Glossary

Introduction
General Glossary
Place Names
Tribal Names and Terms
Karakalpak (and Russian) Transliteration Systems
Notes

A Karakalpak-English Dictionary

Introduction

This glossary has been developed for general readers who are interested in the Karakalpak people and their history and culture, not for specialists in linguistics or phonetics.

Ideally we would like to have an English transliteration of every Karakalpak word, based solely on the English alphabet and producing words that phonetically sound close to their Karakalpak equivalents. Unfortunately many Karakalpak words do not easily convert in this way.

Over the years various standardized systems have been established in order to transliterate Cyrillic letters into a Latin or Romanized equivalent, ranging from the the UK Permanent Committee on Geographical Names to the US American Library Association and Library of Congress and the International Standards Organisation. The advantage of the latter ISO-9 standard, published in 1995, is that it is based on the system of scientific transliteration used in linguistics and is also designed to be reversible, so that the original Cyrillic word can be faithfully re-composed from its transliteration. However ISO-9 includes many special characters that are not part of the English alphabet and which therefore include various diacritics, the marks that distinguish different sounding forms of the same letter.

This raises the complex issue of unicodes, the decimal or hexadecimal codes used by internet browsers to support the letters of various languages. The American standard uses obscure characters like h, o and u combined with a superdot, which can only be written with combination codes and are not supported on certain browsers.

The whole purpose of an Anglicized transliteration is convenience, such as the ability to use an English keyboard without the constant need to insert special symbols - otherwise one might as well use the original Karakalpak word! The only standard that excludes diacritics is the 1971 Soviet system developed by the National Administration for Geodesy and Cartography of the USSR and known as GOST. Unfortunately it is primarily designed for the Russian language rather than Turkic languages like Karakalpak and contains no equivalents for eight Karakalpak letters. Obviously the Karakalpak people themselves played no part in the design or adoption of this or any of the other standard transliteration systems.

Between 1925 and 1940 the Karakalpaks used a Latin alphabet introduced by the Russians. This was based on the standard Latin alphabet with a few extra letters and diacritics. From 1940 onwards there was a rapid shift to Cyrillic scripts. As no unified Cyrillic alphabet existed for all of the Russian Central Asian States each language made its own adaptations. The Karakalpak alphabet had 6 additional letters to the normal Cyrillic alphabet. The letters ә, ң, ө, ў and ү were introduced in 1945. A Karakalpak Latin alphabet was introduced in February 1994 and a major revision of it took place in 1995 bringing it closer to the new Uzbek Latin alphabet. To overcome problems in typography the Karakalpaks dealt with certain letters by creating shortcuts to them - inserting an apostrophe after certain normal vowels or consonants and thus avoiding the use of diacritics. For example the vowel ө, which sounds like the German ö became o'.

This new alphabet offers a reasonably simple and practical transliteration system for the Anglicizing of Karakalpak. All of the letters are to be found on a standard QWERTY keyboard with the exception of the dotless i which is the Cyrillic ы and this can be found under insert symbol in MS Word. This system is now widely used by educated Karakalpaks, especially on the internet, and has been employed by both No'kis museums. We use it consistently for all Karakalpak words throughout this website. This is also fairly close to the original 1971 GOST standard - for reference click here. For comparison we also give a more scientific Latin equivalent based on the internationally recognized standard ISO-9.

Note that the letters â, ô, ö, ÷, and ù do not appear in genuine Karakalpak words. For a review of the 1995 Latin system see Dospanov, 2004.

Matters were complicated on 8 October 2009 when the Joqarg'ı Ken'es introduced a revised and more cumbersome Latin alphabet. This is generally the same as the 1995 alphabet with five main exceptions: the dotless i is replaced by i'; o, o' and e at the start of Karakalpak words are replaced by wo, wo' and ye (which is how they are generally pronounced); and in loan words the rarely occurring ts is replaced by c. To complicate matters, traditional Karakalpak words are treated differently from loan words (for example, esik should now become yesik but ekonomika does not change).

So far this new alphabet has been largely ignored by the Karakalpaks themselves and has not even been adopted by the few local newspapers that are published in the Latin alphabet. We have therefore decided against adopting this new system at this early stage on the basis that a language is defined by what its speakers use in practice rather than by a diktat proscribed by politicians that most educated Karakalpaks are still largely unaware of.

Despite the move towards the use of the Latin script, the majority of Karakalpak scholarly works are still written in Cyrillic. Much of the early research on Karakalpak culture was conducted by Russian scholars and many Karakalpak terms have passed into general usage in a Romanized version of the Russian Cyrillic word. An example would be saukele instead of the Karakalpak spelling sa'wkele. We have therefore included a column showing the Russian Cyrillic spellings of Karakalpak words.

Please note that this page is still in the development stage and that many new words will be progressively added over the coming months and years.

