Useful Uzbek phrases — for those who want to blend in with local life

Travelling through Uzbekistan, even a few words in the local language work wonders — locals genuinely light up when a visitor tries to speak Uzbek. To help you feel more confident at the bazaar, in a teahouse, or simply on the street, we've put together some unusual phrases for real-life situations — not the usual "rakhmat" and "iltimos", but what will actually save you at the bazaar, in a teahouse, and on the street.

🇺🇿 Juda mazali ekan!
🇬🇧 Absolutely delicious!

🇺🇿 Osh qayerda?
🇬🇧 Where's the plov? 😄

🇺🇿 Yana bir piyola choy bering!
🇬🇧 One more bowl of tea, please!

🇺🇿 Men palovni juda yaxshi ko'raman!
🇬🇧 I absolutely love plov!

🇺🇿 Suratga tushsak bo'ladimi?
🇬🇧 Can we take a photo together?

🇺🇿 Bozorga olib boring!
🇬🇧 Take me to the bazaar!

🇺🇿 Men sayyohman, adashib qoldim.
🇬🇧 I'm a tourist, I'm lost.

🇺🇿 Narxini tushirib bering!
🇬🇧 Give me a discount! (a favourite phrase at the market 😄)

🇺🇿 O'zbekiston juda chiroyli ekan!
🇬🇧 Uzbekistan is absolutely beautiful!

🇺🇿 Men o'zbekcha ozgina gapiraman.
🇬🇧 I speak a little Uzbek.

These phrases were prepared by our friends at Methodica — the first professional Uzbek language school in Tashkent, established in 2016. If you want to go beyond the tourist basics and truly learn the language, you'll find Uzbek and Russian language courses, music lessons (vocals, guitar, piano), painting classes, and summer programmes with trips around Uzbekistan.