Greetings

1. ياخشىمۇسىز

   Yakh-shi-mu-siz

   Hello / How are you

   Usage

   The most common polite greeting. Used with elders or strangers

   Grammar Note

   Uyghur is a Turkic agglutinative language. "-سىز" is a second-person polite interrogative suffix. SOV word order. Uses Perso-Arabic script.

2. رەھمەت

   Reh-met

   Thank you

   Usage

   The most common way to express gratitude

   Grammar Note

   From Arabic "raḥma" (mercy/grace). Reflects Islamic cultural influence. For more emphasis: "كۆپ رەھمەت" (many thanks).

3. كەچۈرۈڭ

   Ke-chü-rüng

   Excuse me / I'm sorry

   Usage

   Used both for apologies and to get someone's attention

   Grammar Note

   Polite imperative in Uyghur adds "-ۈڭ/-ىڭ" to the verb stem. "كەچۈرۈڭ" is the polite imperative of "كەچۈرمەك" (to forgive).

4. ھەئە

   He-e

   Yes

   Usage

   Affirmative reply

   Grammar Note

   More formal affirmative: "شۇنداق" (that's right). "ھەئە" is the everyday casual affirmative.

5. ياق

   Yaq

   No

   Usage

   Negative reply

   Grammar Note

   Uyghur negation word. Verbal negation uses "-ماي/-مەي" suffixes. "ياق" is used as a standalone negative response.

6. تونۇشقانلىقىمغا خۇشال بولدۇم

   To-nush-qan-liq-im-gha khu-shal bol-dum

   Nice to meet you

   Usage

   Used when meeting someone for the first time

   Grammar Note

   Uyghur often nominalizes verbs using "-قانلىق". "-مغا" is the dative suffix (to/for). SOV structure.

7. مېنىڭ ئىسمىم ...

   Me-ning is-mim ...

   My name is ...

   Usage

   Self-introduction. Replace "..." with your name

   Grammar Note

   "مېنىڭ" is the genitive of "مەن" (my). "ئىسمىم" is "ئىسىم" (name) with the first-person singular possessive "-ىم". Put your name in "...".

8. سىز ئىنگلىزچە سۆزلىيەلەمسىز؟

   Siz ing-liz-che söz-li-ye-lem-siz?

   Can you speak English?

   Usage

   Phrase to check language ability

   Grammar Note

   Adding "-چە" to a people name creates the language name. "-لىيەلەمسىز" is the polite potential interrogative suffix.

9. خەير

   Kheyr

   Goodbye

   Usage

   Farewell greeting

   Grammar Note

   From Arabic "khayr" (goodness). Also "خەير خوش" (farewell, be well). Uyghur has many loanwords from Arabic and Persian.

10. چۈشەنمىدىم

    Chü-shen-mi-dim

    I didn't understand

    Usage

    When you cannot understand what someone said

    Grammar Note

    Uyghur negative past uses "-مىدى-" suffix. "-م" marks first person singular. SOV word order.

11. قايتا ئېيتىڭ

    Qay-ta ey-ting

    Please say that again

    Usage

    Use when you didn't catch what was said

    Grammar Note

    "ئېيت-" is the stem of "to say." "-ىڭ" is the polite imperative suffix. Adverb "قايتا" precedes the verb.

12. ئاستىراق سۆزلىڭ

    As-ti-raq söz-ling

    Please speak more slowly

    Usage

    When someone is speaking too quickly

    Grammar Note

    Uyghur comparative uses "-راق/-رەك" suffix. "ئاستا" (slowly) → "ئاستىراق" (more slowly).

13. ھاجەتخانا قەيەردە؟

    Ha-jet-kha-na qey-er-de?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Basic phrase to ask for the toilet/bathroom location in public places

    Grammar Note

    "قەيەردە" combines "قەيەر" (where) with the locative suffix "-دە". Uyghur is written in Arabic script from right to left.

14. مەن ئۇيغۇرچە بىلمەيمەن

    Men uy-ghur-che bil-mey-men

    I can't speak Uyghur

    Usage

    Used to tell someone you don't speak Uyghur

    Grammar Note

    "بىلمەيمەن" is the negated first-person present of "بىلمەك" (to know). "-مەي-" is the negation suffix. Uyghur is a Turkic language using Arabic script.

15. يەنە كېلىمەن

    yene kélimen

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop

16. بەك خۇشال بولدۇم

    bek xushal boldum

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Used when saying goodbye

17. رەھمەت، كۆرۈشەيلى!

    rehmet, körüsheyli!

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual way to say goodbye

18. ياخشى ئۇخلاڭ

    Yaxshi ukhlang

    Good night

    Usage

    Said before going to bed, e.g. at a guesthouse or homestay; literally "sleep well"

19. مەن چىقىۋاتىمەن

    Men chiqiwatimen

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Casual phrase said when leaving the house; literally "I am going out"

20. ئۆيگە قايتىپ كەلدىم

    Öyge qaytip keldim

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said upon returning to the house/guesthouse

21. كەچۈرۈڭ، مېنىڭ كېتىشىم كېرەك

    Kechürüng, méning kétishim kérek

    Excuse me, I need to get going

    Usage

    Polite way to excuse yourself when leaving before others

22. ھېچ نېمە ئەمەس

    Héch néme emes

    You're welcome

    Usage

    Response to "rehmet" (thank you); literally "it's nothing"

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