Order anything by pointing in Kazakh
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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
- Маған ... беріңізшіma-GHAN ... be-ri-NIZ-shi
- I would like...
- МұныMOO-ni
- This one
- Қанша тұрады?kan-SHA tu-ra-DY
- How much is it?
- Есепшот, өтінемінe-sep-SHOT, o-ti-ne-MIN
- The bill, please
- Карточкаменkar-TOCH-ka-men
- By card
- АқшаменAK-sha-men
- In cash
- Суsoo
- Water
- КофеKO-fe
- Coffee
- Шайshai
- Tea
- Сыраsy-RA
- Beer
- ...-сыз-syz
- Without...
Literally "please give me ...".
Point and say it. At bakery counters or deli sections this single word plus a finger on the glass or a clear point completes the transaction.
Literally "how much does it stand?". Russian is also widely used for prices.
Literally "the account, please".
Card payment is standard in cities and becoming increasingly common in smaller towns. Most restaurants, shops, and services accept cards, making cash less essential than in past decades.
Some smaller shops and markets still prefer or require cash. Having tenge on hand is wise when traveling outside major cities. ATMs are readily available in urban areas.
Tap water quality varies by region; bottled water is widely available and inexpensive. In restaurants, tap water is usually free or very cheap if ordered directly.
Tea with milk is the national drink and a host keeps refilling your cup.
A suffix meaning without: қантсыз (kant-SYZ), without sugar.