Language/Central-kurdish/Vocabulary/Introduction-to-Greetings
Introduction
In Central Kurdish, greetings are an essential part of daily conversation. Knowing how to greet someone and exchange pleasantries is the first step in building connections with Kurdish speakers. In this lesson, you will learn some basic greetings and expressions that are commonly used in Central Kurdish-speaking regions.
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Household Items & Geography.
Hello and Goodbye
Saying Hello
- The most common way to say hello in Central Kurdish is سلام (salaam). It is used in both formal and informal situations.
- Another way to greet someone is to say خوش آمدید (khosh amadeed). This phrase is used more formally and is appropriate when meeting someone for the first time.
- For informal situations, you can say ماڵەوە (malo). This is a shortened form of the phrase لەخۆشەویستی ماڵەوە (lekhoshewisti malo) which roughly translates to "be at peace, my home."
Saying Goodbye
- The most common way to say goodbye in Central Kurdish is خداحافظ (khudahafiz). It can be used in both formal and informal situations.
- Another way to say goodbye is باری نێوانی (bari nawayani) which translates to "go in peace." This is a more formal way of saying goodbye and is appropriate when leaving a formal setting or event.
- For informal situations, you can say بچوون (bachun) which translates to "go, be gone."
Other Common Greetings
How Are You?
- The standard greeting used to ask how someone is doing in Central Kurdish is چۆنیا حالی تۆ (chonia hali to). It is acceptable to use this greeting in both formal and informal situations.
- In informal situations, you might hear the phrase چۆنیا (chonia) which translates to "how."
Responses to How Are You?
- If someone asks you how you are doing, you can respond with خۆشە (khosha) which translates to "good."
- If you are not feeling well or are having a bad day, you can respond with ناتەوێ (natewe) which translates to "not well."
Thank You and You're Welcome
- The most common way to say thank you in Central Kurdish is سوپاس (supas). It is appropriate to use this expression in both formal and informal situations.
- When someone thanks you, you can respond with خواهەر بووین (khaware buwin) which translates to "may you be blessed." This expression is formal and is appropriate in more formal situations.
- The standard way to say you're welcome in Central Kurdish is تکایە (tkaye). This expression can be used in both formal and informal situations.
Excuse Me
- If you need to get someone's attention or excuse yourself in Central Kurdish, you can use the phrase ببخەرەوە (bbekherewe). This expression is appropriate in both formal and informal situations.
- If you need to apologize for something or ask for forgiveness, you can use the phrase بیبیزی (bibizi) which translates to "forgive me."
Conclusion
In this lesson, you have learned how to say hello, goodbye, and other basic greetings in Central Kurdish. By mastering these essential expressions, you will be able to start conversations and build connections with Kurdish speakers. Remember to practice these phrases frequently and incorporate them into your daily conversations. In the next lesson, you will learn about polite expressions such as "please," "thank you," and "excuse me."
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Colors & Polite Expressions.