🏙️ Course 16: Bajar (City)
1. Peyvên (Vocabulary): Cihên Bajêr
🏛️ Cihên Girîng (Important Places)
🛍️ Kirîn û Xwarin (Shopping & Eating)
🌳 Cihên Din (Other Places)
2. Rêziman (Grammar): Li ku ye? (Where is it?)
💡 Asking "Where?"
To ask where something is located, use Li ku ye? (Where is it?)
📌 Basic Question Pattern
Li ku ne? = Where are they?
Examples:
• Bank li ku ye? = Where is the bank?
• Dibistan li ku ye? = Where is the school?
• Nexweşxane li ku ye? = Where is the hospital?
📌 Prepositions of Place
Li dûr = Far from
Li ber = In front of
Li pişt = Behind
Li rex = Next to / Beside
Li navbera = Between
Li ber = Opposite
Li hundurê = Inside
📌 Using Prepositions
Examples:
• Bank li nêzî parkê ye. = The bank is near the park.
• Dibistan li dûr e. = The school is far.
• Posta li rex bankê ye. = The post office is next to the bank.
• Qehwexane li ber dibistanê ye. = The café is in front of the school.
• Muzexane li navbera parkê û bankê ye. = The museum is between the park and the bank.
💬 Example Conversations:
Q: Bank li ku ye?
A: Bank li nêzî parkê ye.
Q: Nexweşxane dûr e?
A: Na, ew nêzî ye. Li rex postayê ye.
Q: Dibistan li ku ye?
A: Li ber qehwexaneyê, li çep.
3. Guhdarîkirin (Listening): Asking About Places
Listen to these dialogues about finding places in the city:
Answer these questions based on the dialogues:
4. Xwendin (Reading): Nexşeya Bajêr
Read this mini city map and the location descriptions:
Nexşeya Navçeyê
Answer these questions about the map:
5. Nivîsandin (Writing): Navçeya Te
Describe your neighborhood and the places around you:
Write 5-6 sentences describing your neighborhood. Include:
• What places are near your home
• Where they are located (using prepositions)
• Which places are far or close
Ez li navçeyek xweş dijîm. Li nêzî malê min park heye. Bank li rex parkê ye. Dibistan li dûr e. Supermarket li ber malê min e. Qehwexane li pişt parkê ye.
6. Axaftin (Speaking): Rê Pirsîn
Practice asking for directions in different situations:
Scenario 1: Looking for a Bank
Situation: You need to find a bank.
What do you ask?
Scenario 2: Asking if Something is Near
Situation: You want to know if the pharmacy is close.
What do you ask?
Scenario 3: Asking About Location
Situation: Someone tells you the school is near. You want to know exactly where.
What do you ask?
🎯 Your Score: 0 / 3
7. Çand (Culture): Kurdish Cities & Architecture
Discover the rich urban heritage of Kurdish cities:
🏛️ Bajêrên Kurdî (Kurdish Cities)
🏙️ Historic Cities
Kurdish cities have a rich history spanning thousands of years. Hewlêr (Erbil) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with its famous citadel dating back over 6,000 years. Diyarbekir (Amed) is known for its ancient black basalt walls, which are among the longest city walls in the world. Silêmanî (Sulaymaniyah) is a cultural center known for its museums, libraries, and vibrant intellectual life.
🕌 Traditional Architecture
Traditional Kurdish architecture reflects the mountainous geography and climate. Houses are typically built with stone and have flat roofs. The qelay (citadel) is a common feature in Kurdish cities, serving as a fortified center. Many cities feature beautiful mizgeft (mosques) with distinctive minarets, bazar (covered markets) with vaulted ceilings, and han (caravanserais) that once served traveling merchants.
🛍️ The Bazaar Culture
The bazar is the heart of every Kurdish city. Traditional bazaars are covered markets where you can find everything from spices and textiles to jewelry and handicrafts. Each section of the bazaar specializes in different goods - the bazara zeran (goldsmiths' bazaar), bazara qumașan (fabric bazaar), and bazara baharan (spice bazaar). The bazaar is not just a place for shopping, but also a social center where people meet, drink tea, and exchange news.
🌳 Parks & Public Spaces
Kurdish cities value green spaces and public parks. Park (parks) and baxçe (gardens) are important gathering places for families, especially in the evenings. The tradition of şanî (evening stroll) is popular, where people walk in parks and along main streets to socialize. Tea gardens (baxçeyên çayê) are common in parks, where families gather to enjoy tea and conversation in the shade of trees.
🏘️ Neighborhood Life
Traditional Kurdish neighborhoods (navçe) are close-knit communities where everyone knows each other. Neighbors share a strong sense of mutual support and hospitality. The qehwexane (café) serves as a social hub where men gather to play dominoes, backgammon, and discuss current events. Women often gather in homes for mehfil (social gatherings) to share tea, sweets, and conversation.
8. Dubare (Review): City Places
Complete these sentences about city places and locations:
🎉 Pîroz be! Congratulations!
You've completed Course 16: City Places!
You can now talk about city locations and ask for directions in Kurdish!