The most widely spoken Kurdish variety, used across southeast Turkey, northern Syria, and parts of Iraq and Iran.
- Speakers (approx.)
- 15,000,000
- Approximate centre
- 37.50°, 41.50°
Dialect comparison
Kurmanji vs Sorani
Compare two dialects of Kurdish side by side — where they're spoken, what they're called, and how they relate.
How to read this comparison
Which one to learn
Start with Kurmanji or Sorani based on the community, country, or media you expect to use most.
Mutual understanding
Shared language labels do not guarantee identical speech. Compare country coverage, aliases, and audio where available.
Where to go next
Open each dialect page for sources, nearby varieties, atlas context, and app availability.
Keep exploring
Read the full picture of Kurdish and the dialects within it.
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DialectKurmanjiThe most widely spoken Kurdish variety, used across southeast Turkey, northern Syria, and parts of Iraq and Iran.DialectSoraniSpoken across Iraqi Kurdistan and western Iran. The main written language in Iraqi Kurdistan.CompareBahdini vs KurmanjiAtlasExplore the atlasRead the full picture of Kurdish and the dialects within it.