Learning Kurdish: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Kurdish course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Kurdish is like
Kurmanji word order is Subject – Object – Verb: the verb goes last. So ez dixwazim av is literally 'I want water' with the verb at the end. Instead of 'to have', Kurmanji uses heye ('there is'): hevalekî min heye = I have a friend. Nouns have no grammatical gender like German or French, but they take endings when definite or possessive. The personal endings do the work of 'am / are / is': ez … im (I am), tu … î (you are).
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Kurmanji is written in the Latin alphabet with a handful of special letters. Learn the "x", "ç", "ş", "ê" and "î" and you'll be able to read almost anything out loud.
- x — a deep guttural "ch" — like the j in Spanish jugar or the ch in Scottish loch, as in xanî = khah-NEE (house) · xwîn = khween.
- ç — the hard "ch" in church, as in çay = chai (tea) · çiya = chee-YAH (mountain).
- ş — the "sh" in she, as in şeş = shesh (six) · şev = shev (night).
- ê — a pure open "ay", as in hey but without the gliding y, as in sê = "say" (three) · kêr = knife.
- î — a long "ee" as in see, as in şîr = sheer (milk) · Kurdî = koor-DEE.
- û — a long "oo" as in boot, as in û = oo (and) · Kurdî = koor-DEE.
- u — a short "oo" as in put, as in du = doo (two) · bu = bee.
- ł / l — Kurmanji has two l sounds: a clear English l, and a deeper one (written ł) that often sounds like a soft w, as in l = clear · the dark ł can sound almost like "w".
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Kurdish | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Silav | see-LAV | Hello |
| Rojbaş | ROZH-bash | Good day |
| Bêxatir | bay-khah-TEER | Goodbye |
| Tu çawa yî? | too CHAH-wah yee | How are you? |
| Ez baş im | ez BASH eem | I'm well |
| Spas | SPAS | Thank you |
| Gelek spas | geh-LEK SPAS | Thanks a lot |
| Ji kerema xwe | zhee keh-REH-mah khweh | Please |
| Ser çavan | sehr CHAH-vahn | You're welcome |
| Bibûre | bee-BOO-reh | Excuse me / sorry |
| Erê | eh-RAY | Yes |
| Na | nah | No |
| Yek | yek | 1 |
| Du | doo | 2 |
| Sê | say | 3 |
| Çar | chahr | 4 |
| Deh | deh | 10 |
| Av | av | water |
| Nan | nahn | bread |
| Çay | chai | tea |
| Qehwe | keh-WEH | coffee |
| Menû, ji kerema xwe | meh-NOO, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh | The menu, please |
| Li ku derê? | lee koo deh-REH | Where is it? |
| Rasterê | rah-steh-REH | Go straight |
| Rast | rahst | Right |
| Çep | chep | Left |
| Stasyona tirênê | stah-SYOH-nah tee-REH-neh | The train station |
| Çi? | chee | What? |
| Kî? | kee | Who? |
| Çend e? | chend eh | How much is it? |
How the Kurdish course is structured
The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings — Silav & Rojbaş — silav · rojbaş · bêxatir · çawa yî?
- Being polite — Spas & Ji kerema xwe — spas · gelek spas · ji kerema xwe · ser çavan
- Numbers 1–10 — yek, du, sê — yek · du · sê · çar · pênc · deh
- I want" — ez dixwazim — ez dixwazim · tu dixwazî · ez … im
- Food & drink — av, nan, çay, qehwe — av · nan · çay · qehwe · û
- Getting around — directions — li ku derê? · rast · çep · rasterê
- Asking questions — çi? · kî? · çend e? · kengî? · çawa?
