Hewlêr
Hew-lêr
Erbil (Hewlêr)
Usage
Capital of Iraqi Kurdistan Region
Grammar Note
One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and Kurdish cultural center
Silêmanî
Si-lê-ma-nî
Sulaymaniyah
Usage
Cultural and educational center of Iraqi Kurdistan
Grammar Note
Known as the city of poets and intellectuals, called the "Kurdish cultural capital"
Duhok
Du-hok
Usage
City in northern Iraqi Kurdistan
Grammar Note
Located in mountainous terrain; region where the Zakho Kurdish dialect is spoken
Amed
A-med
Diyarbakır (Amed)
Usage
City in southeastern Turkey often called the unofficial Kurdish capital. Signposted and ticketed as Diyarbakır
Grammar Note
The Kurdish name is Amed; the official Turkish name is Diyarbakır, whose ı is not a letter of the Hawar alphabet. Sûrên Amedê, Balafirgeha Amedê and Îstgeha trênê ya Amedê in this same file already use Amed. Its black basalt walls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Zakho
Za-kho
Usage
Historic city in Iraqi Kurdistan near the Turkish border
Grammar Note
Famous for the ancient stone bridge "Pira Delal" (the beautiful bridge)
Mahabad
Ma-ha-bad
Usage
Historic city in the Kurdish region of northwestern Iran
Grammar Note
Site of the short-lived Kurdish Republic of Mahabad in 1946
Qamişlo
Qa-miş-lo
Qamishli
Usage
City in northeastern Syria with a large Kurdish population
Grammar Note
Important city in Rojava (West Kurdistan); Kurdish, Arabic, and Aramaic coexist here
Cizîr
Ci-zîr
Cizre
Usage
Historic Kurdish city in southeastern Turkey on the Tigris River
Grammar Note
Derives from Arabic Jazīra (island). Historically a cultural crossroads of Kurdish and Arab worlds
Mûsil
Mû-sil
Mosul
Usage
Historic city in northern Iraq near the Kurdish cultural region
Grammar Note
Near ancient Assyrian Nineveh. A multicultural city where Kurds, Arabs, and Assyrians have coexisted
Kerkûk
Ker-kûk
Kirkuk
Usage
Oil-rich city in northern Iraq with a large Kurdish population
Grammar Note
Kurds call it the "heart of Kurdistan". Known for oil and its politically complex status
Wan
Van
Usage
Provincial capital on the eastern shore of Lake Van in eastern Turkey. Signage and documents use the official form Van
Mêrdîn
Mêr-dîn
Mardin
Usage
Provincial capital whose stone old town climbs a hillside near the Syrian border. Official form on signs is Mardin
Êlih
Ê-lih
Batman (Êlih)
Usage
Provincial capital on the Batman river, a Tigris tributary, grown around oil refining. Official form is Batman
Sêrt
Siirt
Usage
Provincial capital in southeastern Turkey, known for its pistachios and thick woollen blankets. Official form is Siirt
Şirnex
Şir-nex
Şırnak
Usage
Mountain province and its capital bordering Iraq and Syria, containing Silopi and the Habur border gate. Official form is Şırnak
Colemêrg
Co-le-mêrg
Hakkari (Colemêrg)
Usage
Turkey's southeasternmost mountain province on the Iranian and Iraqi borders; its capital sits at about 1,700 m. Official form is Hakkari
Mûş
Muş
Usage
Provincial capital facing the Muş plain in eastern Turkey, about 100 km west of Lake Van. Official form is Muş
Bidlîs
Bid-lîs
Bitlis
Usage
Provincial capital strung along a deep gorge southwest of Lake Van, with a stone citadel. Official form is Bitlis
Agirî
A-gi-rî
Ağrı
Usage
Province and capital in eastern Turkey near the Iranian border, named after Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı). Official form is Ağrı
Riha
Şanlıurfa (Riha)
Usage
Provincial capital in southeastern Turkey and the base for Göbekli Tepe. Official form is Şanlıurfa (formerly Urfa)
Semsûr
Sem-sûr
Adıyaman (Semsûr)
Usage
Provincial capital and gateway to Mount Nemrut, on the western side of the Euphrates. Official form is Adıyaman
Xarpêt
Xar-pêt
Elazığ (Xarpêt)
Usage
