Basic Kazakh Phrases For Travel
Learning a few simple words and phrases in Kazakh will hugely enhance your experience in Kazakhstan. It unlocks a more authentic glimpse into the local way of life and a deeper connection with the people.
Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of Almaty or the endless Central Asian steppe, a few words in Kazakh can go a long way. Kazakh hospitality is legendary, and these words and phrases will help you experience it even more.
This cross-continental country is a land of vast steppes, rugged mountains, and ancient cities. It’s a country where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly. And Kazakhstan’s landscapes are as diverse as the people that inhabit them.
Why Learning Kazakh Will Enhance Your Trip
Learning a language is like taking a deep dive into the heart of a nation. It gives you a unique perspective on a culture that most tourists simply can’t get.
Nowhere is this more true than Kazakhstan.
Firstly, in my experience, English is not particularly widely spoken in Kazakhstan. Learning a bit of basic Kazakh will come in handy in most scenarios.
Secondly, being able to communicate in Kazakh opens doors to more authentic experiences, personal connections, and genuine cultural insight.
A simple Sรคlem (“Hi”) often transforms a quick passing interaction into a more meaningful conversation.
Learning a bit of the language also helps you understand local customs, traditions, and the Kazakh way of life. You don’t need to master the language, it’s more than enough just to make the effort and try.
I promise, it will definitely be worth it!
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Basic Words in Kazakh
Begin your Kazakh journey with these basic words. They’re your first step towards meaningful interactions in Kazakhstan.
- ะกำะปะตะผ – Sรคlem – Hi
- ะกำะปะตะผะตัััะท ะฑะต – Sรคlemetsiz be – Hello (more formal)
- ะกะฐั ะฑะพะปัาฃัะท – Sau bolฤฑรฑฤฑz – Goodbye
- ะ ะฐั ะผะตั – Rahmet – Thank you
- าะพั ะบะตะปะดัาฃัะท – Qosh keldiรฑiz – You’re welcome
- ำจััะฝะตะผัะฝ – รtinemin – Please
- ะำ – Iรค – Yes
- ะะพา – Jok – No
- าะฐะนััะปั ัะฐาฃ – Qayฤฑrlฤฑ taรฑ – Good morning
- าะฐะนััะปั ะบะตั – Qayฤฑrlฤฑ kesh – Good evening
- าะฐะนััะปั ะบาฏะฝ – Qayฤฑrlฤฑ kรผn – Good afternoon
- ะขะฐะผะฐา – Tamaq – Food
- ะกั – Su – Water
- ะำัะตัั ะฐะฝะฐ – Dรคrethana – Bathroom
Common Kazakh Phrases
These common Kazakh phrases are vital for everyday conversations. Perfect for immersing yourself in local life, they’ll add a genuine touch to your exchanges.
- าะฐะปะฐะนััะท? – Qalaysฤฑz? – How are you?
- ะะฐาัั, ัะฐั ะผะตั – Jaqsy, rahmet – Iโm good thanks
- ะขะฐะฝััาะฐะฝัะผะฐ าัะฐะฝััััะผัะฝ – Tanysqanฤฑma quanฤฑลtฤฑmฤฑn – Nice to meet you
- ะะตะฝัาฃ ะฐััะผ… – Meniรฑ atฤฑm… – My name is…
- ะะตััััะผ ัาฑัะฐะนะผัะฝ – Keshirim suraymฤฑn – I’m sorry
- ะะตััััาฃัะท – Keshiriรฑiz – Excuse me
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ ะบำฉะผะตะบัะตัะต ะฐะปะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Maฤan kรถmektese alasฤฑz ba? – Can you help me?
- าะฐะฝะดะฐะน ัาฑะปั! – Qanday sulu! – How beautiful!
- ะำฉัััะบะตะฝัะต – Kรถriskenshe – See you
- ะะตะนัะฝััะตะบ ะบำฉัััะบะตะฝัะต – Keyinirek kรถriskenshe – See you later
- ะกำัััะปัะบ! – Sรคttฤฑlฤฑk! – Good luck!
Basic Kazakh Phrases for Travellers
Here are some more phrases that will be useful for anyone exploring Kazakhstan. They’ll enhance your journey, enriching every experience from the steppe to the city.
- ะะตะฝัาฃ ะฑัะพะฝััะผ ะฑะฐั – Meniรฑ bronฤฑm bar – I have a reservation
- ำะถะตัั ะฐะฝะฐ าะฐะนะดะฐ, ำฉััะฝะตะผัะฝ? – รjetxana qayda, รถtinemin? – Where are the bathrooms, please?
- ___ าะฐะปะฐะน ะฑะฐััาะฐ ะฑะพะปะฐะดั? – ___ qalay baruฤa boladฤฑ? – How do I get to ___?
- ะาฑะฝัาฃ ะฑะฐาะฐัั าะฐะฝัะฐ? – Bunฤฑรฑ baฤasฤฑ qansha? – How much is this?
- ะาัะปััะฝัะฐ ัำฉะนะปะตะน ะฐะปะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Aฤฤฑlshฤฑnsha sรถyley alasฤฑz ba? – Do you speak English?
- ะาฃ ะถะฐาัะฝ าะพะฝะฐา าฏะน าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Eรฑ jaqฤฑn qonaq รผy qayda? – Where is the nearest hotel?
- ะะดะฐััะฟ ะบะตัััะผ. ะำฉะผะตะบัะตัะต ะฐะปะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Adasyp kettim. Kรถmektese alasฤฑz ba? – Iโm lost. Can you help me?
- ะาฑะป ะฐะนะผะฐา าะฐััะฟััะท ะฑะต? – Bul aymaq qauipsiz be? – Is this area safe?
- ะาฑะป ะฐะนะผะฐา ัาฏะฝะดะต าะฐััะฟััะท ะฑะต? – Bul aymaq tรผnde qauipsiz be? – Is this area safe at night?
- าะพะฝะฐาะถะฐะนะปัะปัาัาฃัะท าฏััะฝ ัะฐั ะผะตั – Qonaqjaylฤฑlฤฑฤฤฑรฑฤฑz รผshin rahmet – Thank you for your hospitality
Useful Kazakh Phrases for Information
When seeking information, these Kazakh phrases can be your go-to. They’ll help you get the answers you need.
- ะะตะฝัาฃ ัาฑัะฐาัะผ ะฑะฐั – Meniรฑ suraฤฤฑm bar – I have a question
- ะาฑะป ะฝำััะตะฝั าะฐะทะฐาัะฐ าะฐะปะฐะน ะฐะนัะฐะดั? – Bul nรคrseni qazaqsha qalay aytady? – What is this called in Kazakh?
- ะำฉะฑััะตะบ ะฑะฐัั ัำฉะนะปะตะน ะฐะปะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Kรถbirek bayau sรถyley alasฤฑz ba? – Can you speak slower, please?
- ะะตะฝ าะฐะทะฐาัะฐ ะถะฐาัั ัำฉะนะปะตะน ะฐะปะผะฐะนะผัะฝ – Men qazaqsha jaqsy sรถyley almaฤฑmin – I do not speak Kazakh very well
- ะขาฏััะฝะฑะตะดัะผ – Tรผsinbemedim – I do not understand
- าะฐะนัะฐะปะฐะฟ ะฐะนัะฐ ะฐะปะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Qaytalap ayta alasฤฑz ba? – Can you repeat that please?
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ ะฐาะฟะฐัะฐั าะฐะถะตั – Maฤan aqparat qajet – I need information
- ะาะฟะฐัะฐั ะบะตาฃัะตัั าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Aqparat keรฑsesi qayda? – Where is the information office?
- ะาฑะป ะฝะต ะดะตะณะตะฝ ัำฉะท? – Bul ne degen sรถz? – What does this mean?
- าะฐะทัั าะฐะฝัะฐ ัะฐาะฐั? – Qazir qansha saฤat? – What time is it?
- ะกัะทะดัาฃ ัะปะตะบััะพะฝะดั ะฟะพััะฐาฃัะท าะฐะฝะดะฐะน? – Sizdiรฑ elektrondฤฑ poshtaลฤฑz qanday? – What’s your email address?
- ____-ะดั าะฐะทะฐาัะฐ าะฐะปะฐะน ะฐะนัะฐะดั? – ____-di qazaqsha qalay aytady? – How do you say ____ in Kazakh?
- ะาฑะป/ะกะพะป ะฝะต? – Bul/Sol ne? – What is this/that?
