Bukharian Jewish
Language

Zaboni Yahudihoyi Buxori

ALPHABET
Corresponding letters and sounds

Latin Letters

English Letters

(Bukharian)

Russian

Hebrew

letters

letters

Aa

A

А

‫אַ‬

Bb

B

Б

‫בּ‬

Vv

V

В

‫ ו‬,‫ב‬

Gg

G

Г

‫ג‬

Dd

D

Д

‫ד‬

Ee

E

Е

‫אּ‬..

Yo yo

YO

Ё

‫׳‬

Zh zh

ZH

Ж

‫ז׳‬

Zz

Z

З

‫ז‬

Ii

I

И

‫אּ׳‬

Yy

Y

Й

‫׳אּ‬

Kk

K

К

‫כּ‬

Ll

L

Л

‫ל‬

Mm

M

М

‫ ם‬,‫מ‬

Nn

N

Н

‫ ן‬,‫נ‬

Oo

O

O

‫אָ‬

Pp

P

П

‫פּ‬

Rr

R

Р

‫ר‬

Ss

S

C

‫ ס‬,‫שׂ‬

Tt

T

T

‫ ת‬,‫ט‬

Uu

U

У

‫אוּ‬

Ff

F

Ф

‫ ף‬,‫פ‬

Hh

soft sounding H

X

‫ ה‬,‫ח‬

Ch ch

CH

Ч

‫צ׳‬

Sh sh

SH

Ш

‫שׁ‬

Ъ

‫ע‬

'

sign for separation of
letters

Ee

E

Э

‫א׳‬

Yu yu

YU

Ю

‫׳וּ‬

Ya ya

YA

Я

‫׳אַ‬

U' u'
Qq

pronounced as sound of

‫אוֹ‬

"ea" in word "early"
pronouced as "c" in

‫ק‬

word "consonant"
pronounced as sound

Gh gh

"gh" in word

ГX

‫ג‬

"Afghanistan"
Xx

hard sounding H

X

, ‫כ‬

Jj

J

ДЖ

‫ג׳‬

Note:
The letter of H should be pronounced softer than usual English h, while
letter X should be pronounced harder than usual English h.
For example:

Hayim - the life
Xursand - Merry, happy
The letter U' should be pronounced as letters ea in the English word early.
The letter Q should be pronounced as "c" in English word "consonant".

LESSON ONE
The cardinal numbers.
1. one - yak
2. two - du
3. three - se
4. four - chor
5. five - panj
6. six - shish
7. seven - haft
8. eight - hasht
9. nine - no'h
10. ten - dah
11. eleven - yozdah
12. twelve - duvozdah
13. thirteen - senzdah
14. fourteen - chordah
15. fifteen - ponzdah
16. sixteen - shonzdah

17. seventeen - habdah
18. eighteen - hastdah
19. nineteen - no'zdah
20. twenty - bist
21. twenty one - bistu yak
30. thirty - si
31. thirty one- siyu yak
40. forty - chil
50. fifty - panjoh
60. sixty - shast
70. seventy - haftod
80. eighty - hashtod
90. ninety - navad
100. hundred - sad
200. two hundred - dusad
300. three hundred - sesad
400. four hundred - chorsad
500. five hundred - panjsad
600. six hundred - shishsad
700. seven hundred - haftsad
800. eight hundred - hashtsad
900. nine hundred - no'hsad
1000. thousand - hazor
1000000. million - milion
The ordinal numbers.
The ordinal numbers are derived from the cardinal numbers with the
addition of the suffix - to words ending with consonants "-um" ; - to words
ending with vowels "-yum":

yakum - first
duyum - second
seyum - third
chorum - fourth
panjum - fifth
bistu seyum - twenty third
sadu navadu haftum - one hundred and ninety seventh
Fractions.
Example:
Az chor se - three quarters (three fourths)
Az se du - two thirds

Home work. Write the following words in Buxori:
Sixty one (61)
Twenty two (22)
Eighth (8th)
One hundred ninety fifth (195th)
Two fourth (2/4)