Provincial capital in eastern Turkey; the old town of Harput and its castle sit on the hill above. Also Elezîz in Kurdish. Official form is Elazığ
Dêrsim
Dêr-sim
Tunceli (Dêrsim)
Usage
Mountain province in eastern Turkey with the Munzur valley national park, a Zaza-speaking area. Renamed Tunceli in 1935, which is the official form
Çewlîg
Çew-lîg
Bingöl (Çewlîg)
Usage
Mountain province and capital in eastern Turkey where both Zaza and Kurmanji are spoken. Official form is Bingöl
Dîlok
Dî-lok
Gaziantep (Dîlok)
Usage
Large city in southern Turkey known for pistachio sweets and the Zeugma mosaic museum. Also Entab in Kurdish. Official form is Gaziantep
Nisêbîn
Ni-sê-bîn
Nusaybin
Usage
Border town in Mardin province; Qamishli in Syria lies immediately across the frontier. Official form is Nusaybin
Qoser
Kızıltepe (Qoser)
Usage
Town on the plain about 20 km southwest of Mardin city, at a junction of main roads. Official form is Kızıltepe
Midyat
Usage
Town at the centre of the Tur Abdin plateau in eastern Mardin province, known for its Syriac churches and silverwork
Farqîn
Far-qîn
Silvan (Farqîn)
Usage
Town in eastern Diyarbakır province with remains from the medieval Artuqid period. Official form is Silvan
Silopî
Si-lo-pî
Silopi
Usage
Town in Şırnak province holding the Habur border gate into Iraq, a hub for freight traffic
Gever
Yüksekova (Gever)
Usage
Highland town in Hakkari province at about 1,900 m, close to the Iranian border. Official form is Yüksekova
Bazîd
Ba-zîd
Doğubayazıt (Bazîd)
Usage
Town at the southern foot of Mount Ararat in Ağrı province; the Gürbulak gate into Iran lies about 35 km east. Official form is Doğubayazıt
Tetwan
Tatvan
Usage
Port town on the western shore of Lake Van in Bitlis province, terminal of the train ferry across the lake to Van. Official form is Tatvan
Misirc
Kurtalan (Misirc)
Usage
Town in Siirt province and the terminus of the overnight Kurtalan Express from Ankara. Official form is Kurtalan
Pirsûs
Pir-sûs
Suruç (Pirsûs)
Usage
Border town in Şanlıurfa province; Kobanî in Syria lies just south of the frontier. Official form is Suruç
Sûrên Amedê
Sû-rên A-me-dê
Diyarbakır city walls
Usage
Black basalt walls about 5.8 km long ringing the old city of Amed (Diyarbakır), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Signposted as Diyarbakır Surları
Baxçeyên Hevselê
Bax-çe-yên Hev-se-lê
Hevsel Gardens
Usage
Belt of market gardens between the walls of Amed and the Tigris, inscribed by UNESCO together with the walls. Signposted as Hevsel Bahçeleri
Hesenkeyf
Hasankeyf
Usage
Ancient town on the Tigris in Batman province. The old site was flooded by the Ilısu dam reservoir in 2020 and its main monuments were moved about 2 km north to New Hasankeyf (Yeni Hasankeyf)
Kela Mêrdînê
Ke-la Mêr-dî-nê
Mardin Castle
Usage
Fortress on the rock outcrop above the old town of Mardin. Signposted as Mardin Kalesi
Tûr Ebdîn
Tûr Eb-dîn
Tur Abdin
Usage
Limestone plateau region in eastern Mardin province dotted with ancient Syriac Orthodox monasteries and villages
Deyrulzeferan
Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Usage
Syriac Orthodox monastery (Mor Hananyo) about 5 km east of Mardin city. Signposted as Deyrulzafaran Manastırı
Girê Mirazan
Gi-rê Mi-ra-zan
Göbekli Tepe
Usage
Circles of carved stone pillars about 11,000 years old on a hill some 15 km northeast of Riha (Şanlıurfa), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Signposted as Göbeklitepe
Çiyayê Nemrûdê
Çi-ya-yê Nem-rû-dê
Mount Nemrut
Usage
First-century BC Commagene colossal statues on a 2,134 m summit in Semsûr (Adıyaman) province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Signposted as Nemrut Dağı
Gola Wanê
Go-la Wa-nê
Lake Van
Usage
Turkey's largest lake, a soda lake of about 3,700 km² with Van on the east shore and Tatvan on the west. Signposted as Van Gölü
Girava Axtamarê
Gi-ra-va Ax-ta-ma-rê
Akdamar Island
Usage
Small island off the southern shore of Lake Van with the 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross. Signposted as Akdamar Adası
Kela Wanê
Ke-la Wa-nê
Van Fortress
Usage
Rock citadel west of Van city on the site of the Urartian capital Tushpa, with cuneiform inscriptions. Signposted as Van Kalesi
Çiyayê Agirî
Çi-ya-yê A-gi-rî
Mount Ararat
Usage
Turkey's highest peak at 5,137 m, a volcano near the Iranian and Armenian borders above the town of Bazîd (Doğubayazıt). Signposted as Ağrı Dağı
Qesra Îshaq Paşa
Qes-ra Îs-haq Pa-şa
İshak Pasha Palace
Usage
18th-century palace on a rocky ridge about 6 km east of Bazîd (Doğubayazıt). Signposted as İshak Paşa Sarayı
Çiyayê Cûdî
Çi-ya-yê Cû-dî
Mount Cudi
Usage
Mountain of about 2,089 m in Şırnak province, identified in Islamic tradition as the landing place of Noah's ark. Signposted as Cudi Dağı
Çemê Dîcle
Çe-mê Dîc-le
Tigris River
Usage
Major river rising in southeastern Turkey and flowing past Amed, Hasankeyf and Cizre into Iraq. Signposted as Dicle in Turkey
Balafirgeha Amedê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha A-me-dê
Diyarbakır Airport
Usage
Airport about 5 km southeast of central Amed (Diyarbakır), code DIY, the region's main gateway from Istanbul and Ankara. Signposted as Diyarbakır Havalimanı
Balafirgeha Wanê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha Wa-nê
Van Ferit Melen Airport
Usage
Airport about 6 km south of Van city, code VAN. Signposted as Van Ferit Melen Havalimanı
Balafirgeha Mêrdînê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha Mêr-dî-nê
Mardin Airport
Usage
Airport about 20 km south of Mardin city, code MQM. Signposted as Mardin Havalimanı
Balafirgeha Êlihê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha Ê-li-hê
Batman Airport
Usage
Airport about 5 km southeast of Êlih (Batman), code BAL, the nearest airport to Hasankeyf. Signposted as Batman Havalimanı
Balafirgeha Rihayê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha Ri-ha-yê
Şanlıurfa GAP Airport
Usage
Airport about 35 km east of Riha (Şanlıurfa), code GNY. Signposted as Şanlıurfa GAP Havalimanı
Balafirgeha Şirnexê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha Şir-ne-xê
Şırnak Airport
Usage
Airport on the plateau northwest of Şırnak city, code NKT. Signposted as Şırnak Şerafettin Elçi Havalimanı
Balafirgeha Colemêrgê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha Co-le-mêr-gê
Hakkari Yüksekova Airport
Usage
Airport on a plateau at about 2,000 m near Gever (Yüksekova), code YKO. Signposted as Hakkari Yüksekova Selahaddin Eyyubi Havalimanı
Îstgeha trênê ya Amedê
Îst-ge-ha trê-nê ya A-me-dê
Diyarbakır railway station
Usage
Railway station in western Amed served by the overnight Kurtalan Express between Ankara and Kurtalan. Signposted as Diyarbakır Garı
Derbasgeha Habûrê
Der-bas-ge-ha Ha-bû-rê
Habur border gate
Usage
Turkish land border facility at Silopi in Şırnak province, linked across the Khabur river to Ibrahim Khalil on the Iraqi side. Signposted as Habur Sınır Kapısı
Kobanî
Ko-ba-nî
Usage
Border town in northern Aleppo province, Syria, facing Pirsûs (Suruç) in Turkey. Its official Syrian name is Ayn al-Arab
Efrîn
Ef-rîn
Afrin
Usage
District and town in northwestern Aleppo province, an olive-growing area on the river of the same name. Official name Afrin
Serêkaniyê
Se-rê-ka-ni-yê
Ras al-Ayn (Serêkaniyê)
Usage
Border town in northern Hasakah province adjoining Ceylanpınar in Turkey, at the springs that feed the Khabur river. Official name Ras al-Ayn
Hesekê
He-se-kê
Al-Hasakah
Usage
