Introduction to the Uzbek Language
by Mark Dickens
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Pronunciation
Wordlist
Grammar
A. Pronunciation
Uzbek
is currently written in the Cyrillic script, which has been in use since
1940, and the Latin script, which has been introduced in the last couple
of years and is now being used more and more, though most people only know
the Cyrillic script and most signs and written materials are still only
in Cyrillic. In general, words are pronounced as they sound in the Latin
script, but some explanation is necessary for a few of the sounds represented
by certain Latin letters. Below are those sounds which are not found in
English or which require some explanation. Note that stress in Uzbek is
generally on the last syllable, except for a few suffixes, which are never
stressed. In the wordlist below, stressed syllables are underlined. Note
also that two adjacent vowels are pronounced separately (e.g. ñîàò
�soat� is pronounced like English �saw at�), but a vowel followed by �y�
becomes a diphthong (e.g. áîé �boy� is pronounced the
same as English �boy�).
|
Cyrillic
|
Latin
|
Pronunciation
|
|
À
à
|
A
a
|
"a"
as in "cat"
|
|
Å
å
|
Ye
ye, E e
|
"ye"
as in "yet" at the beginning of a word, "e" as in "let" elsewhere
|
|
¨
¸
|
Yo
yo
|
"ya"
as in "yawn"
|
|
È
è
|
I
I
|
"i"
as in "pin"
|
|
Î
î
|
O
o
|
"o"
as in "pot"
|
|
Ð
ð
|
R
r
|
a
"trilled r" (like in Scottish), or, between vowels, a "flapped r" (like
"dd" in "ladder" in normal speech)
|
|
Ó
ó
|
U
u
|
"oo"
as in "cool"
|
|
Õ
õ
|
X
x
|
"ch"
as in German "Bach" or Scottish "loch"
|
|
Ý
ý
|
E
e
|
"e"
as in "let"
|
|
Þ
þ
|
Yu
yu
|
"yu"
as in "you"
|
|
ß
ÿ
|
Ya
ya
|
"ya"
as in "yak"
|
|
�
�
|
O'
o'
|
"u"
as in "put" (also represents a second vowel in some dialects, similar to
"au" as in "caught"
|
|
�
�
|
Q
q
|
like
a "k" but further back in the mouth
|
|
F
�
|
G'
g'
|
like
a French "r" (voiced version of "x")
|
B. Wordlist
Below
are 250 of the most common Uzbek words, in both Cyrillic and Latin script,
along with their definitions, arranged according to the different parts
of speech (categories of words). Note that some of these words could be
listed in two different categories (e.g. �îçèð
