INTRODUCTION TO UZBEK

A. Pronunciation Uzbek is currently written in the Cyrillic script, which has been in use since 1940, and the Latin script, which has been introduced in the last couple of years and is now being used more and more, though most people only know the Cyrillic script and most signs and written materials are still only in Cyrillic. In general, words are pronounced as they sound in the Latin script, but some explanation is necessary for a few of the sounds represented by certain Latin letters. Below are those sounds which are not found in English or which require some explanation. Note that stress in Uzbek is generally on the last syllable, except for a few suffixes, which are never stressed. In the wordlist below, stressed syllables are underlined. Note also that two adjacent vowels are pronounced separately (e.g. fl‹Œ‡ ásoatà is pronounced like English ásaw atà), but a vowel followed by áyà becomes a diphthong (e.g. œ‹◊ áboyà is pronounced the same as English áboyà).

Cyrillic Latin Pronunciation Æ Œ A a "a" as in "cat" ≥ ” Ye ye, E e "ye" as in "yet" at the beginning of a word, "e" as in "let" elsewhere ñ ¶ Yo yo "ya" as in "yawn" ∂ ÷ I I "i" as in "pin" º ‹ O o "o" as in "pot" æ fi R r a "trilled r" (like in Scottish), or, between vowels, a "flapped r" (like "dd" in "ladder" in normal speech) ¡ · U u "oo" as in "cool" √ „ X x "ch" as in German "Bach" or Scottish "loch" À Î E e "e" as in "let" Ã Ï Yu yu "yu" as in "you" Õ Ì Ya ya "ya" as in "yak" Ç å O' o' "u" as in "put" (also represents a second vowel in some dialects, similar to "au" as in "caught" Å ã Q q like a "k" but further back in the mouth F Ñ G' g' like a French "r" (voiced version of "x")

B. W ordlist Below are 250 of the most common Uzbek words, in both Cyrillic and Latin script, along with their definitions, arranged according to the different parts of speech (categories of words). Note that some of these words could be listed in two different categories (e.g. ç‹’÷fi ánowà is both a noun and an adverb, ‡”’ áquick, quicklyà is both an adjective and an adverb).

1. Pronouns ⁄”¤ men I fl”¤ sen you (singular, informal · u he/she/it, that œ· bu this fl÷’ siz you (plural, formal) œ÷’ biz we ·ŸŒfi ular they

2. Adjectives Ì„Ê÷ yaxshi good ’åfi zo'r excellent ¶⁄‹¤ yomon bad åfi‡ŒÂŒ o'rtacha in the middle ÿŒ‡‡Œ katta big ÿ÷Âÿ÷¤Œ kichkina small ̤—÷ yangi new Îflÿ÷ eski old (thing) ¶Ê yosh young ãŒfi÷ qari old (person) ÿŒflŒŸ kasal sick fl‹Ñ sog' healthy ã÷⁄⁄Œ‡ qimmat expensive Œfi’‹¤ arzon cheap ÷flfl÷ã issiq hot fl‹–·ã sovuq cold fl”ÿ÷¤ sekin slow ‡”’ tez fast Ìã÷¤ yaqin close ·’‹ã uzoq far ‡åÑfi÷ to'g'ri correct, straight œ‹◊ boy rich „·fiflŒ¤“ xursand happy Â÷fi‹◊Ÿ÷ chiroyli beautiful, good-looking ‡‹’Œ toza clean ‡Œ◊¶fi tayyor ready Ê÷fi÷¤ shirin sweet ÿŒ⁄ kam small, few, little ‹’—÷¤Œ ozgina a little ÿå› ko'p much, many çŒfi har each çŒ⁄⁄Œ hamma all œ·‡·¤ butun whole ç” hech none ÿå›fi‹ã ko'proq more ÿ”fiŒÿ kerak necessary ⁄·⁄ÿ÷¤ mumkin possible 夗 o'ng right ÂŒ› chap left œ‹Ê㌠boshqa other Τ— eng most ã‹fiŒ qora black ‹ã oq white flŒfi÷ã sariq yellow ã÷’÷Ÿ qizil red ÿåÿ ko'k blue

3. Numbers œ÷fi bir one ÷ÿÿ÷ ikki two ·Â uch three ‡åfi‡ to'rt four œ”Ê besh five ‹Ÿ‡÷ olti six ”‡‡÷ yetti seven flŒÿÿ÷’ sakkiz eight ‡åãã÷’ to'qqiz nine å¤ o'n ten ◊÷—÷fi⁄Œ yigirma twenty 凇÷’ o'ttiz thirty ã÷fiã qirq forty ΟŸ÷ÿ ellik fifty ‹Ÿ‡⁄÷Ê oltmish sixty ”‡⁄÷Ê yetmish seventy flŒÿfl‹¤ sakson eighty ‡åãfl‹¤ to'qson ninety Ï’ yuz hundred ⁄÷¤— ming thousand Ìfi÷⁄ yarim half

