBERS: yek [S: êk] didu . In Behdinan. ne Em kî ne? ne = Who are we? [literally: We who are?] Remember: Em dersdar in . GRAMMAR: a. or without a noun. 3 çar pênc black-bellied. Em heval în . yne Em kî yne? yne Remember: Southern dialects: Em dersdar în .L.]) are … Hûn xwendekar in? Hûn heval in? 6 If the name ends in a vowel.: Em mamosta yne . Em mamosta yne b. Hûn … in = You (plural [pl. hostile. • 14 • . In northern dialects. 5 In southern dialects.] zikrreş one. but Çend k’itêb? Sisê = How many books? Three. there is a special form for the first person plural (=WE form) of the verb: Em … în before a consonant. one often encounters the form hûng.du sisê . instead of in we say ne: Em mamosta ne. ] g. [S: Hûn xwendekarêt êt min in. -a is feminine).Ev destên ên min in [S: Eve destêt êt min in. you.Ev lingên ên me ne [S: Eve lingêt êt me ne. However. Ew … in = They/Those are … Ew dest in = They/Those are hands Ew çav in = They/Those are eyes Ew xwendekar in = They/Those are students If the name ends in a vowel.Ev çavên ên te ne [S: Eve çavêt êt te ne. some southern dialects.. instead of in we say ne: Ew kî ne? ne = Who are they/those? Ew bira ne Ew mamosta ne d. The plural ezafeh is -ên in all northern dialects and in Hekkari. there is no such distinction in the plural.L.g.] Ev guh in -.M. e.] Ev pê ne -. the first person plural (=WE) has a special form: în after a consonant. the form is hewe. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Hûn mamosta ne? ne Hûn bira ne? ne c.] Ev çi ne? Ev dest in -. plural verbs have the same ending in all three persons (we. the gender of a noun can be told by the ezafeh ending (ê is masculine. [=Our father is Dara] Mamostayê we kî ye?[=Who is your teacher?] Xûşka wan kî ye? [=Who is their sister?] f. To sum up: in northern dialects. they are) negative: either the negative particle ne is placed before the predicate. they): in after a consonant.] Ew çi ne? Ew xwendekar in. e) is 7This distinction is standard in Sorani (Central) Kurdish dialects. Negatives: There are two ways to make the verb to be (he is. and ne after a vowel.] 8 Ew : Wan •Their Bavê me Dara ye.] Ev çav in -. 7 Em kî ne? Em heval in. the corresponding oblique form is hingo: Mamostayê hewe/hingo kî ye? Remember: Southern dialects: hûn : [he]we & hûng : hingo 8In • 15 • . and yne after a vowel. in southern dialects.Ev pêyên ên (pîyên ên) wê ne [S: Eve pîyêt êt wê ne.] Ev ling in -. and -êt (or -êd) in Behdinan: Hûn kî ne? Hûn xwendekarên ên min in. Plural ezafeh: Whereas in the singular. Plural possessives: Em : Me •Our Hûn : We •Your [pl.Ev guhên ên wî ne [S: Eve guhêt êt wî ne. in Behdinani dialects which have hûng instead of hûn. [Southern: Em kî yne? Em heval în. or the verb form (e. There is no separate verb to have in Kurdish. Ew ne hevalên me ne = Ew hevalên me nînin = They are not our friends.g. çi tune? [=What's new. ev guhê te ye! Ne. prefer to put a space between nîn and the verb to be: nîn e and nîn in. e. ev ne destê te ye. E.g.: 10 9Some 10or.: du çavên ên min = my two eyes [+ hene = there are] Du çavên min hene = I have two eyes. Remember: nîne / ne … e [= is not] Ev destê min e? Ne. lit. ev destê te nîne.g.: 9 Ew hevalê min e = He is my friend . the forms nîne and nînin are more common. The idea of having is expressed with heye (infinitive: hebûn). E. •In the north.g. Plural: Ew hevalên me ne = They are our friends . nîne ev çavê te ye! h.: Çi heye. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin replaced with nîne . Both are correct. In Kurdiş. Ew ne hevalê min e = Ew hevalê min nîne = He is not my friend. Çend destên ên te hene? Du destên ên min hene. There is/are The way to say there is in Kurdish is heye. a construction consisting of possessive pronoun plus the simple form of the noun is used. yek serê ê min = my one head [+ heye = there is] Yek serê ê min heye = I have one head. with plural tunin (=there aren't). Çend xûşkên ên te hene? Çend birayên ên te hene?  In the south.M. oblique pronoun • 16 • . the plural there are is hene. beginning with the northern construction. 'What is there.L. the ezafeh-plus-pronoun construction is used. but some regions seem to prefer one over the other. instead of saying "I have two hands" one says "To me there are two hands" [southern] or "There are my two hands" [northern]. they are different enough that we will explain each one separately. The negative of this (particularly in northern dialects) is tune (=there isn't). Although the southern and northern variants are similar. e. what isn't there']  In southern dialects. 15) xwendekar. 1961 [reprinted 1981 by London School of Oriental and African Studies]). Fill in blanks with correct forms: <in/ne . 19) dûstan. Min du dest yêt heyn. they are not big. 14) mamosta. Kurdish Dialect Studies . 2) xûşk. 7) How many eyes do I have? You have two eyes. 5) Birayên we xwendekarên me __. Şow the gender of the following nouns. 4) Herdu birayên te hevalên min __. 6) We are his teachers. ders (=lesson) is feminine. ¶266. Ev pê û ling __. 17) zik. 9) Sê bira __: hersê bira jî zikrreş __. Translate:1) These are my hands.g. negative. 4) çav.N. 10) dê. 2) Those are not your [sing. [Skip sentences 6 and 7] VI. p. they are my ears. 10) How many names do you have? How many names does your father have? He has many names. This construction is too complex for beginners. MacKenzie. 9) Are your sisters little? Are their ears big? No. în/-yne> 1) Herdu xûşkên min mezin __. 11or. Turn your sentences from exercise II. E. 6) Navên wan çi __? 7) Ev kirasên min __ yan kirasên te __? 8) Ev ling û pê __.M. 2) Ev sê kurr birayên wê __. 5) dest. e.L. Make up ten sentences on the following pattern: Is this your ear? No. 16) mamik. 3) What are these? These are his şirts. Te çend xûşk hene? Te çend bira hene? 11 EXERCISES: I.I (Oxford : Oxford University Press. 13) heval. III. into the plural (or into the singular). 18) pembû. as in guhê ê min. V. 3) bira.] ears. II. 8) tilî.g. 8) Their village is large. 12) kitêb. 6) ling. as in dersa a wî. 1) kurr. giving two ways of saying each one. 11) bav [bab]. 162-163 . 3) Destên te piçûk __. by using them in an ezafeh phrase. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin min = my (or.: guh (= ear) is masculine. 20) gund. 7) mal. Make the sentences in exercise IV. 9) kiras. 10) Guhên herdu mamostayên me piçûk __. to me) + du çav = two eyes [+ hene = there are] Min du çav hene = I have two eyes Te çend dest hene? Min du dest hene . It has many houses [Say this in two ways!]. For fuller treatment of it. • 17 • .: Is this your ear? --> Are these your ears? IV. 5) They are not your students. see: "Demonstrative Izafe" in: D. they are small. 4) Who are they? They are our friends. it is not my ear. it is my eye. L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin KURDISH PERSONAL NAMES Male: Abûzer Bêkes Bûrhan Miho Rêbaz Rêdûr Female: Bêrîvan Dilvîn Dilxwaz Meryem Nalîn Nesrîn • 18 • .M. Bêrîvan: Ez im. xûşkeke te jî heye. Navên wan Xecê û Zîn in.L. Çavekî wê heşîn e. Navê kûçikê min jî Devrreş e. û yek kesk Ew tim birçî ye! Navê wê çi ye? Navê wê Dîcle ye. lê kûçikê min Devrreş ze‘îf û piçûk e. Navê wî Bahrî ye. Dara: Ez jî Dara me. Bêrîvan: Navê min Bêrîvan e. Ew bi xwe spî ye û gelekî pîr e jî. mamosta! Xûşka te Gulistan hevala min e! Miho: Bi rastî?! Dinya çend piçûk e! II. çi hêkek.8. 2. Navê min Miho ye. Navê wê Mehabad e. Devrreş -. Gelawêj? Gelawêj: Xûşkeke min heye. Miho: Û tu. • 19 • . Bêrîvan hevala min e. çi gamêşek. Hevaleke wê jî heye. û kûçikekî min jî! Bi rastî? Pisîka te çawa ye? Mezin e yan piçûk e? Pisîka min mezin û qelew e. Gulistan: Bêrîvan: Gulistan: Bêrîvan: Gulistan: Bêrîvan: Bêrîvan! Pisîka te heye? Erê! Pisîkeke min heye. Miho: Roj baş! Ez mamostayê we me. birayekî min heye: navê wî Sebrî ye. Du xûşkên min jî hene. ku navê wê Bêrîvan e. Baş e. çend xûşk û birayên te hene? Dara: Birayekî min heye.M. Devê wî bi rastî rreş e? Erê! Ew hemî rreş e! Lê çavên wî zer in. Navên we çi ne? Rêbaz: Navê min Rêbaz e. Miho: Dara. Rêbaz hevalê min e. ku navê wê Gulistan e. Gulistan: Bêrîvan: Gulistan: Bêrîvan: e. DIALOGUE: I. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Sisîya [3] {Pikkert 2.9} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: Dizî dizî ye. Bêrîvan: Mamosta. Miho: Birayên te tunin? Gelawêj: Belê. ne wisa? Miho: Belê! Gulistan xûşka min e.kûçikekî qelew e? Nexêr! Pisîka min Dîcle qelew û pîr e. Gelawêj: Û ez Gelawêj im. Te kitikek ya hey. 13or. Gulistan: Bêrîvan: Gulistan: Bêrîvan! Te kitik heye ? Erê! Min kitikek heye. mamosta! Xûşka te Gulistan hevala min e! Miho: Bi rastî?! Dinya çend piçûk e! 12 13 II. Navê seyê min jî Devrreş e. In other words. all predicate adjectives are preceded by what D. Miho: Û tu. Miho: Dara. Miho: Roj baş. Baş e. 14or. Ew her û her ya birsî ye! Navê wê çi ye? Navê wê Dîcle ye. in Behdinan it is Tu yê ba¤ î? to a male. • 20 • . Navê wê Mehabad e. Çavekê wê yê şîn e. Miho: Te bira nînin? Gelawêj: Belê. Ew bi xwe ya spî ye û gelek ya pîr e jî. te çend xûşk û bira hene? Dara: Min birayek heye . xwendekarêt min! Ez mamostayê we me. Navê wî Bahrî ye. Min birayek yê hey. Gelawêj: Û ez Gelawêj im. Gelawêj? Gelawêj: Min xûşkek heye. te xûşkek jî heye. û seyek jî! Bi rastî? Kitka te ya çawan e? Ya mezin e? Ya piçûk e ? Kitka min ya mezin û qelew e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Southern version: I. ku navê wê Bêrîvan e. Whereas in the north. Min du xûşk jî hene . This construction is too complex for beginners. min birayek heye: navê wî Sebrî ye. Devrreş -. Rêbaz hevalê min e. all adjectives are marked for gender and number by an ezafeh marker preceding the adjective: yê for masculine singular.seyekê qelew e? Nexêr! Kitka min Dîcle ya qelew û pîr e. Bêrîvan: Ez im. t (for yêt) for plural of both genders. Navê min Miho ye. Bêrîvan: Mamosta. lê seyê min Devrreş yê zirav û cihêl e. and Tu ya ba¤ î? to a female. Wê hevalek jî heye. Bêrîvan: Navê min Bêrîvan e.M. MacKenzie calls demonstrative ezafeh.N. Navêt we çi ne? Rêbaz: Navê min Rêbaz e. Devê wî bi rastî yê rreş e? Erê! Ew hemî yê rreş e! Lê çavêt wî t zer in.L. ku navê wê Gulistan e. Min du xû¤k jî yêt heyn. Dara: Ez jî Dara me. Bêrîvan hevala min e. 14 15 Bêrîvan: Gulistan: Bêrîvan: Gulistan: Bêrîvan: Gulistan: Bêrîvan: 12or. The prevalence of this gender marking is one of the distinctive characteristics of Behdinani speech. ne wisa? Miho: Belê! Gulistan xûşka min e. 'Are you well?' is simply Tu ba¤ î?. ya for feminine singular. 15In Behdinani. Navêt wan Xecê û Zîn in. û yek yê kesk e. ©i¤k / te ¢ for inanimate things.. [S] sor spî şil* terr* t’êr t’im t’î [S: t’êhnî] xirab yan [also: an] ze‘îf zer ziwa* six. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin VOCABULARY: baş belê bi rastî birçî [S: birsî] bi xwe bor dev. Note that the indefinite suffix never receives the stress (e.L. earth. dirêj diz. f. m. tilîyek yek = 'a finger' or 'one hand'. gelekî her û her [S] heşîn [S: şîn] hêk. which (relative pronoun) kurt kûç’ik.g. 6 seven. f. e. m. A noun is made indefinite by adding -ek to it. f. 7 eight. f. of green old (of things) cat that. hişk ji k’esk kevn k’itik. lips. In Kurmanji. 9 ten. hair. e. trees and plants.&f. m. 10 GRAMMAR: a..M.g. lean yellow dry nine. sated always thirsty bad or thin. 8 neh deh şort dog isn't that so? new cat fat black day Hello dog red white wet wet full. gamêş. while destek ek = 'a hand' or 'one hand'. Nouns that end in a vowel add -yek. f. Likewise. tall thief theft buffalo very always blue egg dry from. qelew rreş rroj. For example. ne wisa? nû p’isîk. dizî. all nouns are definite unless they are specifically made indefinite. dinya. f. ¤il is wet of * Note: Ziwa is dry living things. whereas ©i¤k is dry of inanimate things. and te¢ is wet of inanimate things.. e. • 21 • . dest = 'the hand' or 'hand'.g.&f. Roj baş! se. dé éstek. m. Remember: ziwa / ¤il for living things. Here are some examples of nouns with the indefinite article: of animate things and parts of living beings. never *desté ék).g. [S] ku * NUMBERS: şeş heft heşt good yes really hungry oneself grey mouth world long. m. M. [f. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin -ek [indefinite article = a/an (or one)] (nêr = masc.to simplify constructions that require a knowledge of gender. and -a for fem. when an indefinite noun is followed by a modifier such as a possessive pronoun (min. Whereas the simple form of the indefinite article does not change for gender. this is most probably due to foreign (Turkish and Persian) influence.which needs to be resisted -. • 22 • . For the purposes of this course.]) (mê = fem. wî. (hence -eka). te. [m. E. the indefinite article -ek takes the same ezafeh endings as the definite form of the noun: -ê for masc.L.]) mal-ek-e -e min [a hand of mine/one of my hands] [a house of mine/one of my…] nav-ek-î -î te kiras-ek-î -î wî çav-ek-î -î wê heval-ek-î -î me dersdar-ek-î -î wan tilî-yek-e -e te pêçî-yek-e -e wê kitêb-ek-e -e me heval-ek-e -e we mamoste-yek-e -e wan  In Behdinan. there seems to be a tendency -.: dest-ek-ê -ê min nav-ek-ê -ê te çav-ek-ê -ê wê mal-ek-a -a min tilî-yek-a -a te kitêb-ek-a -a me 16Although one will also come across the indefinite article + modifier without ezafeh. wê. omitting the ezafeh ending on an indefinite noun + modifier will be considered a grammatical error. [f. etc. for that matter).]) dest-ek-î -î min (-ek-e = fem. whereas Kurmanji does have gender. Because grammatical gender does not exist in Turkish or Persian (or Armenian. (hence -ekê). the indefinite article (-ek) must have an ezafeh ending.g. 16 -ek + ezafeh (-ek-î = masc.) or an adjective.]) dest-ek -ek [=a/one hand] mal-ek -ek [=a/one house] nav-ek -ek [=a/one name] enî-yek -yek [=a/one forehead] kiras-ek -ek [=a/one şirt] tilî-yek -yek [=a/one finger] ser-ek -ek [=a/one head] pêçî-yek -yek [=a/one finger] çav-ek -ek [=an/one eye] kitêb-ek -ek [=a/one book] guh-ek -ek [=an/one ear] pirtûk-ek -ek [=a/one book] heval-ek -ek [=a/one friend] xwendekar-ek -ek [=a/one student] dersdar-ek -ek [=a/one teacher] mamosta-yek -yek [=a/one teacher] b. [m. e. ku navê wê Gulistan e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin c.L. How many sisters do you have? I have one sister. as opposed to 'two sisters'.g. How many brothers do they have? They have one brother. The gender is reflected in the indefinite form of the noun as well. The difference between them is a matter of emphasis. Xûşkeke te heye? Do you have a sister? Çend birayên wan hene? Birayekî wan heye. Hevalekîî min heye. Te xûşkek heye? Do you have a sister? Wan çend bira hene? Wan birayek heye. This construction is too complex for beginners. etc. there are two ways to express 'one' + noun. use the indefinite form of the noun when speaking of one thing or one person. 'a şirt of our şirts'. How many brothers do they have? They have one brother. So.. Another way of rendering 'one of her fingers'. Min xû¤kek ya hey. • 23 • . etc. Hevaleke e min heye. The indefinite article -ek can mean one as well as a/an. is to say 'a finger of her fingers'. unless you want to stress the word 'one'. Note again that some nouns may be masculine or feminine. as opposed to 'one brother'. 'one of our şirts'. Birayekî wê tune? Doesn't şe have a brother?  The same sentences in the southern dialects will look like this: Te çend xûşk hene? Min xûşkek heye .: Tilîyek ji tilîyên wê Kirasek ji kirasên me Malek ji malên wan Kûçikek ji kûçikên we 17or. whereas xûşkek means 'one sister'. For example.M. Consider the following sentences: Çend xûşkên te hene? Xûşkeke min heye. 'one sister' can be: yek xûşk or xûşkek. How many sisters do you have? I have one sister. ku navê wî Bahrî ye. Yek xûşk means 'one sister'. d. E. depending on whether the person in question is male or female. Wê birayek nîne? Doesn't şe have a brother? 17 Consequently. kûçikekî min/seyekê min]. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Pisîkek ji pisîkên wî f. and be connected to it by ezafeh. and one of them is şort. it is not necessary to repeat the entire noun phrase [one of my dogs . and one is new. the adjective will follow the noun. Translate: 1) This is a white şirt. This holds true for both definite and indefinite nouns . they have been arranged in groups of opposites: mezin [big] nû [new] baş/xweş/qenc [good] dirêj [long. 6) They have four books: one of their books is new and big. tall] qelew[fat] şil/terr[wet] birçî [S: birsî] [hungry] birçîtî [S: têhnî] [thirsty] piçûk [small] kevn [old] xirab [bad] kurt [şort] zirav [thin] hişk/ziwa [dry] têr [full.M. 7) You (s. EXERCISES: I. Instead. Hence. 2) He has a green eye and a blue one [=One of his eyes is green and one blue]. When a noun is modified by an adjective. 5) We have three brothers: one of our brothers is old and two of them are young. sated] Colors: spî [white] rreş [black] sor [red] heşîn [S: şîn] [blue] kesk [green] bor [grey] zer [yellow] g. one can say: Kûçikekî min mezin e. As much as possible. • 24 • .L. 3) I have two houses: one of my houses is grey and one is green. yek can be used.) have two friends: one of your friends is tall and 18See note 16 above. in the second part. In a phrase such as 'one of my dogs is big and one [of my dogs] is small'.: 18 mala piçûk the small house kitêbeke sor [S: kitêbeka sor] a red book kurrê birçî the hungry boy gundekî mezin [S: gundekê mezin] a large village çavên rreş [S: çavêt rreş] black eyes Here are some simple rrengdêr = adjectives that you will need. and three of them are old and small. Kirasekî min kevn e. sated] têr [full. E.g. û yek nû ye. û yek piçûk e.One of my SHirts is old. 4) Şe has two legs: one of her legs is long. and two of them are dry. E. E. b) then change each noun to the indefinite form. a lesson of mine. 9) mamosta_ wan. Make up ten sentences using the numbers 1-10. 5) kurr_ wê.). 6) heval_ te. b) derseke min. Make sentences combining the indefinite forms from exercise II. 9) He has many şirts: one of his şirts is wet.: ders_ min: a) dersa min.) have two teachers: one of your teachers is very good. and one is very bad. KURDISH PERSONAL NAMES Male: Bahrî Ramazan Sebrî Female: Gelawêj Gulistan Mehabad • 25 • . 4) tilî_ hevala we. 8) You (pl. 10) My father has two sons: one of them is always hungry. 7) diz_ gundê we. 1) kitêb_ min. 2) kiras_ wî. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin thin. III. IV. 10) pisîk_ xûşka min. or f. 8) hêk_ me. derseke min: Derseke min dirêj e = One of my lessons is long. and translate.L.g.M. II. a) Fill in the blank with the correct ezafeh form (m. and one is şort and fat. 3) dest_ bavê me. and one is a good student. with adjectives. c) then translate both. c) my lesson.g. 2. ne wisa? Miho: Nexêr! Ga nîne! Kî dizane çi ye? • 26 • . Miho: Gelekî baş e! Hûn dersa xwe fêm dikin? Rêbaz: Erê. Gelawêj: Mamosta." Çi ye? Bêrîvan: Ez dizanim. mamosta Miho! Em dersa xwe baş fêm dikin! Miho: Ez kurrekî nû dibînim. Ew birayê min e. Ew dibêje. Tu çend mamikên bavê xwe nabêjî? Miho: Hûn mamikeke bavê min dixwazin! Baş e. Miho: Roj baş. em mamikên kevn nizanin. lê em niha nan naxwin. Ew kî ye? Navê wî çi ye? Dara: Navê wî Bêkes e. bijî. Miho: Sipas. Ez êdî nan naxwim. xwendekarên min! Hûn çawan in. tu çi dikî? Dara: Ew nan dixwe. ji ber ku ez birçî me! Miho: Ez fêm dikim ku tu birçî yî. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Çara [4] {Pikkert 3. mamosta. Ew gelek mamikên kevn dibêje. dixwe. lê napêje. dwazdeh rrîspî ne. DIALOGUE: I. Hêj zû ye! Niha em dersa xwe dixwînin. bavê te hêj sax e? Miho: Erê. mamosta! Miho: Bêkes. Em dersa xwe dixwînin.3} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: 1. Miho: Ew çi dike? Bêkes. baş in? Rêbaz/Dara/Gelawêj/Bêrîvan: Sax bî. Bêkes: Baş e. Şûr kalanê xwe nabirre.M. tu çima nan dixwî? Bêkes: Ez nan dixwim. mamosta Miho! Em baş in. mamosta! Ga ye. mamosta. Yek ji wan wisa ye: "Dixwe. Bêkes! Tu kurrekî baş î! … Niha ew çi dike? Dara: Ew digrî. Miho: Hûn çi dikin? Gelawêj: Em dixwînin. bavê min sax e! Ew rrîspîyê gundê me ye. têr naxwe. 3. Dara: Bavê te çi dike? Miho: Bavê min gelekî hiz ji mamik û gotinên pêşîyan dike. mamosta! Bêkes: Ez nan dixwim. Filan gund deh mal in. Hûn jî hiz ji wan dikin? Rêbaz: Mamosta. mamosta! II.L. m. healthy dixwim [S: dixom] I eat Sax bî! Be well!(greeting) dixwînim I read. I close niha now digrîm I cry nizanim I don't know dikim [S: dikem] I do p’irtûk.&f. sword êdî no longer. lê têr naxwe. cook dişom I wash rrîspî. şeath (of a sword) çend some k’ê? [obl. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dara: Em nizanin. no more t’êr dixwim I eat my fill fêm dikim I understand wisa so. VOCABULARY: aş.L.] not dibirrim I cut nan. m. m.M. ind.[+ pres. fast hiz dikim ji… I like. I eat didim [S: didem] I give digrim I take. f. I ask for sax alive. m. m. catch. I study sipas! Thank you! dizanim I know şûr. I love • 27 • . bread dibînim I see. village elder dixwazim I want. Çi ye? Miho: Aş e! Aş! Hûn fêm dikin? Aş dixwe û dixwe. of k’î?] whom? çima? why? li k’u? where? dibêjim I say ná. m. I find nan dixwim I have a [meal. meat zû early. such filan so and so. such and such zarok.[=kitêb] book dipêjim I bake. child goşt. m. mamosta. mill ji ber ku because Bijî! Live long! (greeting) kalan. -e. or dibîníím. a verb stem (e. f. 12 sêzdeh thirteen. ).L. to be more precise.= 'see'). Consider the following example for the verb 'to see': 20 'to see' Ez Tu Ew di-bîn-im im 'I see' di di-bîn-î î 'you (s. So. We are ready to start learning how to conjugate simple verbs (fêl.. and Bingöl the forms deha û yek. practically all verb forms consist of three parts: a prefix (di-). for example: Ez di-xwaz-im im di 'I want or ask for' Tu di-xw-î î di 'you (s. occasionally on the personal ending. -î. but never *dííbînim).) eat' Ew di-gr-e e di 'he/şe takes or closes' Em di-bêj-in in di 23 24 25 'we say' Hûn di-d-in in di 26 'you (pl.prefix (e.M.. -in). are more common. etc. 21[S: di-bîn-în în] di 22[S: di-bîn-ît ît/di di-bîn-îtin îtin/di di-bîn-it it/di di-bîn-itin itin] di 23[S: di-xo-y y] di 24[S: di-gr-ît ît/di di-gr-îtin îtin/di di-gr-it it/di di-gr-itin itin] di 25[S: di-bêj-în în] di 26[S: di-de-n n] di 27[S: di-ke-n n] di • 28 • .g. deha û didu. deha û sisê. 13 çardeh panzdeh 19 fourteen. In the present tense .) see' di di-bîn-in in 'they see' di 21 This pattern can be applied to practically every verb in the language. 14 fifteen.) see' di di-bîn-e e 'he/şe/it sees' Ew di 22 Em di-bîn-in in 'we see' di Hûn di-bîn-in in 'you (pl. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin NUMBERS: yanzdeh eleven. but never on the di. 15 GRAMMAR: a. The stress falls on the verb stem.g. 20Present indicative active. Adiyaman. or lêker. f. and a personal ending (-im.) give' Ew 27 'they do' di-k-in di in 19In western regions such as Dersim [Tunceli]. 11 dwazdeh [also: donzdeh]twelve. dibî´ î´nim. -bîn. wî = him or it (as in 'You like him'.L. me = us (as in 'They hear us'). Here is another common verb with a stem in a different vowel: di-şo. te = you (s. such as Ez digrîm = I cry. Em digrîn could mean either 'We take or close' or 'We cry'. and in southern dialects. Likewise.) cry' di di-grî 'he/şe/it cries' di 28 Em Hûn Ew di-grî-n n 'we cry' di di-grî-n n 'you (pl. Ez Tu Ew wî min wê di-bîn-im 'I see him' Em wan di-bîn-in 'we see them' di-bîn-î 'you see me' Hûn me di-bîn-in 'you see us' di-bîn-e 's/he sees her'Ew te di-bîn-in 'they see you' Note that all masculine nouns will be referred to with wî. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin A few verbs have a long vowel throughout the personal endings. Ez wî dibînim could mean either 'I see him' or 'I see it' -.). When serving as direct object.with the negative prefix na-. wî for 'his' or 'its'. Remember the set of pronouns that we use to express possession (min for 'my'.g. Note that this prefix always receives the stress (e. Context will usually make the meaning clear. wan = them (as in 'You hear them').in referring to a feminine noun. te for 'your' (s. depending on the context. and wan for 'their')? Those are called oblique pronouns (or object pronouns). such as kitêb or mal.) (as in 'Şe knows you'). In this case.= 'to wash': Ez Tu Ew di-şo-m m di di-şo-yî yî di di-şo di 30 'I waş' 'you (s.). these objects come before the verb.) (as in 'We see you'). and all feminine nouns will be referred to with wê. min = me (as in 'He sees me'). Here is the full negative conjugation of the 28[S: di-grî-t t/di di-grî-tin tin] di di-¤o-yn yn] di 30[S: di-¤o-t t/di di-¤o-tin tin] di 29[S: • 29 • .. we for 'your' (pl. Hence. wê = her (as in 'I ask her').) waş' 'he/şe/it waşes' Em Hûn Ew di-şo-n n 'we waş' di di-şo-n n 'you (pl. The full conjugation of this verb in the present tense is like this: Ez Tu Ew di-grî-m m 'I cry' di di-grî 'you (s. we = you (pl. we must replace the affirmative prefix di. me for 'our'.if it refers to a masculine noun. ná ábînim. To form the negative of the present indicative.) cry' di di-grî-n n 'they cry' di Note that Tu digrî could theoretically mean either 'You take or close' or 'You cry'.M. wê for 'her' or 'its'. 