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Girêdan

Conjunctions

📌 What are Conjunctions?

Conjunctions (Girêdan in Kurdish) are words that connect words, phrases, or clauses together. They help create complex sentences and show relationships between ideas.

Kurdish conjunctions are divided into two main categories:

  • Coordinating conjunctions: Connect equal elements (û, yan, lê...)
  • Subordinating conjunctions: Connect dependent clauses to main clauses (ji ber ku, ger, dema ku...)
1. Coordinating Conjunctions
Connecting equal elements

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance.

Kurdish English Example (Kurdish) Example (English)
û and Ez û tu heval in. You and I are friends.
yan or Tu çay yan qehwe dixwazî? Do you want tea or coffee?
yan jî or (also) Ez diçim yan jî li malê dimînim. I go or I stay at home.
lê but Ez dixwazim herim, lê ez nikarinim. I want to go, but I cannot.
lêbelê but, however Ew xweş e, lêbelê zor giran e. It is nice, but it is too expensive.
her wiha also, likewise Ez diçim, her wiha tu jî. I go, and you too.
jî also, too Ez jî li vir im. I am here too.
hem... hem jî both... and Hem ez hem jî tu diçin. Both you and I go.
ne... ne jî neither... nor Ne ez ne jî tu diçin. Neither you nor I go.
📌 Examples in Sentences:
Ez pirtûk û defter dixwînim.
I read books and notebooks.
Tu diçî yan dimînî?
Do you go or stay?
Ez dixwazim herim, lê ez nikarinim.
I want to go, but I cannot.
Ez jî li vir im.
I am here too.
Hem ez hem jî tu diçin dibistanê.
Both you and I go to school.
💡 Usage Note!

û (and) is the most common coordinating conjunction. It connects similar elements.
lê (but) shows contrast between two ideas.
yan (or) presents alternatives or choices.

2. Subordinating Conjunctions: Cause & Reason
Because, since, as...

These conjunctions introduce clauses that explain why something happens.

Kurdish English Example (Kurdish) Example (English)
ji ber ku because Ez naçim ji ber ku ez nexweş im. I don't go because I am sick.
çimkî because Ez li malê me çimkî baranê dibare. I am at home because it is raining.
lewra because, for Ez kêfxweş im lewra tu li vir î. I am happy because you are here.
ji ber vê yekê therefore, for this reason Ez nexweş im, ji ber vê yekê ez naçim. I am sick, therefore I don't go.
📌 Examples:
Ez naçim dibistanê ji ber ku ez nexweş im.
I don't go to school because I am sick.
Em li malê dimînin çimkî hewa xirab e.
We stay at home because the weather is bad.
Ez kêfxweş im lewra ez te dibînim.
I am happy because I see you.
3. Subordinating Conjunctions: Condition
If, unless, provided that...

These conjunctions introduce conditional clauses that express conditions or hypothetical situations.

Kurdish English Example (Kurdish) Example (English)
ger if Ger tu bêyî, ez kêfxweş bim. If you come, I will be happy.
heke if Heke baranê bibare, em ê li malê bimînin. If it rains, we will stay at home.
eger if Eger tu bixwazî, em dikarin herin. If you want, we can go.
ger... ne if not, unless Ger tu neyî, ez ê naçim. If you don't come, I won't go.
bi şertê ku provided that, on condition that Ez ê bêm bi şertê ku tu jî bêyî. I will come provided that you come too.
📌 Examples:
Ger tu bixwazî, em dikarin herin sînema.
If you want, we can go to the cinema.
Heke baranê bibare, ez ê li malê bimînim.
If it rains, I will stay at home.
Ez ê herim bi şertê ku tu jî bêyî.
I will go provided that you come too.
💡 Conditional Note!

ger, heke, eger all mean "if" and are used interchangeably.
Conditional sentences often use the future tense with ê in the main clause.

4. Subordinating Conjunctions: Time
When, while, before, after...

These conjunctions introduce clauses that express when something happens.