�now� is both a noun and an adverb, òåç �quick, quickly�
is both an adjective and an adverb).
1. Pronouns
|
ìåí
|
men
|
I
|
|
ñåí
|
sen
|
you
(singular, informal
|
|
ó
|
u
|
he/she/it,
that
|
|
áó
|
bu
|
this
|
|
ñèç
|
siz
|
you
(plural, formal)
|
|
áèç
|
biz
|
we
|
|
óëàð
|
ular
|
they
|
2. Adjectives
|
ÿõøè
|
yaxshi
|
good
|
|
ç�ð
|
zo'r
|
excellent
|
|
¸ìîí
|
yomon
|
bad
|
|
�ðòà÷à
|
o'rtacha
|
in
the middle
|
|
êàòòà
|
katta
|
big
|
|
êè÷êèíà
|
kichkina
|
small
|
|
ÿíãè
|
yangi
|
new
|
|
ýñêè
|
eski
|
old
(thing)
|
|
¸ø
|
yosh
|
young
|
|
�àðè
|
qari
|
old
(person)
|
|
êàñàë
|
kasal
|
sick
|
|
ñî�
|
sog'
|
healthy
|
|
�èììàò
|
qimmat
|
expensive
|
|
àðçîí
|
arzon
|
cheap
|
|
èññè�
|
issiq
|
hot
|
|
ñîâó�
|
sovuq
|
cold
|
|
ñåêèí
|
sekin
|
slow
|
|
òåç
|
tez
|
fast
|
|
ÿ�èí
|
yaqin
|
close
|
|
óçî�
|
uzoq
|
far
|
|
ò��ðè
|
to'g'ri
|
correct,
straight
|
|
áîé
|
boy
|
rich
|
|
õóðñàíä
|
xursand
|
happy
|
|
÷èðîéëè
|
chiroyli
|
beautiful,
good-looking
|
|
òîçà
|
toza
|
clean
|
|
òàé¸ð
|
tayyor
|
ready
|
|
øèðèí
|
shirin
|
sweet
|
|
êàì
|
kam
|
small,
few, little
|
|
îçãèíà
|
ozgina
|
a
little
|
|
ê�ï
|
ko'p
|
much,
many
|
|
�àð
|
har
|
each
|
|
�àììà
|
hamma
|
all
|
|
áóòóí
|
butun
|
whole
|
|
�å÷
|
hech
|
none
|
|
ê�ïðî�
|
ko'proq
|
more
|
|
êåðàê
|
kerak
|
necessary
|
|
ìóìêèí
|
mumkin
|
possible
|
|
�íã
|
o'ng
|
right
|
|
÷àï
|
chap
|
left
|
|
áîø�à
|
boshqa
|
other
|
|
ýíã
|
eng
|
most
|
|
�îðà
|
qora
|
black
|
|
î�
|
oq
|
white
|
|
ñàðè�
|
sariq
|
yellow
|
|
�èçèë
|
qizil
|
red
|
|
ê�ê
|
ko'k
|
blue
|
3. Numbers
|
áèð
|
bir
|
one
|
|
èêêè
|
ikki
|
two
|
|
ó÷
|
uch
|
three
|
|
ò�ðò
|
to'rt
|
four
|
|
áåø
|
besh
|
five
|
|
îëòè
|
olti
|
six
|
|
åòòè
|
yetti
|
seven
|
|
ñàêêèç
|
sakkiz
|
eight
|
|
ò���èç
|
to'qqiz
|
nine
|
|
�í
|
o'n
|
ten
|
|
éèãèðìà
|
yigirma
|
twenty
|
|
�òòèç
|
o'ttiz
|
thirty
|
|
�èð�
|
qirq
|
forty
|
|
ýëëèê
|
ellik
|
fifty
|
|
îëòìèø
|
oltmish
|
sixty
|
|
åòìèø
|
yetmish
|
seventy
|
|
ñàêñîí
|
sakson
|
eighty
|
|
ò��ñîí
|
to'qson
|
ninety
|
|
þç
|
yuz
|
hundred
|
|
ìèíã
|
ming
|
thousand
|
|
ÿðèì
|
yarim
|
half
|
4. Adverbs
|
áó
åðäà
|
bu
yerda
|
here
|
|
ó
åðäà
|
u
yerda
|
there
|
|
�îçèð
|
hozir
|
now,
wait a minute
|
|
ýðòà
|
erta
|
early
|
|
