Formal Tone
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Siz' and specific verb suffixes like '-syz/-siz' or '-ıñız/-iñiz' to show respect to elders, strangers, or superiors.
- Always use 'Siz' instead of 'Sen' for anyone older or in a professional setting (e.g., 'Siz kelesiz').
- Add '-ıñız' or '-iñiz' to verb stems for polite requests or commands (e.g., 'Otyryñız' - Please sit).
- Use formal vocabulary like 'as' for food or 'qyzmet' for work in official contexts.
Meanings
The formal register in Kazakh, known as 'Resmi stil', is used to maintain social hierarchy, show respect (izzet), and conduct professional business. It involves specific pronouns, verb conjugations, and lexical choices that differ from daily 'Sen' (informal) speech.
Professional/Business
Used in workplaces, emails, and official documents to maintain a neutral, respectful distance.
“Biz sizdiñ usınısıñızdı qarastıramız.”
“Kelisimşartqa qol qoyuıñızdı suraymız.”
Social Respect (Honorific)
Used when speaking to elders (aqsaqaldar), teachers, or people you don't know well personally.
“Ata, törge şığıñız.”
“Sizdiñ densaulığıñız qalay?”
Academic/Literary
Used in lectures, books, and public speeches to convey authority and intellectual rigor.
“Zertteu nätijeleri körsetkendey...”
“Avtordıñ oyınşa, bul öte mañızdı.”
Formal Verb Conjugation (Siz)
| Tense | Verb Stem | Suffix | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present/Future | Bar- (go) | -asyz | Barasyz | You go / will go |
| Present Continuous | Baratyr- | -syz | Baratyrsyz | You are going |
| Past (Definite) | Kel- (come) | -diñiz | Keldiñiz | You came |
| Past (Indefinite) | Oqy- (read) | -psyz | Oqypsyz | You apparently read |
| Imperative (Polite) | Otyr- (sit) | -yñız | Otyryñız | Please sit |
| Conditional | Ist- (do) | -señiz | Isteseñiz | If you do |
| Possessive (Noun) | At (name) | -ıñız | Atıñız | Your name |
Colloquial Formal Contractions
| Full Form | Contracted Form | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Sälemetsiz be | Sälemetsiz | Casual-formal greeting |
| Rahmet sizge | Rahmet | Standard thank you |
| Keşiriñiz | Keşir | Only if quickly switching to semi-formal |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Siz + Verb + syz/siz | Siz bilesiz (You know) |
| Negative | Siz + Verb + ma/me + syz/siz | Siz bilmeisiz (You don't know) |
| Question | Siz + Verb + syz/siz + be/ba? | Siz bilesiz be? (Do you know?) |
| Polite Request | Verb + ıñız/iñiz | Aytıñız (Please tell) |
| Possessive | Sizdiñ + Noun + ıñız/iñiz | Sizdiñ üyiniz (Your house) |
| Plural Formal | Sizder + Verb + syzdar/sizder | Sizder kelesizder (You all come) |
| Past Formal | Siz + Verb + dyñız/diñiz | Siz jazdıñız (You wrote) |
طیف رسمیت
Otyryñız. (Offering a seat)
Otyryñızdar. (Offering a seat)
Otyr. (Offering a seat)
Qonji. (Offering a seat)
The 'Siz' Ecosystem
Work
- Bastyq Boss
- Äriptes Colleague
Family
- Ata-ana Parents
- Ağa Older brother
Public
- Dükensşi Shopkeeper
- Beytanys Stranger
Sen vs. Siz
Should I use Siz?
Is the person older than you?
Is this a professional setting?
Are they a close friend/family?
Examples by Level
Siz qayda turasyz?
Where do you live? (Formal)
Sälemetsiz be, müghalim!
Hello, teacher!
Munda kelyñiz.
Please come here.
Siz şay işesiz be?
Do you drink tea? (Formal)
Sizdiñ atıñız kim?
What is your name? (Formal)
Keşiriñiz, tüsindire alasyz ba?
