Getting around in Kazakh
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Kazakh words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Kazakh phrases in this lesson
- Дәретхана қайда?da-ret-kha-NA kai-DA
- Where is the toilet?
- ...-ға қалай баруға болады?-gha ka-LAI ba-ru-GHA bo-la-DY
- How do I get to...?
- Солғаsol-GHA
- To the left
- Оңғаong-GHA
- To the right
- Тураtu-RA
- Straight ahead
- Осындаo-SIN-da
- Here
- Теміржол вокзалыtem-ir-ZHOL vok-ZA-li
- Train station
- Автобусav-to-BUS
- Bus
- Әуежайa-ue-ZHAI
- Airport
- Бір билет, өтінемінbeer bil-LET, oh-tee-ne-MEEN
- One ticket, please
Literally "to the left".
Simple and essential. "Мұнда" (here, close) vs "осында" (here, pointing at a distance) both work, though locals usually just point while saying either one.
Central stations in major cities are grand and worth seeing. Inter-city trains connect major towns, and the system is reliable if sometimes crowded during holidays.
Astana and Almaty have modern bus systems with digital displays and apps. Tap cards are used in major cities, cash is still accepted in some smaller towns. Buses run frequently and are affordable.
Literally "air place".
Buy at ticket booths or through apps in modern cities. The system is straightforward and staff are helpful even if language is a barrier. Fares are inexpensive.