Addressing people
Usually people are addressed by
their look, gender, or age. However, it occurs in an informal environment
(street, market, bus, etc). In
informal situations, one addresses older people with "Opa" (big
sister) for women or "Aka" (big brother) for men. These
terms also used after the first name: Dilbar opa or Mirsolih aka. When greeting
someone much older, one uses "Xola" (Aunt) and "Amaki"
(Uncle) after the first name.
Amaki!
Xola! Opoqi! Aka! Opa! Kenayi! Ukam! Singlim! Qizim! O'g'lim! Bolam! |
Uncle! (to an older man)
Auntie! (to an older woman) Auntie! (to an older woman) Big brother! Big sister! Sister-in-law! (to a married woman) My younger brother! My younger sister! My daughter! My son! My child! |
Addressing people in an official environment (banquet, wedding, conference, reception, official speeches):
Xonimlar va janoblar!
|
Ladies and Gentlemen!
|
Uzbek does not distinguish between Mrs, Mrs, and Ms. Instead, “hurmatli” (dear) is used before someone’s name.
Sometimes older people add –jon (for male) or xon (for female) to the end of younger names. Or younger people can address older people by adding –jon (gender does not matter) at the end of their relatives:
Sometimes older people add –jon (for male) or xon (for female) to the end of younger names. Or younger people can address older people by adding –jon (gender does not matter) at the end of their relatives:
Saidaxon
Tohirjon adajon opajon oyijon dodajon |
Dear Saida
Dear Tohir Dear daddy Dear sister/mom Dear mom/grandma Dear grandpa |
Compare and Contrast
UzbekUse of “Sen” (you-informal) and “siz” (you-formal) is somewhat different in Uzbek. Children always address their parents "siz," and use of "sen" is considered very rude. Unfamiliar, not very close peers say only "siz" in Uzbek.
Titles such as "Xonim" or "Janob" is very official and used rarely, mostly only at official ceremonies. |
TurkishIn Turkish, calling parents and husbands as "sen" is OK, and is not a sign of disrespect. Young peers or youngsters to elders if they consider themselves as close friends, can say "sen" and it might be shocking for Uzbeks.
The title "Hanım" (Ms, Mrs.) is used for women and "Bey" (Mr.) for men among peers. These titles follow the given name: Sevim Hanım or Rahmi Bey. |