Learning Kazakh: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Kazakh course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Kazakh is like
Kazakh is Turkic and agglutinative: meaning is built by stacking suffixes onto a stem, not by using lots of small separate words. It follows vowel harmony — suffixes copy the frontness of the stem's vowels (front: ө, ү, ә, і; back: о, ұ, а, ы). Word order is subject-object-verb, exactly like Turkish: men su qalaymın = "I water want". Two phrases get you ordering anything: мен ... қалаймын ("I want ...") and маған ... керек ("I need ...").
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Kazakh is written in Cyrillic, but the sounds are closer to Turkish. A few letters — қ, ғ, ұ, ү, ө, ә, ң — don't exist in English. Learn them once and most words become easy to say.
- Ғ ғ — deep, voiced "gh" from the back of the throat (not the English /g/), as in аға = ağa (older brother).
- Қ қ — deep, breathy "k" made in the back of the throat (К is the front "k"), as in қайда = qayda (where).
- Ң ң — "ng" as in "song", as in таң = tañ (dawn).
- Ұ ұ — back "u" as in "do", made deep in the mouth, as in тұз = tuz (salt).
- Ү ү — front rounded "u" like German ü / French u, as in үш = üş (three).
- Ө ө — front rounded "o" like German ö, as in өтінемін = ötinemin (please).
- Ә ә — open front "a" as in "cat" / English "hat", as in әке = äke (father).
- Ы ы — a back, relaxed "i" (like the "a" in "about"), as in қыз = qız (girl).
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Kazakh | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Сәлем | sälem | Hello |
| Қайырлы таң | qayırlı tañ | Good morning |
| Қайырлы кеш | qayırlı keş | Good evening |
| Қош бол | qoş bol | Goodbye |
| Қалайсың? | qalaysıñ? | How are you? |
| Жақсы, рақмет | jaqsı, raqmet | Well, thanks |
| Рақмет | raqmet | Thank you |
| Көп рақмет | köp raqmet | Thanks a lot |
| Өтінемін | ötinemin | Please |
| Оқасы жоқ | oqası joq | You're welcome |
| Кешіріңіз | keşiriñiz | Excuse me / sorry |
| Иә | iä | Yes |
| Жоқ | joq | No |
| бір | bir | 1 |
| екі | eki | 2 |
| үш | üş | 3 |
| төрт | tört | 4 |
| бес | bes | 5 |
| он | on | 10 |
| су | su | water |
| нан | nan | bread |
| шай | şay | tea |
| кофе | kofe | coffee |
| сүт | süt | milk |
| ет | et | meat |
| Дәмді | dämdi | delicious |
| ... қайда? | ... qayda? | Where is...? |
| оңға | oñğa | to the right |
| солға | solğa | to the left |
| түзу | tüzu | straight ahead |
How the Kazakh course is structured
The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings & being polite — сәлем · қайырлы таң · қош бол
- Thanks & please — рақмет · өтінемін · кешіріңіз
- Numbers 1–10 — бір · екі · үш · он
- I want" — мен ... қалаймын — мен ... қалаймын · маған ... керек
- Food & drink — су · нан · шай · кофе
- Getting around — қайда? · оңға · солға · түзу
- Questions & "is there…?" — кім? · не? · қайда? · бар ма?
- Family & people — отбасы · ана · әке · дос
- Time, days & weather — бүгін · ертең · ауа райы
- Your name — менің атым · сенің атың кім?
- Health & emergency — көмек! · дәрігер · дәріхана
- Tying it together — a capstone day out in Kazakh
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings & being polite
Key pieces: сәлем · қайырлы таң · қош бол
Start with the word you'll use most: сәлем — hello (and, casually, goodbye). Say it out loud.
- Сәлем (sälem) — hello / hi
- Қайырлы таң (qayırlı tañ) — good morning
- Қайырлы кеш (qayırlı keş) — good evening
- Қалайсың? (qalaysıñ?) — How are you?
- Жақсы, рақмет (jaqsı, raqmet) — Well, thanks
- Сау бол (saw bol) — goodbye
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Kazakh: Сәлем, қалайсың? (sälem, qalaysıñ?). Built from сәлем = hello; қалайсың? = how are you?.
