Bashkir (башҡорт теле) is a Turkic language, spoken in Bashkortostan, a republic in Russia.

Pronunciation guide and Alphabet

The Bashkir alphabet is almost identical to the Russian alphabet. The differences are italicized in the list below: the Bashkir alphabet has several additional letters, and some letters that are pronounced slightly differently from their Russian counterparts. Some letters are striken through; they are included for completeness, but are not found in native Bashkir words, only Russian loanwoards.

Аа

like English father (IPA: ɑ)

Бб

like boy (IPA: b)

Вв

like won (IPA: w)

Гг

like Russian гь, somewhat like English geek (IPA: ɟ)

Ғғ

guttural R, such as in French (IPA: ʁ)

Дд

like do (IPA: d)

Ҙҙ

like that (IPA: ð)

Ее

like yesterday (IPA: je)

Ёё

like yore (IPA: jɵ)

Жж

like English measure (IPA: ʒ)

Зз

like zoo (IPA: z)

Ии

like machine (IPA: i)

Йй

like boy (IPA: j)

Кк

like kite (IPA: k)

Ҡҡ

like Arabic Qatar; a k-sound further back in the mouth (IPA: q)

Лл

somewhat like English like (IPA: l)

Мм

like seem (IPA: m)

Нн

like net (IPA: n)

Ңң

like sing (IPA: ŋ)

Оо

like score (IPA: o)

Өө

German ö; е pronounced with the upper lip rounded back (IPA: ø)

Пп

like spigot (IPA: p)

Рр

heavily rolled as in Spanish rr in perro (IPA: r)

Сс

like sailor (IPA: s)

Ҫҫ

like think (IPA: θ)

Тт

like tattoo (IPA: t)

Уу

like cartoon (IPA: u)

Үү

French or German y, ü; и pronounced with the upper lip rounded back (IPA: y)

Фф

like finish (IPA: f)

Хх

a guttural sound, moreso than the Russian, as in German Bach (IPA: χ)

Һһ

like help (IPA: h)

Цц

like boots (IPA: t͡s)

Чч

like cheap (IPA: t͡ɕ)

Шш

like English shot (IPA: ʃ)

Щщ

The same as ш

Ыы

somewhat like a curt gut (IPA: [ɤ̆~ʌ̆])

Ээ

like the letter е above

Әә

like apple (IPA: æ)

Юю

like Yugoslavia (IPA: ju)

Яя

like yacht, with the а pronunciation given above (IPA: jɑ)

Notice that some of these differences (А, Ж, and Ш) are closer to some sounds in English than the corresponding sounds in Russian, and so should be easier to pronounce.

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 asYIk (a like Russian a, yi like Russian ы, k like in Arabic) CLOSED yabYIk (a like Russian a, yi like Russian ы, k like in Arabic) ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH etAr (e like in pen, a like in man) PULL TOILET bathrAf (a like in man, th like in that) MEN WOMEN FORBIDDEN

Hello.

Сәләм. ( Säläm.)

Hello. (informal)

. ('salAm' 'a like in man')

How are you?

Бәләкәс нисек? ( Bäläkäs nisek?)

Fine, thank you.

Яҡшы, рәхмәт. ( Yaqşı, räxmät.)

What is your name?

Һеҙҙең исемегеҙ нисек? ( Heźźeñ isemegeź nisek?)

My name is ______ .

Минең исемем ______ . ( Mineñ isemem ______ . )

Nice to meet you.

Һәйбәт таныштырҙы. ( Häybät tanıştırźı.)

Please.

Зинһар. ( Zinhar.)

Thank you.

Рәхмәт. ( Räxmät.)

You're welcome.

Зинһар. ( Zinhar.)

Yes.

D. ( Д.)

No.

Юҡ ( Yuq.)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

. ( )

Goodbye

. ( )

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I can't speak Bashkir [well].

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

 ? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

 ? ( ?)

Help!

 ! ( !)

Look out!

 ! ( !)

Good morning.

. ( )

Good evening.

. ( )

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

('ber' 'e like in pen')

2

('ikE' 'E like in pen')

3

( )

4

('durt')

5

('bish')

6

( )

7

('ete' 'yetE')

8

('higEth' 'th like in that')

9

( )

10

( )

11

( )

12

( )

13

( )

14

( )

15

( )

16

( )

17

( )

18

( )

19

( )

20

( )

21

( )

22

( )

23

( )

30

( )

40

( )

50

( )

60

( )

70

( )

80

( )

90

( )

100

( )

200

( )

300

( )

1,000

( )

2,000

( )

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

( )

less

( )

more

( )

Time

now

( )

later

( )

before

( )

morning

( )

afternoon

( )

evening

( )

night

( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM

( )

two o'clock AM

( )

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

( )

yesterday

( )

tomorrow

( )

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

( )

Monday

( )

Tuesday

( )

Wednesday

( )

Thursday

( )

Friday

( )

Saturday

( )

Months

January

( )

February

( )

March

( )

April

( )

May

( )

June

( )

July

( )

August

( )

September

( )

October

( )

November

( )

December

( )

Colors

black

ҡара (kah-RAH )

white

аҡ (ah-KH )

gray

һоро (hoh-ORO )

red

ҡыҙыл (quh-DHUHL )

blue

күк (kh-OOKH)

yellow

һары (hah-RUH )

green

йәшел (yae-SHEL )

orange

ҡыҙғылт һары (quh-DHEGH-uhlt-HAH-ruh )

purple

зәңгәр күк (zaeng-GAER-k-OOK )

pink

алһыу (ahl-HUH )

brown

көрән (koe-RAEN )

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

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

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

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

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?

( )