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.
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.
