Basic Nouns

1. Об

   Ob

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Tajik has no gender; relations are shown by prepositions and the izofa -и (оби хунук = cold water).

2. Хӯрок

   Khu-rok

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

3. Пул

   Pul

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

4. Ҳоҷатхона

   Ho-jat-kho-na

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

5. Салфетка

   Sal-fet-ka

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

6. Дору

   Do-ru

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

7. Бағоҷ

   Ba-ghoj

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

8. Калид

   Ka-lid

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

9. Чипта

   Chip-ta

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

10. Шиноснома

    Shi-nos-no-ma

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    "Шиноснома" is the native Tajik word; the Russian-derived "паспорт" is also understood.

11. Телефон

    Te-le-fon

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

12. Заряддиҳанда

    Za-ryad-di-han-da

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

13. Вокзал

    Vok-zal

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

14. Беморхона

    Be-mor-kho-na

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

15. Милитсия

    Mi-lit-si-ya

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    "Милитсия" is the Soviet-era term and is still understood.

16. Дӯкон

    Du-kon

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

17. Хона

    Kho-na

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

18. Роҳ

    Roh

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

19. Оила

    O-i-la

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

20. Ном

    Nom

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. Сар

    Sar

    Head

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at where it hurts

22. Чашм

    Chashm

    Eye

    Usage

    For an eye problem or when looking for eye drops

23. Дандон

    Dan-don

    Tooth

    Usage

    For finding a dentist or pointing at an aching tooth

24. Гулӯ

    Gu-lu

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat; distinct from "gardan", the outside of the neck

25. Шикам

    Shi-kam

    Stomach / Belly

    Usage

    For stomach ache or food poisoning

26. Пушт

    Pusht

    Back

    Usage

    For pointing at your back at a clinic or a massage

27. Камар

    Ka-mar

    Waist / Lower back

    Usage

    For lower-back pain; the area below "pusht" (the back)

28. По

    Po

    Leg / Foot

    Usage

    Covers both leg and foot; point at the exact spot on your own body

29. Даст

    Dast

    Hand / Arm

    Usage

    Covers hand and arm alike; point at the exact spot for an injury

30. Сина

    Si-na

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest, for chest pain or breathing trouble

31. Гӯш

    Gush

    Ear

    Usage

    For earache or trouble hearing

32. Гардан

    Gar-dan

    Neck

    Usage

    For a stiff or painful neck

33. Китф

    Kitf

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain

34. Зону

    Zo-nu

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at it after hurting a knee on a trail or stairs

35. Ангушт

    An-gusht

    Finger

    Usage

    For a cut or burn on a finger

36. Пӯст

    Pust

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash, insect bites, or sunburn

37. Бинӣ

    Bi-ni

    Nose

    Usage

    For a blocked nose or a nosebleed

38. Меҳмонхона

    Meh-mon-kho-na

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show it with your hotel name when asking the way back

    Grammar Note

    mehmon (guest) + khona (house); Russian "gostinitsa" is also understood

39. Фурудгоҳ

    Fu-rud-goh

    Airport

    Usage

    For telling a taxi where you are heading

40. Истгоҳи автобус

    Ist-go-hi av-to-bus

    Bus stop

    Usage

    For asking where to catch a bus; also works for shared-van (marshrutka) stops

41. Сафоратхона

    Sa-fo-rat-kho-na

    Embassy

    Usage

    For getting to your own country's office after losing a passport

42. Банкомат

    Ban-ko-mat

    ATM

    Usage

    For asking where to withdraw cash; machines are scarce outside the cities, so ask early

43. Мубодилаи асъор

    Mu-bo-di-la-i asʼ-or

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    For asking where to change money; the phrase appears on the signs themselves

    Grammar Note

    mubodila (exchange) + izofa -i + asʼor (foreign currency)

44. Мошини оташнишонӣ

    Mo-shi-ni o-tash-ni-sho-ni

    Fire engine

    Usage

    moshin (vehicle) + izofa -i + otashnishoni (firefighting); the fire brigade in Tajikistan is on 101

45. Консулгарӣ

    Kon-sul-ga-ri

    Consulate

    Usage

    For finding your own consulate after losing a passport or becoming a victim of crime; an embassy is "saforatkhona"

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