General Glossary

Karakalpak Romanized 1995	Karakalpak Romanized ISO-9	Karakalpak Cyrillic	Russian Romanized GOST 1971	Russian Cyrillic	Meaning
ag'ash	aġaš	ағаш	agash	агаш	tree, wood
alaqa	alaķa	алақа	alaka	алака	sections of the sa'wkele tail made from Bukharan embroidery
alasha	alaša	алаша	alasha	алаша	striped cloth
aldı	aldy	алды	aldy	алды	face or front
aldıng'ı u'zik	aldynġy ùzik	алдынғы үзик	aldyngy uzik	алдынгы үзик	front felt of yurt roof
aq	аķ	ақ	ak	ак	white
aq sog'ıt	aķ soġyt	ақ соғыт	ak sogyt	ак согыт	willow, Salix alba L.
aqsaqal	aķsaķal	ақсақал	aksakal	аксакал	old man, elder. Literally 'white beard'
aq tal	aķ tal	ақ тал	ak tal	ак тал	willow, Salix oxica Dode
aq terek	aķ terek	ақ терек	ak terek	ак терек	poplar, Populus alba pyramidalis
arba	arba	арба	arba	арба	two-wheeled wooden donkey or bullock cart
a'rebek	ãrebek	әребек	arebek	аребек	woman's nose ornament, generally a ring
arsha	arša	арша	arsha	арша	Russian metal trunk made of tinplate and often decorated.
artqı u'zik	artķy uzik	артқы үзик	artky uzik	арткы үзик	rear felt of yurt roof
asqabaq	asķabaķ	асқабақ	askabak	аскабак	pumpkin, often dried out and used as a water container
asxana	ashana	асхана	askhana	асхана	kitchen
at ayıl	at ajyl	ат айыл	at ajyl	ат айыл	horse's belly band
atlı	atly	атлы	atly	атлы	horseman, rider
awıl	aŭyl	аўыл	aul	аул	hamlet or small village.
ayaq baw	aâķ baŭ	аяқ баў	ajak bau	аяк бау	brightly coloured woollen tassels hung from the shan'araq of the yurt
aydıllı	ajdylly	айдыллы	ajdylly	айдыллы	very popular pattern of Russian machine printed cotton, botehs on a red background
azat	azat	азат	azat	азат	free
baqa	baķa	бақа	baka	бака	frog
baqan	baķan	бақан	bakan	бакан	forked pole used to erect the yurt
baqsı	baķsy	бақсы	baksy	баксы	1. narrator, poet 2. sorcerer 3. wise person
bas	bas	бас	bas	бас	head
basqur	basķur	басқур	baskur	баскур	head band or main tent band
baw shuw	baŭ šuŭ	баў шуў	bau shu	бау шу	common term for all types of yurt bands. Can also mean the set of bands which make up part of the dowry
bay	baj	бай	baj	бай	wealthy man; landowner
baypaq	bajpaķ	байпақ	bajpak	байпак	men's felt stockings
bayram	bajram	байрам	bajram	байрам	holiday
belbew	belbeŭ	белбеў	belbeu	белбеу	cloth or kerchief used as a man's belt
beljip	belžip	белжип	belzhip	белжип	bel - waist, jip - thread, lace
bes kiyim	bes kijim	бес кийим	bes kijim	бес кийим	five items of clothing, part of the girl's dowry
beshpent	bešpent	бешпент	beshpent	бешпент	sleeveless waistcoat
bet	bet	бет	bet	бет	face
bet ashar	bet ašar	бет ашар	bet ashar	бет ашар	face revealing ceremony
bilezik	bilezik	билезик	bilezik	билезик	bracelet
bo'genek	bôgenek	бөгенек	bogenek	богенек	splayed laths on the roofwheel of the yurt
bog'jama	boġžama	боғжама	bogzhama	богжама	a plain qarshın-like bag or a flat cotton storage bag
bosag'a	bosaġa	босаға	bosaga	босага	threshold
boydası	bojdasy	бойдасы	bojdasy	бойдасы	strings of beads attached to the earguards of the sa'wkele, hanging like a necklace
boyaq ko'ylek	boâķ kôylek	бояқ көйлек	bojak koylek	бояк койлек	literally 'dyed dress' - another term for a ko'k koylek
boyra	bojra	бойра	bojra	бойра	cane mat
bo'z	bôz	бөз	boz	боз	rough homemade cloth
da'stan	dãstan	дәстан	dastan	дастан	poem, epos
dastıq	dastyķ	дастық	dastyk	дастык	long pillow
dasturqan	dasturķan	дастурқан	dasturkan	дастуркан	tablecloth
digirman	digirman	дигирман	digirman	дигирман	mill
digirman tas	digirman tas	дигирман тас	digirman tas	дигирман тас	millstone, grindstone
dizbe	dizbe	дизбе	dizbe	дизбе	narrow tapes used to bind together the qanats of the yurt kerege
du'ka'n	dùkãn	дүкән	dukan	дукан	small shop
duwashıq	duŭašyķ	дуўашық	duashyk	дүашык	amulet, protection
eltiri ton	eltiri ton	елтири тон	eltiri ton	елтири тон	man's coat made of Astrakhan
ergenek	ergenek	ергенек	ergenek	ергенек	door of a yurt
erik gu'l	erik gùl	ерик гүл	erik gul	ерик гул	apricot flower
esikqas	esikķas	есикқас	esikkas	есиккас	decorative small rectangular all-pile weaving placed above the door on the inside of the yurt
etik	etik	етик	etik	етик	knee length leather boots
g'arg'a	ġarġa	ғарға	garga	гарга	crow
g'arg'a tırnaq	ġarġa tyrnaķ	ғарға тырнақ	garga tyrnak	гарга тырнак	crow's claw
g'arg'a tuyaq	ġarġa tuâķ	ғарға туяқ	garga tuyak	гарга туяк	crow's foot
g'awasha gu'l	ġaŭaša gùl	ғаўаша гүл	gauasha gul	гауаша гул	cotton flower
g'az moyın	ġaz mojyn	ғаз мойын	gaz mojyn	газ мойын	goose's neck - motif frquently found on aq kiymeshek
gewish	geŭiš	геўиш	geuish	геуиш	galoshes
gu'l	gùl	гүл	gul	гул	flower
gu'ldirewish	gùldireŭiš	гүлдиреўиш	guldireuish	гулдиреуиш	distinctive arrow-shaped pieces of wood in the shan'araq of the yurt
ha'kim	hãkim	ҳәким	khakim	хаким	local district executive
halaqa	halaķa	ҳалақа	khalaka	халака	plait cover attached to the sa'wkele
ha'wli	hãŭli	ҳәўли	khauli	хаули	farmstead
ha'ykel	h˛ãjkel	ҳәйкел	khajkel	хайкел	woman's chest adornment
ilme	ilme	илме	ilme	илме	type of chain-stitch
ishik ton	išik ton	ишик тон	ishik ton	ишик тон	fur coat
ishki	iški	ишки	ishki	ишки	internal
iyinbaw	ijinbaŭ	ийинбаў	ijinbau	ийинбаү	iyin - shoulder, baw - tape,
iyt	ijt	ийт	ijt	ийт	dog
iyt taban	ijt taban	ийт табан	ijt taban	ийт табан	footprint of dog
ılaq oyın	ylaķ ojyn	ылақ ойын	ylak ojyn	ылак ойын	game played on horseback using the headless carcass of a goat
ırg'aq	yrġaķ	ырғақ	yrgak	ыргак	hook or zigzag motif
ıshtan	yštan	ыштан	yshtan	ыштан	summer trousers
