How to use this list
This is a frequency-first list, not a dictionary. Every word here appears constantly in ordinary conversation, which is why it earns a place before more colourful vocabulary does.
Do not try to absorb all hundred at once. Take one themed block, say each word aloud, and put three of them into a sentence you would actually use. The Latin column is a reading aid for stress and vowel quality, not a pronunciation standard — see the pronunciation guide for the sounds themselves.
People and family (12)
- адам
- adamperson, human being
- аял
- ayalwoman; wife
- эркек
- erkekman; male
- бала
- balachild; boy
- кыз
- kyzgirl; daughter
- уул
- uulson
- ата
- atafather
- эне
- enemother
- апа
- apamum, motherThe everyday word children use.
- ага
- agaolder brother
- эже
- ejeolder sister
- дос
- dosfriend
Home and everyday things (12)
- үй
- üyhouse, home
- эшик
- eshikdoor
- терезе
- terezewindow
- китеп
- kitepbook
- кагаз
- kagazpaper
- телефон
- telefontelephone
- акча
- akchamoney
- кийим
- kiyimclothes
- шаар
- shaarcity, town
- айыл
- ayylvillage
- базар
- bazarmarket, bazaar
- жумуш
- jumushwork, job
Food and drink (12)
- нан
- nanbread
- суу
- suuwater
- чай
- chaytea
- сүт
- sütmilk
- эт
- etmeat
- күрүч
- kürüchrice
- алма
- almaapple
- жумуртка
- jumurtkaegg
- туз
- tuzsalt
- кымыз
- kymyzkymyzFermented mare’s milk — the national drink.
- боорсок
- boorsokboorsokSmall pieces of fried dough, served with tea.
- аш
- ashfood, meal
Nature, places and animals (12)
- тоо
- toomountain
- көл
- köllake
- асман
- asmansky
- күн
- künsun; day
- ай
- aymoon; month
- жер
- jerearth, ground, land
- жол
- jolroad, way
- гүл
- gülflower
- ат
- athorse; also name
- ит
- itdog
- мышык
- myshykcat
- куш
- kushbird
Time (10)
- бүгүн
- bügüntoday
- эртең
- erteñtomorrow
- кечээ
- kecheeyesterday
- азыр
- azyrnow
- таң
- tañdawn, early morning
- түн
- tünnight
- жыл
- jylyear
- апта
- aptaweek
- саат
- saathour; clock, watch
- убакыт
- ubakyttime
The verbs you will use most (16)
Kyrgyz verbs are listed here in the form ending in -оо / -өө / -уу / -үү, which works like the English "to …". In real sentences the ending changes to carry person, tense and mood.
- баруу
- baruuto go
- келүү
- kelüüto come
- алуу
- aluuto take, to get
- берүү
- berüüto give
- билүү
- bilüüto know
- көрүү
- körüüto see
- угуу
- uguuto hear, to listen
- айтуу
- aytuuto say, to tell
- сүйлөө
- süylööto speak
- окуу
- okuuto read; to study
- жазуу
- jazuuto write
- ичүү
- ichüüto drink
- иштөө
- ishtööto work
- жашоо
- jashooto live
- үйрөнүү
- üyrönüüto learn
- болуу
- boluuto be, to become
Describing things (13)
- жакшы
- jakshygood, well
- жаман
- jamanbad
- чоң
- choñbig, large
- кичине
- kichinesmall
- жаңы
- jañynew
- эски
- eskioldOf things, not of people.
- ысык
- ysykhot
- суук
- suukcold
- сулуу
- suluubeautiful
- кыйын
- kyyyndifficult
- оңой
- oñoyeasy
- ак
- akwhite
- кара
- karablack
Pronouns, questions and small words (13)
- мен
- menI
- сен
- senyouInformal — for friends, children and family.
- сиз
- sizyouPolite — for elders, strangers and formal settings.
- ал
- alhe, she, it; that
- биз
- bizwe
- алар
- alarthey
- бул
- bulthis
- ким
- kimwho
- эмне
- emnewhat
- кайда
- kaydawhere
- канча
- kanchahow much, how many
- ооба
- oobayes
- жок
- jokno; there is not
What to do after the hundred
- Put five words a day into complete sentences rather than adding a sixth word.
- Learn the endings for "at", "to" and "from" — they do the work prepositions do in English.
- Add numbers next: they appear in prices, times, ages and addresses every day.
- Read the phrase guide, which shows these words already assembled into working sentences.
Ready to see these words inside sentences?
See useful Kyrgyz phrases