LESSON TWO
In the Bukharian-Jewish language as in other languages, there are words,
letters in which pronounce differently, than are written. For a correct
pronunciation of the words in the Bukharian-Jewish language, difficult
words will be written in a transcription. In many cases the letter “h” doesn’t
pronounce at the end of the words, for example:
no'h [no’] – nine
dah [da] – ten
yozdah [yoza] – eleven
duvozdah [do’za] – twelve
senzdah [senza] – thirteen
chordah [chorda] – fourteen
ponzdah [ponza] – fifteen
shonzdah [shonza] – sixteen
habdah [habda] – seventeen

hashtdah [hashda] – eighteen
nuzdah [nuzda] – nineteen
panjoh [panjo] – fifty
Learn the following words:
Yakshanbe [yakshame] – Sunday
Dushanbe [dushame] – Monday
Seshanbe [seshame] – Tuesday
Chorshanbe [chorshame] – Wednesday
Panjshanbe [panshame] – Thursday
Jum`a – Friday
Shabot – Saturday
Ro’z – day
Hafta – week
Moh – month
Sol – year
Imro’z – today
Pagah – tomorrow
Dina – yesterday
Imro’z shabot – today is Saturday
Imro’z yakshanbe – today is Sunday
It is necessary to note, that some Bukharian Jews use the following
words for days of week:
Yakshabot – Sunday
Dushabot – Monday
Seshabot – Tuesday

Chorshabot – Wednesday
Panjshabot – Thursday
Ro’zi erev-shabot – Friday
Shabot – Saturday
Homework
Write down the following words:
Today is Monday
Today is Tuesday
Today is Wednesday
Today is Thursday
Today is Friday

Answers to the homework of the first lesson:
Sixty one (61) - Shastu yak
Twenty two (22) - Bistu du
Eighth (8th) - Hashtum
One hundred ninety fifth (195th) - Sadu navadu panjum or yak sadu
navadu panjum
Two fourth (2/4) - Az Chor Du

LESSON 3
Learn the following words:
Mishpoho, oila - family
Dada - dad
Ocha, ona - mom
Padar – father (lit.)
Modar – mother (lit.)
Bobo [bovo] - grandfather
Bibi [bivi] - grandmother
Bacha, farzand – a child
Pisar – son, boy
Duxtar – daughter, girl
Barodar– brother
Aka – older brother
Dodar, uka – younger brother
Apa – older sister
Xohar [xuvar] – younger sister
Nabera [navera] – grandson, granddaughter
Amak – uncle (from father’s side)
Taghoi – uncle (from mother’s side)
Amma – aunt (from father’s side)
Xola – aunt (from mother’s side)
Hover, do’st, jo’ra – friend
Kitob [kitov] – book

Pronouns
Pronoun is the part of speech which is not naming a subject, but indicates
it. The structure of independent personal pronouns of the Bukharian-Jewish
language is resulted below:
Man – I’m
Tu - you
Shumo – you (polite form)
Mo - we
O’, hamo’ – he, she
Onho - they
In the pronouns designating of belonging, we are using suffix –i
-i man – my
-i tu – your
-i o’ – his, her
-i mo - our
-i shumo – yours (polite form)
-i onho - their
Example:
My friend –hoveri man
My book – kitobi man
Their friend– hoveri onho
His/her friend – hoveri o’
Your friend – hoveri tu
Yours friend – hoveri shumo

Possession
Possession is expressed in one of two ways:
a) by adding a set of possessive endings to the noun representing the thing
possessed.
b) by relating the possessor and the thing possessed by means of an ezafe.
Thos lesson deals with these two forms of expressing possession.
Possession by adding possessive endings
To form the possessive form of noun, add the following endings to it.
These endings can be attached to any noun that ends in a consonant.
Example:
My son – pisar + am = pisaram
Your son – pisar + at = pisarat
His/her son – pisar + ash = pisarash
Your son (pl. or sing., polite) – pisarat + on = pisaraton
Their son – pisar + ashon = pisarashon
If the noun ends in a vowel, add –yam at the and. Example:
Onayam [onim] – my mom
Dadayam [dadim] – my dad
Bibiyam [bivim] – my grandmother
Boboyam [bovom] – my grandfather
Learn a proverb:
Dili modar ba farzand,
Dili farzand ba xorsang

