Festivals & Events

1. Newroz pîroz be!

   Happy Nowruz! (Kurdish New Year)

   Usage

   Standard greeting for Nowruz, the most important Kurdish holiday on the spring equinox

   Grammar Note

   "pîroz be" means "may it be blessed". Nowruz on March 21 is a symbol of Kurdish cultural identity.

2. Cejn kengê dest pê dike?

   When does the festival start?

   Usage

   Asking when the festival begins

   Grammar Note

   "dest pê kirin" means "to start". "dest pê dike" is the third-person singular present form.

3. Mîhricana sereke li ku derê ye?

   Where is the main celebration?

   Usage

   Asking the location of the main celebration

   Grammar Note

   "li ku derê?" is the basic "where?" question. mîhrican is feminine, so the ezafe -a is required before the adjective: Mîhricana sereke.

4. Dikarim beşdarî cejnê bibim?

   Can I join the festivities?

   Usage

   Asking permission to join the festival celebrations

   Grammar Note

   "beşdarî kirin" means "to participate". "beşdarî cejnê bibim" means "participate in the festival".

5. Di vê cejnê de xwarina kevneşopî çi ye?

   What traditional food is eaten during this festival?

   Usage

   Asking about traditional festival foods

   Grammar Note

   Di vê cejnê de is the di ... de circumposition meaning "during this festival". The -a in xwarina kevneşopî is the ezafe on the feminine noun xwarin. çi ye is "what is it".

6. Ji bo cejnê divê ez çi bipoşim?

   What should I wear to the festival?

   Usage

   Asking about appropriate dress for the festival

   Grammar Note

   Traditional Kurdish dress is commonly worn at Nowruz; red, green, and yellow (flag colors) are popular.

7. Heqê têketinê heye?

   Is there an entrance fee?

   Usage

   Asking whether there is an admission charge

   Grammar Note

   "heye" means "there is/are". The opposite is "nîne" (there isn't).

8. Ez dixwazim tiştekî bîranînê ji cejnê bikirim.

   I'd like to buy a souvenir from the festival.

   Usage

   Expressing desire to purchase a festival souvenir

   Grammar Note

   "dixwazim" is the first-person present of "xwestin" (to want). A basic verb for expressing desires.

9. Kevneşopiyên vê cejnê çi ne?

   What are the traditional customs for this celebration?

   Usage

   Asking about the traditional customs of the celebration

   Grammar Note

   Kevneşopiyên is kevneşopî (tradition, custom) with the plural ezafe -ên linking it to vê cejnê ("of this festival"). çi ne is "what are they", with ne the 3rd-person plural copula.

10. Xemilîn û atmosfer gelek xweş e!

    The decorations and atmosphere are beautiful!

    Usage

    Complimenting the festival decorations and atmosphere

    Grammar Note

    "gelek" is an intensifier meaning "very". "xweş" is a versatile adjective: beautiful, good, pleasant.

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