Excuse me, can you explain? (Formal)
Siz keşe keldiniz be?
Did you come yesterday? (Formal)
Bul sizdiñ kıtabıñız ba?
Is this your book? (Formal)
Siz usınısıñızdı ayta alasyz ba?
Could you tell your proposal? (Formal)
Biz sizdi kütip otırmyz.
We are waiting for you. (Formal)
Sizderge köp rahmet!
Thank you very much to you all! (Formal Plural)
Siz bul turalı ne oylaysyz?
What do you think about this? (Formal)
Sizdiñ qatysuıñız biz üşin öte mañızdı.
Your participation is very important for us.
Ötinış, osı qujatqa qol qoyuıñızdı suraymın.
Please, I ask you to sign this document.
Siz bul mäseleni qalay şeşer ediñiz?
How would you solve this issue?
Sizdiñ täjiriybeñizge süyene otırıp, şeşim qabyldadıq.
Relying on your experience, we made a decision.
Sizdiñ tarapıñızdan qanday da bir eskertpeler bar ma?
Are there any remarks from your side?
Osı orayda, sizdiñ nazarıñızdı mına jaytqa audarğım keledi.
In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to this fact.
Sizdiñ eñbegiñiz el damuına qosılğan üles dep bilemiz.
We consider your work a contribution to the country's development.
Sizderdiñ qoldaularıñızdıñ arqasında joba iske astı.
Thanks to your (plural) support, the project was implemented.
Sizdiñ payımdauıñızşa, qazirgi jahandanuy üderisi qazaq mädınietine qalay äser etude?
In your estimation, how is the current process of globalization affecting Kazakh culture?
Zañnamalıq aktilerge säykes, sizdiñ quqıqtarıñız tolıq qorğaladı.
In accordance with legislative acts, your rights are fully protected.
Sizdiñ märtelı tülğaıñızdıñ aldında bas iemiz.
We bow before your noble personality.
Sizdiñ usınısıñızdıñ qisındılığına eş kümänimiz joq.
We have no doubt about the logical consistency of your proposal.
Easily Confused
Learners often use 'Sizder' for a single person to show 'extra' respect.
The suffix -syz is also used to mean 'without' (e.g., tuzsyz - without salt).
اشتباهات رایج
Siz qayda barasyñ?
Siz qayda barasyz?
Sen kelesiz.
Siz kelesiz.
Siz otyr.
Siz otyryñız.
Sizdiñ atıñ.
Sizdiñ atıñız.
Sizder kelesiz.
Sizder kelesizder.
Siz keldı.
Siz keldıñız.
Sizdiñ üy.
Sizdiñ üyiniz.
Sizge rahmet, koke.
Sizge rahmet, ağay.
Siz barasız ba?
Siz barasyz ba?
Sizdiñ keluiñizdi tileymin.
Sizdiñ keluiñizdi suraymın.
Sentence Patterns
Siz ___ -syz ba?
Ötinış, ___ -ıñızşı.
Sizdiñ ___ -ıñız biz üşin mañızdı.
Siz ___ -señiz, biz ___ -mız.
Real World Usage
Sizdiñ kompaniyañızda jumıs isteu — men üşin ülken mümkindik.
Sälemetsiz be, ağay! Sizge tapsırmanı jiberdim.
Mäzirni bere alasyz ba?
Ata, keşiriñiz, mına mekenjaydı bilesiz be?
Sizdiñ ötinışiñiz qabyldandı.
Sizdiñ öneriñizge täntiymiz!
The 'Age' Rule
Don't Mix!
The Polite '-şı'
Titles Matter
Smart Tips
Default to 'Siz'. It is never offensive to be too polite, but it can be offensive to be too casual.
Use '-ıñızdar' instead of just '-ıñız'.
Start with 'Qurmetti [Name] [Patronymic]'.
Use verbal nouns with 'suraymın' instead of direct imperatives.
تلفظ
Vowel Harmony in -syz/-siz
The 'y' in -syz is a back vowel, used after back vowels (a, o, u, y). The 'i' in -siz is a front vowel.