- ะะตะฝ ััะทะดัาฃ ัะตะปะตัะพะฝัาฃัะทะดั ะฟะฐะนะดะฐะปะฐะฝะฐ ะฐะปะฐะผัะฝ ะฑะฐ? – Men sizdiรฑ telefonyรฑฤฑzdy paydalana alamฤฑn ba? – Can I use your phone?
Useful Phrases for Directions in Kazakhstan
Navigate Kazakhstan’s diverse landscapes with these direction-specific phrases. Whether in bustling Almaty or the tranquil mountains, you’ll always find your way.
- …าะฐะนะดะฐ? – …qayda? – Where is the…?
- …าะฐะปะฐะน ะฑะฐััาะฐ ะฑะพะปะฐะดั? – …qalay baruฤa boladฤฑ? – How do I get to…?
- ะกัะท ะผะฐาะฐะฝ ะบะฐััะฐะดะฐ ะบำฉััะตัะต ะฐะปะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Siz maฤan kartada kรถrsete alasฤฑz ba? – Can you show me on the map?
- ะขัะบะตะปะตะน ะฐะปาะฐ ะถาฏััาฃัะท – Tikeley alฤa jรผriรฑiz – Go straight ahead
- ะาฃาะฐ/ะกะพะปาะฐ ะฑาฑััะปัาฃัะท – Oรฑฤa/Solฤa burฤฑlฤฑรฑฤฑz – Turn right/left
- ะาฑะป ะถะฐาัะฝ/ะฐะปัั – Bul jaqฤฑn/alฤฑs – It’s near/far
- ะาฑะป ะฑาฑัััััาฃ ะฐั ะถะฐาัะฝะดะฐ – Bul burฤฑลtฤฑรฑ ar jaฤฤฑnda – It’s around the corner
- ะาฑะป ะฑาฑััั – Bul burฤฑล – This is the corner
- …าะฐ ะถะตัั ะถะพะปั าะฐะน ะถะฐาัะฐ? – …qa jetu joly qay jaqta? – Which way is it to…?
- ะะตะฝ ะพะป ะถะตัะณะต ะถะฐัั ะฑะฐัะฐ ะฐะปะฐะผัะฝ ะฑะฐ ะฝะตะผะตัะต ัะฐะบัะธ าะฐะถะตั ะฟะต? – Men ol jerge jayau bara alamฤฑn ba nemese taksi qajet pe? – Can I walk there or do I need a taxi?
Basic Kazakh Phrases for Transportation
Travel smoothly across Kazakhstan with these transportation phrases. From buses and trains to taxis, and even the metro, they make getting around straightforward and stress-free.
- ะขะฐะบัะธ าะฐะนะดะฐะฝ ัะฐะฑะฐะผัะฝ? – Taksi qaydan tabamฤฑn? – Where can I get a taxi?
- …าะฐ ะฑะฐัั าะฐะฝัะฐ ัาฑัะฐะดั? – …ฤa baru qansha turadฤฑ? – How much does it cost to go to…?
- ะะตะฝ … ะฑะฐัาัะผ ะบะตะปะตะดั – Men … barฤฤฑm keledi – I want to go to…
- ะะฒัะพะฑัั ะฐัะปะดะฐะผะฐัั าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Avtobus ayaldamasy qayda? – Where is the bus stop?
- ะะฒัะพะฑัั ััะฐะฝัะธััั าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Avtobus stanciyasy qayda? – Where is the bus station?
- ะะตะปะตัั ะฟะพะนัะท าะฐัะฐะฝ ััาะฐะดั? – Kelesi poyฤฑz qashan ลฤฑฤadฤฑ? – What time does the next train leave?
- …าะฐ ะถะตัั าะฐะฝัะฐ ัะฐาัั ะฐะปะฐะดั? – …ฤa jetu qansha waqฤฑt aladฤฑ? – How long does it take to get to…?
- ำัะตะถะฐะนาะฐ าะฐะปะฐะน ะฑะฐัะฐะผัะฝ? – รwejaฤฑฤa qalay baramฤฑn? – How do I get to the airport?
- ะาฑะป ะฐะฒัะพะฑัั …าะฐ ะฑะฐัะฐะดั ะผะฐ? – Bul avtobus …ฤa baradฤฑ ma? – Does this bus go to…?
