Kazakh is a Turkic language spoken by around 13 million people in Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries. In transition from Cyrillic to Latin script, it carries a rich oral tradition and a fascinating nomadic culture. With this kit, you have the basics to greet, eat and find your way from Almaty to Astana.
Kazakh is a Turkic language of the Kipchak branch, spoken by around 13 million people in Kazakhstan, China (Xinjiang), Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Russia and the diaspora. It is the state language of Kazakhstan, shared with Russian which remains very present in public life, especially in urban areas. Kazakh is related to Kyrgyz, Tatar and modern Turkish: a Turkish-speaking traveller will find familiar structures and vocabulary.
A strong specificity of Kazakh is its ongoing alphabet transition. During the Soviet era, it was written in adapted Cyrillic. Since 2017, the country has launched a progressive switch to a Latin alphabet, officially adopted in 2025. You will still see many signs and documents in Cyrillic, but new signage appears in Latin. The grammar is agglutinative: words are built by stacking suffixes to express plural, case, possession, tense, negation and many other nuances.
Kazakh culture is inseparable from the nomadic heritage of the steppes: yurts, horses, trained eagles, cuisine based on meat and dairy products. The aqyns, those poet-improvisers who battle in oral duels, perpetuate a millenia-old tradition. The country is now experiencing a visible cultural renaissance: Q-pop, Cannes award-winning cinema, a music scene blending traditional dombra and modern sounds. This kit gathers the essentials to greet, ask for directions, order a meal, handle an emergency and take leave respectfully. Memorize these phrases before leaving and you will gain confidence as soon as you arrive in Almaty or Astana.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land in Almaty in the middle of the morning. The immigration officer looks at you with curiosity and says "Salemetsiz be". You wish him good morning, greet him more formally and pick up your stamped passport with a smile.
The taxi driver asks where you are going. You give him the address of your accommodation, ask him to pass by the music school, then the big bazaar and finally the restaurant where you are dining tonight.
You enter a chaikhana (tea house) in the early evening. The waitress hands you the menu. You order flatbread (nan), a large pitcher of water, a bowl of fermented milk and a plate of mutton.
You catch a cold after a long day in the steppe. At the pharmacy, you point to your hot head, your stinging eyes, your blocked ears. The pharmacist understands quickly and takes your hand to lead you to the right shelf.
On the morning of departure, your hosts walk you to the door. You wish them a good evening for tonight, good night for later, and take your leave with a sincere "Sau bolyngyz" before heading to the airport.
What you need to know before travelling to a kazakh-speaking country.
Russian remains very present in Kazakhstan, especially in large cities like Almaty or Astana. Many Kazakhs are perfectly bilingual. Trying a few words in Kazakh is nonetheless extremely appreciated and shows respect.
The Kazakh alphabet is in full transition: Cyrillic remains dominant in the streets, but the Latin alphabet has been officially adopted since 2025. You will see both scripts on signs and documents.
Kazakh hospitality is legendary. If you are invited into someone's home, you will almost always be offered tea and food. Refusing curtly is frowned upon, accept at least symbolically.
Beshbarmak ("five fingers") is the national dish: horse or mutton meat served on flat pasta, traditionally eaten by hand. Being invited to this meal is an honour.
Respect for elders is central to Kazakh society. Always use "siz" (formal you) with an older or unknown person, and keep "sen" (informal you) for close friends of the same age or younger.
Nomadic culture remains alive: yurts, horses and eagles trained for hunting are part of the heritage. During a trip to the countryside, you can discover these traditions still practised today.
The "dastarkhan" is the traditional welcoming table, low and loaded with food. People sit cross-legged around it, and the honour dish (often a sheep's head) is offered to the most respected guest.
Avoid pointing with your finger and prefer an open-hand gesture. When greeting an elder, place your right hand over your heart and slightly bow your head: this is a sign of deep respect.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Рахмет
thank you
Өтінемін
please
Кешіріңіз
excuse me / sorry
Қош келдіңіз
welcome
Қалайсыз?
how are you (formal)
Жақсы
good / fine
мен
I
сен
you (informal sg)
сіз
you (formal sg)
ол
he / she / it
A hundred words, thirty key phrases, as a printable PDF. Instant download, also sent by e-mail.
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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