- Family & people — malbat · dê · bav · heval
- Time, days & weather — îro · sibê · baran · germ · sar
- My name is… — navê min Alex ye — navê min … ye · navê te çi ye? · kêfxweş
- Health & emergency — Alîkarî! — alîkarî · nexweş · doktor · ez fêm nakim
- Tying it together — capstone — silav · ez dixwazim · li ku derê? · spas
- Airport & tickets — balafirgeh · pasaport · bilet · dergeh
- The taxi — taksî · herin · otêl · li vir bisekinin
- The hotel — rezervasyon · ode · mifte · şev
- Ask for help — ez fêm nakim · hêdîtir · îngilîzî
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings — Silav & Rojbaş
Key pieces: silav · rojbaş · bêxatir · çawa yî?
Start with the all-purpose hello: silav — a warm, friendly greeting. Say it out loud.
- silav (see-LAV) — hello
- rojbaş (ROZH-bash) — good day / hello
- bêxatir (bay-khah-TEER) — goodbye
- Tu çawa yî? (too CHAH-wah yee) — how are you?
- Ez baş im (ez BASH eem) — I'm well
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Kurdish: Silav, tu çawa yî? (see-LAV, too CHAH-wah yee). Built from silav = hello; tu çawa yî? = how are you?.
Rojbaş literally means 'good day' (roj = day, baş = good). A lovely midday greeting.
To say “Good day!” in Kurdish: Rojbaş! (ROZH-bash). Built from roj = day; baş = good.
To answer 'how are you?', say ez baş im — I'm fine.
To say “I'm fine, thanks” in Kurdish: Ez baş im, spas (ez BASH eem, SPAS). Built from ez = I; baş= good; im = I am; spas = thanks.
Being polite — Spas & Ji kerema xwe
Key pieces: spas · gelek spas · ji kerema xwe · ser çavan
The word that opens every door: spas — thank you.
- spas (SPAS) — thank you
- gelek spas (geh-LEK SPAS) — thanks a lot
- ji kerema xwe (zhee keh-REH-mah khweh) — please
- ser çavan (sehr CHAH-vahn) — you're welcome
- bibûre (bee-BOO-reh) — excuse me / sorry
To say “Thank you” in Kurdish: Spas (SPAS). Built from spas = thank you.
For 'please', use ji kerema xwe — literally 'of your kindness'. Add it to any request.
To say “Two coffees, please” in Kurdish: Du qehwe, ji kerema xwe (doo keh-WEH, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from du = two; qehwe = coffee; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “Thanks a lot!” in Kurdish: Gelek spas! (geh-LEK SPAS). Built from gelek = a lot; spas = thanks.
Numbers 1–10 — yek, du, sê
Key pieces: yek · du · sê · çar · pênc · deh
Numbers are your fastest win. Listen and repeat: yek, du, sê .
- yek (yek) — 1
- du (doo) — 2
- sê (say) — 3
- çar (chahr) — 4 Memory hook: ≈ Persian chahâr.
- pênc (paynch) — 5
- şeş (shesh) — 6
- heft (heft) — 7
- heşt (hesht) — 8
- neh (neh) — 9
- deh (deh) — 10
To say “Two teas, please” in Kurdish: Du çay, ji kerema xwe (doo chai, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from du = two; çay = tea; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “Three apples” in Kurdish: Sê sêv (say sAYV). Built from sê = three; sêv = apple.
To ask a price: çend e? — how much is it?
To say “How much is it?” in Kurdish: Çend e? (chend eh). Built from çend = how much; e = is.
I want" — ez dixwazim
Key pieces: ez dixwazim · tu dixwazî · ez … im
To want something, say ez dixwazim — I want. The verb goes at the end.
- ez (ez) — I
- ez dixwazim (ez dee-KHWAH-zeem) — I want
- tu dixwazî (too dee-KHWAH-zee) — you want
- av (av) — water
- nan (nahn) — bread
To say “I want water” in Kurdish: Ez dixwazim av (ez dee-KHWAH-zeem av). Built from ez = I; dixwazim = I want; av = water.
To say “I want bread” in Kurdish: Ez dixwazim nan (ez dee-KHWAH-zeem nahn). Built from ez = I; dixwazim = I want; nan = bread.
Make it polite by adding ji kerema xwe at the end.