In translation means:
Heart of mother to the child,
Heart of child to the stone
Used in case, when the child does not care about his/her mother, in time,
when heart of the mother thinks about her child.
Homework
Write down the following words:
My daughter
Their daughter
His/her daughter
Your daughter
Your daughter (pl. or sing., polite)
My family
Their family
His/her family
Your family
Your family (pl. or sing., polite)

The answers to the homework of the second lesson:
Today is Monday - Imro'z Dushanbe (imro'z dushabot)
Today is Tuesday - Imro'z Seshanbe (imro'z seshabot)
Today is Wednesday - Imro'z Chorshanbe (imro'z chorshabot)
Today is Thursday - Imro'z Panjshanbe (imro'z panjshabot)
Today is Friday - Imro'z Jum`a (imro'z ro’zi erev shabot)

LESSON FOUR

Review lessons ## One, Two, and Three before studying this lesson.
Review Alphabet Table, if necessary.
Learn the following words and phrases:
Sholu’m – hello.
Sholu’m `alexem! – peace for you! (form of greeting)
Va `alexem sholu’m! – answering form to the “Sholu’m `alexem!” with
the same meaning.
Borux habo; xush omaded – welcome (polite form).
Naghzed?; Naghz hasted? – are you all right? (polite form)
Chitu’ed shumo? – how are you? (polite form)
Sihat hasted?; Salomat hasted? – how do you feel? (polite form)
Chi gapi toza – what’s new?

Chi tu’ shud? – what happened?
Borux Hashem!; Xudoba shukr! [shukur] – Thanks God!
Man naghz hastam; Man naghz; naghzam – I’m all right.
Salomatiyam [salomatim] naghz (Salomatiyi man naghz) – I feel good.
Salomatiyam [salomatim] naghz nest – I don’t feel well.
Shumoro dida xursand shudam– nice to meet you (polite form).
Rahmat; quluq – thanks.
Sihat [shat] boshed; Sihat-salomat boshed – feel well; be healthy (polite
form).
Xayr, salomat boshed; naghz moned – Goodbye.
Xudo; Hashem - God
Sihat –salomat; tani-sihat - health
Naghz; xub – good, nice
Bad - bad
Hov - yes
Ne – no
Nest - not
Insun; injo – here
Unsun; unjo - there
In, hamin – this
Inho – these
Vay; hamun – that
The Verb
The verb is the most difficult part of the speech, which may express an act,
an occurrence, or a mode of being. Below are some examples of verbs. The
–“an”- at the end of each verb is called the infinitive marker and is similar
in function to the English infinitive “to” in the verb “to go”. The table

below shows the verbs in infinitive form in Bukharian-Jewish language,
then base of the verb in present tense and it’s meaning in English.

Infinitive in Bukharian

Base

Meaning

Donistan-an

- don -

to know (a thing)

Girift - an

- gir -

to take

Guft - an

- gu’y -

to say

Shinoxt- an

- shinos -

to know (a person)

Tavonist- an

- ton -

can

Simple Present Tense
This tense refers to an action that is happening now, or one that will happen
soon in the future. To form this tense you need to:
a) take the base of the verb;
b) add prefix “me- “ to the present stem (beginning of the verb).
c) add verb endings “-am” or “-yam”; “-i” or “-yi”; “-ad” or “-yad”; “-em”
or “-yem”; “-eton” or “-yeton”; “-and” or “-yand”.
Notice:
The verb “guftan” in Present tense has base -gu’y-, but when it using in a
sentence, last letter of the base “-y” goes out. See the example.

How to use the verb endings:
Use “-am” or “-yam” to noun “I”; (If the noun ends in a vowel add “–
yam” at the end, if in a constant add “-am”).
Example:
Man megu’yam – I say; Man medonam – I know.
Use “-ed” or “-yed” to noun “you” (polite form), (If the noun ends in a
vowel add “–yed” at the end, if in a constant add “-ed”).
Example:
Shumo medoned – you (polite) know; shumo megu’yed – You (polite) say;
Use “-i” or “-yi” to noun “you” (single), (If the noun ends in a vowel add
“–yi” at the end, if in a constant add “-i”).
Example:
Tu medoni – You know; tu megu’yi – you say.
Use “-and” or “–yand” to noun “we” (If the noun ends in a vowel, add “–
yand” at the end, if constant add “-and”).
Example:
Onho medonand – They know; Onho megu’yand – They say
Use “-eton” or “-yeton” to noun “you” (plural), (If the noun ends in a
vowel add “–yeton” at the end, if in a constant add “-eton”).
Example:
Shumo medoneton – you (pl.) know; shumo megu’yeton – you (pl.) say.
Use “-em” or “-yem” to noun “we”, (If the noun ends in a vowel add “–
yem” at the end, if in a constant add “-em”).
Example:
Mo medonem – we know; mo megu’yem – we say.

