Shopping

1. Bu näçe manat?

   Bu nä-çe ma-nat?

   How much is this in manat?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking a price. Manat is the currency of Turkmenistan

   Grammar Note

   The Turkmen currency is the "manat"; "näçe manat" asks "how many manat." 1 manat = 100 teňňe.

2. Arzan etseňiz?

   Ar-zan et-se-ňiz?

   Could you make it cheaper?

   Usage

   Bargaining at a bazaar or market

   Grammar Note

   "Et-" (do/make) + conditional "-se" + polite "-ňiz." The conditional form doubles as a polite request.

3. Başga reňkde barmy?

   Baş-ga reň-kde bar-my?

   Do you have it in another color?

   Usage

   When choosing clothes or products

   Grammar Note

   "Reňkde" is "reň" (color) with the locative "-de" ("in another color"). "Barmy" is "bar" (there is) + the question particle "-my."

4. Muny alaryn

   Mu-ny a-la-ryn

   I'll take this

   Usage

   When you've decided to purchase an item

   Grammar Note

   "Al-" (take/buy) + future "-ar" + first-person "-yn." The accusative of "Bu" (this) is "Muny."

5. Haly näçe?

   Ha-ly nä-çe?

   How much is the carpet?

   Usage

   Turkmen carpets (haly) are world-famous crafts and popular souvenirs

   Grammar Note

   Turkmen carpets are so iconic they appear on the national flag. "Haly" means "carpet" and "näçe" means "how much."

6. Uly ölçegi barmy?

   U-ly öl-çe-gi bar-my?

   Do you have a larger size?

   Usage

   When checking clothing or shoe sizes

   Grammar Note

   "Ölçeg" (size) + possessive "-i." Modifiers precede the noun they modify — a common Turkic word order.

7. Muňa seret

   Mu-ňa se-ret

   Look at this

   Usage

   When recommending a product or pointing to an item for the shopkeeper

   Grammar Note

   "Seret" is the imperative of "seret-" (to look). "Muňa" is the dative of "Bu" (this).

8. Sowgat üçin näme maslahat berýärsiňiz?

   Sow-gat ü-çin nä-me mas-la-hat ber-ýär-si-ňiz?

   What do you recommend as a souvenir?

   Usage

   When unsure what to buy as a souvenir

   Grammar Note

   "Maslahat" (advice, from Arabic) + "ber-" (give) = "to recommend." Arabic loanwords often combine with native Turkic verbs.

9. Çek beräýiň

   Çek be-rä-ýiň

   Please give me a receipt

   Usage

   When asking for a receipt after purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Ber-" + "-äýiň" creates an emphatic imperative suggesting "please do." The "-äý/-aý" suffix adds urgency or earnestness.

10. Kartadan töläp bolýarmy?

    Kar-ta-dan tö-läp bol-ýar-my?

    Can I pay by card?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    "Töläp bolýar" = converb "töläp" (paying) + "bol-" (be/become) = permissibility. A common Turkmen possibility structure.

11. Maňa çek gerek däl

    Ma-ňa çek ge-rek däl

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Used to decline a receipt at checkout. "Çek" is the same word used when asking for one.

    Grammar Note

    "Gerek" (needed) is negated by the following "däl". The person who needs takes the dative "maňa" (to me). This card inserts the noun into "Maňa gerek däl".

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