4. Adverbs œ· ”fi“Œ bu yerda here · ”fi“Œ u yerda there ç‹’÷fi hozir now, wait a minute Îfi‡Œ erta early ÿ” kech late ÿ”ÂŒ kecha yesterday œ·—·¤ bugun today Îfi‡Œ—Œ ertaga tomorrow œ÷fi—Œ birga together ‘·“Œ juda very ‚ŒãŒ‡ faqat only ̤Œ yana again 猟÷ hali still, yet

5. Question words ¤÷⁄Œ nima what ÿ÷⁄ kim who ㌔fi“Œ qayerda where ㌔fi—Œ qayerga where to ㌤÷ qani where (exactly) ãŒÂ‹¤ qachon when ¤÷⁄Œ—Œ nimaga why ㌤“Œ◊ qanday how, what kind of ㌤Œ qancha how much, how many ¤”ÂŒ necha how much, how many ãŒ◊fl÷ qaysi which

6. Conjunctions Œ—Œfi agar if –Œ va and ¶ÿ÷ yoki or Ÿ”ÿ÷¤ lekin but ·¤ÿ÷ chunki because çŒ⁄ ham also

7. Postpositions œ÷ŸŒ¤ bilan with ¶¤÷“Œ yonida beside ÷Â÷“Œ ichida inside ÿ”◊÷¤ keyin after ‹Ÿ“÷¤ oldin before ·fl‡÷“Œ ustida on top of ·Â·¤ uchun for çŒã÷“Œ haqida about

8. Verb stems Œ◊‡- ayt- say œ”fi- ber- give œ÷Ÿ- bil- know (something) œ‹fi- bor- go œåŸ- bo'l- be, become —Œ›÷fi- gapir- speak “Œ⁄ ‹Ÿ- dam ol- rest “Œfifl œ”fi- dars ber- teach (give lessons) ”- ye- eat ¶’- yoz- write ¶›- yop- close ¶‡- yot- lie down ÷Â- ich- drink ÷Ê‹¤- ishon- believe ÿ”Ÿ- kel- come ÿ”‡- ket- go, leave ÿ÷fi- kir- enter ÿ·‡- kut- wait ÿåfi- ko'r- see ‹Ÿ- ol- take ‹Ÿ÷œ œ‹fi- olib bor- take (to someone) ‹Ÿ÷œ ÿ”Ÿ- olib kel- bring ‹Â- och- open fl‹Ÿ- sol- put in fl‹‡- sot- sell fl‹‡÷œ ‹Ÿ- sotib ol- buy ‡·fi- tur- stand, live ‡·Ê·¤- tushun- understand Â÷ã- chiq- exit, go out ÎÊ÷‡- eshit- listen Ï–- yuv- wash Ïfi- yur- walk åfi—Œ¤- o'rgan- learn, study å‡- o't- pass å‡÷fi- o'tir- sit down ãŒ◊‡- qayt- return ã÷Ÿ- qil- do, make ãå◊- qo'y- put

9. Nouns Œ¶Ÿ ayol woman œŒ„‡ baxt happiness œ‹ŸŒ bola child œ‹’‹fi bozor outdoor market –Œã‡ vaqt time —åʇ go'sht meat “Œfifl dars lesson “”fiŒ’Œ deraza window “”–‹fi devor wall “åÿ‹¤ do'kon shop, store “åfl‡ do'st friend ”fi yer ground ¶fi“Œ⁄ yordam help ¶Ñ yog' butter, oil ‘Œ–‹œ javob answer ÷fl⁄ ism name ÷ÊÂ÷ ishchi worker ◊÷Ÿ yil year ÿŒŸ÷‡ kalit key ÿ”Âã·fi·¤ kechqurun evening ÿ÷◊÷⁄ kiyim clothing ÿ÷‡‹œ kitob book ÿ÷Ê÷ kishi person ÿ·¤ kun day ÿåÂŒ ko'cha street ⁄Œÿ‡Œœ maktab school ⁄ŒÊ÷¤Œ mashina car ⁄”–Œ meva fruit ⁄”ç⁄‹¤ mehmon guest ¤ŒfiflŒ narsa thing ¤‹¤ non bread ‹–㌇ ovqat food ‹÷ŸŒ oila family ‹◊ oy moon, month ‹¤Œ ona mother ‹‡Œ ota father ‹Ê osh food, rice pilaf ›÷¶ŸŒ piyola cup ›·Ÿ pul money fi·ÂÿŒ ruchka pen flŒ–‹Ÿ savol question flŒœ’Œ–‹‡ sabzavot vegetable fl‹Œ‡ soat hour, watch, clock fl‡‹Ÿ stol table fl‡·Ÿ stul chair fl·– suv water fl·⁄ÿŒ sumka bag fl·‡ sut milk flå’ so'z word ‡ŒŸŒœŒ talaba student ‡·ŒŸ”‡ tualet toilet ‡·’ tuz salt ·◊ uy house „‹¤Œ xona room „‹‡÷¤ xotin wife √·“‹ Xudo God ‹◊ choy tea ÊŒÿŒfi shakar sugar ÊŒçŒfi shahar city Îfi er husband ÎfiÿŒÿ erkak man Îfi‡ŒŸŒœ ertalab morning ÎÊ÷ÿ eshik door ÏfiŒÿ yurak heart åã÷‡·–Â÷ o'qituvchi teacher åÑ÷Ÿ o'g'il son ã÷’ qiz daughter ã÷ÊŸ‹ã qishloq village ã‹Ê÷ã qoshiq spoon ã‹Ñ‹’ qog'oz paper ãåʤ÷ qo'shni neighbour 猂‡Œ hafta week ç‹–Ÿ÷ hovli courtyard