êå÷
|
kech
|
late
|
|
êå÷à
|
kecha
|
yesterday
|
|
áóãóí
|
bugun
|
today
|
|
ýðòàãà
|
ertaga
|
tomorrow
|
|
áèðãà
|
birga
|
together
|
|
æóäà
|
juda
|
very
|
|
ôà�àò
|
faqat
|
only
|
|
ÿíà
|
yana
|
again
|
|
�àëè
|
hali
|
still,
yet
|
5. Question
words
|
íèìà
|
nima
|
what
|
|
êèì
|
kim
|
who
|
|
�àåðäà
|
qayerda
|
where
|
|
�àåðãà
|
qayerga
|
where
to
|
|
�àíè
|
qani
|
where
(exactly)
|
|
�à÷îí
|
qachon
|
when
|
|
íèìàãà
|
nimaga
|
why
|
|
�àíäàé
|
qanday
|
how,
what kind of
|
|
�àí÷à
|
qancha
|
how
much, how many
|
|
íå÷à
|
necha
|
how
much, how many
|
|
�àéñè
|
qaysi
|
which
|
6. Conjunctions
|
àãàð
|
agar
|
if
|
|
âà
|
va
|
and
|
|
¸êè
|
yoki
|
or
|
|
ëåêèí
|
lekin
|
but
|
|
÷óíêè
|
chunki
|
because
|
|
�àì
|
ham
|
also
|
7. Postpositions
|
áèëàí
|
bilan
|
with
|
|
¸íèäà
|
yonida
|
beside
|
|
è÷èäà
|
ichida
|
inside
|
|
êåéèí
|
keyin
|
after
|
|
îëäèí
|
oldin
|
before
|
|
óñòèäà
|
ustida
|
on
top of
|
|
ó÷óí
|
uchun
|
for
|
|
�à�èäà
|
haqida
|
about
|
8. Verb
stems
|
àéò-
|
ayt-
|
say
|
|
áåð-
|
ber-
|
give
|
|
áèë-
|
bil-
|
know
(something)
|
|
áîð-
|
bor-
|
go
|
|
á�ë-
|
bo'l-
|
be,
become
|
|
ãàïèð-
|
gapir-
|
speak
|
|
äàì
îë-
|
dam
ol-
|
rest
|
|
äàðñ
áåð-
|
dars
ber-
|
teach
(give lessons)
|
|
å-
|
ye-
|
eat
|
|
¸ç-
|
yoz-
|
write
|
|
¸ï-
|
yop-
|
close
|
|
¸ò-
|
yot-
|
lie
down
|
|
è÷-
|
ich-
|
drink
|
|
èøîí-
|
ishon-
|
believe
|
|
êåë-
|
kel-
|
come
|
|
êåò-
|
ket-
|
go,
leave
|
|
êèð-
|
kir-
|
enter
|
|
êóò-
|
kut-
|
wait
|
|
ê�ð-
|
ko'r-
|
see
|
|
îë-
|
ol-
|
take
|
|
îëèá
áîð-
|
olib
bor-
|
take
(to someone)
|
|
îëèá
êåë-
|
olib
kel-
|
bring
|
|
î÷-
|
och-
|
open
|
|
ñîë-
|
sol-
|
put
in
|
|
ñîò-
|
sot-
|
sell
|
|
ñîòèá
îë-
|
sotib
ol-
|
buy
|
|
òóð-
|
tur-
|
stand,
live
|
|
òóøóí-
|
tushun-
|
understand
|
|
÷è�-
|
chiq-
|
exit,
go out
|
|
ýøèò-
|
eshit-
|
listen
|
|
þâ-
|
yuv-
|
wash
|
|
þð-
|
yur-
|
walk
|
|
�ðãàí-
|
o'rgan-
|
learn,
study
|
|
�ò-
|
o't-
|
pass
|
|
�òèð-
|
o'tir-
|
sit
down
|
|
�àéò-
|
qayt-
|
return
|
|
�èë-
|
qil-
|
do,
make
|
|
��é-
|
qo'y-
|
put
|
9. Nouns
|
à¸ë
|
ayol
|
woman
|
|
áàõò
|
baxt
|
happiness
|
|
áîëà
|
bola
|
child
|
|
áîçîð
|
bozor
|
outdoor
market
|
|
âà�ò
|
vaqt
|
time
|
|
ã�øò
|
go'sht
|
meat
|
|
äàðñ
|
dars
|
lesson
