بەخێربێی
bexêrbêysingular
In Kurdish, the English phrase "welcome" is expressed using several forms, with the default form being بەخێربێی (bexêrbêy). Wiktionary also lists بەخێربێن (bexêrbên) and bi xêr bên.
Meaning: greeting given upon someone's arrival (intj)
Ways to say it
| Kurdish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بەخێربێی | bexêrbêy | singular |
| بەخێربێن | bexêrbên | plural |
| bi xêr bên | plural | |
| bi xêr bê | singular |
These terms are used as a greeting to acknowledge someone's arrival. If you want to refer to the act of greeting someone's arrival as a noun, you would use pêşwazîkirin.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase بەخێربێی literally means "be with goodness", composed of the preposition bi (with), the noun xêr (goodness/blessing) and the verb bê/bêy (to be).
Which one should you use?
The singular form بەخێربێی is used for one person, while بەخێربێن is used for multiple people. The form bi xêr bên is a variation of بەخێربێن that uses separate particles.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form بەخێربێن serves a dual purpose: it is used for multiple people and also functions as the polite singular form when addressing a single person with respect.
How do you pronounce it?
bexêrbêy
Did you know?
- In certain Kurdish regions, the greeting is often accompanied by a hand placed over the heart to show that the 'goodness' is sincere.
- The prefix bi connects the greeting to a Proto-Iranian ancestor, meaning 'with' or 'at', linking the phrase to ancient Indo-Iranian linguistic structures.
- In many Kurdish dialects, the word xêr is also used in names, such as 'Xêrban', meaning 'the one who brings goodness'.
Examples in context
- بەخێربێن بۆ دنیای بیرکاری.Welcome to the world of mathematics.This sentence uses بەخێربێن to welcome someone to a specific field.Tatoeba #10317136 by Sarchia, translation #5956051 by mailohilohi
- بەخێربێن.Welcome.This sentence uses بەخێربێن as a standalone welcome.Tatoeba #9138660 by Sarchia, translation #138919 by CM
- بەخێربێن بۆ کنتاکی!Welcome to Kentucky!This-sentence uses بەخێربێن to welcome someone to a specific location.Tatoeba #9841355 by Sarchia, translation #6945728 by Eccles17
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarya greets Aras at his house.
- Saryaبەخێربێی، ئەرەس!Welcome, Aras!
- Arasسپاس بۆ تە، ساریا.Thank you, Sarya.
- Saryaچۆنی؟ باشی؟How are you? Are you well?
- Arasزۆر سپاس، ئەز باشم.Thanks a lot, I am well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “welcome” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bi, bê, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
