Uyghur (ئۇيغۇرچە/Uyƣurqə/уйғурчә) is mostly spoken in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of northwestern China, with further native speakers numbering about 30,000 found in neighbouring Kazakhstan.

Pronunciation guide

Uyghur pronunciation is fairly straightforward except for the sounds "gh" and "kh" which might need some practice.

A, a - "ah" as in "army". This can be short as "a" in "about".

E, e - short as "a" in "cat" or long as "a" in "cape" or "bate"

É, é - short as in "hen" or long as in "game"

I, i - "ih" as in "sit" or "ee" as in "seat"

O, o - short as in "not" or long as in "note"

Ö, ö - same as in German, similar to "er" in "her"

U, u - short as in "book" or long as in "groove"

Ü, ü - same as in German, similar to "u" in "confusion"

Uighur has 8 vowels in unison.

B, b - as in "bunk"

D, d - as in "death"

F, f - as in "fold"

G, g - as in "get" or "give" (This is always pronounced hard in Uighur.)

H, h' - as in "heart", same as "ch" in Scottish "loch"

J, j - like the "g" in "mirage". This may sound like "j" in "Japan".

K, k - as in "kill"

L, l - as in "lemon"

M, m - as in "Mexico"

N, n - as in "Nicaragua" (Never the "ng" sound of "pink"! Uyghur has another letter that is the "ng" sound of "pink".)

P, p - as in "Pakistan"

Q, q - as in "Qatar", similar to "c" in "can" or "g" in "garden"

R, r - a rolling "r" sound, as in Spanish "burrito"

S, s - as in "stress"

T, t - as in "taco"

V, v - This was used in the Old Uighur Latin Alphabet, and it had the sound of "w" in "word" or "v" in "victory".

W, w - as in "whisky". This sounds more like "v" in victory (just like German w).

X, x - like "ch" in "loch", similar to "h" in "Hiroshima"

Y, y - as in "Yemen". This may become a vowel, as in "Uyghur" (pronounced "Uighur" in the Uighur language)

Z, z - as in "zoo", same as "s" in "nose"

CH, ch - as in "chair" (always hard in Uighur)

GH, gh - guttural "gh" sound; pronounced at the back of the throat like French "r"

KH, kh - See "X, x" above.

NG, ng - Like both "ng" in "singing", not like "ng" in "finger" (That is the NGG, ngg, which is pronounced like 'ng' in 'finger'.)

SH, sh - as in "Shibuya"

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 ئوچۇق(ochuq) CLOSED تاقاق(taqaq) ENTRANCE Entrance EXIT PUSH ئىتتىرىڭ(eattiring) PULL تارتىڭ(tarting) TOILET ۅاجەتانا MEN ئەرلار(erler) WOMEN ئايالار(ayallar) FORBIDDEN مەنئى قىلىنعان

Hello. (Greeting)

Ässalamu läykum.

Hello. (Answering)

Wä'äläykum ässalam.

How are you?

Yakshimasiz?

How are you?

Qandaq ahwalingiz?

Fine, thank you.

Yakhshi.

Thank you.

Rakhmat.

Hi! = Yahshimusiz!

Good morning! Atiganlikingz khayrilik bolsun

Good evening! Kachlikingz khayrilik bolsun

Welcome! (to greet someone) Qarshi alimiz !

How are you? Yahshi mu siz ?

I'm fine, thanks! = Yahshi, rahmat!

Good/ So-So. = Yahshi/ Balan.

Thank you (very much)! = Kop rahmat!

You're welcome! (for "thank you") = Tuzut Qilmang!

Hey! Friend! = Hei! Adash,aghin!

I missed you so much! = Sizni bak seghinip kattim!

What's new? = Nima boldi?

Nothing much! = Eich ish!

Good night! = Kachlikingz khayrilik bolsun

See you later! = Kiyin korishayli!

Good bye! = Khayr khosh!

Asking for Help and Directions

I'm lost! = Man ezip Qaldim.

Can I help you? = Sizga yardam kirakmu?

Can you help me? = Manga yardam Qlarsizmu?

Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)? = Hajatkhana/ dorikhana Qayarda?

Go straight! then turn left/ right! = Udul minging! Anden solgha burlung/ong gha !

I'm looking for John.' = Man Jon ni izdawatiman.

One moment please! = Birdam saqlap turung!

Hold on please!(phone) = Birdam kutup turung!

How much is this? = Buning bahasi Qancha?

Excuse me ...! (to ask for something) = Kachurung .....! Excuse me! ( to pass by) = Kachurung .....! Come with me! = Buyaqqa kiling / Man bilan billa minging!

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

bir (بىر)

2

ekki (ئىككى)

3

uch (ئۈچ)

4

tot (تۆت)

5

besh ( )

6

alti ( )

7

yeti ( )

8

seggiz ( )

9

togguz ( )

10

on ( )

11

( )

12

( )

13

( )

14

( )

15

( )

16

( )

17

( )

18

( )

19

( )

20

yigirma ( )

21

( )

22

( )

23

( )

30

otuz ( )

40

kirk ( )

50

eluk ( )

60

atmish ( )

70

yetimis ( )

80

seksen ( )

90

tokson ( )

100

yuz ( )

200

( )

300

( )

1,000

ming ( )

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

( )

white

( )

gray

( )

red

( )

blue

( )

yellow

( )

green

( )

orange

( )

purple

( )

brown

( )

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?

( )