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ ะฐะนะฝะฐะปะผะฐ ะฑะธะปะตั าะฐะถะตั – Maฤan aรฝnalma bilet qajet – I need a round trip ticket
- ะะธะปะตััั าะฐะนะดะฐะฝ ะฐะปะฐะผัะฝ? – Biletti qaydan alamฤฑn? – Where do I buy tickets?
Key Phrases for Dining and Food in Kazakh
Kazakh cuisine revolves largely around meat and dairy products. The following dining phrases will help you navigate menus, order dishes, and talk about any dietary requirements, letting you enjoy the local cuisine to its fullest.
Savour the flavours of Kazakhstan with these phrases.
- ะะบั ะฐะดะฐะผาะฐ าฏััะตะป ะฑะพะปะฐ ะผะฐ? – Eki adamฤa รผstel bola ma? – Can I get a table for two?
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ ะผำะทััะดั ะบำฉััะตัะต ะฐะปะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Maฤan mรคzirdi kรถrsete alasฤฑz ba? – Can you please show me the menu?
- ะาฏะฝะฝัาฃ ัะฐาะฐะผั าะฐะฝะดะฐะน? – Kรผnniรฑ taฤamฤฑ qanday? – What is the dish of the day?
- ะะตะฝ … ะฐะปาัะผ ะบะตะปะตะดั – Men … alฤฤฑm keledi – I would like…
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ าะฐะฝะดะฐะน ัะฐาะฐะผ าฑััะฝะฐั ะตะดัาฃัะท? – Maฤan qanday taฤam usฤฑnar ediรฑiz? – Could you suggest something for me?
- าะฐะฝะดะฐะน ัะฐาะฐะผะดั าฑััะฝะฐั ะตะดัาฃัะท? – Qanday taฤamdฤฑ usฤฑnar ediรฑiz? – What do you recommend to eat?
- ะะตะฝ …-ะณะต ะฐะปะปะตัะณะธัะผ ะฑะฐั – Men …-ge allergiyam bar – I’m allergic to…
- ะาฑะป ัะฐาะฐะผะดะฐ … ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Bul taฤamda … bar ma? – Does this dish contain…?
- ะกัะทะดะต ะฒะตะณะตัะฐัะธะฐะฝะดัา/ะฒะตะณะฐะฝ ะพะฟัะธัะปะฐัั ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Sizde vegetariandฤฑq/vegan optsiyalary bar ma? – Do you have vegetarian/vegan options?
- ะะตะฝ ะตั/ะฑะฐะปัา/ัาฏั ำฉะฝัะผะดะตััะฝ ะถะตะผะตะนะผัะฝ – Men et/balyq/sรผt รถnimderin jemeymin – I donโt eat meat/fish/dairy
- ะาฑะป ะฒะตะณะตัะฐัะธะฐะฝะดะฐัาะฐ ะปะฐะนัา ะฟะฐ? – Bul vegetariandarฤa layฤฑq pa? – Is this suitable for vegetarians?
- ะาฑะป ะฝะต? – Bul ne? – What is this?
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ ะฑาฑะป าฑะฝะฐะนะดั – Maฤan bul unaฤฑdy – I like it
- ะัะตะฟ-ัะพััั ะฐะปะฐ ะฐะปะฐะผัะฝ ะฑะฐ? – Esep-shottฤฑ ala alamฤฑn ba? – Can I have the bill, please?
- ำจัะต ะดำะผะดั ะฑะพะปะดั! ะ ะฐั ะผะตั – รte dรคmdi boldy! Rahmet – It was delicious! Thank you
- าะฐะน าฏะน าะธะผัะทัะฝ ะฐัััาฃัะท ะบะตะปะต ะผะต? – Qay รผy qymyzyn artฤฑรฑyz kele me? – Would you like another round of kumis?
Useful Kazakh Phrases for Shopping and Bargaining
Shopping and bargaining in Kazakhzstan can be both exciting and daunting.
Whether you’re wandering in the vibrant Green Market of Almaty or shopping for handcrafted souvenirs in Shymkent, knowing these phrases will help a lot.
By engaging with the locals in their language, not only will you leave a positive impression but you might also end up getting better deals too.
- ะะตะฝ … ัะทะดะตะฟ ะถาฏัะผัะฝ – Men … izdep jรผrmin – I’m looking for…
- ะาฑะฝัาฃ ะฑะฐาะฐัั าะฐะฝัะฐ? – Bunฤฑรฑ baฤasฤฑ qansha? – How much does it cost?
- ะะตาฃัะปะดัะบ ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Jeรฑildik bar ma? – Is there any discount?
- ะะตาฃัะปะดัะบััาฃ ะผำฉะปัะตัั าะฐะฝัะฐ? – Jeรฑildiktiรฑ mรถlลeri qansha? – How much is the discount?
- ะาฑะป ััะผ าัะผะฑะฐั – Bul tym qymbat – That’s too expensive
- ะะฐาะฐััะฝ ัำฉะผะตะฝะดะตัะต ะฐะปะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Baฤasฤฑn tรถmendete alasฤฑz ba? – Can you lower the price?
- ะัะตะดะธั ะบะฐััะฐััะผะตะฝ ัำฉะปะตะน ะฐะปะฐะผัะฝ ะฑะฐ? – Kredit kartasฤฑmen tรถley alamฤฑn ba? – Can I pay with a credit card?
- ะขะตะบ าะพะปะผะฐ-าะพะป ะฐาัะฐะผะตะฝ – Tek qolma-qol aqลamen – Cash only
- ะาฑะฝัาฃ าฏะปะบะตะฝ ำฉะปัะตะผั ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Munฤฑรฑ รผlken รถlลemi bar ma? – Do you have this in a larger size?
- ะะฐัาะฐ ัาฏััะต ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Basqa tรผstะต bar ma? – Do you have this in another colour?
- ะะตะฝ ะฑาฑะฝั าะฐะนัะฐัาัะผ ะบะตะปะตะดั – Men bunฤฑ qaytarฤฤฑm keledi – I want to return this
- าะฐะนะดะฐ ะบะธัะผ ััะฝะฐั ะฑำฉะปะผะตะปะตัั ะฑะฐั? – Qayda kัim sฤฑnaั bรถlmeleri bar? – Where are the fitting rooms?
- ะะตััััาฃัะท, ััะฟะตัะผะฐัะบะตั าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Keshiriรฑiz, supermarkะตt qayda? – Excuse me, whereโs the supermarket?
- ะะธัะผ ะดาฏะบะตะฝั าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Kัim dรผkeni qayda? – Whereโs the clothing store?
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ ัำฉะผะบะต ะบะตัะตะบ – Maฤan sรถmke kerek – I need a bag
- ะะตัะณัะปัะบัั ำฉะฝัะผะดะตัะดั าะฐะนะดะฐะฝ ัะฐะฑะฐะผัะฝ? – Jergilikti รถnัmderdi qaydan tabamฤฑn? – Where can I find local products?
Essential Kazakh Phrases for Accommodation
Ensure you have a comfortable stay in Kazakhstan with these accommodation phrases. They’ll help you to communicate your needs effectively for a hassle-free experience.
- ะะพั ะฑำฉะปะผะตะปะตััาฃัะท ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Bos bรถlmeleriรฑiz bar ma? – Do you have any rooms available?
- ะขาฏะฝัะฝะต าะฐะฝัะฐ ัาฑัะฐะดั? – Tรผnine qansha turadฤฑ? – How much does it cost per night?
- ะะฐาะฐาะฐ ัะฐาฃาั ะฐั ะบััะตะดั ะผะต? – Baฤaฤa taรฑฤฤฑ as kiredi me? – Is breakfast included in the price?
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ ะตะบั ะพััะฝะดัา ะฑำฉะปะผะต าะฐะถะตั – Maฤan eki oryndฤฑq bรถlmะต qajet – I need a double room
- ะะบั ะถะฐััะฝ ะพััะฝะดั ะฑำฉะปะผะต ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Eki jatฤฑn oryndฤฑ bรถlmะต bar ma? – Is there a room with two beds?
- ะขะตะณัะฝ Wi-Fi ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Tegin Wi-Fi bar ma? – Is there free Wi-Fi?
- ะำฉะปะผะตะดะต ะบะพะฝะดะธัะธะพะฝะตั ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Bรถlmะตde kondicioner bar ma? – Is there air conditioning?