|
|
äåðàçà
|
deraza
|
window
|
|
äåâîð
|
devor
|
wall
|
|
ä�êîí
|
do'kon
|
shop,
store
|
|
ä�ñò
|
do'st
|
friend
|
|
åð
|
yer
|
ground
|
|
¸ðäàì
|
yordam
|
help
|
|
¸�
|
yog'
|
butter,
oil
|
|
æàâîá
|
javob
|
answer
|
|
èñì
|
ism
|
name
|
|
èø÷è
|
ishchi
|
worker
|
|
éèë
|
yil
|
year
|
|
êàëèò
|
kalit
|
key
|
|
êå÷�óðóí
|
kechqurun
|
evening
|
|
êèéèì
|
kiyim
|
clothing
|
|
êèòîá
|
kitob
|
book
|
|
êèøè
|
kishi
|
person
|
|
êóí
|
kun
|
day
|
|
ê�÷à
|
ko'cha
|
street
|
|
ìàêòàá
|
maktab
|
school
|
|
ìàøèíà
|
mashina
|
car
|
|
ìåâà
|
meva
|
fruit
|
|
ìå�ìîí
|
mehmon
|
guest
|
|
íàðñà
|
narsa
|
thing
|
|
íîí
|
non
|
bread
|
|
îâ�àò
|
ovqat
|
food
|
|
îèëà
|
oila
|
family
|
|
îé
|
oy
|
moon,
month
|
|
îíà
|
ona
|
mother
|
|
îòà
|
ota
|
father
|
|
îø
|
osh
|
food,
rice pilaf
|
|
ïè¸ëà
|
piyola
|
cup
|
|
ïóë
|
pul
|
money
|
|
ðó÷êà
|
ruchka
|
pen
|
|
ñàâîë
|
savol
|
question
|
|
ñàáçàâîò
|
sabzavot
|
vegetable
|
|
ñîàò
|
soat
|
hour,
watch, clock
|
|
ñòîë
|
stol
|
table
|
|
ñòóë
|
stul
|
chair
|
|
ñóâ
|
suv
|
water
|
|
ñóìêà
|
sumka
|
bag
|
|
ñóò
|
sut
|
milk
|
|
ñ�ç
|
so'z
|
word
|
|
òàëàáà
|
talaba
|
student
|
|
òóàëåò
|
tualet
|
toilet
|
|
òóç
|
tuz
|
salt
|
|
óé
|
uy
|
house
|
|
õîíà
|
xona
|
room
|
|
õîòèí
|
xotin
|
wife
|
|
Õóäî
|
Xudo
|
God
|
|
÷îé
|
choy
|
tea
|
|
øàêàð
|
shakar
|
sugar
|
|
øà�àð
|
shahar
|
city
|
|
ýð
|
er
|
husband
|
|
ýðêàê
|
erkak
|
man
|
|
ýðòàëàá
|
ertalab
|
morning
|
|
ýøèê
|
eshik
|
door
|
|
þðàê
|
yurak
|
heart
|
|
��èòóâ÷è
|
o'qituvchi
|
teacher
|
|
��èë
|
o'g'il
|
son
|
|
�èç
|
qiz
|
daughter
|
|
�èøëî�
|
qishloq
|
village
|
|
�îøè�
|
qoshiq
|
spoon
|
|
�î�îç
|
qog'oz
|
paper
|
|
��øíè
|
qo'shni
|
neighbour
|
|
�àôòà
|
hafta
|
week
|
|
�îâëè
|
hovli
|
courtyard
|
10. Useful
Words and Expressions
|
Aðçèìàéäè.
|
Arzimaydi.
|
You're
welcome.
|
|
áîð
|
bor
|
existent,
there is/are
|
|
Áó
íèìà?
|
Bu
nima?
|
What
is this?
|
|
Á�ïòè.
|
Bo'pti.
|
Okay,
well.
|
|
èëòèìîñ
|
iltimos
|
please
(request)
|
|
�
|
yo'q
|
no,
not, there is/are not
|
|
Kå÷èðàñèç.
|
Kechirasiz.
|
Excuse
me.
|
|
Màéëè.
|
Mayli.
|
Well,
all right
|
|
Màíà.
|
Mana.
|
Look,
here.
|
|
ìàð�àìàò
|
marhamat
|
please
(offering)
|
|
Ìåíãà
¸�äè.
|
Mengayoqdi.
|
I
like it.
|
|
Íå÷à
¸øäàñèç?
