A day of sightseeing is mostly looking, but a few Uzbek words make it easier: the names on the signs, the question at the ticket window, and the polite way to ask whether you may go in or take a photo. That last one is a single pattern, a verb with -sam and boʻladimi?, and it works for almost anything you want to do.
This page is part of Uzbek for travellers, the guide for a one- or two-week trip.
Words on signs and tickets
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| madrasa | mad-ra-SA | Madrasa, a historic school building |
| masjid | mas-JID | Mosque |
| minora | mi-no-RA | Minaret, tower |
| maqbara | maq-ba-RA | Mausoleum, tomb |
| ziyoratgoh | zi-yo-rat-GOH | Shrine, a place people visit to pay respects |
| maydon | may-DON | Square |
| qal’a | qal’-A | Fortress |
| gumbaz | gum-BAZ | Dome |
| darvoza | dar-vo-ZA | Gate |
| muzey | mu-ZEY | Museum |
| Kirish | ki-RISH | Entrance |
| Chiqish | chi-QISH | Exit |
Tickets, hours and permission
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Chipta kassasi qayerda? | chip-TA kas-sa-SI qa-yer-DA | Where is the ticket office? |
| Kirish chiptasi qancha turadi? | ki-RISH chip-ta-SI qan-CHA tu-ra-DI | How much is the entrance ticket? |
| Soat nechadan nechagacha ochiq? | so-AT ne-cha-DAN ne-cha-ga-CHA o-CHIQ | What are the opening hours? |
| Bugun ochiqmi? | bu-GUN o-chiq-MI | Is it open today? |
| Kirsam boʻladimi? | kir-SAM boʻ-la-di-MI | May I go in? |
| Kirsak boʻladimi? | kir-SAK boʻ-la-di-MI | May we go in? |
| Bu yerga kirish mumkinmi? | BU yer-GA ki-RISH mum-kin-MI | Is it allowed to go in here? |
| Rasmga olsam boʻladimi? | rasm-GA ol-SAM boʻ-la-di-MI | May I take a photo? |
| Sizni rasmga olsam boʻladimi? | siz-NI rasm-GA ol-SAM boʻ-la-di-MI | May I take your photo? |
| Meni rasmga olib bera olasizmi? | me-NI rasm-GA o-LIB be-RA o-la-siz-MI | Could you take my photo? |
| Inglizcha gapiradigan gid bormi? | in-gliz-CHA ga-pi-ra-di-GAN GID bor-MI | Is there a guide who speaks English? (Also yoʻlboshchi.) |
| Oʻtirsam boʻladimi? | oʻ-tir-SAM boʻ-la-di-MI | May I sit down? |
Asking and reacting
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bu qanday bino? | BU qan-DAY bi-NO | What kind of building is this? |
| Bu nima? | BU ni-MA | What is this? |
| Bu bino necha yillik? | BU bi-NO ne-CHA yil-LIK | How old is this building? |
| Qachon qurilgan? | qa-CHON qu-ril-GAN | When was it built? |
| Juda chiroyli! | ju-DA chi-roy-LI | Very beautiful! |
| Juda qiziq! | ju-DA qi-ZIQ | Very interesting! |
| Ajoyib! | a-jo-YIB | Wonderful! |
| Chiqish qayerda? | chi-QISH qa-yer-DA | Where is the exit? |
| Hojatxona qayerda? | ho-jat-kho-NA qa-yer-DA | Where is the toilet? |
More on the last few: how to say beautiful in Uzbek and how to say what is this in Uzbek.
Asking permission: -sa boʻladimi?
- kir- + -sam + boʻladimi? Take the verb stem (kir-, enter), add -sam (“if I …”) and then boʻladimi (“is that all right?”). Together: Kirsam boʻladimi? is literally “if I go in, is it all right?”, which means “may I go in?”.
- Swap the verb and the pattern still works: olsam (take), oʻtirsam (sit), qarasam (look). Qarasam boʻladimi? is “may I look?”.
- For “we”, use -sak: Kirsak boʻladimi? (may we go in?), Rasmga olsak boʻladimi? (may we take photos?).
- The answers are short: Ha, boʻladi (yes, you may) or Yoʻq, boʻlmaydi (no, you may not). Marhamat (go ahead) is common too.
At the gate
A: Kirsam boʻladimi?
May I go in?
B: Ha, marhamat.
Yes, go ahead.
A: Rasmga olsam boʻladimi?
May I take photos?
B: Ha, boʻladi.
Yes, you may.
A: Bu bino necha yillik?
How old is this building?
B: Gidimiz aytib beradi.
Our guide will tell you.
A: Inglizcha gapiradigan gid bormi?
Is there a guide who speaks English?
B: Ha, bor.
Yes, there is.
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