To say goodbye: сау бол (bye), or қош бол .
To say “Good morning! How are you?” in Kazakh: Қайырлы таң! Қалайсың? (qayırlı tañ! qalaysıñ?). Built from қайырлы таң = good morning; қалайсың? = how are you?.
To welcome someone: қош келдіңіз! — welcome!.
Thanks & please
Key pieces: рақмет · өтінемін · кешіріңіз
The two politeness words: рақмет (thank you) and өтінемін (please).
- рақмет (raqmet) — thank you
- өтінемін (ötinemin) — please
- кешіріңіз (keşiriñiz) — excuse me / sorry
- иә (iä) — yes
- жоқ (joq) — no
To say thanks a lot, add көп (a lot): көп рақмет .
To say “Thank you very much” in Kazakh: Көп рақмет (köp raqmet). Built from көп = a lot; рақмет = thanks.
The reply to "thank you": оқасы жоқ — no problem / you're welcome.
To say “You're welcome” in Kazakh: Оқасы жоқ (oqası joq). Built from оқасы жоқ = no problem / you're welcome.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: бір · екі · үш · он
Numbers are a fast win. Listen and repeat: бір, екі, үш .
- бір (bir) — 1
- екі (eki) — 2
- үш (üş) — 3
- төрт (tört) — 4
- бес (bes) — 5
- он (on) — 10
Six to ten: алты, жеті, сегіз, тоғыз, он .
To say “Two coffees, please” in Kazakh: Екі кофе, өтінемін (eki kofe, ötinemin). Built from екі = two; кофе = coffee; өтінемін = please.
To ask "how much / how many?": қанша?
To say “How much is it?” in Kazakh: Бұл қанша тұрады? (bul qanşa turadı?). Built from бұл = this; қанша = how much; тұрады? = costs?.
I want" — мен ... қалаймын
Key pieces: мен ... қалаймын · маған ... керек
To order or want something: мен ... қалаймын — I want ....
- мен ... қалаймын (men ... qalaymın) — I want ...
- маған ... керек (mağan ... kerek) — I need ...
- мен (men) — I / me Memory hook: ≈ Turkish ben — a Turkic cognate.
- су (su) — water Memory hook: ≈ Turkish su — a shared Turkic word.
- нан (nan) — bread Memory hook: ≈ Uzbek non — a shared Central Asian word.
- шай (şay) — tea Memory hook: ≈ Turkish çay — same word, borrowed worldwide.
To say “I want water” in Kazakh: Мен су қалаймын (men su qalaymın). Built from мен = I; су = water; қалаймын = I want.
Even more natural for needs: маған ... керек — I need ....
To say “I need bread” in Kazakh: Маған нан керек (mağan nan kerek). Built from маған = for me / I need; нан = bread; керек = is needed.
To say “I want tea” in Kazakh: Мен шай қалаймын (men şay qalaymın). Built from мен = I; шай = tea; қалаймын = I want.
Food & drink
Key pieces: су · нан · шай · кофе
Food and drink essentials: су (water), нан (bread), шай (tea), кофе (coffee).
- су (su) — water Memory hook: ≈ Turkish su.
- нан (nan) — bread
- шай (şay) — tea Memory hook: ≈ Turkish çay.
- кофе (kofe) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ coffee (international loan).
- сүт (süt) — milk
- ет (et) — meat
To say “Tea with milk, please” in Kazakh: Сүт қосылған шай, өтінемін (süt qosılğan şay, ötinemin). Built from сүт = milk; шай = tea; өтінемін = please.
To say it's tasty: дәмді — delicious.
To say “It's delicious!” in Kazakh: Дәмді! (dämdi!). Built from дәмді = delicious / tasty.
To say “I need bread, please” in Kazakh: Маған нан керек, өтінемін (mağan nan kerek, ötinemin). Built from маған = I need; нан = bread; керек = needed; өтінемін = please.
Getting around
Key pieces: қайда? · оңға · солға · түзу
The most useful question: put the place then ... қайда? — where is ...?.
- ... қайда? (... qayda?) — Where is ...?
- оңға (oñğa) — to the right
- солға (solğa) — to the left
- түзу (tüzu) — straight ahead
- вокзал (vokzal) — the station Memory hook: ≈ Russian вокзал — a loan that travelled.
