Language/Central-kurdish/Grammar/Negation

Central Kurdish Grammar - Negation

Hi Central Kurdish learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will cover the topic of negation in Central Kurdish. You will learn how to properly negate a sentence in the present, past and future tense. We will also look at common negative words and contractions.

Negating Present Tense Sentences

To negate a present tense sentence in Central Kurdish, we add the word "نا" at the beginning of the verb. "نا" translates to "not" in English.

Let's look at some examples:

Central Kurdish	Pronunciation	English
من پسوچت ناخوشم.	Min pisoxtet nakhoşim.	I don't like your idea.
تۆ لەسەر بەشێکی ناخۆش هاتی.	To leser bexekî nakhoş hatî.	You didn't come to a nice party.
وان کەس ناچاکر.	Wan kes nachaçir.	There's nobody here.

As you can see, "نا" comes directly before the verb in the sentence. It is important to note that "نا" is not used with the verb "بوون" (to be) in the present tense. Instead, we use a different negative word, "نی" (nî).

Here's an example:

Central Kurdish	Pronunciation	English
تو پووی هەستانی نی.	To pûy hestanî nî.	You are not sad.

Negating Past Tense Sentences

To negate a past tense sentence in Central Kurdish, we add the word "مە" before the verb. "مە" translates to "not" in English.

Let's look at some examples:

Central Kurdish	Pronunciation	English
کاتژمێردا دوو کەس چاوەروانم نەکردن.	Katijmerdâ dû kes çawerawanim nekirdin.	Yesterday, two people didn't greet me.
بۆ پێویستە ناچایبوونەوە.	Bê pêwîstî nachaîbûnêwe.	They didn't have to come.

In these examples, "مە" comes before the verb in the sentence. As with the present tense, "مە" is not used with the verb "بوون" (to be) in the past tense. Instead, we use a different negative word, "نەبوو" (nebû).

Here's an example:

Central Kurdish	Pronunciation	English
من فەرغی نەکەم.	Min fergî nebûm.	I wasn't late.

Negating Future Tense Sentences

To negate a future tense sentence in Central Kurdish, we add the word "نالە" before the verb. "نالە" translates to "not" in English.

Let's look at some examples:

Central Kurdish	Pronunciation	English
من بەلام بەخێر نالێبم.	Min belam bexir nalebm.	I will not sleep well tonight.
تۆ کەس بووندە چی نژەژیت نالێ؟	To kes bûnde çî nexşejet nale?	What won't you regret being?

In these examples, "نالە" comes before the verb in the sentence. Just like with the present and past tense, "نالە" is not used with the verb "بوون" (to be) in the future tense. Instead, we use a different negative word, "نەبێ" (nebê).

Here's an example:

Central Kurdish	Pronunciation	English
تۆ پشتی ئەم کاتە خراپ نەبێی.	To piştî êm katê xorap nebêy.	You won't be tired after this.

Common Negative Words

Below are some common negative words you can use to negate a sentence:

Word	Pronunciation	English
نا	na	not
نی	nî	not (used with "to be" in present tense)
مە	me	not (used with past tense)
نەبوو	nebû / nebûyî	not (used with "to be" in past tense)
نالە	nale	not (used with future tense)
نەبێ	nebê	not (used with "to be" in future tense)
هەرگیز	hêrgîz	never
هیچ	hîç	none / not any

Contractions

In Central Kurdish, we often use contractions to make negative sentences shorter and easier to say. Below are some common contractions:

Expanded Form	Contracted Form	Pronunciation	English
نا+بە	نابە	nabe	not (present tense)
نی+بوو	نیبوو	nibû	not (past tense)
نالە+بە	نالەبە	nalebe	not (future tense)
هیچ+کات	هیکات	hîkat	never
هیچ+کەس	هیکەس	hîkes	nobody

Here's an example of a dialogue using contractions:

• Person 1: تو بلۆفەرجە نابە. (To bêlofercê nabe.) (You don't have to worry.)
• Person 2: بۆ چی نابە؟ (Bê çî nabe?) (Why not?)
• Person 1: هەموو بەو پەرەسای دەران. (Hemû bêw peresayê deran.) (They are all over the place.)

To improve your Central Kurdish Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Kurdish verbs
• Kurdish grammar