Kyrgyz phrases for shops and bazaars
In a shop or bazaar, establish the item, quantity and price first. These Kyrgyz phrases help you ask for what you want and understand a short reply.
Point to the item, then give the quantity. For goods sold by weight, check the price per kilogram first and the total after weighing. For clothing, ask about the size and whether you can try it on.
How to read the phrases
The Latin line is an approximate reading aid. u sounds like oo in food; ı is an unrounded back vowel. y sounds like y in yes, j like j in jam, ng like ng in sing, ch like ch in chair and sh like sh in shop. For ö and ü, round your lips while trying to say eh and ee. Double vowels are held longer. Bold type in the reading aid marks the stressed syllable. One-syllable words and words whose stress has not been confirmed are left unmarked.
Prices, weight and quantity
First establish whether a price is per kilo or per item. “Жарым кило” means half a kilo. The examples use made-up prices: 100 som per kilo and 200 som in total.
- You say How much does this cost?
- Бул канча турат? [Bul kancha turat?]
- You say How much is one kilo?
- Бир килосу канча турат? [Bir kilosu kancha turat?]
- You say Half a kilo, please.
- Мага жарым кило бериңизчи. [Maga jarım kilo beringizchi.]
- You say A kilo of apples, please.
- Мага бир кило алма бериңизчи. [Maga bir kilo alma beringizchi.]
- You say Two of those, please.
- Экөөнү бериңизчи. [Eköönü beringizchi.]
- You say I’ll take this one, please.
- Муну бериңизчи. [Munu beringizchi.]
- You may hear What would you like?
- Сизге эмне керек? [Sizge emne kerek?]
- You may hear How much would you like?
- Канча керек? [Kancha kerek?]
- You may hear One hundred som per kilo.
- Бир килосу жүз сом. [Bir kilosu jüz som.]
- You may hear Two hundred som altogether.
- Баары эки жүз сом. [Baarı eki jüz som.]
Choosing and trying things
Use “кийип көрсөм” for trying on clothes and “жеп көрсөм” for tasting food. Ask first. Point to the item when requesting another size or colour.
- You say Is it available in another colour?
- Башка түсү барбы? [Bashka tüsü barbı?]
- You say Do you have a larger one?
- Чоңураагы барбы? [Chonguraagı barbı?]
- You say Do you have a smaller size?
- Кичирээк өлчөмү барбы? [Kichireek ölchömü barbı?]
- You say May I try it on?
- Кийип көрсөм болобу? [Kiyip körsöm bolobu?]
- You say May I taste it?
- Жеп көрсөм болобу? [Jep körsöm bolobu?]
- You may hear Here you are.
- Мына, алыңыз. [Mına, alıngız.]
Negotiating and paying
You can ask the seller whether the price is negotiable. Accept a refusal or decide against buying. A discount is not an entitlement. Ask separately about a receipt, smaller notes or card payment.
- You say Could you offer a lower price?
- Арзаныраак бересизби? [Arzanıraak beresizbi?]
- You say Please write down the price of this.
- Мунун баасын жазып бериңизчи. [Munun baasın jazıp beringizchi.]
- You say Can I pay by card?
- Карта менен төлөсөм болобу? [Karta menen tölösöm bolobu?]
- You say Could I have a receipt, please?
- Чек бериңизчи. [Chek beringizchi.]
- You say No, thank you.
- Рахмат, кереги жок. [Rakhmat, keregi jok.]
- You may hear Do you have any smaller notes or coins?
- Майда акчаңыз барбы? [Mayda akchangız barbı?]
- You may hear Cash only.
- Накталай гана. [Naktalay gana.]
- You may hear I can’t reduce the price.
- Арзандата албайм. [Arzandata albaym.]
- You say I do not have any smaller notes or coins.
- Менде майда жок. [Mende mayda jok.]
Sample conversations
Buy some apples
The price of 100 som per kilo is for practising numbers.
- You may hearСизге эмне керек? [Sizge emne kerek?]
What would you like?
- You sayБир килосу канча турат? [Bir kilosu kancha turat?]
How much is one kilo?
- You may hearБир килосу жүз сом. [Bir kilosu jüz som.]
One hundred som per kilo.
- You sayМага бир кило алма бериңизчи. [Maga bir kilo alma beringizchi.]
A kilo of apples, please.
- You may hearМына, алыңыз. [Mına, alıngız.]
Here you are.
Ask how to pay
The seller takes cash and asks for smaller notes or coins. The buyer says they have none, then asks for a receipt; the seller hands it over. This is a practice example, not a particular shop’s payment policy.
- You sayКарта менен төлөсөм болобу? [Karta menen tölösöm bolobu?]
Can I pay by card?
- You may hearНакталай гана. [Naktalay gana.]
Cash only.
- You may hearМайда акчаңыз барбы? [Mayda akchangız barbı?]
Do you have any smaller notes or coins?
- You sayМенде майда жок. [Mende mayda jok.]
I do not have any smaller notes or coins.
- You sayЧек бериңизчи. [Chek beringizchi.]
Could I have a receipt, please?
- You may hearМына, алыңыз. [Mına, alıngız.]
Here you are.
Keep quantities clear
Point to what you want and use the complete phrase provided. Kyrgyz word endings change, so replacing a word at random within a longer sentence can change its meaning.
Asking for a discount
Treat a discount as a question. The seller may decline; you can then decide whether the price works for you. Agree on the quantity and total before paying.
The numbers guide helps you recognise the amount. For ideas on what to buy, see the souvenir guide.
All phrasebooks. How to use the reading aid.
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