jag'a	žaġa	жаға	zhaga	жага	collar
janbaw	žanbaŭ	жанбаў	zhanbau	жанбау	decorative pair of tent bands, suspended like a garland either inside or outside the yurt
janewut	žaneŭut	жанеўут	zhaneut	жанеут	forest willow, Salix songarica Anderss.
jarg'ı tis	žarġy tis	жарғы тис	zhargy tis	жаргы тис	teeth of a wood saw
jawırınsha	žaŭyrynša	жаўырынша	zhauyrynsha	жауырынша	protective triangular amulet sewn on the back of clothing
jay	žaj	жай	zhaj	жай	1. house, place to stay. 2. smooth, peaceful
jazlaw	žazlaŭ	жазлаў	zhazlau	жазлау	summer quarters
jegde	žegde	жегде	zhegde	жегде	woman's khalat-like covering worn over the head.
jeken	žeken	жекен	zheken	жекен	bulrush used for making rope, aprons, and mats
jen'se	žeņse	жеңсе	zhengse	женсе	embroidered cuff
jen'ush	žeņuš	жеңуш	zhengush	женуш	embroidered sleeve guard
jez shiy	žez šij	жез ший	zhez shiy	жез ший	shiy screen decorated with a geometric motif by winding coloured wool around each stem
jıg'a	žyġa	жыға	zhyga	жыга	prominent gilded and bejewelled round metal plate on the front of the sa'wkele
jipek	žipek	жипек	zhipek	жипек	silk
jiyek	žijek	жийек	zhijek	жийек	silk edging with the appearance of braid, mainly used to decorate clothing.
joqarg'ı ken'es	žoķarġy keņes	жоқарғы кеңес	zhokargy kenes	жокаргы кенес	Supreme Council, highest representative legislative body in Karakalpakstan
josa	žosa	жоса	zhosa	жоса	red clay used to stain the kerege of the yurt
ju'k	žùк	жүк	zhuk	жук	pile of bedding stacked on top of the sandıq and qarshın.
jumalaq mu'yiz	žumalaķ mùjiz	жумалақ мүйиз	zhumalaq mujiz	жумалак муйиз	twisted or round horns motif
jumalaq tu'yme	žumalaķ tùjme	жумалақ түйме	zhumalaq tujme	жумалак түйме	egg-shaped or spherical hollow silver button
ju'n	žùn	жүн	zhun	жун	wool
jurt	žurt	журт	zhurt	журт	1. place where the yurt is erected. 2. motherland, native country
ka'ma'r	kãmãr	кәмәр	kamar	камар	belt, girdle
kempir jegde	kempir žegde	кемпир жегде	kempir zhegde	кемпир жегде	simple form of aq jegde for an old lady
kendır	kendyr	кендыр	kendyr	кендыр	Apocynum Sibericum Jacquin used for making the textile known as torka
ken'es	keņes	кеңес	kenes	кенес	council
kerege	kerege	кереге	kerege	кереге	lattice wall of the yurt
kerege ko'z	kerege kôz	кереге көз	kerege koz	кереге коз	diamond shapes formed by opening the yurt lattice. Also an embroidery pattern.
kergi	kergi	керги	kergi	керги	kit-bag
kesteli ko'ylek	kesteli kôylek	кестели көйлек	kesteli koylek	кестели көйлек	literally 'embroidered dress' - another name for a ko'k ko'ylek
kiymeshek	kijmešek	киймешек	kijmeshek	киймешек	woman's garment covering the head and chest
ko'k	kôk	көк	kok	кок	blue
ko'k ko'ylek	kôk kôylek	көк көйлек	kok koylek	кок койлек	literally blue dress, heavily embroidered and used as bridal wear
kolxoz	kolhoz	колхоз	kolkhoz	колхоз	a collective farm
ko'mpey	kômpej	көмпей	kompej	компей	man's quilted sleeveless winter camisole
ko'rpe	kôrpe	көрпе	korpe	корпе	blanket, quilt
ko'rpeshe	kôrpeše	көрпеше	korpeshe	корпеше	mat
ko'rshik	kôpšik	көршик	kopshik	коршик	pillow, cushion
ko'z	kôz	көз	koz	коз	eye
ko'zlik	kôzlik	көзлик	kozlik	козлик	blinkers (for an animal)
ko'ylek	kôylek	көйлек	koylek	койлек	dress
lo'lilar	lôlilar	лөлилар	lolilar	лолилар	gypsy
ma'deli	mãdeli	мәдели	madeli	мадели	thin silk plaid shawl
ma'ka'n ken'es	mãkãn keņes	мәкән кеңес	makan kenes	макан кенес	neighbourhood council
mal	mal	мал	mal	мал	livestock
man'laysha	maņlajša	маңлайша	manlaysha	манлайша	lintel of yurt door, from 'manlay', forehead.
marjan	maržan	маржан	marzhan	маржан	coral
ma'rdika'r	mãrdikãr	мәрдикәр	mardikar	мардикар	day worker, hireling
mereke	mereke	мереке	mereke	мереке	relating to customs and rituals (e.g. burial, commemorative feast)
mıs	mys	мыс	mys	мыс	copper
mıs qumg'an	mys ķumġan	мыс қумған	mys kumgan	мыс кумган	copper jug
morı	mory	моры	mory	моры	stove, oven
murındıq ene	muryndyķ ene	мурындық ене	muryndyk ene	мурындык ене	proxy mother who acts as mentor to the bride
mu'yiz	mùjiz	мүйиз	mujiz	муйиз	horns
nag'ıs	naġys	нағыс	nagys	нагыс	ornament or pattern
nawrız	naŭryz	наўрыз	nauryz	наўрыз	New Year
nawrız go'je	naŭryz gôže	наўрыз гөже	nauryz gozhe	наўрыз гоже	New Year soup made from 7-12 ingredients
neke	neke	неке	neke	неке	betrothal, engagement
neke qıyıw	neke ķyjyŭ	неке қыйыў	neke kyjyu	неке кыйыу	official part of wedding ceremony involving a mullah
o'mır darag'ı	ômyr daraġynlar	өмыр дарағы	omyr daragy	омыр дарагы	tree of life
omırtqa	omyrtķa	омыртқа	omyrtka	омыртка	vertebrae, spine
on eki	on eki	он еки	on eki	он еки	12; twelve
on' jaq	oņ žaķ	оң жақ	ong zhak	онг жак	the right side, referring to the men's side of the yurt
o'n'irmonshaq	ôņirmonšaķ	өңирмоншақ	ongirmonshak	онгирмоншак	silver breast adornment for girls in the form of a half-sphere with pendants from the lower edge.
o'n'irshe	ôņirše	өңирше	ongirshe	онгирше	girls cloth breastplate; usually embroidered and with silver coins and platelets sewn on.
oq	oķ	оқ	ok	ок	bullet
oramal	oramal	орамал	oramal	орамал	shawl
o'rmek	ôrmek	өрмек	ormek	ормек	a simple and narrow ground loom with only one heddle and operated with a shed stick
orta qara	orta ķara	орта қара	orta kara	орта қара	embroidered central section of a qızıl kiymeshek, literally 'middle black'
orta turg'ınlar	orta turġynlar	орта турғынлар	orta turgynlar	орта тургынлар	middle-class
oshaq	ošaķ	ошақ	oshak	ошак	fireplace, hearth
