Kurmanji Football Lexicon

The terms of a language settle by being used; what is never written down never settles. This list records the equivalents amedspor.news uses when reporting a match.

This is a working listIt is not offered as settled fact. There is no standardised Kurmanji football terminology anywhere in the world; what follows are our choices. It is open to correction by native Kurmanji speakers, and every correction is reviewed by hand.

94 terms

Terms marked “established” are already in use in the Kurdish press. Those marked “our proposal” are not settled — we chose them, and they are open to your objection.

A

  • alîgirestablished

    Englishsupporter

    Turkishtaraftar

    From alî, side. A supporters' group is “koma alîgiran”.

  • armeour proposal

    Englishcrest

    Turkisharma

    The club badge. “Nîşana klûbê” also works.

  • asîstestablished

    Englishassist

    Turkishasist

    An established loanword. “Pasa golê” also works.

  • awtour proposal

    Englishthrow-in

    Turkishtaç

    “Avêtina ji derve” is the descriptive form.

B

  • berevanîestablished

    Englishdefence

    Turkishsavunma

    The act and unit of defending. The player is a parêzvan.

  • bêdengestablished

    Englishsilent

    Turkishsessiz

    A match behind closed doors is “maça bê alîgir”; the sanction, “cezaya bêdengiyê”.

  • bilêtestablished

    Englishticket

    Turkishbilet

    A season ticket is “bilêta sezonê”.

  • bilindbûnour proposal

    Englishpromotion

    Turkishyükselme

    Going up a division. For the play-off we write “play-off”.

  • birîndarestablished

    Englishinjured

    Turkishsakat

    An injury is “birîn”; the injury list is “lîsteya birîndaran”.

C

  • cezakirîour proposal

    Englishsuspended

    Turkishcezalı

    A ban is “cezaya qedexekirinê”.

  • cîgirour proposal

    Englishsubstitute

    Turkishyedek oyuncu

    Cîgir is a stand-in or deputy. The bench is “kursiya cîgiran”.

  • cudahiya golanestablished

    Englishgoal difference

    Turkishaveraj

    Goals scored: “golên avêtî”; conceded: “golên xwarî”.

D

  • daketinour proposal

    Englishrelegation

    Turkishdüşme

    Dropping a division. The relegation zone is “xeta daketinê”.

  • dawîestablished

    Englishfull time

    Turkishmaç sonu

    The final whistle is “fîka dawî”.

  • dema zêdeour proposal

    Englishadded time, extra time

    Turkishuzatma

    Time added on. Extra-time halves are “nîvên zêde”.

  • derîour proposal

    Englishgoal (the frame)

    Turkishkale

    Literally a door. Our choice for the goal frame; not established — “kale” also appears.

  • destpêkestablished

    Englishkick-off

    Turkishbaşlama vuruşu

    The start. The kick-off time is “dema destpêkê”.

  • dirîblingour proposal

    Englishdribble

    Turkishçalım

    For beating a man, “derbas bûn” (to get past) is also used.

  • diyasporaestablished

    Englishdiaspora

    Turkishdiaspora

    The Kurdish diaspora: “diyasporaya kurd”.

  • dorestablished

    Englishround

    Turkishtur

    A qualifying round is “dora derbasbûnê”.

E

  • encamestablished

    Englishresult, score

    Turkishsonuç, skor

    The match result is “encama maçê”.

Ê

  • êrîşestablished

    Englishattack

    Turkishhücum

    Attack. A counter-attack is “êrîşa berevajî”.

  • êrîşvanestablished

    Englishforward

    Turkishforvet

    From êrîş, attack. A centre-forward is “êrîşvanê navendî”.

F

  • faûlestablished

    Englishfoul

    Turkishfaul

    A free kick is “şûta serbest”.

  • futbolestablished

    Englishfootball

    Turkishfutbol

    Established. “Topa lingan” (foot-ball) also appears, but everyday usage is futbol.

  • futbolvanestablished

    Englishfootballer

    Turkishfutbolcu

    Lîstikvan is broader; futbolvan is specific to football.

G

  • golestablished

    Englishgoal

    Turkishgol

    As a verb: gol avêtin, to score. Not “gol kirin”.

  • golvanestablished

    Englishgoalkeeper

    Turkishkaleci

    Gol plus the agent suffix -van. Established in Kurdish media.

  • gol avêtinestablished

    Englishto score

    Turkishgol atmak

    Avêtin means to throw. “Li tor xistin”, to strike into the net, is also used.

