The Uzbek phrasebook

Peace be upon you (formal greeting)

The most common and respectful greeting. Used in all formal situations and when meeting someone for the first time.

Hello (informal)

Casual greeting used among friends and peers. Short form of "Assalomu alaykum."

Welcome

Said to guests arriving at a home, shop, or restaurant. Hospitality is central to Uzbek culture.

Thank you

Pair with 'Katta' for extra warmth: 'Katta rahmat' means 'Thank you very much.' Locals appreciate the upgrade.

Yes / No

Excuse me / Sorry

Use to get someone's attention or to apologize. Works in both situations.

Goodbye

A simple farewell. Can be used in both formal and informal settings.

How are you? (formal)

Polite way to ask how someone is doing. The expected response is "Yaxshi, rahmat" (Good, thank you).

See you later

Please / Here you go / You're welcome

A versatile word used when offering something, inviting someone to sit, or as "you're welcome."

Handshake and hand-on-heart gesture

Men greet each other with a handshake, often placing the left hand over the heart as a sign of sincerity. Women may nod or lightly shake hands. Placing your right hand on your chest after greeting shows deep respect, especially toward elders.

Respecting elders

Always greet the eldest person first in a group. Use formal language with anyone older than you. It is customary to stand when an elder enters the room.

One (1)

Two (2)

Three (3)

Four (4)

Five (5)

Six (6)

Seven (7)

Eight (8)

Nine (9)

Ten (10)

One hundred (100)

One thousand (1,000)

How much does it cost?

Essential phrase for shopping at bazaars. Point at the item and ask this question.

Som (Uzbek currency)

The Uzbek Som (UZS) is the national currency. Bills come in large denominations: 1,000 to 100,000 So'm notes are common. As of recent years, 1 USD is roughly 12,000-13,000 So'm. Always carry cash for bazaars and smaller shops, though card payments are increasingly accepted in Tashkent.

Where?

Use before a place name: "Metro qayerda?" (Where is the metro?)

When?

Example: "Poyezd qachon keladi?" (When does the train arrive?)

How? / What kind?

What?

Who?

Why?

How much? / How many?

Used for both price and quantity. "Qancha turadi?" means "How much does it cost?"

What is this?

Point at something and ask. Very useful at markets and restaurants when you see unfamiliar items.

Is there...? / Do you have...?

Add a noun before "bormi" to ask if something is available. Example: "Wi-Fi bormi?" (Is there Wi-Fi?)

Help me / Please help

Use in urgent situations or when you need assistance. Add "Iltimos" (please) for extra politeness: "Iltimos, yordam bering."

Do you speak English?

Useful when you need to find an English speaker. Younger Uzbeks in cities are more likely to know some English.

I didn't understand

A polite way to ask someone to repeat or rephrase. Follow up with "Yana bir marta ayting" (Say it one more time).

Taxi

I need a taxi

Use at a hotel or when asking someone to help you find a ride.

Take me to...

Say your destination first, then add "ga olib boring." Example: "Chorsu bozorga olib boring" (Take me to Chorsu Bazaar).

Stop

Use to ask the driver to pull over or stop the car.

How much will it be?

Always ask the fare before getting in. Agree on a price upfront to avoid surprises.

Faster

Slower

Useful if the driver is going too fast for your comfort.

Stop here, please

Tell the driver exactly where you want to be dropped off.

To the left

To the right

Drive straight

Negotiating the taxi fare

In Uzbekistan, many taxis do not use meters. Always agree on the price before starting your ride. Ride-hailing apps like Yandex Go are widely used in Tashkent and offer fixed pricing, which avoids the need to negotiate. For street taxis, knowing basic numbers helps you counter-offer if the initial price seems too high.

Left

Chapga buriling: Turn left

Right

O'ngga buriling: Turn right

Straight

To'g'ri yuring: Go straight

Back / backwards

Orqaga qayting: Go back

Near / close

Bu yerga yaqinmi? Is it close to here?

Far

Uzoqmi? Is it far?

Where?

Use on its own or at the start of a question

Where is ... located?

Registon qayerda joylashgan? Where is Registan located?

Metro / subway

Tashkent has a beautifully decorated Soviet-era metro system

Station / stop

Avtobus bekati: Bus stop

Hotel / guesthouse

Literally "guest house," used for all types of accommodation

Room

Bir kishilik xona: Single room; Ikki kishilik xona: Double room

Key

Kalitni bering, iltimos: Please give me the key

To book / reservation

Menda bron bor: I have a reservation

What is the Wi-Fi password?

Essential at check-in. Most places have free Wi-Fi

When is check-out time?

Typically noon at most Uzbek hotels

Breakfast

Nonushta kiradi mi? Is breakfast included?

Is there hot water?

Good to ask at budget guesthouses, especially in rural areas

One night

Ikki kecha: Two nights; Uch kecha: Three nights

Bill / check

Hisobni bering, iltimos: The bill, please

Pilaf (rice dish)

The national dish: rice cooked with meat, carrots, onions, and spices

Bread

Round flatbread baked in a tandoor oven, sacred in Uzbek culture

Tea

Ko'k choy: Green tea; Qora choy: Black tea

Baked pastry with meat filling

Flaky pastry filled with lamb and onion, baked in a tandoor

Grilled meat skewers

Qo'y go'shti: Lamb; Mol go'shti: Beef; Tovuq: Chicken

Hand-pulled noodle soup

Thick noodles in a hearty broth with vegetables and meat

Give me the menu

Add "iltimos" (please) for politeness: Menyu bering, iltimos

The bill, please

Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated (5-10%)

Delicious!

