Chechen phrasebook

Chechen (Нохчийн мотт / Noxçiyn mott) is the main language spoken in Chechnya. Virtually all Chechens are also able to speak Russian, so learning Chechen is not necessary to communicate. That said, attempting to speak some Chechen will almost certainly impress your hosts.

Pronunciation guide

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Common signs OPEN CLOSED ENTRANCE EXIT PUSH PULL TOILET MEN WOMEN FORBIDDEN

Hello.

Ассаламу ӏалайкум. (as-sa-lam-u `a-lay-kum )

Hello. (informal)

Салам. (sa-lam )

How are you?

Муха ду гӏуллакхаш? (mookh doo ghool-lah-qash)

Fine, thank you.

Дика ду, баркалла. (deek doo, bar-kahl)

What is your name?

Хьан цӏе хӏу ю? (hahn tse hooh yu?)

My name is ______ .

Сан цӏе ______ ю. (sahn tse _____ yu.)

Nice to meet you.

Девзина хаза хета. (dev-zeen khaz khaet.)

Please.

Девзина хаза хета. (dev-zeen khaz khaet)

Thank you.

Баркалла. (bar-kahl)

You're welcome.

Массарна а. (mahs-sahr-naah)

Yes.

Хӏаъ. (hah)

No.

Хӏан-хӏа. (hah-ha )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Бехк ма биллахь. (byekhk mah beel-lahh)

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

. ( )

Goodbye

. ( )

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I don't speak Chechen.

Ас нохчийн мотт ца буьйцу. (ahs noh-chin mott tsa boots )

Do you speak English?

 ? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

 ? ( ?)

Help!

 ! ( !)

Look out!

 ! ( !)

Good morning.

Ӏуьйре дика йойла. ((`oor dik yoil)

Good evening.

Суьйре дика йойла. (soor dik yoil )

Good night.

Буьйса декъал йогӏийла. (boos dek-kal yo-gh)

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

Со ца кхета. (soh tsa khaet)

Where is the toilet?

 ? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.

. ( .)

Don't touch me!

 ! ( !)

I'll call the police.

. ( .)

Police!

 ! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

 ! ! ( ! !)

I need your help.

. ( .)

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

. ( .)

I lost my bag.

. ( .)

I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

. ( .)

I've been injured.

. ( .)

I need a doctor.

. ( .)

Can I use your phone?

 ? ( ?)

Numbers

1

цхьаъ - Tsha (Tez-Ha )

2

шиъ - Shi (shee)

3

кхоъ - Qo (koh)

4

диъ - Di ( )

5

пхиъ - Pkhi (pah-Kee)

6

ялх - Yalkh ( )

7

ворхӏ - Worh ( )

8

бархӏ - Barh ( )

9

исс - Iss ( )

10

итт - Itt ( )

11

цхьайтта - Tshaitta (Tez-Hai-Tah )

12

шийтта - Shiitta ( )

13

кхойтта - Qoitta (koyt )

14

дейтта - Deitta ( )

15

пхийтта - Pkhitta ( )

16

ялхитта - Yalkhitta ( )

17

вуьрхӏитта - Vurhitta ( )

18

берхӏитта - Berhitta ( )

19

ткъайоьссина - Tq'Aissana (Tookh-Ay-Sana )

20

ткъа - Tq'a (Tookh-Ah )

21

ткъе цхьаъ - Tq'a Tsha ( )

22

ткъе шиь - Tq-ee Shi ( )

23

ткъе кхоъ - Tq-ee Qo ( )

30

ткъе итт - Tq'ee Itt ( )

40

шовзткъа - Showtz Tq'qa ( )

50

шобзткъе итт - Showtz Tq'ee Itt ( )

60

кхузткъа - Quuz Tq'a ( )

70

кхуз ткъе итт - Quuz Tq'ee Itt ( )

80

доьзткъа - Dooz Tq'a ( )

90

доьзткъе итт - Dooz Tq'ee Itt ( )

100

бӏе - Bee ( )

200

ши бӏе - Shi Bee ( )

300

кхо бӏе - Qo Bee ( )

1,000

эзар - Ezar ( )

2,000

шиъ эзар - Shi Ezar ( )

1,000,000

мильон - Milyon ( )

1,000,000,000

Milliyard ( )

1,000,000,000,000

Trilyon ( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

Nomer ( )

half

Akh ( )

less

( )

more

( )

Time

now

( )

later

( )

before

( )

morning

( )

afternoon

( )

evening

( )

night

( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM

( )

two o'clock AM

( )

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

тахана ( )

yesterday

( )

tomorrow

( )

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

кӏиранде ( )

Monday

оршот ( )

Tuesday

шинара ( )

Wednesday

кхаара ( )

Thursday

еара ( )

Friday

пӏераска ( )

Saturday

шот ( )

Months

January

январ (yan-var )

February

( )

March

( )

April

( )

May

Май (mai )

June

( )

July

( )

August

( )

September

( )

October

( )

November

( )

December

( )

Colors

black

ӏаьржа (arzh)

white

кӏайн (k'-ayn )

gray

сира (seer )

red

цӏен (ts'-yehn )

blue

сийна (seen)

yellow

можа (mozh )

pink

беса-цӏениг (bes-ts'ye-nig)

green

баьццара (bats-tsar )

orange

цӏеран бос (ts'-ye-rhan-bos)

purple

лилула-сийна (lee-lool-seen )

brown

боьмаша (boh-msh )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )