Language/Kazakh/Vocabulary/Meeting-and-Greeting

◀️ Stress and Intonation — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Expressions for Asking Questions ▶️

Kazakh → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Meeting and Greeting

In this lesson, we're diving into the essential and delightful world of meeting and greeting in Kazakh. The way we greet and introduce ourselves is not only a reflection of our language but also a mirror of our culture. Understanding these interactions is fundamental, especially as you embark on your journey to learn Kazakh. Greetings create connections, and knowing how to say "hello" or "nice to meet you" can open many doors in your conversations.

Throughout this lesson, you'll learn how to introduce yourself and greet others in a variety of social contexts. We'll cover basic phrases, proper etiquette, and even a bit of cultural background to help you understand the importance of these expressions. By the end of this lesson, you'll be equipped with the vocabulary and confidence to engage in simple conversations with native speakers.

Importance of Greetings in Kazakh Culture

Greeting someone in Kazakh culture extends beyond mere words; it encompasses respect, hospitality, and kindness. The Kazakhs take pride in their traditions and the way they interact with others. A warm greeting can set the tone for any conversation, making it vital for anyone looking to connect with the Kazakh community. Whether you are meeting friends, colleagues, or even strangers, knowing the right phrases can enhance your experience and help you forge meaningful relationships.

Basic Greetings

Let's start with some basic greetings you will use daily. Below, you will find a table with common greetings in Kazakh, their pronunciation, and their English translations.

Kazakh	Pronunciation	English
Сәлем!	Sälem!	Hello!
Қалайсың?	Qalaysıñ?	How are you?
Сәлеметсіз бе?	Sälemetsiz be?	Hello (formal)?
Жақсы!	Jaqsy!	Good!
Көріскенше!	Korişkenşe!	See you later!
Не жаңалық?	Ne jañalıq?	What's new?
Сау бол!	Sau bol!	Goodbye!
Қайырлы таң!	Qayırlı tañ!	Good morning!
Қайырлы кеш!	Qayırlı keş!	Good evening!
Түнгі тыныштық!	Tünği tınıştıq!	Good night!

Introducing Yourself

Introducing yourself is an essential part of meeting new people. Here are some phrases you can use when introducing yourself in Kazakh.

Kazakh	Pronunciation	English
Менің атым ...	Menıñ atım ...	My name is ...
Мен ... жастамын.	Men ... jastamın.	I am ... years old.
Мен ... еліненмін.	Men ... elinenmin.	I am from ...
Менің кәсібім ...	Menıñ kəsıbım ...	My profession is ...
Сізбен танысқаныма қуаныштымын.	Sızben tanıskanıma quanyştımın.	Nice to meet you.
Мен қазақ тілін үйреніп жүрмін.	Men qazaq tilin üırenip jürmin.	I am learning Kazakh.
Мен ... қаласында тұрамын.	Men ... qalasında turamın.	I live in ...
Сіз қайдансыз?	Sız qaıdansız?	Where are you from?
Сіз не істейсіз?	Sız ne isteýısız?	What do you do?
Сізбен сөйлескен өте жақсы!	Sızben söyleşken öte jaqsy!	It's great to talk with you!

Common Responses

When someone greets you or introduces themselves, it's polite to respond appropriately. Here are some common responses you might find useful.

Kazakh	Pronunciation	English
Рахмет!	Raxmet!	Thank you!
Мен де қуаныштымын.	Men de quanyştımın.	I'm happy to meet you too.
Жақсы!	Jaqsy!	Good!
Сізді көргеніме қуаныштымын!	Sızdı körgenime quanyştımın!	I'm glad to see you!
Сізбен сөйлескен жақсы.	Sızben söyleşken jaqsy.	It's nice to talk to you.
Сіз қайда жүрсіз?	Sız qaıda jürsız?	Where are you going?
Не істеп жатырсыз?	Ne istep jatırsız?	What are you doing?
Келіңіз!	Keliñız!	Please, come in!
Сізге не қажет?	Sızge ne qažet?	What do you need?
Сіздің атыңыз кім?	Sızdıñ atıñız kim?	What is your name?

Cultural Etiquette

Understanding cultural etiquette is crucial when meeting Kazakh people. Here are some key points to keep in mind.

• Handshakes: A firm handshake is common when meeting someone for the first time. In formal situations, wait for the other person to extend their hand first.

• Titles and Respect: Use titles such as "Mr." (Мырза, Mırza) or "Ms." (Ханым, Hanym) when addressing someone older or in a professional setting.

• Eye Contact: Maintain eye contact during the conversation, as it shows confidence and interest.

• Offering Greetings: It's polite to ask about the other person's well-being or family after the initial greeting.

• Be Courteous: Always use polite forms and expressions, especially with elders or in formal contexts.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned about meeting and greeting in Kazakh, let's put your skills to the test with some practice exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct Kazakh phrases from the previous tables.

1. Сәлем! Менің атым ________.

2. Қайырлы таң! Сіз ________?

3. Мен ________ жастамын.

4. Сізді ________ қуаныштымын.

5. Көріскенше! ________ жақсы!

Solutions:

1. Сәлем! Менің атым Алия.

2. Қайырлы таң! Сіз қалайсыз?

3. Мен 25 жастамын.

4. Сізді көргеніме қуаныштымын.

5. Көріскенше! Сізбен жақсы!

Exercise 2: Translate the Following

Translate the following sentences from English to Kazakh.

1. My name is John.

2. I am from the USA.

3. It's nice to meet you.

4. How are you?

5. Goodbye!

Solutions:

1. Менің атым Джон.

