Learn Kurmanji (Kurmancî) with ZimanGo
Northern Kurdish from your first letter to your first conversation, one short lesson at a time.
Kurmancî (Kurmanji, Northern Kurdish) is the most widely spoken Kurdish dialect. It is spoken in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran and across the diaspora, and it is usually written in a 31-letter Latin alphabet. ZimanGo teaches Kurmancî with an Alphabet level, 150 short lessons from A1 to C2 and speaking practice, free on iPhone, iPad and Android.
- Dialect
- Kurmancî (Kurmanji), also called Northern Kurdish
- Script
- Latin (Hawar) alphabet, 31 letters, left to right
- Also written
- Arabic script in parts of Iraq; formerly Cyrillic in Armenia and the former Soviet Union
- ISO 639-3 code
- kmr
- Where it is spoken
- Kurdish regions of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, and the diaspora in Europe and worldwide
- In ZimanGo
- Available
- Levels
- Alphabet level, then 150 lessons in 30 topics, A1–C2
- How to start
- Download ZimanGo, choose Kurmancî, then take the placement test or start at the first letter. No account is needed for the first lesson.
The 31 letters of Kurmancî
Kurmancî uses a Latin alphabet, so most letters look familiar; only ç, ê, î, ş and û carry a mark.
- A aa in father
- B bb in bed
- C cj in jam
- Ç çch in church
- D dd in day
- E ea in cat
- Ê êay in day
- F ff in fun
- G gg in go
- H hh in hat
- I ii in bit, very short
- Î îee in see
- J js in pleasure
- K kk in kite
- L ll in light
- M mm in man
- N nn in no
- O oo in more
- P pp in pen
- Q qdeep k, from the back of the throat
- R rr, lightly rolled
- S ss in sun
- Ş şsh in ship
- T tt in tea
- U uu in put, short
- Û ûoo in moon
- V vv in van
- W ww in water
- X xch in Bach or loch
- Y yy in yes
- Z zz in zoo
English sounds are approximate.
Your first Kurmancî words
Six words you will meet in your first lessons.
SilavTap to flip
Hello
/siˈlav/
A common greeting used any time of day.
SpasTap to flip
Thank you
/spas/
An expression of gratitude.
ErêTap to flip
Yes
/ɛˈɾɛ/
An affirmative answer.
Bi xatirê teTap to flip
Goodbye
/bi xaˈtire tɛ/
A farewell phrase used when leaving someone.
HevalTap to flip
Friend
/hɛˈval/
A person you like and trust.
NanTap to flip
Bread
/nan/
A staple food made from flour and water.
150 lessons in 30 topics
Short lessons unlock one by one; here is what each level covers.
Beginner A1–A2
- About Me
- Counting & Time
- Daily Life
- Describing
- Food & Drinks
- Feelings & Likes
- First Words
- Home & Places
- Outdoors
- Asking Questions
Intermediate B1–B2
- Future Plans
- Health & Body
- Opinions & Debate
- Past Stories
- Real Conversations
- Shopping & Money
- Social Issues
- Tech & Modern Life
- Travel & Directions
- Work & Study
Advanced C1–C2
- Academic
- Arts & Culture
- Business
- Global Issues
- Idioms & Expressions
- Mastery & Nuance
- Politics & Law
- Psychology & Philosophy
- Science & Technology
- Sophisticated Talk
- Start with the Alphabet level: every letter traced, heard and built into syllables.
- Know some Kurmancî already? The placement test starts you at the right level.
- Tap any word in a lesson to see its meaning.
- Every lesson has audio.
say it in Kurmancî.
Reading Kurmancî is one thing; saying “Navê min … e” to a relative is another. Say it out loud and ZimanGo shows you what to fix.
Questions about learning Kurmanji
Kurmanji or Kurmancî: which spelling is right?
Both name the same dialect. Kurmancî is the Kurdish spelling, where c sounds like j in jam; Kurmanji is the usual English one, alongside Kurmandschi (German) and kurmandji (French).
Which alphabet does Kurmanji use?
A 31-letter Latin alphabet, usually called the Hawar alphabet, which is the one ZimanGo teaches. Parts of Iraq also use Arabic script, and Armenia and the former Soviet Union once used Cyrillic.
Is Behdînî (Badini) the same as Kurmanji?
Behdînî (Badini) is Northern Kurdish as spoken around Duhok in Iraq: close to Kurmancî, with its own pronunciation and vocabulary, and usually written in Arabic script. Its own course is coming soon; until then Kurmancî is the closest starting point, and most of what you learn carries over.
How long does it take to learn basic Kurmanji?
It depends on how often you practise and how much Kurdish you have heard before; heritage speakers often move through the first topics quickly. From zero, First Words and About Me give you greetings, your name, family words and simple questions. A short lesson a day is realistic, and the streak helps you keep it.
Is the Kurmanji course free?
Yes: the core course is free and supported by ads. Optional Premium removes ads and gives unlimited Agir (lesson energy), Spaces and exclusive app icons. Prices are shown in your store; get ZimanGo on the App Store or Google Play.
Can I switch from Kurmanji to Sorani later?
Yes. Both dialects share one app and one account, so you can switch at any time and keep your progress while signed in. Read about learning Soranî.
Does the Kurmanji course have speaking practice?
Yes. Say the word or sentence out loud and ZimanGo's own Kurdish speech recognition checks your pronunciation and shows you what to fix.
What is the difference between Kurmanji and Sorani?
Kurmancî (Northern Kurdish) uses Latin script and is spoken in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Syria, northern Iraq and north-western Iran; Soranî (Central Kurdish) uses an Arabic-based script and is spoken in those of Iraq and Iran. Grammar, pronunciation and some vocabulary differ, so each needs practice to follow the other. Family from Turkey, Syria or Duhok usually points to Kurmancî, and the beginners guide helps if you are unsure.
Start learning Kurdish today
Em dest pê bikin! (Let's begin!)