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.
| 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”.
Uzbekcha lessons play every one of these in a native voice and explain them in your own language. Join the waitlist to hear first.