Greetings are where every Uzbek conversation starts, and where you’ll hear the same handful of words hundreds of times a day. Learn these first. The pronunciation column is a plain-English approximation; capitals mark the stressed syllable, which in Uzbek is almost always the last one.
Looking for one phrase? How to say hello in Uzbek and how to say goodbye in Uzbek each have their own page, with the reply. This page is step 3 of how to learn Uzbek, the whole path in order.
This page is part of Uzbek for medical students, the guide for international and MBBS students in Uzbekistan.
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Assalomu alaykum | ah-sah-loh-mu ah-lay-KUM | Hello (polite, works everywhere) |
| Va alaykum assalom | vah ah-lay-kum ah-sah-LOM | Hello (the reply) |
| Salom | sah-LOM | Hi (friends, family, younger people) |
| Xayrli tong | khayr-LI TONG | Good morning |
| Xayrli kun | khayr-LI KUN | Good day |
| Xayrli kech | khayr-LI KECH | Good evening |
| Xayrli tun | khayr-LI TUN | Good night |
| Yaxshimisiz? | yakh-shi-mi-SIZ | How are you? (polite) |
| Qalaysiz? | qa-lay-SIZ | How are you? (polite, very common) |
| Yaxshi, rahmat | yakh-SHI, rah-MAT | Fine, thanks |
| Oʻzingiz-chi? | oh-zin-GIZ-chi | And you? |
| Xush kelibsiz | khush ke-lib-SIZ | Welcome |
| Xayr | KHAYR | Goodbye |
| Koʻrishguncha | koh-rish-gun-CHA | See you |
The one thing to notice
Look at Yaxshimisiz? It is one word made of three pieces:
- yaxshi = good, well
- -mi = the question marker (turns any statement into a yes/no question)
- -siz = you (polite or plural)
So “you are well” is yaxshisiz, and “are you well?” just adds -mi in the middle: yaxshi-mi-siz. That -mi suffix is how every yes/no question in Uzbek works. Once you see it here you will hear it everywhere: Bormi? (is there any?), Tushundingizmi? (did you understand?).
Pronunciation notes
- X is the sound in Scottish “loch” or German “Bach”, not “ks”. Xayr starts with that throat sound.
- Q is a “k” made further back in the throat. If you say a normal “k” people will still understand you.
- Oʻ (with the apostrophe) is a rounded “o” like in “go” without the glide. Plain o is more open, like British “hot”.
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