'You like it'). such as kiras or dest. Consider the following examples. Ew wê dibîne could mean either 's/he sees her' or 's/he sees it' -. c. ná áxwaze).) waş' di di-şo-n n 'they waş' di 29 b. and they are also used to express the direct object of transitive verbs in the present tense. Here is the complete conjugation of the negative present indicative: Ez ni-zanim 'I don't know' ni Em ni-zanin 'we don't know' ni Tu ni-zanî 'you (s.) know' ni Ew ni-zane 'he/şe/it doesn't know' ni Ew ni-zanin 'they don't know' ni 33 34 d. E. dişo 31[S: na-bîn-în în] na na-bîn-ît ît/na na-bîn-îtin îtin/na na-bîn-it it/na na-bîn-itin itin] na 33[S: ni-zan-în în] ni 34[S: ni-zan-ît ît/ni ni-zan-îtin îtin/ni ni-zan-it it/ni ni-zan-itin itin] ni 32[S: • 30 • .g. A word about word order! Kurdiş is an SOV [Subject . the normal word order in a Kurdiş sentence is: Subject 1 (Direct) Object 2 e..Object . Please have something to eat! Note also that the verb dizanim = 'I know' is slightly irregular. Please close my door! Tu navê xwe nabêjî? Won't you say your name? or. It is one of two verbs that forms the negative of the present indicative with ni. Ez I te you (thee) Bûrhan destê xwe Verb 3 see dibînim = I see you. In other words.g.M. Please tell [us] your name! Tu nan naxwî? Won't you have something to eat? or.rather than with na-.Verb] language. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin present indicative of dibînim 'I see': Ez na-bîn-im im 'I don't see' Em na-bîn-in in 'we don't see' na na Tu na-bîn-î î 'you (s.) don't see' Hûn na-bîn-in in 'you (pl.) see' na na Ew na-bîn-e e 'he/şe/it doesn't see' Ew na-bîn-in in 'they don't see' na na 31 32 In the second person (i.e. or in inviting people to do something. this form is often used in making polite commands..) don't know' ni Hûn ni-zanin 'you (pl.: Tu derîyê min nagrî? Won't you close my door? or.L. tu and hûn). e. similarly to the direct object. Ew They çi what Bavê te li ku Your father (at) where Tu You dixwazin? want? = What do they want? is? ye? = Where is your father? kê whom dibînî? see? = Whom do you see? •Most verbal complements are placed before the verb.g. in Kurdiş we will say Ez destên xwe dişom instead of: *Ez destên min dişom. Hûn kitêbên xwe dixwînin 'You read your books.e.. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Burhan his hand washes = Burhan waşes his hand. e.' instead of: *Em dersa me fêm nakin. That special pronoun is xwe.g. Xwe.. where I and my both refer to the same person.' instead of: *Hûn kitêbên we dixwînin Therefore. Here are some more examples: Tu xûşka xwe dibînî? 'Do you see your sister?'instead of: *Tu xûşka te dibînî? Em dersa xwe fêm nakin 'We don't understand our lesson. •Question words (interrogatives) take the place in the sentence that their grammatical function requires. if in Engliş we say ‘I waş my hands’. When the subject and the object refer to one and the same person. wê. E. his own) hands' and Ew destên wî dişo = 'He washes his (i. Xwendekar dersa dirêj dixwînin (The) students the long lesson read/study = The students study the long lesson. e is = My father is at home. someone • 31 • . etc.. Note that xwe is used for all persons and numbers.. wî. for example.L. So. E. a special pronoun will be used instead of min.M. Kûçik Dogs ji goşt from meat Bavê min li mal My father at home hiz dikin derive pleasure = Dogs like meat. te. we must distinguish between: Ew destên xwe dişo = 'He washes his (i. 1) Gulistan destên xwe naşo. Fill in the blanks with xwe or with another object pronoun. 3) Dilxwaz xûşka _____ nabîne. 4) Rîspî mamikên _____ dizane. 10) Why is Bêkes crying? He is crying because he can't catch (=doesn't catch) my cat. then translate both. b) Make three sentences with each verb. 8) Birayê min ji mamostayê _____ hiz dike. IV. 6) Who does not understand his/her lesson? All the girls understand it. 5) Whose book is this? (=This is the book of whom?). and conjugate them fully in the present tense.g. Tu kitêbên _____ (=kitêbên bavê te) digrî. 7) Why are you (pl. 8) The eleven students are reading fifteen big books. 2) Kî nanê min dixwe? 3) Şûr kalanê xwe nabirre. as appropriate.. 5) Xwendekar dersa xwe naxwînin? 6) Hûn mamika rrîspîyê me fêm dikin? 7) Mamosta deh pirtûkên kevn digre. 8) Mamosta pirtûka kevn digre. 4) Em xwendekarên birçî dibînin. Abûzer xûşka _____ (=xûşka Dilxwazê) dibîne. II. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin else's) hands'. 9) The thirteen young boys do not understand the riddle of the old village elder.L. but he won't (=doesn't) say. a) Take three verbs from this lesson. EXERCISES: I. Dîya wî kirasê _____ dişo. 1) Bêkes destên _____ naşo. Ez destên _____ (=destên Bêkes) dişom.M. In the following sentences. 10) Ew xwendekara xwe nabîne. 3) My sister waşes her hands. Zarok mamikên _____ (=mamikên rrîspî) nizanin. My sister is waşing her (=Dilvîn's) hands. lê xûşka min ji mamostayê _____ (mamostayê birayê min) hiz nake. E. 4) What are they doing? They are eating (=having a meal). lê ew ji dersdarê birayê _____ hiz nake. 9) Xûşka min ji dersdara _____ hiz dike. but the boys are not reading it. 6) Ew kurr hêkên _____ naxwe. Bêkes pisîka te nabîne --> Bêkes wê nabîne. Be sure to use both affirmative and negative forms! • 32 • . 5) Ev sêzdeh kurr dersên _____ naxwînin. Memo knows.) closing your books? Ferhad says that you are all studying your lesson. 10) Em hiz ji gundê _____ dikin. both affirmative and negative forms. Translate: 1) What do you want? I want my book. 2) Bavê te sê kitêbên _____ nagre. 9) Em mamikên rrîspîyê we nizanin. III. lê ew panzdeh keç dersên _____ dixwînin. lê ew sê kurr hiz ji gundê _____ (=our village) nakin. Bêkes doesn't see your cat-->Bêkes doesn't see it. 2) Why is he waşing his hands? He is waşing them because they are red. replace the underlined words (direct objects) with the correct object pronoun. Ez hêkên _____ (hêkên kurr) dixwim! 7) Dara kirasê _____ naşo. ez wî çîyayî dibînim! Dara: Tu tilîyên destê min nabînî? Bêrîvan: Belê. lê ez tiştên piçûk baş nabînim. dişkê [pelê cixarê] DIALOGUE: I. tu çend kitêban dixwînî? Dara: Ez sê kitêban dixwînim. Tu ji mamosta Miho napirsî. tu wê xwendekara nû nabînî? Belê. 1. ez kitêban naxwînim. 1.15. Bêrîvan: Tu sê kitêban dixwînî!? Dara: Erê! Hersê kitêb jî baş in! Bavê min jî gelek kitêban dixwîne.M.13. Dara: Çavên te baş dibînin.L. çima tu dikenî? Niha ez fêm dikim! Tu ji wê xwendekara nû hiz ne wisa? Nexêr!!! Ez hêj jê hiz nakim. ez wê dibînim. Ez jî nizanim navê wê çi ye..] Gulistan. naşkê.14.. 1. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Pênca [5] {Pikkert 1. li avê dixim.16} FOLKLORE: Mamik: Li kêvir dixim. ez dibêjim! Bêrîvan: Ez wan tiştan baş dibînim. Bêrîvan: Dara. 1. Tu HÊJ jê hiz nakî!? Ez bawer nakim! Tu çi dibêjî? ***** Gulistan: Roj baş mamosta! • 33 • . Dara: Çima tu naxwînî? Ez fêm nakim. [dikene. Çima tu dipirsî? Ji ber ku ez nizanim navê wê çi ye.9. navê wê çi ye? Çima tu bi xwe jê napirsî? Ji ber ku ez fedî dikim. Bêrîvan: Ez naxwînim ji ber ku çavên min baş nabînin. ez tilîyên destê te jî dibînim! Dara: Tu çend tilîyan dibînî? Bêrîvan: Ez pênc tilîyan dibînim. Dara. Rêbaz: Gulistan: Rêbaz: Gulistan. Dara. Rêbaz: Gulistan: Rêbaz: Gulistan: Rêbaz: Gulistan: Rêbaz: Gulistan: Rêbaz: Gulistan: dikî. Tu kitêban naxwînî? Bêrîvan: Nexêr. Dara: Niha ez fêm dikim çima tu naxwînî! II. Dara: Tu wî çîyayî nabînî? Bêrîvan: Belê. Navekî xweş e. ne wisa?! Gulistan: Belê./f.L. vî derî. Em nizanin navê wî çi ye. Gulistan. bread cixare. ku Ziyawer xûşka wî ye. tu navê wî nizanî? Miho: Nexêr. f. water li… dixim I hit bawer dikim I believe nan. Ez dibêjim. ***** Gulistan: Rêbaz! Mamosta Miho bawer dike ku navê wê Ziyawer e. mountain ser çava gladly derî. dibêjin ku xwendekareke nû heye. Rêbaz: Ziyawer. nên.m. ez wî dibînim. m. Gulistan: Mamosta Miho. cigarette niha [S: noke] now ç’avrreş black-eyed p’el. another tişt. m. Tu wî kurrê çavrreş jî dibînî? Gulistan: Erê mamosta.M. Tu jî baş î? Miho: Sipas. f. vî ç’îyayî. Rêbaz: [dikene. mamosta. û tu baş dizanî ku ez navê wê jî nizanim!? Gulistan: Xebera te ye! VOCABULARY: av. lê ew çavrreş e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Miho: Roj baş Gulistan! Çawan î? Gulistan: Sax bî.door sipas! Thank you! din [S: dî] other. tu wî derî nagrî? Gulistan: Ser çava. thing • 34 • . m. dêrî. [Ew dêrî digre. ez navê wî hêj nizanim. Ew kî ye? Miho: Ew jî xwendekarekî nû ye. Tu navê wê nizanî? Miho: Ez bawer dikim ku navê wê Ziyawer e. m. vî nanî. sheet of paper ç’îya.] Mamosta Miho. leaf. ç’îyê.] Gulistan: Tu çima dikenî? Rêbaz: Ji ber ku tu ji wî xwendekarê çavrreş hiz dikî! Gulistan: Nexêr!! Ez navê wî jî nizanim! Rêbaz: Lê tu çawa dibêjî ku ez ji xûşka wî hiz dikim. Û tiştekî din jî heye! Rêbaz: Çi ye? Gulistan: Birayekî wê jî heye. bijî. likewise. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin dik’enim I laugh tiştek [m. wî. 35In Behdînan. I. ber. Ew dersê ê dixwînin. obl. this is not true. obl. Let us start with feminine nouns.m. ew tilî [that finger] becomes wê tilîyê in the oblique case. m. The gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of a Kurdiş noun determine the ending that a noun will have in the oblique case.) vê. This special form is called the oblique case. Again. etc. stone xweş pleasant. 19 twenty..this wan.M. nice 35 NUMBERS: şanzdeh hivdeh hijdeh sixteen.obl. and for tilî it is tilîyê yê. note the word order!: 36 Em wê pisîkê ê digrin. vî. is used. I).. 36In the past tenses of transitive verbs.that jê [=ji wî/wê] from him/her/it xebera te ye! You're right! kevir. ashamed wê. We catch that cat. kevir does duty for both. 16 seventeen..g.g. xûşka a te. 17 eighteen. kêvir. Hence. The corresponding oblique case form ends in -ê (-yê after a vowel). those fedî dikim I am shy. For small stones. these dişkê it breaks (vi.] something dipirsim [+ ji] I ask (someone) van. In Turkey [except Hekkari and environs]. More on this in a later chapter! • 35 • . this is also true of nouns. They study the lesson. rock. pl. ez. kitêba a min. 18 nozdeh bîst nineteen. These are nouns that take an -a in the singular ezafeh form. min vs.f. pl. e.obl.m. or in Engliş me vs. Here are some examples of the oblique case in use. vî kevirî. kevir is used only for large rocks. In Kurdiş. This -ê şould not be confused with the masculine singular ezafeh form! The oblique case has many uses. the oblique case of ev kitêb [this book] is vê kitêbê. Note that in the feminine singular ev and ew become vê and wê respectively in the oblique case.obl. We have seen that pronouns have a special form when they are the object of a present tense verb or of a preposition (e.L.obl.f. m. 20 GRAMMAR: a. but for right now we will focus on one of its most common uses: to express the direct object of a transitive verb in the present tense. for kitêb the oblique case is kitêbê ê. Hence. Without the word dev [=mouth. when ev kitêba nû is used as an object. We catch your cat. 'this new book' would be ev kitêba nû. kitêba nû will remain kitêba nû. xwendekarekê ê dibînim. the ezafeh takes precedence over the oblique case.g. I see a new student (f.). We catch a cat. You close the new book. this time with direct objects that have ezafeh + modifier: Em pisîka te Ew dersa dirêj dixwînin. front part]. but with indefinite direct objects: Em pisîkekê ê digrin. thereby şowing that kitêb is in the oblique case.L. 'my book' = kitêba min in 'He reads my book' = Ew kitêba min dixwîne). how do we say 'He reads this new book' or 'He reads this book of mine'? In the direct case (or nominative case). when functioning as an object. They study a lesson. With this in mind. One last point. Consider the following examples: 37Literally: "You close the mouth of this book". But what happens when there is a modifier? Here is the answer: while ev will change to vê. Suppose we have the sentence Ew vê kitêbê dixwîne = 'He reads this book'. the sentence will read Ew kitêba min dixwîne = 'He reads my book'. It is important to note that when a noun is used as an object at the same time that it has an ezafeh (e. • 36 • . with kitêbê = 'the book' as the direct object in the oblique case. 'this book' would change from ev kitêb to vê kitêbê. if we change kitêb to kitêba min = 'my book'. xwendekarê ê 37 Note also that feminine indefinite nouns also take the ending -ê in the oblique case (-ek-ê ê): kitêb-ek-ê. digrî.M. Tu devê pirtûka nû Ez digrin. Tu devê pirtûkekê ê Ez digrî. What will happen to the demonstrative vê if we add a modifier to kitêb? In other words. let us take the same sample sentences again. while one says Ew kitêbê dixwîne for 'He reads the book'. I see the student (f. Consequently. Ew dersekê ê dixwînin. They study the long lesson.). and 'this book of mine' would be ev kitêba min. Ez dibînim.). However. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Tu devê vê pirtûkê ê digrî. You close a book. the sentence might mean "You take this book". You close this book . I see a student (f. xwendekareke nû dibînim.. tilî-yek-ê. it will become vê kitêba nû. Here are the same sentences. Hence. it is hevalan an (or hevala a).regardless of gender -. if an object has modifiers. Em hêkêt êt te dixoyn. You (pl. Ez van sê kitêban an dixwînim. I read the three new books.. They study that long lesson. Ez sê kitêban an dixwînim. wê dersa a dirêj dixwînin. but: Ew Ew wê dersê dixwînin. Hence. Here are some sample sentences with plural oblique forms: Hûn keçan an dibînin. particularly in southern dialects).M.) see these girls. Ez sê kitêbên ên nû dixwînim. I read [the] three books. Once again. kitêb can mean either '[the] book' or '[the] books'). but: Ez Ez wê xwendekarê dibînim. We eat those eggs. Observe the following: Hûn keçên ên birçî dibînin. I read these three books.g. I see that student (f. You close this book. You close this new book.I see that new student (f. They study that lesson. We catch this cat. II.) see the girls. The oblique plural forms of ev and ew are van (these) and wan (those) respectively. Em hêkan an dixwin. Plural nouns.). all nouns end in -an (sometimes şortened to -a. digrin. We eat [the] eggs. • 37 • . but: Tu devê vê pirtûkê digrî. the oblique plural of kitêb is kitêban an (or kitêba a in the south).L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin but: Em Em vê pisîkê vê pisîka a te digrin. Whereas in the direct or nominative case. Ez sê kitêbêt êt nû dixwînim. the ezafeh will take precedence over the oblique case. You (pl. Let us add them to the above sentences: Hûn van keçan an dibînin. Em wan hêkan an dixwin. and for heval -. 38 You (pl. 38These three sentences in Behdinani would look like this: Hûn [or hûng] kiçêt êt birsî dibînin. Em hêkên ên te dixwin.). We catch this cat of yours. in the oblique case. wê xwendekara a nû dibînim. Tu devê vê pirtûka a nû digrî. all nouns are identical in the singular and plural (e.) see the hungry girls. We eat your eggs. M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin However, as mentioned above, if an object has both a demonstrative (these, those) and another modifier, the demonstrative will şow the oblique case, while the noun will take the ezafeh form followed by the modifier. For example: but: Hûn van keçan an dibînin. Hûn van keçên ên birçî dibînin. You (pl.) see these girls. You (pl.) see these hungry girls. but: Em wan hêkan an dixwin. Em wan hêkên ên te dixwin. We eat those eggs. We eat those eggs of yours. but: Ez van sê kitêban an dixwînim. I read these three books. Ez van sê kitêbên ên nû dixwînim.I read these three new books. III. We have left masculine singular nouns for last, because they are a little bit more complicated. In all Kurmanji dialects, whether northern or southern, in conjunction with the demonstratives, masculine singular nouns take -î (-yî before final vowels) in the oblique case. The demonstratives ev and ew have the masculine singular oblique forms vî and wî respectively. Hence, 'this hand' (ev dest ) and 'that brother' (ew bira) have the oblique forms vî destîî and wî birayî yî. Consider the following sample sentences: 39 Ew vî tiştîî dixwaze. Şe wants this thing. Em wî kûçikîî digrin. We catch that dog. Tu çima vî nanîî dixwî? Ez wî çiyayî yî dibînim. Why do you eat this bread? I see that mountain. As with feminine nouns, note that masculine indefinite nouns also take the same oblique case ending as their definite counterparts: -î in (-ek-îî): dest-ek-î, birayek-î. Let's look at our sample sentences for more examples: Ew tiştekîî dixwaze. Şe wants something. Em kûçikekîî digrin. We catch a dog. Tu çima nanekîî dixwî? Why are you eating a [loaf of] bread? Ez çiyayekîî dibînim. I see a mountain. By now it şould come as no surprise that when a masculine noun is an object at 39ev deste e in some dialects -- including, among others, Behdinan. • 38 • M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin the same time that it has an ezafeh (e.g., 'my brother' = birayê min in 'Şe sees my brother' = Ew birayê min dibîne), the ezafeh will take precedence over the oblique case. Our sample sentences will demonstrate this: Ew tiştê te dixwaze. She wants your thing. Em kûçikê birçî digrin. We catch the hungry dog. Tu çima nanê min dixwî? Why do you eat my bread? Ez çiyayê mezin dibînim. I see the large mountain. Once again, if the object has a demonstrative as well as another modifier, the demonstrative (ev or ew) will go into the oblique case (vî or wî), while the noun will take the ezafeh + modifier. Examples are: but: Ew vî tiştîî dixwaze. Ew vî tiştê ê te dixwaze. She wants this thing. She wants this thing of yours. but: Em wî kûçikîî digrin. Em wî kûçikê ê birçî digrin. We catch that dog. We catch that hungry dog. but: Tu çima vî nanîî dixwî? Why do you eat this bread? Tu çima vî nanê ê min dixwî? Why do you eat this bread of mine? but: Ez wî çiyayî yî dibînim. I see that mountain. Ez wî çiyayê yê mezin dibînim. I see that large mountain. So far, the masculine singular has not differed from the feminine singular or from the plural. Here comes the hard part: simple masculine singular nouns in the oblique case are treated differently in the northern dialects than they are in the south. In the south, i.e., in Behdinan and in Hekkari, the pattern is simple: all masculine singular nouns get -î (or -yî before a vowel ) in the oblique case, e.g. çavîî, birayî yî, nanîî. However, in the north, the situation is a bit more complex: when accompanied by a demonstrative (vî or wî), masculine oblique nouns take the ending -î (e.g., vî çavîî, wî birayî yî, vî nanîî). But, simple nouns (without a demonstrative) do not take the ending -î. Instead, many (but not all) of them change the last -e- or -a- in the word to -ê ê-, e.g. çavî --> çê êv; birayî --> birê ê; nanî --> nê ên. The technical term for such stem-changing vowels is ablaut. Masculine nouns that do not have an -a- or an -e-, such as gund (village), remain unchanged in the simple oblique case (although with the demonstrative it becomes vî/wî gundî). Three principle parts of masculine nouns şould be 40 40 In Behdinan, often just -y before a vowel, e.g. biray y, çiyay y. • 39 • M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin memorized: direct case, simple oblique case, and oblique case with demonstrative. The following is a list of the three principle parts of the masculine nouns we have had thus far which manifest ablaut: aş bira çav dest dev ga heval kiras nan êş birê çêv dêst dêv gê hevêl kirês vî vî vî vî vî vî vî aşî birayî çavî destî devî gayî hevalî vî kirasî nên vî nanî At the end of this chapter, you will find a chart summarizing the declensions for masculine singular, feminine singular, and plural nouns. Please study it carefully, and refer to it whenever you need it. EXERCISES: I. Translate: 1) Ez te nabînim. 2) Tu tiştekî naxwazî. 3) Ew nagrî. 4) Em pisîkan nagrin. 5) Hûn dêrî nagrin. 6) Ew dersê naxwînin. 7) Ew dersa pêşîn naxwîne, ew dersa didua dixwîne. 8) Tu destê min dibînî. 9) Hûn kitêban dibînin. 10) Em hêkan dixwin. 11) Ew tiştan dibînin. 12) Ew tiştekî dixwaze. 13) Tu pirtûkê digrî. 14) Mamosta dêrî digre. 15) Dara çiyê dibîne? II. Change the affirmative sentences in exercise I to negative, and change the negative sentences to affirmative. Then translate. III. Where possible, add demonstratives (ev and ew) to the sentences in exercise one. Then translate. (e.g., Ez xwendekarê dibînim --> Ez wê xwendekarê dibînim). IV. Where possible, add modifiers (min, te, etc. or adjectives) to the sentences in exercise one. Then translate. (e.g., Ez xwendekarê dibînim --> Ez xwendekara nû/xwendekara te dibînim). V. Where possible, add demonstratives and modifiers to the sentences in exercise one. Then translate. (e.g., Ez xwendekarê dibînim --> Ez wê xwendekara nû dibînim). VI. Where possible, add numbers (1-20) and any combination you choose (from exercises II, III, IV, and V) to the sentences in exercise one. Then translate. Declension of Nouns • 40 • -a -ê Pl.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Direct Ezafeh Oblique Masc. -ek -eke -ekê Pl. -êt/-êd/-ên -a[n] Direct Ezafeh çav çavê te jin jina te Oblique çêv vî çavî jinê çav : jin çavên te : jinên te çava[n] : jina[n] Direct Ezafeh bira birayê te te) birê vî birayî Oblique (birê tilî tilîya te tilîyê bira : tilî birayên te : tilîyên te biraya[n] (bira[n]) : tilîya[n] Declension of Indefinite Nouns Direct Ezafeh Oblique Masc.M. -ê (-ê-) ø [S: -î] vî -î Fem. -in -ine -ina Dir Çav-ek jin-ek Ezaf çavekî te jineke te Obl çavekî jinekê *çav-in : *jin-in çavine te : jinine te çavina : jinina Dir bira-[ye]k tilî-yek Ezaf birakî/ birayekî te birakî/ birayekî tilîyeke te Obl tilîyekê • 41 • *bira-yin : *tilî-yin birayine te : tilîyine te birayina : tilîyina . -ek -ekî -ekî Fem. dêrî veke û bibîne. Mamosta. Tu nabêjî.M.] Ah! Mamosta Miho! Gelek bi xêr hatî! Çawan î? Baş î? Miho: Nav xêrê da bî! Sax bî. Rabe. Ew çi ye? [çarix] another version: Tiştek heye.] Çay hazir e! Kerem ke! Miho: Keremdar bî! … [Çayê vedixwe. diçe.] Helîme: Bextiyar. 3.L. [Bextiyar dêrî vedike. û şîrin e! Destê te sax be! Helîme: Noşî can be! [derdikeve.] ***** Helîme: [Çayê tîne. girêdidim diçe. çend kurr û çend keç in? Miho: Deh kurr û panzdeh keç in. Tu jî baş î? Helîme: Ser serê min! Çay niha tê! [derdikeve.] Mêvanê me kî ye? [Mêvên dibîne. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Şeşa [6] {Pikkert 3. Bextiyar: Eh.] … Roj baş. Bextiyar: Û hemî xwendekarên te her rroj tên û dersên xwe dixwînin? • 42 • . Ser çava. xwendingeh çawan e? Xwendekarên te çawan in? Miho: Xwendekarên min baş in! Bextiyar: Çend xwendekarên te hene? Miho: Bîst û pênc xwendekarên min hene.1. Helîme. kî ye! Bextiyar: Baş e. [Kesek li dêrî dixe. Bextiyar? Baş î? Bextiyar: Ser serê min! Kerem ke. rrûne! Ser pîyan nesekine! Tu çi vedixwî? Çay? Qawe? Miho: Ez gelek hiz ji çayê dikim! Bextiyar: Ser çava. bijî. çaya te gelek xweş e! Germ e.] II.7} FOLKLORE: Mamik: Vedikim naçe. ku girê didim. mêvanekî me heye! Tu bo me çayê çê nakî? Helîme: [Ji mezela din tê. ku divekim. [çarox] DIALOGUE: I. disekine.] … Hmm! Helîme Xan. Mamosta Miho! Bi xêr hatî! Kerem ke! Kerem ke! Miho: Nav xêrê da bî! Çawan î. Ez baş im. Bextiyar: Baş e. hinek li dêrî dixin. f. a meal) dadigrim I fill up (vt. mezel. exit. go out of derdixim I cause to leave. f.] Helîme! Çayeke din bo Mamosta Miho dagre û bîne! Helîme: [Ji mezela din] Ser çava! Çay niha tê! Bextiyar: Hemî xwendekarên te zû tên? Miho: Xwendekareke min heye ku tim dereng tê.L. room. hot girêdidim I tie.kî ye? Navê wê çi ye? Miho: Navê wê Perwîn e. prepare (e. repair. m. rise rradizêm I lie down.g. somebody.M. Bextiyar: Perwîn! Lê navê keça min jî Perwîn e! Tu nabêjî ku keça min Perwîn tim dereng tê xwendingehê!? Miho: Belê Bextiyar! Ez wisa dibêjim! VOCABULARY: bo. Noşî can be! Bon appetit! qawe. çay. serves you tea . diçim I go diherrim I go disekinim I stand.g. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Miho: Erê! Her rroj tên. fix. Lê hemî xwendekarên din zû tên. coffee rradibim I get up. mêvên. some people hazir ready K’erem ke! greeting said to a guest when offering or inviting K’eremdar bî! response to Kerem ke. guest Nav xêrê da bî! response to Bi xêr hatî.