  • guhertinestablished

    Englishsubstitution

    Turkishoyuncu değişikliği

    A change. In full: “guhertina lîstikvanan”.

H

  • hakemestablished

    Englishreferee

    Turkishhakem

    Assistant referee: “alîkarê hakem”. Fourth official: “hakemê çaremîn”.

  • hat-trickestablished

    Englishhat-trick

    Turkishhat-trick

    “Sê gol avêtin”, to score three, also works.

  • hefteestablished

    Englishmatchweek

    Turkishhafta

    Matchweek 5: “hefteya 5.”.

  • hevrikestablished

    Englishopponent, rival

    Turkishrakip

    Rivalry is “hevrikî”. A city derby is “derbiya bajêr”.

J

  • jimareour proposal

    Englishshirt number

    Turkishforma numarası

    A number. In full: “jimareya kirasê”.

K

  • kadroestablished

    Englishsquad

    Turkishkadro

    Established. A wide squad is “kadroya fireh”.

  • kaptanestablished

    Englishcaptain

    Turkishkaptan

    An established loanword. The armband is “bazinê kaptanî”.

  • kartê sorestablished

    Englishred card

    Turkishkırmızı kart

    To be sent off: “ji qadê hat derxistin”.

  • kartê zerestablished

    Englishyellow card

    Turkishsarı kart

    “Hişyarî”, a warning, is also used.

  • keskestablished

    Englishgreen

    Turkishyeşil

    Kesk û sor, green and red, are Amedspor's colours.

  • kêlekvanour proposal

    Englishwinger

    Turkishkanat oyuncusu

    Kêlek means side or edge. Not established; this is our own choice.

  • kirasour proposal

    Englishshirt, kit

    Turkishforma

    Literally a shirt. Our choice for the kit; “forma” also appears.

  • klûbestablished

    Englishclub

    Turkishkulüp

    Established. Founding is “damezrandin”.

  • kornerestablished

    Englishcorner

    Turkishkorner

    “Şûta quncikê”, the corner kick, also works.

  • kûpaestablished

    Englishcup

    Turkishkupa

    The Turkish Cup: “Kûpaya Tirkiyeyê”.

L

  • li derveestablished

    Englishaway

    Turkishdeplasman

    The away side is “tîma mêvan”, the guest team.

  • li malêestablished

    Englishhome

    Turkishiç saha

    The home side is “tîma malê”.

  • li ser xweour proposal

    Englishown goal

    Turkishkendi kalesine

    “Gola li ser xwe” — a goal scored into one's own net.

  • lîgestablished

    Englishleague

    Turkishlig

    “Lîga 1.”; the Süper Lig is “Sûper Lîg”.

  • lîstikestablished

    Englishgame, play

    Turkishoyun

    Play itself. Not the word for a fixture; for that we use “maç”.

  • lîstikvanestablished

    Englishplayer

    Turkishoyuncu

    The general word for a player of any game.

M

  • maçestablished

    Englishmatch

    Turkishmaç

    An established loanword. “Lîstik” works too, but maç is clearer.

N

  • navberestablished

    Englishhalf-time

    Turkishdevre arası

    Literally an interval. The first half is “nîvê yekem”.

  • navendvanour proposal

    Englishmidfielder

    Turkishorta saha oyuncusu

    Navend means centre. Some outlets shorten it to “navîn”; we write navendvan.

  • nîvestablished

    Englishhalf

    Turkishdevre, yarı

    Nîvê yekem, nîvê duyem — first and second half.

  • nûçeestablished

    Englishnews

    Turkishhaber

    News.

O

  • ofsaytestablished

    Englishoffside

    Turkishofsayt

    An established loanword; “li paş xetê” can be used descriptively.

P

  • parastinestablished

    Englishsave

    Turkishkurtarış

    To protect or save; used for a goalkeeper's save.

  • parêzvanestablished

    Englishdefender

    Turkishdefans oyuncusu

    From parastin, to protect. The defensive line as a whole is “berevanî”.

  • pasestablished

    Englishpass

    Turkishpas

    As a verb: pas dan. A long pass is “pasa dirêj”.

  • penaltîestablished

    Englishpenalty

    Turkishpenaltı

    The spot is “xala penaltiyê”; the box is “qada cezayê”.

  • peymanestablished

    Englishcontract

    Turkishsözleşme

    A contract extension is “dirêjkirina peymanê”.

  • pîrozbahîestablished

    Englishcelebration

    Turkishkutlama

    Celebration, congratulation. “Pîroz be” — congratulations.

