Greetings and politeness in Kazakh
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. 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 11 Kazakh phrases in this lesson
- Сәлемsah-LEM
- Hello
- Қайырлы таңkai-YIR-lee TANG
- Good morning
- Қайырлы кешkai-YR-ly KESH
- Good evening
- Сау болыңызSOW bo-LIN-iz
- Goodbye
- Көріскеншеkuh-ris-ken-SHEH
- See you
- Өтінемінoh-tee-ne-MEEN
- Please
- Рахметrakh-MET
- Thank you
- Оқасы жоқo-ka-SY ZHOK
- You're welcome
- Кешіріңізke-shi-ri-NIZ
- Sorry
- Ғафу етіңізgha-FU e-ti-NIZ
- Excuse me
- Танысқаныма қуаныштымынta-nys-ka-ny-MA ku-a-nysh-TY-myn
- Nice to meet you
The standard greeting, used for everyone regardless of time of day. Works in any social setting from chance meetings to formal introductions.
Used until around mid-morning. Literally means "good dawn". After that, people revert to the basic сәлем or time-independent greetings.
Said arriving anywhere in the evening. Сәлем (sa-LEM) works at any hour.
Literally "be well/healthy". A warm, respectful farewell that acknowledges the other person. Casual versions include "сау" (SOW) or "өтінемін" for a lighter goodbye.
Literally "until we see each other". Сау болыңыз (sau bo-luh-NUHZ) is the polite goodbye.
Literally "I ask you". Politeness is embedded in the language itself. When ordering, adding this to your request shows deference and is genuinely appreciated by servers.
The workhorse thank you for daily situations. Short and efficient, works from restaurants to bus drivers. Adding сізге (you) makes it "Рахмет сізге" for extra politeness.
Literally "it is nothing", the reply to thanks.
The everyday apology, polite form.
Literally "pardon", for getting past or getting attention.
Literally "I am glad to have met".