10. Useful W ords and Expressions Afi’÷⁄Œ◊“÷. Arzimaydi. You're welcome. œ‹fi bor existent, there is/are Ø· ¤÷⁄Œ? Bu nima? W hat is this? Ø囇÷. Bo'pti. Okay, well. ÷Ÿ‡÷⁄‹fl iltimos please (request) ◊åã yo'q no, not, there is/are not K”Â÷fiŒfl÷’. Kechirasiz. Excuse me. M Œ◊Ÿ÷. M ayli. W ell, all right M Œ¤Œ. M ana. Look, here. ⁄ŒfiçŒ⁄Œ‡ marhamat please (offering) ∫ ”¤—Œ ¶ã“÷. M enga yoqdi. I like it. ª”ÂŒ ¶Ê“Œfl÷’? Necha yoshdasiz? How old are you? º÷ŸŒ¤—÷’ œ‹fi⁄÷? Oilangiz bormi? Do you have a family? fiŒç⁄Œ‡ rahmat thank you CŒŸ‹⁄. Salom. Hello (literally, peace). ø÷’—Œ ¶ã“÷⁄÷? Sizga yoqdimi? Do you like it? ø‹Œ‡ ¤”ÂŒ? Soat necha? W hat time is it? XŒ◊fi. Xayr. Goodbye. √·Ê ÿ”Ÿ÷œfl÷’. Xush kelibsiz. W elcome. Xå›. Xo'p. Okay, very well. Î⁄Œfl emas not Õ„Ê÷⁄÷fl÷’? Yaxshimisiz? Are you well? ÅŒ”fi“Œ ÷ÊŸŒ◊fl÷’? Qayerda ishlaysiz? W here do you work? ÅŒ”fi“Œ¤fl÷’? Qayerdansiz? W here are you from? ÅŒŸŒ◊fl÷’? Qalaysiz? How are you? Ō‹¤ ÿ”Ÿ÷“÷¤—÷’? Qachon keldingiz? W hen did you come? çŒ ha yes

C. Grammar

1. W ord order is Subject-Object-Verb: M en kitob yozdim (I book wrote): I wrote a book.

2. Adjectives come before nouns: U yosh bola (He young child): He is a young child.

3. Adverbs come before verbs: U tez gapirdi (He quickly spoke): He spoke quickly.

4. Question words are placed in the sentence where the answer will go: Bu kim? Bu Aziz (This who? This Aziz): W ho is this? This is Aziz.

5. Postpositions work like prepositions in English, except they come after the noun: Biz non haqida gapirdik (W e bread about talked): W e talked about bread.

6. Endings to add to the verbstem to speak in the Present-Future Tense: -aman I Kelaman I come/will come. -asan you (singular/informal) Kelasan You come/will come. -adi he/she/it Keladi He comes/will come. -amiz we Kelamiz W e come/will come. -asiz you (plural/formal) Kelasiz You come/will come. -adilar they Keladilar They come/will come.

7. Endings to add to the verbstem to speak in the Past Tense: -dim I Keldim I came. -ding you (singular/informal) Kelding You came. -di he/she/it Keldi He came. -dik we Keldik W e came. -dingiz you (plural/formal) Keldingiz You came. -dilar they Keldilar They came.

8. To make a verb into a command: Kel! Come! (no suffix on verbstem) Keling! Come! (more polite) Kelinglar! Come! (even more polite)

9. To make a verb negative: Kel- to come Keldim I came. Kelma- to not come Kelmadim I didnÜt come.

10. To make a verb into a Çyes/noÉ question: Keladi He will come. Keladimi? W ill he come? Keldi He came. Keldimi? Did he come?

11. To ask a Çyes/noÉ question with the verb Çto beÉ: M en yaxshimanmi? Am I well? Biz yaxshimizmi? Are we well? Sen yaxshimisan? Are you well? Siz yaxshimisiz? Are you well? U yaxshimi? Is he well? Ular yaxshimi? Are they well?

12. To make a noun plural: kitob book kitoblar books

13. To express location at, movement towards or away from an object: uy house uyda at the house uyga to the house uydan from the house M aktabdan uyga bordim. I went from the school to the house.

14. Endings to add to express possession: -im my kitobim my book -ing your (singular/informal) kitobing your book -i his/her/its kitobi his/her book -imiz our kitobimiz our book -ingiz your (plural/formal) kitobingiz your book -ilar their kitobilar their book