A great compliment to the cook, always appreciated

One portion

Ikki porsiya plov: Two portions of plov

Bazaar / market

Every city has at least one major bozor, the heart of local commerce

How much is this?

Point at the item and ask. The most essential bazaar phrase

Make it cheaper

A polite way to start bargaining

Is there a discount?

Works well when buying multiple items

Kilogram

Bir kilo olma: One kilogram of apples

Sweet

Shirin qovun: Sweet melon; Uzbek melons are world-famous

Fresh / new

Yangi mevalar: Fresh fruits

Ripe

Pishiq pomidor: Ripe tomato

It's cheaper in that shop

A natural haggling line when comparing prices between stalls

Thanks, good

A friendly way to close a deal or politely decline

Tea

Tea is the national drink of Uzbekistan, served at every meal and social gathering. Offering tea is the first act of hospitality.

Green tea

The most popular tea in Uzbekistan, especially in Tashkent and the Fergana Valley. Served without milk or sugar.

Black tea

More common in Samarkand and Bukhara. Sometimes brewed with spices like cardamom or cinnamon.

Traditional tea bowl

A small handleless ceramic bowl used for drinking tea. Each region of Uzbekistan has its own distinctive piola designs.

Tablecloth / Spread for meals

A decorative cloth laid on the floor or table where food and tea are served. Sitting around the dasturxon is central to Uzbek family and social life.

Please, sit down

A polite invitation to join the tea table. The host will always gesture toward a place of honor for the guest.

Will you have tea?

A common offer you will hear when visiting any Uzbek home or shop. It is polite to accept.

Guest

In Uzbek culture, a guest is considered sacred. The proverb "Mehmon otadan ulug'" means "A guest is greater than a father."

Sugar

Sugar cubes are placed on the side of the dasturxon. Uzbeks often hold a sugar cube between their teeth and sip tea through it.

Crystallized sugar / Rock candy

A traditional sweet made from grape juice and sugar, often served alongside tea. It dissolves slowly, sweetening each sip.

Pouring tea half-full is a sign of respect

Always fill a guest's piola only halfway. This shows respect and gives you a reason to refill often, keeping the tea hot and the conversation flowing. A full cup signals "please leave."

Always accept the first offer of tea

Refusing tea on the first offer can be seen as rude. Even if you only take a few sips, accepting shows appreciation for your host's hospitality. You may politely decline a second or third cup.

To go

Infinitive form. Present: "Men borayapman" (I am going). Past: "Men bordim" (I went).

To come

Infinitive form. Present: "U kelyapti" (He/she is coming). Past: "U keldi" (He/she came).

To eat

Infinitive form. Present: "Biz yeyapmiz" (We are eating). Past: "Biz yedik" (We ate).

To drink

Infinitive form. Present: "Men ichyapman" (I am drinking). Past: "Men ichdim" (I drank).

To see

Infinitive form. Present: "Men ko'ryapman" (I am seeing). Past: "Men ko'rdim" (I saw).

To know

Infinitive form. Present: "Men bilaman" (I know). Past: "Men bildim" (I knew/found out). Note: "bilaman" uses the simple present, not the continuous form.

To speak

Infinitive form. Present: "Men gapiryapman" (I am speaking). Past: "Men gapirdim" (I spoke).

To take / To get

Infinitive form. Present: "Men olyapman" (I am taking). Past: "Men oldim" (I took).

To give

Infinitive form. Present: "Men beryapman" (I am giving). Past: "Men berdim" (I gave).

I am going to Tashkent

Present continuous tense uses the -yap- infix plus personal endings: -man (I), -san (you), -ti (he/she), -miz (we), -siz (you formal), -tilar (they).

Yesterday I ate plov

Past tense uses personal suffixes directly on the verb stem: -dim (I), -ding (you), -di (he/she), -dik (we), -dingiz (you formal), -dilar (they).

Uzbek is an agglutinative language

Uzbek builds words by adding suffixes to a root. A single word can carry meaning that requires a whole phrase in English. The basic word order is Subject-Object-Verb (SOV): "Men choy ichaman" (I tea drink) means "I drink tea."

I read a book (Subject-Object-Verb)

Uzbek follows SOV word order. The verb always comes at the end of the sentence. "Men" (I) + "kitob" (book) + "o'qiyman" (read).

I live in Tashkent

The suffix "-da" attaches directly to the noun to mean "in" or "at." No separate preposition is needed.

Is this a book?

The question particle "-mi" turns any statement into a yes/no question. Attach it to the word being questioned. "Bu kitob" (This is a book) becomes "Bu kitobmi?" (Is this a book?).

Are you a student?

When "-mi" is used with personal endings, they follow the particle: talaba (student) + mi + siz (you formal) = "talabamisiz?"

I am not a student

"Emas" means "not" and is used for negating nouns and adjectives. It takes personal endings: emasman (I am not), emassiz (you are not), emas (he/she is not).

I am not going / I don't go

For verb negation, insert "-ma-" after the verb stem: bor- + -ma- + -yman = "bormayman." This is different from "emas" which negates nouns.

My name is Anvar

Possessives use both a pronoun in genitive case ("mening" = my) and a suffix on the noun ("-im"). "Mening" + "ism" + "-im" = "Mening ismim."

Beautiful city

Adjectives come before the noun they describe, just like in English. "Chiroyli" (beautiful) + "shahar" (city). No articles (a/the) exist in Uzbek.

There are cheap prices at the big bazaar

This sentence combines multiple grammar points: adjective + noun ("katta bozor"), location suffix ("-da"), adjective + plural noun ("arzon narxlar"), and the existential "bor" (there is/are).