Greetings and politeness in Uzbek
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. 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 11 Uzbek phrases in this lesson
- Salomsa-LOM
- Hello
- Xayrli tongKHAYR-lee TONG
- Good morning
- Xayrli kechKHAIR-lee kech
- Good evening
- XayrKHAYR
- Goodbye
- Koʻrishgunchakuh-rish-GOON-cha
- See you
- Iltimosil-ti-MOS
- Please
- Rahmatrah-MAT
- Thank you
- Marhamatmar-ha-MAT
- You're welcome
- Uzr soʻraymanoozr suh-RAI-man
- Sorry
- Kechirasizke-chee-ra-SEEZ
- Excuse me
- Tanishganimdan xursandmanta-nish-ga-NIM-dan khoor-SAND-man
- Nice to meet you
The universal greeting, used for everyone from your neighbor to a shop clerk. Uzbek hospitality culture means greetings are warm and sincere, not perfunctory.
Literally "blessed morning". Used until mid-morning. The Kh sound is guttural, from the back of the throat.
Short and direct, meaning "good". Often repeated as "Xayr, xayr" for warmth, or lengthened to "Xayrli qoling" (stay well) for more formality.
The polite request word, used when asking for something at a shop or restaurant. It softens orders and keeps interactions warm.
The workhorse. Short, direct, and appropriate for everything from a small favor to a full meal. Rahmat comes from Persian and is instantly recognized across Central Asia.
Also means "please" in formal contexts, but as a welcome is the standard reply to thanks. The mar prefix adds politeness.
Used for "sorry", "excuse me", and "pardon". Kechi means to forgive, so this is literally "forgive me". Works in almost any apologetic situation.