Uyghur is an agglutinative language, meaning that potentially many suffixes (denoting person, number, case, mood, etc.)
For example "to your house," the main word, house, occurs first, and the modifying elements are attached directly to the right and written all in one word: ئۆيىڭىزگەöy-ingiz-gehome-2sg.POSS-DATئۆيىڭىزگەöy-ingiz-gehome-2sg.POSS-DAT"to your home"ئىشلەۋاتقانishle-wat-qanwork-CONT-INDEF.PASTئىشلەۋاتقانishle-wat-qanwork-CONT-INDEF.PAST"having worked"Nouns are not distinguished for gender (e.g. male, female), unlike in such languages as French, Spanish and German.
Instead of using articles (like English "a", "the"), Uyghur uses demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that") and no marker or the numeral one (bir) to indicate definiteness and indefiniteness, respectively, "this cat/the cat" vs. بىر مۈشۈك(bir müshük) "a/one cat" or مۈشۈك(müshük) "cat/cats."
For instance: ئىشىككەishik-kedoor-DATئىشىككەishik-kedoor-DAT"to the door"Takes the front versions of archiphonemes G and A, as the word is solely made up of [i]s, but:كاتىپقاkatip-qasecretary-DATكاتىپقاkatip-qasecretary-DAT"to the secretary"Takes the back versions, as the word is phonetically [kɑtɨpqɑ], with the /i/ turning to the back vowel [ɨ], due to the /ɑ/.
A-raising also takes place across word boundaries, but this is not reflected in writing, see:لاتاlataclothخەجxejshoeلاتا خەجlata xejcloth shoeWhich is pronounced /ˈlɑ.ti xɛdʒ/.
(distant) The most common demonstrative pronouns are بۇ, bu, ئۇ, u and شۇ, shu, the first being translated as this and the remaining two as that.
The two first-mentioned demonstrative persons each have an intensified derived form ending in ۋۇ, -wu, ماۋۇ, mawu and ئاۋۇ, awu, respectively.
The two first-mentioned demonstrative persons both also have another derived form, ending in شۇ, -shu, مۇشۇ, mushu and ئاشۇ, ashu, respectively.
qualitative Note that as the example word, كىتاب/kitab, has its final consonant devoiced to phonetically be /kiˈtɑp/, it uses the unvoiced variants of suffixes.
For example:ئۇيغۇرuyghurUyghur:NOMئوقۇغۇچىoqughuchistudentئۇيغۇر ئوقۇغۇچىuyghur oqughuchiUyghur:NOM studenta Ugyhur studentIt can also function as a predicate, for example:مەنmen1sgئوقۇغۇچىoqughuchistudent:NOMمەن ئوقۇغۇچىmen oqughuchi1sg student:NOMI am a student The genitive indicates the thing that possesses, and is primarily a qualifier but can function as a predicate, for example:بۇbuthatلۇغەتlughetdictionaryئەخمەتنىڭExmet-ningAkhmat-GENبۇ لۇغەت ئەخمەتنىڭbu lughet Exmet-ningthat dictionary Akhmat-GENthat dictionary is Akhmat'sThe genitive can also be pronominalised, allowing the noun it indicates as possessed to be dropped.
For example:مېنىڭmë-ning1sg-GENلۇغەتىمlughet-imdictionary-POSS.1sgياخشىyaxshigoodئەمەس،emes,is-not,قاسىمنىڭqasim-ningKasim-GENياخشىyaxshigoodمېنىڭ لۇغەتىم ياخشى ئەمەس، قاسىمنىڭ ياخشىmë-ning lughet-im yaxshi emes, qasim-ning yaxshi1sg-GEN dictionary-POSS.1sg good is-not, Kasim-GEN goodMy dictionary is no good, Kasim's is betterNot using -ki here is fine as Kasim's dictionary would also be in the nominative, but:مېنىڭmë-ning1sg-GENماقالەمنىmaqalem-niarticle-ACCباسمىدى،bas-mi-di,print-NEG-PST.3sg,تۇرسۇننىڭكىنىTurnsun-ning-ki-niTursun-GEN-PRN-ACCباستىbas-tiprint-PST.3sgمېنىڭ ماقالەمنى باسمىدى، تۇرسۇننىڭكىنى باستىmë-ning maqalem-ni bas-mi-di, Turnsun-ning-ki-ni bas-ti1sg-GEN article-ACC print-NEG-PST.3sg, Tursun-GEN-PRN-ACC print-PST.3sgHe didn't print my article, he printed Tursun'sAs here Tursun's article would also take the accusative case, -ki must be used.
For example:كىنوkinofilmكۆرمەكkör-mekwatch-INFكىنو كۆرمەكkino kör-mekfilm watch-INFto watch filmsThese nouns function as qualifiers (for mostly verbs, but sometimes adjectives) and signify the action's temporal or physical location.
