Yes, no and the essentials in Uzbek
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Uzbek 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 Uzbek phrases in this lesson
- Hahah
- Yes
- Yo'qyok
- No
- Yaxshiyak-SHEE
- Okay
- Tushunmaymantoo-shoon-MAI-man
- I don't understand
- Siz inglizcha gapirasizmi?seez in-GLEEZ-cha ga-pi-RA-siz-mee
- Do you speak English?
- Qaytara olasizmi?qai-ta-ra o-la-SIZ-mi
- Can you repeat that?
- Sekinroq, iltimosse-kin-ROQ il-ti-MOS
- Slowly, please
- Bu nima?boo ni-MA
- What is this?
- Menga... kerakmen-GA ke-RAK
- I need...
- Menga yordam bera olasizmi?men-GA yor-DAM be-ra o-la-SIZ-mi
- Can you help me?
Simple and direct. Also "Oo" (oo) works, a softer yes used for agreement. Uzbeks tend toward clear answers, not hedging.
The straightforward refusal. Adding "rahmat" makes it gentler: "yo'q, rahmat" (no, thanks). Uzbek politeness is warm, not tentative.
Means "good" or "okay", a common reply to plans or requests. Also used as "it is fine" or "all right".
From "tushunmoq" (to understand). A useful escape hatch that may prompt slower speech or a switch to Russian or English in tourist areas.
Gapirasiz means "do you speak". Asking in Uzbek first shows respect, though English and Russian are widely spoken in cities.