otaw	otaŭ	отаў	otau	отау	a yurt for newly weds
o'te baylar	ôte bajlar	өте байлар	ote bajlar	оте байлар	very wealthy
palger	palger	палгер	palger	палгер	wooden compasses used in yurtmaking
papaq	papaķ	папақ	papak	папак	Astrakhan cap
pashshayı ko'ylek	paššajy kôylek	пашшайы көйлек	pashshajy koylek	пашшайы койлек	dress made of a silk and cotton mix from Khivan or Bukharan ikat
pir	pir	пир	pir	пир	"spirit guide" of a guild or group of craftsmen
piruza	piruza	пируза	piruza	пируза	the semi-precious stone turquoise
piskek	piskek	пискек	piskek	пискек	beater part of a churn used for making butter or cream
postın	postyn	постын	postyn	постын	sheepskin coat
pul qalta	pul ķalta	пул қалта	pul kalta	пул калта	money bag
qabaq	ķabaķ	қабақ	kabak	кабак	pumpkin, often dried out and used as a water container
qa'de	ķãde	қәде	kade	каде	ritual gifts
qala	ķala	қала	kala	кала	a town. In the past an enclosure of yurts fortified by earthen ramparts.
qa'lem	ķãlem	қәлем	kalem	калем	pencil
qalın'	ķalyņ	қалың	kalyng	калын	bride price
qam ko'k	ķam kôk	қам көк	kam kok	кам кок	strips of raw hide, usually camel, used to link the sag'anaq of the yurt
qamıs	ķamys	қамыс	kamys	камыс	reed
qamıt	ķamyt	қамыт	kamys	камыт	horse collar
qamshı	ķamšy	қамшы	kamshy	камшы	lash, whip
qanat	ķanat	қанат	kanat	канат	section of yurt lattice, literally 'wing'
qara	ķara	қара	kara	кара	black
qara tal	ķara tal	қара тал	kara tal	кара тал	willow, Salix australior
qara u'y	ķara ùj	қара үй	kara uj	кара уй	yurt, literally black house
qarag'ay	ķaraġaj	қарағай	karagaj	карагай	pine, Pinus sylvestris L.
Qaraqalpaq	Ķaraķalpaķ	Қарақалпақ	Karakalpak	Каракалпак	Karakalpak
qarıstırıw	ķarystyryŭ	қарыстырыў	karystyryu	карыстырыу	crossing
qarshın	ķaršyn	қаршын	karshyn	каршын	a long box-shaped bag with a pile-woven face used to store clothing.
qarsı mu'yiz	ķarsy mùjiz	қарсы мүйиз	karsy mujiz	карсы муйиз	opposing horns
qas	ķas	қас	kas	кас	eyebrow
qa'wıp tigis	ķãŭyp tigis	қаўып тигис	kauyp tigis	кауып тигис	a type of satin-stitch
qayın'	ķajyņ	қайың	kajyn	кайын	birch, betula pendula Roth.
qayıq	ķajyķ	қайық	kajyk	кайык	small boat used on the rivers of the delta
qayıs	ķajys	қайыс	kajys	кайыс	narrow belt, generally of leather
qazan	ķazan	қазан	kazan	казан	cauldron, kettle
qılısh	ķylyš	қылыш	kylysh	кылыш	sword; tamg'a of Man'g'ıts
qılqa	ķylķa	қылқа	kylka	кылка	winter coat of tanned sheep's pelts worn with the fleece side in
qılshıq	ķylšyķ	қылшық	kylshyk	кылшык	long, strong goat hair used for the warp of qarshıns
qınap	ķynap	қынап	kynap	кынап	sheath for a knife
qırag'ı	ķyraġy	қырағы	kyragy	кырагы	vigilant, watchful
qıran	ķyran	қыран	kyran	кыран	decorative metal platelets on the earguards of the sa'wkele
qırg'ıy	ķyrġyj	қырғый	kyrgyj	кыргый	hawk
Qırq Qız	Ķyrķ Ķyz	Қырқ Қыз	Kyrk Kyz	Кырк Кыз	Forty Girls - famous Karakalpak epic poem
qıslaw	ķyslaŭ	қыслаў	kyslau	кыслау	winter quarters
qızıl	ķyzyl	қызыл	kyzyl	кызыл	red
qızquw	ķyzķuŭ	қызқуў	kyzkuu	кызкуу	game played at festivals involving tagging a running girl
qoltıqsha mu'yiz	ķoltyķša mùjiz	қолтықша мүйиз	koltyksha mujiz	колтыкша муйиз	armpit horns
qora	ķora	қора	kora	кора	corral for cattle
qoralı gu'l	ķoraly gùl	қоралы гүл	koraly gul	коралы гул	fenced flower. A pattern used on the orta qara of a qızıl kiymeshek
qorjın	ķoržyn	қоржин	korzhyn	коржин	donkey bag
qos mu'yiz	ķos mùjis	қос мүиз	koz muyiz	кос муиз	double horns
qos nag'ıs	ķos naġys	қос нағыс	koz nagys	кос нагыс	double pattern
qoshqar mu'yiz	ķošķar mùjis	қошқар мүиз	koshkar muyiz	кошкар муиз	ram's horns design common on shiyo'n'ir
qoy terisi	ķoj terisi	қой териси	koj terisi	кой териси	sheepskin
qozı	ķozy	қозы	kozy	козы	lamb
qum	ķum	қум	kum	кум	1. sand, desert. 2. jug
qumırısqa bel	ķumyrysķa bel	қумырысқа бел	kumyryska bel	кумырыска бел	waist of an ant
qur	ķur	қур	kur	кур	tent band
qurash	ķuraš	қураш	kurash	кураш	large sheepskin cap
qurbaqa	ķurbaķa	қурбақа	kurbaka	курбака	frog
quwırshaq awız	ķuŭyršaķ aŭyz	қуўыршақ аўыз	kuyrshak auyz	куыршак ауз	doll's mouth. A motif found on qızıl kiymesheks
quyrıq	ķujryķ	қуйрық	kujryk	куйрык	tail
risa'le	risãle	рисәле	risale	рисале	regulations pertaining to a guild of craftsmen
sabayaq	sabaâķ	сабаяқ	sabajak	сабаяк	a small table-like stand located in the female side of the yurt.
sag'anaq	saġanaķ	сағанақ	saganak	саганақ	poles used to make the qanats of the yurt kerege
sandıq	sandyķ	сандық	sandyk	сандык	a wooden storage chest for the yurt, usually decorated with paintings or carvings
sawıt nag'ıs	saŭyt naġys	саўыт нағыс	sauyt nagys	сауыт нагыс	embroidery pattern used on the ko'k ko'ylek said to resemble chain-mail
sa'wkele	sãŭkele	сәўкеле	saukele	саукеле	bridal headdress
segiz	segiz	сегиз	segiz	сегиз	eight
sen'sen'	seņseņ	сеңсең	sengseng	сенгсенг	lambskin
sha'kirt	šãkirt	шәкирт	shakirt	шакирт	apprentice
shal	šal	шал	shal	шал	wool
shalbar	šalbar	шалбар	shalbar	шалбар	winter trousers
shan'araq	šaņaraķ	шаңарақ	shangarak	шангарак	roof wheel of the yurt
shanash	šanaš	шанаш	shanash	шанаш	bag for storing dried goods
shanıshqı	šanyšķy	шанышқы	shanyshky	шанышкы	fish spear; tamg'a of Mu'yten tribe
shapan	šapan	шапан	shapan	шапан	coat
shaqsha	šaķša	шақша	shaksha	шакша	tobacco box made of horn
shartu'yme	šartùjme	шартүйме	shartujme	шартуйме	woman's breast ornament worn instead of a ha'ykel
shatırash	šatyraš	шатыраш	shatyrash	шатыраш	chequerboard pattern, net
shayan	šajan	шайан	shajan	шайан	scorpion
