Yes, no and the essentials in Tajik
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Tajik 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 Tajik phrases in this lesson
- Балеba-LEH
- Yes
- НеNEH
- No
- ХубKHUB
- Okay
- Ман нафаҳмидамMAN na-fahm-i-DAM
- I don't understand
- Шумо англисӣ медонед?shu-MO ang-li-SI me-do-NED
- Do you speak English?
- Лутфан такрор кунедLUT-fan tak-ROR ku-NED
- Can you repeat that?
- Оҳистатар, лутфанo-his-ta-TAR, LUT-fan
- Slowly, please
- Ин чист?in CHIST
- What is this?
- Ба ман ... лозим астba man ... lo-ZIM ast
- I need...
- Ба ман ёрӣ дода метавонед?ba man yo-RI do-DA me-ta-vo-NED
- Can you help me?
The clear affirmative. Also "ҳа", but Bale is more common and slightly warmer. Some speakers use "Аре" (ah-REH) in casual speech; it is understood everywhere.
The direct refusal. Softening it comes from context and tone rather than grammar. "Не, ташаккур" (no thanks) is the polite version.
Literally "good". Works as agreement, confirmation, or "all right then". Also "тамом" (ta-MOM), finished, used as okay or agreed.
Literally "I did-not-understand". In Tajikistan, this often flips the conversation to English or Russian, both widely spoken. Say it clearly.
Literally "do you know English?". Russian is more widely known.
Literally "please repeat".
Literally "slower, please".
Literally "to me ... is necessary".