Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| choy | CHOY | tea | |
| koʻk choy | KOʻK CHOY | green tea | The default in most of the country. |
| qora choy | qo-RA CHOY | black tea | More common in Tashkent. |
| Choy ichasizmi? | CHOY i-cha-siz-MI | Will you have tea? | The question a host asks. |
| limonli choy | li-mon-LI CHOY | tea with lemon |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
In a real exchange
- Host: Choy ichasizmi? Koʻkmi, qorami?
Will you have tea? Green or black? - You: Koʻk choy, rahmat.
Green tea, thank you. - Host: Marhamat, oling.
Here you are, take it.
Good to know
- The piala (small bowl) is filled only part way. A half-full bowl is respect: the host intends to keep refilling it while it is hot.
- Tea is poured into a bowl and back into the pot three times before serving, to mix it.
- Choyxona is a teahouse; -xona means room or place, as in oshxona (kitchen) and dorixona (pharmacy).
Common mistakes
- Asking for a full cup. A brimming bowl can be read as a hint that it is time for you to go.
This phrase is part of Uzbek phrases for the bazaar in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.