shayı	šajy	шайы	shajy	шайы	silk
shayqalta	šajķalta	шайқалта	shajkalta	шайкалта	bag for leaf tea, usually embroidered
shekpen	šekpen	шекпен	shekpen	шекпен	man's long sleeved overcoat of home-made cloth from camel's wool shal
shep jaq	šep žaķ	шеп жақ	shep zhak	шеп жак	the left side, referring to the women's side of the yurt
shettegi qara	šettegi ķara	шеттеги қара	shettegi kara	шеттеги кара	the black ushıga edge of the qızıl kiymeshek aldı, usually embroidered
shigir	šigir	шигир	chigir	чигир	water-lifting device, known as chigir in other parts of Central Asia
shımıldıq	šymyldyķ	шымылдық	shymyldyk	шымылдык	literally the fiances curtain, used to screen the young married couple inside the yurt
shınıqap	šynyķap	шынықап	shynykap	шыныкп	case for teapot and cup
shıpta	šypta	шыпта	shypta	шыпта	mat woven from bulrushes
shırıs tigis	šyrys tigis	шырыс тигис	shyrys tigis	шырыс тигис	cross-stitch
shirkat	širkat	ширкат	chirkat	чиркат	farm co-operative
shiy	šij	ший	shij	ший	Steppe grass, Lasiagrotis Splendens
shiylawısh	šijlaŭyš	шийлаўыш	shijlauysh	шийлауыш	embroidery motif in the form of a wood-plane
shiy o'n'ir	šij ôņir	ший өңир	shij ongir	ший онгир	vertical ornamented strips hung externally on either side of the yurt door
shiy qayıw	šij ķajyŭ	ший қайыў	shiy kayu	ший каю	vertical strip edging the reed door of the yurt
sho'girme	šôgirme	шөгирме	shogirme	шогирме	large sheepskin cap
shubal nag'ıs	šubal naġys	шубал нағыс	shubal nagys	шубал нагыс	one of the patterns found on the orta qara of qızıl kiymesheks
sım	sym	сым	sym	сым	winter trousers
sırg'a	syrġa	сырға	syrga	сырга	earring
sırtqı beldew	syrtķy beldeŭ	сыртқы белдеў	syrtky beldeu	сырткы белдеу	outer waist belt that was used in the past over the shiy screen of the yurt
sog'ıt	soġyt	соғыт	sogyt	согыт	willow, see aq sog'ıt
so'k shanash	sôk šanaš	сөк шанаш	sok shanash	сок шанаш	bag for fried millet
solaq	solaķ	солақ	solak	солак	part of a wooden cart (arba); embroidery motif
sol jaq	sol žaķ	сол жақ	sol zhak	сол жак	another term for the left side of the yurt
sovxoz	sovhoz	совхоз	sovkhoz	совхоз	a collective farm, managed by the State
suwag'ar	suŭaġar	суўағар	suuagar	сууагар	lower part of reed door of yurt
tam	tam	там	tam	там	single storey flat-roofed house, traditionally built of mud bricks but now often of cement
tamg'a	tamġa	тамға	tamga	тамга	tribal marking or symbol, possibly once used for branding livestock
tandır	tandyr	тандыр	tandyr	тандыр	clay oven for baking nan bread
taq	taķ	тақ	tak	так	odd
taqıya	taķiâ	тақия	takhija	тахия	skullcap
taraq	taraķ	тарақ	tarak	тарак	comb
tarı qalta	tary ķalta	тары қалта	tary kalta	тары калта	bag for dried millet
tay tuyaq	taj tuâķ	тай туяқ	taj tujak	тай туяк	foal's foot
tayınshaq	tajynšaķ	тайыншақ	tajynshak	тайыншак	tanned pelt of a foal
tayshaxı	tajšahy	тайшахы	tajshakhy	тайшахы	simple undecorated coat made from a foal's pelt and worn in the past by Karakalpak men
telpek	telpek	телпек	telpek	телпек	cap
temeki qalta	temeki ķalta	темеки қалта	temeki kalta	темеки калта	tobacco bag
terek	terek	терек	terek	терек	poplar
teri	teri	тери	teri	тери	skin, hide, pelt
teris qayıw	teris ķajyŭ	терис қайыў	teris kajyu	терис кайыу	reverse, opposite stitch
tez	tez	тез	tez	тез	equipment used in yurtmaking for bending the uwıqs
tigis	tigis	тигис	tigis	тигис	stitch
tikesh	tikeš	тикеш	tikesh	тикеш	tool with wooden handle and metal pins used to stamp patterns onto nan bread
tilenshilar	tilenšilar	тиленшилар	tilenshilar	тиленшилар	beggar, destitute
to'belik	tôbelik	төбелик	tobelik	тобелик	round bejewelled gilded headdress
tog'ız	toġyz	тоғыз	togyz	тогыз	nine
ton	ton	тон	ton	тон	general term for a fur-lined coat. Sometimes this word is used instead of postın
toqalaq mu'yiz	toķalaķ mùjiz	тоқалақ мүйиз	tokalak muyiz	токалак муиз	motif of docked horns or missing horn
to'r	tôr	төр	tor	тор	the place of honour for guests inside the yurt, opposite the entrance
torqa	torķa	торқа	torka	торка	textile woven from Apocynum Sibericum Jacquin known as qızıl kendır to the Karakalpaks
toy	toj	той	toj	той	festival, feast
tu'bit	tŭbit	түбит	tubit	тубит	down or soft wool from the neck and underbelly of goat or other animal
tulg'a	tulġa	тулға	tulga	тулга	side struts of the yurt door
tumaq	tumaķ	тумақ	tumak	тумак	tall domed cap covered with ushıga that forms the basis of the sa'wkele
tumar	tumar	тумар	tumar	тумар	small silver amuletic tube sewn onto children's clothing
tu'n'lik	tùņlik	түңлик	tunglik	тунглик	top felt of the yurt covering the smokehole
tu'rme	tŭrme	түрме	turme	турме	shawl, scarf, often of red silk
tu'ye taban	tŭje taban	түйе табан	tuje taban	туйе табан	camel's foot
tu'yme	tŭjme	түйме	tujme	туйме	button
u'lken	ùlken	үлкен	ulken	улкен	large, great
un	un	ун	un	ун	flour
u'sh	ùš	үш	ush	уш	three
ushıga	ušyga	ушыга	ushyga	ушыга	felted cloth used for kiymesheks
usta	usta	уста	usta	уста	master, expert
uwıq	uŭyķ	уўық	uyk	уык	roof strut of yurt
uwıqbaw	uŭyķbaŭ	уўықбаў	uykbau	уыкбау	roof strut tapes
u'yleniw toy	ùjleniŭ toy	үйлениў той	ujleniu toy	уйлениу той	wedding feast
u'yrek	ùjrek	үйрек	ujrek	уйрек	duck
u'yshi	ùjši	үйши	ujshi	уйши	yurtmaker
xalıqları ko'ylek	halyķlary kôylek	халыклары көйлек	khalyklary koylek	халыклары койлек	another name for a ko'k ko'ylek, literally 'people's dress'
xalqa	halķa	халка	khalka	халка	plait cover attached to the sa'wkele
zerger	zerger	зергер	zerger	зергер	engraver