- ะะธัั าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Lift qayda? – Where is the elevator?
- ะกะฟะพัั ะทะฐะปั าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Sport zaly qayda? – Where is the gym?
- ะะตะฝ ะฑำฉะปะผะต ะฑัะพะฝะดะฐาัะผ ะบะตะปะตะดั – Men bรถlmะต brondaฤฤฑm keledi – I would like to book a room
- ะำฉะปะผะตะณะต าัะทะผะตั ะบำฉััะตัั ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Bรถlmegะต qyzmะตt kรถrsetu bar ma? – Is there room service?
- ะำฉะปะผะต ะปะฐั – Bรถlmะต las – The room is dirty
- ะาฑะป าะพะฝะฐา าฏะนะดะต ำฉะทัะผะดั าะฐััะฟััะท ัะตะทัะฝะตะผัะฝ – Bul qonaq รผyde รถzimdi qauipsiz sezัnemัn – I feel safe in this hotel
- ะกัะทะดะต ะฒะธะปะบะฐ ะฐะดะฐะฟัะตัั ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Sizdะต vilka adapteri bar ma? – Do you have a plug adaptor?
- ะะฐาัั ะบำฉััะฝััั ะฑะฐั ะฑำฉะปะผะต าะฐะปะฐะนะผัะฝ – Jaqsy kรถriลisi bar bรถlmะต qalaymyn – I want a room with a nice view
- ะำฉะปะผะตะดะต าะฐััะฟััะท ัะตะนั ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – Bรถlmะตde qauipsiz seyf bar ma? – Is there a safe in the room?
- ะะตะฝั ัะฐาฃาั (ะถะตััะดะต) ะพััะฐััะท ะฑะฐ? – Meni taรฑฤฤฑ (jetide) oyatasฤฑz ba? – Can you wake me up at (Seven) a.m.?
- ะกำะฑะธ าฏััะฝ ะฑะตััะบ ะบะตัะตะบ – Sรคbi รผshin besik kerek – I need a crib for the baby
- ะจัาั ัะฐาััั าะฐัะฐะฝ? – ลฤฑวตu waqฤฑtฤฑ qashan? – Whatโs the check-out time?
Learning Kazakh Phrases for Emergency Situations
It’s sensible to familiarise yourself with a few key phrases related to emergencies, wherever you’re travelling.
Whether you need help, are stuck in an unpredictable situation, or have a medical emergency, the following phrases could make all the difference.
- ะำฉะผะตะบ ะบะตัะตะบ – Kรถmek kerek – I need help
- ะะตะฝ ะดะฐะนัะฝััะทะผัะฝ – Men daฤฑynsฤฑzmin – I am unwell
- ะะตะดะตะป ะฐะฟะฐั – Jedel apat – It’s an emergency
- ะะพะปะธัะตะนะดั ัะฐาััั – Polฤฑceฤญdi ลaqฤฑru – Call the police
- ะะฟัะตะบ าะฐะนะดะฐ – Aptek qayda – Where is the pharmacy?
- ำจะบัะฝััะบะต ะพัะฐะน, ะฟะพะถะฐั – รkinishke oraฤฑ, pojara – Fire, fire!
- ะัะดะฐะฝัาฃ าะพัาะฐััััััะฝ ัะฐาััั – Audanฤฑรฑ qorฤauฤฑลฤฑsฤฑn ลaqฤฑru – Call an ambulance
- ะะตะฝ ะถะฐะทะฐ าะฐะฑัะปะดะฐะดัะผ – Men jaza qabฤฑldadฤฑm – I had an accident
- ะะตะฝ ะถะฐัะฐะผัะฝ – Men jatamฤฑn – I am lost
- ะะฐาะฐะฝ ะฐัััั ะฐะฝะฐ ะบะตัะตะบ – Maฤan auruhana kerek – I need a hospital
- ะำััะณะตั ัะฐาััั – Dรคriger ลaqฤฑru – Call a doctor
- ะำฉะผะตะบ ะตั, าะฐาฃาั – ะรถmek et, qaรฑฤฤฑ – Help, thief!
Kazakh Question Words
Unlock deeper conversations with these Kazakh question words. Ideal for engaging with locals, they’ll help you delve into the culture and history of Kazakhstan.
