Lesson 2. Ismingiz nima?: what's your name

I can say my name, ask the other person's name, introduce someone, and address an older person and a teacher politely.

Mening ismim …: names, introductions, and forms of address

Why: say your name, ask the other person's name, introduce someone, and address an older person politely. Name is ism. Learn four set phrases — four forms of this word (see the table): • Mening ismim … — My name is … • Sening isming nima? — What's your name? (informal) • Sizning ismingiz nima? — What's your name? (formal) • Uning ismi … — His (her) name is … The first word can be left out: Ismingiz nima? Ask about a name with nima (what), about a person with kim (who). The question word stands where the answer will be, not first as in English: Bu kim? — Bu Mohira opa. U qoʻshni. Here bu is “this”, u is “he” or “she”; there is no word for “is”. Va is “and”: Bu Anna va Ivan. Introductions: Tanishing: bu Akmal aka. — Tanishganimdan xursandman. To an older person, say the first name and a word of respect — aka (to a man) or opa (to a woman). Unlike Mr. or Ms., it comes after the name and is lowercase. To a teacher — ustoz, without the name. With these forms of address, only siz. Qiz means “girl” (not a quiz); you'll learn its second meaning later. Common mistakes: • NOT “Sizning ism nima?” → Sizning ismingiz nima? • NOT “Ismingiz kim?” → Ismingiz nima? • NOT “Opa Dilnoza” → Dilnoza opa. • NOT “Akmal aka, qalaysan?” → Akmal aka, qalaysiz?

Four forms of the word ism

Both words change — learn them as a pair.

Whose name	Phrase	Translation
my	Mening ismim …ism + im	My name is …
your (informal)	Sening isming nima?ism + ing	What's your name? (informal)
your (formal)	Sizning ismingiz nima?ism + ingiz	What's your name? (formal)
his, her	Uning ismi …ism + i	His (her) name is …

Name and word of respect

The word of respect comes after the name and is written lowercase. With it, use only siz.

To whom	Word after the name	Example
to a man older than you	aka	Akmal aka
to a woman older than you	opa	Dilnoza opa
to a teacher	ustoz (without the name)	Rahmat, ustoz!
to a university teacher (recognition only for now)	domla	Rahmat, domla!

Lesson notes

Mening ismim …: names, introductions, and forms of address

Why: say your name, ask the other person's name, introduce someone, and address an older person politely. Name is ism. Learn four set phrases — four forms of this word (see the table): • Mening ismim … — My name is … • Sening isming nima? — What's your name? (informal) • Sizning ismingiz nima? — What's your name? (formal) • Uning ismi … — His (her) name is … The first word can be left out: Ismingiz nima? Ask about a name with nima (what), about a person with kim (who). The question word stands where the answer will be, not first as in English: Bu kim? — Bu Mohira opa. U qoʻshni. Here bu is “this”, u is “he” or “she”; there is no word for “is”. Va is “and”: Bu Anna va Ivan. Introductions: Tanishing: bu Akmal aka. — Tanishganimdan xursandman. To an older person, say the first name and a word of respect — aka (to a man) or opa (to a woman). Unlike Mr. or Ms., it comes after the name and is lowercase. To a teacher — ustoz, without the name. With these forms of address, only siz. Qiz means “girl” (not a quiz); you'll learn its second meaning later. Common mistakes: • NOT “Sizning ism nima?” → Sizning ismingiz nima? • NOT “Ismingiz kim?” → Ismingiz nima? • NOT “Opa Dilnoza” → Dilnoza opa. • NOT “Akmal aka, qalaysan?” → Akmal aka, qalaysiz?