Greetings

1. Салам!

   Salam!

   Hello!

   Usage

   A casual greeting for friends and people of your own age.

   Grammar Note

   A word of Arabic origin that as a noun means "greeting" (салам кала = to pass on greetings). To elders or strangers, Ырӑ кун пултӑр! is safer.

2. Ырӑ кун пултӑр!

   Yră kun pultăr!

   Good day! / Hello!

   Usage

   A daytime greeting that suits anyone.

   Grammar Note

   Literally "may it be a good day". пултӑр is the 3rd-person imperative (-тӑр) of пул- "to be, to become". Swap in Ырӑ ир! for morning and Ырӑ каҫ пултӑр! for evening.

3. Тавтапуҫ!

   Tavtapuç!

   Thank you!

   Usage

   The standard way to say thanks; fine with anyone.

   Grammar Note

   Add the reason before it with -шӑн/-шӗн ("Пулӑшнӑшӑн тавтапуҫ!" = thanks for helping). The Tatar loan "рахмат" is dialectal; do not use it.

4. Каҫарӑр!

   Kaçarăr!

   Excuse me! / I'm sorry! (polite)

   Usage

   A polite way to get someone's attention or to apologise.

   Grammar Note

   The plural/polite imperative of каҫар- "to forgive" (a homograph of каҫар- "to take across"). A question can follow ("Каҫарӑр, … ?"). To one close person: "Каҫар!".

5. Ҫапла.

   Çapla.

   Yes

   Usage

   A reply that confirms what the other person said.

   Grammar Note

   Originally the adverb "so, thus"; Chuvash has no separate bare word for "yes". "Ҫапла ҫав" strengthens it to "exactly so". The negative reply is Ҫук.

6. Ҫук.

   Çuk.

   No / There is none

   Usage

   A negative reply that also means "there is none".

   Grammar Note

   The word for non-existence, also used as a short "no". "Not X" is expressed with мар, and "there is" with пур.

7. Эпӗ … ятлӑ.

   Epĕ … yatlă.

   My name is…

   Usage

   For introductions: put your own name in place of "…".

   Grammar Note

   ятлӑ is ят "name" + -лӑ "having", i.e. "named" (dictionary: эс мӗн ятлӑ? = what is your name?). Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

8. Ырӑ сунса кӗтетпӗр!

   Yră sunsa kĕtetpĕr!

   Welcome! (we await you with good wishes)

   Usage

   A polite welcome to arriving guests.

   Grammar Note

   A set phrase that the dictionary gives for "добро пожаловать!". Literally "we are waiting for you, wishing you well".

9. Сывӑ пулӑр!

   Syvă pulăr!

   Goodbye! (stay well)

   Usage

   A polite farewell.

   Grammar Note

   Literally "be well". пулӑр is the polite plural imperative (-ӑр) of пул-. To one close person: Сывӑ пул!. The 3rd-person "Сывӑ пултӑр …!" is a different phrase meaning "long live …!".

10. Ырӑ ир!

    Yră ir!

    Good morning!

    Usage

    A morning greeting for anyone.

    Grammar Note

    ырӑ "good" + ир "morning". ир means both "morning" and "early".

11. Чӑвашла калаҫатӑр-и?

    Chăvashla kalaçatăr-i?

    Do you speak Chuvash?

    Usage

    Politely asks whether the other person speaks the local language.

    Grammar Note

    чӑваш "Chuvash" + -ла "in the language of". The question particle -и is attached with a hyphen, and language adverbs are lowercase (чӑвашла).

12. Аван.

    Avan.

    Good / Fine / OK

    Usage

    A short answer when asked how things are.

    Grammar Note

    One word is enough to answer "good, fine" (Пурте аван. = everything is fine). A synonym is лайӑх.

13. Туалет ӑҫта?

    Tualet ăçta?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    The standard way to ask where the toilet is.

    Grammar Note

    To ask where something is, just put ӑҫта "where" after the noun; no present-tense "is" is needed. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

14. Эпӗ чӑвашла калаҫмастӑп.

    Epĕ chăvashla kalaçmastăp.

    I don't speak Chuvash

    Usage

    To say that you do not speak the local language.

    Grammar Note

    калаҫ- + negative -мас- + 1st-person singular -тӑп. The subject эпӗ can be dropped. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

15. Эпӗ тепре килӗп.

    Epĕ tepre kilĕp.

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Tells people on leaving that you plan to return.

    Grammar Note

    The 1st-person singular future adds -ӗп/-ӑп to the stem (кил- → килӗп); тепре means "again". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

16. Эпӗ лайӑх вӑхӑт ирттертӗм.

    Epĕ layăkh văkhăt irttertĕm.

    I had a great time

    Usage

    A remark thanking hosts for an enjoyable time.

    Grammar Note

    The past of вӑхӑт ирттер- "to spend time", with лайӑх вӑхӑт "good time" as the object. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

17. Тавтапуҫ, тепре тӗл пулӑпӑр!

    Tavtapuç, tepre tĕl pulăpăr!

    Thanks, see you again!

    Usage

    Said when thanking someone and parting.

    Grammar Note

    The future 1st-person plural -ӑпӑр of тӗл пул- "to meet" (Эпир театӑрта тӗл пулӑпӑр. = we will meet at the theatre). Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

18. Ыйхи тутлӑ пултӑр!

    Yykhi tutlă pultăr!

    Good night! (sweet dreams)

    Usage

    Said at bedtime.

    Grammar Note

    The form the dictionary gives for "Спокойной ночи!". Literally "may his/her sleep be sweet"; ыйхӑ "sleep" + possessive -и.

19. Эпӗ каятӑп.

    Epĕ kayatăp.

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    To tell others you are leaving or going out.

    Grammar Note

    The present/future 1st-person singular -ятӑп of кай- "to go"; эпӗ can be dropped. It just announces that you are going, without saying you will return. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

20. Эпӗ таврӑнтӑм.

    Epĕ tavrăntăm.

    I'm back

    Usage

    To announce that you have come back.

    Grammar Note

    The past -тӑм of таврӑн- "to return". With a destination: киле таврӑнтӑм "I came back home". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

21. Каҫарӑр, манӑн каймалла.

    Kaçarăr, manăn kaymalla.

    Excuse me, I need to get going

    Usage

    A polite way to excuse yourself when leaving.

    Grammar Note

    Necessity is expressed as "манӑн + verb stem + -малла" (Манӑн ҫывӑрмалла. = I have to sleep). Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

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