- ะะต? – Ne? – What?
- าะฐะนะดะฐ? – Qayda? – Where?
- าะฐัะฐะฝ? – Qashan? – When?
- ะัะผ? – Kim? – Who?
- ะะตะณะต? – Nege? – Why?
- าะฐะปะฐะน? – Qalay? – How?
- าะฐะนัั? – Qaysy? – Which?
- าะฐะฝัะฐ? – Qansha? – How much?
- ะะตัะต? – Neshe? – How many?
- ะัะผะฝัะบั? – Kimniki? – Whose?
- าะฐะฝัะฐ/ะะตัะต? – Qansha/Neshe? – How much/How many?
- ะาฑะป…ะผะฐ? – Bul…ma? – Is itโฆ?
- …ัััะตะน ะฐะปะฐ ะผะฐ? – …istey ala ma? – Can
- …ะฑะพะปะฐ ะผะฐ? – …bola ma? – Will
- ะาฑะป ะฝะต? – Bul ne? – What is this?
- ะาฑะป ะบัะผ? – Bul kim? – Who is that?
- ะาฑะป าะฐะปะฐะน? – Bul qalay? – How is it?
- ะาฑะป ะฝะตะณะต? – Bul nege? – Why is it?
- ะาฑะป ะฝะตะณะต? – Bul nege? – Why this?
- …ัััะฝะดะต ะฝะต ะฑะฐั? – …ishinde ne bar? – What is in โฆ?
- … าะฐะนะดะฐ? – … qayda? – Where is โฆ?
- … ะฑะฐั ะผะฐ? – … bar ma? – Is there a โฆ?
Understanding the Cyrillic Alphabet
Kazakh uses the Cyrillic alphabet, just like Kyrgyz and Russian. In recent years Kazakhstan has started making moves towards officially adopting the Latin alphabet instead.
However, for now, Cyrillic is the main form of writing used throughout the country. So, it’s helpful to familiarise yourself with this alphabet to help you read signs, bus destinations, menus and more.
Here’s a guide to the Cyrillic alphabet with translations for each letter, presented in both capital and lowercase forms.
- ะ ะฐ – A a
- ะ ะฑ – B b
- ะ ะฒ – V v
- ะ ะณ – G g
- ะ ะด – D d
- ะ ะต – Ye ye
- ะ ั – Yo yo (Note: Rarely used in Kazakh and Kyrgyz)
- ะ ะถ – Zh zh
- ะ ะท – Z z
- ะ ะธ – I i
- ะ ะน – Y y (Short i)
- ะ ะบ – K k
- ะ ะป – L l
- ะ ะผ – M m
- ะ ะฝ – N n
- ะ ะพ – O o
- ะ ะฟ – P p
- ะ ั – R r
- ะก ั – S s
- ะข ั – T t
- ะฃ ั – U u
- ะค ั – F f
- ะฅ ั – Kh kh
- ะฆ ั – Ts ts
- ะง ั – Ch ch
- ะจ ั – Sh sh
- ะฉ ั – Shch shch
- ะช ั – Hard Sign (Not commonly used in modern Kazakh or Kyrgyz)
- ะซ ั – Y y (Specific to Kazakh and Kyrgyz)
- ะฌ ั – Soft Sign
- ะญ ั – E e
- ะฎ ั – Yu yu
- ะฏ ั – Ya ya
Practice Makes Perfect: Tips for Remembering Kazakh Phrases
Learning Kazakh, like any language, doesn’t happen overnight. It requires patience, practice, and repetition.
Personally, I find flashcards can be really helpful for this. I jot down Kazakh phrases on one side and their English translations on the other.
This encourages active recall, which helps strengthen your neural pathways and makes learning more effective.
Moreover, associating phrases with particular circumstances or visual hints can speed up the learning process considerably.
Take, for example, a phrase regarding eating out. Try visualizing the scenario in your head, interact with it, and you’ll find that the phrase comes to you more naturally over time.
Additionally, try and use these phrases in your daily routine. It will make learning more practical and interactive.
Numbers in Kazakh
Understanding the Kazakh numbering system is useful in a wide range of scenarios, especially when it comes to transactions, discussing times, and navigating transportation.
