Ways to say it
| Kurdish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| کاک | kak | |
| birêz | ||
| kek | ||
| mîrza | ||
| efendî | /ɛfɛnˈdiː/ |
These terms are used to address any male, particularly when his name or proper address is unknown. In many Kurdish contexts, کاک can be used as a prefix before a person's first name to show familiarity or respect.
Which one should you use?
کاک is used for social equals or slightly younger men, whereas birêz is used to show high respect to elders or superiors.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
کاک is an informal way to address a man, similar to 'mate' or 'brother' in English. For formal situations, you can use birêz, which is equivalent to 'respected' or 'honorable' or the borrowed term efendî, which is similar to 'sir' or 'gentleman'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
کاک is a very common way to address men in Sorani Kurdish dialects.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kak.
Did you know?
- The word efendî is a loanword from the Ottoman Turkish 'efendi', which originally derived from the Greek 'aphentēs' meaning 'lord' or 'master'.
- While کاک translates to 'sir' or 'brother', it is often used in political or activist circles to signal egalitarianism and solidarity among comrades.
- Using the formal birêz in a relaxed, everyday setting can actually backfire, as it might be interpreted as being sarcastic or unnaturally stiff.
Example sentences for Kurdish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Nalin is asking Aras for directions on the street.
- Nalinببورە کاک، ڕێگا بۆ سەنتەر چییە؟Excuse me sir, what is the way to the center?
- Arasڕاست بچۆ و پاشان چەپ بگەڕێ.Go straight and then turn left.
- Nalinزۆر سوپاس، کاک.Thank you very much, sir.
- Arasشایانی نییە، سەرکەوتوو بیت.You are welcome, good luck.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sir” translations and entries efendî, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
