Gayrî

Gayrî is a term encountered in certain Kurdish-language texts and related linguistic traditions. It is used to refer to a category that lies outside the core in-group, often understood as "the outsider" or "the foreign," with nuances that vary by dialect and social context. In some sources, gayrî denotes a non-kin or external status within kinship and residence networks, while in others it refers to non-local or externally affiliated groups. The precise meaning is not fixed and can carry neutral descriptive or more evaluative overtones depending on the author.

Etymology: The form is generally analyzed as a compound involving a root meaning "other" with a Kurdish suffix that marks an adjectival or nominal function. Cross-linguistic influences—such as Turkish gayrı- meaning "non-, other-"—are noted in some studies, but the Kurdish usage is distinct in its own semantic field. Diacritics such as î indicate vowel length in transliterations.

Usage and context: Gayrî appears mainly in linguistic, anthropological, and historical writings that examine social boundaries, kinship, exogamy, or legal status within communities. Its interpretation is highly context-dependent and may reflect regional variations in norms about insiders versus outsiders.

See also: in-group and out-group concepts, exogamy, Kurdish linguistics, social boundaries.