For negative form of the verb, add “na-” before prefix “me-” Example:
Man namedonam – I don’t now.
Example:

Affirmative form

Negative form

Man me-gu’yam – I say
Tu megu’yi – You (sing.) say

Man name-gu’yam – I don’t say

U’ megu’yad – He/she says

Tu namegu’yi – You (sing.) don’t say

Mo megu’yem – We say

U’ namegu’yad – He/she doesn’t say

Shumo megu’yed – You (polite) say

Mo namegu’yem – We don’t say

Shumo megu’yeton – You (plural) say

Shumo namegu’yed – You (polite) don’t say

Onho megu’yand – They say

Shumo namegu’yeton – You (plural) don’t say
Onho namegu’yand – They don’t say

Man medonam – I know
Tu medoni –You (sing.) know

Man namedonam – I don’t know

U’ medonad – He/she knows

Tu namedoni – You (sing.) don’t know

Mo medonem – We know

U’ namedonad – He/she doesn’t know

Shumo medoned – You (polite) know

Mo namedonem – We know

Shumo medoneton – You (pl.) know

Shumo namedoned – You (pol.) don’t know

Onho medonand –They know

Shumo namedoneton – You (pl.) don’t know
Onho namedonand – They don’t know

Man meshinosam – I recognize
Tu meshinosi – You recognize

Man nameshinosam – I recognize

U’ meshinosad – He/she recognizes

Tu nameshinosi – You (sing.) don’t recognize

Mo meshinosem – We recognize

U’ nameshinosad – He/she doesn’t recognize

Shumo meshinosed – You (polite) recognize

Mo nameshinosem – We don’t recognize

Shumo meshinoseton – You (plural)

Shumo nameshinosed – You (polite) don’t recognize

recognize

Shumo meshinoseton – You (plural) don’t recognize
Onho nameshinosand – They don’t recognize

Onho meshinosand – They recognize
Learn the proverb:
Raftan ba dasti xud,
Omadan ba dasti Xudo
Translation:
To go by own hands,
To come by hands of God
Using in case, when somebody goes somewhere, but no one knows whether
the person will come back safely.
Learn the byword:
Padar rozi, modar rozi – Xudo rozi
Translation:
When the parents agree – God agrees
Read the dialogue below:
Pinhos (man’s name)
Rohel (woman’s name)

Rohel: Sholu’m aka Pinhos! Naghzed? Chitoed shumo? Sihat- salomat
hasted?
(Hello Mr. Pinhos! Are you all right? How are you? How do you feel?)
Pinhos: Sholu’m apa Rohel! Borux Hashem, man naghz hastam.
Chi gipi toza?
(Hello Ms. Rohel! Thanks God, I’m all right. What’s new from you?)
Rohel: Man, Xudoba shukr ru’zi yakshanbe tfilin-bandoni pisaramro
guzarondam.
(Thanks God, on Sunday I celebrated Bar-Mitzvah of my son.)
Pinhos: Bisyor nagz. Man hursand hastam ki shumoro didam.
(Very good. I’m glad to see you).
Rohel: Hayr, naghz moned!
(Goodbye!)
Pinhos: Naghz raved!
(Goodbye).

Homework:
Write down next phrases in Present Tense with verb “giriftan” (to take),
which base is -gir- and with verb “tavonistan” (can), which base is -ton(Look at the examples if necessary):

I take;

I don’t take;

You take;

You (sing.) don’t take;

He/she takes;

He/she doesn’t take;

We take;

We don’t take;

You (polite) take;

You (polite) don’t take;

You (plural) take;

You (plural) don’t take

They take;

They don’t take;

I can;

I can’t;

You can;

You can’t;

He/she can;

He/she can’t;

We d can;

We can’t;

You (polite) can;

You (polite) can’t;

You (plural) can;

You (plural) can’t;

They can.

They can’t.

The answers to the homework of the Third lesson are:
My daughter: Duxtari man / Duxtaram
Their daughter: Duxtari onho / Duxtarashon

His/her daughter: Duxtari u' / Duxtarash
Your daughter: Duxtari tu / Duxtarat
Your daughter (polite): Duxtari shumo / Duxtaraton
My family: Oilayi man, Mishpohoyi man / Oilayam, Mishpohoyam
Their family: Oilayi onho, Mishpohoyi onho / Oilayashon,
Mishpohoyashon
His/her family: Oilayi u', Mishpohoyi u' / Oilayash, Mishpohoyash
Your family: Oilayi tu, Mishpohoyi tu / Oilayat, Mishpohoyat
Your family (polite): Oilayi shumo, Mishpohoyi shumo / Oilayaton,
Mishpohoyaton

LESSON FIVE
Learn the following words:
Zamiston – winter;
Bahor – spring;
Tobiston – summer;
Tiramoh – autumn, fall;
Yanvar – January;
Fevral – February;
Mart – March;
Aprel – April;
May – May;
Iyun – June;

Iyul – July;
Avgust – August;
Sentyabr – September;
Oktyabr – October;
Noyabr – November;
Dekabr – December;
Obu havo – weather;
Xunuk – cold;
Salqin – cool;
Garm – warm, hot;
Aver; havo – air;
Barf – snow;
Boron – rain;
Osmon; shomaim – sky;
Oftob – Sun;
Mahtob – Moon;
Sitora – star, planet;
Ru’z – day;
Imru’z – today;
Aknun; hozir – now, soon;
So`at – time, watch, clock;
Nom – name;
Familiya – last name.
Now is a summer – hozir tobiston hast;
What is the month now? - Hozir kadom moh hast?
Now is June – Hozir Iyun hast;
Now is September – Hozir sentyabr hast;

What is the time? – So`at chand shud?
The time is three o’clock and 15 minutes – so`at seyu ponzdah minut
shud;
The time is two o’clock and 35 minutes – so`at duyu siyu panj minut
shud.;
The time is eleven o’clock – so`at yozdah shud;
The weather is hot today – imru’z havo garm;
The weather is cool today – imru’z havo salqin;
The weather is good today – imru’z havo naghz;
The weather is not bad today – imru’z havo bad nest;
What is your name? – Nomi tu chi hast? (Nomat chist?) (sing.)
Nomi shumo chi hast? (Nomaton chist) (respectful)
My name is Pinhos – Nomi man Pinhos hast (Nomam Pinhos hast)
How old are you? – Shumo chand sola shuded? (respectful)
Tu chand sola shudi? (sing.)
I’m twenty two years old – Man bistu du sola shudam;
I’m eighteen years old – Man hazhdah sola shudam.

Infinitive in Bukharian
Shud -an
Homework:

Base
-shud-

Meaning
to become

Write down the following words and phrases:
Now is October;
Now is April;
Now is autumn (fall);
The weather is cold today;
I’m fifteen years old;
I’m thirty five years old;
The time is five o’clock and 20 minutes;
The time is seven o’clock and 10 minutes;

The answers to the homework for the fourth lesson:

I take – man megiram;
You take – tu megiri;
He/she takes – u’ megirad;
We take – mo megirem;
You (polite) take – shumo megired;
You (plural) take – shumo megireton;
They take – onho megirand;
I can – man metavonam;
You can – tu metavoni;
He/she can – u’ metavonad;
We can – mo metavonem;
You (polite) can – shumo metavoned;
You (plural) can – shumo
metavoneton;
They can – onho metavonand.

I don’t take – man namegiram;
You (sing.) don’t take – tu namegiri;
He/she doesn’t take – u’ namegirad;
We don’t take – mo namegirem;
You (polite) don’t take – shumo namegired;
You (plural) don’t take–shumo namegireton;
They don’t take – onho namegirand;
I can’t – man nametavonam;
You can’t – tu nametavoni;
He/she can’t – u’ nametavonad;
We can’t – mo nametavonem;
You (polite) can’t – shumo nametavoned;
You (plural) can’t – shumo nametavoneton;
They can’t – onho nametavonand.