Capital of Hasakah province in northeastern Syria, the main city of the Khabur river plain. Official name al-Hasakah
Dêrik
Dê-rik
Al-Malikiyah (Dêrik)
Usage
Town at the far northeastern corner of Hasakah province, near where the Turkish and Iraqi borders meet. Official name al-Malikiyah
Amûdê
A-mû-dê
Amuda
Usage
Town on the Turkish border about 30 km west of Qamishli. Official name Amuda
Derbasgeha Sêmalka
Der-bas-ge-ha Sê-mal-ka
Semalka border crossing
Usage
Crossing point over the Tigris linking northeastern Syria with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; the Iraqi side is Peshkhabur (Faysh Khabur)
Rojava
Usage
Kurdish name (meaning "west") for the Kurdish-populated areas of northern and northeastern Syria; administratively the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
Herêma Kurdistanê
He-rê-ma Kur-dis-ta-nê
Kurdistan Region
Usage
Federal region of northern Iraq made up of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok and Halabja provinces, with its seat at Hewlêr (Erbil). Official name: Kurdistan Region – Iraq
Behdînan
Beh-dî-nan
Behdinan
Usage
Historic name for the area covering Duhok province, where the Badini dialect of Kurmanji is spoken
Germiyan
Garmian
Usage
Lowland region stretching from southern Sulaymaniyah province into northern Diyala, centred on Kalar (Kelar)
Kela Hewlêrê
Ke-la Hew-lê-rê
Erbil Citadel
Usage
Fortified settlement on the artificial mound at the centre of Hewlêr (Erbil), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Locally called Qelat
Bazara Qeyserî
Ba-za-ra Qey-se-rî
Qaysari Bazaar
Usage
Covered traditional market at the southern foot of the Erbil Citadel, lined with goldsmiths, spice and textile stalls
Balafirgeha Navneteweyî ya Hewlêrê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha Nav-ne-te-we-yî ya Hew-lê-rê
Erbil International Airport
Usage
International airport about 5 km west of central Hewlêr, code EBL, the main air gateway of the Kurdistan Region
Balafirgeha Navneteweyî ya Silêmaniyê
Ba-la-fir-ge-ha Nav-ne-te-we-yî ya Si-lê-ma-ni-yê
Sulaymaniyah International Airport
Usage
International airport about 12 km west of Sulaymaniyah city, code ISU
Akrê
Ak-rê
Akre
Usage
Town in eastern Duhok province built in tiers up a mountainside, known for the Newroz torch procession up the slope
Amêdî
A-mê-dî
Amedi (Amadiya)
Usage
Old town in Duhok province built on a flat-topped mesa at about 1,200 m rising sheer from the valley. Official spelling Amadiya / Amedi
Şeqlawe
Şeq-la-we
Shaqlawa
Usage
Hill town about 50 km northeast of Hewlêr at the foot of Mount Safeen, known for its orchards and springs
Rewandiz
Rawanduz
Usage
Town perched on the edge of a deep gorge in northeastern Erbil province, a key point on the mountain road toward the Iranian border
Gelî Elî Beg
Ge-lî E-lî Beg
Gali Ali Beg
Usage
Gorge and waterfall near Rawanduz, formerly pictured on Iraq's 5,000-dinar note
Koye
Koya (Koysinjaq)
Usage
Town midway between Hewlêr and Sulaymaniyah, known as a university town. Official spelling Koya / Koysinjaq
Helepçe
He-lep-çe
Halabja
Usage
City near the Iranian border, made the Kurdistan Region's fourth province in 2014. It has a memorial museum for the victims of the 1988 chemical attack
Penjwîn
Penj-wîn
Penjwen
Usage
Mountain town in eastern Sulaymaniyah province, the last town before the Bashmakh gate into Iran
Kelar
Kalar
Usage
Main town of the Garmian area in southern Sulaymaniyah province, on the Sirwan river. Official spelling Kalar
Xaneqîn
Xa-ne-qîn
Khanaqin
Usage
Kurdish-majority town in northeastern Diyala province near the Iranian border, with an old stone bridge over the Alwand river. Official spelling Khanaqin
Şêxan
Şê-xan
Sheikhan
Usage