Place Names

Karakalpak Romanized 1995	Karakalpak Romanized ISO-9	Karakalpak Cyrillic	Russian Romanized GOST 1971	Russian Cyrillic	Alternative Karakalpak Names
Aqman'g'ıt	Aķmaņġyt	Ақмаңғыт	Akmangyt	Акмангыт
Aq qala	Aķ ķala	Ақ қала	Ak kala	Ак кала
Ayaz qala	Aâz ķala	Аяз қала	Ayaz kala	Аяз кала
Berdaq	Berdaķ	Бердақ	Berdak	Бердак
Biruniy	Birunij	Вируний	Birunij	Вируний	Beruniy
Biybazar	Bijbazar	Бийбазар	Bijbazar	Бийбазар
Bostan	Bostan	Востан	Bostan	Востан	Boston, Böston
Bozataw	Bozataŭ	Возатаў	Bozatau	Возатау
Da'wqara	Dãŭķara	Дәўқара	Daukara	Даукара
Ellikqala	Ellikķala	Елликқала	Ellikkala	Елликкала
Janbas qala	Žanbas ķala	Жанбас қала	Zhanbas kala	Жанбас кала
Kegeyli	Kegejli	Кегейли	Kegejli	Кегейли
Kindik o'zek	Kindik ôzek	Киндик өзек	Kindik ozek	Киндик озек
Man'g'ıt	Maņġyt	Маңғыт	Mangyt	Мангыт
Moynaq	Mojnaķ	Мойнақ	Mojnak	Мойнак
No'kis	Nôkis	Нөкис	Nukus	Нукус	Nökis
Porlıtaw	Porlytaŭ	Порлытаў	Porlytau	Порлытау
Qanlıko'l	Ķanlykôl	Қанлыкөл	Kanlykol	Канликол
Qarao'zek	Ķ'araôzek	Қараөзек	Karaozek	Караозек
Qara qala	Ķara ķala	Қара қала	Kara qala	Кара кала
Qarataw	Ķarataŭ	Қаратаў	Karatau	Каратау
Qazaqdarya	Ķazaķdãrâ	Қазақдәрья	Kazakhdar'ja	Казахдарья
Qıpshaq	Ķypšaķ	Қыпшақ	Kypshak	Кыпшак
Qızketken	Ķyzketken	Қызкеткен	Kyzketken	Кызкеткен
Qon'ırat	Ķoņyrat	Қоңырат	Kongrat	Конгырат
Qusxanataw	Ķushanataŭ	Қусханатаў	Kuskhanatau	Кусханатау
Quyuq qala	Ķujuķ ķala	Қуйуқ қала	Kujuk kala	Куйук кала
Qırantaw	Ķyrantaŭ	Қырантаў	Kyrantau	Кырантау
Sarı-biy	Sary-bij	Сары-бий	Sary-bij	Сары-бий
Shabbaz	Šabbaz	Шаббаз	Shabbaz	Шаббаз
Shege	Šege	Шеге	Shege	Шеге
Shılpıq	Šylpyķ	Шылпық	Shylpyk	Шылпық
Shımbay	Šymbaj	Шымбай	Chimbaj	Чимбай	Chimbay
Shomanay	Šomanaj	Шоманай	Shomanaj	Шоманай
Tashawız	Tašaŭyz	Ташаўыз	Tashauyz	Ташауыз
Taqıyatas	Taķyâtas	Тақыятас	Takyyatas	Такиятас
Taxta Ko'pir	Tahta Kôpir	Тахта Көпир	Takhta Kopir	Тахта Копир	Taxta Köpir
Terbenbes	Terbenbes	Тербенбес	Terbenbes	Тербенбес
Toqmaq Ata	Toķmaķ Ata	Тоқмақ Ата	Tokmak Ata	Токмак Ата
To'rtku'l	Tôrtkùl	Төрткүл	Tortkul	Торткул
U'stirt	Ùstirt	Үстирт	Ustirt	Устирт
Xalqabad	Halķabad	Халқабад	Khalkabad	Халкабад
Xojeli	Hoželi	Хожели	Khozheli	Хожели	Kojeli, Xojali
Xorasan	Horasan	Хорасан	Khorasan	Хорасан

Tribal Names and Terms

Karakalpak Romanized 1995	Karakalpak Romanized ISO-9	Karakalpak Cyrillic	Russian Romanized GOST 1971	Russian Cyrillic
Arıs	Arys	Арыс	Arys	Арыс	tribal division
Urıw, U'lken urıw	Uryŭ, Ùlken uryŭ	Урыў, Үлкен урыў	Uru, Ulken uru	Уру, Улкен Уру	tribe or clan, large tribe
Ko'she	Kôše	Көше	Koshe	Коше	1. small clan division 2. street
Tiıre	Tiyre	Тиыре	Tiyre	Тиыре	sub-division of clan

On To'rt Urıw	On Tôrt Uryŭ	Он Төрт Урыў	On Tort Uryu	Он Торт Урыу	One of the 2 arıs of the Karakalpak
Qon'ırat	Ķoņyrat	Қоңырат	Konyrat	Конырат	One of the 2 arıs of the Karakalpak
Jawıng'ır	Žaŭynġyr	Жаўынғыр	Zhauyngyr	Жауынгыр	left wing of Qonırat arıs
Shu'llik	Šùllik	Шүллик	Shullik	Шуллик	right wing of Qonırat arıs

Altı ata	Alty ata	Алты ата	Alty ata	Алты ата	group of Qıpshaq clans
Jeti ko'she	Žeti kôše	Жети көше	Zheti koshe	Жети коше	group of Qıpshaq clans
Tanke	Tanke	Танке	Tanke	Танке	group of Qıtay clans
Man'g'ıt Boztay	Maņġyt Boztaj	Маңғыт Бозтай	Mangyt Boztaj	Мангыт Бозтай	group of Man'g'ıt clans
Man'g'ıt Jetimtay	Maņġyt Žetimtaj	Маңғыт Жетимтай	Mangyt Zhetim-taj	Мангыт Жетимтай	group of Man'g'ıt clans
Man'g'ıt Qaratay	Maņġyt Ķarataj	Маңғыт Қаратай	Mangyt Karataj	Мангыт Каратай	group of Man'g'ıt clans
Man'g'ıt Sarıtay	Maņġyt Sarytaj	Маңғыт Сарытай	Mangyt Sarytaj	Мангыт Сарытай	group of Man'g'ıt clans

