B1 Honorifics & Register 1 min read Fácil

Honorific Pronouns

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Practícalo

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'Siz' for respect and 'Sen' for friends; remember that 'Siz' requires plural verb endings.

  • Use 'Sen' (singular informal) for friends, family, and children: 'Sen keldiñ.'
  • Use 'Siz' (singular formal) for elders, strangers, and superiors: 'Siz keldiñiz.'
  • Always match the verb ending to the pronoun: 'Siz' takes plural suffixes like '-ñiz'.
Siz (Formal) + Verb-ñiz / Sen (Informal) + Verb-ñ

Pronoun and Verb Agreement

Pronoun Meaning Verb Suffix (Example: Bar-) Full Form (Formal) Full Form (Informal)
Sen
You (inf)
-siñ
N/A
Sen barsyñ
Siz
You (form)
-siz
Siz barsyz
N/A

Meanings

Kazakh distinguishes between informal and formal address through pronoun choice and corresponding verb conjugation.

1

Formal Address

Used for respect, distance, or professional settings.

“Siz keldiniz be?”

“Siz ne istep jatsyz?”

2

Informal Address

Used for peers, family, and children.

“Sen keldiñ be?”

“Sen ne istep jatsyñ?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Honorific Pronouns
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Pronoun + Verb-suffix
Siz barasyz
Negative
Pronoun + Verb-neg-suffix
Siz barmaysyz
Question
Pronoun + Verb-suffix + ba?
Siz barasyz ba?
Polite Request
Verb-ñiz
Keliñiz
Informal Request
Verb-ñ
Kel
Possessive
Pronoun-diñ/niñ
Sizdiñ

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
Siz qalay sız?

Siz qalay sız? (Greeting)

Neutral
Qalay sız?

Qalay sız? (Greeting)

Informal
Qalay syñ?

Qalay syñ? (Greeting)

Jerga
Qalay?

Qalay? (Greeting)

The Honorific Divide

You

Informal (Sen)

  • Dostyq Friendship
  • Jaqyn Close

Formal (Siz)

  • Qurmet Respect
  • Resmi Official

Ejemplos por nivel

1

Sen kimsiñ?

Who are you? (informal)

2

Siz kimsiz?

Who are you? (formal)

3

Sen kel.

Come here. (informal)

4

Siz keliñiz.

Please come. (formal)

1

Sen qalay tūrasyñ?

How are you living? (informal)

2

Siz qalay tūrasyz?

How are you living? (formal)

3

Sen barmaysyñ ba?

Aren't you going? (informal)

4

Siz barmaysyz ba?

Aren't you going? (formal)

1

Sizge kömektese alamyn ba?

Can I help you? (formal)

2

Sagan kömektese alamyn ba?

Can I help you? (informal)

3

Sizdiñ oyynyz qanday?

What is your opinion? (formal)

4

Senin oyyn qanday?

What is your opinion? (informal)

1

Sizdi kütip otyrmyz.

We are waiting for you. (formal)

2

Seni kütip otyrmyz.

We are waiting for you. (informal)

3

Sizge rıxat aytamyn.

I thank you. (formal)

4

Sagan raxmet.

Thanks to you. (informal)

1

Sizden suranar edim.

I would like to ask you. (formal)

2

Senden surayyn dep edim.

I wanted to ask you. (informal)

3

Sizge degen qurmetim zor.

My respect for you is great. (formal)

4

Sagan degen senimim mol.

My trust in you is high. (informal)

1

Sizdiñ ruxsatyñyzben.

With your permission. (formal)

2

Seniñ ruxsatyñmen.

With your permission. (informal)

3

Sizge kelsin.

May it come to you. (formal)

4

Sagan kelsin.

May it come to you. (informal)

Fácil de confundir

Honorific Pronouns vs Siz vs Sizler

Learners think 'Sizler' is the plural of 'Siz'.

Honorific Pronouns vs Sen vs Siz verb endings

Mixing up the endings.

Honorific Pronouns vs Formal vs Informal Imperative

Using the wrong command form.

Errores comunes

✗

Siz keldiñ

✓

Siz keldiñiz

Mismatch of pronoun and verb.
✗

Sen keldiniz

✓

Sen keldiñ

Mismatch of pronoun and verb.
✗

Siz bar

✓

Siz barsyz

Missing verb suffix.
✗

Sen barasyz

✓

Sen barasyñ

Using formal verb with informal pronoun.
✗

Siz ne istep jatsyñ?

✓

Siz ne istep jatsyz?

Informal verb ending with formal pronoun.
✗

Sizge raxmet aytamyn (to a boss)

✓

Sizge raxmet aytamyn (formal)

Actually correct, but tone matters.
✗

Sen kelsin

✓

Sen kel

Wrong imperative form.
✗

Sizler keldiniz

✓

Siz keldiniz

Redundant plural marker.
✗

Siz keldin

✓

Siz keldiniz

Typo in suffix.
✗

Sen keldiniz be?

✓

Sen keldiñ be?

Register mismatch.
✗

Siz keldin (in a formal speech)

✓

Siz keldiniz

Register slip.
✗

Sizler (when addressing one person)

✓

Siz

Siz is already formal/plural.
✗

Sen (to a professor)

✓

Siz

Cultural error.