District on the boundary of Duhok and Nineveh provinces, a historic Yazidi centre containing Lalish. Official spelling Sheikhan
Laliş
La-liş
Lalish
Usage
Holiest site of the Yazidi faith, in a valley in Sheikhan district, with the shrine of Sheikh Adi and its fluted conical spires. Visitors walk the grounds barefoot
Şingal
Şin-gal
Sinjar
Usage
Town and district in northwestern Nineveh province, a historic Yazidi homeland. Official spelling Sinjar
Çiyayê Şingalê
Çi-ya-yê Şin-ga-lê
Mount Sinjar
Usage
Long narrow ridge running roughly 100 km east to west north of Sinjar town, rising above open plains
Gola Dûkan
Go-la Dû-kan
Lake Dukan
Usage
Reservoir on the Little Zab about 60 km northwest of Sulaymaniyah, the largest lake in the Kurdistan Region
Gola Derbendîxan
Go-la Der-ben-dî-xan
Lake Darbandikhan
Usage
Reservoir on the Sirwan river about 60 km southeast of Sulaymaniyah, a long lake enclosed by mountains
Şkefta Şanîdar
Şkef-ta Şa-nî-dar
Shanidar Cave
Usage
Large cave in the Bradost mountains of northern Erbil province, an archaeological site where Neanderthal remains were found
Mûzexaneya Silêmaniyê
Mû-ze-xa-ne-ya Si-lê-ma-ni-yê
Slemani Museum
Usage
Archaeological museum in Sulaymaniyah city, holding the second-largest collection in Iraq after Baghdad
Rêya Hamilton
Rê-ya Ha-mil-ton
Hamilton Road
Usage
Mountain road from Hewlêr through the Rawanduz gorge to Haji Omaran on the Iranian border, built between 1928 and 1932
Derbasgeha Îbrahîm Xelîl
Der-bas-ge-ha Îb-ra-hîm Xe-lîl
Ibrahim Khalil border crossing
Usage
Iraqi land border facility about 15 km north of Zakho, connecting to Habur on the Turkish side
Derbasgeha Hacî Omeran
Der-bas-ge-ha Ha-cî O-me-ran
Haji Omaran border crossing
Usage
Border gate to Iran on a high pass at the northeastern edge of Erbil province; Piranshahr lies on the Iranian side
Derbasgeha Başmax
Der-bas-ge-ha Baş-max
Bashmakh border crossing
Usage
Border gate to Iran near Penjwen; Marivan lies on the Iranian side
Sine
Sanandaj (Sine)
Usage
Capital of Kurdistan province, Iran, a centre of Kurdish music and a UNESCO City of Music. Official name Sanandaj
Kirmaşan
Kir-ma-şan
Kermanshah
Usage
Capital of Kermanshah province in western Iran and the largest city of the Southern Kurdish area. Official name Kermanshah
Ûrmiye
Ûr-mi-ye
Urmia
Usage
Capital of West Azerbaijan province, Iran, on the western side of Lake Urmia. Official name Urmia
Seqiz
Saqqez
Usage
City in northern Kurdistan province, Iran, on the road linking Sanandaj and Mahabad. Official name Saqqez
Bane
Baneh
Usage
Mountain town in western Kurdistan province, Iran, close to the Iraqi border. Official name Baneh
Merîwan
Me-rî-wan
Marivan
Usage
Town in western Kurdistan province, Iran, on Lake Zrebar and near the Bashmakh crossing into Iraq. Official name Marivan
Gola Zrêbar
Go-la Zrê-bar
Lake Zrebar
Usage
Freshwater lake fed by springs just west of Marivan, ringed by mountains. Official name Zrebar / Zarivar
Bokan
Bukan
Usage
Kurdish city in southern West Azerbaijan province, Iran, about 50 km southeast of Mahabad. Official name Bukan
Pîranşar
Pî-ran-şar
Piranshahr
Usage
Border town in West Azerbaijan province, Iran, facing the Haji Omaran gate on the Iraqi side. Official name Piranshahr
Îlam
Î-lam
Ilam
Usage
Capital of Ilam province in western Iran, in an area where Southern Kurdish (Feyli) is spoken. Official name Ilam
Hewraman
Hawraman (Uramanat)
Usage
Mountain region straddling the Iran–Iraq border whose terraced stone villages were inscribed by UNESCO in 2021 as Uramanat
Çiyayên Zagrosê
Çi-ya-yên Zag-ro-sê
Zagros Mountains
Usage
Mountain chain running from western Iran into northeastern Iraq, forming the spine of the Kurdish-inhabited area
More Kurdish phrases
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