Abız	Abyz	Абыз	Abyz	Абыз
Ag'a begli	Aġa begli	Аға бегли	Agabegli	Агабегли
Allaberdi	Allaberdi	Аллаберди	Allaberdi	Аллаберди
Anna	Anna	Анна	Anna	Анна
Annaxoja	Annahoža	Аннахожа	Annakhozha	Аннахожа
Aqay	Aķaj	Ақай	Akaj	Акай
Aq balg'alı	Aķ balġaly	Ақ; балғалы	Akbalgaly	Акбалгалы
Aq man'g'ıt	Aķ maņġyt	Ақ маңғыт	Ak mangyt	Ак маңғыт
Aqpıshaq	Aķpyšaķ	Ақпышақ	Akpyshak	Акпышак
Aqqala	Aķķala	Аққала	Akkala	Аккала
Aqtog'ın	Aķtoġyn	Ақтоғын	Aktogyn	Актогын
Aralbay	Aralbaj	Аралбай	Aralbaj	Аралбай
Aranshı	Aranšy	Араншы	Aranshy	Аранши
Arsarı	Arsary	Арсары	Arsary	Арсары
Arshan	Aršan	Аршан	Arshan	Аршан
Arıq	Aryķ	Арық	Aryk	Арык
Arzıqul	Arzyķul	Арзықул	Arzykul	Арзыкул
Asan	Asan	Асан	Asan	Асан
Ashamaylı	Ašamajly	Ашамайлы	Ashamajly	Ашамайлы
Ayteke	Ajteke	Айтеке	Ajteke	Айтеке
Ayıllı	Ajylly	Айыллы	Ajylly	Айыллы
Bag'anlı	Baġanly	Бағанлы	Baganly	Баганлы
Balg'alı	Balġaly	Балғалы	Balgaly	Балгалы
Balg'alı Qıyat	Balġaly Ķyât	Балғалы Қыят	Balgaly Kyjat	Балгалы Кыят
Baqanlı	Baķanly	Бақанлы	Bakanly	Баканлы
Basar	Basar	Басар	Basar	Басар
Baymaqlı	Bajmaķly	Баймақлы	Bajmakly	Баймаклы
Beksıyıq	Beksyjyķ	Бексыйық	Beksyjyk	Бексыйык
Beskempir	Beskempir	Бескемпир	Beskempir	Бескемпир
Bessarı	Bessary	Бессары	Bessary	Бессары
Boqlı qıtay	Boķly ķytaj	Боқлы қытай	Bokly kytaj	Боклы кытай
Boztay	Boztaj	Бозтай	Boztaj	Бозтай
Bu'lkildek	Bùlkildek	Бүлкилдек	Bulkildek	Булкилдек
Dobal	Dobal	Добал	Dobal	Добал
Dombazaq	Dombazaķ	Домбазақ	Dombazak	Домбазак
Esebiy	Esebij	Есебий	Esebi	Есеби
Estek	Estek	Естек	Estek	Естек
G'ayıp qarag'an	Ġajyp ķaraġan	Ғайып қараған	Gajypkaragan	Гайыпкараган
Ja'dik	Žãdik	Жәдик	Zhadik	Жадик
Jag'altay	Žaġaltaj	Жағалтай	Zhagaltaj	Жагалтай
Jalan'ayaq	Žalaņajaķ	Жалаңаяқ	Zhalangajak	Жалангаяк
Jaman	Žaman	Жаман	Zhaman	Жаман
Jaman awıl	Žaman aŭyl	Жаман аўыл	Zhamanauyl	Жаманауыл
Jaman qon'ırat	Žaman ķoņyrat	Жаман қоңырат	Zhaman qonyrat	Жаман конырат
Jamansha	Žamanša	Жаманша	Zhamansha	Жаманша
Jankeldi	Žankeldi	Жанкелди	Zhankeldi	Жанкелди
Janlıq	Žanlyķ	Жанлық	Zhanlyk	Жанлык
Japar	Žapar	Жапар	Zhapar	Жапар
Ja'rimbet	Žãrimbet	Жәримбет	Zharimbet	Жаримбет
Jekensal	Žekensal	Жекенсал	Zhekensal	Жекенсал
Jel qarag'an	Žel ķaraġan	Жел қараған	Zhelkaragan	Желкараган
Jetiqaraqazaqı	Žetiķaraķazaķy	Жетиқарақазақы	Zhetikarakazaky	Жетикараказакы
Juqa	Žuķa	Жуқа	Zhuka	Жука
Keneges	Keneges	Кенегес	Keneges	Кенегес
Ken'tanaw	Keņtanaŭ	Кеңтанаў	Kengtanau	Кенгтанау
Kiyikshi	Kijikši	Кийикши	Kiikshi	Киикши
Ko'telek	Kôtelek	Көтелек	Kotelek	Котелек
Ku'lki xojaq	Kùlki hožaķ	Күлки хожақ	Kulkikozhak	Кулкикожак
Ma'njiwli	Mãnžiŭli	Мәнжиўли	Manjiuli	Манжиули
Mamıqshı	Mamyķšy	Мамықшы	Mamykshy	Мамыкшы
Maylı balta	Majly balta	Майлы балта	Majlybalta	Майлыбалта
Mayshıshalı	Majšy šaly	Майшы шалы	Majshyshaly	Майшышалы
Mu'yten	Mùjten	Мүйтен	Muyten	Муйтен
Mınjır	Mynžyr	Мынжыр	Mynzhyr	Мынжыр
No'kis	Nôkis	Нөкис	Nokis	Нокис
Nur balg'alı	Nur balġaly	Нур балғалы	Nurbalgaly	Нурбалгалы
O'mir	Ômir	Өмир	Omir	Омир
Oymawıt	Ojmaŭyt	Оймаўыт	Ojmaut	Оймаут
Panqara	Panķara	Панқара	Pangkara	Пангкара
Qabasan	Ķabasan	Қабасан	Kabasan	Кабасан
Qalmaq	Ķalmaķ	Қалмақ	Kalmak	Калмак
Qalqaman	Ķalķaman	Қалқаман	Kalkaman	Калкаман
Qa'ndekli	Ķãndekli	Қәндекли	Kandekli	Кандекли
Qanjıg'alı	Ķanžyġaly	Қанжығалы	Kanzhygaly	Канжыгалы
Qan'lı	Ķaņly	Қаңлы	Kangly	Канглы
Qara	Ķara	Қара	Kara	Кара
Qara man'g'ıt	Ķara maņġyt	Қара маңғыт	Kara mangyt	Кара маңғыт
Qarama'njiwli	Ķaramãnžiŭli	Қарамәнжиўли	Karamanjiuli	Караманжиули
Qaramoyın	Ķaramojyn	Қарамойын	Karamojin	Карамойын
Qara qursaq	Ķara ķursaķ	Қара қурсақ	Karakursak	Каракурсак
Qarasıyraq	Ķarasyjraķ	Қарасыйрақ	Karasyjrak	Карасыйрак
Qaratalshı	Ķaratalšy	Қараталшы	Karatalshy	Караталшы
Qaraxoja	Ķarahoža	Қарахожа	Karakhozha	Карахожа
Qareke	Ķareke	Қареке	Kareke	Кареке
Qarlı maral	Ķarly maral	Қарлы марал	Karlymaral	Карлымарал
Qayshılı	Ķajšyly	Қайшылы	Kajshyly	Кайшылы
Qazaqı	Ķazaķy	Қазқы	Kazaky	Казакы
Qazayaqlı	Ķazaâķly	Қазаяқлы	Kazajakly	Казаяклы
Qoldawlı	Ķoldaŭly	Қолдаўлы	Koldauly	Колдаулы
Qosar-man'g'ıt	Ķosar-maņġyt	Қосар-маңғыт	Kosar-mangyt	Косар-мангыт
Qostamg'alı	Ķostamġaly	Қостамғалы	Kostamgaly	Костамгалы
Qurama	Ķurama	Қурама	Kurama	Курама
Quyın	Ķujyn	Қуйын	Kujyn	Куйын
Qılqalı	Ķylķaly	Қылқалы	Kylkaly	Кылкалы
Qıpshaq	Ķypšaķ	Қыпшақ	Kypshak	Кыпшак
Qırq	Ķyrķ	Қырқ	Kyrk	Кырк
Qırqsadaq	Ķyrķsadaķ	Қырқсадақ	Kyrksadak	Кырксадак
Qıtay	Ķytaj	Қытай	Kytaj	Кытай
Qıyat	Ķyât	Қыят	Kyjat	Кыят
Qızıl ayaq	Ķyzyl ajaķ	Қызыл аяқ	Kyzylajak	Кызылаяк
Sabalaq	Sabalaķ	Сабалақ	Sabalak	Сабалак
Sadaq	Sadaķ	Садақ	Sadak	Садак
Saltır	Saltyr	Салтыр	Saltyr	Салтыр
Samat	Samat	Самат	Samat	Самат
San'murın	Saņmuryn	Саңмурын	Sang-muryn	Санг-мурын
Saqıw	Saķyŭ	Сақыў	Saki	Саки
Sart	Sart	Сарт	Sart	Сарт
Sarı	Sary	Сары	Sary	Сары
Sarıkempir	Sarykempir	Сарыкемпир	Sarykempir	Сарыкемпир
Sarıton	Saryton	Сарытон	Saryton	Сарытон
Sha'wjeli	Šãŭželi	Шәўжели	Shaujeli	Шаужели
Sheriwshi	Šeriŭši	Шериўши	Sheriushi	Шериуши
Shıljuwıt	Šylžuŭyt	Шылжуўыт	Shulzhuit	Шулжуит
Shırjegen	Šyržegen	Шыржеген	Shirzhegen	Ширжеген
Sho'mishlı	Šômišly	Шөмишлы	Shomishly	Шомишлы
Shu'yit	Šùjit	Шүйит	Shujit	Шуйит
Shunaq	Šunaķ	Шунақ	Shunak	Шунак
Sıyraq	Syjraķ	Сыирақ	Syjrak	Сыйрак
Tamg'alı	Tamġaly	Тамғалы	Tamgaly	Тамгалы
Taraqlı	Taraķly	Тарақлы	Tarakly	Тараклы
Tartıwlı	Tartyŭly	Тартыўлы	Tartyuly	Тартыүлы
Taz balg'alı	Taz balġaly	Таз балғалы	Tazbalgaly	Тазбалгалы
Taz jallıq	Taz žallyķ	Таз жаллық	Taz zhallyk	Таз жаллык
Teli	Teli	Тели	Teli	Тели
Temir xoja	Temir hoža	Темир хожа	Temir-khozha	Темир-хожа
Teristamg'alı	Teristamġaly	Теристамғалы	Teristamgaly	Теристамгалы
Tilewberdi	Tileŭberdi	Тилеўберди	Tleuberdi	Тлеуберди
Tiyekli	Tijekli	Тийекли	Tijekli	Тийекли
Tog'ız	Toġyz	Тоғыз	Togyz	Тогыз
Tolıs	Tolys	Толыс	Tolys	Толыс
Ton'moyın	Toņmojyn	Тоңмойын	Tong-mojyn	Тонг-мойын
Toq man'g'ıt	Toķ maņġyt	Тоқ маңғыт	Tok mangyt	Ток маңғыт
Toqpolat	Toķpolat	Тоқполат	Tokpolat	Токполат
Toqımbet	Toķumbet	Тоқымбет	Tokumbet	Токумбет
Tu'rkmen	Tùrkmen	Түркмен	Turkmen	Туркмен
Tu'rkmen qara	Tùrkmen ķara	Түркмен қара	Turkmenkara	Туркменкара
Uyg'ır	Ujġyr	Уйғыр	Ujgyr	Уйгыр
U'lken bo'rik	Ùlken bôrik	Үлкен бөрик	Ulken borik	Улкен борик
U'shbas	Ùšbas	Үшбас	Ushbas	Ушбас
U'shtamg'alı	Ùštamġaly	Үштамғалы	Ushtamgaly	Уштамгалы
Іrg'aqlı	Yrġaķly	Ырғақлы	Yrgakly	Ыргаклы
Yabı	Âaby	Ябы	Jaby	Ябы