Kurdish English Example (Kurdish) Example (English)
dema ku when Dema ku ez hatim, tu li wir bûyî. When I came, you were there.
gava ku when Gava ku tu bêyî, ez ê kêfxweş bim. When you come, I will be happy.
wextê ku when, at the time that Wextê ku ez biçûk bûm, ez li vir dijîyam. When I was little, I lived here.
berî ku before Berî ku tu herî, min te dît. Before you left, I saw you.
piştî ku after Piştî ku ez xwarim, ez ê herim. After I eat, I will go.
dema while, during Dema ez dixebitim, tu çi dikî? While I work, what do you do?
heta ku until Ez ê li vir bimînim heta ku tu bêyî. I will stay here until you come.
her ku whenever, every time Her ku ez te dibînim, ez kêfxweş dibim. Whenever I see you, I become happy.
📌 Examples:
Dema ku ez hatim malê, tu li wir bûyî.
When I came home, you were there.
Berî ku ez herim, ez ê te bibînim.
Before I go, I will see you.
Piştî ku em xwarin, em çûn sînema.
After we ate, we went to the cinema.
Ez ê li vir bimînim heta ku tu bêyî.
I will stay here until you come.
5. Subordinating Conjunctions: Purpose
So that, in order to...

These conjunctions introduce clauses that express purpose or intention.

Kurdish English Example (Kurdish) Example (English)
ji bo ku so that, in order to Ez dixebitim ji bo ku ez pere bidest bînim. I work so that I earn money.
ta ku so that Ez zû diçim ta ku ez dereng nemînim. I go early so that I don't stay late.
bo for, in order to Ez diçim dibistanê bo fêrbûnê. I go to school for learning.
📌 Examples:
Ez dixwînim ji bo ku ez fêr bibim.
I read so that I learn.
Em bilez diçin ta ku em dereng negihîjin.
We go quickly so that we don't arrive late.
6. Subordinating Conjunctions: Contrast & Concession
Although, even though, despite...

These conjunctions introduce clauses that express contrast or concession.

Kurdish English Example (Kurdish) Example (English)
her çi although, even though Her çi ez nexweş im, ez ê herim. Although I am sick, I will go.
her çend although, even though Her çend baranê bibare, em ê herin. Even though it rains, we will go.
digel ku although, despite Digel ku ez westiyayî me, ez kar dikim. Although I am tired, I work.
bi vî awayî nevertheless, nonetheless Ez nexweş im, bi vî awayî ez ê herim. I am sick, nevertheless I will go.
📌 Examples:
Her çi ez westiyayî me, ez ê kar bikim.
Although I am tired, I will work.
Digel ku hewa xirab e, em ê herin derve.
Although the weather is bad, we will go outside.
7. Subordinating Conjunctions: Comparison
As, like, than...

These conjunctions introduce clauses that make comparisons.

Kurdish English Example (Kurdish) Example (English)
wek like, as Ez wek te dixebitim. I work like you.
wekî like, as Ew wekî bavê xwe ye. He is like his father.
ji... zêdetir more than Ez ji te zêdetir dixebitim. I work more than you.
wek ku as if, as though Ew wek ku nexweş e tê xuya. He looks as if he is sick.
📌 Examples:
Ez wek te baş dixwînim.
I read well like you.
Ew ji min zêdetir dixebite.
He works more than me.
8. Correlative Conjunctions
Paired conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to connect balanced elements.

Kurdish English Example (Kurdish) Example (English)
hem... hem jî both... and Hem ez hem jî tu diçin. Both you and I go.
ne... ne jî neither... nor Ne ez ne jî tu diçin. Neither you nor I go.
yan... yan jî either... or Yan ez yan jî tu divê herin. Either you or I must go.
ne tenê... her wiha jî not only... but also Ne tenê ez, her wiha jî tu diçî. Not only I, but also you go.
📌 Examples:
Hem ez hem jî tu li vir in.
Both you and I are here.
Ne ez ne jî tu dixwazin herin.
Neither you nor I want to go.
Yan tu yan jî ew divê here.
Either you or he must go.

Quick Reference: Common Conjunctions

Type Kurdish English
Coordinating û, yan, lê, jî and, or, but, also
Cause ji ber ku, çimkî, lewra because, for
Condition ger, heke, eger if
Time dema ku, gava ku, berî ku, piştî ku when, before, after
Purpose ji bo ku, ta ku so that, in order to
Contrast her çi, her çend, digel ku although, even though
Comparison wek, wekî, ji... zêdetir like, as, more than
Correlative hem... hem jî, ne... ne jî both... and, neither... nor
📚 Summary:
  • Coordinating: û (and), yan (or), lê (but), jî (also)
  • Cause: ji ber ku (because), çimkî (because), lewra (for)
  • Condition: ger/heke/eger (if), bi şertê ku (provided that)
  • Time: dema ku (when), berî ku (before), piştî ku (after), heta ku (until)
  • Purpose: ji bo ku (so that), ta ku (so that)
  • Contrast: her çi/her çend (although), digel ku (despite)
  • Comparison: wek/wekî (like, as), ji... zêdetir (more than)
  • Correlative: hem... hem jî (both... and), ne... ne jî (neither... nor)