When a relative far away loses someone, the words you need are few and short. You may know the sound of these phrases from home and still freeze when you have to say or write one. This page keeps to the language: what each phrase means and when it is said. The one grammar idea is the wish ending -sin again, here aimed at the person who has died and at the family.
This page is part of Uzbek for heritage learners, the guide for the Uzbek diaspora and families abroad.
Words of sympathy for the family
Families differ in the exact words they prefer, and a short phrase you are sure of is better than a long one you are not. If you are not sure, Hamdardlik bildiraman and Sogʻ boʻling are enough.
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hamdardlik bildiraman. | ham-dard-LIK bil-di-ra-MAN | I express my sympathy. |
| Chuqur hamdardlik bildiraman. | chu-QUR ham-dard-LIK bil-di-ra-MAN | I express my deep sympathy. |
| Ta’ziya bildiraman. | ta-zi-YA bil-di-ra-MAN | I offer my condolences. (more formal) |
| Bu xabarni eshitib, juda xafa boʻldim. | BU kha-bar-NI e-shi-TIB, ju-DA kha-FA boʻl-DIM | I was very sad to hear this news. |
| Qaygʻungizga sherikman. | qay-gʻun-giz-GA she-rik-MAN | I share your grief. |
| Dardingizga sherikman. | dar-din-giz-GA she-rik-MAN | I share your pain. |
| Yoningizdaman. | yo-nin-giz-da-MAN | I am with you (in my thoughts). |
| Yoningizda boʻla olmaganimdan afsusdaman. | yo-nin-giz-DA boʻ-LA ol-ma-ga-nim-DAN af-sus-da-MAN | I am sorry I could not be there with you. |
| Bardam boʻling. | bar-DAM boʻ-LING | Stay strong; keep your spirits up. |
| Sabr qiling. | SABR qi-LING | Be patient; hold on. |
| Qanday yordam bera olaman? | qan-DAY yor-DAM be-RA o-la-MAN | How can I help? |
| Biror narsa kerak boʻlsa, ayting. | bi-ROR nar-SA ke-RAK boʻl-SA, ay-TING | If you need anything, tell me. |
Wishes for the person who died and for the family
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Alloh rahmat qilsin. | al-LOH rah-MAT qil-SIN | May God have mercy. (said about someone who has died) |
| Xudo rahmat qilsin. | khu-DO rah-MAT qil-SIN | The same wish, with Xudo instead of Alloh. |
| Joylari jannatda boʻlsin. | joy-la-RI jan-nat-DA boʻl-SIN | May their place be in paradise. |
| Otangizning joylari jannatda boʻlsin. | o-tan-giz-NING joy-la-RI jan-nat-DA boʻl-SIN | May your father’s place be in paradise. |
| Alloh sizga sabr bersin. | al-LOH siz-GA SABR ber-SIN | May God give you patience. |
| Alloh sizlarga sabr bersin. | al-LOH siz-lar-GA SABR ber-SIN | May God give all of you patience. (the whole family) |
| Buvim vafot etdilar. | bu-VIM va-FOT et-di-LAR | My grandmother has passed away. |
| Sogʻ boʻling. | SOGʻ boʻ-LING | Stay well. (a kind way to end) |
A short message to a relative
If the news reaches you by phone or in a message, the order is simple: the person’s name and family word, the sympathy, the wish, the offer, then a closing wish. Here is a message from a nephew to his mother’s sister, whose father has died.
Hurmatli Zuhra xola,
Dear Zuhra xola,
Bu xabarni eshitib, juda xafa boʻldim.
I was very sad to hear this news.
Otangizning joylari jannatda boʻlsin. Qaygʻungizga sherikman.
May your father’s place be in paradise. I share your grief.
Biror narsa kerak boʻlsa, ayting. Sogʻ boʻling.
If you need anything, tell me. Stay well.
The wish -sin, for the person and for the family
On the blessings page -sin meant “may it be” for a meal or a journey. Here it is the same ending, now with a different subject:
- Joylari jannatda boʻlsin: joy (place) + -lari (their, respectful) + jannatda (in paradise) + boʻlsin (may it be). The -lari is often used as a respectful “their” for one person, not a plural; the plain joyi is also correct.
- Alloh rahmat qilsin and Alloh sabr bersin: a name for God first, then the thing wished for, then the verb with -sin: qil- (do) + -sin, ber- (give) + -sin. Add sizga (to you) or sizlarga (to all of you) to say who receives it.
- Vafot etdi is the polite verb for a person who has died. For an elder add -lar: vafot etdilar. The plain oʻldi (died) sounds blunt about a person you speak of with respect.
- Qaygʻungizga, dardingizga: qaygʻu (grief) and dard (pain) + -ingiz (your) + -ga (to): “to your grief”. Sherikman is sherik (partner, sharer) + -man (I am).
On the phone with an aunt
Nodir: Assalomu alaykum, Zuhra xola. Bu xabarni eshitib, juda xafa boʻldim.
Hello, Zuhra xola. I was very sad to hear this news.
Zuhra xola: Rahmat, Nodir.
Thank you, Nodir.
Nodir: Otangizning joylari jannatda boʻlsin. Qaygʻungizga sherikman.
May your father’s place be in paradise. I share your grief.
Zuhra xola: Omin. Rahmat, jiyanim.
Amen. Thank you, my dear nephew.
Nodir: Biror narsa kerak boʻlsa, ayting.
If you need anything, tell me.
Zuhra xola: Rahmat. Sogʻ boʻl.
Thank you. Stay well.
Uzbekcha is being built to teach the short phrases you need for the hard moments in the family as well as the happy ones. At launch, lessons are in English and compare Uzbek with your first language. Join the waitlist.