Ways to say it
| Uzbek | Pronunciation | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xush kelibsiz | khush ke-lib-SIZ | Welcome | To one person politely, or to a group. |
| Xush kelibsan | khush ke-lib-SAN | Welcome | Informal, to a friend. |
| Marhamat, kiring | mar-ha-MAT, ki-RING | Please, come in | At the door. |
| Xush koʻrdik | khush koʻr-DIK | Glad to see you | The traditional reply from the guest. |
| Uyimizga xush kelibsiz | u-yi-miz-GA khush ke-lib-SIZ | Welcome to our home | What a host says at the door. |
| Oʻzbekistonga xush kelibsiz | oʻz-be-kis-ton-GA khush ke-lib-SIZ | Welcome to Uzbekistan | For a visitor arriving in the country. |
Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Uzbek stress usually falls on the last syllable.
What it literally means
You have come pleasantly.
What people say back
Xush koʻrdik (khush koʻr-DIK): “Glad to see you”.
In a real exchange
- Host: Xush kelibsiz! Marhamat, kiring.
Welcome! Please, come in. - You: Xush koʻrdik, rahmat.
Glad to see you, thank you. - Host: Oʻtiring, choy ichasizmi?
Please sit, will you have tea? - You: Ha, rahmat.
Yes, thank you. - Host: Marhamat.
Here you are.
Good to know
- Take your shoes off at the door of a home; the host will usually offer slippers.
- A guest is seated furthest from the door, the place of honour. Accept it.
- Mehmon, “guest”, is a central idea: hospitality is a matter of pride.
- English welcome does two jobs, Uzbek splits them: arriving guests hear Xush kelibsiz, and people who have been thanked say Arzimaydi.
Common mistakes
- Using it for “you're welcome”. That is Arzimaydi or Marhamat.
- Writing or saying “ksush” for xush. The x is the rough h: KHUSH.
This phrase is part of Hello, hi and goodbye in Uzbek: greetings with pronunciation in the free phrasebook, with the grammar behind it.