&f. bind hinek [pl.. I stop germ warm. f. chamber mêvan. I throw/take/bring out dereng late destê te sax be greeting said to anyone who does stg.] someone. go to sleep rrûdinim I sit • 43 • e. [S: ça] çêdikim for peasant şoe tea I make. for you. Bextiyar: [Dibîne ku Miho çayeke din dixwaze. çarix/çarox. prep. f. Bextiyar: Ew xwendekara te ku tim dereng tê -. vî mêvanî.) derdik’evim + ji I leave. to stand up.) sit' 'you (pl. pê-. In most dialects. e. I. 50 sixty. Ew di-¢û-nin] di di di di di di • 44 • . the prefixes precede the present stem marker di. Less common ones are: çê. for to stand still. Compound verbs.and rrû-.. such respectful title after school NUMBERS: bîst û yek bîst û pênc sî [also: sih.M. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin ser pîyan ser serê min standing. e. up to stand for.'on my head'] sweet I come I bring [towards the şîrin têm tînim one is pleased to see someone (neg. it is important to note that in some dialects. Em di-¢û-nîn.g.(e. f. di-ve-kim = 'I di open'). and the verb to understand. Some verbs have prefixes. on one's feet expression denoting that [lit. wer-. In Engliş. sîh] twenty one. 30 bîne) speaker] names çil pêncî şêst forty. Here is the present tense affirmative of some common verbs: rrû-di-nim = 'I sit'. der-. ve-di-kim = 'I open'. 25 thirty. For the purposes of this course. However. hil-.is a prefix. The under verb understand is conjugated the same way as the verb to stand. understood.comes first (e.L. thus. Under. Let us begin by giving an Engliş parallel: we have in Engliş the verb to stand. ve-. Ew di-¢û-nît(in). rra-. and rra-di-bim = 'I get up'.g. ve-di di-kim = 'I open'). 40 fifty. both have the same past tense form: stood. 21 twenty five.g. still The meanings of Kurdiş verbs can be modified in a similar faşion with the addition of prefixes. 60 GRAMMAR: a. we will use this structure.. Tu di-¢û-nî.g. Hûn di-¢û-nin.) sit' 'he/şe/it sits' 'they sit' Ez di-¢û-nim. 'to sit' Ez rrû-di di-nim Em rrû-di di-nin Tu rrû-di di-nî Hûn rrû-di di-nin Ew rrû-di di-ne Ew rrû-di di-nin 41[S: 41 'I sit' 'we sit' 'you (s. I open I drink so. naynim/naînim. tê-. the di. Common prefixes (or preverbs) include: da-. lê-. under we also have verbs that change meaning when accompanied by a separate word or particle. jê-. imperative vedikim vedixwim wisa Xan xwendingeh. a meal) •da-di di-grim I fill up (vt. Ew di-¢a-bin] di di di di di di 44[S: Ez ná-¢û-nim. i. Em di-ve-keyn. The negative of the present indicative of compound verbs is formed the same way as it is with simple verbs. Ew ná-¢û-nît(in). Hûn di-¢a-bin. 'Close the door!' or 'Come here!'.) don't sit' Ew rrû-ná ná-ne 'he/şe/it doesn't sit' Ew rrû-ná ná-nin 'they don't sit' 44 Other compound verbs include: •çê-di di-kim I make.) •der-di di-kevim + ji I leave. Hûn di-ve-ken. go out of •der-di di-xim I cause to leave. fix. Ew ná-¢ûná ná ná ná ná ná nin] • 45 • . we use the imperative form of the verb. Ew di-vedi di di di di di ken] 43[S: Ez di-¢a-bim. Imperatives are always addressed to the second person (you): 'Close the door' means 'Hey you.) open' Ew ve-di di-ke 'he/şe/it opens' Ew ve-di di-kin 'they open' 42 'to get up.e. Tu di-¢a-bî. Here is the negative present indicative of rrû-di-nim: 'not to sit' Ez rrû-ná ná-nim 'I don't sit' Em rrû-ná ná-nin 'we don't sit' Tu rrû-ná ná-nî 'you (s. 42[S: Ez di-ve-kem. repair. Tu di-ve-key.g. Tu ná-¢û-nî. rise' Ez rra-di di-bim Em rra-di di-bin Tu rra-di di-bî Hûn rra-di di-bin Ew rra-di di-be Ew rra-di di-bin 43 ' 'I get up' 'we get up' 'you (s. by replacing di. When we want to give someone a command. Ew di-ve-ket(in). Em di-¢a-bîn. exit.with an accented (stressed) ná-.) get up' 'you (pl.) get up' 'he/şe/it gets up' 'they get up' II. Ew di-¢a-bît(in). Imperatives.L. Hûn ná-¢û-nin. go to sleep •ve-di di-xwim I drink b.M. e. Em ná-¢û-nîn. bind •rra-di di-zêm I lie down.) open Hûn ve-di di-kin 'you (pl. close the door!'. I throw/take/bring out •girê-di di-dim I tie. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin 'to open' Ez ve-di di-kim 'I open' Em ve-di di-kin 'we open' Tu ve-di di-kî 'you (s..) don't sit' Hûn rrû-ná ná-nin 'you (pl. prepare (e.g. where X = verb stem ending in a consonant. the di. depending on whether one or more people are being commanded to do something. 'Don't go!') is formed by replacing the bi.) = 'Do!' Here are some more examples: Singular bi-bîn bîn-e bi-xw xw-e bi-gr gr-e bi-şo şo bi-xwaz xwaz-e Plural bi-bîn bîn-in bi-xw xw-in bi-gr gr-in bi-şo şo-n bi-xwaz xwaz-in English See! Eat! Take! Close! Waş! Want! 46 II.[with an á]. the imperative is very easy to form: it is the simple form of the present tense and infinitive.g. such as Mardin in Turkey. In English. To form a simple imperative in Kurdish. bi-¤o. then.have a cognate in Persian as well. 'Don't close the door!'.) né and né-k-in/mé mé-k-in (pl. the negative of the imperative is né é.prefix of the affirmative imperative with an accented (stressed) né-.) and bi-k-in (pl. Ask for! Request! 47Negative imperatives with me. there is no ending (-e) for the imperative singular. in Kurdish. • 46 • . or with an accented mé. the situation is slightly more complex. né 47 **Note that whereas the negative of the simple present tense is ná á. 'Don't do!' would be né-k-e/mé mé-k-e (s. and the personal ending will change. bi-gir. Hence.. The negative imperative (e. instead of bi-k-e they say bi-k.[with an é]** Here are the negative imperatives of the verbs listed above: Singular Plural English né-bîn-e • mé-bîn-e né-bîn-in • mé-bîn-in Don't see! né mé né mé né-xw-e • mé-xw-e né-xw-in • mé-xw-in Don't eat! né mé né mé né-gr-e • mé-gr-e né-gr-in • mé-gr-in Don't take! né mé né mé Don't close! né-şo • mé-şo né-şo-n • mé-şo-n Don't wash! né mé né mé né-xwaz-e • mé-xwaz-e né-xwaz-in • mé-xwaz-in Don't want! né mé né mé 45In some regions. However. bi-xu.L. for example. -in (n after a vowel).M.). from di-k-im = 'I do'. and A = verb stem ending in a vowel. The 'formula'. is: 45 singular: plural: bi-X X-e (bi-A A) bi-X X-in (bi-A A-n). we will get bi-k-e (s. Hence. 46or.of the present tense must be replaced with bi-. So. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin I. The ending for the singular will be -e (-ø or no ending after a vowel). and for the plural. The singular imperatives of the other verbs shown here in Mardin dialect are: bi-bîn. bi-xwaz. is generally dropped. 1) one • 47 • .M. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin III. e. kerem [bi-]k-e kerem né-k-e né kerem mé-k-e mé guh [bi-]d-e guh né-d-e né guh mé-d-e mé kerem [bi-]k-in ~Please! kerem né-k-in ~Please don't! né kerem mé-k-in mé guh [bi-]d-in Listen! guh né-d-in Don't listen! né guh mé-d-in mé IV. Some very common verbs form irregular imperatives.g. one generally finds çê-k-e and çê-k-in. instead of çê-bi bi-k-e and çê-bi bi-k-in. The verb 'to go' has two alternative stems for the present tense. In the affirmative. neg. Irregular verbs: to go and to come. I. •herr-e herr-in né-herr-e/né né-ç-e né-herr-in/né né-ç-in Don't né né mé-herr-e/mé mé-ç-e mé-herr-in/mé mé-ç-in mé mé •wer-e wer-in né-wer-e/né né-yê né-wer-in/né né-yên né né mé-wer-e/mé mé-yê mé-wer-in/mé mé-yên mé mé •bêj-e bêj-in né-bêj-e né-bêj-in né né mé-bêj-e mé-bêj-in mé mé Go! go! Come! Don't come! Say! Tell! Don't say! Don't tell! c. The imperative of compound verbs in the negative follows the same principle outlined above. Here are some more examples: neg.) = 'Don't make!'. neg. Singular ve-xw-e ve-né né-xw-e ve-mé mé-xw-e rrû-n-e rrû-né né-n-e rrû-mé mé-n-e da-gr-e da-né né-gr-e da-mé mé-gr-e rra-b-e rra-né né-b-e rra-mé mé-b-e Plural ve-xw-in ve-né né-xw-in ve-mé mé-xw-in rrû-n-in rrû-né né-n-in Don't rrû-mé mé-n-in da-gr-in da-né né-gr-in da-mé mé-gr-in rra-b-in rra-né né-b-in Don't rra-mé mé-b-in Engliş Drink! Don't drink! Sit! sit! Fill! Don't fill! Get up! get up! In some instances. Hence. e. to go. neg. Compound verbs. the -bi.g.L. neg. simply inserting an accented (stressed) -nébetween the preverb and the stem.: neg. the affirmative imperative can optionally take the -bi-.) & çê-né né-k-in (pl. however. These extremely common verbs şow certainly irregularities which need to be explained. çê-né né-k-e (s. Irregular imperatives. ) come' di-hê hê-n 'you (pl. etc. ná II. ná 2. in the north a şortened form has arisen (têm). Ez Em Tu Hûn Ew Ew tê-m tê tê-n tê tê-yî tê tê-n tê tê[-t] tê tê-n tê 'I come' 'we come' 'you (s. to come. We will list the northern form first: 1. Both form their negatives regularly.L. Ez Em Tu Hûn Ew di-hê hê-m 'I come' di-hê hê-yn 'we come' di-hê hê-y 'you (s. Ez Em Tu Hûn Ew Ew di-herr herr-im di-herr herr-in di-herr herr-î di-herr herr-in di-herr herr-e di-herr herr-in 'I go' 'we go' 'you (s. Ez Em Tu Hûn Ew Ew di-ç ç-im di-ç ç-in di-ç ç-î di-ç ç-in di-ç ç-e di-ç ç-in 'I go' 'we go' 'you (s. However. and 2) one based on the past tense (ç-) -.) go' 'you (pl.) go' 'he/şe/it goes' 'they go' negative: Ez ná-ç-im. etc.the norm in the south.) come' di-hê hê-t[in] 'he/şe/it comes' • 48 • . with a negative that needs a bit of attention. Here is their conjugation: 1.) go' 'he/şe/it goes' 'they go' negative: Ez ná-herr-im.) go' 'you (pl. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin based on the imperative (herr-) -.) come' 'he/şe/it comes' 'they come' note negative: Ez ná-yê-m. ná 2.) come' 'you (pl.M.extremely common in the north. The original forms of this verb are still preserved in the southern dialects (dihêm). etc. 6) We are bringing eggs and white bread. I like him. hûn mêvanê me nabînin? 8) Tu naherrî. b.g. 7) Why are you (pl. negative present indicative.) leaving [from] your house? Don't leave your house!. IV. 16.M. 18. 43. 2) Stand up (pl. 4) Our dogs are coming. Dara û Bêkes birayên yên hev in Dara and Bêkes are brothers [literally. Destên xwe neşo! 1) Tu vê dersa xwe naxwînî? 2) Hûn çayê bo vê mêvana xwe çênakin û naînin? 3) Hûn vê pisîka min naşon? 4) Tu navê xwe nabêjî? 5) Hûn vî derîyê kevn nagrin? 6) Hûn çaroxên xwe girênadin? 7) Hûn nayên. 10) They are taking their dog out of their friend's (m. etc.) the door!. 39. I am taking my dog out of my daughter's school.) like this boy? Yes. Some regions prefer hev. tu dêrî bo dîya xwe venakî? III. a. in the following.) like our cats? Don't you (pl. Then make them into negative imperatives. Choose three simple verbs and three compounds verbs. negative imperative. Hev. tu xûşka xwe ji wê xwendingeha wê naînî? 9) Tu ji wan xwendekarên nû napirsî. 46. affirmative imperative.) like our cats?. Change these polite commands into simple imperatives. 9) We like both our cats. So. 5) Our mother likes both tea and coffee. ná d. a. 3) I don't know what you want. 52. 57. Open (s. There is a good deal of variety in the ways to say 'each other' or 'one another' in Kurdiş. Tu destên xwe naşoyî? --> Destên xwe bişo! --> b. etc. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Ew di-hê hê-n 'they come' negative: Ez ná-hê-m. 28. hûn rrûnanin? 11) Tu vê qaweya germ û şîrin venaxwî? 12) Tu rranabî. Write out and say the following numbers in Kurdiş: 34. II. Do you (s. EXERCISES: I. or hev û du or hev û din. 'friends of each other']. where the Engliş does not require it: Bêrîvan û Gulistan hevalên ên hev in Bêrîvan and Gulistan are friends [literally. Conjugate each one in the affirmative present indicative.) house. navên wan çi ne? 10) Hûn kerem nakin. 'brothers of each other']. Translate: 1) Do you (s. while others (largely in the south) prefer yek û du (êk û du).L.) is making tea for her guest. 8) Our friend (f. for example: Em ji hev [û û du] du hiz nakin We don't like one another Note the use of hev. E. we are friends [of one another]. 65. • 49 • . Say what you want.)! Don't sit down!.. M. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin KURDIŞ PERSONAL NAMES Male: Bextiyar Female: Helîme Perwîn • 50 • .L. ew her rroj pirr pirtûkan dixwîne. Gulistan jî dibêje ku çavên wê heşîn in.6} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: Deynê Sibatê li Adarê ye READING: Hevalekî min heye. nêzîkî Wêranşehrê. Herdu çavên Serxwebûn rreş in. Kerem kin. Gava ku ez herdu çavên xwe di neynikê da dibînim. March (the month) • 51 • . ji ber ku Karagêçî nêzîkî Sêwregê ne jî. ji ber ku kêfa wî ji stranên Kurdî rra tê.M. lê lingên wan kurran ze‘f bi pirç in. Ew li Îstanbolê dijî. li zanîngeha Îstanbolê baş e. ew li Swêdê dijîn. yan jî kurt in? Destên te jî: tu destên xwe çawa dibînî? Kêfa te ji wan rra tê yan ne? Destên te biçûk in. Gava guhdarî dike. li stranên Kurdî Bahrî ye. pirr ji stranên Şivên hiz dike. navê wî Serxwebûn e. Kêfa te ji çavên heşîn rra tê? Kêfa xûşka min ji çavên heşîn rra nayê: kêfa wê ji çavên rreş rra tê. navê wî Sêwregê najî. mîna çavên bavê wî. Bahrî bêjin e. Şivan stranbêjekî Kurdî ye: ew Karagêçî ye.L. Bahrî xelqê Sêwregê ye. lê ew îro li Bahrî xwendekar e. 2. di herêma Rehayê da. f. Destên wî kurrî gelek mezin in! Tu wî nas dikî? Erê. Bahrî û Şivan hev nas dikin. ez wî nas dikim. Pisîka hevalê min jî. Gulistan û Serxwebûn li Tirkîyê najîn. bi pisîkên me rra bileyîzin! VOCABULARY: Adar. lê jina Şivên heye. ez dibêjim ku “Herdu çavên min rreş nînin! Tu çima dibêjî ku ez çavrreş im?!” Gava ku tu herdu guhên xwe di neynikê da dibînî. Kêfa wê ji solên mêvanan rra ze‘f tê. Gulistan xelqê Wêranşehrê ye. Ew bi solên wan dileyîze. Karagêçî ‘Eşîreteke mezin e. tu çi dibêjî? Kêfa te ji guhên te rra tê? Guhên te dirêj in. ku navê wê Dîcle ye. Kurrekî wan heye. Navê wê Reşê ye. Çima tu dipirsî? Ji ber ku kêfa min ji destên mezin rra tê. Destên bavê min jî mezin in! Hûn ji pisîka min hiz dikin? Kêfa we ji pisîkan rra tê? Pisîka min pirr bi aqil e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Hefta [7] {Pikkert 1. ji ber ku rrengê wê rreş e. Bahrî pirr. dixwîne.11. yan jî mezin in? Em lingên xwe çawa dibînin? Lingên me dirêj in yan kurt in? Bi pirç in yan bê pirç in? Lingên van keçan bê pirç in. Şivan. Bahrî xwendekarekî ze‘f ku Bahrî naxwîne. bi qelemên mêvanan dileyîze. navê wê Gulistan e. f. for jin. much NUMBERS: Heftê seventy.M. f. similar to nas dikim [S: dinyasim] I know (a person).L. f. Sweden şivan. f. 90 . singer Swêd. vî şivanî. shepherd T’irkîye. region. together with dijîm I live dileyîzim (bi) I play (with something) ‘Eşîret. f. m. [+li] I listen (to) herêm. man mîna like. f. f. i. pen rreng. tribe gava ku when guhdarî dikim. recognize nexweş sick. Turkey xelqê… from. f. bê without bêjin unmarried (man) bê p’irç’ hairless bi with. song stranbêj. 70 not • 52 • ninety. smart bi p’irç’ hairy bi … rra with. f. page (of a book) Sibat. close to p’irr [=gelek] very. district îro today ji from ji … rra to. ill neynik. f. f. together with bo for deyn. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin ango that means. by means of.native of zanîngeh. woman. province. debt digel [S] with. vt. m. much p’irç’. m. şivên. color rrûp’el.&f. body hair qelem. shoe stran. wife k’êfa min ji X rra [S: bi X] tê I like … mêr. university ze‘f [=gelek] very. f. February sol. in (a language) bi aqil intelligent.e. m. f. mirror nêzîkî near to. m. the first part of the possessive (or genitive or ezafeh) construction takes the ezafeh ending (kitêb-a kitêb-a keçê. bo = 'for'. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin heştê eighty. The oblique case has several functions in Kurdiş. keç-ê destê vî kurr-î. 'the teacher's hands'). Guhên pisîkan dirêj in The cats' ears are long. Ez te dibînim 'I see you' Ez kitêbê dixwînim 'I read the book' Ew dêrî vedike 'He opens the door' Em wan pisîkan digrin 'We catch those cats' The oblique case is also used as the second part of a possessive (or genitive or ezafeh) construction. dest-ê vî kurrî. with. beside. kurr-î çavên keç-an). on. So far. Rûpelên kitêbê pirr in The pages of the book are many. 'the girl's hair) or 'the hands of the teacher' (or. ji = 'from'. b. ji (from).g. e. or 'the book of me'. to. at'. and many more besides. e. li (in. Bavê xwendekarê mamosta ye The student's (f. The italicized part of these phrases is the second part of the possessive construction.: ji wan li Îstanbol-ê ê nêzîkî Wêranşehr-ê ê from them in Istanbul near Viranşehir It should also be noted that the four prepositions bi (with. kitêba keçê= keçê 'the book of the girl' (or. the second part takes the oblique case (kitêba keç-ê.L. for. 100 GRAMMAR: a. 80 sed one hundred.) father is a teacher. Another use of the oblique case is as the object of prepositions. Nouns and pronouns governed by prepositions are in the oblique case. Kurdiş prepositions include: bê = 'without'. di (inside).g. by means of). We already know how to do this in Kurdish with pronouns: kitêba min = 'my book'. In English. at) can combine with the third person singular pronouns wî (him) and wê (her). and nêzîkî = 'near'. çav-ên keçan). Birayên jinê nexweş in The woman's brothers are ill. mîna = 'like. e. li = 'in.g. The following transformations are then as follows: • 53 • . through. we have covered the use of it as direct object. similar to'. keç-an Here are some sentences with this construction: Navê keçê Gulbahar e The girl's name is Gulbahar. we have such constructions as 'the hair of the girl' (or. 'the girl's book) In this construction. that noun will always be in the oblique case. Engliş prepositions include: in.M. If we were to substitute the pronoun min = 'my' with a noun. Here are a few examples of how this is used: 51 48Variant: di … de e bi … ¢e e 50Variant: ji … ¢e e 51For this expression only -. d. you like. etc. This is sort of like a sandwich (a circumfix or ambiposition). e. c.: 48 49 50 ji wan ji wan rra from them to or for them Note that the contractions mentioned above also apply to ambipositions. Ambipositions. but it şould be noted that these postpositions can radically change the meaning of the accompanying preposition. in that di precedes the noun. rra = 'to': bi min rra = 'with me'. for example di … da = 'in.M. In southern dialects. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin bi + wî/wê pê di + wî/wê tê ji + wî/wê jê li + wî/wê lê with him/her/it inside him/her/it from him/her/it in or at him/her/it For example. ji te rra = 'to you'. rra [or rre] indicating motion towards or across.g. These meanings are only meant to be a general guide. di xwendingeh-ê ê da = 'in school'. If I want to say that I like something. I like. e. in Behdinan bo is used instead of ji … rra for 'to' or 'for'.g. equivalent to bi … rra in the north: digel min = bi min rra = with me. Traditionally. students of Kurmanji are taught that there are three postpositions: da [or de] indicating position. In addition to prepositions. Also. and ve indicating togetherness. inside'.L. another very common expression is used: Kêfa min ji … rra tê.. which really means 'I love'.g. e. and da follows it. ji + wî/wê + rra jê rra for him/her/it di + wî/wê + da tê da in him/her/it It şould be noted that in southern dialects (both Hekkari and Behdinan). rather than love it. and say Kêfa min bi … têt. the simplest way to say 'with' is digel. they replace the sandwich ji … rra with the simple preposition bi . Ez jê hiz dikim Em lê dijîn I love him/her We live in it. Kurdiş also has constructions that consist of a preposition coupled with a postposition. Other examples of such 'sandwiches' are bi … rra = '[together] with' and ji . We have already learned the expression hiz dikim ji ….NOT in general! 49Variant: • 54 • .. .g. Translate: 1) What are the cats doing? They are playing with the guests' şoes. • 55 • . a different verb is used: Ez nas dikim [S: Ez dinyasim ]. e. we obtain the following: Kêfa min jê rra tê [S: Kêfa min pê têt] I like it. Remember: Ez dizanim ku … This is the equivalent of German wissen. m. but I don't know her name. instead of asking someone what s/he thinks of something. lê ez navê wê nizanim I know that girl. 2) The dogs are playing with the guest's (f. EXERCISES: I. French connaître. and Persian dÐnestan. Do you like cats? I like this book. and Persian şenÐkhtan. The place is in the oblique case. This can also mean 'to recognize'. With the contractions mentioned above.M. Note the following distinction: 52 Ez wê keçê nas dikim. The answer is: 'I am the people of [X]' = Ez xelqê [X]ê me. one asks how s/he sees it: Tu … çawa dibînî? For example: Tu destên xwe çawa dibînî? = What do you think of your hands? In other words. Hence. However. g. French savoir. when asking someone his/her opinion about something. Dîya min xelqê Wêranşehrê ye [never *xelqa a Wêranşehrê ye]. when one knows or is acquainted with a person. Ez dizanim is used for facts. Note that xelq is used for both genders and both numbers: Bavê min xelqê Dihokê ye.L. this is much the same as German kennen. Turkish tanışmak. Ez xelqê Rehayê me = I am from Urfa. and near Akre they say Ez dinasim. One asks 'You are the people of what place?' = Tu xelqê ku derê yî? Xelq. Turkiş bilmek. Herdu xwendekarên te xelqê Swêdê ne [never *xelqên ên Swêdê ne]. As in many other languages. to know. Note that this is often used with ku. Where are you from? The way to ask someone where s/he is from in Kurdish is different from its English equivalent. Kurdish has two different words for 'to know'.) books. 4) What do you think of that girl's eyes? They are green 52In Hekkari. E. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Kêfa wî ji hêkan rra [S: bi hêkan] nayê Kêfa te ji pisîkan rra [S: bi kitikan] têt? Kêfa min ji vê kitêbê rra tê He doesn't like eggs. Ew xelqê Dihokê ye = S/he is from Dihok. 3) Do you like children? I like the şepherd's children.g. this construction can be used. is a noun meaning 'people'. e. Spanish conocer. What do you think of this? In Kurdish. 'I know that he is a teacher' = Ez dizanim ku ew mamosta ye. they say Ez dinaysim. as it is the second part of an ezafeh (genitive or possessive) construction. f. Spanish saber. 76. 10) Kûçikê Gulistanê kirasên birayê wê dixwe. Kêfa wî bi kirasan têt. 49. li mala Şivên rrûdinin]. Write out and say the following numbers in Kurdiş: 73.M. qawê]. KURDISH PERSONAL NAMES Male: Serxwebûn Şivan KURDISH PLACE NAMES Dihok Reha [=Urfa] ‘Efrîn Sêwreg [=Siverek] Karagêçî [tribe] Wêranşehir • 56 • . 97. but I don't know his name. 6) Îro rrîspîyên wî gundî tên? [nexêr. 5) near the house. 5) Does Şivan live in Istanbul? No. Translate the following prepositional phrases into Kurdiş. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin and very big. 61. then give the affirmative answer in parentheses: e. III. Em wî hêj nas nakin. 2) inside the school. 4) Xûşka wî şivanî xwendekar e? [nexêr. tu nizanî ku dîya vê keçikê dersdar e? 5) Birayê rrîspîyê gundê me nexweş e. e. 6) Hemî xwendekarên me xelqê Tirkîyê ne. wê jinê bi xwe]. II. IV. Answer these questions in the negative. 8) Derîyê wê mezelê venekin! Di wê mezelê da neleyîzin! 9) Em nizanin çima tu tim dixwînî. V. 5) Bavê wan zarokan li Tirkîyê dijî? [nexêr. 8) Mêvanê Lezgîn çayê vedixwe? [nexêr. destên Xecê]. 7) Jina Sebrî xelqê Sêwregê ye? [nexêr. 10) They don't know that our friends' teacher knows the şepherd. 10) in the book. hevalên hev]. 38. bi mamikan]. ji ber ku kêfa te bi dersan nayê. 46.: Navê te Ramazan e? [nexêr. 6) Are you sitting in the boy's room? No. I am sitting in his sister's room. ez wî nas nakim. ez]. navê min Ramazan nîne. 88. 9) Ferhad û Bûrhan birayên hev in? [nexêr. then change the noun into the corresponding pronoun (plus contraction when appropriate). 2) Ew navê wê zanîngehê dizane? [nexêr. 9) He knows that our teacher's friend lives in that big house. 7) Tu nizanî ew stranbêj xelqê ku derê ye? Nexêr.L. 4) Bahrî.g.g. 1) Tu mêrê vê jinê nas dikî? [nexêr. he doesn't live in Istanbul. 7) Why are you reading that old book? Because I like the book's name! 8) Do you know that man? I know him. I am not sitting in the boy's room. 3) Em navê wî stranbêjî nizanin. 7) with (=by means of) a pen. 2) Bavê wê hevala me li Sêwregê dijî. 10) Bêkes destên xwe dişo? [nexêr. with the girl --> bi keçê rra --> pê rra: 1) with my father. xelqê ‘Efrînê]. 4) from the friends. 3) to the friends. 8) without a name. Dara] --> Nexêr. he lives in Sweden with his {careful!} wife. 6) in Istanbul. navê min Dara ye. 82. 11) Don't you know where Şivan is from? He is from Urfa. isn't he? 12) My mother is from Sweden. 3) Kêfa we bi/ji gotinên pêşîyan rra tê? [nexêr. 94. stranbêj]. li Swêdê]. Translate into English: 1) Navê xwendekarê Zîn e. 9) for my sister. 55. Navê birayê wê jî Ehmed e. bila ew pisîka xwe jî bîne! Em çayê didine mamostê. okay alone. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Heşta [8] {Pikkert 6} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: Çil heravî nikarin rrûtekî bişêlînin. m. “Gelek sipas dikim. bajêr. get I sell I can. “Mamosta.