Q

  • qadestablished

    Englishpitch

    Turkishsaha

    The field of play. The turf is “giyayê qadê”.

  • qîrînour proposal

    Englishroar, chanting

    Turkishtezahürat

    A shout or roar. Our choice for terrace chanting.

R

  • rahênanestablished

    Englishtraining

    Turkishantrenman

    Training. A training camp is “kampa rahênanê”.

  • rahênerestablished

    Englishmanager, head coach

    Turkishteknik direktör

    From rahênan, to train. “Antrenor” is also used.

  • rengestablished

    Englishcolours

    Turkishrenk

    Amedspor's colours: kesk û sor — green and red.

  • rewşa xalanestablished

    Englishleague table

    Turkishpuan durumu

    The standings. The leader is “pêşeng”.

S

  • serkeftinestablished

    Englishwin

    Turkishgalibiyet

    To win: “bi ser ket”. The winner is “serketî”.

  • sezonestablished

    Englishseason

    Turkishsezon

    The 2025-26 season: “sezona 2025-26”.

  • sorestablished

    Englishred

    Turkishkırmızı

    Red, paired with kesk in the club's name for its colours.

  • stadyumestablished

    Englishstadium

    Turkishstadyum

    Established. Amed's ground: Stadyuma Amedê.

  • stranên alîgiranour proposal

    Englishterrace chants

    Turkishtribün şarkıları

    Singular: strana alîgiran. On the Amedspor terrace most are in Kurmanji and Zazaki.

Ş

  • şampiyonestablished

    Englishchampion

    Turkishşampiyon

    The title is “şampiyonî”.

  • şiroveestablished

    Englishcommentary, analysis

    Turkishyorum

    A pundit or commentator is “şirovekar”.

  • şûtestablished

    Englishshot

    Turkishşut

    As a verb: şût kişandin. A shot on target is “şûta li ser torê”.

T

  • temaşevanestablished

    Englishspectator

    Turkishseyirci

    One who watches. Unlike an alîgir, no allegiance is implied.

  • têkçûnestablished

    Englishdefeat

    Turkishmağlubiyet

    To lose: “têk çû”.

  • tîfoestablished

    Englishtifo

    Turkishtifo

    An established loanword. A banner is “pankart”.

  • tîmestablished

    Englishteam

    Turkishtakım

    “Kom” is also used, but kom means a group more generally.

  • tîma neteweyîestablished

    Englishnational team

    Turkishmilli takım

    The Kurdistan national team: “Tîma Neteweyî ya Kurdistanê”.

  • topestablished

    Englishball

    Turkishtop

    The ball itself: “top li ba wî ye” — he has the ball.

  • torestablished

    Englishnet

    Turkishkale ağı

    The net, also used by extension for the goal as a whole.

  • transferestablished

    Englishtransfer

    Turkishtransfer

    The transfer window is “dema transferê”. A contract is “peyman”.

  • tribûnestablished

    Englishstand

    Turkishtribün

    Spelled tribûn in the Celadet alphabet. Behind the goal: “tribûna paş derî”.

V

  • VARestablished

    EnglishVAR

    TurkishVAR

    The abbreviation is kept; expanded as “vîdeoya alîkar a hakem”.

W

  • wekhevîour proposal

    Englishdraw

    Turkishberaberlik

    Literally equality. Our choice for a draw; “wekhev man” also appears.

  • weşanestablished

    Englishbroadcast

    Turkishyayın

    A live broadcast is “weşana zindî”.

X

  • xalestablished

    Englishpoint

    Turkishpuan

    Three points: “sê xal”.

  • xulekestablished

    Englishminute

    Turkishdakika

    The 90th minute: “xulek 90”.

Y

  • yazdeour proposal

    Englishstarting eleven

    Turkishilk on bir

    Yazde is eleven. “Yazdeya destpêkê” is the starting eleven.

Z

  • zextour proposal

    Englishpressing

    Turkishbaskı, pres

    Zext means pressure. A high press is “zexta bilind”. Our own choice.

  • zindîestablished

    Englishlive

    Turkishcanlı

    Live commentary is “şirovekirina zindî”.

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If something is wrong, or you know a better equivalent, write it here. If you can point to a source — a book, a publication, regional usage — we can act on it faster.

Where does this lexicon come from?

Amedspor News publishes in three languages, and the Kurmanji editions are not translations but texts in their own right. Reporting a match, we kept hitting the same question: what do we write for “forward”, how do we say “league table”? Rather than keep those decisions in a private file, we put them here. Every term we use is visible; anyone who disagrees can correct it.