2. Мен АҚШ-танмын.

3. Сізбен танысқаныма қуаныштымын.

4. Сіз қалайсыз?

5. Сау бол!

Exercise 3: Conversation Role Play

Pair up with a partner and role-play a meeting scenario using the phrases learned in this lesson. One person will greet, introduce themselves, and ask questions, while the other responds.

Example Role Play:

Person A: Сәлем! Менің атым Эльвира. Сіз қайдансыз?

Person B: Сәлем! Менің атым Марат. Мен Алматыданмын.

Solutions: No specific solutions, as this is an exercise meant for practice.

Exercise 4: Matching Pairs

Match the Kazakh phrases with their English translations.

| Kazakh Phrase | English Translation |

|---|---|

|1. Қайырлы кеш!| A. How are you? |

|2. Менің атым ...| B. Good evening! |

|3. Сіз не істейсіз?| C. My name is ... |

|4. Сәлеметсіз бе?| D. Are you well? |

|5. Сау бол!| E. Goodbye! |

Solutions:

1 - B

2 - C

3 - A

4 - D

5 - E

Exercise 5: Create Your Own Introduction

Write a short introduction about yourself using the structures provided in this lesson. Aim for 4-5 sentences.

Example Introduction:

Менің атым Алан. Мен 30 жастамын. Мен Нұр-Сұлтаннанмын. Мен инженер боламын. Сізбен танысқаныма қуаныштымын.

Exercise 6: Identify the Mistakes

Read the following sentences and identify any mistakes. Correct them.

1. Менің атым Алия. Сіз кім?

2. Сіз қалайсыз? Мен де жақсы.

3. Сау бол! Көріскенше.

Solutions:

1. Corrected: Менің атым Алия. Сіздің атыңыз кім?

2. Corrected: Сіз қалайсыз? Мен де жақсы.

3. Corrected: Көріскенше! Сау бол!

Exercise 7: Role Play Greetings

In pairs, practice greeting each other using the phrases learned. One partner greets and the other responds using a different phrase.

Solutions: No specific solutions; this is for practice.

Exercise 8: Quiz Yourself

Answer the following questions based on what you've learned.

1. How do you say "Hello" in Kazakh?

2. What is the Kazakh phrase for "Nice to meet you"?

3. How would you introduce yourself in Kazakh?

Solutions:

1. Сәлем!

2. Сізбен танысқаныма қуаныштымын.

3. Менің атым ...

Exercise 9: Fill in the Conversation

Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases.

A: Сәлем! Мен _________.

B: Сәлеметсіз бе? Сіз ________?

A: Мен _________ жастамын.

Solutions:

1. Алия

2. қалайсыз?

3. 25

Exercise 10: Create a Dialogue

Write a short dialogue between two people meeting for the first time. Use at least five phrases from this lesson.

Example Dialogue:

A: Сәлем! Менің атым Санжар.

B: Сәлем! Мен Гүлнар. Сіз қайдансыз?

A: Мен Таразданмын. Сіз ше?

B: Мен Астана қаласында тұрамын. Сізбен танысқаныма қуаныштымын!

Congratulations on completing this lesson on meeting and greeting in Kazakh! Practice these phrases often, and you'll feel more comfortable interacting with native speakers. The more you use the language, the more natural it will become.

Table of Contents - Kazakh Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Kazakh Pronunciation

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Stress and Intonation

  ---

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Meeting and Greeting
• Expressions for Asking Questions
• Numbers and Counting

  ---

Kazakh Cases

• Nominative Case
• Accusative Case
• Genitive Case
• Dative Case
• Locative Case
• Instrumental Case

  ---

Food and Drink

• Basic Food Vocabulary
• Restaurant Phrases
• Cooking Verbs

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense
• Imperative Mood

  ---

Traditions and Customs

• Wedding Celebrations
• Festivals and Holidays
• Music and Dance
• Cuisine and Culinary Art

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Basic Family Vocabulary
• Romantic Relationships
• Friendship and Socializing

  ---

Adjectives

• Attributive and Predicative Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Degrees
• Possessive Adjectives

  ---

Traveling and Directions

• Transportation Vocabulary
• Asking for and Giving Directions
• Accommodation and Lodging

  ---

Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns

  ---

Shopping and Consumerism

• Basic Shopping Vocabulary
• Sizes and Measurements
• Money and Payments

  ---

Art and Literature

• Famous Writers and Poets
• Folk Tales and Legends
• Visual Arts and Crafts

  ---

Adverbs

• General Adverbs
• Temporal Adverbs
• Modal Adverbs

  ---

Health and Medical Emergencies

• Basic Medical Vocabulary
• Expressions for Medical Emergencies

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Popular Sports in Kazakhstan
• Traditional Games and Pastimes
• Entertainment and Nightlife

  ---

Prepositions and Postpositions

• Simple Prepositions
• Compound Prepositions and Postpositions

  ---

Nature and Environment

• Basic Nature Vocabulary
• Weather Expressions
• Ecology and Conservation Terms

Sources

• Kazakhstan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
• Say Hello and Greetings in Kazakh
• Useful Kazakh phrases
• Culture of Kazakhstan - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• Food
• Basic Shopping Vocabulary
• Clothes
• Parts of the Body
• Accommodation and Lodging
• Restaurant Phrases
• How to say Good Bye?
• Idiomatic Expressions
• Money and Payments
• Cooking Verbs

◀️ Stress and Intonation — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Expressions for Asking Questions ▶️