[S: bajêr] bê aqil bila [or. danaynim/danaînim. “Bila îro Mamosta Miho bê mala me!” Xwendekarek tê cem Mamosta Miho û jê rra dibêje ku. ku hûn çay û mêst nedin. place (neg. lê divê ku hûn şîr nedine pisîka min: pisîka min hiz nake şîr vexwe.] bi t’enê cem da [ku] [+ subj. em naxwazin herrine xwendingehê. “Îro em naxwazin herrin cem Mamosta Miho. ku ew şîr vexwe.] I hear 1) [S: dibem] I take [away from the speaker]. divê ku tu îro bêyî cem me. remain I speak.M. only at/over someone's house in order to/that I put. pisîka xwe neyne: tu bi tenê were. “Bila! Bila Mamosta Miho bê cem me.imperative dayne) difroşim [di]karim [+ subj. talk (neg. Ez dikarim bêm cem we. “Wê gavê. û em şîr didine pisîka wî.L. Em dixwazin ku ew bê mala me!” Ew dibêjin. purchase I stay. bila pisîk li malê bimîne!” VOCABULARY: bajar. ew nexweş dikeve. vî bajarî.” Mamosta Miho dibêje ku. am able dik’irrim dimînim dipeyivim I buy. Eger tu hazir nînî bêyî mala me. “Ez naxwazim ku hûn bêjin ku ez ji we hiz nakim. bira] [+ subj. 2) [S: dibim]I become. níkarim) • 57 • .] datînim dibihîzim dibim city stupid let (something be).” Xwendekar dibêjin ku. ez hazir nînim bême mala we!” Xwendekar dibêjin ku. READING: Rojekê xwendekarên Mamosta Miho dibêjin ku. lê divê (=lazim e) hûn çay û mêst bidine min. tu ji me hiz nakî!” Mamosta Miho ji xwendekarên xwe rra dibêje ku. eger gerek her tişt hingiv. m. névê[t]) diyarî. f. vî şekirî. néşêm) dişînim divê[t] (neg. qayîl rrazî rrojekê rrût şekir. In Engliş. strip. these latter notions are expressed with the Subjunctive Mood. [= diz] ji bo[na] ku [+ subjunctive] ji … rra ku [+ subjunctive] lazim e mase (vê masê). m. I. şîr.000 GRAMMAR: a.we say "All your wişes are coming true".M. vî mastî. f. in that case 200 300 400 500 600 heftsid heştsid nehsid hezar 700 800 900 1. fall ill I am not you (s. must gift. after that.L. wê gavê NUMBERS: dusid sêsid çarsid pêncsid şeşsid I undress. Formation: The Subjunctive Mood is formed in much the same way as the • 58 • . şêkir. must table yoghurt I want [S] I get sick. [S: hingivîn] heravî. m.) are not question willing willing one day naked sugar milk then. present if it is necessary. m. mêst. mast. In Kurdiş. must everything honey thief in order to/that to if it is necessary. First we will discuss how the Subjunctive is formed. These may be contrasted with such constructions as "May all your wişes come true" or "Let it be". am able [S} I send it is necessary. min divêt nexweş dik’evim nînim nînî pirsyar. f. we will learn how to use it.as opposed to a wiş -. Subjunctive. I rob I can. or "It is".] (neg. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin dişêlînim dişêm [+ subj. when we express a fact -. m. •Ez têm (to come): Ez bêm/werim. the di. Here is an example: 53 NOTICE: Subjunctive Affirmative em bi-bîn-in in bi hûn bi-bîn-in in bi ew bi-bîn-in in bi ez tu ew bi-bîn-im im bi bi-bîn-î î bi bi-bîn-e e bi ez tu ew Subjunctive Negative né-bîn-im im em né-bîn-in in né né né-bîn-î î hûn né-bîn-in in né né né-bîn-e e ew né-bîn-in in né né 55 Ez nabînim na Ez nebînim ne 54 I don't see/find (that) I may not see/find With compound verbs.is replaced by né-. ew herre. In Behdinani. In the affirmative.prefix is optional.prefix is absent. ew [bi]bêje. ew be. In the negative.prefix of the Indicative Mood is replaced with bi-. em/hûn/ew bin •Ez dibêjim (to say): Ez [bi]bêjim. em/hûn/ew bên/werin.prefix is absent. tu herrî.M. the negative is Ez ve-né né-kim).is optional. Note that with the stem wer-. the preferred 56 53One could even say that the Imperative is derived from the Subjunctive. ew bê/were. bi-bîn-în în bi 55S: bi-bîn-ît ît(in in) bi 56S: ew bît. the bi. Hence: Ez ve-kim or Ez ve-bi-kim (in either case. IRREGULAR: •Ez im (to be): Ez bim. em/hûn/ew [bi]bêjin. bi. tu [bi]bêjî. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Imperative mood. Note that the bi. ew biçe. …] Note that with the stem herr-. tu biçî. tu bî. tu bêyî/werî. ná. em/hûn/ew herrin [or: Ez biçim. the bi. •Ez diherrim/diçim (to go): Ez herrim. em bîn 54S: • 59 • .L. in Kurdish the subjunctive takes the same person as the modal auxiliary dixwazim: Tu dixwazî bibînî You want to see [lit. 'I want that I see'] Note that in this construction that whereas in Engliş the infinitive remains unchanged regardless of the subject of the verb 'to want'.L.: Ez dixwazim bibînim = I want to see [lit. he-şe wants' they use min divêt.M. Note also that the negative is formed with né-: Min névêt = Ez naxwazim: e. Usage.g. te divêt. instead (see divêt below). etc. in a construction such as the following: Ez dixwazim [ku] tu bibînî I want you to see In Behdinan. 1) After auxiliary verbs: •Ez dixwazim = 'to want' + subj. to be able' + subj. •heye. hene (there is/are): hebe . 'You want that you see'] Em dixwazin bibînin We want to see [lit.: Ez [di]karim herrim I can go 57S: hebît • 60 • . hebin. wî-wê divêt. dixwazim means only 'I request'. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin form is dihêm. 'I ask for'.g.: e.: e.: Min divêt bibînim I want to see Min divêt [ku] tu bibînî I want you to see •Ez [di]karim = 'can. you want. 57 II. 'We want that we see'] The subjunctive may be in a different person. with a regularly formed subjunctive bihêm.g. For 'I want. : Divê [ku] bixwî You must eat (It is necessary that you eat) With a negative subjunctive.g.g.g.: Em nikarin te bibihîzin We cannot hear you In southern dialects.g. divêt expresses 'to want' in southern • 61 • . em/hûn/ew ní-karin ní ní ní ní e.M. e. ew ní-zane. the most common way to say 'I can' is Ez dişêm. have to' e. with oblique pronouns.: Ez dişêm biçim I can go Em neşêyn te bibihîzîn We cannot hear you •Ez [di]zanim = 'to know how to' + subj. tu ní-zanî. •divê[t] (NEGATIVE: névê[t]) = gerek = lazim e: né all three mean 'must.L.g. it means '[you] must not'.: Ez [di]zanim bileyîzim I know how to play NEGATIVE: Ez ní-zanim. The negative is formed with né-: Ez neşêm = Ez nikarim: e.: Divê [ku] néxwî né You must not eat (It is necessary that you not eat) Lazim e [ku] dêrî vené nékî You must not open the door As mentioned above. rather than dikarim. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin NEGATIVE: Ez ní-karim. ew ní-kare. em/hûn/ew ní-zanin ní ní ní ní e.: Hûn nizanin bi Kurmancî bipeyivin? Don't you know how to speak [in] Kurdish? Note that for both dikarim and dizanim the di.g. tu ní-karî.prefix is optional.: e. g.g.. 'let' is an imperative rather than a conjunction. 2) After conjunctions..: Bila herrin Let them go 58 da ku/ji bo[na] ku = 'in order to/that': e. bila niha bêjin If they have a question. Dîya min ji min rra diyarîyekê dişîne My mother to me a gift sends My mother sends me a gift. Word Order: Indirect Object. Eger pirsyareke wan hebe.g. E.M. bila/bira = 'let ': e. Note that in English. or: The teacher reads the stories to the students. The indirect object can be expressed in two alternative ways (which is also true of Engliş!): 1) With the ambiposition/circumfix/“sandwich” ji … rra/rre placed before the verb. ez hazir nînim bêm If you don't do so. hazir = 'ready' or 'willing' rrazî/qayîl = 'willing' e. Dersdar ji xwendekaran rra çîrokan dixwîne The teacher to the students stories reads The teacher reads the students the stories.Ez hazir im bixwînim Ew qayîl nîne bê I am ready to study He's not willing to come b. • 62 • . let them say so now Ku hûn wisa nekin.g. or: My mother sends a gift to me. Em diherrine bajêr ji bona ku nên bikirrin We are going to town in order to buy bread eger/heke/ku = 'if' e.. 58This is known as the jussive in traditional grammar books.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin dialects (Min divêt = Ez dixwazim).g.. I'm not willing to come 3) After certain adjectives. E. Question words (interrogatives) take the place in the sentence that their grammatical function requires. • 63 • . We will call this the dative construction. Ew van kitêban tîne = 'He brings these books'. but: Ew van kitêban tînit ite bavê xwe = 'He brings these books to his father'.. before this "preposition" the verb often takes the ending -it-. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin 2) With the oblique case placed after the verb. One is a transitive verb meaning 'to take or carry [away from the speaker]' .g. E.g.. Em We diherrin-e e are going-to bajêr Mêvan tên-e e The guests are coming-to Ez I kitêba xwe my book the city mala me our house didim-e e am giving-to te you Note that in the third person. Note that this construction is often preceded by the “preposition” -e suffixed to the preceding verb . E. dibim #1 & #2. E. Dîya min goşt dide My mother (the) meat gives to me Dersdar The teacher kitêban the books min dide xwendekaran gives to the students This latter construction is also used to express motion to which (generally with a verb of motion).g. Em We diherrin-e e are going-to } Mêvan tên-e e The guests are coming-to ku? ku derê? where? c.g.. 59The infinitive of this verb is birin..L.M.g. There are two verbs with the present tense dibim. This corresponds to tînim = 'to bring [toward the speaker]'.: 59 Vî nanî bibe bavê xwe! Take this bread to your father! Ez van kitêban dibime xwendingehê I take these books to school. E. at night is şevê.the form of dibim #1 is dibem (dibey .]. with mamosta following the verb. Translate: 1) I want to go to Bitlis [Bidlîs.) cannot eat my bread.dibet[in] .dibeyn . 9) Divêt ku birayê te mastê dîya xwe bibite bajêr. During the day. Another use of the oblique case is to express time.diben). 4) You (s. But we must go.  In southern dialects -.L. 8) I want her not to read those books. 10) We are ready to go to the town of Urmiye in order to buy honey. If we were to say 'Ez mamosta dibim' (or 'Ez mamostê ê dibim'). This verb patterns with the dative construction. I don’t want them to drink the milk. 8) Hevalên min diherrine bajêr da ku ew ji min rra mêst bikirrin û bînin. For example. in the winter is zivistanê. 3) They don’t want us to go to Mehabad. 3) Tu nabihîzî.M. 60Hence. 10) Ji bona ku tu bibî xwendekarekî baş. hevala te çi dibêjite te? 4) Hûn van kitêbên xwe yên kevn nafroşine me? 5) Çima ew naxwaze bêjite min [or. This is actually the verb 'to be'. and read his lesson. sugar and yoghurt. ez dixwazim te bibime zanîngehê. 2) They don’t want to go to Van [Wan. 7) Gava ku ew mêst dixwe. II. Don't you want to come too?. ji min rra bêje] ew çi dikirre gava ku ew diçite bajêr? 6) Ew sê zarrok mastê dîya xwe tînine mamostayên xwe li xwendingehê. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Note that dibim #1 often has both a direct object before the verb and an indirect object after the verb.both Hekkari and Behdinan -. ew tim nexweş dikeve. 2) Xûşka min dixwaze mamostayê xwe bibite malê. rrojekê = 'one day'. but şe does not want to. 61The infinitive of this verb is bûn. • 64 • . 1) Birayê min dixwaze bibe mamosta. We don't want them to come. 6) Let him sit beside [li ber] the table. In the summer is havînê. 60 61 The most important point to remember here is that word order is essential in distinguişing dibim #1 (=to take) from dibim #2 (=to become). 9) They do not know how to say their (own) names. f. d. Oblique case. in the daytime is rrojê. in southern dialects the two verbs are distinct: dibem = 'to take' and dibim = 'to become'. 7) The cats want to drink their milk. I don’t want her to read that red book. EXERCISES: I. f. it would mean 'I am taking the teacher (somewhere)'. affirmative & negative. Give the present subjunctive. Translate the following into Engliş. of the following verbs: •dibînim •dikim •dixwim •didim •rradibim •dibihîzim •vedixwim •tînim •dibim •difroşim III. but you must drink your tea. to say 'I am becoming a teacher' we would say 'Ez dibim[e] mamosta'. I am not ready to say that [ku] they are stupid.]. 5) Şe must come to my house. For example. The second verb with dibim in the present tense is the verb to become. KURDISH PLACE NAMES Bidlîs Ûrmiye Mehabad Wan • 65 • .M. Make up ten sentences using subjunctives and indirect objects. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin IV.L. wê tijê xencer be. Miho: Ew ê li ku derê gamêşekê bibîne ku bikirre? Kêfa min ji gamêşan rra nayê: ez ji wan ditirsim. ez ê herrim ji wan bipirsim û bêm. Tu li vir bimîne. Gulistan: Ew çi dibêjin? Bêrîvan: Ew dibêjin ‘Ser seran û ser çavan!’ Heftêya tê em ê pevrra [=bi hev rra] herrine mala dê û bavê min! Tu yê mêvana me bî! II. telefonî dê û bavê xwe dike. Bi çendê tu yê wî bifroşî? Ez ê wî bi hezar banqnotan bifroşim. Miho: Rêbaz: Miho: Meha tê ez ê hespê xwe bifroşim.L. û tê]. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Neha [9] {Pikkert 7} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: Zikê tijê birinc be. bipirse. Ango. divê netirsî bipirsî! Gulistan: Baş e: Heftêya tê tu yê çi bikî? Bêrîvan: Heftêya tê ez ê herrime mala xwe. Tu çima dipirsî? Gulistan: Çimkî heftêya tê ez naxwazim li vir bi tenê bimînim. Ez dixwazim bi te rra bêm. bipirse! Navê[t] bitirsî. Gulistan: Heta kengî tu yê li wê derê bimînî? Bêrîvan: Ez ê pênc rrojan li wê derê bimînim. lê ez ditirsim ku tu yê bêjî ‘Nexêr! Tu nikarî bi min rra bêyî! Lazim e ku tu li vî bajarî bimînî. Gulistan: Ez dixwazim tiştekî ji te bipirsim. Gelo tu dixwazî wî bikirrî? Tu ji hespan hiz dikî? Rêbaz: Ez gelekî ji hespan hiz dikim. [Bêrîvan derdikeve. • 66 • .’ Bêrîvan: Ez nikarim tutiştî bibêjim bêî ku îzinê ji dê û bavê xwe bixwazim. DIALOGUE: I.M. Bêrîvan: Kerem ke. lê sala tê bavê min dê çêleka xwe bifroşe ü gamêşekê bikirre. /f.M. horse heyv. f. f. stomp on pê rra [=bi wî/wê rra]with him/her sal. year •sala tê next year ser seran û ser çavan! welcome! • 67 • . f.. be afraid of [someone] gelekî very gelo …? interrogative particle hesp.L. [S: heyv] month •meha tê next month nîvrro. noon paş after p’evrra [S: pêkve] together p’ê li … dikim to cruş.[also: panqnot](Turkish) lira bêî ku [+ subjunctive] without . month [S] heftê.-ing bi çendê? for how much? ç’êlek. moon. f. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Rêbaz: Tu çima ji wan ditirsî? Miho: Çimkî ez her ditirsim ku ew ê pê li min bikin û min bikujin! VOCABULARY: banqnot. week •heftêya tê next week heta until îzinê (dixwazim) (to ask for) permission k’engî? when? k’êfxweş happy li vir here li wê derê = li wir there mange . m. [=ç’êlek]cow meh. f. f. pl. f. f.. parents dikujim to kill ditirsim [+ji] to fear [someone]. [=mange] cow çimkî [=ji ber ku] because dê û bav. f. tomach NUMBERS: du hezar sê hezar çar hezar pênc hezar şeş hezar 2.) will see s/he will see they will see • 68 • .) will see you (pl. Affirmative: 'future marker' dê [variants: wê or -ê] + present subjunctive.: ez dê bîn-im em dê bîn-în tu dê bîn-î hûn dê bîn-in ew dê bîn-ît[in] ew dê bîn-in I will see we will see you (s.000. The particle dê is followed by the naked present stem without any prefix.000 9. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin sib[eh]ê [S: subahî] tomorrow telefonî … dikim to call … on the phone.000 heft hezar heşt hezar neh hezar deh hezar mîlyon 7.000 8.g. m. Future tense. dagger zik. ring up t’ijî full t’ucar never t’utişt nothing xencer. Personal pronouns combine with the future marker.000 5. the Future Affirmative is formed slightly differently. The future tense (e.000 GRAMMAR: a. 'I will see') is formed as follows: I.) will see s/he will see they will see  In Behdinan.g.L.000 6.M. as follows: Affirmative ez ê bi-bîn-im em ê bi-bîn-in tu [y y]ê ê bi-bîn-î hûn ê bi-bîn-in ew ê bi-bîn-e ew ê bi-bîn-in I will see we will see you (s.000 10.000 3.) will see you (pl.000 1.000 4. e.. ) won't see you (pl. etc.M. There is no single answer regarding the correctness of such forms. [also: Ez ê biçim. Ez nabînim = I don't see. •to be: Ez ê bim. tu yê herrî. etc. etc. Negative: identical with present indicative: Negative ez na-bîn-im na em na-bîn-in na tu na-bîn-î na hûn na-bîn-in na ew na-bîn-e na ew na-bîn-in na I won't see we won't see you (s. tu nabî. tu yê bikaribî. Because they do in fact exist.] (in Behdinan: Ez dê çim) negative: Ez naherrim. (in Behdinan: Ez dê zanim) negative: Ez nizanim. tu nizanî. we are mentioning them. albeit only in passing. (in Behdinan: Ez dê bêjim) • 69 • . •to be able: Ez ê bikaribim. I don't find. (in Behdinan: Ez dê şêm) negative: Ez nikarim. Note the future tense of the following verbs: •to know: Ez ê bizanibim.] •to say: Ez ê [bi]bêjim. etc. negative: Ez nabim. tu naçî. etc. •to go: Ez ê herrim. tu yê bî. tu nikarî. In some regions. tu yê bizanibî. etc. but many people consider this to be unacceptable usage. etc. etc. I won't see. [also: Ez naçim. etc. I won't find. tu naherrî. forms such as Ezê nebînim exist. III.L. tu yê biçî. etc.) won't see s/he won't see they won't see Therefore. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin II. etc. tu yê [bi]bêjî. these are only irregular in the way that they form the subjunctive.g.or intend to charge for it -. EXERCISES: I. the oblique case can be either qaweyê yê or qawê ê.in bibîne.) = 'coffee' as an example. In Engliş. For how much? When you tell how much you paid for something -. Let us take the noun qawe (f. 7) Do you [pl.g.or qawa a-. The ezafeh of qawe can be either qaweya ya.in Kurdiş you use the preposition bi: e.] want to stay in this city? We • 70 • . For example. milk.L. 5) When will your parents sell their horse? They will take him to Van next month in order to sell him.000 liras. b.M. A second way is to start the sentence with gelo.. 'He never doesn't want to go'] c. In Kurdiş. He will ask us what we will do. Nouns that end in -e e. Translation: 1) He asks us what we are doing. 2) Cats are afraid of dogs.) = 'table' and mange (f. there are several possible ways to change a statement into a question. it is correct to use double negatives. Bi çendê tuyê wî bifroşî? = How much will you sell it for? Ezê wî bi hezar banqnotan bifroşim = I will sell it for 1. but (lê) I will come to your house tomorrow.: Ez nikarim tutiştî bêjim ni I can't say anything [lit. we must add the auxiliary verb do. when we want to change a statement into a question. There are two inflections that are possible: 1) ezafeh and 2) the oblique case. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin negative: Ez nabêjim.g. yielding "Does he want to see my father?".. nabin Strictly speaking. This can transform any (yes-no) statement into a question. There is some variety in the inflection of nouns that end in -e. dê hebin (in Behdinan: Dê hebît) negative: Nabe. •there is: Dê hebe. etc. Double negatives. e. Gelo ew dixwaze bavê min bibîne? e. 6) For (bi) how much will your friends sell the cow? They will sell her for 1200 liras. 4) Next week my sister will go to Diyarbakir with her husband in order to buy bread. When will dogs be afraid of cats?. tu nabêjî. and new şirts. 3) I cannot come study with (bi…rra) you today. e. So also mase (f. In Kurdiş.in dixwaze and -bîn. The simplest way is simply to change the intonation: "Ew dixwaze bavê min bibîne" --> "Ew dixwa aze bavê min bibîîne?" with rising intonation on -xwaz. Interrogative particle. if we wiş to change the sentence "He wants to see my father" into a question.) = 'cow' d. 'I can't say nothing'] Ew tucar naxwaze herre na He doesn't ever want to go [lit. we often need to change the verb. Likewise. 7. 1. Make the sentences in Exercise II. 5) Em ê wan çil kûçikan bidine mamostayên xwe. 493. Write out and say the following numbers in Kurdiş: 173. 494. V. 8) Are her children afraid of their [own] horses? When will they sell them?. 9) Zarokên me dê bi zarokên we rra bileyîzin. 8) Paş nîvrro dîya min dê telefonî min bike.654. 9) I must ask my brother if he will go to Zakho (Zaxo.) next year. III.508. 238. f. KURDISH PLACE NAMES Dîyarbekr [Amed] Zaxo • 71 • . 5. 3. 625. Translate into English: 1) Ew du diz dê bavê te bikujin. 8. IV.L.000. 3) Tu yê hezar û yek pirsyaran ji min bipirsî. 4) Hûn ê van sê pisîkan bifroşin.261. into questions. II. 10) Paş nîvrro ez ê gelek birçî bim. into the negative. 6) Ew xwendekara nû dê van pênc kitêban bixwîne. Change the sentences in Exercise II. 7) Ew ê li vî bajarî bimînin. I want to go with him.847.972. 2) Ez ê hingiv û goşt bikirrim. 46. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin will be very happy if you [will] stay.M. 10) How many thieves will strip a naked woman? I don’t know: you must ask your teacher. M. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Pronunciation drills ev ew vê wê van wan vîn viyan xwe xwê bixwe bixwîne kêç’ keç’ keys k’ês k’es kirin k’irrîn karîn digrim digrîm digerrim kurr k’ûr kor guh gû got din dîn dên deyn şiv şîv şev şêr şîr şerr şî’ir te tê terr t’êr ji jî jê beş bêş baş dibe dibêje divê davêje dev dêv dew dêw ew dev ev dew wan devan ew dew ev dev van devên wan ew devê wê ev dewê wê ew devê we ev dewê we keç’ keç’ik keç’ek keç’ikek nîv nivîn nivistin nivîsîn binive! binivîse! nîvişk wê divêt we divêt navê we navê wê navê vê keç’ê navê wî kurrî navê vê xwendek’arê navê wê keç’ê navê vî kurrî navê wî xwendek’arî • 72 • .L. The snakes’ young are dirtier than the snakes. Ew ji min gelekî mezintir e. Mamik: •Hilindir milindir. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Deha [10] {Pikkert 9.M.L. Damascus is sugar. Miho: Tu ji zarokên xûşka xwe mezintir î? Ango. Ez çar salan jê mezintir im. ji maran tazîtir e. p. Miho: Tu ji hemiyan mezintir î? Bêrîvan: Nexêr. Hilindir milindir. 62See also Lescot #90-94. #165. Sê zarokên wan hene. 212. [kurr = dû. p. •Şam şekir e . ne wisa? Rêbaz: Belê. the son is taller than the father. sweeter than sugar.lê welat şîrintir e. Seydayê Miho. 202. Rêbazo! Birayê te Bêkes ji te piçûktir e. but home is sweeter.4} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan : 62 •Ji guran birçîtir e. Miho: Baş e. ji şêkir şîrintir e. #272. Navê mêrê wê Xemgîn e. … Bêrîvanê! Çend xûşk û birayên te hene? Bêrîvan: Du xûşk û sê birayên min hene. Hungrier than wolves. bav = agir] DIALOGUE: I. Du birayên min yên din û herdu xûşkên min ji min piçûktir in. Rêbazo? Rêbaz: Belê! Xûşkeke min jî heye.ji hesin girantir e. hemî xwarzîyên te ji te piçûktir in? Rêbaz: Ez pênc salan ji mezintirîn xwarzîyê xwe mezintir im. Sleep -. kurr ji bavê bilindtir. more naked than snakes (said of very poor people) •Xew . p. Miho: T’u xûşk û birayên te yên din tunin. birayê min Lezgîn ji min mezintir e.it’s heavier than iron. Miho: Xwendekarno! Îro ezê ji we bixwazim ku hûn behsa xûşk û birayên xwe bikin. •Têjikên maran ji maran pîstir in. 225 • 73 • . [S: gurg] wolf here/herî most. fire baran. m. êgir. smoke dûr [+ ji] far [from] gelî [+ oblique case plural] plural vocative particle: O [people]! giran heavy. f.mala kê ye? Bêrîvan: Seyda. talk about bêtir more bi gotineke din in other words bilind high. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Miho: Bi gotineke din. ez dibêjim ku mala Şêxmûs ji hemiyan dûrtir e. f. m. Rêbaz: Erê. tu pênc salan ji nuxurîyê xûşka xwe mezintir î. mala te dûrtir e yan nêzîktir e? Gelawêj: Mala min nêzîktir e. rain behsa … dikim [S: behsê…]I discuss. snake mirîşk. -est hesin. f.M. Miho: Mala wî çend dûr e? Gelawêj: Mala wî ne li vî bajarî ye! Ew li gundekî dijî! VOCABULARY: agir. II. than he/her kêm little. dûrtirîn mal --. world dû. close nîv half • 74 • . Gelawêjê. m. rrast e. Bêrîvan: Seyda! Mala Gelawêjê ji hemiyan nêzîktir e! Miho: Bi rrastî? Baş e. it falls (of rain or snow) dinya. m. kilometer lê feminine vocative particle lo masculine vocative particle mar. season (of the year) dibare it rains. f. library k’îjan? which? kîlometre.L. Mala min kêmtir ji kîlometreyekê ji vir dûr e. Miho: Ferhado! Mala te ji xwendingehê dûr e yan nêzîk e? Ferhad: Mala min du kîlometreyan ji xwendingehê dûr e. tall çêtir better demsal. Miho: Û tu. expensive gundî. m. peasant gur. Mamosta. m. [S: asin] iron (mineral) jê [=ji wî/wê] from him/her. villager. f. few k’itêbxane. chicken nêzîk near. f. vî agirî. dirêj long xweş xirab bad. f. E. f. niece [child of one's sister] SEASONS: bihar. m. m. payîzê zivistan. m. sleep xwarzî. oldest child p’itir more [S] p’îs dirty rrast right sar cold seyda. f. country. fewer A few common adjectives have irregular forms: çêtir tir better (also: baştir tir. zivistanê 63 fall. -er t’u [S: çu] no.. The comparative degree of adjectives. homeland xew. [=mamosta] teacher Şam. havînê spring in the spring summer in the summer payîz. vî welatî. kevn kêm dirêjtir tir longer pleasant xweştir tir more pleasant ruined xirabtir tir worse old (things) kevntir tir older little. f. whelp. [also: çêjik] cub. m. e.g.&f. qenctir tir) bêtir tir. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin nuxurî. ji min bilindtir tir 63The higher/taller than me children of one's brother are called birazî. nephew.