To say “I want water, please” in Kurdish: Ez dixwazim av, ji kerema xwe (ez dee-KHWAH-zeem av, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from ez dixwazim = I want; av = water; ji kerema xwe = please.
Food & drink — av, nan, çay, qehwe
Key pieces: av · nan · çay · qehwe · û
The essentials: av (water) and nan (bread).
- av (av) — water Memory hook: ≈ Persian âb.
- nan (nahn) — bread Memory hook: ≈ Persian nân.
- çay (chai) — tea Memory hook: ≈ English chai.
- qehwe (keh-WEH) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ English coffee.
- şîr (sheer) — milk
To say “Water and bread, please” in Kurdish: Av û nan, ji kerema xwe (av oo nahn, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from av = water; û = and; nan = bread; ji kerema xwe = please.
û is 'and'. A small word that links everything.
To say “A tea and a coffee, please” in Kurdish: Çay û qehwe, ji kerema xwe (chai oo keh-WEH, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from çay = tea; û = and; qehwe = coffee.
- menû (meh-NOO) — menu Memory hook: ≈ English menu.
- hesab (heh-SAB) — the bill Memory hook: ≈ Arabic hisâb.
Getting around — directions
Key pieces: li ku derê? · rast · çep · rasterê
The most useful question anywhere: li ku derê? — where is it?
- li ku derê? (lee koo deh-REH) — where is it?
- rasterê (rah-steh-REH) — go straight
- rast (rahst) — right
- çep (chep) — left
- li vir (lee veer) — here
- stasyona tirênê (stah-SYOH-nah tee-REH-neh) — the train station
To say “Where is the train station?” in Kurdish: Stasyona tirênê li ku ye? (stah-SYOH-nah tee-REH-neh lee koo yeh). Built from stasyona tirênê = the train station; li ku ye? = where is it?.
To say “Go straight, then left” in Kurdish: Rasterê herin, dûv re bi çep (rah-steh-REH HEH-reen, doov reh bee CHEP). Built from rasterê = go straight; herin = you go; dûv re = then; bi çep = to the left.
rast is 'right', çep is 'left'.
To say “The station is here” in Kurdish: Stasyon li vir e (stah-SYON lee veer eh). Built from stasyon = station; li vir = here; e = is.
Asking questions
Key pieces: çi? · kî? · çend e? · kengî? · çawa?
The question word for everything: çi? — what?
- Çi? (chee) — what?
- Kî? (kee) — who?
- Kengî? (KENG-ee) — when?
- Çawa? (CHAH-wah) — how?
- Çima? (CHEE-mah) — why?
- Çend e? (chend eh) — how much is it?
To say “What is this?” in Kurdish: Ev çi ye? (ev chee yeh). Built from ev = this; çi = what; ye = is.
To say “How much is this?” in Kurdish: Ev çend e? (ev chend eh). Built from ev = this; çend = how much; e = is.
Put the question word first, then the rest. Ev çi ye? = What is this?
To say “Who is this?” in Kurdish: Ev kî ye? (ev kee yeh). Built from ev = this; kî = who; ye = is.
Family & people
Key pieces: malbat · dê · bav · heval
Family words: malbat (family), dê (mother), bav (father).
- malbat (mal-BAT) — family
- dê (day) — mother
- bav (bav) — father Memory hook: ≈ Persian bâbâ.
- bira (bee-RAH) — brother Memory hook: ≈ Persian barâdar.
- xwişk (khweeshk) — sister Memory hook: ≈ Persian khâhar.
- heval (heh-VAL) — friend
To say “I have a friend” in Kurdish: Hevalekî min heye (heh-vah-LEH-kee meen HEH-yeh). Built from hevalekî = a friend; min = my; heye = there is / I have.
min is 'my'. And heye is how Kurdish says 'I have'.
To say “This is my mother” in Kurdish: Ev dayika min e (ev dah-YEE-kah meen eh). Built from ev = this; dayika min = my mother; e = is.
