na, supas
The phrase "no, thank you" in Kurdish is na, supas.
na, supas is used as a polite way to decline an offer or a request.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is composed of two independent words separated by a comma.
Did you know?
- When declining food, it is customary to say na, supas several times, as insistent hosts often view a first refusal as mere modesty.
- The Kurdish word na is a distant relative of the English word 'no'. Both descend from the same Proto-Indo-European root *né.
- While supas means 'thanks', it is derived from a root meaning 'praise'. Using it to decline an offer essentially turns a refusal into an act of praising the giver.
Examples in context
- Na, supas, ez ne dixwazim.No, thank you, I don't want it.
- Na, supas, ez naxwazim.No, thank you, I don't want [to/any].
Example conversation
Nalin offers Dijwar some tea.
- NalinTu çayê dixwazî, Dijwar?Do you want tea, Dijwar?
- DijwarNa, supas, Nalin.No, thank you, Nalin.
- NalinTu windî bûnî?Are you sure?
- DijwarBelê, ez ê avê bixwim.Yes, I will drink water.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries na, CC BY-SA 4.0.