&f. welêt.g. ze‘ftir tir) meztir tir bigger (also: mezintir tir) “Than” is expressed by the preposition ji. m. f. f. biharê havîn. pitir tir more (also: pirrtir tir. autumn in the fall winter in the winter GRAMMAR: a. young (of animal) -tir more. none welat.M.L. few kêmtir tir less. Damascus tazî [=rrût] naked têjik.. Add -tir to the positive (simple) degree. • 75 • . 36 • 76 • . Diyarbakir is the largest city in Kurdistan.g. is the greatest/largest place in all of Kurdistan III. Did you notice that in the last sentence the Kurdish says literally "the largest city of Kurdistan"? In English we can say "the best little boy in the world". I. We know how to say "my book" (kitêba min) and "the new book" (kitêba nû). ji hemîyan + comparative adjective [-tir] (than all) (more [X]) ji hemîyan çêtir = the best (of all) ji hemîyan pîstir = the dirtiest II. In Kurdish. ya for feminine singular. "the prettiest garden in the city". there are two ways to render this! The simplest way is with independent ezafeh markers: yê for masculine singular.M.: Xweştirîn rroja a payîzê ê or Roja a payîzê ê ya ji hemîyan xweştir the loveliest day in/of the fall Dirêjtirîn rroja a salê ê or the longest day of the year Roja a salê ê ya herî dirêj c. we also say "the shortest month of the year". "the greatest day of my life".. here/herî + here mezin herî xweş IV. this is expressed with an ezafeh construction. etc. etc. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin ji şêkir şîrintir tir sweeter than sugar b. but how can we say "my new book"? As with most things in Kurdiş. The superlative degree. e. p. simple adjective + -tirîn [under Persian & Sorani influence] mezintirîn tirîn the largest 64 simple adjective the largest the nicest Note that this precedes the noun it modifies: Dîyarbekr mezintirîn tirîn bajarê Kurdistanê ye.L.4. Several different constructions are used. Secondary ezafeh. li + 1 Li Diyarbekir noun + simple adjective 2 3 Kurdistanê Dîyarbekir mezin e. 64see Pikkert 9. -ê to feminine singular nouns.: qelema mine e dirêj = qelema min ya dirêj = my long pen destê teyî yî rrast = destê te yê rrast = your right hand kitêbên wêyî yî nû = kitêbên wê yên nû = her new books qelema mine e dirêje e nû = qelema min ya dirêj ya nû = my long. one is attached to the noun by ezafeh and the second follows with an independent ezafeh marker . Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin and yên [S: yêt] for plural. [I am older than him by four years] 65Another way to put this might be as follows: when you have two modifiers for the same noun. new books d. one way of saying "the longest day of the year" was rroja salê ya herî dirêj. to express measurement: Ez çar salan jê mezintir im = I am four years older than him. in many dialects of Kurdiş a special form of the name is used: the vocative case. rrojekê = 'one day'. if we want to add a modifier to a noun which is already modified (by a noun. the endings -î (masculine singular and all plural nouns) and -e (feminine singular) are added at the end of the first ezafeh construction. 65 66 The second way to render such constructions is like this: kitêba mine e nû. we must use secondary ezafeh. In other words. adjective. Oblique case. e.g. When you address a person or call him or her by name. one is attached to the noun by primary ezafeh and the second follows with a secondary ezafeh marker. Vocative. The rule is that when you have two modifiers for the same noun. In addition. Likewise. add -o to masculine singular nouns. For example. lê (feminine singular) and gelî (+ oblique plural [-an]) may be added as well. and -no to plural nouns. E. "my new book" would be kitêba min ya nû. • 77 • . "his old şirt" would be kirasê wî yê kevn. In the dialogue of this chapter. we have seen more extended examples of the oblique case. 16. or pronoun).M. 66This is a paraphrase of Pikkert #2. To form this case. Notice also that in the last section.10. Instead of the independent ezafeh markers. the particles lo (masculine singular). Hence. In Lesson 8 we mentioned that the oblique case is used to express time.: lo Bêkeso o! O Bêkes! lê Bêrîvanê ê! O Bêrîvan! gundîno no! gelî gundîyan yan! }O villagers! e.g. new pen kitêbên wêyî yî nûyî yî mezin = kitêbên wê yên nû yên mezin = her big.L. p. 5) Hevlêr ji Mehabadê kevntir e. 13) My new friend.xûşka te ye!. IV. 10) Havînê. 4) Kîjan bajar xweştir e: Silêmanî yan Kerkûk?. new teacher. 7) Mezintirîn bajarê Kurdistana Tirkîyê kîjan bajar e? Dîyarbekr e. 7) Your brother's oldest şirt. 2) Which is the coldest season? Winter is the coldest. 3) Let your brother eat [bread. 5) Is your niece fatter than your sister? No. KURDISH PERSONAL NAMES Male: Şêxmûs KURDISH PLACE NAMES • 78 • . 2) The thirstiest student in the school. He is hungrier than you. û Zaxo ji Amêdîyê mezintir e. 10) My eldest child will come see me in the fall. 8) They say that Seattle is the wettest city in the world. Make up five sentences using comparative and superlative forms of adjectives. 9) Xweştirîn demsal kîjan e? Bihar ji hemîyan xweştir e. [My house is far from the school by two kilometers] EXERCISES: I. 3) Silêmanî ji Hevlêrê piçûktir e. 11) Your old book.. 15) Their large. 2) Dihok ji Zaxoyê mezintir e. are you the biggest son of your parents or not?. Translate: 1) My dog is smarter than your nephew. a meal]. 6) Do you see those two men? They are father and son. Kerkûk ji Hevlêrê mezintir e. my niece is thin -. 5) The bluest eyes in this world. 3) My father's fattest sister. 6) The coldest room in the house. Say each of these sentences in more than one way: 1) The newest book in the library. 6) Şîrintirîn keça xwendingeha me -. and five sentences using secondary ezafeh. II.e. 14) Our smart. 9) What will you do in the summer? I will play with my nieces and nephews. pleasant city. 9) The worst school in the city. 12) Their red chicken. [I am older than my oldest nephew by five years] Mala min du kîlometreyan ji xwendingehê dûr e = My house is two kilometers [far] from the school.M. 10) The hottest month of the year. 8) Germtirîn demsal kîjan e? Havîn ji hemîyan germtir e. bajarekî ji Mêrdînê hişktir tune. yan bi gotineke din. there is no city colder than Erzurum [a city colder than Erzurum there is not]. Translate: 1) Hevlêr mezintirîn bajarê Kurdistana 'Îraqê ye? Nexêr. 4) Are you your father's eldest child? In other words.L. Amed ji hemîyan mezintir e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Ez pênc salan ji mezintirîn xwarzîyê xwe mezintir im = I am five years older than my oldest nephew. 4) The wettest day of the year. i. ne wisa?. 7) In the winter. 8) Our chicken's whitest egg. The father is much şorter than his son. III. every day it rains!.my sister is much fatter than her!. M. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Amêdî Erzirom Hevlêr Kerkûk Mêrdîn Silêmanî • 79 • .L. Ferhad: Em?! Tu bi tenê neçûyî malê? Bêrîvan: Nexêr. Ferhad: Xebera te ye! II. Ferhad: Û tu kengî zivirrî vî bajarî? Dihî yan pêr? Bêrîvan: Dihî em zivirrîn. tu jê rreştir be. Ferhad: Gulistan çima bi te rra hat? Ew çima li vir nema. •Ber baranê rrevîm. 4. 'was'] black. Ferhad: Tu çend rrojan li wir mayî? Bêrîvan: Ez pênc rrojan li wir mam. [ber = ji ber = from in front of] DIALOGUE: I. Çêtir bû ku ew bi min rra hat.em pevrra çûne serêdanê. Rêbaz: Seydayê Miho. •Rûnişt li germa.1.2. yan jî ew çima neçû dê û bavê xwe bibîne? Bêrîvan: Ew bi min rra hat ji ber ku mala dê û bavê wê gelekî dûr e. lê niha gelekî • 80 • Rêbaz: .M. tu kengî hatî vî bajarî? Miho: Ez pêrar hatime vî bajarî -. Ferhad: Çawa derbaz bû? Baş bû? Bêrîvan: Erê! Gelekî xweş derbaz bû! Kêfa Gulistanê ji bajarê min rra hat. ez çûm dê û bavê xwe bibînim. Tu li kuderê mezin bûyî? Miho: Ez li gundekî li bakura Diyarbekrê mezin bûm. hevala min Gulistan bi min rra bû -.6} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: •Roj rreş bû. bin zîpikê ketim. I landed under the hail.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Yanzdeha [11] {Pikkert 4. you be blacker than it. He sat around when it was warm. Rêbaz: Gundê te mezin e yan piçûk e? Miho: Wê demê gundê me mezin bû. If the day is [lit. da ku heftêyekê li vir bi tenê nemîne. rrabû li serma. I ran from the rain. Bêrîvan: Heftêya çûyî.ango berî du salan. he got up when it got cold. 4. Em di wî bajarî da gelekî gerryan. run away serêdan. vi. yan li wir man? Miho: Dîya min li gund ma. floor. f. everybody heftêya çûyî last week ji mêj ve for/since a long time k’ar. visit serma. rrojhilat. vi.to look for. vi. the cold sêv. f. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin piçûk e. day before yesterday (par na) pêrar two years ago. m. çû bajêr . go or come back zîpik. year before last rrevîn (dirrevim). mamosta Miho? Miho: Bi rrastî ez nizanim -. ground êdî nema it's all gone. hail [form of precipitation] DIRECTIONS: bakur. vi. to return. f. f. lê êdî nema.M. to flee. rrojava. required (to do stg. seek ma signals a question mecbûr [+ subjunctive] forced. earth. f. search. • 81 • south west . to roam. Rêbaz: Bavê te çima ji gund derket? Ew çima çû bajêr? Miho: Bavê min çûye bajêr da ku li kar bigerre. vi. çû bajêr. 67or. Niha herkes mecbûr e ji gund derkeve û herre bajêr. to pass dihî [also: duh] yesterday ‘erd. 67 VOCABULARY: berî before (of time).ji mêj ve ye ez neçûme gundê xwe. Rêbaz: Li gund kar tune? Miho: Di wextê xwe da kar hebû. there is no more firrîn (difirrim). in the past zivirrîn (dizivirrim). to fall lê gerryan (li …digerrim). çûye ye bajêr. to fly gerryan (digerrim). f. Herkes rrevî. Rêbaz: Dê û bavê te jî ji gund derketin. north east başûr. cold weather. f. f. Rêbaz: Ma kes li gundê we nemaye. escape. wander herk’es everyone.L. vi. f. f. labor k’etin (dik’evim). time derbaz bûn (derbaz dibe).) meha çûyî last month par last year pêr two days ago. vi. once. work. lê bavê min rrabû. apple wê demê = di wextê xwe da formerly. ago dem. dan n = 'to give'). kirrîn). dixwazim = 'I want'. At the end of this chapter. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Rojhilata Navîn Middle East GRAMMAR: a. except that the third person singular receives no ending (-ø). which we will also be introducing at this time. the infinitive is the basic form of the verb preceded by the preposition 'to'. bûn n = 'to be'. This is formed by removing the final -[i]n from the infinitive.seen. take the infinitive of the verb. 'to see'. hatin = 'to come' Affirmative Ez hatim im 'I came' Em hatin in 'we came' Tu hatîî 'you (s. This information will enable you to form the past tense. Up till now we have been referring to verbs by the first person singular of the present tense.. dikim = 'I do'. [intransitive]. xwestin = 'to want').. From now on.to the affirmative form. etc. dîtin in = 'to see'). we will be introducing the past stem of the verb system. hatin in = 'to come'. dikirrim = 'I buy'. To form this tense.g. 'to go'. For this lesson.. it is possible to conjugate verbs fully.g. we will refer to verbs by their infinitive forms (kirrîn = 'to buy'.. 'to be'.g. Whereas in Engliş it is necessary to learn three principal parts of every verb (e. Notice that ne. go .went .) came' Hûn hatin in 'you (pl.. E. hatin in --> hat.M.). see saw .: 'to eat'.g. xwestin in = 'to want'. çûn n = 'to go'.) or intransitive (vi.is identical with the negative particle for the Present Subjunctive.walked. The endings are added to this past tense stem. e. you need only concern yourself with verbs marked as vi.g.L.. we have included a table showing the infinitives of all the verbs introduced thus far as well as whether they are transitive (vt. In English.walked . Note that infinitives with consonant stems end in -in (e.g. dikirrim) and infinitive (e.g.g. e. walk . çûn n --> çû. Paradigm: I. etc. kirin = 'to do'. and those with vowel stems end in -n (e. and remove the final -[i]n.). in Kurdish verbs only have two principal parts: present stem (e.. Past Tense of Intransitive Verbs [vi. The endings for the past tense of intransitive verbs are the same as those for the present tense.gone. If we know these two forms and whether the verb is transitive or intransitive.) came' Ew hat 's/he came' Ew hatin in 'they came' 68 68S: em hatîn în • 82 • . The negative is formed by prefixing né.] With this lesson. I. girîn n = 'to cry'. L. consider the following: We can say 'Şe closes the door'.) went' Ew çû 's/he went' Ew çûn n 'they went' 69 Negative Ez néçûm né m Em néçûn né n Tu néçûyî né yî Hûn néçûn né n Ew néçû né Ew néçûn né n 'I didn't go' 'we didn't go' 'you (s. However. This distinction is basic to the Kurdiş verb system.) went' Hûn çûn n 'you (pl.) didn't go' 'you (pl. In all three cases. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Negative Ez néhatim im 'I didn't come' né Em néhatin in 'we didn't come' né Tu néhatî î 'you (s. if we say 'She goes to the city'. it would make no sense to ask 69S: em çûyn yn • 83 • . In the next chapters we will introduce the past tense of transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object). 'to see' and 'to read' are transitive verbs: they require direct objects. or 'She laughs'. or 'She lives in Paris'.M. çûn = 'to go' Affirmative Ez çûm m 'I went' Em çûn n 'we went' Tu çûyî yî 'you (s. or 'Şe reads a book'.) didn't come' né Ew néhat 's/he didn't come' né Ew néhatin in 'they didn't come' né II. we can ask 'What (or whom) does şe close or see or read?': What does she close? answer: the door Whom does she see? answer: the boy What does she read? answer: a book This tells us that 'to close'. or 'Şe sees the boy'.verbs that do not take a direct object. To illustrate the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs in Engliş.) didn't come' né Hûn néhatin in 'you (pl.) didn't go' 's/he didn't go' 'they didn't go' It must be stressed that in this chapter we are dealing only with intransitive verbs -. The following verbs are intransitive: 70 •bûn (-im/dibim) •çûn (diçim/diherrim) •derk’etin (derdik’evim) •firrîn (difirrim) •girîn (dig[i]rîm) •hatin (têm) •hebûn (heye. tunebûn). talk' 'to get up. * Negative tune (pl.. However. go or come back' * 70One can think of examples in which these verbs could be made transitive in English (although not in Kurdish). • 84 • . be afraid of' 'to return. stay' 'to speak.g. go out' 'to fly' 'to cry' 'to come' 'to exist. e. to become' 'to go' 'to leave. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin *What does she go? *What does she laugh? *What does she live? This is because the verbs 'to go'.M. or 'to live a long life'. 'to laugh' and 'to live' are intransitive . run away' 'to sit' 'to stand. 'to go an extra mile'.L. escape. If the question makes grammatical sense and seems answerable. the verb is probably transitive. tunene). stop' 'to fear. ask the question 'What does s/he X?'. lie down' 'to flee. To test whether verb X is transitive or intransitive. search for' 'to remain. if the question seems not to make sense grammatically. hene) •jîn (dijîm) •k’enîn (dik’enim) •k’etin (dik’evim) •lê gerryan (lê digerrim) •man (dimînim) •peyivîn (dipeyivim) •rrabûn (rradibim) •rrazan (rradizêm) •rrevîn (dirrevim) •rrûniştin (rrûdinim) •sekinîn (disekinim) •tirsîn (ditirsim) •zivirrîn (dizivirrim) 'to be. look for. rise' 'to go to sleep. there is/are' 'to live' (≠ to die) 'to laugh' 'to fall' 'to seek. the verb is more than likely intransitive. or 'to laugh up a storm'. past tense tunebû (pl. I see.) sister is a student in this school. fix çêkir-in vt. I cut birrî-n vt. tomorrow-->yesterday).making all necessary changes (e. Translate the following sentences into Kurmanji. I find dît-in vt. 5) Your (pl. I hear bihîst-in vt. He did not laugh.) will go to Van next year. I say. I leave.M. VI. Another proverb: •Gerîyam dora dinê. 2) They fell. 9) Did the child cry? No. and we have eggs. into the negative. Translate: 1) We stayed.) have apples. 4) He laughed. 5) I lived. You were not. 3) His şirt will fall on the floor ('erdê). I become bû-n vi.he laughed. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin EXERCISES: I. I take. 2) My friend (f. Put the sentences in Exercise II. II. 12) I looked for work to the south of [li başûra] that city. V. I go çû-n vi. 11) What did you look for in Diyarbekir?. xilas nebûm ji mirinê (Z-1440) Infinitives of verbs introduced up to lesson 11: Present Tense çêdikim dadigrim datînim derdik’evim derdixim dibare dibêjim dibihîzim dibim I dibim II [S: dibem] dibirrim dibînim diçim didim [S: didem] Meaning Infinitive ± Transitivity I make. 4) We will be afraid of your dogs tomorrow. I cause to leave derxist-in vt.. We did not stay. tell got-in vt.L. Put the sentences in Exercise II. exit derk’et-in vi. I fill up dagirt-in vt. IV. carry [away]bir-in vt.) flew. 8) What was there? There were two cats. 10) Why is Bêkes crying? III. into the past (negative) -. 3) You (sing. falls barî-n vi. into the past (affirmative). and answer them. 7) Who fell? No one fell. 9) The chicken will fly to Mardin tomorrow. it rains. 1) I will come to your house next month. 8) The boys come out of the school. They have not fallen for a long time. I put.g. Put the sentences in Exercise II. 6) You (pl. I give da-n vt. he has not cried for a long time -. 7) Your sister is laughing. 10) When did the guests come? They did not come yesterday. Make up ten questions using intransitive past tense verbs. You didn't fly. • 85 • . 6) You (pl. place danî-n [S: dana-n] vt. I didn’t live.) were. I ask for xwest-in I eat xwar-in I read. vi. know [S} n[y]asî-n speak. vt. vi. vt. vt. vi. vt. stop sekinî-n I strip. am able şiya-n I send şand-in it breaks şkest-in I waş şûşt-in I fear. vt. look for lê gerrya-n I know nas kir-in I get up. cook pat-in I ask pirsî-n I stand. vi. I close girt-in cry girî-n go çû-n live jî[ya]-n can. vi. vt. vt. vt. vi. it is necessaryviya-n I want. rise rrabû-n I go to sleep rraza-n I sit rrûnişt-in I come hat-in I bring anî-n [S: îna-n] I open vekir-in I drink vexwar-in • 86 • vt. vi. vi. vi. vt. am afraid tirsî-n vi. am able karî-n vt. vi. . catch. vt. vt. vt. vt. vt. laugh k’enî-n do kir-invt. vt. I study xwend-in I know zanî-n I am aşamed fedî kir-in I understand fêm kir-in I tie girêda-n there is hebû-n I am bû-n I seek. vi. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin difroşim digrim digrîm diherrim dijîm [di]karim dik’enim dikim [S: dikem] dik’irrim dikujim dileyîzim dimînim din[y]asim dipeyivim dipêjim dipirsim disekinim dişêlînim dişêm dişînim dişkê dişom ditirsim divê[t] dixwazim dixwim [S: dixom] dixwînim dizanim fedî dikim fêm dikim girêdidim heye -im lê digerrim nas dikim rradibim rradizêm rrûdinim têm tînim vedikim vedixwim I I I I I I I I I I I I I I sell firot-in take. vt. vi. stay ma-n vi. vi. must. vi. vt. vt. kill kuşt-in play leyîst-in remain. vt. vt. purchase k’irrî-n vt. talk peyivî-n I bake. vt. rob şêland-in I can. buy. vi.L.M. ku jêrra dibêjin “xwaringeh”. Min kerek didû dîtin. dew çi ye -. ji te biçûktir in. Min ji bavê xwe pirsî.” Ez kenîm û min ji xwe rra got. “Bavo.li gundê me jî dew pirr e. Bajar gelekî mezin bû. li jor jî dîtî My lady. 220. ji gundê me mezintir bû. “Lawo. min tiştek dît. te çima ez anîm vê derê. lê li bajêr min tu hesp nedîtin. û gotina bavê xwe rrast dît. “Lawo.” Min fêm kir. û ji mêriv rra got. Nan e. diz im. “Du dew û du döneran ji me rra bîne. I have seen you from above 72 •Eger ez dîtim. it is a thief [lit. ku kêfa min gelek jê rra hat. min tu li jêr jî dîtî. wî destê min girt û ez birim cihekî. We said [it] then. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Donzdeha [12] {Pikkert 4. p. ez gelekî tirsîm. bavê min ez birim bajêr. Di gundê me da tiştekî wisa tune. Wextê ku wek te mezin dibin. Ez birçî bûm û min ji bavê xwe rra got. Min dîsa jê pirsî: “Bavo. [but] we didn't burn anything of it •Mirîşkê çav li betê kir. te çima birayên min yên biçûk jî neanîn?” Got.4. û di nava nên da goşt 71Lescot 72Lescot #40.4.M.4.. it's me. p. li cem dîya xwe bimînin. ku. qûna xwe ç’irrand The chicken imitated the bustard. Min tutişt fêm nekir. Li gund hesp ze‘f in. ew zivirrî û xwarina me danî ser masê. wê gavê. Min zanî. vî bajarî? Te çima ez anîm vî bajarê mezin?” Bavê min got. • 87 • . ezê wana jî bînim bajêr. #226. Emê kengî nan bixwin?” Bavê min tiştek negot. I have seen you from below.L. “Bavo. and tore its own backside 71 •Xanima min. ez birçî me. min nezanî ev meriv kî bû û çi ji me xwest. eger nedîtim. Gava em gihîştin bajêr. if they didn't see me.” Pênc deqe şûnda. ez im. 'I am a thief'] READING: Bavê min ez birime bajêr Wextê ku ez biçûk bûm. Lê min nezanî ‘döner’ çi ye. bila li malê. me tu jê nesot. If they saw me. Em li ber masekê rrûniştin.3. “Ez çiqas bextewar im ku bavê min merivekî wisa ye!” Hinekî paşê. min tukes nas nekir. û merivek hat û ji me pirsî: “Hûn dixwazin çi bixwin?” Min fêm nekir.6} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: •Me hingî got. 194. ew hê biçûk in. Bavê min kenî. tu mezin bûyî û lazim e ku tu bibînî dinya çiqas mezin e. o. later t’u [S: çu] no. bextewar cih. xwarina min ya here hizkirî. [li] çiqas? çiqas bextewar im ç’irrandin (diç’irrînim). f. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin heye. in the middle of dîsa[n] again döner [Turkish] gyros. Ji wê rrojê û were. m. f. as *This is past perfect. bed to copy s. imitate how much?.&f.M.(p’encera-. man. lamb cooked on a rotating spit 'emir. (one's) words.. rip drink made of yoghurt and water [Turkish ayran] di nava … da inside of. over s. a little bit hinekî paşê a little bit later hingî then.) şûnda after(wards). ev döner e. • 88 • . no one wek like. to burn (vt. f. * VOCABULARY: berx[ik]. to reach. m. m. Min di ‘emrê xwe da tiştekî wisa nexwaribû -ze‘f kêfa min jê rra hat. fortunate place. (‘emrê min) life(time). Ev goşt jî goştê berxan e. lucky. [also: cî] ç’av kirin. dêw. vt. mêriv. vi. what one says hinekî a little. Ez dikarim bêjim ku min hiz ji dönerê kir. backside rrast dîtin to consider [something] right or correct sotin (disojim). şawermah. f.o. f. bet. within. vt. to say gotin.L. donkey k’erek didû a donkey or two li cem at the house of. vt. rear end. vt. none t’uk’es nobody. vî dewî. how how lucky I am to tear. See lesson 13. bustard glad.'s house meriv. lamb type of duck. person paşê after(wards) p’encere. favorite jêr below ji … û were ever since [T -den beri] jor above k’er. age gihîştin (-gih[êj]-). at that time hizkirî belovèd. dew. m. vî merivî. arrive at gotin (-bêj-). m. p’encerê) window qûn. 'je suis allé'. 1966). etc. E. Past tense of transitive verbs [vt.)'. behave differently in the past tenses from intransitive verbs (vi. while the verb takes no 73For the comparative linguists among our readers. 73 Historically. şe. the distinction which German. [S: Pêncşembî] Înî. he. Problèmes de linguistique générale (Paris : Gallimard. f. The logical direct object (the door) becomes the grammatical subject. xwaringeh. French.]. when (conj. f. For an interesting discussion of this. [S: Sêşembî] Tuesday Çarşem.g. f.[S: ‰kşembî] Sunday Duşem. The type of construction which occurs in the past tense of transitive verbs in Kurdiş is called an ergative construction. Formation: 1) As with intransitive verbs (vi. drawing parallels with the ergative in Iranian languages. Italian. the past stem is formed by removing the final [i]n from the infinitive. her. and Danish maintain between transitive and intransitive verbs in the past tense is comparable to the distinction made in Kurdish.L. instead of saying ‘I (you.) did something’. E. German 'ich habe gesehen' vs. him. Dutch. vol. see: Émile Benveniste. [S: (H)eynî] rroja ~ê rroja Duşemê Saturday Thursday Friday on ~ on Monday GRAMMAR: a. f. in Kurdiş one is actually saying ‘something was done by me (you. French 'j'ai vu' vs.. esply chap. 'ich bin gegangen'. the past tense of a transitive verb in an ergative construction is turned into a passive construction. f. in that case food restaurant DAYS OF THE WEEK: Şemî. f. 'I opened the door' becomes 'The door was opened by me'.) then. [S: Duşembî] Monday Sêşem.e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin wextê (ku) wê gavê xwarin.M..). 1. kir-in girt-in vekir-in --> --> --> kir girt vekir xwar-in dît-in anî-n --> anî --> --> xwar dît 2) The logical subject goes into the oblique case.g. 'sono andato'. f. Therefore.). f. [S: Şembî] Yekşem.g. Italian 'ho visto/veduto' vs. 176-186. verbs that take a direct object. b. etc. • 89 • . f. etc. XV "La construction passive du parfait transitif". and the logical subject (I) becomes the grammatical agent (by me). i. Transitive verbs (vt.). e. pp.. [S: Çarşembî] Wednesday Pêncşem.. te ve-né né-xwar. unless they are agreeing with a plural direct object. wê né-kir … né né né né min ve-né né-xwar. Ez dikim I do ----> Min kir I did (by me was done) Tu dikî You do ----> Te kir You did (by you was done) Ew dike S/he does ----> Wî/wê kir He/şe did (by him/her was done) Em dikin We do ----> Me kir We did (by us was done) Hûn dikin ----> You do We kir You did (by you was done) Ew dikin They do Wan kir They did (by them was done) ----> 74 c.g. due to influence from foreign languages and/or internal transformation. wî né-kir. etc. 74In the north. In this course.g. Min derî vekir. Ez dêrî vedikim.see d. If the logical direct object is plural. wî ve-né né-xwar. Min derî vekirin in. e. I open the doors s. the verb must agree with it in number. wê ve-né né-xwar … d. E. historically By me the door was opened.to the verb. below). forms such as wan kirin in. By me the doors s were opened. 