It was written by the Kurdish poet and political activist, Dildar in 1938, while in jail. "Ey Reqîb" meaning "O Enemy!" refers to the jail guards in the prison where Dildar was held and tortured but also the broader oppression of Kurds.
In 1946, the poem was adopted as the national anthem of the Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad, a short-lived Kurdish republic of the 20th century in Iran that lasted for a year. "Ey Reqîb" has been adopted as the national anthem of Kurdistan Region and is also used by Kurdistan Workers' Party.
Ey reqîb her mawe qewmî kurdziman,
Nayşikênê danerî topî zeman.
Kes nelê kurd mirduwe, kurd zînduw e,
Zînduw e qet nanewê alakeman.
Ême roley rengî sûr û şorriş în,
Seyrî ke, xwênawî ye rabirdûman.
Kes nelê kurd mirduwe, kurd zînduw e,
Zînduw e, qet nanewê alakeman.
Lawî kurd hestaye ser pê wek dilêr,
Ta be xwên nexşî bika tacî jiyan.
Kes nelê kurd mirduwe, kurd zînduw e,
Zînduw e, qet nanewê alakeman.
Ême roley Mîdya û Keyxusrew în,
Dînman, ayinmian, her nîştiman.
Kes nelê kurd mirduwe, kurd zînduw e,
Zînduw e, qet nanewê alakeman.
Lawî kurd her hazir u amade ye,
Giyanfîda ye, giyanfîda, her giyanfîda.
Kes nelê kurd mirduwe, kurd zînduw e,
Zînduw e, qet nanewê alakeman.
Lyrics in other dialects
Northern Kurdish (Kurmancî)
Latin script
Perso-Arabic script
Ey reqîb her maye qewmê kurd ziman
Naşikê û danayê bi topê zeman.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
Em xortên rengê sor û şoreşin
Seyr bike xwîna dîyan me da rijand.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
Em xortên Medya û Keyxusrewin
Dîn îman û ayîman, her niştiman.
Dîn îman û ayîman, kurd û Kurdistan.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
Lawê kurd rabûye ser pê wek şêran
Ta bixwîn nexşîn bike tacî jiyan.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
Xortên nûh tev hazir û amade ne
Can fîda ne can fîda, her can fîda.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
ئەی ڕەقیب ھەر، مایە قەومێ کورد زمان
ناشکێ و دانایێ ب تۆپێ زەمان.
کەس نەبێ کورد دمرن، کورد ژین دبن.
ژین دبن قەت ناکەڤێ ئالا کوردان.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2021)
Latin script
Ey reqîb, tim mendo qewmê kurziwan
Nêşiknen ey v'raştoxê topê zeman
Kes nêvaj kurd merde yo, kurd ganî yo
Ganî yo qet nêna war alaya ma
Lajê kurdî werişto pay sey çêran
Ke b' gonî nexşîn taca cuyan
Kes nêvaj kurd merde yo, kurd ganî yo
Ganî yo qet nêna war alaya ma
Ma leyîrê Medya û Keyxusrew î
Dînê ma yo, ayînê ma yo welat o
Kes nêvaj kurd merde yo, kurd ganî yo
Ganî yo qet nêna war alaya ma
Ma leyîrê rengê sûr û şoriş î
Bewnî, gonîdmende yo vîyartey ma
Kes nêvaj kurd merde yo, kurd ganî yo
Ganî yo qet nêna war alaya ma
Lajê kurdî hazir û amade yo
Ganfîda yo ganfîda yo, ganfîda
Kes nêvaj kurd merde yo, kurd ganî yo
Ganî yo qet nêna war alaya ma
Translations
Literal translation
Alternative translation
Oh, enemy! The Kurdish people live on,
They have not been crushed by the weapons of any time
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
We are descendants of the red banner of the revolution
Look at our past, how bloody it is
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
We are the descendants of the Medes and Cyaxares
Kurdistan is our religion, our credo,
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
The Kurdish youth rise bravely,
With their blood they colored the crown of life
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
The Kurdish youth are ready and prepared,
To give their life as the supreme sacrifice
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
Oh foes who watch us, the nation whose language is Kurdish is alive
It cannot be defeated by makers of weapons of any time
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and their flag will never fall
We are the sons of the red colour of revolution
Our history is one filled with blood
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and our flag will never fall
We are the sons of the Medes and Kai Khosrow
Our homeland is our faith and religion
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and our flag will never fall
The Kurdish youth has risen like noble warriors
To draw the crown of life with blood
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and our flag will never fall
The Kurdish youth are ever-ready
And always prepared to sacrifice their lives
To sacrifice their lives, to sacrifice their lives.
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and our flag will never fall
