Travelling to Iraq is much more than visiting archaeological sites, mosques or breathtaking landscapes. It also means getting to know the people who live there, their customs and especially their language. Two cultural pillars coexist in this country: the Arabic language and Kurdish language.
In my travel to Iraq We don't just show monuments, we want the traveller to connect with the spirit of the country. One of the best ways to do this is to learn a few phrases in Arabic and Kurdish. These are details that generate closeness, provoke smiles and open the door to authentic conversations.
A brief history of the Arabic language
The Arabic language has a history that goes back more than a century. 4000 years. Its roots are in the Arabian Peninsula, It is spoken especially in the area of today's Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman. It belongs to the family of languages Semitic, along with Hebrew and Aramaic.
Originally, Arabic was a tribal and oral language, passed between clans and nomadic desert peoples. Over time, it was consolidated into a written system, first with ancient inscriptions in pre-classical Arabic, and later with the classical Arabic, whose most established form appears in the Koran in the 7th century.
From then on, the Arabic language spread rapidly thanks to the Islam and the great empires that drove it:
- The Umayyad Empire (661-750) made it the official language of administration and culture from Damascus.
- The Abbasid Empire (750-1258), with Baghdad as its capital, made Arabic the language of science, philosophy and literature at the height of the Islamic Golden Age.
- Later, under the Ottomans, Although Turkish dominated the administration, Arabic remained alive and well in religion and daily life.
This development explains why today there are numerous Arabic dialects all over the world. Each region adopted words and structures from the local languages with which it lived: Persian, Turkish, Berber, Spanish, among others.
Classical Arabic and colloquial Iraqi Arabic
The classical Arabic, also called educated Arab, is the official language of 22 countries and is spoken by more than 300 million people. It is used in newspapers, newsreels, literature and religious contexts.
In everyday life in Iraq, however, the language you will hear is the Iraqi colloquial Arabic. This dialect is rich in its own expressions and incorporates influences from Aramaic, Persian and Turkish. What is interesting is that, although it differs from classical Arabic, it has a common root, which makes it easily understood in other Arab countries, for example Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan or Syria.
That's why, during my tours, I teach so much basic expressions in classical Arabic (useful for reading or understanding formal messages), such as Iraqi colloquial phrases, These are the ones that really bring the traveller closer to everyday life.
The role of the Kurdish language in Iraq
The language kurdish is the predominant language in the Iraqi Kurdistan, It is a central element of Kurdish identity and culture. It is a language Indo-European, different from Arabic, with several dialectal variants: Arabic kurmanji, most widely spoken in Iraq and Turkey, and the sorani, frequent in parts of Iraq and Iran.
The history of the Kurdish language goes back centuries, being the language of the mountain peoples who inhabited Northern Mesopotamia and the surrounding regions. For a long time, Kurdish was mainly transmitted orally, and although it lacked standardisation, it served to preserve traditions, literature and poetry, which are an essential part of Kurdish culture.
In the course of the 20th century, especially after the creation of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish gained official and educational relevance. Today it is used in schools, media and local administration, co-existing with Arabic.
Knowing some basic phrases in Kurdish during a trip to Iraq not only facilitates communication, but also demonstrates respect and appreciation for local culture, opening the door to more authentic interactions with northern communities.
Real-life experience on my travels
In my travel to Iraq I have found that the first phrases people often ask travellers are always the same:
- “Where are you from?”
- “Are you Real Madrid or Barça?”
The latter may come as a surprise, but it demonstrates something fascinating: how football unites the world. In Iraq, as in many Arab countries, the passion for these two Spanish clubs is enormous. It's a quick way to break the ice and start a conversation.
Useful phrases in Classical Arabic and colloquial Iraqi Arabic
Here is a short list of phrases that I share in the itineraries, both in classical and colloquial Arabic as in kurdish:
In classical Arabic / colloquial Iraqi
- مرحبا (Marhaban) – Hola
- صباح الخير (Sabah al-jair) - Good morning
- اسمي ... (Ismi ...) - My name is...
- أنا من ... (Ana min ...) - I am from...
- من وين إنت؟ (Min ween enta?) - Where are you from?
- أنت مدريدي أو برشلوني؟ (Enta Madridi aw Barcelona?) - Are you a Real Madrid or Barça fan?
In Kurdish
At Iraq, especially in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, the Kurdish can be written in two alphabets:
- Latin alphabet - Mainly used in the Kurmanji, especially in modern publications, internet, teaching books and international media. Example: Beyanî baş.
- Arabic alphabet - Mainly used for the Sorani dialect, very common in cities such as Erbil, Suleimaniya or Dohuk, especially in official texts, newspapers and local signage. Example: بەیانی بەی باش (Beyanî baş).
In Kurdish (Kurmanji / Sorani)
| Kurdish (Latin) | Kurdish (Arabic) | Spanish / Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Slav | سلام | Hello (slav) |
| Beyanî baş | بەیانی بەی باش | Good morning (bey-ani bash) |
| Navê min ... e | ناوەی من ... ئه | My name is... (navé min ... é) |
| Ez ji ... me | ئهز ژی ... مه | I am from... (ez yi ... me) |
| Tu ji ku derê yî? | تو ژی كو كو كو دهرهی؟ | Where are you from?tu yi ku deré yi?) |
The Arabic imprint in Spanish
For Spanish-speaking travellers, approaching Arabic has a special nuance. For almost eight centuries, the Arabic presence on the Iberian Peninsula left a deep mark on the Spanish language. It is estimated that more than 4,000 words in Spanish come from Arabic.
Some everyday examples are:
- sugar (from “sukkar”)
- olive (from “zaytūna”)
- hopefully (from “in shā’ Allāh”, meaning “if God wills”)
- pillow, orange, Mayor, carpet, among many others.
This legacy demonstrates that the Arabic language and Spanish are more connected than we often realise, which makes a trip to Iraq into an even closer and more enriching experience.
Conclusion
By embarking on a trip to Iraq, It is not enough to visit archaeological or religious sites: the real value lies in connecting with people. Know some words in Classical Arabic, Iraqi Colloquial Arabic and Kurdish can make the difference between being a tourist and being a traveller who understands, connects and transforms his or her gaze.
The Arabic, with more than 4000 years of history, reminds us of the power of languages to unite cultures, while the kurdish underlines the richness and diversity of Iraq. And the best thing is that, through a few simple phrases, you can discover that a passion for football or a warm greeting can break down any cultural barrier.
Would you like us to help you organise your trip to Iraq?
Take a look at our travel offer to Iraq and contact us to start preparing your trip.