1996).L.. the negative of the past tense is formed by prefixing stressed né. 183 p. The Decay of Ergativity in Kurmanci : Language Internal or Contact Induced? (Tilburg : Tilburg University Press. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin personal ending.. I opened the doors s.g. • 90 • . (The personal ending of the verb is determined by the person and number of the logical direct object -. te né-kir. min né-kir. For an in depth study of this curious phenomenon. see: Margreet Dorleijn. As with intransitive verbs. such forms will be considered incorrect. Ez derîyan yan vedikim. E.M. 1) Present tense: I open the door.. are very common. Past tense: I opened the door. wan gotin in. *Note that it is irrelevant whether the logical subject is singular or plural. 2) With a noun as the logical subject: Present tense: The şepherd finds the wolf. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Present tense: You don’t see the girl. You don’t see the girls s. The şepherd finds the wolves ves. Let us look once again at a pair of sentences from above: Şivên gur dît The shepherd found the wolf (By the shepherd the wolf was found) and Şivên gur dîtin The shepherd found the wolves (By the shepherd the wolves were found) In these paired sentences. By you the girls s were not seen. Şivê ên gur dît. Şivan gur dibînin in. Şivanan an gur dîtin.M. You didn’t see the girls s. Şivan guran an dibîne. Şivan guran dibînin in. historically By the şepherd the wolf was found. The şepherds s found the wolves.L. Şivanan an gur dît. Te keçik nedîtin in. By the şepherd the wolves s were found. The şepherd found the wolves ves. Şivê ên gur dîtin in. Tu keçikan an nabînî. Te keçik nedît. Past tense: You didn’t see the girl. the number of the verb is determined by the logical • 91 • . Şivan gur dibîne. The şepherds s find the wolves. e. Past tense: The şepherd found the wolf. Tu keçikê ê nabînî. Past tense: The şepherds s found the wolf. 3) With a plural subject: Present tense: The şepherds s find the wolf. historically By you the girl was not seen. us. us. etc. Hence. another way of seeing this is to translate it as ‘[someone] saw/found me’. there is no question of person when the logical direct object is a noun (gur in the above sentences).) S/he was seen or Em dîtin in We were seen or [X] saw us Hûn dîtin in You (pl. “the verb will agree with the object in number and person. the full paradigm of the transitive verb dîtin and the two possible translations for each form are as follows: Ez dîtim im Tu dîtîî I was seen You (s.) were seen or [X] saw you (pl. however. the meaning will be passive rather than active. we come one step closer to the answer: By the shepherd I was seen Şivên ez dîtim im By the şepherd you were seen The shepherd saw me The şepherd saw you • 92 • . but rather ‘I was seen/found’ (passive). Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin direct object. As Pikkert states in 4.M. etc.L.3. in an ergative past tense.) Ew dîtin in They were seen Ew dît [X] saw him/her or [X] saw them Now back to our earlier question: How does one say ‘The shepherd found me (you.” Since all nouns are by definition third person. But what if the logical direct object is a pronoun ? Suppose we want to say ‘The şepherd found me (you.)’? Let us begin by taking a look at the past tense endings for intransitive verbs.) were seen or or [X] saw me [X] saw you (s. Observe: Ez dîtim im Em dîtin in Tu dîtîî Hûn dîtin in Ew dît Ew dîtin in ‘Ez dîtim’ does not mean *‘I saw/found’.)’? If we convert the sentence to its corresponding passive in English. using the verb hatin as an example: Ez hatim im Em hatin in Tu hatîî Hûn hatin in Ew hat Ew hatin in Transitive verbs can take these same endings. pl. singular 1direct case Ez Tu Ew 2oblique case min te wî (masc. The shepherd sees me. te (2) you-obl. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Şivên tu dîtîî Another example of this construction can be found in the reading passage at the beginning of this chapter: Bavê min ez birim[e] bajêr By my father I was taken to town My father took me to town [or. plural Em Hûn Ew me we wan we (us) you they (them) indef. sing. f. and the direct object will be in the oblique case (column 2). sing. Here is another way of looking at the formation of the past tense of transitive verbs: 1. f. def. pl. dibîne sees • 93 • . plural 2. me-obl. I see you.L. def. plural 3.) I (me) you he (him) şe (her) 1. singular 2. the logical subject will be in the direct case (column 1). to the city] f.g. dibînim see so also with nouns rather than pronouns: Şivan min (1) (2) Shepherd-dir. sêvek Keç Sêv kitêb sêvekê keçê sêvan kitêban an apple [the] girl [the] apples [the] books Each clause with a transitive verb can have only one from column 1 and only one from column 2. In the present tense. def.) wê (fem.M.: Ez (1) I-dir. singular 3. e. She eats an apple. and in all tenses of the intransitive verb.M. dixwin in Ew du sêvan (1) (2) She-dir.e. [Ew dixwe] eats-3rd pers. In the present tense . [Şivan (1) --> Şivên(2). sing. in the past tense the logical subject will be in the oblique case (column 2). sing. in all non-past tenses of the transitive verb. [Ez (1) --> min (2). dixwe e 75i. an-apple-obl. books-obl. • 94 • . [Keç (1)--> Keçê (2). kitêban (2) --> kitêb (1). you-dir.: Min tu (2) (1) I-obl. dixwe e Ew sêvekê (1) (2) They-dir. She eats two apples. sing. 2-apples-obl. the logical subject is in the direct case.. [Ew dixwe] eats-3rd pers. e. and the direct object will be in the direct case (column 1). {keç}dixwîne --> {kitêb} xwendin] In both past and non-past tenses. dîtî saw-2nd pers. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Keç kitêban dixwîne (1) (2) Girl-dir. me. {şivan}dibîne --> {ez}dîtim] Keçê (2) Girl-obl. {ez}dibînim --> {tu} dîtî] Şivên (2) Shepherd-obl. They eat an apple. sing. pl. the verb agrees with whatever is in the direct case. an-apple-obl.g. reads The girl reads the books. read-3rd pers. min (2) -> ez (1). The girl read the kitêb xwendin (1) books-dir. and the verb agrees with it in person and number: 75 Ew sêvekê (1) (2) She-dir. [Ew dixwin] eat-3rd pers. books. The şepherd saw ez (1) me-dir. dîtim saw-1st pers. pl. te (2) --> tu (1) . For transitive verbs. I saw you.L. You saw.). You didn’t see. [tu nas kirî] knew-2nd pers. [sêvek xwar] ate-3rd pers. He doesn’t read. 2-apples-obl. xwar Wan sêvek ek (2) (1) They-obl. 4) He reads. She came. 2) You (s. In the past tense of the transitive verb. nas dikin in [Ew dixwin] eat-3rd pers. xwarin in Me tu (2) (1) We-obl. 2-apples-dir. We know you (s. an-apple-dir. I gave.L. He read. I didn’t give. She ate an apple. She ate two apples. I don’t give. sing.) see. [Em nas dikin] know-1st pers. • 95 • . He didn’t read. Translate: 1) I give. pl. 3) She comes.-obl. an-apple-dir. 2-apples-dir. sing. pl. They eat two apples. and the verb agrees with it in person and number: Wê sêvek ek (2) (1) She-obl. EXERCISES: I. She doesn’t come.M. We drank. She didn’t come. We didn’t drink. dixwin in Em te (1) (2) We-dir. 5) We drink. pl. xwarin in Wan du sêv (2) (1) They-obl. xwar Wê du sêv (2) (1) She-obl. We don’t drink. [du sêv xwarin] ate-3rd pers. pl.-dir. We knew you (s. sing. nas kirîî [sêvek xwar] ate-3rd pers.). They ate two apples. You don’t see. the logical direct object is in the direct case. you-sing. They ate an apple. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Ew du sêvan (1) (2) They-dir. [du sêv xwarin] ate-3rd pers. you-sing. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin 6) 7) 8) You (pl. present and past tense): 1) She reads (read) the book(s). 2) The dogs catch (caught) the cat(s). 6) The woman does not (did not) sell her cow(s) on Saturday. You opened. 9) Did they catch you (s. Roja înê min hûn negirtin.) open. The şepherd saw us on Wednesday. They catch.) took her to school. nedîtî?.) do not (did not) close the window(s).)? No.) mothers loves (loved) you (s. You didn’t open.) return home? We returned home on Sunday. dê min dîsa bibin. Translate. They caught. Did your (s. They didn’t catch. 10) Your (s. 5) Ji mêj ve min tu nedîtî.) home on Thursday? My friends brought me home. nedîtin? Me tu dîtî. 6) Wextê ku tu çûyî Rehayê rroja Şemîyê. Translate into English: 1) Te em dîtin.L. 8) Yên ku ez anîm. 7) My sisters eat (ate) the bread(s). Roja Pêncşemê we ez negirtim. lê “rroj baş” negote min. The şepherds did not see us on Thursday. 4) The teacher does not (did not) read the lesson(s) on Tuesday. Make up ten sentences using verbs in the past tense. 10) When did you (pl. 2) Wê destên xwe neşûştin. 11) Our mother waşed us. We heard them two days ago. 11) They don’t (didn’t) tell me anything [=They don’t say a thing to me].). giving the four forms (singular and plural direct object. 3) The boy opens (opened) the door(s). You don’t open. te çi kirrî? 7) Min sê kirasên nû kirrîn. 8) You (pl./pl. We dê û bavê xwe birine Sêrtê?./pl. both transitive and intransitive. 13) You (s. KURDISH PLACE NAMES Sêrt • 96 • . 12) Do (did) the fathers take the children to school today (yesterday)? III. 15) They heard us yesterday. 4) Wan ez nas kirim. The students did not take them to school. they did not catch me. 5) The student waşes (waşed) his hand(s).) mother waş you? 12) The student (f. II. 3) Roja Çarşemê me dîya xwe bire Wanê.) have not seen us for a long time. 14) Who brought you (pl. IV. 9) We bring (brought) the yoghurt home on Monday.M. They don’t catch. m." Rêwîyan ew berda û gundîyên ku dabû dû -. leap bala xwe dan. Kelb bin sîya 'erebêda rrûniştibû. Tirsî ku wî bigrin. xwe zûzûka avête zevîya nîskan ya li devê rrê. min ji zevîya wan baqek nîsk çinî. • 97 • . f.girtin. ji ber baqek nîsk hûnê mêr bikujin. handful ber bi [… ve] towards ber•dan (berdidim). vt. wan got: "Kî zane -. çima gundî wisa bi pey wî ketin. ku wî bigrin.L. memory ji bîr kirin. anecdote #18. çi ye?" Gundîyan ku ew yek bihîst 'ecêbmayî man.zane.zane. Mesele û Met'elokê K'urda bi Zimanê K'urdî û Rûsî = Kurdskie Poslovitsy i Pogovorki na Kurdskom i Russkom IAzykakh (Moskva : Glavnaia redaktsiia vostochnoπ literatury. Cibo ûr dişûştin Men were killing men.gazî rêwîyan kir." 76 VOCABULARY: avêtin (davêjim). Gundîyên ku dabûye pey wî -. kî nizane -. mêrik girt. vt. kî nizane -. READING: Merivekî gundîyek kuştibû û dirrevî. vt. Jibo was waşing intestines.baqê nîskan e" is a well known Kurdish proverb. 5. şerm.3} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: Mêra mêr dikuştin. The punchline "Kî zane -. f. 1972). Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Sêzdeha [13] {Pikkert 4. to realize. p. Gundîyan dabûye pey merivkuj ku bigrin. to let go. Mêrik got: "Ez di rrê da dihatim. flute (Turkiş kaval) bîr. wan got: "Şerm e. Rêwîyên ku ji pêşber dihatin. ewî tirê sîya boçika wî ye The dog sat under the şade of the wagon. 4.M. to throw xwe avêtin. tail carina sometimes Cibo man's name 76Adapted from: Ordikhane Dzhalil & Dzhalile Dzhalil. to jump. to forget boç’ik. Wî dît di rrê da çend rêwîyên din ber bi wî ve tên. f. vt. baqek nîsk çinî û rrevî. he thoughT it was the şade of his own tail. bikujin. Wan pirsî. vt.7.baqê nîskan e. release berî ku before (conjunction + verb) bilûr. niha dixwazin min bigrin. 385. see baq.5. L. pursue lê•xistin [li… dix(în)e].vt. m. f. vt. 77 77Notice property. f. edge devê rrê the side/edge of the road dû = pey after 'ecêbmayî man. is so) [ji] min t’irê it seems to me. vi.] thinks (that stg. m. to be married off (of a woman) nazik delicate. chase. vi.to find out. disgrace t’eslîm kirin to deliver.M. shade sûk. = house. traveller. m. = k’etin pey to follow. f. usually piştî ku after (conjunction + verb) qesr. m. clock sî. gentle nîsk. f. = • 98 • . surprised 'erebe. become aware of pêşber opposite. to get married (of a man) k’elb.&f. m. to cause to arrive. lentil(s) p’al. [also: cîran] neighbor çinîn (diçinim). fellow.o. for the sake of jin anîn. vt. let heta until ji ber because of. facing p’irrîcar often. şocked. f. mouth. vt. dêv. shame. f. m. side (of mountain) pey = dû after pê hesîn (pê dihesim). vt.]. slope. vt. the gender difference between these two homonyms: mal. man. hand over (to someone) [(ji) oblique case] + t’irêit seems to [s. to follow. to pick (fruits) dan pey/dû. to be amazed. f. to call gelek caran often. vt. f. vi. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin cînar. here: people on the road se‘at. vt. usually gihandin (digihînim). m. to bring someone to hergav always her heftê every week her rroj every day hiştin (dihêlim). ('ereba-. property merivkuj. chap mêr kirin.&f. hour.[hêlan (S)]to leave. m. castle rrêwî. stunned. mal. f. murderer mêrik. chase. home.o. wagon gazî kirin.to play (an instrument) mal . pursue dev. vî devî. [s. market şerm. 'erebê)cart. = kûçik dog k’etin pey. formed by prefixing the present indicative tense marker di. December GRAMMAR: a.M. E. you were opening. f. I would go 78 In Kurdish. usually field quickly. Past Continuous Tense. January February March April May June Tîrmeh. I was eating. f.. Note that unlike the present tense. zûzûka intestine(s) that (conj. This holds true for both transitive and intransitive verbs. Sibat. f. f. m.L. f. m. f. he would laugh di Wî digot He used to say. Ez diçûm I used to go.. fast. f. in the past continuous tense. Çirîya Paşîn. I used to go. f. you would open Ew dikenî He used to laugh. f. The past continuous tense (Pikkert’s “Progressive Past Tense”) is used for events which occurred repeatedly or habitually in the past.to the past tense.) young man often. E. K’anûna Pêşîn. you would come di Te vedi dikir You used to open. T’ebax. there is a past continuous tense. • 99 • . f. Çirîya Pêşîn. This is rendered in Engliş by such constructions as: I was going.to the prefix di-. I would eat di Tu dihatî You used to come. Gulan. I was going. Hezîran. f. Nîsan. f. in which the negative particle replaces the di-. Present: Ez diçim Ez dixwim di di Ez náçim Ez náxwim ná ná Past continuous: Ez diçûm Min dixwar di di Ez nédi diçûm Min nédi dixwar 78In Turkish.g. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin ûr/’ûr. he would say di The negative is formed by prefixing a stressed né. Adar. you were coming. ze‘f caran zevî. wekî = ku xort. Îlon. these two prefixes stand side by side. he was laughing. July August September October November f.g. he was saying. I would go di Min dixwar I used to eat. in a flaş MONTHS: K’anûna Paşîn. both gidiyordum and giderdim correspond to this. by such markers as who.. The beautiful girl is my sister. sometimes a noun in its ezafeh form will be • 100 • . •Keça a (ku) tu dibînî xûşka min e. We are going to the city (which) you live in. •Em diherrine bajarê ê (ku) tu têda dijî. •Keça a bedew xûşka min e. sometimes (carina). Relative clauses.g. c) .. we may view relative clauses as equivalent to adjectives in that both modify their nouns.g. and that. '(which) you live in it'] Therefore. Particularly from a Kurdiş perspective. b) The book which you are reading is fabulous. relative clauses are constructed according to the following formula: noun + ezafeh (+ A +-ê/-a/-ên ku) (B) + phrase C Because the ku is optional. e. A noun is connected to its modifying relative clause by an ezafeh construction. every week (her heftê). but in other languages as well. b. In Engliş. The difference is that while an adjective is a single word. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin This tense is often signalled by adverbs indicating habitual activity. We are going to the big city. which. every day (her rroj). a relative clause is a whole phrase.. adjectives and relative clauses behave similarly. that live in the house that Jack built. E.. always (her [û her]/hergav/tim [û tim]). often or usually (gelek caran/pirrîcar/ze‘f caran). although these markers could be omitted in examples b) and c) above. never (tucar).. then. •Em diherrine bajarê ê mezin. The girl (whom) you see is my sister. Relative clauses are often signalled. In this way also. [lit. typical sentences with relative clauses include the following: a) The man who was my friend is now a senator.L.M. to bring someone to. ‘He had already left when I arrived.g.g. nazik = delicate.. f. teslîm kirin = to hand over to someone] I will hand over to you this palace and all the property [that is] in it.. one of which is further back in time than the other. adjective). he who does not know [thinks] it's a handful of lentils 2) the independent ezafeh markers: yê for masculine singular. e.: Kî zane -.. m. To express such things as "he who…". m. e. ya for feminine singular.M.g. Secondary ezafeh.e.’ The formula for constructing this tense in Engliş is: past tense of auxiliary verb have + past participle. mal. one is undoubtedly in the presence of a relative clause. [qesr. = castle. In Kurdish. In such situations. The participle is formed by removing the -n from the infinitive. [pal. the construction is similar. in that it also consists of an auxiliary verb (bûn) plus a special participle. Past Perfect Tense. kî nizane -. gihandin (digihînim). Yên ku ez anîme dê min dîsa bibin Those who brought me will take me back 79 d. Rîya a tu li ser The road (which) you are on Mêrê ê tu nas dikî The man (whom) you know The following sentences contain embedded relative clauses. c. = young man. E. = slope. = to cause to arrive. two constructions are possible: 1) the interrogative pronoun kî may be used. "the one who. vt. side (of mountain)] He flew and went to the rock which was on the side (or foot) of the mountain. 79see Lesson Ten. e. wekî em evê qîza nazik bigihînine ewî xortê tu dibêjî? [wekî = ku.baqê niskan e He who knows knows. • 101 • . Try them on for size!: 1) Ew firrî û çû cem kevirê li pala çîyê bû.g. = property.".. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin encountered without any apparent modifier (i. gentle] Why don't we bring this delicate girl to that young man you are talking about? 3) Ezê vê qesrê û malê tê de timam teslîmê te bikim. 2) Gelo nabe.zane. c. xort.L. E.g. The past perfect (or pluperfect) tense is used when speaking of two past events. and yên [S: yêt] for plural + ku are used. f. the past perfect is most often used to express the simple past tense. the form will be min girtibûn n. Hence. e. What follow are paradigms for the past perfect tense with the transitive verb girtin and the intransitive verb hatin. • 102 • . the distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs is preserved in this tense also.) had come he/şe had come we had come you (pl.: Dibêjin sultan Sulêman pêxember bi zimanên çûk û çivîka gişka zanibû They say that Sultan Suleyman the Prophet knew the languages of all the birds.) had taken/caught he/şe had taken/caught we had taken/caught you (pl. e.M.) had taken/caught they had taken/caught vi. Ez néhatibûm bûm = I had not come.g. for the verbs zanîn (to know) and karîn (to be able).to the participle. ez hatibûm bûm tu hatibûyî bûyî ew hatibû bû em hatibûn bûn hûn hatibûn bûn ew hatibûn bûn I had come you (s.L. vt. As with other past tenses. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin girti-n çû-n da-n kenî-n vekiri-n ---> ---> ---> ---> ---> girtiçûdakenîvekiri- The auxiliary verb bûn is attached (suffixed) to this participle.) had come they had come 80 The negative is formed by prefixing accented né. EXERCISES: 80With a plural direct object. the past perfect of girtin is girtibû. min girtibû bû te girtibû bû wî/wê girtibû bû me girtibû bû we girtibû bû wan girtibû bû I had taken/caught you (s.g. In Northern Kurmanji. 13) I didn’t know that you were (=are) from Malatya.em diçûne mala wan û ew dihatine mala me. 11) He had seen me in the winter. 4) Ehmedê Xanî ji Kurdan rra gotibû: “Hon (=hûn).M. 7) I used to study in the room in which you are sitting. pl. 1) gotin (tu). 6) xwestin (ew. V. sing. Make sure to include negative verbs and plural direct objects! KURDISH PERSONAL NAMES Male: Cibo Female: Meyro KURDISH PLACE NAMES Meletîye • 103 • . 4) The şepherd used to play. Translate into Kurdiş: 1) When I was a boy. 4) derketin (ew. 5) Our father used to bring small chickens home from the market. 10) Bavê Meyroyê du hesp kirrîbûn gava ku Meyroyê ji bavê xwe xwest ku jêrra hespekî bikirre. f. m. Give the past continuous tense of the following verbs in the person and number indicated in parentheses. 12) zivirrîn (ew. III. E. 5) Min dixwest tiştekî ji te bipirsim. 10) tirsîn (hûn).) were eating from the market.). 3) We used to live in a big house.. 8) berdan (ew. 2) Piştî ku tu bi rrê ketî. Give the negative of the past perfect tense for the verbs in Exercise V. 6) Bavê min nedihişt ku ez piştî se‘at nehan ji malê derkevim.). 2) When you were a student.ango ji havîna çûyî -. 10) I had not seen my brother before he died.ango ji Adarê heta Tebaxê -. berî her tiştî.ew nehatibû malê û me ew nedîtibû. I would go to school every day.) or intransitive (vi. indicate whether the verb is transitive (vt. VI.g. 7) çinîn (em). 6) The boy who ate the apples is our neighbor. pl. Ji meha Tebaxê û were -. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin I. you never studied your lessons. when you asked her. dîtin (ez) --> min didît. 3) girîn (hûn). Give the past perfect tense of the verbs in Exercise III. 9) pirsîn (tu). Kurd in. 7) Dihî birayê min hat me bibîne. II. IV.L.). 11) hiştin (em). 5) vexwarin (ez). Give the negative of the past continuous tense for the verbs in Exercise III. 3) Berî ku ew pê bihesin. vt. 8) Gelo te ji bîr kir ku wan tiştek ji te xwestibû?. in the month of February. sing. Make up ten sentences using verbs in the past continuous and past perfect tenses. Translate into Engliş: 1) Mamoste nan xwaribû berî ku mêvan bigihine mala wî. 2) bihîstin (em). em gihîştibûn çîyê. VII.”.). 8) My father brought the chickens which you (pl. 9) My father had gone to the city before it rained. 9) Li mehên biharê û havînê -. min bala xwe da ku te kitêba xwe li cem min hiştibû.). 12) Şe had [already] read the lesson. 14) You had [already] seen the house we lived in [it]. f. minute (60 seconds) derbaz bûn (derbaz dibe). îro xem nake. vt. 1996) • 104 • . cease and desist 81adapted from: Stig Wikander. Rovî ew sekinandin.} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: Bar min naêşîne. m. life çarek. rovî got. part. vi. fourth dan (didim). f. wî deholek kire stûyê xwe û li ber kuna xwe sekinî. dilê wî diçû mirîşk û kewan. vî barî. "Apê rovî. Da ku ew mirîşk û kewan bixapîne. Antolojîya Tekstên Kurdî (Stockholm : Orfeus. taştê û şîva min heye. De. û ji hev ra got. werin. Hûn ketin dava min. f. READING: Rovîyekî xapînok hebû. to let go of. m. li dehola xwe xist û digot. "De werin.8 ff. ezê sibehê we bixwim. call. briefly can. f. f. vt. Kew û mirîşkê got. em derbazî wê de’watê bibin. ez we bixwim. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Çardeha [14] {Pikkert 10.M. serbar diêşîne. rovî dilê kew û mirîşkê şewitand. load. soul. + infinitive to have someone do something dav.L. faşion bi vî awayî in this way bang. 81 VOCABULARY: awa. Wan bangê rovî bihîst. Ew birçî bû. cry bar. "Were. 'Emê dersekê bi‘elimînine wî rovîyê xirab!' Wan bi nikilên xwe kevir wergerrand. f. section bê p’ere free of charge bi kurtayî shortly. bêr.) dev jê [ji …] berdan (berdidim). (snare) drum delîve. to begin. way. Kewek û mirîşkek hatin. quarter. m. opportunity. chance deqe. here: to enter dest pê [bi …] kirin (dikim). Kew û mirîşkê dest bi girînê kir û got. manner. derketin û revîn. burden belaş free of charge beş. spirit. start (doing stg. trap dehol. m." Bi vê gotinê. vt. ji ber ku bê pere ye." û rovî kevirek danî ber kuna xwe û çû. dev ji me berde! Canên me bihêle!" Rovî got. "Xebereke mezin! Lîstika mişkan di vê kunê da! Rabin! Rabin! Vê delîveya zengîn û rengîn winda nekin! Werin! Werin! Derbazbûna mirîşk û kewan belaş e." Gava ku derbaz bûn." Bi vî awayî rovî dixwest mirîşk û kewan bigihîne kuna xwe bêî ku wan bitirsîne. elementary school dil. insert. to cease to exist. He feels like (eating something) dîrok. vi. m.). p’adşê. vt. vt. f. • 105 • stop to . vt. event. partridge kêm minus. vt. f. lunch. game ma interrogative particle signaling a negative 82 answer mişk. to pluck. vt.). bring. cause to stop. bill (of bird) nivîsîn (dinivîsim). m. to burn (vt. vt.L.) [set on fire. vi. f.2. