The bazaar is where you will actually use your Uzbek first. Sellers are patient with foreigners who try, and the same twenty phrases cover fruit, bread, spices, meat and the inevitable extra handful thrown in for free.
This page is step 3 of how to learn Uzbek, the whole path in order.
This page is part of Uzbek for life in Tashkent, the guide for relocants and families.
This page is part of Uzbek for travellers, the guide for a one- or two-week trip.
Asking and paying
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bu qancha turadi? | bu qan-CHA tu-ra-DI | How much does this cost? |
| Narxi qancha? | nar-XI qan-CHA | What’s the price? |
| Qimmat! | qim-MAT | Expensive! |
| Arzonroq boʻladimi? | ar-zon-ROQ boh-la-di-MI | Could it be cheaper? |
| Chegirma bormi? | che-gir-MA bor-MI | Is there a discount? |
| Boʻladi. | boh-la-DI | OK, deal. |
| Bir kilo | bir ki-LO | One kilo |
| Yarim kilo | ya-RIM ki-LO | Half a kilo |
| Ikkita | ik-ki-TA | Two (of them) |
| Menga shuni bering. | men-GA shu-NI be-RING | Give me this one. |
| Boʻldi, rahmat. | boʻl-DI, rah-MAT | That’s all, thanks. |
| Karta boʻladimi? | kar-TA boh-la-di-MI | Do you take cards? |
| Naqd pul | naqd PUL | Cash |
What you’re buying
| Uzbek | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| non | NON | Bread (round flatbread) |
| olma | ol-MA | Apple |
| uzum | u-ZUM | Grapes |
| anor | a-NOR | Pomegranate |
| qovun | qo-VUN | Melon |
| tarvuz | tar-VUZ | Watermelon |
| oʻrik | oʻ-RIK | Apricot |
| pomidor | po-mi-DOR | Tomato |
| goʻsht | GOʻSHT | Meat |
| guruch | gu-RUCH | Rice |
| choy | CHOY | Tea |
| tuz | TUZ | Salt |
The bargaining suffix: -roq
Arzon means cheap. Add -roq and you get arzonroq, “cheaper”. This is the comparative suffix, and it works on any adjective:
- katta (big) → kattaroq (bigger)
- yaxshi (good) → yaxshiroq (better)
- sekin (slow) → sekinroq (slower, as in sekinroq gapiring, speak more slowly)
Put it together with boʻladimi? (“could it be?”) and you have the politest possible way to ask for a better price: Arzonroq boʻladimi?
Two grammar notes hiding in the table
- Narxi is narx (price) plus -i (its). Uzbek has no separate word for “its”; the suffix does the job.
- Menga is men (I) plus -ga (to). “To me”. The same -ga is how you say “to the bazaar” (bozorga) or “to Tashkent” (Toshkentga).
Uzbekcha is an app for learning Uzbek, with lessons in English and audio on every word. It is on Android now and coming soon to iPhone. Get the app.