To say “I have a family” in Kurdish: Min malbatek heye (meen mal-bah-TEK HEH-yeh). Built from min = I; malbatek = a family; heye = there is / have.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: îro · sibê · baran · germ · sar
Today is îro , tomorrow is sibê .
- îro (EE-roh) — today
- sibê (see-BEH) — tomorrow
- duh (dooh) — yesterday
- hewa (heh-WAH) — weather
- baran (BAH-rahn) — rain Memory hook: ≈ Persian bârân.
- germ (germ) — hot
- sar (sar) — cold
To say “It's raining” in Kurdish: Baran dibare (BAH-rahn dee-BAH-reh). Built from baran = rain; dibare = is falling.
To say “Until tomorrow” in Kurdish: Heta sibê (HEH-tah see-BEH). Built from heta = until; sibê = tomorrow.
For weather, ask hewa çawa ye? — how's the weather?
To say “It's hot” in Kurdish: Hewa germ e (heh-WAH germ eh). Built from hewa = weather; germ = hot; e = is.
My name is… — navê min Alex ye
Key pieces: navê min … ye · navê te çi ye? · kêfxweş
Introduce yourself: navê min Alex ye — my name is Alex.
- navê min Alex ye (nah-VAY meen Alex yeh) — my name is Alex
- navê te çi ye? (nah-VAY teh chee yeh) — what's your name?
- nav (nav) — name
- kêfxweş (kayf-KHWEHSH) — pleased / glad
To say “My name is Alex” in Kurdish: Navê min Alex ye (nah-VAY meen Alex yeh). Built from navê min = my name; ye = is.
To say “What is your name?” in Kurdish: Navê te çi ye? (nah-VAY teh chee yeh). Built from navê te = your name; çi = what; ye = is.
To say you're glad to meet someone: kêfxweş im — I'm pleased.
To say “Pleased to meet you” in Kurdish: Pir kêfxweş im (peer kayf-KHWEHSH eem). Built from pir = very; kêfxweş = pleased; im = I am.
Health & emergency — Alîkarî!
Key pieces: alîkarî · nexweş · doktor · ez fêm nakim
The most important word in the language: Alîkarî! — Help!
- alîkarî (ah-lee-kah-REE) — help
- ez nexweş im (ez neh-KHWEHSH eem) — I'm sick
- ez fêm nakim (ez faym nah-KEEM) — I don't understand
- doktor (dok-TOR) — doctor Memory hook: ≈ English doctor.
- dermanxane (der-man-KHAH-neh) — pharmacy
To say “Help!” in Kurdish: Alîkarî! (ah-lee-kah-REE). Built from alîkarî = help.
To say “I'm sick” in Kurdish: Ez nexweş im (ez neh-KHWEHSH eem). Built from ez = I; nexweş = sick; im = I am.
To say “I don't understand” in Kurdish: Ez fêm nakim (ez faym nah-KEEM). Built from ez = I; fêm = understanding; nakim = I do not.
If you need a doctor, say doktor lazim e — a doctor is needed.
To say “A doctor is needed” in Kurdish: Doktor lazim e (dok-TOR lah-ZEEM eh). Built from doktor = doctor; lazim = needed; e = is.
Tying it together — capstone
Key pieces: silav · ez dixwazim · li ku derê? · spas
Excellent — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Kurdish: Silav, tu çawa yî? (see-LAV, too CHAH-wah yee). Built from silav = hello; tu çawa yî? = how are you?.
To say “I want tea and bread, please” in Kurdish: Ez çay û nan dixwazim, ji kerema xwe (ez chai oo nahn dee-KHWAH-zeem, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from ez = I; çay = tea; û = and; nan = bread; dixwazim = I want; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “Where is the train station?” in Kurdish: Stasyona tirênê li ku ye? (stah-SYOH-nah tee-REH-neh lee koo yeh). Built from stasyona tirênê = the train station; li ku ye? = where is it?.
To say “How much is this?” in Kurdish: Ev çend e? (ev chend eh). Built from ev = this; çend = how much; e = is.
Airport & tickets
Key pieces: balafirgeh · pasaport · bilet · dergeh
You have landed. The building is the balafirgeh . Your document is a pasaport .