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin de’wat. f. to get rid of.) 'elimandin (di'elimînim). less (-) kun. to cause to fly (off) firavîn. do away with kew. film. disappear ji holê rra•kirin (rradike). guilt hiştin (dihêlim). here: rider sibehê tomorrow stû. m. to drop. m. that which is on top of the load. neck kire stûyê xwe he hung it from (put it around) his neck şewitandin (dişewitînim). vt. + dative construction to learn. m. to hurt.. cause pain êşîn (dêşe). pull out (feathers) sekinandin (disekinînim). occurrence rrengîn colorful rrû•ç’ikandin (rrûdiç’ikîne). opening (to an animal's lair) lîstik. şeep. m. vt. hole. letter. here: to save from death ji holê rra•bûn (rradibe). heart dilê wî diçe . vt. vi. etc. beak. put a serbar. vt.. f. m. get used to êşandin (dêşînim).M. f. m. to take off (clothes) firrandin (difirrînim). hunting nikil. f. to write p’adşa. mouse (pl. vî p’adşayî. king rasthatî. ewe name. mice) mî. vt. epistle nêç’îr. accustom 'elimîn (di'elimim). to milk (cows. cause to reach guneh. to stop (vt. vt. ¶b. pity. f. f. consume] 82See Lesson 8. movie gihandin (digihînim). history dotin (didoşim). f. (wedding) celebration dibistan. to hurt (vi. f. to convey. smart [ê]xistin (têxim/dixim/dixînim). [also: êşan]. [also: mih] female şeep. midday meal fîlm. to teach. vt. vt.). [S: têşt] breakfast t’emaşe kirin (~ dikim). dinner.) [be on fire] şîv. 83This is equivalent to Turkish ettirgen verbs (e. m. e. evening meal taştê. f.yap-tðr-mak). vt. f.L. to deceive.M. to frighten. causatives are by definition transitive. to burn (vi. deceptive xeber. vi. other causatives are formed from adjectives. The follow are English examples: to rise to raise (to cause to rise) to sit to seat (to cause to sit) to lie to lay (to cause to lie) to go to take (to cause to go) to come to bring (to cause to come) to die to kill (to cause to die) to learn to teach (to cause to learn) 83 In English./adj. cheater. news. As such. yapmak . They can often be paired off with a corresponding intransitive verb. words zengîn rich zivirrandin (dizivirrînim). vt. [+ li] to watch. coming/going back wer•gerrandin (werdigerrînim). The Causative Verb. to overturn. • 106 • . knock over winda kirin (dikim)..g. give back TIMES OF THE DAY: {all are feminine} spêde = sehar early morning rroj day.vt. mid morning êvar [S: (h)êvarî] evening nîvrro noon şev night piştî nîvrro afternoon nîveşev midnight GRAMMAR: a. look at (a movie) tirsandin (ditirsînim). or causes someone to do or become something.to return (vt. f. fool xapînok. to lose. vt. return[ing]. as they always take a direct object . Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin şewitîn (dişewitim).g. f. to miss (an opportunity) xapandin (dixapîne). sun berî nîvrro forenoon. A causative verb is one which causes something to happen. scare vegerr. causatives are always transitive. cause to stop zivirrîn 'to return (vi. • 107 • . cause to reach' 'elimîn 'to learn.).L. bring.)' [be on fire] şewit-andin 'to burn (vt. and generally end in -andin in the infintive. The -andin is generally added to the present stem of the corresponding simple verb. give back' êşîn 'to hurt (vi. as will be seen in the following examples of verb pairs: 84 tirsîn 'to fear' tirs-andin 'to frighten' gihan/gihîştin 'to reach. get used to' 'elim-andin 'to teach.M. stand' sekin-andin 'to stop (vt. insert' in some dialects..). Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin thick large sad to thicken to enlarge to sadden In Kurdish. arrive' gih-andin 'to convey. consume] Some very common verbs have causatives formed from different roots: çûn 'to go' hatin 'to come' k’etin 'to fall.)' êş-andin 'to hurt (vt.).).)' [set on fire.). cause pain' şewitîn 'to burn (vi. accustom' sekinîn 'to stop (vi. go back' zivirr-andin 'to return (vt. with a present stem in -în. enter' 84-ên- birin 'to take (away from speaker)' anîn [S: înan] 'to bring (towards speaker)' [ê]xistin 'to drop. 86Pikkert • 108 • .: 85 to to to to have have have have someone cut one’s hair someone fire the employee someone removed by force dinner brought to the room In Kurdish.M.g.L. In English. stay' kirin 'to make. E. leave' b. we express this by combining the verb to have with another verb. do' hiştin [S: hêlan] 'to let. A second degree of causativity also exists . this is expressed by combining the verb dan with the infinitive (either direct or oblique case) of a second verb .e. 85 Turkish yap-tðr-t-mak. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin bûn 'to be. i. and 3) the recipient(s) [person(s) or thing(s) upon whom the intermediary carries out the subject's command].12. 10.. The intermediary (#2 above) can be identified by the preposition bi preceding it. Padşê bi celaçî serên dizan dan birrîn Şivan bi birayê xwe mîyan dide dotin the king the executioner heads of the thieves caused to be cut off 1 subject 2 intermediary 3 recipient The king had the executioner behead the thieves. 2) the intermediary [person charged with carrying out the subject's command].g. the şepherd his brother the ewes (şeep) 1 subject 2 intermediary 3 recipient The şepherd has his brother milk the ewes. causes to milk Note also that the verb dan must agree in number and person with the recipient. e. to announce' dan rrûçikandin[ê] 'to have [birds] plucked' 86 This construction may involve three individuals: 1) the subject [person giving the command]. This is used when one has a third party do something for one. become' man 'to remain.. Here are some examples: dan sekinandin[ê] 'to have someone stopped' dan zanîn[ê] 'to have it made known. using kêm. less (-) The other fractions of the hour are expressed as follows: 5:05 5:10 5:20 5:25 Se‘at Se‘at Se‘at Se‘at pênc pênc pênc pênc û û û û pênc e. fourth half minus. deh e. one figures the minutes remaining to the next hour.M. [6:00 minus 25] bîst e. da birrîn caused to be cut off c. one says "Se‘at çend e?" The four quarters of the hour are expressed as follows. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin which is the logical direct object. şeş kêm çarekek e.L. the sentence would look like this: Padşê bi celaçî serê ê diz the king the executioner head of the thief 1 subject 2 intermediary 3 recipient The king had the executioner behead the thief. Telling time. pênc û çarekek e. using the hour of 5:00-6:00 as an example: 87 5:00 5:15 5:30 5:45 Se‘at Se‘at Se‘at Se‘at pênc e. [6:00 minus 5] d. [6:00 minus 20] deh e. So also: 5:35 5:40 5:50 5:55 Se‘at Se‘at Se‘at Se‘at şeş şeş şeş şeş kêm kêm kêm kêm bîst-û-pênc e. bîst e. bîst-û-pênc e. the following construction is used: 87Other possibilities are: Çi ©în e? and Çi heyam e? • 109 • . Notice that between half past the hour (5:30) and the next hour (6:00). To ask what time it is. Whereas Se‘at pênc e means "It is 5:00". to express at what time something happens. [6:00 minus 10] pênc e. In the first sentence above. pênc û nîv e. if the king had the executioner behead only one thief. (5:45 is Se‘at şeş kêm çarekek). The following terms are essential to know in telling time: çarek nîv kêm = = = quarter. g) 11:05.M. 2) Tu dikarî bi kurtayî xwe bidî nas kirin?.. on the other hand. or 6:00 P. h) 10:55. 8) Dîroka dinyaê ji me re dide zanîn ku heta niha. Write out the following time expressions: E. Change the time expressions in Exercise II so that they tell at what time. gelek zimanên dinyaê ji holê rabûn.? EXERCISES: I. emê wî bidne sekinandinê. ku ji bona jina xwe tu me gişkan bidî rrûçikandin?.M. b) 12:20.g. or P. 6) Ezê ji te rra roja vegerra xwe bidim zanîn. c) 7:15. 5) Îro mamostê ji me rra da zanîn ku sibehê se‘at di heşt û nîvê da emê li fîlmekê temaşe bikin. III.M. all numbers are treated as feminine singulars. j) 9:35.. f) 3:35. E. Wî jê rra got ku sibehê neherre [neçite] dibistanê.L. Translate: 1) Ma ne guneh e. 10) Berî nîvrro dîya min bi Birûskî çar nameyên dirêj dan nivîsîn.M. 4) Wî jê rra da zanîn ku sibehê naherre dibistanê. Other important time expressions include: Tê neha[n] or nehê = It is coming up on 9:00. 31. 7) Ew dîrokê bi kurrê xwe dide xwendin.M. a) 4:30. 88In northern dialects.g. i) 9:25. and receive the plural oblique ending -an. 3) Wextê ku Ûsib ji nêçîrê vegerre. 41. l) 1:50. e) 1:45.? Yanzdeh û nîv berî nîvrro yan şevê? = 11:30 A. 9) Her spêdê se’at di şeşan da bavê min bi xûşk û birayên min mî û çêlek didan dotin. In southern dialects (including Hekkari).) are treated as plurals. k) 2:10. etc. 8:00 = se‘at heşt --> se‘at di heştan or heştê da. 88 Consider the following distinctions: Se‘at çar û çarekek e Se‘at di çar û çarekekê ê da It is 4:15 at 4:15 Heft kêm çarekek Se‘at di heft kêm çarekekê ê da 6:45 at 6:45 Neh û nîv Se‘at di neh û nîvê ê da 9:30 at 9:30 Yanzdeh kêm deh Se‘at di yanzdeh kêm dehan an or dehê ê da 10:50 at 10:50 e.M. 8:00 = se‘at heşt e. d) 7:45. • 110 • . It is almost 9:00 A. is piştî nîvrro [after noon] or êvarê [in the evening] or şevê [at night] Şeş spêdê yan şeş êvarê? = 6:00 A. is spêdê/siharê [in the morning] or berî nîvrro [before noon] P. II. all numbers except one (and 21. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Se‘at di pêncê da or Se‘at di pêncan da = "at 5:00". and receive the feminine oblique ending -ê.M. L. Make up ten sentences using causatives.M.: . Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin IV. KURDISH PERSONAL NAMES Male: Birûsk Ûsib Female: Gelawêj • 111 • .g. e. wek radyo û televîzyonê -. behsê bûyerên din naête kirin? Bê guman li dinyayê bûyerên din hene ku hêjayê behs-kirinê bin!" Û hêdî hêdî destgehên ragihandinê dev ji behs-kirina hilbijartinê berdidin. to bende m. behsê tiştekî din ji bilî hilbijartinan naête kirin. Rûpelên pêşîn yên rojname û kovaran bi wêneyên serokê nû-hilbijartî ve têne xemilandin. li welatên demokratîk. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Panzdeha [15] {Pikkert} FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: •Bende ji bende tê nas kirinê A slave is recognized by another slave. human being bername f. program bê guman sans doute • 112 • broadcast . û tiştên din peyda dikin ku behs bikin. but not every word can be said. serok ji alîyê gel ve tê hilbijartin. LECTURE: Wek tê zanîn.M. encamên hilbijartinê tên ragihandin. spread. •Mêr bi te‘na tê kuştin A man is (=can be) killed by reproach. dengên dengderan tên hejmartin. to discuss. VOCABULARY: behsê … kirin vt. talk about belav kirin vt. û çend rojên paştir. Encamên hilbijartinê bi giringtirîn nûçeyên wê rojê tên zanîn. to distribute.tên belav kirin. lê her gilî nayê gotinê Every cow can be milked. slave. û di hemî rojnameyan da û di destgehên ragihandinê yên din da -. Piştî hilbijartinê. Piştî çend rojan gelek kes dibêjin. Gelek caran middeta heftîyekê di bernameyên radyo û televîzyonê da. •Her çêlek tê dotinê.L. "Êdî bes e! Gelo tiştekî din tune ku em behs bikin? Gelo li radyo û televîzyonê ji bilî hilbijartinê. (m. (S) beautiful ciwanî f. select hilbijartin f. voter destgeh f. (one’s) youth çap kirin vt. di dû … rra after di nav … da inside.) prisoner hatin ser hukm to come to power (government) hejmartin (dihejmêrim) vt.) gathering civîn f. organization destgehên ragihandinê the media dev ji… ber•dan vt. within. to let go of. result faşîst fascist gel m. to choose. to regard. in encam f. to wreck. apparatus. the folk gilî m. quit doing stg.M. regard bûyer f. speech. occurrence civîn (dicivim) vi. voice. complaint giring important girtî arrested. to consider. to count. words. to print ç’îrrok f. gathering ciwan young. event.L. story. end demokratîk democratic deng m.to elect. discussing). talk. the people. worthy of hilbijartin (hildibijêrim) vt. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin bêguneh innocent bi sedan [precedes its noun] hundreds of … bi … ve with bi … zanîn vt.&f. election hilweşandin (hildiweşînim) vt. tale dawî f. imprisoned. consider hêjayê … worth (doing. to gather. ruin. destroy hin some (+ plural noun) hikûmet f. vote dengder m. government • 113 • . (f. nûçe pl. only transitive verbs can be made passive. nû-hilbijartî radyo f.that is emphasized. reproof country. For the purposes of those studying Kurdish. Whereas in the active voice. rojname f. şerr.. vî welatî m. journal. The Passive Voice. childhood except for. welat. metre f.M. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin ji bilî ji dûr ve kerî m. unlike the ergative. which in Kurdish is limited to the past tenses. in a periphrastic construction). zarrotî f. it is not perceived as such today. newspaper rrûpel f. periodical meter for (the period of) a week to şow news newly-elected radio to announce. There exists another. wêne f. It should be noted. that the passive • 114 • .L. period (of time) middeta heftîyekê nîşan dan vt.the recipient of the action -. kovar f.e. however. middet f. xemilandin (dixemilînim) vt. şêrr. communicate regime president war to speak television reproach. rejîm f. vî şerrî m. report. decorate GRAMMAR: a. page (of a book) serok m. large flock magazine. televîzyon f. state picture. welêt. this means that only those verbs which form an ergative past tense can be made passive. which can be used in all tenses. te‘n m. it is generally the subject that is the focus of attention. Whereas the ergative itself is historically a type of passive construction. besides from afar herd. image to adorn. şor kirin vt. ragihandin (radigihînim) vt. explicitly passive construction formed with a helping (auxiliary) verb (i. in the passive voice it is the direct object -. As a general rule. or less commonly with bi destê. the passive verb is formed by using the auxiliary verb to be (or. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin is relatively little used in Kurmanji. and the logical subject (the boy) into the agent: the verb will change from closes to is closed. In Kurdiş. Axayê me bi destê Mîşo hat birîndar kirin Our agha was wounded by Mişo. to get) plus the past participle of the transitive verb.: Serok ji alîyê gel ve tê hilbijartin The president is elected by the people. passives are formed using the auxiliary verb hatin (to come) [in all tenses] plus the infinitive (in the direct or oblique case). Indefinite plural.M. The resulting construction yields: The door is closed by the boy 3 2 1 In English. colloquially. There is an indefinite plural form which is more common in some regions than in others . Consider the following: hatin kuştin(ê) Ew hat kuştin(ê) Tuyê bêyî kuştin(ê) Bi sedan girtî tên kuştin(ê) to be killed He was killed You will be killed Hundreds of prisoners are killed The agent of the passive verb (by the boy) is expressed with ji alîyê … ve.g. • 115 • . It consists of the morpheme -in added to the end of 89 89This form is particularly common in the region of Mardin. although it seems to be more common in journalistic language. then. b. Kurdistan of Turkey. e.L. the sentence The boy closes the door 1 2 3 can be made passive by making the logical direct object (the door) into the subject of the passive verb. In English. Soro ji alîyê hikûmetê ve hat girtin Soro was imprisoned by the government. which can be used independently as well. 8) Çawa tê zanîn. 3) The father killed his daughter. 3) Di salên min ên zarotî û ciwanîyê de. 4) Di sala 1960'an (hezar-û-nehsid-û-şêstan) da hatim girtin. 2) The students read the newspapers. “Kerî” hate nîşan dan. 10) Rûpelên wê kovarê bi ç’îrrok û wêneyên rrengîn hatine xemilandin. xanîyên gundîyan hatine hilweşandin û zeviyên wan hatine şewitandin. 6) Gelek mirovên bêguneh. 7) Hundreds of students will buy the book and read it. The form -in comes from the independent word hin = some.M. jin. di nav mala me da bi Zazakî û Kurmancî dihat şorkirin. 6) The media report (on) that important event. 7) Di dawîya civînê da fîlma Yilmaz Güney.wek tê zanîn -. Di dû du salan re hatim berdan. Translate into Engliş: 1) Serekî birrî nayê k’irrîn. II. di sala 1971-ê (hezar-û-nehsid-û-heftê-û-yekê) da rejîma faşîst hate ser hukm. 5) Di dû 1972'an re -. 8) They hear the sounds of this war even (jî) in the farthest villages. and precedes the noun it modifies: hin çîrok = çîrok-in hin meriv = meriv-in = = some stories some people EXERCISES: I. zarrok. some stories [I listen to] some stories sometimes some friends of mine (some) long stories These forms can be found in the chart at the end of Lesson Five.ez tim girtî mam. 5) The newly-elected president announces the end of the war. and has the following oblique case and ezafeh forms: direct: oblique: ezafeh: -in çîrok-in -ina çîrok-ina car-ina -ine heval-ine min çîrok-ine dirêj stories. kal û pîr hatine kuştin. 2) Xwîn bi xwînê nayê şûştin. Translate into Kurdiş: 1) The people elect the president. xwîn bi avê tête şûştin. 9) Bi sedan metre ji dûr ve dengê muzîka kurdî dihate bihîstin. 4) My nephew prints that magazine in Istanbul. 9) The Kurdiş people will never forget the name (of) Ehmedê • 116 • .L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin the direct case of the noun. IV. 14) This is the first time in history that a president milks hundreds of cows. & ezafeh) of the following nouns: 1) xwendekar. Convert the sentences in Exercise II. 3) mal. e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Xanî [Ahmed-i Khani]. oblique case. 9) pisîk. 7) çav.L. 4) pirtûk. 2) dersdar. He sees the boy --> The boy is seen by him). More proverbs exhibiting the passive voice: •Kirasê merîya tê guhastin. the subject becomes the agent. 8) kûçik. III. Give the indefinite plural forms (direct case.M. 10) Will the newly-elected president fool the people of this country?. (The direct object becomes the subject.g. 5) dest. 13) The new government will not release the prisoners. 11) The newspapers often frighten everyone. 10) xûşk. 6) ling. into the passive voice. gilî nayêne p’îne kirinê (Z-1246) • 117 • . xeysetê merîya nayê guhastin (Z-1233) •K’inc têne p’îne kirinê.. 12) The students lost hundreds of colorful magazines. û çû ber dilovanîya Xwedê." Û wî pirtûkek da min. f." A man said: "I learned what is it to be a man from my dog. û çend ez behsê bapîrê xwe bikim. Min gelekî jê hiz dikir. don't teach. vt. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Şanzdeha [16] {Pikkert } FOLKLORE: •Te hîn kir -. lê berî ku ez bikaribim bersiva wî bidim. Dîsan min zanîbû ku ew pirtûka hanê diyarîyeke hêja ye. bersiva [fk-î] dan.hîn neke. Min bi a wî kir. vt. û kitêba ku bapîrê min pêşkêşî min kiribû bi zimanekî din bû. Wan rojan ez fêrî zimanên biyanî nebûbûm. Niha ez mezin im. Ji niha ve xwe hînî gelek tiştan bike: çend ji te bê. û alîkarîya me dikin ku em vê dinyaê çêtir fêm bikin. Kitêb û pirtûk her tiştî nîşanî me didin. Both the one being chased and the chaser call on God. •Yê dirreve jî gazî xwedê dike. û berî ku ez derbazî cennetê (bihiştê) bim. û rojekê ji rojan ez ê bibim mamosta. û kitêban bixwîne. enough. •Zilamek got: "Ez ji kûç’kê xwe hînî mêranîyê bûm. min xwe hînî gelek zimanan kir. yê dide pey jî gazî xwedê dike. çend gotinên min ji te ra hene. têrê nake. anyone help. anything someone. bapîr. gava ku ez piçûk bûm. hindik ma ku ez terkî vê dinyaê bikim. f. response to answer s.M.o. Min dixwest sipasîya bapîrê xwe bikim. Serê min bi te bilind e -. assistance to help. sufficient to participate in • 118 • . bes beşdarî [ft-î] bûn.paşeroja te ronahî ye. aid. "Lawo. something. ez dixwazim vê pirtûkê pêşkêşî te bikim.ji bîr neke. VOCABULARY: ft-î (filan tiştî) fk-î (filan kesî) alîkarî. Ji bona vê yekê. vi. bersiv. What you've taught don't forget. alîkarîya [fk-î] kirin.L. hînî zimanên biyanî be. what you've forgotten. assist grandfather answer." READING: Tê bîra min. bapîrê min gazî min kiribû û gotibû. Ez dizanim ku rojekê ji rojan tu yê bibî zanayekî mezin. te ji bîr kir -. m. Ez gelekî bêrîya wî dikim. bapîrê min çavên xwe li dinyaê girtin. manliness. for this reason ji niha ve (starting) from now mêranî. to accustom to xwe hînî [ft-î] kirin. f. summon s.o. vi. to follow [his] advice bi-dehan [pre-posed modifier] tens of. heaven bilind high. cross over derbazî [ft-î] bûn. vt. pişikdarî [ft-î] bûn. vt. anniversary • 119 • . vt. heaven çavên xwe li dinyaê girtin. f. to let s. (source of) light. to call. brightness salvegerr. to present stg. vt. f. to şow s. îsal this year ji bona vê yekê therefore. navneteweyî international [ft-î] nîşanî [fk-î] dan. word pêşîn first [ft-î] pêşkêşî [fk-î] kirin. to s. to pass into. recall ji bîr kirin. memory hatin bîra [fk-î]. hêja precious. vt. gift. vt. f. [S] to learn. vt. to take care of s.o. paradise. to teach. mercy. vt. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin bêrîya [fk-î] kirin. f. vi.L. to get used to [fk-î] hînî [ft-î] kirin. one day (in the future) ronahî. vi. to pass (time) [vt. vt. gazî [fk-î] kirin.M. to do as [he] said. study stg. pass dilovanî. to remember. vt. stg.] [fk-î] derbazî [ft-î] kirin. f. to enter derbaz kirin. [S] to participate in rojekê ji rojan some day. bi a [wî] kirin. to learn. long for s. f. to close one's eyes on the world çûn ber dilovanîya xwedê. paşeroj. future peyiv. valuable hînî [ft-î] bûn. to miss s. vt. vt. f. bravery miqatî [fk-î] bûn. tall bi-mîlyonan [pre-posed modifier] millions of bi-sedan [pre-posed modifier] hundreds of biyanî foreign bîr. to die. vi. [S] to learn [fk-î] fêrî [ft-î] kirin. present êkê [S] first fêrî [ft-î] bûn. f.o. paradise. [S] to teach xwe fêrî [ft-î] kirin. study stg.o. vi. compassion diyarî. vt. vi. vi. to pass.o.o. vi. f. pass away derbaz bûn. to learn.. [loosely: dozens of] bi-hezaran [pre-posed modifier] thousands of bihişt.o. to forget cennet. M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin serbilind sipasîya [fk-î] kirin, vt. terkî [ft-î] kirin, vt. têr[ê] kirin, vt. tixûb, m. xwedê, m. yekem[în] zana, adj & m. zilam, zilêm, vî zilamî, m. proud [lit., 'with head high'] to thank s.o. to leave (behind) to be enough, satiate border, limit, frontier god first learnèd, well-educated; [m.] scholar man EXPRESSIONS: Çend gotinên min ji te ra hene I have some things to tell you Çend ji te bê [or tê] As much as you can [lit.'how much it comes from you'] hanê: ev pirtûka hanê this here: this book here Miqatî xwe be! Take care of yourself! Serê min bi te bilind e I am proud of you Tê bîra min I remember Têra min dike It is enough for me LANGUAGES: inglîzî English elmanî German ‘erebî Arabic farisî Persian (Farsi) spanyolî Spanish firensî French rûsî Russian tirkî Turkish Swedish polonî Polish 90 swêdî GRAMMAR: a. Generic ezafeh. In addition to the ezafeh endings that have been introduced thus far (-ê masc. sing.; -a fem. sing.; -ên [S: -êt] pl.), there is also a generic ezafeh ending in -î, which does not change for gender or number. It is used in conjunction with adjectives that need a complement, e.g.: bes enough: Tu bes-î me yî You are enough for us. dûr far: Ew dûr-î me ye He is far from us. nêzîkî near: Em nêzîk-î te ne We are near you. beşdar participating: 90The form firensizî can also be heard, from the Turkish form fransðz. • 120 • M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Ez beşdar-î civînê dibim I'm participating in the meeting. The last example above exemplifies a special class of verbs which consist of a noun or adjective + verb, most often bûn = 'to be' and kirin = 'to make, do'. Such verbs employ the generic ezafeh to express the object or recipient of the action. For example, hîn bûn means 'to learn' or 'to get used to': Ez hîn dibim means 'I learn' or 'I get used to'. If we wish to add an object to this phrase, e.g. 'I learn Kurdish' or 'I am getting used to my new life', we must do so by adding a generic ezafeh (-î) to hîn, yielding Ez hîn-îî Kurdî dibim and Ez hîn-îî jiyana xwe ya nû dibim. (The title of this book is 'Em hînî Kurmancî dibin' = We are learning Kurdiş). 91 92 The following is a list of common verbal phrases which require the generic ezafeh: •ft-î (filan tiştî) something, anything; •fk-î (filan kesî) someone, anyone} •hînî ft-î bûn to learn stg.; to get used or accustomed to stg. •fêrî ft-î bûn to learn stg. •beşdarî ft-î bûn to participate in stg. •pişikdarî ft-î bûn to participate in stg. [S] •miqatî fk-î bûn to take care of s.o. •telefonî fk-î kirin to call s.o. up (on the phone) •gazî fk-î kirin to call, summon s.o. •derbazî ft-î bûn to enter, pass over into •terkî/terka ft-î kirin to leave off doing stg., quit doing stg. (e.g., smoking) •nêzîkî ft-î bûn to be close to, to approach •dûrî ft-î bûn to be far from Note that such verbs may take two objects. For example, •hînî (fêrî) ft-î kirin Ew hînî (fêrî) Kurdî dike 'to teach stg.' For example, '[S]he teaches Kurdish'. If we wish to say '[S]he teaches me Kurdish', one must make the verb kirin take an additional direct object, yielding: Ew min hînî (fêrî) Kurdî dike. 91Cf. MacKenzie Kurdish Dialect Studies (London : Oxford University Press, 1961-62), vol. 1, §264 (d), p.161. 