Below is a list of simple numbers along with some larger ones:
- ะำฉะป – Nรถl – 0
- ะัั – Bir – 1
- ะะบั – Eki – 2
- าฎั – รล – 3
- ะขำฉัั – Tรถrt – 4
- ะะตั – Bes – 5
- ะะปัั – Alty – 6
- ะะตัั – Jeti – 7
- ะกะตะณัะท – Segiz – 8
- ะขะพาัะท – Toฤฤฑz – 9
- ะะฝ – On – 10
- ะะฝ ะฑัั – On bir – 11
- ะะฝ ะตะบั – On eki – 12
- ะะฝ าฏั – On รผล – 13
- ะะฝ ัำฉัั – On tรถrt – 14
- ะะฝ ะฑะตั – On bes – 15
- ะะฝ ะฐะปัั – On alty – 16
- ะะฝ ะถะตัั – On jeti – 17
- ะะฝ ัะตะณัะท – On segiz – 18
- ะะฝ ัะพาัะท – On toฤฤฑz – 19
- ะะธััะผะฐ – Jiyrma – 20
- ะััะท – Otyz – 30
- าัััา – Qyryq – 40
- ะะปั – Elu – 50
- ะะปะฟัั – Alpys – 60
- ะะตัะฟัั – Jetpis – 70
- ะกะตะบัะตะฝ – Seksen – 80
- ะขะพาัะฐะฝ – Toqsan – 90
- ะาฏะท – Jรผz – 100
- ะัาฃ – Myรฑ – 1,000
- ะะฝ ะผัาฃ – On myรฑ – 10,000
- ะาฏะท ะผัาฃ – Jรผz myรฑ – 100,000
- ะัั ะผะธะปะปะธะพะฝ – Bir million – 1,000,000
To form numbers in between these, you combine the tens and units. For example:
- “Twenty-one” is ะะธััะผะฐ ะฑัั (Jiyrma bir) (20 + 1)
- “Thirty-two” is ะััะท ะตะบั (Otyz eki) (30 + 2)
For numbers in the hundreds, thousands, and beyond, combine the larger number with the smaller. For instance:
- “One hundred and twenty-three” is ะาฏะท ะถะธััะผะฐ าฏั (Jรผz jiyrma รผล)
- “Two thousand and nineteen” is ะะบั ะผัาฃ ะพะฝ ัะพาัะท (Eki myรฑ on toฤฤฑz)
See Also
Check out some of my other posts on learning Turkic languages for travel:
Final Thoughts
With these Kazakh words and phrases in your toolkit, you’re ready to explore the rich culture and stunning landscapes of Kazakhstan.
Kazakh is a wonderful language that can open doors and provide a great foundation for adventurous travel. Knowing some basic words and phrases will help make the experience easier and even more meaningful.
Finally, if you want to take your Kazakh learning to the next level, check out the Central Eurasian Studies Summer Institute (CESSI) website.
Essential Travel Resources
๐๏ธ Book cheap hotels
I always use Booking.com to find the best hotel deals. Vrbo is great for short-term apartments.
๐ Find cheap rental cars
Check both Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com to find cheap rental cars.
๐ Book the best tours
Viator and GetYourGuide have a huge selection of tours in virtually every destination worldwide.
โ๏ธ Find cheap flights
I use a combination of Skyscanner and Google Flights to find cheap flights.
๐ฑ eSIMs
Airalo is my favourite travel eSIM provider – I’ve used it in over 10 countries and really rate it. So much easier than buying physical SIM cards when you travel!
๐ Do I need travel insurance?
YES! Never travel without adequate travel insurance. It’s just not worth the risk.
• SafetyWing – if you’re a digital nomad like me, SafetyWing is super flexible and affordable. You can sign up for as little or as long as you want, and activate and deactivate it whenever you need to. I’ve made several claims in the last few years and thoroughly recommend this company.
• World Nomads – for adventurous travellers, covers 200+ activities that many other insurers won’t, such as skydiving, heli-skiing, rock climbing, rafting, scuba diving, cliff jumping, and kiteboarding (not available for residents of every country – check here).
๐ป Do I need a VPN?
YES! Always use a VPN when using public WiFi (in airports, cafes, hotels, stations, etc.). This helps protect your personal information and also bypasses internet censorship and restrictions in certain countries. I use NordVPN and highly recommend it.