Patrones de oraciones

Siz ___ ba?

Sen ___ ba?

Sizge ___ kerek pe?

Sizdiñ ___ qanday?

Real World Usage

Job Interview constant

Sizdiñ täjiribeniñiz qanday?

Texting a friend constant

Qalay syñ?

Ordering food very common

Sizge ne äkelin?

Talking to a teacher very common

Sizge raxmet.

Social media common

Sen ne istep jatsyñ?

Travel common

Siz qayda barasyz?

💡

Default to Siz

If you are unsure, always use 'Siz'. It is never rude to be polite.
⚠️

Don't mix

Mixing 'Siz' and informal verb endings is the #1 mistake.
🎯

Watch the elders

Observe how locals address each other to learn the social rhythm.
💬

The 'Siz' transition

Friends may eventually ask to switch to 'Sen'. It's a sign of closeness.

Smart Tips

Always start with 'Siz'.

Sen kimsiñ? → Siz kimsiz?

Use 'Sizdiñ' for possessive.

Senin hatyn. → Sizdiñ hatyñyz.

Ensure the verb ends in -siz.

Siz barasyñ ba? → Siz barasyz ba?

Use -ñiz.

Kel! → Keliñiz!

Pronunciación

kel-DI-ñiz

Suffix stress

The formal suffix '-ñiz' often carries a slight stress.

Question intonation

Siz barasyz ba? ↗

Rising pitch at the end for questions.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Siz is for Seniors, Sen is for Siblings.

Asociación visual

Imagine a tall, dignified person wearing a suit (Siz) and a relaxed friend in a hoodie (Sen).

Rhyme

Use Siz for the wise, use Sen for your guys.

Story

A student meets a professor. He says 'Siz' to show respect. Later, he meets his friend and says 'Sen' to show warmth. He never mixes them up.

Word Web

SizSenSizdiñSeniñSizgeSagan

Desafío

Write 5 sentences using 'Siz' and 5 using 'Sen' today.

Notas culturales

Younger people use 'sen' more freely, but 'siz' is still used for elders.

Strict adherence to 'siz' for anyone older than you is mandatory.

Always 'siz' in the workplace, regardless of age.

The 'siz' form is a pluralization used to show respect, similar to the 'royal we'.

Inicios de conversación

“

Siz ne istep jatsyz?

“

Senin atyn kim?

“

Siz qashan kele siz?

“

Sizge qanday kömek kerek?

Temas para diario

Write about a person you respect and why.
Write a dialogue between a student and a teacher.
Describe your best friend.
Write a formal email to a company.

Errores comunes

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct verb suffix.

Siz bar___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Siz requires -siz suffix.
Choose the correct pronoun. Opción múltiple

___ keldiñiz be?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Keldiñiz is formal.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Siz keldiñ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Match pronoun to verb.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Sen barasyñ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Formalize pronoun and verb.
Match the register. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Sen is informal, Siz is formal.
Build a formal question. Sentence Building

Siz / bar / ba

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Correct formal conjugation.
Conjugate for Siz. Conjugation Drill

Kel-

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Siz requires -siz.
Which is more polite? Opción múltiple

Addressing a stranger

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Siz is the polite form.

Score: /8

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises
Fill in the correct verb suffix.

Siz bar___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Siz requires -siz suffix.
Choose the correct pronoun. Opción múltiple

___ keldiñiz be?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Keldiñiz is formal.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Siz keldiñ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Match pronoun to verb.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Sen barasyñ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Formalize pronoun and verb.
Match the register. Match Pairs

Sen vs Siz

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Sen is informal, Siz is formal.
Build a formal question. Sentence Building

Siz / bar / ba

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Correct formal conjugation.
Conjugate for Siz. Conjugation Drill

Kel-

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Siz requires -siz.
Which is more polite? Opción múltiple

Addressing a stranger

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Siz is the polite form.

Score: /8

Preguntas frecuentes (8)

Yes, but it will sound like you are joking or being very distant.

Apologize and switch to 'Siz'. Most people will understand you are a learner.

Grammatically yes, but pragmatically it is singular formal.

No, 'Sen' is standard for children.

Usually, the older or more senior person will suggest it.

Yes, it is standard in formal writing.

It is a sign of respect, treating the person with the weight of a group.

Yes, kinship terms like 'Aga' (older brother) are often used with 'Siz'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

German high

du/Sie

Kazakh uses plural suffixes for formal, while German uses third-person plural.

French high

tu/vous

Kazakh is more strictly agglutinative.

Spanish moderate

tú/usted

Kazakh uses plural conjugation for formal.

Japanese moderate

anata/kimi

Japanese changes the verb itself, not just the suffix.

Arabic moderate

Anta/Antum

Arabic has gendered pronouns.

Chinese low

ni/nin

Kazakh changes the verb, Chinese does not.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Honorific Verbs

Related Grammar Rules

B2

Formal Tone
A1

Formal Introductions
A2

Polite Imperatives
B1

Honorific Verbs
B1

Register Selection
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