92Note that in speech one often hears such forms as: Ez Kurdî hîn dibim instead of Ez hînî Kurdî dibim. For the purposes of this course, we will avoid this type of construction. • 121 • M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin So also: •fk-î suwarî ft-î kirin = to have s.o. mount [a horse, donkey] e.g., Ezê te suwarî vî kerî bikim 'I will have you ride this donkey', 'I will put you on the back of this donkey'. •ft-î/fk-î derbazî ft-î kirin = to let s.o. pass, cross, enter e.g., Wan em derbazî tixûbê navneteweyî kirin 'They let us pass across the international border'. With the following verbs, there are also two objects. However, the order is reversed here: the direct object (stg.) is the object of the main verb, and the indirect object (s.o.) is the object of the noun + generic ezafeh: •ft-î nîşanî fk-î dan = to şow s.o. stg. e.g., Ezê van kitêban nîşanî te bidim 'I will şow these books to you' •ft-î pêşkêşî fk-î kirin = to present stg. to s.o. e.g., Em vê bernamê pêşkêşî we dikin 'We present this program to you' b. There are other verbs that consist of a noun + verb (often kirin, bûn or man) which form their objects using a regular ezafeh construction, for example : •alîkarîya fk-î kirin to help, assist •bêrîya fk-î kirin to miss, long for s.o. •bersiva ft-î/fk-î dan to answer, respond to e.g., Ezê yeko yeko bersiva pirsyarên te bidim 'I will answer your questions one by one'. •li hêvîya/benda fk-î bûn/man/sekinîn •çavnihêrîya fk-î kirin •behsa (behsê) ft-î kirin to •qala ft-î kirin to •têra ft-î kirin to •spasîya fk-î kirin to to wait for s.o. to wait for s.o. discuss, talk about stg. discuss, talk about stg. be enough for, satisfy thank s.o. c. Ordinal numbers. There are several possible inventories of ordinal numbers. The traditional northern Kurmanji system is to use the plural oblique case of the numbers, with a special word for 'first': • 122 • M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin pêşîn (pêşin) first, 1st diduya[n] second, 2nd sisîya[n] third, 3rd çara[n] fourth, 4th pênca[n] fifth, 5th şeşa[n] sixth, 6th hefta[n] seventh, 7th heşta[n] eighth, 8th neha[n] ninth, 9th deha[n] tenth, 10th yanzdeha[n] eleventh, 11th diwazdeha[n] <also: donzdeha[n]> twelfth, 12th sêzdeha[n] thirteenth, 13th etc. bîsta[n] sîya[n]/siha[n] çila[n] pêncîya[n] şêsta[n] etc. twentieth, 20th thirtieth, 30th fortieth, 40th fiftieth, 50th sixtieth, 60th seda[n] hundredth, 100th In southern Kurmanji, the numbers are in the feminine singular oblique case: êkê duwê sêyê çarê pêncê şeşê heftê heştê nehê dehê yanzdehê diwazdehê sêzdehê etc. bîstê sihê çilê pêncîyê first, 1st second, 2nd third, 3rd fourth, 4th fifth, 5th sixth, 6th seventh, 7th eighth, 8th ninth, 9th tenth, 10th eleventh, 11th twelfth, 12th thirteenth, 13th twentieth, 20th thirtieth, 30th fortieth, 40th fiftieth, 50th • 123 • 9. 60th sedê hundredth. 13th etc. 9th dehem[în] tenth. always linked by an ezafeh construction.a situation markedly different from modifiers that follow their nouns. 100th A third system. This last group of ordinal numbers is one of several categories of modifiers that precede the noun they modify. 10th yanzdehem[în] eleventh. 20th thirtieth. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin şêstê etc. bîstem[în] sihem[în] çilem[în] pêncîyem[în] şêstem[în] etc. 30th fortieth. 11th diwanzdehem[în] twelfth. suffixes -em or -emîn to the cardinal number.. 40th fiftieth. sixtieth.M. sê meh.. 8. 1. bi-sedan = hundreds of. cardinal numbers: du kitêb.. 5th şeşem[în] sixth. ordinal numbers (optional): Duwem[în] Şerrê Cîhanê = 'World War Two' (note: Şerrê Duwem/Diduya[n]/Duwê yê Cîhanê is also possible) 3. Note that this type of ordinal number may precede or follow the noun it modifies: dersa duwem or duwemîn ders = 'second lesson'. 12th sêzdehem[în] thirteenth. Preposed modifiers. çar jin 2. 7th heştem[în] eighth.L. 2nd sêyem[în] third. 4th pêncem[în] fifth. 6. below): 1. In all such cases.. 8th nehem[în] ninth. 3rd çarem[în] fourth. 2. [çend]. borrowed from Sorani. sedem[în] twentieth. 6th heftem[în] seventh. 60th hundredth. 3. 50th sixtieth. there is no ezafeh connecting the modifier to its noun -. 100th d. Many of these preposed modifiers have to do with quantity or counting (nos. bi-dehan = tens of (or dozens of). 1st duwem[în] second. bi-hezaran = • 124 • . yekem[în] first. wê [f. Words meaning 'some': çend. • 125 • .pirr [much. çend = how many. each]: hemû zarok = 'all the children'. 9) Every night I telephone my friend and speak with him for an hour.L.ze'f . Translate into Kurdiş: 1) I want to help you (pl. II. 2) Gişk xwendekarên min zanayên mezin in. Translate into Engliş: 1) Îsal emê hînî zimanekî bin. 4) If you don't take care of yourself. xweş (xoş): Xoş mirov e = He's a nice person.her [all. 2) in the fourteenth year. çi = what. kêm [few]: kêm jin = 'few women'. 7) The [village] elder summoned all the young men of the village. 9) the happiest child. 11) Thousands of children crossed the international border yesterday. 3) If the voters don't participate in the election. no one will be elected. 6) They want to present some books to their teacher. 5) the hundredth book.vê [f. 7) the sixty-fourth anniversary. EXERCISES: I. 5) Şe did not answer her grandfather. 10) What is the longest word in (of) the Kurdiş language?. although the word xwe¤ itself is originally of Iranian origin: Persian khÝsh sËa .]) 6. her rroj = 'every day'. demonstratives: ev = this & these (oblique: vî [m. 2) Without your help. superlatives of adjectives in -tirîn: dirêjtirîn roja salê = 'the longest day of the year' 5. who will take care of you?.] . 3) the twentieth day. many. we cannot teach our children Kurdiş. lots of]: gelek kitêb = 'many books'.] . who passed away last year. hinek kes = 'some people' 9. Translate each of the following phrases in three (3) different ways: 1) the first lesson.passed into Turkish as ho¤. 10) before the second word. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin thousands of.gişk . hin(ek): çend gotin = 'some words'. ku xwe fêrî her tiştî dikin. 12) We miss the stories and riddles of our grandfather.van [pl. 6) the eleventh president. bi-mîlyonan = millions of: bi-dehan xwendekar = 'dozens of students' 4. which 7. III. 4) after the third war.]) and ew = that & those (oblique: wî [m. just as one must say di vî bajarîî da and not *di vî bajêr da).wan [pl.). 3) Ez çend caran ji te dipirsim. kîjan behaves like the demonstratives ev and ew: one cannot say *di kîjan bajêr da. 8) Which stories do you want to şow us?.] . pirr tişt = 'lots of things'.M. hemû . 93 8. and hundreds of women will cross it tomorrow. lê tu 93This construction is borrowed from Turkish. 8) the twenty-ninth student. question words: kîjan = which (di kîjan bajarî da = 'in which city?' -.] .note: with masculine singular nouns in the oblique case. gelek . xwe hînî hemî zimanên dinyaê bike.g. Transform the following sentences: change bûn into kirin. 2) Tu suwarî wê trênê dibî. the subject will always be in the first person plural (we/us). 5) Ev sê kurr derbazî xwendingehê nebûn. 7) Tu fêrî ‘erebî nebûyî?. IV. 10) Hemî xwendekar fêrî tirkî bûbûn. • 126 • . 8) Ev cara çaran e ku ez tême serêdana mala bavê xwe. 4) Îro se'at di nehan da li televîzyonê pêşkêşî bernameyeke nû dikin.M.ew hînî rûsî dibe.L. 8) Hûn ê suwarî trimbêla me bin. adding a second object: in the new sentence. 9) Hevalê te hînî spanyolî dibe. 3) Ew derbazî vî welatî bû.: Ew hînî ingilîzî dibe = 'Şe learns Engliş' --> Em wî hînî ingilîzî dikin = 'We teach her Engliş': 1) Hûn hînî vî zimanî dibin. da ku paşeroja te ronahî be". 6) Çend ji min bê. ez miqatî xûşk û birayên xwe dikim. 10) Îsal heştemîn sal e ku ew beşdarî wê civînê dibe. ez beşdarî civînên wisa nabim. e. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin bersiva min nadî. 6) Xûşka te hînî polonî nabe -. 7) Gelo tu yê beşdarî çaremîn civîna dersdaran bî? Nexêr. 4) Ew keçik dê fêrî swêdî be. 5) Bapîrê min her digote min: "Serê min bi te bilind e. û niha fêrî kurdî dibin. 9) Were bi me ra çayekê vexwe! Ev se'atek e ku em li hêvîya te disekinin!. What is it? 95 •Ro betilî Şev xemilî. 95Answer: • 127 • .M. bang lê kiriye. Ew çiye? What is it? 94 •Odeke şûştî-mûştî Çil feqîr têda rrûniştî. û ku wan civan daye hev. Gundî ketine navbera wan. Hin axretê. Xwedê zane keçik û xort pevre zewicîne û gehîştine mirada xwe. Dê û bavê xort jî hatine. Piştî ku de’wat xilas bûye. dev û didan = mouth and teeth. Min ev serpêhatî ji we ra gotin. bi şevê ew xort hatiye bin pencera wê. Hin dinê kêrî me tê.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Hivdeha [17] FOLKLORE: mamik: •Gulek derk’etîye ji qudretê. ku hûn feydê jê werbigrin. Dotira rojê dê û bavê wê daye pey wan û li mala wî xortî ew zeft kirine. ‘Eyşe çûye malê. A flower has come out from God. Some in the next. Ew çi ye? 96 Idle during the day Dressed up at night. wî jî fesla wan kiriye û ew li hev anîne. Piştî hingî çi qewimîye? Çi qewimîye dayka min jî hew dizane. Wê jî buxçika xwe daye hev û bi wî xortî ra revîye. What is it? LECTURE: Dapîra min ji min ra got ku ‘Eyşê li de’watê xortek nas kiriye. Ew çiye? A waşed-maşed room Forty paupers have sat down in it. VOCABULARY: 94Answer: pembû = cotton. Some of it is of use to us in this world. pişt re wan şandiye dûv melayekî. û dilketiyê da. 96Answer: ç’ira = lamp. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin axret. bûyîn. vt. last (week. to agree grammatically with a plural subject for vi. Past participle. vt. f. [also: diran]tooth {pl. didên. the past participle is formed from the infinitive. i. month)' dilketî 'beloved' şkestî 'broken' • 128 • . m. the third principle part of the verb is the past participle (eat . f.eaten. send after xemilî adorned. f. hat-în. m.gone. da-yîn). vt. f.went . şut' vekirî 'open' borî / çûyî 'past. story.g. parcel. teeth} fesla [fk-î] kirin.e. e. and with a plural direct object for vt.L. [heavenly] power serpêhatî. The past participle is both adjective and verb at one and the same time. captured' hat-î '[having] come' bû-yî 'been' da-yî 'given' {Particularly in southern dialects.M. dressed up zeft kirin. hardly kêr useful. seize EXPRESSIONS: buxçika xwe dane hev civan dane hev Kêrî me tê to pack up one's things to make a date. In Engliş.: girt-in hat-in bû-n da-n ---> ---> ---> ---> girt-î 'taken.. experience şandin[e] dûv [şandin. benefit.ate . f. In Kurmanji.] to send for. adventure. necessary li hev anîn. use hew negative particle. vt. lamp didan. rendez-vous It is of use to us GRAMMAR: a. go . scarcely. pack (for traveling) civan. there is a plural form in -în (girt-în.} Some common adjectives are in fact past participles: girtî 'closed. More on this in the section on relative clauses. to settle a feud feyde (feydê). the next world.. to catch (redhanded). hereafter betilî idle buxçik. vî didanî. talk .talked .talked). to reconcile qudret. pl. by removing the final -in (-n if the stem ends in a vowel) and adding -î (-yî before a vowel stem). for when the referent of the past participle is plural in number. [also: jivan] rendez-vous ç’ira. Wextê çûyî biraê wî Ehmed Çelebî dûvrra kire hewar… He got up. eve k’afirekî têtin. with forty-one hands •Rabû. em rrûniştîne xarê li wê dirkê gelek.)= 'fiancé(e)' b.M. when those days are discussed. Past participles in relative clauses. delîvek buha peyda dibet [sic] ji bo wan kesa ewên ew çîrok bi serê wan hatîn bêjin. (742. In the diwans. 'heartbroken' Past participles may also be nouns (substantives): girtî (m. Particularly in southern Kurmanji dialects. the following conjunctions signal the relative clause: ku 'that. •Di dîwana da demê suhbet tên kirin liser wan roja. bi rengekî dramatîkî. me zadê xo xar We got up. we made a fire for ourselves there and we sat there a long time until we had made ourselves some tea and eaten our food. mounted it and went.) Wextê k’etîye ser enîşka xo bera xo daê. • 129 • . me bo xo agir di wê dirkêve helkir. hespê xo li axûrê derêxist. •Em rrabûyn.) When he leant back on his elbow he noticed a monster coming.) = 'prisoner' destgirtî/dergistî (m. (742. the past tense verb in a relative clause is in the past participial form. suwar bû. çû. which' berî[ya] ku 'before' piştî ku 'after' gava ku/demê ku/wextê ku 'when' heta ku 'until' Here are some examples of this usage: [KDS-II] •Behrem Fêris zadê xo xar û k’ete ser enîşka xo. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin xeyalşkestî dilşkestî 'disillusioned' 'broken-hearted'. In addition. heta me bo xo çayek çê kirî. çil û êk destêt pêve Bahram Féris ate his food and leant back on his elbow. took his horse out of the stable.L. 32.&f. a golden opportunity arises for those people to whom those stories happened to tell [it] in a dramatic way from: Metîn 3:6 (1992).&f. When he went his brother Ahmed Chelebi şouted after him. M. Both northern and southern forms are given below: Northern: vi. Perfect tense. It often corresponds to the Engliş Present Perfect tense. Have you (already) read that book? That woman is (already) married. 350 c.. The extent of this resemblance has yet to be examined in detail. 97 Ez hatime Min dîtiye I have come I have seen Tu çûye Te xwariye You have gone You have eaten It can sometimes be used to express the adverb 'already' (German 'schon'.. The distinction between transitive (vt. and bear an in depth study. Ez hatime I have come Tu hatiye* You have come Ew hatiye* He/şe has come {*Also may be written hatîye} vt. has (already) gotten married. The perfect tense is used to express an action that began in the past and continues into the present. In some cases this tense is used for reporting hearsay (i. şe has left'. e.g. It can also be used in speaking of an imagined scenario.) verbs applies to this tense. In all cases. telling about something one has heard second hand). 'I have seen. from: KDS II Gulli #757. and in folktales. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin •Ew ezim yê biraê te ez kuştîm I am he whom your brother killed. French 'déjà').L. The intricacies of this tense and its usage are far more complex. e. • 130 • . Em hatine Hûn hatine Ew hatine We have come You have come They have come Min kiriye** I have done Me kiriye We have done Te kiriye You have done We kiriye You have done 97Or Present Perfect tense.g. the negative is formed with the accented prefix ne-. as opposed to something which one has witnessed -. etc.e. you have gone.) and intransitive (vi.g. used for reporting hearsay. This is one of the tenses whose formation and usage differs markedly between the north and the south. E. There is a certain resemblance between the use of this tense and the mi¤li past tense of Turkish.for which the simple past (or past perfect in some cases) is used.: Min xwariye Te ew pirtûk xwendiye? Wê jinê mêr kiriye I've (already) eaten. g. the present subjunctive of the auxiliary verb bûn). and -bim. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Wî/Wê kiriye He/şe has done {**Also may be written kirîye} Wan kiriye They have done Southern: vi.L. da. The formation of the subjunctive is as follows: remove the -n from the infinitive (e.[da-n].g. çûbit[in]/çû-bît[in]. da-bit[in]/da-bît[in]. -bî. Min kiri-be [-bin] Te kiri-be [-bin] Wî/Wê kiri-be [-bin] 98 Min da-be98 [-bin] Te da-be [-bin] Wî/Wê da-be [-bin] Me kiri-be [-bin] We kiri-be [-bin] Wan kiri-be [-bin] Me da-be [-bin] We da-be [-bin] Wan da-be [-bin] 98Southern: kiri-bit[in]/kiri-bît[in]. Ez hatîme I have come Em hatîne We have come Tu hatiye You have come Hûn hatîne You have come Ew hatiye He/şe has come Ew hatîne They have come {hatîye} or Ez yê/ya hatîm I have come Em yêt hatîn We have come Tu yê/ya hatî You have come Hûn yêt hatîn You have come Ew yê/ya hatî He/şe has come Ew yêt hatîn They have come vt. Subjunctive of Perfect tense. • 131 • .[hati-n]. add -be [singular] & -bin [plural] for transitive verbs.M.e. kirî + ye). Min kiriye I have done Me kiriye We have done Te kiriye You have done We kiriye You have done Wî/Wê kiriye He/şe has done Wan kiriye They have done {kirîye} or Min yê/ya kirî I have done Me yê/ya kirî We have done Te yê/ya kirî You have done We yê/ya kirî You have done Wî/Wê yê/ya kirî He/şe has done Wan yê/ya kirî They have done The secondary ezafeh marker (yê/ya/yêt) agrees in gender and number with its referent (the subject for vi. (hatî + me. -bin for intransitive verbs (i.[girti-n].. whereas this connection is less obvious in the north..[çû-n]). çû. the direct object for vt. E.).. hati. girti. The southern forms indicates that the present perfect tense is based on the past participle.: vt. d. -be. hati-bit[in]/hati-bît[in]. • 132 • . Ez hati-bim Tu hati-bî Ew hati-be98 Ez çû-bim Tu çû-bî Ew çû-be98 Em hati-bin Hûn hati-bin Ew hati-bin Em çû-bin99 Hûn çû-bin Ew çû-bin Examples of usage: 99Southern: 99 hati-bîn.M.L. çû-bîn. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin vi. M.L. Qamçûr vatiniyeke karmendan e.] lacking initiative. Ma wî ê wekî din çi bikira? … Dako! Ez bi gorî!. Ax! Li ser van lavelavên diya xwe şikeke sar li lawik çêdibe û tirsek lê radibe. he would destroy the world. çi xudanî nediman.. wî ê jî fena min çar bizin bikirana ber karmendên qamçûrî. Diya wî jî … di nava giriyê xwe de dilorîne û: --Ax!. •Heker gurg ji baranê tirsaba. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Dersa Hijdehan [18] FOLKLORE: Ji gotinên pêşîyan: •Bextê k’esiva wekî hebîya. daka min! [adapted from: Hesenê Metê.. carefree let (it be) • 133 • . Bi dev û lêvên ziwa vedigere ser diya xwe û dibêje: --Ji bona Xwedê. --Ax ku … ku aniha bêvankes î sermiyanê mala min sax bûya!. rêdareke dewletê ye. dako! Ma nuha bavê min sax bûya wî ê çi bikira!?. their plow would not remain in the wilderness. 1990). wê dinya xirab kira (Dz-#583. there would be none left for their owner... •Eger gur tirsa wî ji baranê hebana.. da bo xo k’urkekî çêket. p. •Heke hemî ç’îç’ka hijîr xar bana. wê serkumekî ji xwe re çêbikirana (L -#294. Bi navê Xwedê ku bavê min jî îro li vir bûya. “Qamçûr” in: Ardû ji kurteçîrokên gelêrî (Stockholm: Weşanên Welat. If all the chicks ate the figs. cotê wan çolê nedima. p. If the wolf feared the rain. p. see also Dz-#600. Tirsa dînbûna diya wî dikeve dilê wî. Îcar tu çima ewqas dilê xwe teng dikî. If the poor had any luck. Bawer bike ku bavê min jî di dewsa min da bûya. Ax ku ew aniha ne li pişta goristanê ramedî bûya!. 135) If the wolf knew his strength. Bêvankes sax bûya! dibêje. em ê dîsa ji wan çar serê bizinên xwe bibana. Herweha heta demeke kurt jî her li hêsrên diya xwe temaşe dike û bêdeng dimîne. he would make himself a fur coat. Ma ji te wetrê ku bavê min ê bizineke kêm bida wan? Ez dizanim… ez dizanim ku wî ê jî çar bizin bidana wan. 137) •Gur qewata xwe bizanbya. 114-117. 228. READING: Kurik … tênagihîje ku diya wî ji bo çi wisa digrî. p.] VOCABULARY: Bêxîret bira = bila [+ subj. corresponding to the subject for intransitive.before vowels) and followed by the following personal suffixes. give directions wekî usane in that case. labor xebitîn vi. to instruct. with the usual distinctions for transitive and intransitive verbs: Ez -bam Em -bayn • 134 • . the Past Subjunctive a) preserves the distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs. şûnda: ji wê şûnda from then on.L. The Past Subjunctive (Pikkert. the stem is followed by the following personal suffixes. dike) to begin êp’êce (=T epeyce) quite a bit gêzî kirin vt. work. solution dest pê kirin (dest bi . (çara) remedy. the stem is preceded by the subjunctive prefix bi. mattresses ç’are f. take a look şuxul m. b) is formed differently in the north than in the south (Hekkari and Behdinan). (dixebite) to work GRAMMAR: a. there is no bi. to see..g. beds. 6. labor. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin cî-nivîn pl. work. şuxul û ‘emel = do.8) Formation As it is a past tense.M.prefix: instead. did not work out qasî as much as qe (qet) at all sibê şebeqêda at the crack of dawn sivetira din [sibetira din] on the next day dîna xwe dan vt. In both cases the -(i)n of the infinitive is removed.(b. cure. to sweep hildan vt. if that is so xebat f. let pê nedibû did not succeed. (hil*dide) to pick up. girt-in çû-n --> --> girt çû In the north. bedding. after that t’emî [=t’enbîh] dan vt. lift hîştin/hiştin vt. and to the logical direct object for transitive verbs: Ez bi-X-ama Tu bi-X-ayî Ew bi-X-a Em Hûn Ew bi-X-ana bi-X-ana bi-X-ana In the south. e. (dihêle) to leave. ): northern: Ez bihatama Tu bihatayî Ew bihata Em bihatana Hûn bihatana Ew bihatana southern: Ez hatibam Tu hatibayî Ew hatiba Em hatibayn Hûn hatiban Ew hatiban •girtin (vt. to express unreal or contrafactual conditions.): northern: Min bigirta Te bigirta Wî/wê bigirta Me bigirta We bigirta Wan bigirta southern: Min girtiba Te girtiba Wî/wê girtiba Me girtiba We girtiba Wan girtiba as logical direct object: northern: Ez bigirtama Tu bigirtayî Ew bigirta Em bigirtana Hûn bigirtana Ew bigirtana southern: Ez girtibam Tu girtibayî Ew girtiba Em Hûn Ew girtibayn girtiban girtiban Usage The Past Subjunctive is used primarily in conditional sentences. It often corresponds to English constructions like “If I • 135 • .M.L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Tu Ew -bayî -ba Hûn Ew -ban -ban The following are examples of an intransitive and a transitive verb conjugated in the Past Subjunctive: •hatin (vi. M. this tense is formed using the future tense marker wê/dê/-ê plus the Past Subjunctive. •Min ew zû bixara. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin were …” or “If I had been …”. In Behdinan. one in use in the northern dialects.) corresponds to this tense. Note that the negative of this southern form is expressed with the imperfect tense: Ez da çim = I would have gone. he would not have done this to me [=Turkish: bu işi başıma getirmezdi] There are two Past Conditional tenses. Hence. wê şerefa me bişkenanda • 136 • . Examples of usage: •Wekî tu bedew bûya[y]î. The Turkiş past conditional (gelseydi. yapsaydð.prefix). ewî ev ‘emel neanî serê min If I had eaten him early on. ko zilamekî diz bûya. although Min bikira means “[If] I had done [it]” (=Turkish yapsaydım).L.or di. you would not have married a blind man like me. Southern Ez da kem = Northern Min-ê bikira = I would have done [it]. this tense is formed using the independent morpheme DA plus the naked present tense stem (without bi. etc. but Ez nediç^um = I would not have gone. wê îslehê me bidizîya. the other in the south. Min-ê bikira means “I would have done [it]” (=Turkis yapacaktım. In the north. Hence. te ez kora nedistandim If you were beautiful. Here are some examples of both northern and southern versions of this tense: N: Te yê bidîta = S: Tu da bînî You would have seen/found [it] N: Ew ê biçûya = S: Ew da çît He would have gone N: Me yê bigirta = S: Em da girîn We would have closed/captured [it] N: Hûn ê bihatana = S: Hûn da hên You (pl.) would have come N: Wan ê bixwenda = S: Ew da xwînin They would have read/studied Examples of usage: •Ev. yapardım). • 137 • . lazim. knight] Here there were boulders so large that 15-20 horsemen could have hidden behind them. ‘you would have said’] •Memê ewqasî bêxem û bêxîyal bû.g. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin If this man were a thief.. ku weke panzdeh-bîst soyara dikaribû xwe piş wana veşarta [soyar = suwar/siyar = horseman. ‘You would say’.L. have stolen) our weapons. ‘it was necessary that you did according to that (f. •Teyê bigota Almost [lit. specifically with reference to the past tense.M.) of Beyrim’] •Divîya duhû çûbama [divîya = past tense of divêt] I should have gone yesterday •Vira zinarên usa mezin hebûn. he would steal (or. he would tarnish [lit. ‘break’] our honor. divê[t]). Examples of usage: •Lazim bû ko we bi a Beyrim bikira You were supposed to obey Beyrim [lit. gerek. it was almost as if he was alone in the garden [lit. ‘You would have said he is alone in the garden’] The Past Subjunctive is also used after modal auxiliaries that require the subjunctive (e. qet teyê bigota. rider. ew t’enêye ba=çêda Mem was so unconcerned and uninterested. L. Chyet / Em hînî Kurmancî dibin Pronunciation drills terr t’êr k’êr k’er bîn bin kêç’ keç’ kirin k’irrîn karîn digrim digrîm kurr kûr guh gû din dîn şiv şîv şêr şîr ji jî tîr kerr tirr digerrim kor dên şev şerr jê Q-K ked qed qab kap kîr qîr p’ak paqij kar qar beq Bek’o noqav nok qoç’ koç qirrke qelemek kul qul • 138 • .M.