They indicate: ئۇلارular3plئايىروپىلانداayiropilan-daaeroplane-LOCكەلدىkel-dicome-PST.3plئۇلار ئايىروپىلاندا كەلدىular ayiropilan-da kel-di3pl aeroplane-LOC come-PST.3plThey came by aeroplane.When subordinate to an adjective, they indicate the place or field of an activity.بۈگۈنbügüntodayمەكتەپتەmektep-teschool-LOCكىنوkinofilmيوقyoqis.NEGبۈگۈن مەكتەپتە كىنو يوقbügün mektep-te kino yoqtoday school-LOC film is.NEGThere is no film at school today.When used as a predicate, they indicate the location or source of the subject.سېنىڭsëning2sg.GENلۇغەتىڭlughet-ingdictionary-POSS.2sgئەخمەتتەExmet-teAkhmat-LOCسېنىڭ لۇغەتىڭ ئەخمەتتەsëning lughet-ing Exmet-te2sg.GEN dictionary-POSS.2sg Akhmat-LOCAkhmat has your dictionary.Ablative nouns are subordinate to verbs and sometimes adjectives and adverbs, and they mostly act as adverbial modifiers.
Some adjectives also sometimes require the ablative case for noun modifiers, for example:ئۇلارنىڭular-ning3pl-GENئۆيىöy-ihouse-POSS.3plشەھەردىنsheher-dintown-ABLيىراقyiraqfarئۇلارنىڭ ئۆيى شەھەردىن يىراقular-ning öy-i sheher-din yiraq3pl-GEN house-POSS.3pl town-ABL fartheir house is far away from town These nouns function as qualifiers (for almost any part of speech) and signify the word's temporal or physical location.
For example:ھاۋاhawaweatherئوتتەكot-tekfire-SIMقىزىپqiziphotكەتتىkettiturn-PST.3sgھاۋا ئوتتەك قىزىپ كەتتىhawa ot-tek qizip kettiweather fire-SIM hot turn-PST.3sgthe weather became as hot as fire Nouns in the equivalence case can act as qualifiers or adverbial modifiers, in both cases they liken the quality/action to their base noun, with respect to the level/amount/measurement.
For example:ئۇمۇumu3sg-alsoتۇرسۇنچىلىكtursun-chilikTursun-EQVئوقۇغانoqu-ghanstudy-PERF.PRESئۇمۇ تۇرسۇنچىلىك ئوقۇغانumu tursun-chilik oqu-ghan3sg-also Tursun-EQV study-PERF.PREShe's also studied to the same level as TursunUyghur, like Uzbek, has possessive suffixes that indicate person.
[3] number Monosyllabic nouns ending in rounded vowels (i.e. su) will add a y before first and second person suffixes (i.e. suyum, suyingiz but susi).
This is known as "the repeated form" and emphasises that the quality is unique to a large number of things of the same type, or that the action possessing the quality indicated by the adjective is repeated many times.ئەزالارeza-larmember-PLپىلاننىpilan-niplan-ACCئەمەلگەemelgeimplementئاشۇرۇشنىڭashurush-ningsomething-GENيېڭى-يېڭىyëngi-yënginew-REDUPچارە-تەدبىرلىرىchare-tedbir-lir-iremedy-means-PL-POSS.3sgئۈستىدەüstideoverئويلىنىۋاتىدۇoylin-iwat-iducontemplate-CONT-PRES.3plئەزالار پىلاننى ئەمەلگە ئاشۇرۇشنىڭ يېڭى-يېڭى چارە-تەدبىرلىرى ئۈستىدە ئويلىنىۋاتىدۇeza-lar pilan-ni emelge ashurush-ning yëngi-yëngi chare-tedbir-lir-i üstide oylin-iwat-idumember-PL plan-ACC implement something-GEN new-REDUP remedy-means-PL-POSS.3sg over contemplate-CONT-PRES.3pl"the members are considering many new ways of implementing the plan" Some adjectives can be directly turned into nouns, for example:سوغۇقsoghuqcoldچۈشكىچەchüshkichenoon-LIMئىشلارنىish-lar-nijob-PL-ACCتۈگىتىۋالايلىtügi-t-iwal-ay-licomplete-DV.SBJ-IMP.2plسوغۇق چۈشكىچە ئىشلارنى تۈگىتىۋالايلىsoghuq chüshkiche ish-lar-ni tügi-t-iwal-ay-licold noon-LIM job-PL-ACC complete-DV.SBJ-IMP.2pl"before the cold comes let's try and finish the jobs"They can also function as nouns when the noun is dropped, indicating objects with the quality they have.
For example:بىزbiz1plئۇيغۇرچەUyghurcheUyghurئۆگىنىشنىögin-ish-nistudy-INF-ACCياخشىyaxshigoodكۆرىمىزkör-i-mizlook-PRES.FUT-1plبىز ئۇيغۇرچە ئۆگىنىشنى ياخشى كۆرىمىزbiz Uyghurche ögin-ish-ni yaxshi kör-i-miz1pl Uyghur study-INF-ACC good look-PRES.FUT-1pl"We like to study Uyghur"ئوقۇشoq-ushread-INFتەسtesdifficultئەمەسemesis-NEGئوقۇش تەس ئەمەسoq-ush tes emesread-INF difficult is-NEG"reading is not difficult" (lit.
