How do you say “how are you” in Uzbek?

Yaxshimisiz?, pronounced yakh-shi-mi-SIZ. This is the polite form, right for anyone you would call siz. Qalaysiz? is just as common and slightly more casual.

What do you reply to “Yaxshimisiz?”?

Yaxshi, rahmat (yakh-SHI, rah-MAT), which means “Fine, thanks”.

What is the difference between Yaxshimisiz and Qalaysiz?

Both are polite ways to ask how someone is. Yaxshimisiz asks “are you well?”; Qalaysiz asks “how are you?”, is slightly more casual and is very common in Tashkent.

How do you say how are you to a friend in Uzbek?

Say Qalaysan? or Yaxshimisan? The -san ending is informal, so keep it for friends, family and children.

Is Yaxshimisiz a real question?

It is a greeting ritual more than a question. Answer Yaxshi, rahmat and ask back with Oʻzingiz-chi?

How are you in Uzbek: pronunciation and how to reply

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.
Yaxshimisan?	yakh-shi-mi-SAN	Are you well? (informal)	To a friend or a child.
Ahvollar qalay?	ah-vol-LAR qa-LAY	How are things?	Friendly, a natural follow-up.

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.
Neighbour: Uydagilar yaxshimi?
Is everyone at home well?
You: Rahmat, hammasi yaxshi.
Thanks, everything is fine.

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.
The greeting and the question often come together: Assalomu alaykum, yaxshimisiz?

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 Hello, hi and goodbye in Uzbek: greetings with pronunciation in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.

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