Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| bola | bo-LA | child | Bolam is “my child”. |
| bolalar | bo-la-LAR | children | Bola plus -lar. |
| chaqaloq | cha-qa-LOQ | baby; newborn | For a very young baby. |
| goʻdak | goh-DAK | small child; infant | More literary than chaqaloq. |
| farzand | far-ZAND | child; offspring | Formal; the child of a parent. |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
In a real exchange
- Friend: Bolangiz bormi?
Do you have children? - You: Ha, ikkita bolam bor. Kichigi hali chaqaloq.
Yes, I have two children. The younger one is still a baby. - Friend: Tabriklayman! Ismi nima?
Congratulations! What's the name? - You: Rahmat! Ismi Anvar.
Thank you! His name is Anvar.
Good to know
- Bola plus -lar is bolalar, “children”. Bolam is “my child” and bolangiz is “your child”.
- Grandparents also say bolam warmly to a child, as in Oq yoʻl, bolam!.
- Farzand is more formal than bola and speaks of a child as someone's offspring; goʻdak is a more literary word for a baby or a very small child.
Common mistakes
- Using chaqaloq for an older child. It is for a baby.
This phrase is part of First Uzbek words for children: family, food and play in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.