|
Necha
yoshdasiz?
|
How
old are you?
|
|
Îèëàíãèç
áîðìè?
|
Oilangiz
bormi?
|
Do
you have a family?
|
|
ðà�ìàò
|
rahmat
|
thank
you
|
|
Càëîì.
|
Salom.
|
Hello
(literally, peace).
|
|
Ñèçãà
¸�äèìè?
|
Sizga
yoqdimi?
|
Do
you like it?
|
|
Ñîàò
íå÷à?
|
Soat
necha?
|
What
time is it?
|
|
Xàéð.
|
Xayr.
|
Goodbye.
|
|
Õóø
êåëèáñèç.
|
Xush
kelibsiz.
|
Welcome.
|
|
X�ï.
|
Xo'p.
|
Okay,
very well.
|
|
ýìàñ
|
emas
|
not
|
|
ßõøèìèñèç?
|
Yaxshimisiz?
|
Are
you well?
|
|
�àåðäà
èøëàéñèç?
|
Qayerda
ishlaysiz?
|
Where
do you work?
|
|
�àåðäàíñèç?
|
Qayerdansiz?
|
Where
are you from?
|
|
�àëàéñèç?
|
Qalaysiz?
|
How
are you?
|
|
�à÷îí
êåëèäèíãèç?
|
Qachon
keldingiz?
|
When
did you come?
|
|
�à
|
ha
|
yes
|
C. Grammar
1. Word
order is Subject-Object-Verb:
Men
kitob yozdim (I book wrote): I wrote a book.
2. Adjectives
come before nouns:
U
yosh bola (He young child): He is a young child.
3. Adverbs
come before verbs:
U
tez gapirdi (He quickly spoke): He spoke quickly.
4. Question
words are placed in the sentence where the answer will go:
Bu
kim? Bu Aziz (This who? This Aziz): Who is this? This is Aziz.
5. Postpositions
work like prepositions in English, except they come after the noun:
Biz
non haqida gapirdik (We bread about talked): We talked about
bread.
6. Endings
to add to the verbstem to speak in the Present-Future Tense:
-aman
I Kelaman I come/will come.
-asan
you (singular/informal) Kelasan You come/will
come.
-adi
he/she/it Keladi He comes/will come.
-amiz
we Kelamiz We come/will come.
-asiz
you (plural/formal) Kelasiz You come/will
come.
-adilar
they Keladilar They come/will come.
7. Endings
to add to the verbstem to speak in the Past Tense:
-dim
I Keldim I came.
-ding
you (singular/informal) Kelding You came.
-di
he/she/it Keldi He came.
-dik
we Keldik We came.
-dingiz
you (plural/formal) Keldingiz You came.
-dilar
they Keldilar They came.
8. To
make a verb into a command:
Kel!
Come! (no suffix on verbstem)
Keling!
Come! (more polite)
Kelinglar!
Come! (even more polite)
9. To
make a verb negative:
Kel-
to come Keldim I came.
Kelma-
to not come Kelmadim I didn�t come.
10. To
make a verb into a �yes/no� question:
Keladi
He will come. Keladimi? Will he come?
Keldi
He came. Keldimi? Did he come?
11. To
ask a �yes/no� question with the verb �to be�:
Men
yaxshimanmi? Am I well? Biz yaxshimizmi?
Are we well?
Sen
yaxshimisan? Are you well? Siz yaxshimisiz?
Are you well?
U
yaxshimi? Is he well? Ular yaxshimi?
Are they well?
12. To
make a noun plural:
kitob
book
kitoblar
books
13. To
express location at, movement towards or away from an object:
uy
house uyda at the house
uyga
to the house uydan from the house
Maktabdan
uyga bordim. I went from the school to the house.
14. Endings
to add to express possession:
-im
my kitobim my book
-ing
your (singular/informal) kitobing your book
-i
his/her/its kitobi his/her book
-imiz
our kitobimiz our book
-ingiz
your (plural/formal) kitobingiz your book
-ilar
their kitobilar their book
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