Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yaxshimisiz? | yakh-shi-mi-SIZ | Are you well? | Polite, the default. |
| Qalaysiz? | qa-lay-SIZ | How are you? | Polite, very common in Tashkent. |
| Qalaysan? | qa-lay-SAN | How are you? | Informal, to a friend or a child. |
| Ishlar qalay? | ish-LAR qa-LAY | How are things? (work) | A normal follow-up question. |
| Uydagilar yaxshimi? | uy-da-gi-LAR yakh-shi-MI | Is everyone at home well? | Asking after the family is part of a proper greeting. |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
What it literally means
Yaxshi is “good”, -mi makes it a question, -siz is “you” (polite): good-?-you.
What people say back
Yaxshi, rahmat (yakh-SHI, rah-MAT): “Fine, thanks”. Add Oʻzingiz-chi? to ask back.
In a real exchange
- Neighbour: Assalomu alaykum! Yaxshimisiz?
Hello! How are you? - You: Yaxshi, rahmat. Oʻzingiz-chi?
Fine, thanks. And you? - Neighbour: Rahmat, yaxshi. Ishlar qalay?
Fine, thanks. How is work? - You: Yaxshi, rahmat.
Good, thanks.
Good to know
- It is a greeting ritual, not a real question: the answer is always some version of “fine, thanks”.
- Expect two or three of these in a row, about you, your health, your family and your work. Answer each with Yaxshi, rahmat.
- Oʻzingiz-chi? (“and yourself?”) is the natural way to return the question.
Common mistakes
- Answering with a real account of your day. Save that for friends.
- Using -san forms (Yaxshimisan? Qalaysan?) with an adult you do not know well.
This phrase is part of Uzbek greetings and goodbyes in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.