Tajik (забо́ни тоҷикӣ́ / zaboni tojikī) is the main language of Tajikistan, and is closely related to Farsi, Dari and Kurdish. Since the late 1930s, it is written using a variant of the Cyrillic script (also used by many languages spoken in the former Soviet Union, including Russian). Whether or not travellers need to learn Tajik is a matter of debate as most citizens of Tajikistan are also able to speak Russian. Nevertheless, attempting to communicate in Tajik will most certainly please the locals. The "Tajik" language in China is not mutually intelligible with the Tajik language of Tajikistan, but is at least two distinct languages in the same family, namely Sarikoli and Wakhi.

Pronunciation guide

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Common signs OPEN кушода CLOSED махкам ENTRANCE дохл EXIT харч PUSH PULL TOILET ҳочатхона MEN мардон WOMEN занон/заъифон FORBIDDEN манъ аст

Some of the basics of everyday Tajik vocabulary are below. For words with two or more translations, the most common is listed first. When two translations vary due to having formal and informal variants, the markers formal and informal will be added.

Hello.

ассалому алейкум (asah-lomu ah-lay-koom)

Hello. (informal)

салом (sah-lohm), ассалом (a-sah-lohm)

How are you?

Шумо чи хел? (shoo-moh-chee-khel), чи хел Шумо? (chee-khel-shoo-moh)

Fine, Well.

Нағз (naghz), Coz (sohz),

Fine, thank you.

Нағз, рахмат (naghz, rah-mat )

What is your name?

Номатон чист? (No-ma-ton chist?), Номи Шумо чист? (No-mi shoo-mo chist?)

My name is ______ .

Номи ман ______. (No-mi man _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

Аз вохуриамон шод ҳастам. (Az vo-khu-ri-amon shod has-tam )

Please.

Лутфан, Илтимос (Loot-fan/Il-ti-mos )

Thank you.

. Рахмат(rah-mat)

You're welcome.

. Саломат бошед(Salomat boshed)

Yes.

. Ҳа (Ha) (informal) , Бале(bah-le) (formal)

No.

. Не (Ne)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Meбaxшeд . (Mebakhshed)

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

:Meбaxшeд . (Mebakhshed)

I'm sorry.

Мебахшед . (mebakhshed)

Goodbye

khair. (khair) pronounced like the English word 'hire' but with a KH sound at the beginning

Goodbye (informal)

Сихату саломат боши . ( Sikhatu salomat boshi)

I can't speak Russian [well].

русӣ намедонам (Rus-si na-me-do-nam)

Do you speak English?

Шумо англиси гап мезанед? (Shumo ang-li-si gap me-za-nad)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Оё касе дар инчо англиси гап мезанад ? (Oyo kase dar injo anglisi gap mezanad?)

Help!

Ёри диҳед! (Yori dihed!)

Look out!

Эҳтиёт шавед ! (Eh-ti-yot shaved!)

Good morning.

Субҳ ба xaйр. (Soobh-ba-khair )

Good evening.

шаб ба хайр (Shab-ba-khair)

Good night.

шаб ба хайр (Shab-ba-khair)

Good night (to sleep)

Хоби ширин/Шаби хуш . (Khobi shirin/Shabi khoosh )

I don't understand.

. Ман немефаҳмам (Man na-me-fah-mam), ман нафаҳмидостам (Man na-fah-mi-dos-tam )

Where is the toilet?

Ҳочатхона кани? (Ho-jat-kho-na kani?)

Time

Colors

black

сиёҳ (see-yoh)

white

сафед (sah-fed)

gray

хокистарранг (kho-kee-star-rang)

red

сурх (soorkh)

blue

кабуд (ka-bood)

yellow

зард (zard)

green

сабз (sah-bz)

orange

норанҷӣ (no-ran-jee)

purple

бунафш (boo-nafsh)

pink

гулобӣ (goo-loh-bee)

brown

қаҳваранг (qah-vah-rang)

Transportation

Money

money

pul

Tajik somoni

somoni

Eating

Water

об (ob)

Milk

молоко (mo-lo-ko), шир (shir) (rarely spoken in cities)

Yoghurt

йогурт (yo-gurt)

Honey

асал (a-sal)

Fruit

мева (me-va)

Apple

себ (seb)

Grapes

ангур (ang-oor)

Watermelon

тарбуз (tar-booz)

Bread

нон (non)

Sliced Bread

хлеб (klep)

Fish

моҳӣ (mo-hi)

Meat

гӯшт (gusht)

Beef

гӯшти гов (gusht-i-gov)

Vegetables

сабзавот (sabz-a-vot)

Shopping

I need

ba-man darkor / losim doram

How much does it cost?

In chand pul ast?