KalamWhat Language Is Spoken in Iraq? Arabic, Kurdish, and More
Iraq's official languages are Arabic and Kurdish. Learn about Iraqi Arabic (gilit and qeltu), plus Turkmen, Syriac Neo-Aramaic, and Armenian in Iraq.
The Kalam team · 6 min read On this page
Iraq has two official languages: Arabic and Kurdish. Most Iraqis speak Iraqi Arabic (Mesopotamian Arabic) in daily life, while Kurdish is the main language of the Kurdistan Region in the north. Iraq is also home to Turkmen, Syriac (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian, and other minority languages, several of which have recognized status in the areas where their speakers live.
The Official Languages of Iraq
Iraq’s 2005 constitution, in Article 4, declares that “the Arabic language and the Kurdish language are the two official languages of Iraq.” Both languages can be used in parliament, official documents, courts, government offices, and education, and the federal government uses both.
The same article also guarantees Iraqis the right to educate their children in their mother tongue, naming Turkmen, Syriac, and Armenian as examples. It makes Turkmen and Syriac additional official languages in the administrative units where their speakers form a substantial share of the population. Each region or governorate may also adopt another local language as an official language if a majority of its population approves it in a referendum.
Arabic in Iraq
Arabic is the first language of the large majority of Iraqis, across both Sunni and Shia communities. As everywhere in the Arab world, it comes in two forms:
- Modern Standard Arabic is used for writing, official business, news, education, and formal religious settings.
- Iraqi Arabic is the spoken dialect used at home, in the market, and in Iraqi TV dramas, comedy, and music.
Iraqi Arabic (Mesopotamian Arabic)
Iraqi Arabic is known for its distinctive sound and vocabulary. Speakers from other Arab countries often find it harder to follow than Egyptian or Levantine Arabic at first, but Iraqi music and poetry have a strong following across the region.
Typical features include:
- ق pronounced as “g” in many words (gahwa for coffee) in Baghdad and the south.
- ك pronounced as “ch” in some words (chalib for dog, from kalb).
- The words aku (there is) and māku (there isn’t), which are signature Iraqi expressions.
- Borrowings from Persian, Turkish, Aramaic, and English, reflecting Iraq’s long history at the crossroads of empires.
Gilit and qeltu: the two big branches
Linguists divide the Arabic dialects of Iraq into two groups, named after how each says “I said” (MSA qultu):
| Group | “I said” | Where it is spoken |
|---|---|---|
| Gilit | گلت (gilit) | Baghdad (Muslim communities), central and southern Iraq |
| Qeltu | قلتُ (qeltu) | Mosul and northern Iraq; historically, Baghdad’s Christian and Jewish communities |
Gilit dialects have a stronger Bedouin influence. The Baghdadi Arabic heard on most Iraqi TV is a gilit dialect, and it is the variety most learners mean by “Iraqi Arabic.”
Qeltu dialects are more closely related to the Arabic of northern Syria and southeastern Turkey. The dialect of Mosul (Maslawi) is the best-known example, recognizable by features like pronouncing ق as “q” and, in traditional speech, a guttural “r.” Historically, Baghdad’s Jewish and Christian communities spoke qeltu-type dialects, so the city once had several distinct Arabic dialects living side by side.
Kurdish in Iraq
Kurdish is an Iranian language, more closely related to Persian than to Arabic. Kurds are Iraq’s largest ethnic minority, commonly estimated at around 15 to 20 percent of the population, concentrated in the Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja governorates) and in nearby areas such as Kirkuk.
Two main Kurdish varieties are spoken in Iraq:
- Sorani (Central Kurdish), spoken around Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, is the dominant variety in the Kurdistan Region’s government and media.
- Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish), known locally as Badini, is spoken around Duhok.
In Iraq, Kurdish is mostly written in a modified Arabic script. In the Kurdistan Region, Kurdish is the main language of schools, government, and daily life, and many younger Kurds speak little Arabic, often preferring English as a second language.
Turkmen
Iraqi Turkmen speak a Turkic language closely related to Azerbaijani and Turkish. Turkmen communities are concentrated in a belt across northern Iraq, including Kirkuk, Tal Afar, Tuz Khurmatu, and parts of Erbil and Diyala. Turkmen is recognized as an official language in areas where Turkmen form a large part of the population.
