I can say hello and goodbye to a friend and to an older person, ask “how are you?”, say thank you, apologize, and answer “you're welcome” — without mixing up sen and siz.
Salom and Assalomu alaykum: sen and siz
Salom and Assalomu alaykum: sen and siz
Why: say hello, ask “how are you?”, say thank you, apologize, and say goodbye — to a friend and to an older person.
English has one “you”; Uzbek has two. Sen (you, informal) is for a friend, someone your age, a child. Siz (you, formal) is for one person, politely: an adult you don't know, a teacher, a doctor. To anyone older than you — only siz.
The phrase depends on it (see the table):
• to a friend: Salom! Yaxshimisan? Qalaysan?
• formally: Assalomu alaykum! Yaxshimisiz? Qalaysiz?
The reply to Assalomu alaykum is Vaalaykum assalom, not the same greeting back. In the morning, afternoon, and evening you can also say: Xayrli tong! Xayrli kun! Xayrli kech!
Uzbek has two words for “please”: iltimos when you ask; marhamat when you offer, invite, or allow.
The reply to Rahmat is Arzimaydi; the reply to Kechirasiz is Hechqisi yoʻq.
Learn the phrases as a whole: we'll take them apart later.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Salom! Qalaysan?” to an elderly neighbor → Assalomu alaykum! Qalaysiz?
• NOT “Iltimos!” when handing someone tea → Marhamat!
• NOT “yoʻq yaxshi” meaning “bad” → yomon. Yoʻq is “no” as an answer to a question.
One situation, two phrases
To older people and strangers, only the right-hand column.
| What to say | to a friend (sen) | formal (siz) |
|---|---|---|
| say hello | Salom! | Assalomu alaykum! |
| ask how someone is | Yaxshimisan? Qalaysan? | Yaxshimisiz? Qalaysiz? |
| say goodbye | Xayr! Koʻrishguncha! | Xayr! Koʻrishguncha! Sogʻ boʻling! |
Greetings by time of day, and more
| When | What people say |
|---|---|
| in the morning | Xayrli tong! |
| in the afternoon | Xayrli kun! |
| in the evening | Xayrli kech! |
| to a guest (formal) | Xush kelibsiz! |
| in reply to Assalomu alaykum | Vaalaykum assalom! |
Polite pairs: a line and its reply
Iltimos — when you ask; Marhamat — when you offer, invite, or allow.
| Situation | What people say | What people reply |
|---|---|---|
| you thank someone | Rahmat! | Arzimaydi. |
| you thank someone warmly | Katta rahmat! | Arzimaydi. |
| you apologize (formal) | Kechirasiz! | Hechqisi yoʻq. |
| you ask for something | Iltimos! | Marhamat! |
| you offer, invite | Marhamat! | Rahmat! |
| “yes” and “no” in an answer | Ha. | Yoʻq. |
Lesson notes
Salom and Assalomu alaykum: sen and siz
Why: say hello, ask “how are you?”, say thank you, apologize, and say goodbye — to a friend and to an older person.
English has one “you”; Uzbek has two. Sen (you, informal) is for a friend, someone your age, a child. Siz (you, formal) is for one person, politely: an adult you don't know, a teacher, a doctor. To anyone older than you — only siz.
The phrase depends on it (see the table):
• to a friend: Salom! Yaxshimisan? Qalaysan?
• formally: Assalomu alaykum! Yaxshimisiz? Qalaysiz?
The reply to Assalomu alaykum is Vaalaykum assalom, not the same greeting back. In the morning, afternoon, and evening you can also say: Xayrli tong! Xayrli kun! Xayrli kech!
Uzbek has two words for “please”: iltimos when you ask; marhamat when you offer, invite, or allow.
The reply to Rahmat is Arzimaydi; the reply to Kechirasiz is Hechqisi yoʻq.
Learn the phrases as a whole: we'll take them apart later.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Salom! Qalaysan?” to an elderly neighbor → Assalomu alaykum! Qalaysiz?
• NOT “Iltimos!” when handing someone tea → Marhamat!
• NOT “yoʻq yaxshi” meaning “bad” → yomon. Yoʻq is “no” as an answer to a question.