- balafirgeh (bah-lah-feer-GEH) — airport
- pasaport (pah-sah-PORT) — passport
- bilet (bee-LET) — ticket
- firîn (fee-REEN) — flight
- dergeh (der-GEH) — gate
To say “Where is the airport?” in Kurdish: Balafirgeh li ku ye? (bah-lah-feer-GEH lee koo yeh). Built from balafirgeh = airport; li ku ye? = where is it?.
To say “Here is my passport” in Kurdish: Pasaporta min ev e (pah-sah-POR-tah meen ev eh). Built from pasaporta min = my passport; ev e = this is.
To say “A ticket, please” in Kurdish: Biletek, ji kerema xwe (bee-leh-TEK, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from biletek = a ticket; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “Where is the gate?” in Kurdish: Dergeh li ku ye? (der-GEH lee koo yeh). Built from dergeh = gate; li ku ye? = where is it?.
The taxi
Key pieces: taksî · herin · otêl · li vir bisekinin
The driver is waiting. Tell them where to go: ez dixwazim herim… — I want to go…
- taksî (tak-SEE) — taxi
- ajokar (ah-zhoh-KAR) — driver
- ez dixwazim herim (ez dee-KHWAH-zeem HEH-reem) — I want to go
- li vir bisekinin (lee veer bee-seh-kee-NEEN) — stop here
To say “Taxi, please” in Kurdish: Taksî, ji kerema xwe (tak-SEE, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from taksî = taxi; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Kurdish: Ez dixwazim herim otêlê (ez dee-KHWAH-zeem HEH-reem oh-TAY-leh). Built from ez dixwazim = I want; herim = to go; otêlê = to the hotel.
To say “Stop here, please” in Kurdish: Li vir bisekinin, ji kerema xwe (lee veer bee-seh-kee-NEEN, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from li vir = here; bisekinin = stop; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “How much is it?” in Kurdish: Çend e? (chend eh). Built from çend = how much; e = is.
The hotel
Key pieces: rezervasyon · ode · mifte · şev
At the desk: rezervasyona min heye — I have a reservation.
- otêl (oh-TAYL) — hotel
- rezervasyon (reh-zer-vah-SYON) — reservation
- ode (OH-deh) — room
- mifte (MIF-teh) — key
- şevek (SHEH-vek) — one night
To say “I have a reservation” in Kurdish: Rezervasyona min heye (reh-zer-vah-SYOH-nah meen HEH-yeh). Built from rezervasyona min = my reservation; heye = there is / I have.
To say “A room for one night, please” in Kurdish: Odeyek ji bo şevekê, ji kerema xwe (oh-deh-YEK zhee boh SHEH-veh-keh, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from odeyek = a room; ji bo şevekê = for one night; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “The key, please” in Kurdish: Mifte, ji kerema xwe (MIF-teh, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from mifte = key; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “Where is my room?” in Kurdish: Odeya min li ku ye? (oh-DEH-yah meen lee koo yeh). Built from odeya min = my room; li ku ye? = where is it?.
Ask for help
Key pieces: ez fêm nakim · hêdîtir · îngilîzî
When Kurmanji is too fast: Hêdîtir, ji kerema xwe — slower, please.
- hêdîtir (HAY-dee-teer) — slower
- dîsa (DEE-sah) — again
- îngilîzî (een-gee-LEE-zee) — English
- tu dikarî alîkarî bikî? (too dee-KAH-ree ah-lee-kah-REE bee-kee) — can you help?
To say “I don't understand” in Kurdish: Ez fêm nakim (ez faym nah-KEEM). Built from ez = I; fêm = understanding; nakim = I do not.
To say “Slower, please” in Kurdish: Hêdîtir, ji kerema xwe (HAY-dee-teer, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh). Built from hêdîtir = slower; ji kerema xwe = please.