Karakalpak (and Russian) Transliteration Systems

Karakalpak Cyrillic	Romanized 1995	GOST System 1971	ISO-9 System 1995	ALA-LC System 1997	Refer to Note:
А а	a	a	a	a
Ә ә	a'		ã	ă	Note 1
Б б	b	b	b	b
В в	v	v	v	v	Note 2
Г г	g	g	g	g
Ғ ғ	g'		ġ	gh	Note 3
Д д	d	d	d	d
Е е	e	e	e	e	Note 4
Ё ё	yo	jo	ë	ë	Note 5
Ж ж	j	zh	ž	zh	Note 6
З з	z	z	z	z
И и	i	i	i	i
Й й	y	j	j	ĭ
К к	k	k	k	k
Қ қ	q		ķ	q	Note 7
Л л	l	l	l	l
М м	m	m	m	m
Н н	n	n	n	n
Ң ң	n'		ņ	ng	Note 8
О о	o	o	o	o
Ө ө	o'		ô	o with superdot	Note 9
П п	p	p	p	p
Р р	r	r	r	r
С с	s	s	s	s
Т т	t	t	t	t
У у	u	u	u	u
Ү ү	u'		ù	u with superdot	Note 10
Ў ў	w		ŭ	w	Note 11
Ф ф	f	f	f	f	Note 12
Х х	x	kh	h	kh	Note 13
Ҳ ҳ	h		h with cedilla	h with superdot	Note 14
Ц ц	ts	c	c	ts	Note 15
Ч ч	(sh)	ch	č	ch	Note 16
Ш ш	sh	sh	š	sh
Щ щ	(sh)	shh	ŝ	shch	Note 17
Ъ ъ		"	"	"	Note 18
Ы ы	ı	y	y	y	Note 19
Ь ь		'	'	'	Note 20
Э э	e	eh	è	ė	Note 21
Ю ю	yu	ju	û	iu	Note 22
Я я	ya	ja	â	ia	Note 23

We are grateful to our many Karakalpak friends and readers for their past and continuing help in constructing this page. Any mistakes are of our own making. If you identify one we would be grateful if you could notify us.

Notes

1. ә is the second letter of the alphabet and is a version of a. It sounds like æ.

2. в does not occur in genuine Karakalpak words.

3. ғ is a soft g, pronounced like a gutteral gh or occasionally ghe.

4. е is the Cyrillic yey. This sounds like the ye in yes when it is the first letter of a word or if it follows a vowel. When it follows a consonant it sounds like e. Thus есикқас is actually pronounced "yesikqas", whereas the e in керги sounds like a true e.

5. ё is e with a diacresis or umlaut. It is very rarely used.

6. ж is the Cyrillic zheh. It is normally transliterated as zh in Russian but Karakalpaks always transliterate it as a j.

7. қ is the k with a descender, sometimes referred to as the Cyrillic qaf. Russians simply substitute the Cyrillic к but Karakalpaks always transliterate it as q.

8. ң is h with a descender and is a nasal form of n. This letter does not exist in Russian Cyrillic so Russians normally use the equivalent of ng. Karakalpaks tend to use n'.

9. ө is an o with a bar. It is pronounced like a German ö. Russians do not have this letter and substitute a normal o, while Karakalpaks use o'.

10. ү is the straight Y and is actually a form of u. Pronounced like the German ü as in гүл or gu'l for flower.

11. ў is a y with a breve and sounds like w as in suwag'ar. Russians do not have this letter and substitute it with a y.

12. ф is f and does not occur in genuine Karakalpak words.

13. х is x and is pronounced like a throaty h as in Khorezm, Khurasan or Khiva.

14. ҳ is x with a descender and is a less throaty h. Russians do not have this letter and substitute it with a normal х.

15. ц is the Cyrillic tseh and does not occur in genuine Karakalpak words.

16. ч does not occur in genuine Karakalpak words. They tend to use ш (sh) instead.

17. щ does not occur in genuine Karakalpak words.

18. ъ is the symbol for the hard sound, usually transliterated as " in most systems but not allocated a symbol in Karakalpak. The letter preceding this symbol is pronounced in a hard form.

19. ы is the Cyrillic yerih. It is another form of i, often transliterated as y and sounds like the ey in whiskey or the i in physics. It therefore sounds more like an e or ey than an i or y. Some Karakalpaks write it as ı, a dotless i, to distinguish it from i and y. This is the only Karakalpak letter which cannot be correctly Anglicized and typed on a standard keyboard without using 'insert symbol'.

20. ь is the soft sound, which softens the preceding letter.

21. э is the Cyrillic eh that looks like a backwards e. It sounds like the e in elephant or let.

22. ю is the Cyrillic yoo. It sounds like the u in yule.

23. я is the Cyrillic yah. It sounds like the ya in yak.

Visit our sister site www.qaraqalpaq.com, which uses the correct transliteration, Qaraqalpaq, rather than the Russian transliteration, Karakalpak.

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Karakalpak Glossary