Cooking & Markets

1. Bazara herêmî ya teze li ku ye?

   Where is the local fresh market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for a local fresh produce market

   Grammar Note

   "li ku ye?" means "where is it?" in Kurdish (Kurmanji dialect) — standard location question

2. Navê vê pêkhateyê çi ye?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used at markets or cooking classes to ask the name of an ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "navê X çi ye?" = "what is X called?". navê is the ezafe of nav (name) and the following noun takes the oblique: vê pêkhateyê. There is no Kurmanji word "xurçe"; an ingredient is a pêkhate

3. Goşt / Masî ev îro teze ye?

   Is this meat / fish fresh today?

   Usage

   Used at markets to check the freshness of meat or fish

   Grammar Note

   In Kurmanji Kurdish, questions are often indicated by intonation and "ye?" as a question marker

4. Hilberên organîk hene?

   Do you have organic produce?

   Usage

   Used when looking for organic produce at markets or shops

   Grammar Note

   "hene?" is the plural form of "heye" (there is) — used to ask about the existence of multiple things

5. Xwarina kevneşopî ya li vir çawa tê amadekirin?

   How do you prepare this traditional dish?

   Usage

   Used when learning how to make a traditional dish

   Grammar Note

   "çawa tê amadekirin?" is a passive question meaning "how is it prepared?"

6. Berî ku ez bikirim, ez dikarim tam bikim?

   Can I taste this before buying?

   Usage

   Used at markets to request a sample before buying

   Grammar Note

   The subject is ez (I), so the verb is dikarim, not the 3sg dikare. "To taste" is tam kirin (tam = taste); tat is Turkish and is not used. "berî ku" is followed by the subjunctive (bikirim)

7. Di vê reçeteyê de çi biharatên tên bikaranîn?

   What spices are used in this recipe?

   Usage

   Used when asking about the spices in a recipe

   Grammar Note

   "tên bikaranîn" is passive voice in Kurmanji — formed with "tê/tên + verb stem"

8. Ez dixwazim beşdarî dersa çêkirina xwarinê bibim.

   I'd like to take a cooking class.

   Usage

   Used when signing up for or asking about a cooking class

   Grammar Note

   "Ez dixwazim" means "I want to" in Kurmanji — the standard first-person desire expression

9. Ez li ku dikarim reçeteyeke baş a xwarina herêmî bibînim?

   Where can I find a good local recipe?

   Usage

   Used when searching for authentic local recipes

   Grammar Note

   "li ku" (where) plus "dikarim … bibînim" (can I find). bibît is a Behdini/Sorani form; the Kurmanji 1sg subjunctive of dîtin is bibînim. The indefinite feminine reçeteyek becomes reçeteyeke before an adjective

10. Pir xweş e! Tiştê razdarî çi ye?

    This is delicious — what is the secret ingredient?

    Usage

    Used to compliment a dish while asking for the secret ingredient

    Grammar Note

    "Pir" is an intensifier meaning "very". "xweş" means "delicious / nice" in Kurmanji Kurdish

11. Xwê

    Salt

    Usage

    For asking for seasoning or checking ingredients

12. Şekir

    Sugar

    Usage

    For asking for seasoning or checking ingredients

13. Bîbera reş

    Black pepper

    Usage

    For asking for seasoning or checking ingredients

14. Rûn

    Oil

    Usage

    For checking how a dish is cooked

15. Sirke

    Vinegar

    Usage

    For checking seasoning or ingredients

16. Hingiv

    Honey

    Usage

    Point at it to order or to check ingredients

17. Sîr

    Garlic

    Usage

    Also useful for avoiding an ingredient

18. Pîvaz

    Onion

    Usage

    Also useful for avoiding an ingredient

19. Bîbera tûj

    Chili pepper

    Usage

    Point at it to add or avoid heat

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