Abkhaz (Аҧсуа бызшәа) is a Caucasian language spoken primarily in Abkhazia. It is an extremely difficult language to read, which requires a lot of labialization.

Pronunciation guide

In the alphabet, whilst coming across a 'ә' letter, you need to labialize it. To do this, round your lips as if you are trying to whistle, and utter the letter you are trying to say. There are many occasions where you are going to encounter this, and below is the alphabet from where it is present. Like Russian, when a reader comes across a 'ь', you need to pronounce the word heavily.

А а

'a' as in "air"

Б б

'b' as in "bar"

В в

'v' as in "vent"

Г г

'g' as in "game"

Гь гь

Hard 'g'

Гә гә

Labialized 'g'

Ӷ ӷ

'gh' as in "gamble"

Ӷь ӷь

Hard 'gh'

Ӷә ӷә

Labialized 'gh'

Д д

'd' as in 'dangle'

Дә дә

Labialized 'd'

Е е

'e' as in 'everybody'

Ж ж

'zh' like 'leisure'

Жь жь

Hard 'zh'

Жә жә

Labialized 'zh'

З з

'z' as in 'zebra'

Ӡ ӡ

'dz' like 'pizza'

Ӡә ӡә

Labialized 'dz'

И и

'ee' as in 'eel'

К к

'k' as in 'cancer'

Кь кь

Hard 'k'

Кә кә

Labialized 'k'

Қ қ

'q' as in 'Qatar'

Қь қь

Hard 'q'

Қә қә

Labialized 'q'

Ҟ ҟ

'q' as in 'Qatar'

Ҟьҟь

Hard 'q'

Ҟә ҟә

Labialized 'q'

Л л

'l' as in 'leg'

М м

'm' as in 'meet'

Н н

'n' as in 'nod'

О о

'o' as in 'orange'

П п

'p' as in 'peel'

Ҧ ҧ

Hard 'p'

Р р

'r' as in 'ring'

С с

's' as in 'sea'

Т т

't' as in 'tea'

Тә тә

Labialized 't'

Ҭҭ

'th' as in 'thanks'

Ҭә ҭә

Labialized 'th'

У у

'u' like 'pool'

ф Ф

'f' as in 'find'

Х х

'kh' like cage

Хь хь

Hard 'kh'

Хә хә

Labialized 'kh'

Ҳ ҳ

'h' as in 'hello'

Ҳә ҳә

Labialized 'h'

Ц ц

'ts' as in lets

Цә цә

Labialized 'ts'

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Common signs OPEN ИААРТУП CLOSED иаркуп ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH PULL TOILET MEN Аха́ҵа WOMEN Аҧҳәы́с FORBIDDEN

Hello.

Бзиа збаша. (Bzia zbaşa )

Hello. (informal)

. ( )

How are you?

Ушҧаҟоу? (Uşpakou ?)

Fine, thank you.

итабуп ибзианы. ( itabup ibziani )

What is your name?

(to a man) Уара́ иу́хьӡузеи? (to a woman) Бара́ ибы́хьӡузеи? (“WaRA YUkhdzuzey? BaRA ibYKHdzuzey?”)

My name is ______ .

Сара́ ______ сы́хӡуп. (“SaRA _____ SYKHdzup”)

Nice to meet you.

. )’’ ‘‘_

Please.

. )’’ ‘‘_

Thank you.

. ( )

You're welcome.

. ( )

Yes.

Ааи. (Aye. )

No.

Мап. ( Map’)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

. ( )

Goodbye

Абзи́араз. (AbZIAraz.)

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I can't speak Abkhaz [well].

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

 ? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

 ? ( ?)

Help!

 ! ( !)

Look out!

 ! ( !)

Good morning.

Шьыжьбзи́а(қәа). (ShyzhbZIAkwa. ) – The ending -kwa is for multiple people.

Good evening.

Хәлыбзи́а(қәа). (KhwlybZIAkwa.)

Good night.

. ( )

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

. ( )

Where is the toilet?

 ? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.

. ( .)

Don't touch me!

 ! ( !)

I'll call the police.

. ( .)

Police!

 ! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

 ! ! ( ! !)

I need your help.

. ( .)

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

. ( .)

I lost my bag.

. ( .)

I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

. ( .)

I've been injured.

. ( .)

I need a doctor.

. ( .)

Can I use your phone?

 ? ( ?)

Numbers

1 - aky – акы́

2 - ôba - ҩба

3 - hpa - хҧа

4 - pshba - ҧшьба

5 - huba - хәба

6 - fba - фба

7 – byĵba - быжьба́

8 - aaba - ааба́

9 - juba - жәба

10 - juwaba - жәаба́

20 - ôajui - ҩажәа́

30 - ôajui juwaba - ҩажәи ́жәаба́

40 - ôynôajua - ҩы́нҩажәа

50 - ôynôajui juwaba - ҩы́нҩажәи жәаба́

60 - hynôajui - хынҩажәа́

70 - hynôajui juwaba - хынҩажәи́ жәаба́

80 - pshynôajui - ҧшьы́нҩажәа

90 - pshynôajui juwaba - ҧшьы́нҩажәи жәаба́

100 - шәкы

200 - óysha - ҩышә

500 - huysha - хәышә

1000 - zkîy - зқьы

Time

now

( )

later

Нас (Nas )

before

( )

morning

( )

afternoon

ҽы́нла ( )

evening

уахы́нла( )

night

а́ҵх( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM

саа́́ҭк. ( )

two o'clock AM

ҩсаа́ҭк. ( )

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

___амш__ day(s)

( amsh)

_____ week(s)

( )

__амза___ month(s)

( amza)

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

иахьа́ ( )

yesterday

иахы́ ( )

tomorrow

уаҵәа́шьҭахь ( )

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

амҽы́ша ( )

Monday

ашәахьа́( )

Tuesday

аҩа́ша ( )

Wednesday

аха́ша ( )

Thursday

аҧшьа́ша( )

Friday

ахәа́ша ( )

Saturday

аса́бша ( )

Months

January

жьырны́ҳәа

February

жәабра́н

March

жәажәкы́ра

April

мшаҧы́

May

лаҵара́

June

рашәара́

July

ҧхынгәы́

August

на́нҳәа

September

цәыббра́

October

жьҭаара́

November

абҵара́

December

ҧхынҷкәы́н

Colors

black

а́иқәаҵәа

white

а́шкәакәа

gray

ацәы́ш

red

а́ҟаҧшь

blue

а́иаҵәа

yellow

ахьыҧштәы́

green

ашьа́цҧштәы

orange

апатырқа́лҧштәы

purple

адәыкры́нҧштәы

pink

агәи́лҧхтәы

brown

а́хьаҧштәы

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

à la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want ___сара истахуп__.

(sara istakhup )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

акәты́жь ( )

beef

( )

fish

(апсыӡ )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

ашә ( )

eggs

акәта́ӷь ( )

salad

асала́ҭ( )

(fresh) vegetables

ауҭраҭы́хқәа ( )

(fresh) fruit

ашәы́р ( )

bread

ача́ ( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

аҟәы́д( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

ача́и ( )

juice

аӡы́ ( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

аӡы(azi)

beer

ауара́ш ( )

red/white wine

аҩы́ ( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

аџьыкахы́ш( )

black pepper

( )

butter

а́хәша ( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

даара ихаан (daara ikhaan )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

ауадка(auadka)

rum

( )

water

аӡы( azi)

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )