Moving into a yotoqxona means a string of small conversations: the komendant about the kalit, a xonadosh about the music, someone in the oshxona about the stove. Most of them are requests, and Uzbek has one polite way to make nearly all of them. That is the grammar idea here: a verb with -sangiz (or -sam) plus boʻladimi?, “would it be all right if you …?”.
This page is part of Uzbek for medical students, the guide for international and MBBS students in Uzbekistan.
Moving in: the yotoqxona, the komendant and the kalit
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yotoqxona qayerda? | yo-toq-kho-NA qa-yer-DA | Where is the hostel? |
| Men yangi talabaman. | MEN yan-GI ta-la-ba-MAN | I am a new student. |
| Komendant kim? | ko-men-DANT KIM | Who is the warden? |
| Komendantni qayerdan topsam boʻladi? | ko-men-dant-NI qa-yer-DAN top-SAM boʻ-la-DI | Where can I find the warden? |
| Mening xonam qayerda? | me-NING kho-NAM qa-yer-DA | Where is my room? |
| Xona raqami necha? | kho-NA ra-qa-MI ne-CHA | What is the room number? |
| Xona qaysi qavatda? | kho-NA qay-SI qa-vat-DA | Which floor is the room on? |
| Mening karavotim qaysi? | me-NING ka-ra-vo-TIM qay-SI | Which bed is mine? |
| Xonamizda nechta kishi turadi? | kho-na-miz-DA nech-TA ki-SHI tu-ra-DI | How many people live in our room? |
| Xonadoshim kim? | kho-na-do-SHIM KIM | Who is my roommate? |
| Kalitni kimdan olaman? | ka-lit-NI kim-DAN o-la-MAN | Whom do I get the key from? |
| Kalitni yoʻqotdim. | ka-lit-NI yoʻ-qot-DIM | I lost the key. |
| Eshik ochilmayapti. | e-SHIK o-chil-ma-yap-TI | The door will not open. |
The kitchen, hot water and everyday problems
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Oshxona qayerda? | osh-kho-NA qa-yer-DA | Where is the kitchen? |
| Oshxonada plita bormi? | osh-kho-na-DA pli-TA bor-MI | Is there a stove in the kitchen? |
| Muzlatgich bormi? | muz-lat-GICH bor-MI | Is there a fridge? |
| Issiq suv bormi? | is-SIQ SUV bor-MI | Is there hot water? |
| Issiq suv yoʻq. | is-SIQ SUV YOʻQ | There is no hot water. |
| Issiq suv qachon boʻladi? | is-SIQ SUV qa-CHON boʻ-la-DI | When will there be hot water? |
| Kir yuvish xonasi qayerda? | KIR yu-VISH kho-na-SI qa-yer-DA | Where is the laundry room? |
| Kir yuvish mashinasi bormi? | KIR yu-VISH ma-shi-na-SI bor-MI | Is there a washing machine? |
| Internet ishlamayapti. | in-ter-NET ish-la-ma-yap-TI | The internet is not working. |
| Internet paroli nima? | in-ter-NET pa-ro-LI ni-MA | What is the internet password? |
| Xona sovuq. | kho-NA so-VUQ | The room is cold. |
| Chiqindini qayerga tashlasam boʻladi? | chi-qin-di-NI qa-yer-GA tash-la-SAM boʻ-la-DI | Where can I put the rubbish? |
| Iltimos, tekshirib koʻring. | il-ti-MOS, tek-shi-RIB koʻ-RING | Please have a look. |
Roommates, quiet hours and guests
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Eshikni yopsangiz boʻladimi? | e-shik-NI yop-san-GIZ boʻ-la-di-MI | Could you close the door? |
| Musiqani pastroq qilsangiz boʻladimi? | mu-si-qa-NI pas-TROQ qil-san-GIZ boʻ-la-di-MI | Could you turn the music down a little? |
| Tinchroq boʻlsangiz boʻladimi? | tinch-ROQ boʻl-san-GIZ boʻ-la-di-MI | Could you be a little quieter? |
| Shovqin qilmang, iltimos. | shov-QIN qil-MANG, il-ti-MOS | Please do not make noise. |
| Kechasi soat nechadan keyin shovqin qilib boʻlmaydi? | ke-cha-SI so-AT ne-cha-DAN ke-YIN shov-QIN qi-LIB boʻl-may-DI | After what time at night is noise not allowed? |
| Chiroqni oʻchirsam boʻladimi? | chi-roq-NI oʻ-chir-SAM boʻ-la-di-MI | May I turn off the light? |
| Derazani ochsam boʻladimi? | de-ra-za-NI och-SAM boʻ-la-di-MI | May I open the window? |
| Doʻstim kelsa boʻladimi? | doʻs-TIM kel-SA boʻ-la-di-MI | May my friend come over? |
| Mehmon kelsa boʻladimi? | meh-MON kel-SA boʻ-la-di-MI | May a guest come? |
| Zaryadkangizni olib tursam boʻladimi? | zar-yad-kan-giz-NI o-LIB tur-SAM boʻ-la-di-MI | May I borrow your charger? |
| Ertaga qaytaraman. | er-ta-GA qay-ta-ra-MAN | I will give it back tomorrow. |
| Xonadoshim dars qilyapti. | kho-na-do-SHIM DARS qil-yap-TI | My roommate is studying. |
| Kechirasiz, bezovta qildim. | ke-chi-ra-SIZ, be-zov-TA qil-DIM | Sorry, I disturbed you. |
Asking nicely: -sangiz boʻladimi
Most requests in the last table have the same shape: verb + -sangiz (or -sam) + boʻladimi? Literally it is “if you close the door, will it be all right?”, and it is the usual way to ask someone to do something without giving an order:
- Eshikni yopsangiz boʻladimi? Could you close the door? (yop- + -sangiz)
- Musiqani pastroq qilsangiz boʻladimi? Could you turn the music down? (qil- + -sangiz)
- Chiroqni oʻchirsam boʻladimi? May I turn off the light? For your own action the ending becomes -sam: “if I turn it off, is it all right?” (oʻchir- + -sam)
- Doʻstim kelsa boʻladimi? May my friend come? Here -sa is for someone else (he, she): “if my friend comes”.
Use -sangiz with the komendant and anyone older, or whenever you are unsure. Between roommates of your own age the familiar form is -sang: Eshikni yopsang boʻladimi? Start with siz and let the roommate say so if sen is fine. The answer is usually Ha, boʻladi (yes, it is fine) or Kechirasiz, boʻlmaydi (sorry, it is not possible).
A word with the komendant
A: Assalomu alaykum. Kechirasiz, komendantmisiz?
Hello. Excuse me, are you the warden?
B: Ha, men komendantman. Marhamat.
Yes, I am the warden. Go ahead.
A: Xonamizda issiq suv yoʻq. Qachon boʻladi?
There is no hot water in our room. When will there be some?
B: Xona raqamingiz necha?
What is your room number?
A: Yetmish ikkinchi xona.
Room seventy-two.
B: Yaxshi, hozir qarayman.
All right, I will have a look now.
A: Rahmat sizga!
Thank you!
Uzbekcha is being built to help you ask for what you need in daily life, from the hostel kitchen to the warden’s office. At launch, lessons are in English and compare Uzbek with your first language. Join the waitlist.