Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kechirasiz | ke-chi-ra-SIZ | Excuse me / sorry | The everyday word. |
| Uzr | UZR | Sorry | A short apology, a bit more personal. |
| Uzr soʻrayman | UZR soh-ray-MAN | I apologise | Formal, for a real mistake. |
| Kechiring | ke-chi-RING | Forgive me | A direct plea, stronger. |
| Uzr, kechikdim | UZR, ke-chik-DIM | Sorry, I am late | Kechikmoq is “to be late”. |
| Kechirasiz, tushunmadim | ke-chi-ra-SIZ, tu-shun-ma-DIM | Sorry, I did not understand | A polite way to ask someone to repeat. |
| Kechir | ke-CHIR | Sorry (informal) | To a friend, a sibling or a child. |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
What it literally means
Kechirasiz is “you (will) forgive”, from kechirmoq, to forgive.
What people say back
Hechqisi yoʻq (hech-qi-SI YOʻQ): “No problem”. Said to wave an apology away.
In a real exchange
- You: Kechirasiz, metro qayerda?
Excuse me, where is the metro? - Passer-by: Toʻgʻriga, keyin chapga.
Straight on, then left. - You: Rahmat!
Thank you! - You: Uzr, kechikdim.
Sorry, I am late. - Friend: Hechqisi yoʻq, kiring.
No problem, come in.
Good to know
- Start any question to a stranger with Kechirasiz; it is the normal way to open.
- The reply to an apology is Hechqisi yoʻq, “it's nothing, no problem”.
- Kechirasiz comes from kechirmoq, “to forgive”; Kechiring is the command form, “forgive”.
Common mistakes
- Using uzr to get a waiter's attention. For attention it is Kechirasiz.
- Saying Hechqisi yoʻq when you are the one apologising. It is the reply.
This phrase is part of Thank you in Uzbek (rahmat), please and sorry, with pronunciation in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.