LESSON SIX
Learn the following words:
Meva – fruit;
Sabzavot – vegetable;
Seb [sev] – apple;
Noshpoti – pear;
Olu – plum;
Olucha – cherry;
Gelos – sweet cherry;
Angur – grape;
Anjir – fig;
Tut – mulberry;
Shaftolu – peach;
Anor – pomegranate;
Xurmo – date;
Tarbuz – watermelon;
Xarbuza – melon;

Kadu – pumpkin;
Kartoshka – potato;
Piyoz – onion;
Sabzi – carrot;
Mandu’ra; pomidor – tomato;
Bodaring – cucumber;
Karam – cabbage;
Alafi osh – coriander;
Lablabu [lablavu] – beetroot;
Shalgham – turnip;
Turbcha – radish;
Lu’biyo – bean;
Colors:
Rang – color;
Surx – red;
Sub-surx – very red;
Zard – yellow;
Zab-zard – very yellow;

Kabud [kavud] – green; blue;
Osmonrang – blue;
Kap-kabud – very green; very blue; dark-blue;
Jigarrang – brown;
Xokistarrang – gray;
Siyoh [siyo] – black;
Sip-siyoh – very black;
Safed – white;
Sab-safed – very white;
Maza- taste;
Bamaza – tasteful;
Bemaza – not tasteful;
Shirin – sweet;
Talx – bitter;
Shu’r – salty;
Fach – insipid;
Turush – sour;
Chand? – how much?

Chandta? – how many?
Infinitive in
Bukharian
Doshtan

Base

Meaning

-dor-

to have; to own

The verb “doshtan” is an exception to the “me-” rule which we add in the
Present tense. Therefore, to form the present tense of this verb, you should
add the endings of the Present base; no “me-” is required. To form the
negative, add “na-” as usual directly to the base.
For example:
Positive form

Negative form

Man doram – I have;

Man nadoram – I don’t have;

Tu dori – You have;

Tu nadori – You don’t have;

Shumo dored – You (resp.) have;

Shumo nadored – You (resp.) don’t have;

U’ dorad – He/she has;

U’ nadorad – He/she hasn’t

Mo dorem – We have;

Mo nadorem – We don’t have;

Shumo doreton – You have (pl.);

Shumo nadoreton – You don’t have (pl.);

Onho dorand – They have

Onho nadorand – They don’t have

Red apple – sebi surx;
Yellow pear – noshpotiyi zard;
White onion – piyozi safed;
Not sweet watermelon – tarbuzi bemaza;
Sour plum – oluchayi turush;

Sweet peach – shaftoluyi bamaza;
I have five sweet apples – man panjta sebi shirin doram;
I have two very red sweet apples – man duta sebi sub-surx doram;
Classifiers
For counting things which come in books, fruits, or other things,
Bukharian uses classifiers. These classifiers follow the numeral and
precede the noun. In most cases we use unspecified unitizer “-ta”, which
we add to the numeral.
Example:
Yakta seb – one apple;
Duta anor – two pomegranates;
Yakta kitob – one book;
Seta angur – three grapes;
Chorta noshpoti – four pear;
Learn the proverb:
Kayvonu du shud, osh shu’r shud.
Two cooks start to cook, the dinner became salty.
The proverb means that for every business there should be one chairman.
The questions for example:
Tu chandta kitob dori? –

The answers for example:
Man seta kitob doram – I have three books.

How many books do you have?
Shumo chandta kitob dored? –
How many books do you have? (respectful)
U’ chandta kitob dorad? –

U’ seta kitob dorad – He/she has three books.

How many books does he/she have?

Mo seta kitob dorem – We have three books.

Shumo chandta kitob doreton? –

Onho seta kitob dorand – They have three books.

How many books do you have? (plural)
Onho chandta kitob dorand? –
How many books do they have?

Homework:
Write down the following sentences in Bukhori:
How many pears do you have?
How many cucumbers does he/she have?
How many plums do they have?
I have three very-yellow pears.
He/she has three tomatoes.
We have three pears.
They have three sweet-cherries.

