Condolences in Kurmanji
In Kurmanji, the terms sersaxî and serxweşî are attested for condolences and condolence visits.
How to say condolences in Kurmanji
1. “Serê te sax be.” / “Serê we sax be.”
Translation: May your head remain healthy, used as a condolence formula for the bereaved. The source explicitly gives both te and we forms.
2. “Serê te xweş be.” / “Serê we xweş be.”
Approximate meaning: May your mind/heart be at peace. The same source lists this as a condolence variant.
3. “Yên mayî sax bin.” / “Bila hûn sax bin.”
Translation: May those who remain stay safe and healthy / May you remain safe and well. These are explicitly included among condolence formulas.
4. “Xwedê sebrê bide.”
Translation: May God give patience. This is one of the clearest and most useful sympathy phrases recorded in the source.
5. “Em sersaxiyê ji te û malbata te re dixwazin.”
Translation: We extend our condolences to you and your family. This wording is attested in modern Kurmanji news usage and works especially well in formal written messages.
Which phrase should you use?
For one person, serê te sax be works well. For several people, or a more polite tone, serê we sax be is better. Xwedê sebrê bide is a strong sympathy phrase, while Em sersaxiyê ji te û malbata te re dixwazin is especially suitable in writing.
Learning these phrases in context
It helps to know practical basics like Hello in Kurmanji and Yes in Kurmanji Kurdish first. Then you can better understand how respectful language differs from much more informal content such as Insults in Kurmanji Kurdish.
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