Basic Verbs

1. Кайма

   Kayma

   To go

   Usage

   A basic motion verb; combine it with a destination.

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists the stem кай-; the infinitive adds -ма/-ме. Example: "Ачасем шкула кайма пуҫларӗҫ." (the children started going to school).

2. Килме

   Kilme

   To come

   Usage

   To come or arrive.

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists the stem кил-; the infinitive adds -ма/-ме. The bare stem is also the imperative "come" (Кил кунта.). The noun кил "home" is spelled the same, so context decides.

3. Ҫиме

   Çime

   To eat

   Usage

   To eat.

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists the stem ҫи-; the infinitive adds -ма/-ме. The object stands before it, as in "Эпӗ суси ҫиме юрататӑп." (I like eating sushi).

4. Ӗҫме

   Ĕçme

   To drink

   Usage

   To drink.

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists the stem ӗҫ-; the infinitive adds -ма/-ме. Used with drinks and medicine (шыв ӗҫ "drink water", эмел ӗҫ "take medicine"). The noun ӗҫ "work" is spelled the same, so context decides.

5. Туянма

   Tuyanma

   To buy

   Usage

   To buy.

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists the stem туян-; the infinitive adds -ма/-ме. The thing bought stands before it ("Ку кӗнекене туянмӑп." = I will not buy this book). A near-synonym is ил- "take, buy".

6. Курма

   Kurma

   To see

   Usage

   To see or meet.

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists the stem кур-; the infinitive adds -ма/-ме. The object takes the dative-accusative ("Королевӑна куртӑм." = I saw the king).

7. Кӗтме

   Kĕtme

   To wait

   Usage

   To wait.

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists the stem кӗт-; the infinitive adds -ма/-ме. The thing waited for stands before it (пуйӑс кӗт "wait for the train").

8. Манӑн каяс килет.

   Manăn kayas kilet.

   I want to go

   Usage

   Say that you want to go.

   Grammar Note

   Desire is expressed as genitive of the person + verb stem with -ас/-ес + килет (Унӑн ҫиес килет. = he wants to eat); literally "my going comes". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

9. Манӑн ҫиес килет.

   Manăn çiyes kilet.

   I want to eat

   Usage

   Say you want to eat or are hungry.

   Grammar Note

   The same desire pattern; it also serves as "I am hungry" (Russian "хочется есть" = ҫиес килет). Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

10. Эпӗ ҫакна илесшӗн.

    Epĕ çakna ilesshĕn.

    I want this

    Usage

    Point at something and say you want it.

    Grammar Note

    -асшӑн/-есшӗн means "wanting to …" and needs no present-tense copula (dictionary example: "эсӗ района каясшӑн" = you want to go to the district). Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

11. Мана ку кирлӗ мар.

    Mana ku kirlĕ mar.

    I don't need this

    Usage

    Decline something: "I don't need this".

    Grammar Note

    With кирлӗ "needed" the person who needs it is in the dative (мана), and the negation мар follows the predicate (dictionary example: "мана ним те кирлӗ мар" = I need nothing).

12. Эпӗ ӑна шыратӑп.

    Epĕ ăna shyratăp.

    I'm looking for it

    Usage

    Say what you are looking for.

    Grammar Note

    ӑна is the dative-accusative of вӑл "it, he/she". The present tense also covers an action in progress. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

13. Манӑн ку пур.

    Manăn ku pur.

    I have it

    Usage

    Say that you have it on you.

    Grammar Note

    Possession is genitive of the owner + пур ("Манӑн икӗ кушак пур." = I have two cats); there is no verb "to have". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

14. Манӑн ку ҫук.

    Manăn ku çuk.

    I don't have it

    Usage

    Say that you do not have it.

    Grammar Note

    The negative of "Манӑн ку пур." with ҫук "there is none" in place of пур. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

15. Эпӗ банкоматран укҫа илӗп.

    Epĕ bankomatran ukça ilĕp.

    I'll withdraw money from the ATM

    Usage

    Say this when you want to withdraw cash.

    Grammar Note

    банкомат "ATM" is a loanword; the ablative -ран/-рен means "from", and the 1st-person singular future is -ӑп/-ӗп. "Take money" expresses withdrawing. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

16. Эпӗ вырӑн заказлатӑп.

    Epĕ vyrăn zakazlatăp.

    I'll make a reservation

    Usage

    Say that you want to make a reservation.

    Grammar Note

    заказла- is a verb built on the Russian loan заказ "order". The present -атӑп also expresses a near-future intention. Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

17. Тархасшӑн, ку ӗҫре мана пулӑшӑр.

    Tarkhasshăn, ku ĕçre mana pulăshăr.

    Please help me with this

    Usage

    Ask politely for help with something specific.

    Grammar Note

    The locative -ре of ӗҫ "work, matter" gives "in this matter". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

18. Тархасшӑн, мана каласа парӑр.

    Tarkhasshăn, mana kalasa parăr.

    Please tell me

    Usage

    A polite request to be told something.

    Grammar Note

    каласа пар-, from кала- "say" with -са пар- "do for someone", means "to tell, to relate". Composed sentence — native-speaker review recommended.

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