Kurdish

Kurdish is written using multiple scripts depending on region, but the most widely used standardized system is the Arabic-based Sorani script, adapted for Central Kurdish. This writing system developed in the 20th century as Kurdish literary and educational standards were formalized in Iraq and surrounding regions.

The Kurdish writing system (Sorani) is an abjad-based alphabetic system, meaning it originates from the Arabic script but has been expanded to function more like a full alphabet. Unlike Arabic, it explicitly represents all vowel sounds using additional letters and diacritic adaptations.

The modern Sorani Kurdish alphabet contains approximately 33 letters, combining standard Arabic characters with several uniquely Kurdish additions such as گ, چ, پ, ژ, ڕ, ڵ, ۆ, and ێ.

Kurdish is written from right to left and is used in education, media, literature, and government contexts in parts of Iraq and Iran. It serves as a key standardized writing system for Central Kurdish (Sorani dialect).

One of the most distinctive features of Kurdish Sorani writing is its full representation of vowel sounds, which distinguishes it from classical Arabic orthography. This makes the system more phonemically complete while still retaining its Arabic script foundation.

Visually, Kurdish combines flowing Arabic calligraphic structure with additional modified letters that extend the script’s phonetic range. These additions give Kurdish writing a distinct identity within the Arabic-script family.

In summary, the Kurdish Sorani alphabet is an Arabic-derived writing system expanded into a near-complete phonemic script, combining traditional abjad structure with systematic vowel and consonant extensions to accurately represent the Kurdish language.