The Nasal 'ñ'
In -ıñız, the 'ñ' is a velar nasal, like the 'ng' in 'sing'.
Polite Request
Kiriñiz ↑
Rising intonation at the end of formal imperatives makes them sound more like an invitation than a command.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Siz is for the 'Sizeable' respect you show to others.
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge between two people. 'Sen' is a short, wooden bridge. 'Siz' is a long, golden bridge that keeps a respectful distance.
Rhyme
When they're older or a boss, use 'Siz' to avoid a loss!
Story
A young traveler entered a yurt. He said 'Sen' to the elder, and the tea was cold. He said 'Siz' to the elder, and he was given the guest of honor seat (tör).
Word Web
چالش
Go to a Kazakh-speaking forum or social media page and write one respectful comment using 'Siz' and a verb ending in '-syz'.
نکات فرهنگی
Age is the primary determinant of register. Even if someone is only 2-3 years older, 'Siz' is the default.
Register is often even more formal, with frequent use of 'Ağay' and 'Apay' even for strangers.
In Almaty/Astana offices, 'Siz' is used to maintain professional boundaries, even among peers.
The pronoun 'Siz' originates from the Old Turkic plural 'Siz', which was later adopted as a singular polite form, mirroring the 'T-V distinction' found in many Indo-European languages.
Conversation Starters
Siz bos uaqıtıñızda ne isteisiz?
Sizdiñ mamandyğıñız qanday?
Sizdiñ oyıñızşa, qazirgi jastardıñ basty mäselesi ne?
Siz qazaq mädınieti turalı ne bilesiz?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Siz dükenge ___?
Qurmetti qonaqtar, törge ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Sizdiñ atıñ kim?
bilesiz / ba / Siz / mına / jerdi / ?
Please tell me.
Answer starts with: b...
Identify the informal phrase.
A: Keşiriñiz, bul jer bos pa? B: Iä, ___.
In Kazakh, you use 'Sizder' to show extra respect to one person.
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exercisesSiz dükenge ___?
Qurmetti qonaqtar, törge ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Sizdiñ atıñ kim?
bilesiz / ba / Siz / mına / jerdi / ?
Please tell me.
Identify the informal phrase.
A: Keşiriñiz, bul jer bos pa? B: Iä, ___.
In Kazakh, you use 'Sizder' to show extra respect to one person.
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
Usually, you wait for the older person or the person in a higher position to suggest it by saying `Sen-aq deşi` (Just say 'Sen').
In formal letters and documents, it is often capitalized (`Siz`) to show extra respect, but in general writing, it follows standard capitalization rules.
Quickly correct yourself by saying `Keşiriñiz` and switching to `Siz`. Most people are forgiving toward learners but appreciate the effort.
In modern urban families, 'Sen' is common. In traditional or rural families, many children still use 'Siz' for their parents and grandparents.
Use the word `ötinış` (please) or add the suffix `-şı/-şi` to the verb, as in `kiriñizşi` (please, do come in).
Instead of a blunt `Joq`, you can say `Keşiriñiz, mümkin emes` (Excuse me, it's not possible) or `Ökinişke oray, joq` (Unfortunately, no).
Yes, in a professional setting (like a boss to an employee) or in a service setting (like a waiter to a customer), 'Siz' is used regardless of age.
`Sälem` is 'Hi' (informal), while `Sälemetsiz be` is 'Hello/Greetings' (formal).
In Other Languages
Usted
Kazakh has unique verb suffixes for 'Siz', whereas Spanish reuses 3rd person forms.
Vous
Kazakh distinguishes between singular formal and plural formal pronouns.
Sie
Kazakh verb endings for 'Siz' are unique and not shared with the 3rd person plural.
Keigo (敬語)
Kazakh honorifics are mostly morphological (suffixes), while Japanese involves lexical and grammatical shifts.
Hadratak (حضرتك)
Kazakh formal tone is a mandatory part of basic verb conjugation.
Nín (您)
Kazakh requires morphological agreement on the verb; Chinese does not.
