hîn bûn
The English verb 'learn' is translated into Kurdish as hîn bûn. Wiktionary also lists فێربوون (fêrbûn) and fêr bûn.
Meaning: to acquire knowledge or ability (verb)
Ways to say it
| Kurdish | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| hîn bûn | |
| فێربوون | fêrbûn |
| fêr bûn | |
| elimîn |
The phrase is used to express the process of acquiring knowledge or a new ability.
Which one should you use?
While hîn bûn is a valid synonym, fêrbûn is the more common and standard way to express 'to learn' in many Kurdish dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form فێربوون acts as the verbal noun or the infinitive, meaning 'learning' or 'to learn'. If you want to say 'I learned', use فێربووم. To say 'I am learning' or 'I learn', use فێردەبم.
Did you know?
- The word bûn in the phrase for 'learn' is a distant relative of the English word 'be'. Both come from the same ancient root meaning 'to exist' or 'to become'.
- The verb fêrbûn is a compound phrase where bûn actually means 'to become'. In Kurdish, you do not simply 'learn' a skill, you 'become learned' in it.
- The suffix -bûn behaves like a tool to turn adjectives into verbs, similar to how English uses '-en' in 'brighten' or 'darken'.
Examples in context
- فێربوونی زمانێکی نوێ ئاسانترە کاتێک گەنجیت.It's easier to learn a new language when you are young.This sentence is useful for discussing the ease of learning a new language at a young age using فێربوون.Tatoeba #10324865 by Sarchia, translation #682516 by Source_VOA
- بۆچی فێربوونی زمانێکی بیانی ئەوەندە زەحمەتە؟Why is it so difficult to learn a foreign language?This sentence is useful for asking about the difficulty of learning a foreign language using فێربوون.Tatoeba #10483389 by Sarchia, translation #9732901 by CK
- پێم سەیرە بۆ ئەوەندە حەزت لە فێربوونی ئینگلیزییە.I wonder why you would like so much to learn English.This sentence is useful for expressing curiosity about someone's desire to learn English using فێربوون.Tatoeba #10311447 by Sarchia, translation #8207391 by josivangoncalves
Example conversation
Rojda and Dijwar are talking about their hobbies.
- Rojdaتۆ دەتەوێت چۆن الحین بون لە مۆسیقادا بێت؟How do you want to learn music?
- Dijwarمن دەمەوێت گیتارێکی نوێ فێرببم.I want to learn a new guitar.
- Rojdaئایا hîn bûn زۆر سەختە بۆ تۆ؟Is learning very difficult for you?
- Dijwarنەخێر، من زۆر حەزم لەوەیە.No, I like it very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “learn” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bûn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
