Kurdishspeaking

Kurdish-speaking refers to people and communities who speak Kurdish, an Indo-European language of the Western Iranian branch. Kurdish is the native language of the majority of Kurds, an ethnolinguistic group concentrated in the region traditionally called Kurdistan, which spans parts of southeastern Turkey, northern Syria, northern Iraq, and western Iran, with large diaspora communities in Europe, especially Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

Linguistic variation is a hallmark of Kurdish. The two most widely spoken dialect groups are Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish) and Sorani (Central Kurdish). Southern Kurdish varieties, including Southern Kurdish and related dialects, are also spoken, and Zazaki and Gorani are sometimes regarded as distinct languages. Mutual intelligibility varies among dialects, and speakers often learn multiple dialects or switch to a standard literary Kurdish in formal settings.

Writing systems differ by dialect and country. Kurmanji is commonly written with a Latin-based alphabet, while Sorani uses a modified Arabic script. Other Kurdish varieties have used Persian or Cyrillic scripts in different periods or communities. In practice, literacy and media in Kurdish coexists with the official state language(s) in each country, and education policies influence usage in schools and public life.

Status and usage vary by country. In Iraq, Kurdish enjoys official status in the Kurdistan Region and is used in government and schooling alongside Arabic. In Turkey, Iran, and Syria, Kurdish use in public life has progressed unevenly, with access to education, broadcasting, and publishing differing across regions. In the diaspora, Kurdish-language media, literature, and online content are widespread and contribute to cultural expression and community cohesion.