Kazakh for everyone — open textbook

First introductions

Greet someone, introduce yourself and ask their name.

Sälemetsız be!

When you do not understand

Ask someone to speak more slowly and continue the conversation in Kazakh.

Qaitalai alasyz ba?

Ordering in a café

Order a drink and food, then ask for the bill.

Mağan şai berıñızşı

At the market and checkout

Ask the price, state a quantity and choose a payment method.

Būl qanşa tūrady?

Finding your way

Ask for directions and check where to get off.

Aialdama qaida?

Let’s meet at six

Tell the time and arrange a simple meeting.

Sağat neşede?

Home and family

Briefly describe your family and where you live.

Menıñ otbasym

Small talk with a neighbour

Keep a simple conversation going about the weather and your day.

Aua raiy qandai?

Your first phone call

Introduce yourself on the phone and ask someone to call back.

Allo, tyñdap tūrmyn

At the hairdresser’s

Explain a simple preference for your haircut.

Şaşymdy qysqartyñyzşy

Shopping for household essentials

Find toiletries and ask for the package you need.

Sabyn bar ma?

At the post office

Explain why you are at the post office and name the recipient.

Sälemdeme jıberemın

At the gym

Find your way around the gym and ask someone to demonstrate an exercise.

Kiım auystyratyn bölme qaida?

Checking into a hotel

Mention your booking and find out your room number.

Men bölme brondadym

The courier at your entrance

Give the entrance and floor, then arrange to collect an order.

Esıktı aşamyn

At the library

Find an easy book and ask when to return it.

Osy kıtapty aluğa bola ma?

An ordinary day

Describe your habits and ask about someone’s routine.

Künde ne ısteisız?

How was your weekend?

Talk about completed events and ask about someone else’s experience.

Keşe ne ıstedıñız?

Plans for the next few days

Explain your intentions and ask about someone else’s plans.

Ne ıstemeksız?

Choosing and comparing

Ask for another size and compare two products.

Ülkenırek ölşem bar ma?

At the clinic reception

Make an appointment and describe how you feel in simple phrases.

Därıgerge jazylğym keledı

Something at home is broken

Describe a household problem and arrange a repair visit.

Kömektese alasyz ba?

Visits and celebrations

Accept an invitation, or decline politely and suggest another day.

Şaqyrğanyñyzğa raqmet

Tickets and travel

Buy a ticket, check the departure time and describe what you can do.

Bır bilet kerek

Getting help at the bank

Describe a card problem and ask what to do next.

Kartam joğaldy

Choosing a mobile plan

Explain your phone needs and ask about the terms of a plan.

Qai tarif qolaily?

At the airport

Find check-in and ask about baggage and boarding.

Tırkeu qai jerde?

Checking the ingredients

Ask about ingredients and clearly state dietary restrictions.

Qūramynda ne bar?

Theatre tickets

Choose a performance and seats, and ask how to get your ticket.

Qai qatarda oryn bar?

At the dry cleaner’s

Describe a stain and arrange to collect your clothes.

Daqty ketıruge bola ma?

Signing up for swimming

Choose a class that fits your experience and schedule.

Bastauşylar toby bar ma?

Documents at a public service centre

Ask about appointments, required documents and completing an application.

Qandai qūjat qajet?

Tell someone what happened

Describe a small incident and its outcome in a connected account.

Aldymen… sodan keiın…

Choosing a home

Compare places to live and explain your priorities.

Mağan mañyzdysy…

Clarify a work assignment

Check your understanding of a task, its expected result and its deadline.

Dūrys tüsındım be?

Resolve a problem calmly

Describe a problem with an order and ask for a solution.

Mäselenı qalai şeşemız?

If plans change

Agree on a backup plan and the conditions of an arrangement.

Eger… bolsa…

Learning and asking for advice

Describe a difficulty, ask for advice and choose a way to practise.

Mağan ne ūsynar edıñız?

My opinion about the city

Express an opinion and support it with a reason and an example.

Menıñ oiymşa…

Report what someone said

Retell a message, identify its source and preserve its meaning.

Ol … dedı

Talking with a teacher

Discuss a school difficulty and agree on support for a child.

Balama qalai kömektese alamyn?

Becoming a volunteer

Clarify volunteer tasks and offer a realistic contribution.

Qandai kömek qajet?

At the car repair shop

Describe an observable problem and agree on a diagnostic check.

Dybys qai kezde şyğady?

Organize a small celebration

Share out tasks, consider your guests and check the preparations.

Mındetterdı bölıseiık

Report an unstable internet connection

Describe a recurring fault and report the checks you have already made.

Bailanys üzılıp qalady

Explain a simple recipe

Explain how to prepare a dish in order and suggest an ingredient substitution.

Daiyndau joly

Questions for a museum guide

Clarify an exhibit’s origins and retell an interesting detail.

Osy jädıger turaly

Apologize and put things right

Acknowledge a missed commitment and offer a way to put it right.

Keşırım sūraimyn

Weigh the arguments

Examine a proposal by considering its benefits, costs and conditions for success.

Bır jağynan… ekınşı jağynan…

Negotiating a deadline

Explain constraints, propose a compromise and confirm the agreement.

Ortaq şeşımge keleiık

Facts, opinions and sources

Assess a message and express how certain you are.

Būğan qandai dälel bar?

Disagree respectfully

Acknowledge a strong argument and explain the limits of your agreement.

Işınara kelısemın

A shared solution for the courtyard

Distinguish a cause from a symptom, assign actions and assess the result.

Mäselenıñ sebebı nede?

Culture without sweeping generalizations

Discuss traditions, clarify the context and compare personal experiences.

Är otbasynyñ dästürı ärtürlı

Experience and unrealized alternatives

Reflect on a past decision, an alternative and a useful lesson.

Eger erterek bılgenımde…

Sustain a discussion and summarize

Clarify a position, connect arguments and bring a substantive discussion to a close.

Oiyñyzdy dūrys tüsınsem…

Open a presentation

Introduce the topic, structure and expected value of a presentation.

Baiandamam üş bölımnen tūrady

Answer a difficult question

Check the meaning of a question, acknowledge the limits of your knowledge and give a substantive answer.

Sūrağyñyzdy naqtylap alaiyn

Lead a discussion

Manage speaking time, bring the discussion back to its topic and record decisions.

Ärkımnıñ pıkırın tyñdaiyq

Making a considered purchase

Compare price, lifespan and repairability without making unsupported claims.

Arzan ba, älde ūzaqqa şydai ma?

Making a report about noise

Make a calm spoken report supported by facts and a clear request that can be acted on.

Naqty jağdaidy sipattaiyq

Help two sides reach agreement

Paraphrase both sides’ interests and propose a limited trial.

Ekı tarapty da tyñdaiyq

Present your experience in an interview

Explain your role, actions, results and the limits of your individual contribution.

Nätijege qalai jettım?

Tourism and residents’ interests

Discuss a tourism project while considering different groups and the conditions for compromise.

Qala kımge qolaily boluy kerek?

A courtyard for everyone

Text, audio, translation and comprehension questions.

When work plans change

Text, audio, translation and comprehension questions.

How to assess a new bus route

Text, audio, translation and comprehension questions.

A disagreement that helped the project

Text, audio, translation and comprehension questions.