- дәріхана (därixana) — the pharmacy
To say “Where is the station?” in Kazakh: Вокзал қайда? (vokzal qayda?). Built from вокзал = station; қайда? = where?.
оңға = to the right, солға = to the left, түзу = straight ahead.
To say “Turn left” in Kazakh: Солға бұрылыңыз (solğa burılıñız). Built from солға = to the left; бұрылыңыз = turn.
Questions & "is there…?"
Key pieces: кім? · не? · қайда? · бар ма?
Question words are short and powerful: кім? (who?), не? (what?), қайда? (where?), қашан? (when?), неге? (why?), қанша? (how much?).
- Кім? (kim?) — who?
- Не? (ne?) — what?
- Қайда? (qayda?) — where?
- Қашан? (qaşan?) — when?
- Неге? (nege?) — why?
- Қанша? (qanşa?) — how much / how many?
To ask "is there ...?" or "do you have ...?": ... бар ма?
To say “Is there tea?” in Kazakh: Шай бар ма? (şay bar ma?). Built from шай = tea; бар ма? = is there?.
To say “Do you have bread?” in Kazakh: Сізде нан бар ма? (sizde nan bar ma?). Built from сізде = at you (formal); нан = bread; бар ма? = is there?.
Family & people
Key pieces: отбасы · ана · әке · дос
Family words: отбасы (family), ана (mother), әке (father).
- отбасы (otbası) — family
- ана (ana) — mother
- әке (äke) — father
- аға (ağa) — older brother
- апа (apa) — older sister
- дос (dos) — friend Memory hook: ≈ Turkish dost — a shared word.
бар = there is / have. Менің досым бар = I have a friend.
To say “I have a friend” in Kazakh: Менің досым бар (meniñ dosım bar). Built from менің = my; досым = my friend; бар = there is / have.
To say “I have a family” in Kazakh: Менің отбасым бар (meniñ otbasım bar). Built from менің = my; отбасым = my family; бар = have.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: бүгін · ертең · ауа райы
Today is бүгін , tomorrow is ертең , yesterday is кеше .
- бүгін (bügin) — today
- ертең (erteñ) — tomorrow
- кеше (keşe) — yesterday
- апта (apta) — week
- ауа райы қандай? (awa rayı qanday?) — what's the weather like?
- ауа райы жақсы (awa rayı jaqsı) — the weather is good
To say “See you tomorrow” in Kazakh: Ертеңге дейін! (erteñge deyin!). Built from ертеңге = until tomorrow; дейін = until.
Ask about the weather: ауа райы қандай?
To say “It's raining” in Kazakh: Жаңбыр жауып тұр (jañbır jawıp tur). Built from жаңбыр = rain; жауып тұр = is falling.
Your name
Key pieces: менің атым · сенің атың кім?
Introduce yourself: менің атым ... — my name is ..., then your name.
- Менің атым ... (meniñ atım ...) — My name is ...
- Сенің атың кім? (seniñ atıñ kim?) — What's your name?
- Сіздің атыңыз кім? (sizdiñ atıñız kim?) — What's your name? (formal)
- Танысқаныма қуаныштымын (tanısqanıma quanıştımın) — Pleased to meet you
Fill in your own name: Менің атым Alex — my name is Alex.
To say “My name is Alex” in Kazakh: Менің атым Alex (meniñ atım Alex). Built from менің = my; атым = my name; Alex = your name.
To ask informally: сенің атың кім? Formally: сіздің атыңыз кім?
To say “Pleased to meet you” in Kazakh: Танысқаныма қуаныштымын (tanısqanıma quanıştımın). Built from танысқаныма = to have met (you); қуаныштымын = I am glad.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: көмек! · дәрігер · дәріхана
The most important word if you need help: көмек! — help!.
- Көмек! (kömek!) — Help!
- дәрігер (däriger) — doctor
- дәріхана (därixana) — pharmacy
- Мен түсінбеймін (men tüsinbeymin) — I don't understand
- Маған дәрігер керек (mağan däriger kerek) — I need a doctor
- полиция (politsiya) — police
To say you're lost: Мен адасып қалдым .
