Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tushunmadim | tu-shun-ma-DIM | I didn't understand | After something was said. |
| Tushunmayapman | tu-shun-ma-yap-MAN | I'm not understanding | While it is happening. |
| Sekinroq gapiring, iltimos | se-kin-ROQ ga-pi-RING, il-ti-MOS | Please speak more slowly | |
| Yana bir marta ayting | ya-NA bir mar-TA ay-TING | Say it once more | |
| Oʻzbekchani yaxshi bilmayman | oʻz-bek-cha-NI yakh-SHI bil-may-MAN | I don't know Uzbek well |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
What it literally means
Understand-not-did-I.
In a real exchange
- Clerk: Pasportingizni bering, keyin toʻlovni qiling.
Give me your passport, then make the payment. - You: Kechirasiz, tushunmadim. Sekinroq gapiring, iltimos.
Sorry, I didn't understand. Please speak more slowly. - Clerk: Pasport. Keyin toʻlov.
Passport. Then payment. - You: Tushundim, rahmat!
I understood, thanks!
Good to know
- The -ma- in the middle is the negative: tushundim (I understood), tushun-ma-dim (I didn't).
- Tushundim, “got it”, is worth learning at the same time.
- People slow down and simplify readily when asked in Uzbek. Asking in Russian or English often gets you a switch of language instead.
Common mistakes
- Saying yoʻq tushundim. Verbs are negated with -ma-, not with yoʻq.
This phrase is part of My name is… in Uzbek: introducing yourself in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.