Uzbek Phrasebook for Travelers: 50 Useful Phrases
Greetings, questions about the road, prices and food in Uzbek, with pronunciation hints: everything you need for the trip in 50 short phrases.
Uzbek sounds unfamiliar, but it is easier to read than it looks: the modern alphabet is Latin-based, and almost every letter is read the way it is written. Below are 50 phrases that will genuinely help on the road. You do not have to pronounce them perfectly: any attempt to speak Uzbek is met with a smile and help.
How to read Uzbek Latin
- o' is a short "o" shading toward "u", while g' is a soft guttural "g" (like a French r).
- x is like the "kh" in Scottish loch, q is a deep "k" from the throat.
- sh and ch work as in English, j sounds like "dj".
- Stress usually falls on the last syllable: sa-LOM, rakh-MAT, yakh-SHI.
Greetings and politeness
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Salom | sah-LOM | Hello |
| Assalomu alaykum | as-sa-LO-mu a-LAY-kum | Peace be upon you (respectful greeting) |
| Xayr | khayr | Goodbye |
| Rahmat | rakh-MAT | Thank you |
| Katta rahmat | KAT-ta rakh-MAT | Many thanks |
| Iltimos | il-ti-MOS | Please |
| Kechirasiz | ke-chi-RA-siz | Excuse me, sorry |
| Ha | ha | Yes |
| Yo'q | yok | No |
| Yaxshi | yakh-SHI | Good |
| Ismim ... | is-MIM | My name is ... |
| Tanishganimdan xursandman | ta-nish-ga-nim-DAN khur-san-DMAN | Nice to meet you |
If someone thanks you, reply "Arzimaydi" (ar-zi-MAY-di), meaning "you're welcome".
Asking about the road
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Qayerda? | kah-yer-DA | Where? |
| Bekat qayerda? | be-KAT kah-yer-DA | Where is the stop? |
| Vokzal qayerda? | vok-ZAL kah-yer-DA | Where is the station? |
| Hojatxona qayerda? | ho-jat-kho-NA kah-yer-DA | Where is the toilet? |
| Qancha vaqt ketadi? | KAN-cha vakt ke-ta-DI | How long will it take? |
| Qachon jo'naymiz? | ka-CHON ju-nay-MIZ | When do we leave? |
| To'xtating, iltimos | tukh-ta-TING il-ti-MOS | Please stop |
| Shu yerda to'xtang | shu yer-DA tukh-TANG | Stop here |
| To'g'ri | tug-RI | Straight |
| Chapga / O'ngga | chap-GA / ung-GA | Left / Right |
| Yaqin | ya-KIN | Near |
| Uzoq | u-ZOK | Far |
For intercity trips, learn "Men Samarqandga boraman" (men sa-mar-kand-GA bo-ra-MAN), meaning "I'm going to Samarkand".
Prices and shopping
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Qancha? | KAN-cha | How much? |
| Bu qancha turadi? | bu KAN-cha tu-ra-DI | How much does this cost? |
| Juda qimmat | ju-DA kim-MAT | Too expensive |
| Arzonroq bo'ladimi? | ar-zon-ROK bu-la-di-MI | Can it be cheaper? |
| Olaman | o-la-MAN | I'll take it |
| Kerak emas | ke-RAK e-MAS | Not needed |
| Pul | pul | Money |
| Naqd pul | nakd pul | Cash |
| Karta bilan to'layman | KAR-ta bi-LAN tu-lay-MAN | I'll pay by card |
| Chek bering | chek be-RING | A receipt, please |
Bargaining at bazaars is normal, but keep it friendly and smiling.
Food and tea
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Menyu bering | me-NYU be-RING | The menu, please |
| Osh | osh | Pilaf |
| Non | non | Flatbread |
| Choy | choy | Tea |
| Suv | suv | Water |
| Go'sht | gusht | Meat |
| Go'shtsiz | gusht-SIZ | Without meat |
| Achchiq emas | ach-CHIK e-MAS | Not spicy |
| Juda mazali | ju-DA ma-za-LI | Very tasty |
| Hisob, iltimos | hi-SOB il-ti-MOS | The bill, please |
Saying "Juda mazali" will delight the host of any home or teahouse.
Numbers and emergency words
One to ten: bir, ikki, uch, to'rt, besh, olti, yetti, sakkiz, to'qqiz, o'n. For money you will need yuz (hundred) and ming (thousand).
If you need help: "Yordam bering" (yor-DAM be-RING) means "help me", and "Shifokor kerak" means "I need a doctor".
How to use a phrasebook
- Save key phrases in your phone notes so you can show them written down.
- Start with a greeting: even a plain "Salom" changes the tone of a conversation.
- Speak slowly and simply, avoiding complex constructions.
- Combine Uzbek words with Russian, English and gestures.
On an intercity trip these phrases help when chatting with the driver. For example, on the Tashkent — Namangan route you can message the driver in the Yo'ldosh app beforehand to confirm the pickup point, and then keep the conversation going on the road with a couple of Uzbek words. You will see how quickly it brings fellow travelers closer. All directions are collected on the all routes page.
Cover photo: AIDEPCUL, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
