Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xayr | KHAYR | Goodbye | Standard, any situation. |
| Koʻrishguncha | koh-rish-gun-CHA | See you | Literally “until seeing each other”. |
| Ertaga koʻrishamiz | er-ta-GA koh-ri-sha-MIZ | See you tomorrow | Colleagues, classmates. |
| Xayrli tun | khayr-LI TUN | Good night | When leaving late in the evening. |
| Oq yoʻl | OQ YOʻL | Have a safe trip | Literally “white road”, said to someone setting off on a journey. |
| Salomat boʻling | sa-lo-MAT boh-LING | Stay well | Literally “be healthy”; a warm way to say goodbye as you leave. |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
What it literally means
Xayr means good, goodness. Saying it at parting wishes the other person well.
In a real exchange
- You: Boʻldi, men ketdim. Xayr!
Right, I'm off. Goodbye! - Colleague: Xayr, ertaga koʻrishamiz.
Bye, see you tomorrow. - You: Salomat boʻling!
Stay well! - Colleague: Siz ham salomat boʻling!
You too, stay well!
Good to know
- Xayr also means “good” or “charity” in other contexts, which is why xayrli kun is “good day”.
- Leaving a home takes a while: hosts walk you to the gate and the goodbyes are repeated there. Do not rush it.
- Oq yoʻl is worth learning: taxi drivers and hosts are delighted to hear it from a foreigner.
- Salomat boʻling is a warmer goodbye than a bare Xayr, and the other person can say it back.
Common mistakes
- Pronouncing x as “ks”. It is a rough h: KHAYR.
- Using Xayrli tun as a greeting. It is only said when parting at night.
This phrase is part of Hello, hi and goodbye in Uzbek: greetings with pronunciation in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.