Our own line by line translation, made directly from the Soranî original. We deliberately translate closely rather than poetically: the goal is to show what each line actually says.
Existing translations elsewhere carry their own copyright and were used only as a cross check. This translation is released under CC BY-SA 4.0; you may share and adapt it with attribution to Eyreqib.com.
1
Ey reqîb, her mawe qewmî kurdziman,
O enemy! The people of the Kurdish tongue endure:
Nayşikênê danerî topî zeman.
they are not broken by the forgers of the weapons of time.
Kes nelê kurd mirdûwe, kurd zîndûwe,
Let no one say the Kurds are dead: the Kurds live on.
Zîndûwe, qet nanewê alakeman.
They live on, and our flag shall never fall.
Note. Reqîb comes from the Arabic raqīb, a watcher or guard. The line is read both as a defiant address to the prison guards of 1938 and, more broadly, to every power watching over the Kurds.
2
Lawî kurd hestaye ser pê wek dilêr,
The Kurdish youth has risen to its feet like a lion,
Ta be xwên nexşî bika tacî jiyan.
to inscribe the crown of life with blood.
Kes nelê kurd mirdûwe, kurd zîndûwe,
Let no one say the Kurds are dead: the Kurds live on.
Zîndûwe, qet nanewê alakeman.
They live on, and our flag shall never fall.
Note. Dilêr means brave or lionhearted. The crown of life inscribed with blood is the poem s central image of sacrifice: a life made worthy through what one is willing to give.
3
Ême roley Mîdya û Keyxusrewîn,
We are the children of Media and of Keyxusrew:
Dînman, ayînman, her nîştiman.
our faith and our religion is the homeland.
Kes nelê kurd mirdûwe, kurd zîndûwe,
Let no one say the Kurds are dead: the Kurds live on.
Zîndûwe, qet nanewê alakeman.
They live on, and our flag shall never fall.
Note. Media is the ancient empire of the Medes, from whom Kurds trace descent in national tradition; Keyxusrew (Kay Khosrow) is a legendary just king. Some versions sing her Kurdistan instead of her nîştiman (the homeland); both circulate.
4
Ême roley rengî sûr û şorişîn,
We are the children of the colour red and of revolution:
Seyrî ke, xwênawî ye rabirdûman.
look at our past, it is drenched in blood.
Kes nelê kurd mirdûwe, kurd zîndûwe,
Let no one say the Kurds are dead: the Kurds live on.
Zîndûwe, qet nanewê alakeman.
They live on, and our flag shall never fall.
Note. Red is the colour of sacrifice, the same red that forms the upper band of the Kurdish flag. The verse reads Kurdish history itself as a chain of uprisings paid for in blood.
5
Lawî kurd her hazir û amadeye,
The Kurdish youth stands ever ready and prepared,
Giyanfîdaye, giyanfîda, her giyanfîda.
to give life, to give life, always to give life.
Kes nelê kurd mirdûwe, kurd zîndûwe,
Let no one say the Kurds are dead: the Kurds live on.
Zîndûwe, qet nanewê alakeman.
They live on, and our flag shall never fall.
Note. Giyanfîda joins giyan (life, soul) and fîda (offered up): one who gives their life. The triple repetition is sung as a rising vow that closes the anthem.
Translation: Eyreqib.com, CC BY-SA 4.0. Verification and licensing details: Sources