Signs

1. КӖМЕЛЛИ

   KĔMELLI

   Entrance

   Usage

   Marks the entrance of a building. In Chuvashia signs are mostly in Russian (ВХОД), with Chuvash alongside in some places.

   Grammar Note

   кӗмелли is "for entering", built from кӗр- "enter" and used as in кӗмелли вырӑн "place of entry". Signs are written in capitals. Built as a rendering of the Russian sign, so native-speaker review is recommended.

2. ТУХМАЛЛИ

   TUKHMALLI

   Exit

   Usage

   Marks the exit of a building or station. The Russian ВЫХОД is usually posted alongside, or on its own.

   Grammar Note

   тухмалли is "for going out", built from тух- "go out"; it is also used as тухмалли ҫӗр "exit place". Signs are written in capitals. Built as a rendering of the Russian sign, so native-speaker review is recommended.

3. УҪӐ

   UÇĂ

   Open

   Usage

   A door sign saying the shop or venue is open. In Russian it is usually ОТКРЫТО.

   Grammar Note

   уҫӑ is the adjective "open", from the same root as the verb уҫӑл- "open" (Музей миҫе сехетре уҫӑлать? "What time does the museum open?"). Signs are written in capitals. Built as a rendering of the Russian sign, so native-speaker review is recommended.

4. ХУПӐ

   KHUPĂ

   Closed

   Usage

   A door sign saying the shop or venue is closed. In Russian it is usually ЗАКРЫТО.

   Grammar Note

   хупӑ is the adjective "closed", from the same root as хупӑн- "close" (Миҫе сехетре хупӑнать? "What time does it close?"). It pairs with уҫӑ "open". Signs are written in capitals. Built as a rendering of the Russian sign, so native-speaker review is recommended.

5. АРҪЫНСЕМ

   ARÇYNSEM

   Men

   Usage

   Marks the men's toilet. It is often posted next to the Russian М or «Мужчины».

   Grammar Note

   The plural of арҫын "man". It is paired with хӗрарӑмсем "women". Signs are written in capitals, and some places use pictograms only.

6. ХӖРАРӐМСЕМ

   KHĔRARĂMSEM

   Women

   Usage

   Marks the women's toilet. It is often posted next to the Russian Ж or «Женщины».

   Grammar Note

   The plural of хӗрарӑм "woman", paired with арҫынсем "men". Signs are written in capitals. хӗрарӑм is the basic word for a woman, as in «Эпӗ хӗрарӑм.» "I am a woman".

7. КӖМЕ ЮРАМАСТЬ

   KĔME YURAMAST

   No entry

   Usage

   Marks a place you may not enter. The Russian ВХОД ВОСПРЕЩЁН or «Посторонним вход воспрещён» is usually posted too.

   Grammar Note

   Infinitive plus юрамасть means "must not". It is the negative of the юрать "is allowed" used when asking permission. Signs are written in capitals, and the ь is silent.

8. ӖҪЛЕМЕСТ

   ĔÇLEMEST

   Out of order

   Usage

   A note saying a machine or toilet is not working. In Russian it is usually НЕ РАБОТАЕТ.

   Grammar Note

   The negative of ӗҫле- "work". On a machine it reads as "not working", and for a shop or facility it means "not operating". Signs are written in capitals. Built as a rendering of the Russian sign, so native-speaker review is recommended.

9. ЮСАВ

   YUSAV

   Under repair

   Usage

   Marks a place or fixture closed for repairs. In Russian it is usually РЕМОНТ.

   Grammar Note

   юсав is the noun "repair" and appears in compounds such as автоюсав "car repair". The bare word on a sign is read as "under repair". Signs are written in capitals. Built as a rendering of the Russian sign, so native-speaker review is recommended.

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