Syriac and Neo-Aramaic
Iraq’s Christian communities, including Assyrians and Chaldeans, traditionally speak varieties of Neo-Aramaic, often called Sureth (or Suret) by their speakers. These are modern descendants of Aramaic, a language spoken in Mesopotamia since ancient times. Classical Syriac, a literary form of Aramaic, remains the liturgical language of several churches.
Neo-Aramaic is spoken especially in the Nineveh Plains, Duhok, Erbil (notably Ankawa), and Baghdad. Years of conflict and emigration have greatly reduced the number of speakers inside Iraq, and large diaspora communities now live in the United States, Europe, and Australia.
Armenian and Other Minority Languages
- Armenian is spoken by a small community, many of them descendants of refugees from the Armenian genocide of 1915, mainly in Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Duhok, and Zakho.
- Mandaic is the liturgical language of the Mandaeans, a small religious community traditionally based in southern Iraq.
- Shabaki, spoken by the Shabak community near Mosul, is related to the Gorani languages.
- Feyli Kurdish, spoken by Feyli Kurds in eastern Iraq and Baghdad, is a Southern Kurdish variety.
Useful Iraqi Arabic Phrases
These are the expressions you will hear from Iraqis in Baghdad and beyond:
| English | Iraqi Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? (to a man) | شلونك؟ | shlōnak? |
| How are you? (to a woman) | شلونج؟ | shlōnich? |
| What’s up? / What’s new? | شكو ماكو؟ | shaku māku? |
| Good / fine | زين | zēn |
| There is / there isn’t | أكو / ماكو | aku / māku |
| I want | أريد | arīd |
| How much? | بيش؟ | bēsh? |
| Very | كلش | kullish |
| A lot | هواية | hwāya |
| Thank you | شكراً / ممنون | shukran / mamnūn |
Shaku māku literally means “what is there, what isn’t there,” and is the classic Iraqi way to ask what’s new. Iraqis are also famous for affectionate expressions like ʿyūni (my eyes), similar to habibi and hayati. For basic greetings, see hello in Arabic.
Which Language Should You Learn for Iraq?
If you want to talk with most Iraqis, learn Iraqi Arabic, specifically the Baghdadi variety. It is understood throughout Arab Iraq and is the dialect of national TV and popular music. If you are heading to Erbil or Sulaymaniyah, Sorani Kurdish will be far more useful day to day.
Because Iraqi Arabic has fewer learning resources than Egyptian or Levantine Arabic, speaking practice with real dialect material is especially valuable. Kalam offers an Iraqi Arabic track built around spoken phrases and everyday conversations.
FAQ
What are the official languages of Iraq?
Arabic and Kurdish are the two official languages of Iraq under Article 4 of the 2005 constitution. The constitution also makes Turkmen and Syriac official in administrative units where their speakers are concentrated, and guarantees the right to education in mother tongues such as Turkmen, Syriac, and Armenian.
What language do most people in Iraq speak?
Most Iraqis speak Iraqi Arabic, also called Mesopotamian Arabic, as their first language. In the Kurdistan Region in the north, Kurdish (mainly Sorani and Badini Kurmanji) is the dominant language. Modern Standard Arabic is used for formal writing, news, and education.
What is the difference between gilit and qeltu Arabic?
They are the two main groups of Iraqi Arabic dialects, named after their word for “I said.” Gilit dialects, including the Baghdadi Arabic of most Iraqi media, are spoken in central and southern Iraq. Qeltu dialects are spoken in Mosul and the north, and historically by Baghdad’s Christian and Jewish communities.
Is Kurdish similar to Arabic?
No. Kurdish is an Indo-European language from the Iranian branch, related to Persian, while Arabic is a Semitic language. Kurdish has borrowed some vocabulary from Arabic, and in Iraq it is written in a modified Arabic script, but the two languages are not mutually intelligible.
Is Iraqi Arabic hard to understand for other Arabs?
At first, it can be. Iraqi Arabic has its own vocabulary, such as aku, māku, and shlōnak, and sounds like “ch” for ك. Gulf Arabs usually understand it fairly easily, while Egyptians and Levantines may need some exposure. Iraqi songs and poetry have made the dialect familiar across the region.
