What places speak Kurdish?
The Kurds are a minority group whose language has been fractured into several dialects and alphabets across four countries; Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. There are two main Kurdish dialects (Kurmanji and Sorani), as well as some peripheral ones (e.g. Pahlewani, Zazaki and Hewrami /Gorani).
What language is Kurdish closest to?
Kurdish language, a West Iranian language, one of the Indo-Iranian languages, chiefly spoken in Kurdistan. It ranks as the third largest Iranian language, after Persian and Pashto, and has numerous dialects. It is thought to be spoken by some 20–40 million people. There are three main dialect groups.
How many Kurds are in Canada?
The Kurdish community in Canada is 16,315 based on the 2016 Canadian Census, among which the Iraqi Kurds make up the largest group of Kurds in Canada, exceeding the numbers of Kurds from Turkey, Iran and Syria.
Where is Kurdish most spoken?
Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji) is the largest dialect group, spoken by an estimated 15 to 20 million Kurds in Turkey, Syria, northern Iraq, and northwest and northeast Iran. Central Kurdish (Sorani) is spoken by an estimated 6 to 7 million Kurds in much of Iraqi Kurdistan and the Iranian Kurdistan Province.
Is Kurdish a difficult language?
Learning Kurdish can be hard in terms of grammar and learning resources, especially if you don’t speak any middle-eastern language. The Kurmanji dialect can be easier for speakers of European languages because it uses the Latin alphabet, while the Surani dialect uses the Arabic script.
Can Kurds speak Farsi?
The two people also speak different languages. The Kurds speak in Kurdish while Persians speak Farsi, the dominant language in Iran. Both the Kurdish and Persian languages are part of the Iranian language, specifically the Western Iranian language.
Is Kurdish similar to Arabic?
Both ethnic groups have their own distinct languages. Arabs have the Arabic language, together with a numerical system. Kurds, meanwhile, speak Kurdish. Kurds are often the minority ethnic group in any country they find settlement (aside from Kurdistan) while Arabs tend to be the major ethnic group in the same area.
What language do they speak in Kurdistan?
The Kurdish languages ( Kurmanji Kurdish: Zimanê kurdî, Sorani Kurdish: زمانی کوردی, Southern Kurdish: زوان کوردی) constitute a dialect continuum, belonging to the Iranian language family, spoken by Kurds in the geo-cultural region of Kurdistan and the Kurdish diaspora.
Where are the Kurds located in the world?
The modern Kurdistan map includes parts of eastern Turkey, northern Syria, northern Iraq and northwestern Iran. The Kurdish populations are recognized in both Iraq and Iran, as the Kurds in northern Iraq have successfully established their own autonomous government (the Kurdistan Regional Government ), and the Kurds in Iran primarily inhabit
What is the difference between northern and Central Kurdish?
Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji) is the largest dialect group, spoken by an estimated 15 to 20 million Kurds in Turkey, Syria, northern Iraq, and northwest and northeast Iran. Central Kurdish (Sorani) is spoken by an estimated 6 to 7 million Kurds in much of Iraqi Kurdistan and the Iranian Kurdistan Province.
How can I learn Kurdish?
More tips on learning Kurdish: Start with Arabic — by learning the Arabic script, you will learn basic principles of how the language is pronounced. Find a local language coach. Even if they don’t speak Kurdish, they can help set up customized language learning plans.