Verbs in Kazakh

107 words in Kazakh on the topic “verbs”: Керек (Kerek) — needed, Ұнайды (Ūnaidy) — is liked, Бару (Baru) — to go, Жеу (Zheu) — to eat. 107 words can be played from recordings.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

107 words on the topic

Керек
Kerek
needed
Stands at the end of the sentence: "magan su kerek" is "I need water" — literally "for-me water [is] needed".
Ұнайды
Ūnaidy
is liked
The subject is the thing that pleases: "magan shai unaidy" is "the tea appeals to me" — the liking is done by the tea, not by you.
Бару
Baru
to go
The infinitive ends in "-u". "Uige baramyn" is "I am going home".
Жеу
Zheu
to eat
Only about food: "eat" in the sense of "exist" is a different word, "bar". Inviting you to the table, they say "zhengiz" — do eat.
Ішу
Ishu
to drink
Also "to take medicine": "dari ishu". Soup is "drunk" too, not eaten.
Оқу
Oqu
to read
The same word says "to study": "universitette oqimyn" is "I study at the university". Exactly like the Turkish okumak.
Сөйлеу
Söileu
to speak
To speak in general; to say something specific is "aitu". One root with "soz", "word", and "soilem", "sentence".
Істеу
Isteu
to work
The same word says "to do": "ne istep zhaturshyn?" is "what are you doing?". About the workplace: "bankte isteimin", "I work at a bank".
Тұру
Tūru
to live
The same word says "to stand up" and "to cost": "erte turamyn" is "I get up early", "qansha turady?" is "how much does it cost". Only the phrase tells them apart.
Бар
Bar
there is
A whole verb in three letters, placed at the end: "su bar ma?" is "is there water?". Much like the Turkish var. "To eat" is the other word, "zheu".
Үйрену
Üirenu
to learn
To master something yourself: a language, a craft, a habit. To teach someone else is "uiretu", with an extra "-t-" in the middle.
Таңдау
Tañdau
to choose
ng before d sounds nasal: ta-ng-dau
Көру
Köru
to see
o with the lips pushed forward while saying "e": ko-RU
Есту
Estu
to hear
the stress falls on the last syllable: es-TU
Ұйықтау
Ūiyqtau
to sleep
u is a short "u" with a shade of "o", q is a voiceless k from the throat: uiyq-TAU
Тасу
Tasu
to carry
To carry and to haul: "su tasu" is "to carry water". The language splits carrying by direction: away is "aparu", over here is "akelu".
Қою
Qoyu
to place
q is a voiceless k from deep in the throat; the "yu" sounds like "yu": qo-YU
Сындыру
Syndyru
to break (something)
"Synyq" is "broken"; the root "syn-" is the same. "Synu" is to break by itself, "-dyr-" adds the one who breaks.
Салу
Salu
to build
A house is exactly "salady": "ui salu". On its own "salu" is "to put", the same root as in "an salu", "to sing", and "suret salu", "to draw".
Қыздыру
Qyzdyru
to heat
q is a voiceless k from deep in the throat: qyz-dy-RU
Зат жинау
Zat zhinau
to pack
"To gather, to tidy" also appears in "tidying the house". Before a trip things stand in the singular.
Шомылу
Shomylu
to bathe
Bathing for pleasure and cleanliness. Swimming as a skill is the other verb.
Жүзу
Zhüzu
to swim
u rounded, lips forward: zu-ZU
Күнге күю
Künge küyu
to sunbathe
Literally "to burn in the sun": the verb is "to scorch". A tan grows from the same root — it means both tanned and sunburnt.
Балық аулау
Balyq aulau
to fish
"To hunt, to ply a trade"; with "fish" it is to go fishing. The fish stands with no ending, as in "packing".
Суару
Suaru
to water
From "water": "to make watery". The same trick in "to feed" — "to make food".
Кию
Kiyu
to put on
To put on and to wear at once: "I will put on a dress" implies wearing it. To take off is the other verb.
Киіп көру
Kiip köru
to try on
Literally "having put on, to look". The "look" after an adverbial means "to try doing": "to try eating" is built the same way.
Күлу
Külu
to laugh
u rounded: ku-LU
Жылау
Zhylau
to cry
Do not confuse with "warm": one letter apart, and the moods are opposites.
Қорқу
Qorqu
to be afraid
q twice in a row: qor-QU
Таңғалу
Tañğalu
to be surprised
ng nasal before gh: tan-gha-LU
Үміттену
Ümittenu
to hope
u rounded at the start, i short: u-mit-te-NU
Дауласу
Daulasu
to argue
The tail "-lasu" means "to do mutually": dispute becomes argue, just as "word" becomes "converse".
Уәде беру
Uäde beru
to promise
a open: u-a-DE
Ұрысу
Ūrysu
to quarrel
u short at the start: u-ry-SU
Құшақтау
Qūshaqtau
to hug
u short, q twice: qu-shaq-TAU
Тамақ дайындау
Tamaq daiyndau
to cook
"Tamaq" means both the throat and the meal; here it is the meal. The verb is "to prepare".
Жуу
Zhuu
to wash
To wash anything: dishes, hands, the car, as in "doing the laundry".
Қайнату
Qainatu
to boil
q at the start: qai-na-TU
Қуыру
Quyru
to fry
q at the start: qu-y-RU
Пісіру
Pisiru
to bake
i short twice: pi-si-RU
Турау
Turau
to chop
To cut into small pieces. To cut in two is a different verb, and to cut a finger yet another phrase.
Дәмін тату
Dämin tatu
to taste
a open: da-MIN
Тапсырыс беру
Tapsyrys beru
to place an order
Another "noun + give" pair, like "to promise". Kazakh builds half its verbs this way.
Қоңырау шалу
Qoñyrau shalu
to make a call
The second word on its own means "to throw over, to touch": the call is "thrown". To whom takes the to-where tail.
Жүктеп алу
Zhüktep alu
to download
u rounded: zhuk-TEP a-LU
Жіберу
Zhiberu
to dispatch
i short: zhi-be-RU
Алу
Alu
to receive
The most hard-working verb of the language: to take, to get, to buy (with a tail) and "can" in its chain.
Жауап беру
Zhauap beru
to reply
Literally "to give an answer". Kazakh assembles dozens of verbs this way: to place an order, to promise, to permit.
Қосу
Qosu
to switch on
q deep: qo-SU
Өшіру
Öshiru
to switch off
o with the lips pushed forward, as in "word": o-shi-RU
Жөндеп беру
Zhöndep beru
to mend
o rounded: zhon-DEP be-RU
Ауыстыру
Auystyru
to replace
From "to change", as in "layover". What is replaced takes the object tail.
Жеңу
Zheñu
to win
ng nasal, as in English "sing": zhe-NGU
Ұтылу
Ūtylu
to lose (a game)
u short and tense: u-ty-LU
Жүгіру
Zhügiru
to run
u rounded, i short: zhu-gi-RU
Секіру
Sekiru
to jump
i short: se-ki-RU
Отыру
Otyru
to sit
Both "to sit" and "to sit down". In a chain with an adverbial it gives duration: "I am sitting and writing".
Тік тұру
Tik tūru
to stand
i short, u short: TIK tu-RU
Жату
Zhatu
to lie
Both "to lie" and "to lie down". Like "to sit", it works as an auxiliary: "he is coming here right now" uses it.
Көтеру
Köteru
to lift
o rounded: ko-te-RU
Лақтыру
Laqtyru
to throw
q deep: laq-ty-RU
Ұстау
Ūstau
to catch
u short and tense: us-TAU
Құлау
Qūlau
to fall
u short and tense: qu-LAU
Ән салу
Än salu
to sing
a wide: AN sa-LU
Би билеу
Bi bileu
to dance
Noun and verb from one root: the dance, and to dance. Such a pair sounds normal in Kazakh, not like a tautology.
Ойнау
Oinau
to play
what you play goes bare, with no preposition or ending: shakhmat oinau, futbol oinau; for instruments there is another verb, tartu
Сурет салу
Suret salu
to draw
salu again, the same verb as in an salu and gol salu; literally to place a picture
Суретке түсіру
Suretke tüsiru
to take a photo
round u, short i: tu-si-RU
Серуендеу
Seruendeu
to stroll
a bookish but living word; in speech people more often say kydyru — to wander with no particular goal
Демалу
Demalu
to take a rest
dem means breath: to rest is to catch your breath; from it comes demalys — vacation and days off
Үйлену
Üilenu
to get married
round u at the start: uy-le-NU
Шақыру
Shaqyru
to invite
deep back q: sha-qy-RU
Дұға ету
Dūğa etu
to pray
etu, to do, builds verbs out of nouns: duga etu, ruqsat etu; the namaz itself is namaz oqu
Ораза ұстау
Oraza ūstau
to fast
tense short u: us-TAU
Құттықтау
Qūttyqtau
to congratulate
short u, deep back q twice: qut-tyq-TAU
Сыпыру
Sypyru
to sweep
you sweep the floor, the yard, the path; the tool is sypyrgysh, built with the same suffix -gysh as shansorgysh
Кірді жуу
Kirdi zhuu
to do laundry
short i: kir-DI
Үтіктеу
Ütikteu
to do the ironing
round u, short i: u-tik-TEU
Сұрау
Sūrau
to ask (for)
tense short u: su-RAU
Рұқсат ету
Rūqsat etu
to allow
tense short u, deep back q: ruq-SAT e-TU
Тыйым салу
Tyiym salu
to forbid
tyiym is a ban; and once more salu, which builds verbs: an salu, gol salu, tyiym salu; what is forbidden takes the to-where tail
Көшіріп жазу
Köshirip zhazu
to cheat (copy)
rounded lips, short i: ko-shi-RIP zha-ZU
Түзету
Tüzetu
to fix (an error)
round u, stress at the end: tu-ze-TU
Үнемдеу
Ünemdeu
to economize
round u, stress at the end: u-nem-DEU
Жұмсау
Zhūmsau
to spend
tense short u: zhum-SAU
Жинау
Zhinau
to save up
the same verb as tidying the house, uy zhinau; the general sense is to gather into a heap — money, things, harvest and people; what you save for takes the to-where tail
Сақтандырып алу
Saqtandyryp alu
to insure
deep back q, short y: saq-tan-dy-RYP a-LU
Түшкіру
Tüshkiru
to sneeze
round u, short i: tush-ki-RU
Ауырып қалу
Auyryp qalu
to fall ill
short y, deep back q: a-u-y-RYP qa-LU
Сауығу
Sauyğu
to recover
throaty g, tense short u: sa-u-y-GHU
Келісу
Kelisu
to agree
short i, stress at the end: ke-li-SU
Жұмыстан шығу
Zhūmystan shyğu
to quit a job
tense short u, short y: zhu-mys-TAN shy-GHU
Жұмыстан шығару
Zhūmystan shyğaru
to fire
tense short u, throaty g: zhu-mys-TAN shy-gha-RU
Көшіп кіру
Köship kiru
to move in
rounded lips, short i: ko-SHIP ki-RU
Көшіп шығу
Köship shyğu
to move out
rounded lips, throaty g: ko-SHIP shy-GHU
Қоныс аудару
Qonys audaru
to relocate
deep back q, short y: qo-NYS a-u-da-RU
Орау
Orau
to wrap up
the base sense is to wind and wrap: dishes in paper, a scarf around the neck; things go into boxes with the verb salu
Орамын ашу
Oramyn ashu
to undo the wrapping
short y, stress at the end: o-ra-MYN a-SHU
Орнығу
Ornyğu
to settle in
throaty g, short y: or-ny-GHU
қарау
qarau
to watch
"Koru" means "to see" — what falls into the eye on its own; "qarau" means to direct the gaze, and what is watched takes the object tail.
ұшу
ūshu
to fly
The phrases "arrive by plane" and "leave by plane" use it; the bare "ushu" suits both bird and plane, and where to takes the directional case.
пайдалану
paidalanu
to use
"Qoldanu" means "to apply" — to put a trick or a rule to work; this one is to use a thing, and the thing takes the object tail.
-а білу
-a bilu
to know how to
There is no verb of its own: "bilu" means "to know", and ability is assembled with the tail "-a/-e/-y" on the main verb plus "bilu" — hence it is written with the tail.
кездестіру
kezdestiru
to run into
"Kezdesu" is a meeting by arrangement; the tail "-tir" turns it into "to come upon" — to meet by chance, while a guest is met with "qarsy alu".
қол тигізу
qol tigizu
to touch
"Ustau" means "to catch", and "tiyu" lives in "suyq tiyu", "to catch a cold"; touching is literally "touching with the hand", and the object takes the directional case.

Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet

The CSV contains spelling, reading guides, translations and links to word pages. Use the browser menu to save the printable sheet as a PDF.

How it sounds in a sentence

A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.

What is worth knowing about these words

Керек (Kerek) — needed. Stands at the end of the sentence: "magan su kerek" is "I need water" — literally "for-me water [is] needed".

Ұнайды (Ūnaidy) — is liked. The subject is the thing that pleases: "magan shai unaidy" is "the tea appeals to me" — the liking is done by the tea, not by you.

Бару (Baru) — to go. The infinitive ends in "-u". "Uige baramyn" is "I am going home".

Жеу (Zheu) — to eat. Only about food: "eat" in the sense of "exist" is a different word, "bar". Inviting you to the table, they say "zhengiz" — do eat.

Test yourself

First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.

What is this word?
It is Керек (Kerek) — needed.
What is this word?
It is Істеу (Isteu) — to work.
What is this word?
It is Ұйықтау (Ūiyqtau) — to sleep.
What is this word?
It is Шомылу (Shomylu) — to bathe.
What is this word?
It is Күлу (Külu) — to laugh.

Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.

How do you say “needed” in Kazakh?
Stands at the end of the sentence: "magan su kerek" is "I need water" — literally "for-me water [is] needed".
How do you say “to work” in Kazakh?
The same word says "to do": "ne istep zhaturshyn?" is "what are you doing?". About the workplace: "bankte isteimin", "I work at a bank".
How do you say “to sleep” in Kazakh?
Sleep as a state is "uiyq", hence "uiyqsynyzdyq", "insomnia". To go to bed is "uiyqtaugha zhatu".
How do you say “to bathe” in Kazakh?
Bathing for pleasure and cleanliness. Swimming as a skill is the other verb.
How do you say “to laugh” in Kazakh?
Both to laugh and to smile: the soft form smiles a little. Laughing at someone takes the from-where tail: "do not laugh at me".

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

I want, I can, I am going, I know. The verb holds a sentence together: a few of the most frequent ones cover more everyday talk than a long list of nouns.

A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.

Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many times
Adesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
Study spread over days wins not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many times
Mawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.

Frequently asked

How do you say “needed” in Kazakh?

«Керек» (Kerek), read “Kerek”. Stands at the end of the sentence: "magan su kerek" is "I need water" — literally "for-me water [is] needed". It is one of 107 words in the set “verbs” — the rest are in the table above.

How many verbs do you need to start?

The whole set on this page is 107 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.

Is there audio?

Yes, 107 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.

Verbs in Kazakh

107 words on the topic

How it sounds in a sentence

What is worth knowing about these words

Test yourself

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Frequently asked

How do you say “needed” in Kazakh?

How many verbs do you need to start?

Is there audio?

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