The answers to the homework for the fifth lesson:
Now is October;
Xozir mohi oktyabr hast;
Now is April;
Xozir mohi aprel hast;
Now is autumn (fall);
Hozir tiramoh hast;
The weather is cold today;
Imru’z havo xunuk;
I’m fifteen years old;
Man ponzdah sola shudam;
I’m thirty five years old;
Man siyu panj sola shudam;
The time is five o’clock and 20
minutes;

So`at panju bist minut shud;

The time is seven o’clock and 10

So`at haftu dah minut shud.

minutes.

LESSON SEVEN
Learn the following words:
Hoton; domod – groom; son in law;
Kelin – daughter in law;
Shavhar; shu’ – husband;
Hamsar; zan – wife;
Kalo; `aru’s – bride;

Padarshu’ – father in law (husband’s father);
Modarshu’ – mother in law (husband’s mother);
`Amak – father in law (wife’s father); uncle (brother of the father);
Ochamo – mother in law (wife’s mother);
Dodarshu’- husband’s brother;
Xoharshu’[xuvarshu’] – husband’s sister;
Dodar`aru’s – wife’s brother (brother in law);
Xohar`aru’s – wife’s sister (daughter in law);
Boja – two husbands of two sisters;
Daghech – two wifes of two brothers;
Yazna – husband of the aunt or sister;
Tu’ti – wife of the brother; aunty (addressing to any older women)
`Abera[`avera] – great-grandson;
Farnabera [farnavera] – great-great grandson;

Questions:
Ki? – who?
Chi? – what?
Kay? – when?
Kadom? – which?
Chuva? Charo? (lit.) – why?
Baroyi ki? – for whom?
Baroyi chi? – for what?
Chi xel? – how?
Chand? – how much?
Chandta? – how many?
Qani? Kujo? – where?
Az kujo? – where from?
Infinitive in Bukharian
Budan
Didan
Dodan
Doshtan
Furu’xtan
Kardan
Omadan
Ovardan
Raftan

Present Base
-hast-bin-tiy-; -deh-(lit.)
-dor-furu’sh-kun-biyo-biyor-rav-

Meaning
to be
to see
to give
to have; to own; to catch
to sell
to do; to make
to come; to arrive
to bring
to go

Shudan
Xaridan
Xondan
Xurdan

-shav-xarid-xon-xu’r-

to become
to buy
to read; to sing
to eat

As we discussed already in Lesson Three the suffix “–i”, or “–yi” is used to
connect a noun with an adjective. In Bukhori, adjectives usually follow the
noun.
For example:
Apple “seb” + red “surx” = red apple “sebi surx”.
Plum “olu” + yellow “zard” = yellow plum “oluyi zard”
The pronouns may be used after a noun with the possessive suffix “-i” or
“-yi”.
For example:
My mother – modari man
My grandfather – boboyi man.

Past Indefinite Tense (Simple Past)
The Simple Past tense indicates that an activity or situation began and
ended at a particular time in past.
To form a Simple Past tense you need to:
a) take an infinitive verb and take out its infinitive ending “an”;
For example: to see – didan – did; to give – dodan – dod.
b) add needed verb ending “-am” or “-yam”; “-i” or “-yi”; “-ed” or “-yed”,
“-em” or “-yem”; “-eton” or “-yeton”; “-and” or “-yand”.
For negative form of the verb, add “na-” before the verb.
Example:
Affirmative form

Negative form

Man dodam – I gave;

Man nadodam – I didn’t give;

Tu – dodi – you gave;

Tu – nadodi – you didn’t give;

U’ dod – he/she gave;

U’ nadod – he/she didn’t give;

Mo dodem – we gave;

Mo nadodem – we didn’t give;

Shumo doded – you gave (polite);

Shumo nadoded – you didn’t give (polite);

Shumo dodeton – you gave (pl.);

Shumo nadodeton – you didn’t give (pl.);

Onho dodand – they gave.

Onho nadodand – they didn’t gave.

Man xaridam – I bought;

Man naxaridam – I didn’t buy;

Tu xaridi – you bought;

Tu naxaridi – you didn’t buy;

U’ xarid – he/she bought;

U’ naxarid – he/she didn’t buy;

Mo xaridem – we bought;

Mo naxaridem – we didn’t buy;

Shumo xarided – you bought (polite);

Shumo naxarided – you didn’t buy (polite);

Shumo xarideton – you bought (pl.);

Shumo naxarideton – you didn’t buy (pl.);

Onho xaridand – they bought.

