Register Selection
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'sen' for friends and family, but switch to 'siz' for elders, strangers, and professional settings to show respect.
- Use 'sen' (singular informal) for peers, children, and close friends: 'Sen keldiń be?'
- Use 'siz' (singular formal) for elders, teachers, and strangers: 'Siz keldińiz be?'
- Use 'sizder' (plural formal) when addressing a group of people regardless of age: 'Sizder qalaısyzdar?'
Meanings
The honorific register in Kazakh distinguishes between informal (sen) and formal (siz) address, reflecting social hierarchy and distance.
Formal Address
Addressing someone with respect due to age or status.
“Siz keldińiz be?”
“Sizdiń atyńyz kim?”
Informal Address
Addressing someone as an equal or subordinate.
“Sen qalaısyń?”
“Sen keldiń be?”
Plural Respect
Addressing a group or using the plural for extreme politeness.
“Sizder qalaısyzdar?”
“Sizderge rahmet!”
Verb Conjugation: Formal vs Informal
| Pronoun | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sen | barasyń | barmaısyń | barasyń ba? |
| Siz | barasyz | barmaısyz | barasyz ba? |
| Sizder | barasyzdar | barmaısyzdar | barasyzdar ma? |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Informal | Sen + Verb-suffix | Sen kelesiń |
| Formal | Siz + Verb-suffix | Siz kelesiz |
| Plural Formal | Sizder + Verb-suffix | Sizder kelesizder |
| Negation | Pronoun + Verb-negation | Siz kelmeısiz |
| Question | Pronoun + Verb + ba/be | Siz kele me? |
Espectro de formalidade
Siz kelesiz be? (Asking someone to join.)
Kelesiz be? (Asking someone to join.)
Kelesiń be? (Asking someone to join.)
Kelesiń ba? (Asking someone to join.)
Honorifics Map
Informal
- Sen You (singular)
Formal
- Siz You (singular formal)
- Sizder You (plural formal)
Examples by Level
Sen qalaısyń?
How are you? (informal)
Siz qalaısyz?
How are you? (formal)
Sen kel!
Come here! (informal)
Siz otyryńyz.
Please sit down. (formal)
Siz jumysqa barasyz ba?
Are you going to work? (formal)
Sen ne istep jatyrsyń?
What are you doing? (informal)
Sizder qaıdan kelesizder?
Where are you (plural) coming from?
Sen munda kel.
Come here. (informal)
Siz maǵan kómektese alasyz ba?
Can you help me? (formal)
Sen meni túsinesiń be?
Do you understand me? (informal)
Sizderge rahmet aıtqym keledi.
I want to thank you (plural).
Siz búgin bos emessiz, ıá?
You are not free today, right? (formal)
Sizdiń oıyńyzsha, bul durys pa?
In your opinion, is this correct? (formal)
Sen aıtqan sózderdi umytpa.
Don't forget the words you said. (informal)
Sizderdiń kelgenińizge qýanyshtymyz.
We are happy that you (plural) have come.
Sizge osy qujatty tapsyru kerek.
You need to submit this document. (formal)
Siz osy másele boıynsha ne oılaısyz?
What do you think about this issue? (formal)
Sen ózińdi qalaı sezinesiń?
How do you feel yourself? (informal)
Sizderdiń qoldaýlaryńyz óte mańyzdy.
Your (plural) support is very important.
Sizge degen qurmetim sheksiz.
My respect for you is limitless.
Sizdiń osy sheshimińizdi qoldaimyz.
We support this decision of yours.
Sen meniń janymda bolǵanyńa qýanyshtymyn.
I am happy that you are by my side.
Sizderge osy qyzmetti usynamyz.
We offer this service to you (plural).
Sizdiń atyńyz tarihta qalady.
Your name will remain in history.
Easily Confused
Learners often use 'siz' for groups.
Mixing up the suffixes.
Thinking 'siz' is only plural.
Erros comuns
Siz barasyń
Siz barasyz
Sen keldińiz
Sen keldiń
Sizder barasyz
Sizder barasyzdar
Sen kelesiz
Sen kelesiń
Sizler barasyz
Sizder barasyzdar
Siz keldin
Siz keldińiz
Sen kelesizder
Sen kelesiń
Siz keldińizder
Siz keldińiz
Sizder keldińiz
Sizder keldińizder
Sen keldin
Sen keldiń
Siz barasyzlar
Siz barasyz
Sen barasyzdar
Sen barasyń
Sizder barasyz
Sizder barasyzdar
Sentence Patterns
Siz ___ ba?
Sen ___?
Sizder ___?
Siz ___ emessiz.
Real World Usage
Siz qashan jumysqa kelesiz?
Sen qaıdasyń?
Sizge rahmet.
Siz qalaısyz?
Sen ne istep jatyrsyń?
Siz maǵan kómektese alasyz ba?
Default to Siz
Don't mix registers
Watch the verb
Age matters
Smart Tips
Always start with 'siz'.
Use 'sizder'.
Use 'siz' and formal verb endings.
Default to 'siz'.
Pronúncia
Vowel Harmony
The suffix changes based on the last vowel of the verb.
Rising for questions
Siz kelesiz be? ↑
Polite inquiry
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Siz is for Seniors, Sen is for Siblings.
Visual Association
Imagine a tall, wise elder wearing a traditional hat (Siz) versus a playful friend (Sen).
Rhyme
Siz is for the wise, Sen is for the guys.
Story
A young traveler arrives in a village. He meets an elder and says 'Siz'. The elder smiles. Later, he meets a friend and says 'Sen'. They laugh together.
Word Web
Desafio
Write three sentences using 'siz' and three using 'sen' in your journal today.
Notas culturais
Respect for elders is the foundation of society. Always use 'siz' with anyone older.
The 'siz' form is a historical plural used for respect, common in many Turkic languages.
Conversation Starters
Siz qalaısyz?
Sen búgin ne isteısiń?
Sizder qalaısyzdar?
Sizdiń oıyńyzsha, bul durys pa?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
___ kelesiz be?
Siz bar___?
Find and fix the mistake:
Sen kelesiz be?
Sen barasyń.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Which is formal?
Siz / kelesiz / be?
Siz is used for friends.
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercises___ kelesiz be?
Siz bar___?
Find and fix the mistake:
Sen kelesiz be?
Sen barasyń.
Match: Sen, Siz, Sizder
Which is formal?
Siz / kelesiz / be?
Siz is used for friends.
Score: /8
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Yes, but it creates distance. Use it if you want to be funny or sarcastic.
Apologize and switch to 'siz'. People usually understand learners make mistakes.
Yes, it is the plural form of 'siz'.
Kazakh verbs agree with the person and number of the subject.
When the other person invites you to, or when you become close friends.
No, always 'sen'.
No, Kazakh pronouns are gender-neutral.
Yes, it is common in professional or formal texting.
In Other Languages
Tú vs Usted
Kazakh honorifics are more strictly tied to age.
Tu vs Vous
Kazakh uses 'sizder' for plural formal, French uses 'vous' for both.
Du vs Sie
German 'Sie' is always capitalized in writing.
Keigo
Japanese honorifics are much more complex than Kazakh.
Anta vs Antum
Arabic is gendered, Kazakh is not.
Ni vs Nin
Chinese has no verb conjugation changes.
