Kurdish Language Day: Celebrating One of the Richest Languages in the World

Kurdistan 10:08 AM - 2026-05-15

Kurdish little girl writing Kurd, Kurdi, Kurdistani.

15 May marks the Kurdish Language Day, a significant occasion that highlights the enduring identity and rich culture of the Kurdish people. This day serves as a reminder of the long history of efforts aimed at assimilating the Kurdish language and eradicating its existence, but it also signifies the strength and resilience of the language throughout history.

Hawar Magazine Publication: The Birth of Kurdish Language Day

On 15 May 1932, the first issue of Hawar Magazine was published in Damascus, Syria on the hands of Celadet Ali Bedirxan, a Kurdish diplomat and writer, linguist, journalist, political activist and nobleman. The date was later proposed and recognised as Kurdish Language Day.

Hawar magazine not only helped preserve Kurdish identity, but also opened a gateway for the development of Kurdish language and culture.

The first 23 issues of the magazine were published using Kurdish-Arabic script, while the final 34 issues were printed in Kurdish-Latin script.

In 1987, Kurdish Writer Firat Cewerî travelled to Damascus and collected all editions of the magazine in two volumes. They were later republished on 15 May 1998, leading to the recognition of the date as Kurdish Language Day.

Also on this day in 1954, the first issue of Hataw Magazine was published in Erbil, while in 1963 the first issue of Roja Nû Magazine was published in Istanbul.

The occasion is celebrated annually by cultural institutions and political parties in honour of the Kurdish language.

Kurdish Language Has Four Dialects

The Kurdish language belongs to the Indo-European language family and is spoken by more than 43 million Kurds across the region.

The Kurdish language is commonly divided into four main dialect groups:

- Upper Kurmanji (Kurmanji Sarw) dialect:
Includes Bayazidi, Hakkari, Botani, Shamdinani, Badinani, and Western dialects.
- Middle Kurmanji (Kurmanji Nawarst or Sorani):
Includes Mukri, Sorani, Ardalanî, Sulaymaniyah, and Garmiani dialects.
- Lower Kurmanji (Kurmanji Xwarw) dialect:
Includes Kalhori, Feyli, and Kermanshahi dialects.
- Gorani dialect group:
Includes Gorani, Hawrami, Bajalani, and Zazaki dialects.

Kurdish Language Has Over 1.2 Million Words

The Kurdish language is regarded as one of the linguistically rich languages in the region due to its extensive vocabulary and diverse dialects. It contains 735,320 distinct and unrepeated Kurdish words recorded in scientific dictionaries and lexicons worldwide, while the total vocabulary of the Kurdish language is estimated at around 1,220,000 words. Kurdish is considered the richest language after Korean in terms of vocabulary and phrasing.

The journey of the Kurdish language has not been without its challenges. Despite facing years of attempts at assimilation and eradication by occupying forces, the language has managed to survive and even thrive. Unlike many other languages that were swallowed up in the crucible of colonialism or forced assimilation, Kurdish has managed to maintain a strong presence, continuing to be spoken by millions worldwide.

Article 2 of the Human Rights Constitution emphasises the importance of the national language. In the Iraqi Constitution of 1925, the Kurdish language was not recognised in any form. Article 17 of the old constitution stated that Arabic alone was the official language of Iraq, with no reference to any other language spoken in the country. However, in 1931, Kurdish was officially recognised as the second language of Iraq.

Kurdish Language Day is, therefore, more than just a celebration—it is a recognition of resilience. It is a moment for Kurds to reflect on the hardships their language has faced and overcome, and a chance to look forward to a future where the language continues to flourish, evolving while maintaining its rich cultural roots.



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