Kurdish, Northern

A language of Turkey

Ezdiki, Kermancî, Kirmancî, Kurdish Kurmanji, Kurdiya jorîn, Kurdmancî, Kurdî, Kurmanji Kurdish, Kurmanjî

Kurdî-Kurmancî, Kurmancî

9,000,000 in Turkey (2019), decreasing. 3,000,000 monolinguals. Especially in Hakkari and Shirnak provinces. Total users in all countries: 15,703,920.

Location

Widespread, especially east and southeast.

Language Maps

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Turkey

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish

Dialects

Boti (Botani), Marashi, Ashiti, Bayezidi, Hekari, Shemdinani, Shikakî, Silivî, Mihemedî. Dialect differences but all use the same written form. A member of macrolanguage Kurdish [kur].

Language Use

Overall use of Northern Kurdish is beginning to decline in Turkey, even as it is used more as an LWC among immigrant populations. Home, market, political situations. Some of all ages. Many are adults above age 30. Positive attitudes. Most also use Turkish [tur]. Also use Northern Zazaki [kiu]. Also use Southern Zazaki [diq]. Used as L2 by Domari [rmt], Hértevin [hrt], Southern Zazaki [diq].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: Overall about 83%, but not differentiated by L1 or L2 usage. While overall speakers are decreasing, literates are increasing. Many literary works from 16th and 17th centuries onward. Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2008.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Kurdish, Northern

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], used in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. Armenian script [Armn], used between 1921–1929, used in Armenia. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used in Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan. Latin script [Latn], developed in 1932, used in Turkey and Syria.

Other Comments

Yezidis call their language ‘Ezdiki’ and are recognized as a distinct ethnic group in Turkey. Muslim, Yezidi.

Also spoken in:

Expand All

Collapse All

Armenia

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

31,000 in Armenia (2013 UNSD).

Location

Aragatsotn province: Talin town; Ararat Province: Artashat and Masis towns; Armavir province: Echmiadzin; Gegharkunik province: southeastern coast, Lake Sevan; Kotayk province: Abovian area; Shirak and Lori provinces; other main towns and cities.

Alternate Names

Ezdiki, Kurmanji

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Language Use

Positive attitudes.

Language Development

Well-developed literary standard and much literature. Taught as subject in some primary schools, where Kurdish speakers are the majority.

Other Comments

Majority are Yezidi.

View other languages of Armenia

Australia

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

6,200 in Australia (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Australia

Azerbaijan

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

6,500 in Azerbaijan (Leclerc 2017b).

Location

Scattered in the Agstafa, Kalbacar, Lachin, Qubadli, and Zangilan districts; many displaced.

Alternate Names

Kurdî, Kurmancî, Kurmanji, Red Kurmanji

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Muslim.

View other languages of Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

79,100 in Bahrain (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Bahrain

Belgium

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

19,700 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Belgium

Canada

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

11,700 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Canada

Denmark

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

20,000 in Denmark (2007).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Denmark

Finland

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

14,100 in Finland (2018 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Finland

Georgia

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

20,600 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015).

Location

Kvemo Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti regions; T’bilisi area.

Alternate Names

Ezdiki, Kurdî, Kurmancî, Kurmanji

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Yezidi.

View other languages of Georgia

Germany

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

228,000 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.

Alternate Names

Ezdiki

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Germany

Greece

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

21,000 in Greece (Leclerc 2020a), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Greece

Iran

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

485,000 in Iran (2019).

Location

North Khorasan province: Quchan and Bojnurd towns; Mazandaran province: Kalardast region; West Azerbaijan, Golestan, Razavi Khorasan, and Qazvin provinces; east of the Caspian Sea, north and west of Lake Urmia (Khorasani Kurmanji dialect).

Alternate Names

Eastern Kurmanji, Kordi, Kordi Kormanji, Kurdi, Kurmancî, Kurmanji

Dialects

Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji), Khorassani Kurmanji.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Muslim.

View other languages of Iran

Iraq

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

4,040,000 in Iraq (2020).

Location

Arbil, Dahuk, and Ninawa governorates: north of Great Zab river. Great Zab river area (Surchi dialect).

Alternate Names

Badinani, Badînî, Bahdini, Behdînî, Ezdiki, Kirmanciya Jori, Kurmanji

Dialects

Akre, Amadiye, Barwari Jor, Gulli, Sheikhan, Surchi, Zakho. Surchi dialect shares elements of both Northern and Central Kurdish.

Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory national language (2005, Constitution, Article 4(1)).

Language Use

Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Bajelani [bjm], Chaldean Neo-Aramaic [cld], Shabak [sdb], Western Armenian [hyw].

Language Development

Taught in all primary and secondary schools in Kurdish Autonomous Region.

Other Comments

Many displaced since late 1980s. Yezidis call their language ‘Ezdiki’ and are recognized as a distinct ethnic group in Iraq. Muslim, Yezidi.

View other languages of Iraq

Italy

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

3,500 in Italy (2001). Ethnic population: 11,500 (2000).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Italy

Kazakhstan

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

34,000 in Kazakhstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 38,300 (2009 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

12,700 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 13,200 (2009 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Kyrgyzstan

Lebanon

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

23,000 in Lebanon (2020). Ethnic population: 70,000 (2020 H. Salimi).

Location

Beqaa province: Bekah Valley; Beyrouth, Liban-Nord (Tripoli), and Liban-Sud (Sidon) provinces: scattered urban areas.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

All also use North Levantine Spoken Arabic [apc].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 40%.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

View other languages of Lebanon

Netherlands

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

74,700 in Netherlands (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Netherlands

Norway

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

5,830 in Norway (2021 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Norway

Russian Federation

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

34,700 in Russian Federation (2010 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Russian Federation

Spain

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

1,320 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Spain

Sweden

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

10,800 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Sweden

Switzerland

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

35,100 in Switzerland (2000).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Switzerland

Syria

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

1,370,000 in Syria (2019).

Location

Al Hasakah governorate: Al Hasakah city northwest border; Halab governorate: north of Euphrates reservoir; Ar Raqqah governorate: area surrounding capital.

Alternate Names

Ezdiki, Kurdî, Kurmancî, Kurmanji

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use North Levantine Spoken Arabic [apc]. Used as L2 by Domari [rmt].

Other Comments

Muslim, Yezidi.

View other languages of Syria

Turkmenistan

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

49,000 in Turkmenistan (Leclerc 2019b), based on ethnicity.

Location

Ahal province: mainly Ashgabat area.

Alternate Names

Khorasani, Khorasani Kurmanji, Kurmancî, Kurmanji

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

View other languages of Turkmenistan

Ukraine

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

1,170 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 2,090 (2001 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Ukraine

United Kingdom

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

48,200 in United Kingdom (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of United Kingdom

United States

Language NameKurdish, Northern

User Population

17,000 in United States (2015 census). Census does not distinguish between Northern Kurdish [kmr], Central Kurdish [ckb], and Southern Kurdish [sdh].

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of United States

Kurdish, Northern

Primary tabs

A language of Turkey

Also spoken in:

Browse by

25th Edition

Products

Related Sites