To say “Help!” in Kazakh: Көмек! (kömek!). Built from көмек = help.
To say “I don't understand” in Kazakh: Мен түсінбеймін (men tüsinbeymin). Built from мен = I; түсінбеймін = I don't understand.
To say “I need a doctor” in Kazakh: Маған дәрігер керек (mağan däriger kerek). Built from маған = for me / I need; дәрігер = doctor; керек = is needed.
Tying it together
Key pieces: a capstone day out in Kazakh
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing the Kazakh.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Kazakh: Сәлем, қалайсың? (sälem, qalaysıñ?). Built from сәлем = hello; қалайсың? = how are you?.
To say “I want tea, please” in Kazakh: Мен шай қалаймын, өтінемін (men şay qalaymın, ötinemin). Built from мен = I; шай = tea; қалаймын = I want; өтінемін = please.
To say “Where is the station?” in Kazakh: Вокзал қайда? (vokzal qayda?). Built from вокзал = station; қайда? = where?.
To say “How much is this?” in Kazakh: Бұл қанша тұрады? (bul qanşa turadı?). Built from бұл = this; қанша = how much; тұрады? = costs?.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- Сіздің атыңыз кім? (sizdiñ atıñız kim?): formal.
Culture and etiquette
The steppes
Kazakhstan is vast grassland — the steppe. For centuries the Kazakh people were nomadic herders, following the seasons across it. That wide-open space still shapes the national character and their love of freedom.
The yurt
The yurt (киіз үй) is a portable felt tent the Kazakhs carried across the steppe. It's a symbol of home and community: a guest is seated in the honored spot in the center and treated like family.
The dombra
The dombra (домбыра) is a two-stringed, long-necked instrument. It's the national instrument, played at celebrations and gatherings — a single dombra can carry a whole song.
Tea & hospitality
Hospitality runs deep. When you visit, a host will pour you chai (шай) — often again and again — and offer food before they even ask your name. Accepting tea graciously honors the host.
Kazakh is Turkic
Kazakh belongs to the Turkic language family, close to Turkish, Azerbaijani and Uzbek. If you know Turkish, much of the vocabulary transfers — su, nan, shay, men reappear everywhere.
Nauryz
Nauryz (Наурыз), around March 21, is the spring new-year festival. Families wear bright clothes, share a festive meal, and play music. It's the warmest, most joyful holiday of the year.
Example dialogues
At a chaykhana
You: Сәлем! Бір шай, өтінемін. (sälem! bir şay, ötinemin.) — Hello! One tea, please.
Waiter: Сүтпен бе, қантпен бе? (sütpen be, qantpen be?) — With milk or with sugar?
You: Сүтпен, рақмет. (sütpen, raqmet.) — With milk, thanks.
Waiter: Міне. (mine.) — Here you go.
You: Көп рақмет, сау бол. (köp raqmet, saw bol.) — Thanks a lot, goodbye.
Getting around
You: Кешіріңіз, автовокзал қайда? (keşiriñiz, avtovokzal qayda?) — Excuse me, where is the bus station?
Local: Оңға бұрылыңыз, содан кейін түзу. (oñğa burılıñız, sodan keyin tüzu.) — Turn right, then straight ahead.
You: Рақмет. Бұл автобус қалаға бара ма? (raqmet. bul avtobus qalağa bara ma?) — Thanks. Does this bus go into the city?
Local: Иә, бесінші аялдама. (iä, besinşi ayaldama.) — Yes, the fifth stop.
You: Көп рақмет! (köp raqmet!) — Thanks a lot!
At a restaurant
Waiter: Қош келдіңіз! Мәзір міне. (qoş keldiñiz! mäzir mine.) — Welcome! Here is the menu.
You: Рақмет. Маған ет керек, өтінемін. (raqmet. mağan et kerek, ötinemin.) — Thanks. I'd like the meat, please.
Waiter: Қандай ет? Қой ма, сиыр ма? (qanday et? qoy ma, sıyır ma?) — What meat? Lamb or beef?
You: Қой еті, өтінемін. (qoy eti, ötinemin.) — Lamb, please.
Waiter: Жақсы. Ас болсын! (jaqsı. as bolsın!) — Good. Enjoy your meal!
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.