Meeting relatives in Uzbekistan for the first time, you will probably be asked two things again and again: whose child or grandchild you are, and where you came from. In Uzbek you answer the first through the family, as someone’s grandchild, someone’s daughter or someone’s nephew. The one grammar idea on this page is -ning, which marks the owner (Karima’s), together with -man, “I am”.
This page is part of Uzbek for heritage learners, the guide for the Uzbek diaspora and families abroad.
Being met and saying hello
Hosts may ask a few questions about your trip first. These are the ones to recognise and to answer.
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Xush kelibsiz! | khush ke-lib-SIZ | Welcome! |
| Yoʻl qanday boʻldi? | YOʻL qan-DAY boʻl-DI | How was the journey? |
| Yoʻl yaxshi boʻldi, rahmat. | YOʻL yakh-SHI boʻl-DI, rah-MAT | The journey was good, thank you. |
| Charchamadingizmi? | char-cha-ma-din-giz-MI | Aren’t you tired? |
| Meni kutib olganingiz uchun rahmat. | me-NI ku-TIB ol-ga-nin-giz u-CHUN rah-MAT | Thank you for meeting me. |
| Men keldim! | MEN kel-DIM | I’m here! |
| Meni tanidingizmi? | me-NI ta-ni-din-giz-MI | Did you recognise me? |
| Hammangizni koʻrganimdan xursandman. | ham-man-giz-NI koʻr-ga-nim-DAN khur-sand-MAN | I’m happy to see you all. |
| Ota-onam sizga salom aytishdi. | o-ta-o-NAM siz-GA sa-LOM ay-tish-DI | My parents send you their greetings. |
| Bu sizga kichik sovgʻa. | BU siz-GA ki-CHIK sov-GʻA | This is a little gift for you. |
For the words of a visit at the table (tea, food, thanks), see visiting an Uzbek home.
Who you are, and where you come from
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Men Karimaning nabirasiman. | men ka-ri-ma-NING na-bi-ra-si-MAN | I’m Karima’s grandchild. |
| Men Anvarning qiziman. | men an-var-NING qi-zi-MAN | I’m Anvar’s daughter. |
| Men Anvarning oʻgʻliman. | men an-var-NING oʻgʻ-li-MAN | I’m Anvar’s son. |
| Bu kishi otamning akasi. | BU ki-SHI o-tam-NING a-ka-SI | This is my father’s older brother. |
| Bu kishi onamning singlisi. | BU ki-SHI o-nam-NING sing-li-SI | This is my mother’s younger sister. |
| Bu mening ukam. | BU me-NING u-KAM | This is my younger brother. |
| Men Germaniyadan keldim. | men ger-ma-ni-ya-DAN kel-DIM | I came from Germany. |
| Men Amerikadan keldim. | men a-me-ri-ka-DAN kel-DIM | I came from America. |
| Men Oʻzbekistonga birinchi marta keldim. | men oʻz-be-kis-ton-GA bi-rin-CHI mar-TA kel-DIM | I’ve come to Uzbekistan for the first time. |
| Oʻzbekchani yaxshi bilmayman, lekin oʻrganyapman. | oʻz-bek-cha-NI yakh-SHI bil-may-MAN, le-KIN oʻr-gan-yap-MAN | I don’t know Uzbek well, but I’m learning. |
Your name, age and work are on introducing yourself.
Staying, thanking and promising to come back
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sizning uyingizda bir hafta qolaman. | siz-NING u-yin-giz-DA bir haf-TA qo-la-MAN | I’ll stay at your home for a week. |
| Uyingiz juda chiroyli. | u-yin-GIZ ju-DA chi-roy-LI | Your home is very beautiful. |
| Yordam bersam, boʻladimi? | yor-DAM ber-SAM, boʻ-la-di-MI | May I help? |
| Mehmondoʻstligingiz uchun rahmat. | meh-mon-doʻst-li-gin-GIZ u-CHUN rah-MAT | Thank you for your hospitality. |
| Sizlar bilan juda yaxshi vaqt oʻtkazdim. | siz-LAR bi-LAN ju-DA yakh-SHI vaqt oʻt-kaz-DIM | I had a really good time with you all. |
| Yana kelaman. | ya-NA ke-la-MAN | I’ll come again. |
| Albatta yana kelaman. | al-bat-TA ya-NA ke-la-MAN | Of course I’ll come again. |
| Yana koʻrishamiz! | ya-NA koʻ-ri-sha-MIZ | We’ll see each other again! |
| Xayr, sogʻ boʻling. | KHAYR, SOGʻ boʻ-LING | Goodbye, take care. |
-ning for the owner, -man for “I am”
Uzbek says “whose” by putting -ning on the owner and a possessive ending on the thing owned. That is the pattern behind every family introduction:
- Karimaning nabirasiman: Karima + -ning (of) + nabira (grandchild) + -si (her/his) + -man (I am). Word for word: “of Karima, her grandchild, I am.” Nabira is a grandchild of either sex.
- Bu kishi otamning akasi: otam (my father) + -ning + aka (older brother) + -si. The ending on the thing owned is -si after a vowel and -i after a consonant: aka becomes akasi, qiz becomes qizi. Bu kishi is a polite “this person”.
- Men Germaniyadan keldim: -dan (from) on the country and keldim, kel- (come) + -dim (I did). Swap the country and nothing else changes.
- -man is the plain “I am” you know from introductions: xursandman (I am glad), qiziman (I am a daughter). Say it at the end, after the word that tells who you are.
At the gate of your grandmother’s house
Qoʻshni: Assalomu alaykum! Siz Karima buvining nabirasimisiz?
Hello! Are you Karima buvi’s grandchild?
Nodir: Va alaykum assalom. Ha, men Karima buvining nabirasiman.
Hello. Yes, I’m Karima buvi’s grandchild.
Nodir: Bu kishi otamning akasi.
This is my father’s older brother.
Qoʻshni: Xush kelibsiz! Qayerdan keldingiz?
Welcome! Where have you come from?
Nodir: Men Germaniyadan keldim. Oʻzbekistonga birinchi marta keldim.
I came from Germany. I’ve come to Uzbekistan for the first time.
Qoʻshni: Juda yaxshi, xush kelibsiz!
Very good, welcome!
Uzbekcha is being built to help you talk to the relatives you are about to meet, from the first hello to the goodbye. At launch, lessons are in English and compare Uzbek with your first language. Join the waitlist.