Greetings

1. Salam

   Sa-lam

   Hello

   Usage

   Most common greeting, usable at any time of day

   Grammar Note

   Turkmen is an agglutinative Turkic language. "Salam" derives from Arabic "salaam" (peace) and is used across Central Asia.

2. Saglyk bolsun

   Sag-lyk bol-sun

   May you be healthy

   Usage

   More formal greeting used with elders or on first meetings

   Grammar Note

   "Bolsun" = verb root "bol-" (to be/become) + optative suffix "-sun". Classic example of Turkic agglutinative morphology.

3. Sag boluň

   Sag bo-luň

   Thank you

   Usage

   Most common expression of gratitude

   Grammar Note

   Literally "be healthy." "-uň" is the polite second-person imperative suffix. Casual: "Sagbol" (without the suffix).

4. Bagyşlaň

   Ba-gyş-laň

   Excuse me / Sorry

   Usage

   Used both for apologies and to get someone's attention

   Grammar Note

   "Bagyşla-" is the root for "forgive." Adding suffix "-ň" creates the polite imperative. Typical of agglutinative word formation.

5. Hawa

   Ha-wa

   Yes

   Usage

   Affirmative reply

   Grammar Note

   "Hawa" is from Arabic/Persian. Both "Hawa" and "Äwet" mean yes in Turkmen.

6. Ýok

   No / There is none

   Usage

   Used for negative replies and to express absence

   Grammar Note

   "Ýok" is common across Turkic languages for negation/absence. Antonym is "Bar" (there is). Example: "Wagt ýok" (no time).

7. Adyňyz näme?

   A-dy-ňyz nä-me?

   What is your name?

   Usage

   Used when meeting someone for the first time

   Grammar Note

   "Adyňyz" = "ad" (name) + "-yňyz" (your, polite possessive). Suffix vowel shifts according to vowel harmony.

8. Meniň adym...

   Me-niň a-dym...

   My name is...

   Usage

   Self-introduction. Fill in "..." with your name

   Grammar Note

   "Adym" = "ad" (name) + first-person possessive "-ym". "Meniň" is the genitive of "Men" (I).

9. Siziň bilen tanyşmak hoş boldy

   Si-ziň bi-len ta-nyş-mak hoş bol-dy

   Nice to meet you

   Usage

   Polite phrase when meeting someone for the first time

   Grammar Note

   SOV word order with verb at the end — typical Turkic feature. "Tanyşmak" is the reciprocal infinitive of "tan-" (to know, recognize) = "to get acquainted," used with "siziň bilen" (with you).

10. Hoş gal

    Goodbye (to the one staying)

    Usage

    Farewell said by the departing person to the one staying

    Grammar Note

    "Hoş gal" (stay well) is said by the one leaving to the one staying. Response: "Hoş bol." Common farewell formula across Turkic languages.

11. Iňlis dilini bilýärsiňizmi?

    Iň-lis di-li-ni bil-ýär-si-ňiz-mi?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Essential phrase to check language ability

    Grammar Note

    Yes/no questions are formed by adding "-mi/-my/-mu/-mü" at the end, following vowel harmony rules.

12. Düşünemok

    Dü-şü-ne-mok

    I don't understand

    Usage

    When you cannot understand what someone is saying

    Grammar Note

    "Düşün-" is the root, "-e" is a stem-forming suffix, "-mok" is the negative present suffix — a suffix chain typical of agglutinative languages.

13. Hajathana nirede?

    Ha-jat-ha-na ni-re-de?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Basic phrase to ask for the toilet/bathroom location in public places

    Grammar Note

    "Nirede" combines "nire" (where) with the locative suffix "-de". Turkmen is a Turkic language closely related to Turkish, written in Latin script.

14. Men türkmen dilini bilmeýärin

    Men türk-men di-li-ni bil-me-ýä-rin

    I can't speak Turkmen

    Usage

    Used to tell someone you don't speak Turkmen

    Grammar Note

    "Bilmeýärin" is the negated first-person present of "bilmek" (to know). The suffix "-meý-" marks negation. Turkmen "ý" in Latin script represents a "y" sound.

15. Ýene gelerin

    Ýe-ne ge-le-rin

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop

16. Gaty gyzykly boldy

    Ga-ty gy-zyk-ly bol-dy

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Used when saying goodbye

17. Sag boluň, görüşýänçäk!

    Sag bo-luň, gö-rüş-ýän-çäk!

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual way to say goodbye

18. Haýyrly gije

    Ha-ýyr-ly gi-je

    Good night

    Usage

    Said before going to bed, e.g. at a guesthouse or homestay

19. Men gidýärin

    Men gid-ýä-rin

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Casual phrase said when leaving the house; literally "I am going"

20. Öýe geldim

    Ö-ýe gel-dim

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said upon returning to the house/guesthouse

21. Bagyşlaň, men gitmeli

    Ba-gyş-laň, men git-me-li

    Excuse me, I need to get going

    Usage

    Polite way to excuse yourself when leaving before others

22. Hiç zat däl

    You're welcome

    Usage

    Response to "Sag boluň" (thank you); literally "it's nothing"

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