How do you say hello in Kyrgyz?

Салам, with friends and people your own age. Ассалоому алейкум is the fuller, respectful version, and the person you greet will answer алейкума ассалам — so you now know both halves.

How do you say thank you in Kyrgyz?

Рахмат. It works everywhere: a shop counter, a taxi, a family table. Put чоң in front — чоң рахмат, big thanks — when you really mean it.

How do you reply to thank you in Kyrgyz?

Эч нерсе эмес, \'it\'s nothing\'. Older people may answer with a short blessing instead. You are not expected to match it; a nod and a smile are the right response.

Kyrgyz greetings: how to say hello and goodbye

Everyday hellos

“Салам” is the easy, friendly hello you can use almost anywhere. “Саламатсызбы” is more polite and works well with elders, strangers and formal settings.

Салам!: Salam!Hi! (friendly)
Саламатсызбы?: Salamatsyzby?Hello. (polite, “are you well?”)
Ассалоому алейкум!: Assalomu aleykum!Peace be upon you. (traditional)

Greetings by time of day

Кутман таң!: Kutman tañ!Good morning!
Кайырлуу күн!: Kayyrluu kün!Good day!
Кайырлуу кеч!: Kayyrluu kech!Good evening!
Кайырлуу түн!: Kayyrluu tün!Good night!

Asking how someone is

Use the -сың form with friends and the -сыз form to be polite. A short “Жакшы, рахмат” is a natural reply.

Кандайсың?: Kandaysyñ?How are you? (informal)
Кандайсыз?: Kandaysyz?How are you? (polite)
Иштер кандай?: Ishter kanday?How are things?
Жакшы, рахмат.: Jakshy, rakhmat.Good, thank you.

How to say thank you in Kyrgyz

The word you need is рахмат, "thank you". It came into Kyrgyz from Arabic, it works in every situation from a shop counter to a family table, and it is one of the few words a visitor is almost guaranteed to be thanked for using.

To make it warmer, add чоң ("big") in front. To answer a thank-you, эч нерсе эмес is the everyday "it's nothing"; older speakers may reply with a short blessing instead, which is a courtesy rather than a phrase you need to match.

Рахмат.: Rakhmat.Thank you.
Чоң рахмат!: Choñ rakhmat!Thank you very much!
Рахмат сизге.: Rakhmat sizge.Thank you (to you).The polite form: use it with elders and strangers.
Эч нерсе эмес.: Ech nerse emes.You’re welcome. / It’s nothing.
Ыраазымын.: Yraazymyn.I am grateful.Warmer and more personal than рахмат alone.

Meeting someone and saying goodbye

Kyrgyz has a nice detail at parting: the person staying and the person leaving use different phrases. The one leaving says “Жакшы калыңыз” (stay well); the one staying says “Жакшы барыңыз” (go well).

Таанышканыма кубанычтамын.: Taanyshkanyma kubanychtamyn.Nice to meet you.
Кош болуңуз.: Kosh boluñuz.Goodbye. (polite)
Жакшы калыңыз.: Jakshy kalyñyz.Goodbye, said by the one leaving.
Жакшы барыңыз.: Jakshy baryñyz.Goodbye, said to the one leaving.

Make greetings a daily habit

Greet one person in Kyrgyz each day, matching the time of day.
Choose the polite form with elders and the informal form with close friends.
Practise a tiny two-line exchange: a hello, a “how are you?” and a reply.

FAQ

Common questions

How do you say hello in Kyrgyz?: Салам, with friends and people your own age. Ассалоому алейкум is the fuller, respectful version, and the person you greet will answer алейкума ассалам — so you now know both halves.
How do you say thank you in Kyrgyz?: Рахмат. It works everywhere: a shop counter, a taxi, a family table. Put чоң in front — чоң рахмат, big thanks — when you really mean it.
How do you reply to thank you in Kyrgyz?: Эч нерсе эмес, \'it\'s nothing\'. Older people may answer with a short blessing instead. You are not expected to match it; a nod and a smile are the right response.

Turn greetings into short conversations.

Continue with useful phrases