Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| oʻqituvchi | oh-qi-tuv-CHI | teacher | The neutral, standard word, for talking about any teacher, a man or a woman. |
| Men oʻqituvchiman | men oh-qi-tuv-chi-MAN | I'm a teacher | The same -man ending as in Men shifokorman. |
| ustoz | us-TOZ | teacher, mentor | Respectful; used to address a teacher, or someone who taught you a skill. |
| domla | dom-LA | teacher, lecturer | Respectful; used to address a teacher, especially at a university. |
| muallim | mu-al-LIM | teacher | Formal and bookish; seen in print more than heard. |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
What it literally means
One who teaches. Oʻqitmoq is “to teach”, and -uvchi marks the person who does it.
In a real exchange
- You: Assalomu alaykum, domla! Kirsam boʻladimi?
Hello, teacher! May I come in? - Teacher: Va alaykum assalom. Kiring.
Hello. Come in. - You: Domla, savolim bor.
Teacher, I have a question. - Teacher: Marhamat, eshitaman.
Please, go ahead, I'm listening.
Good to know
- Oʻqituvchi is built from oʻqit- (to teach) + -uvchi (one who ...). Add -im for “my”: oʻqituvchim, my teacher.
- It is a job word, used when talking about a teacher. To address one directly, use ustoz or domla instead: Ustoz, rahmat!
- Domla is the usual respectful word for a university teacher or lecturer; ustoz is wider and also fits a mentor or someone who taught you a skill.
Common mistakes
- Addressing a teacher by the bare job word or by first name alone. Use ustoz or domla.
- Writing oqituvchi without ʻ. The word starts with oʻ.
This phrase is part of Uzbek at the university: the dean's office, timetable and exams in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.