To say “Can you help me?” in Kurdish: Tu dikarî alîkariya min bikî? (too dee-KAH-ree ah-lee-kah-REE-yah meen bee-kee). Built from tu dikarî = can you; alîkariya min = my help; bikî = do.
To say “Do you speak English?” in Kurdish: Tu îngilîzî dizanî? (too een-gee-LEE-zee dee-zah-NEE). Built from tu = you; îngilîzî = English; dizanî = you know / speak.
Culture and etiquette
The lands of Kurdistan
Kurdistan isn't a single country — it's a region spanning Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. The people's identity is their language and culture rather than a border. The flag you see here is Iraq, home to the Kurdistan Region and the great city of Erbil (Hewlêr).
Newroz — the spring festival
Newroz (new day), on 21 March, is the Kurdish New Year. People dress up in green, red and gold, picnic outdoors, and jump over fires. It's a celebration of spring, renewal and freedom — and it's marked by Kurds everywhere.
An Indo-Iranian cousin
Kurdish belongs to the Iranian branch of Indo-European, so it's a cousin of Farsi (Persian) and Pashto — and NOT an Arabic or Turkish language. You'll spot it fast: av (water), nan (bread), baran (rain) and çend all feel familiar.
Two scripts, one language
Kurmanji (northern Kurdish) is written in the Latin alphabet, with letters like ç, ş and ê — exactly what you're learning here. Sorani (southern Kurdish) uses the Arabic script. The spoken varieties are close cousins; only the writing differs much.
Tea & hospitality
Kurdish hospitality is legendary. A guest is handed tea (çay) almost immediately and greeted with bi xêr hatin (welcome). Accepting the tea is a warm, sincere gesture — and declining politely is fine too.
Kurdish in Iraq
Arabic is Iraq's official language, but Kurdish is co-official in the Kurdistan Region and widely spoken there. A rojbaş (good day) and spas (thank you) in Kurdish will open doors and win warm smiles.
Example dialogues
At a café
You: Rojbaş! Yek qehwe, ji kerema xwe. (ROZH-bash! yek keh-WEH, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh) — Good day! A coffee, please.
Barista: Bi xweşî. Ji bo li vir an ji bo bi xwe re? (bee khweh-SHEE. zhee boh lee veer ahn zhee boh bee khweh reh) — With pleasure. For here or to go?
You: Ji bo bi xwe re, spas. (zhee boh bee khweh reh, SPAS) — To go, thanks.
Barista: De ka. Ew çar dînar. (deh kah. eh CHAHR DEE-nar) — Here you go. That's four dinars.
You: Gelek spas. Bêxatir! (geh-LEK SPAS. bay-khah-TEER) — Thanks so much. Goodbye!
Getting around
You: Bibûre! Stasyona tirênê li ku ye? (bee-BOO-reh! stah-SYOH-nah tee-REH-neh lee koo yeh) — Excuse me! Where is the train station?
Local: Rasterê herin, dûv re bi çep. (rah-steh-REH HEH-reen, doov reh bee CHEP) — Go straight, then turn left.
You: Gelek spas. Yek bilet, ji kerema xwe. (geh-LEK SPAS. yek bee-LET, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh) — Thanks a lot. One ticket, please.
Ticket: Tu diçî kîder? (too dee-CHEE KEE-dair) — Where are you going?
You: Diçim Hewlêrê. (dee-CHIM hew-LAY-reh) — I'm going to Erbil.
At a restaurant
Waiter: Rojbaş! Bi xêr hatin. (ROZH-bash! bee khayr hah-TEEN) — Good day! Welcome.
You: Spas. Menû, ji kerema xwe. (SPAS. meh-NOO, zhee keh-REH-mah khweh) — Thanks. The menu, please.
You: Ez dixwazim nan û av. (ez dee-KHWAH-zeem nahn oo av) — I want bread and water.
Waiter: Tiştek din? (teesh-TEK deen) — Anything else?
You: Na, spas. Çend e? (nah, SPAS. chend eh) — No, thanks. How much is it?
Waiter: Ew şeş dînar. (eh SHESH DEE-nar) — That's six dinars.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.