Onho naxaridand – they didn’t buy.

Note: In the conversation Bukharian Jews use ending “–ak” in the Past
Tense to the verb following the noun “he/she”. For example: He/she came
– U’ omadak.
Ki omad? – who came?
Chi gufted? – what did you say? (resp.)
Kay omaded? – when did you come?
Kadom meva ovarded? – which fruit did you bring?
Chuva gufted? – why did you say?
Baroyi ki ovarded? – for whom did you bring?
Baroyi chi karded? – for what did you do?
Chi xel omaded? – how did you come?
Chand pul doded? – how much money did you give?
Chandta meva xarided? – how many fruits did you buy?
Kujo rafted? – where did you go?

Az kujo omaded? – where from did you come?
Learn the proverbs:
Bukharian Proverbs
English Translation
Daraxti kach rost nameshavad, As crooked tree will not be straight, a
modarshu’ ba kelin du’st

husband’s mother will not be friend of

nameshavad.

the daughter in law.
Everything what you do, you do for

Har chi kuni ba xud kuni, xoh
nek kuni xoh bad kuni.

yourself, and it doesn’t matter that it’s
good or bad.

Read the dialogue
Rahamim – men’s name;
Hizqiyo – men’s name.
Rahamim: Ha, mulo Hizkiyo, sho’lom! Chitu’yed shumo? Man
shumoro du sol nadidam.
(Hey, Mr. Hizqiyo, hello! How are you? I didn’t see you for two years.)
Hizqiyo: Sholu’m, mulo Rahamim! Man naghzam. Borux Hashem yak
moh pesh zan giriftam. Hozir man zanam qati meshinam.
(Hello Mr. Rahamim. I’m good. Thanks God I got married one month ago.
Now I live with my wife.)
Rahamim: Mazoltu’v, man nafahmidam-ku. Zanaton az kadom avlod
hastand?
(Congratulation, I didn’t know that. From which clan is your wife?)

Hizqiyo: Zanam az avlodi Moshe Kalontar, nomi u’ Yashu`o hast.
(My wife is from the family of Moshe Kalontar, her name is Yushuo.
Rahamim: xay-xay, man zanatonro meshinosam–ku. U’ duxtari Dovidi
Kalontar va Shu’shanoyi Mulloqand hast. Onho odamshavanda
hastand.
(Wow, I know your wife, She is a daughter of David Kalontar and
Shoshana Mulloqand. They are respectful people.)
Hizqiyo: Hov, emet gufted. Xayr, chi gaphoyi toza?
(Yes, that’s right. Ok. what’s new?
Rahamim: Man naghz hastam, Xudoba shukr. Yak sol pesh zan
giriftam az avlodi Aharoni Qandin. Nomi u’ Davu’ro. Yakta pisar
doram – Ariel.
(I’m good, thanks God. I got married a year ago. She is from the family of
Aharon Qandin. Her name is Debora. I have a son – Ariel.)
Hizqiyo: Basimontu’v! Elohim pisaraton baxtnok shavad!
(Congratulation! May your son be happy!)
Rahamim: Rahmat, salomat boshed!
(Thanks, be well.)

Homework:
Write down the following sentences in Bukhori:
I came; I didn’t come
You came; you didn’t come (resp.)
You came; you didn’t come (pl.)
He/she came; he/ she didn’t come;
They came; they didn’t come.
I went; I didn’t go;
You went; you didn’t go (resp.);
You went; you didn’t go (pl.)
He/she went; he/she didn’t go;
They went; they didn’t go.

The answers to the homework for the sixth lesson:
How many pears do you have? – Shumo chandta noshpoti dored?
How many cucumbers does he/she have? – U’ chandta bodaring dorad?
How many plums do they have? – Onho chandta olu dorand?
I have three very-yellow pears – Man seta noshpotiyi zab-zard doram.

He/she has three tomatoes – U’ seta mandu’ra dorad.
We have three pears – Mo seta noshpoti dorem.
They have three sweet-cherries – Onho seta gelos dorand.