How do you say “sorry” in Uzbek?

Kechirasiz, pronounced ke-chi-ra-SIZ. Kechirasiz is both “excuse me” and “sorry”: use it to get attention, to get past someone, and to apologise for small things.

What do you reply to “Kechirasiz”?

Hechqisi yoʻq (hech-qi-SI YOʻQ), which means “No problem”.

How to say “sorry” in Uzbek

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.

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!

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”.

Common mistakes

Using uzr to get a waiter's attention. For attention it is Kechirasiz.

This phrase is part of Thank you, please and sorry in Uzbek in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.

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