Kurdish is not one uniform language but a group of varieties. The two largest, Sorani and Kurmanji, differ enough that their speakers often find each other hard to follow, so ‘Kurdish’ on its own is not enough information when you need an interpreter or a translation.

Where each is spoken

  • Sorani (Central Kurdish): the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, including Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, and western Iran, including Sanandaj and Mahabad.
  • Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish): Turkey, Syria, parts of northern Iraq such as Duhok and Badinan, and communities elsewhere.
  • Other varieties include Southern Kurdish, around Kermanshah and Ilam, and Hawrami (Gorani).

Scripts, grammar and everyday words

Kurmanji is usually written in a Latin-based alphabet, while Sorani uses a modified Arabic-based script. Kurmanji also keeps grammatical gender and case endings that Sorani has largely lost, and many everyday words are simply different. A conversation between the two can quickly turn into guesswork.

Why it matters when you book

An interpreter must match the variety of the person they are interpreting for. A mismatch can cause misunderstandings at the moments that matter most: a medical history, a statement to a solicitor, a conversation about a child’s schooling.

  1. Ask which variety the person speaks. If they are not sure, ask which town or region they come from.
  2. Write ‘Kurdish (Sorani)’ or ‘Kurdish (Kurmanji)’ on the booking, not just ‘Kurdish’.
  3. For a translation, send a photo of the document first, so the variety can be checked before work starts.

Common questions

Is Badini the same as Kurmanji?

Badini (Behdînî) is the Kurmanji spoken in and around Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. There it is usually written in the same Arabic-based script as Sorani, but the language itself is Kurmanji.

Can Sorani and Kurmanji speakers understand each other?

Partly, and it varies a lot from person to person. Many people who have lived among both communities manage well, but for a medical, legal or official conversation it is not safe to rely on it: book an interpreter who speaks the person’s own variety.

Do you translate Kurdish documents into English?

Yes, documents written in Sorani, with a signed certificate for UK organisations. See Kurdish translator and interpreter and documents from the Kurdistan Region.