Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| pul | PUL | money | Pulim is “my money”. |
| naqd pul | NAQD PUL | cash | Naqd toʻlayman is “I'll pay in cash”. |
| karta | kar-TA | card | Karta bilan, “with a card”. |
| soʻm | SOʻM | soʻm (the currency) | Written with oʻ. |
| mayda pul | may-DA PUL | change; small money | Mayda pulingiz bormi? is “do you have change?”. |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
What people say back
Ha, boʻladi (HA, boh-la-DI): “Yes, that's fine”. Or the seller asks for naqd pul, “cash”.
In a real exchange
- You: Kechirasiz, karta bilan toʻlasam boʻladimi?
Sorry, may I pay by card? - Seller: Yoʻq, afsuski. Naqd pul kerak.
No, unfortunately. Cash is needed. - You: Xoʻp, naqd pul bilan toʻlayman.
OK, I'll pay in cash. - Seller: Rahmat.
Thank you.
Good to know
- Pulim yoʻq is “I have no money” and Pulim bor “I have money”: with yoʻq and bor Uzbek says “my money does not exist / exists”.
- Mayda is “small”, so mayda pul is “small money”, the coins and small notes you need for change.
- Toʻlasam boʻladimi? is “if I pay, is it OK?”, the usual way to ask “may I pay…?”; bilan is “with”.
Common mistakes
- Saying Pulim emas for “I have no money”. Existence is negated with yoʻq: Pulim yoʻq.
- Writing som without ʻ. It is soʻm, with oʻ.
This phrase is part of Uzbek phrases for the bazaar in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.