The simple past tense always indicates that the action or state expressed by the verb took place before the time of speaking, no matter the mood of the verb.ئەخمەتExmetAkhmatماقالەmaqalearticleيازدىyaz-diwrite-PST.3sgئەخمەت ماقالە يازدىExmet maqale yaz-diAkhmat article write-PST.3sg"Akhmat wrote an article"It can also be used in some special senses to indicate that the action will take place immediately, show an absolute determination to carry out the action, or indicate the sense of hypothesis.مەنmen1sgماڭدىمmang-dimwalk-PST.1sgمەن ماڭدىمmen mang-dim1sg walk-PST.1sg"I'm leaving (right now)" lit.
I've left The present perfect tense indicates the current existence of the state which the action has brought about.
It differs from the simple past tense in requiring the action to be completed to a degree that it has changed the state of the object.بۇButhisماقالىنىmaqali-niessay-ACCئەخمەتExmetAkhmatيازغانyaz-ghanwrite-PERF.3sgبۇ ماقالىنى ئەخمەت يازغانBu maqali-ni Exmet yaz-ghanthis essay-ACC Akhmat write-PERF.3sg"Akhmat has written this essay" The past perfect tense indicates the existence of the state which the action has brought about before another related matter, or at a specific point in the past.خەتxetletterيازغانىدىمyaz-ghanidimwrite-PERF.PST.1sgئۇزاقuzaqnotئۆتمەيötmeylongجاۋاپjawapreplyكەلدىkel-diarrive-PST.3sgخەت يازغانىدىم ئۇزاق ئۆتمەي جاۋاپ كەلدىxet yaz-ghanidim uzaq ötmey jawap kel-diletter write-PERF.PST.1sg not long reply arrive-PST.3sg"the reply came not long after I had written the letter"The present imperfect tense indicates the present existence the state of an action that regularly/always occurs, or will occur later.
This includes actions such as: كۈنkünsunشەرقتىنsherq-tineast-ABLچىقىدۇchiq-idurise-IMPERF.3sgكۈن شەرقتىن چىقىدۇkün sherq-tin chiq-idusun east-ABL rise-IMPERF.3sg"The sun rises from the east"The present imperfect tense indicates the existence the state of an action that regularly/always occurs, or will occur later, at some point in the past or before a related matter.
This includes actions such as: مەنmen1sgئۈرۈمچىگەÜrümchi-geUrumqi-DATباراتتىمbar-attimgo-IMPERF.PST.1sgمەن ئۈرۈمچىگە باراتتىمmen Ürümchi-ge bar-attim1sg Urumqi-DAT go-IMPERF.PST.1sg"I had planned to go to Urumqi" (note that this is an example of the second variety) The present continuous tense indicates the present existence of a continuously ongoing or fixed state of an action.مەنmen1sgماقالەmaqaleessayيازماقتىمەنyaz-maqtimenwrite-CONT.1sgمەن ماقالە يازماقتىمەنmen maqale yaz-maqtimen1sg essay write-CONT.1sg"I am writing an essay" The present continuous tense indicates the existence of a continuously ongoing or fixed state of an action at a previous time or before a certain matter.مەنmen1sgماقالەmaqaleessayيازماقتاyaz-maqtawrite-CONTئىدىمidimPST.1sgمەن ماقالە يازماقتا ئىدىمmen maqale yaz-maqta idim1sg essay write-CONT PST.1sg"I was writing an essay" The present intention tense indicates the present existence of an action that has been intended or agreed upon.ئۇu3sgسىزگەsiz-ge2sg-DATبىرنەرسەbirnersesomethingبەرمەكچىber-mekchigive-INTENT.3sgئۇ سىزگە بىرنەرسە بەرمەكچىu siz-ge birnerse ber-mekchi3sg 2sg-DAT something give-INTENT.3sg"He wants to give you something" The present intention tense indicates the existence of an action that has been intended or agreed upon, before a certain matter.مەنmen1sgئۈرۈمچىگەÜrümchi-geUrumqi-DATبارماقچىدىمbar-maqchidimgo-INTENT.PST.1sgمەن ئۈرۈمچىگە بارماقچىدىمmen Ürümchi-ge bar-maqchidim1sg Urumqi-DAT go-INTENT.PST.1sg"I had planned to go to Urumqi"These verb endings can differ between regions, the forms given in the table are those used in Kashgar.
The hypothesis-objection mood can indicate either a hypothetical mood to the subject matter of the sentence, like below: تىرىشساڭ،tirish-sang,strive-COND.2sg,ئالغاalghaprogressباسىسەنbas-isenmake-IMPERF.PRES.2sgتىرىشساڭ، ئالغا باسىسەنtirish-sang, algha bas-isenstrive-COND.2sg, progress make-IMPERF.PRES.2sg"if you try hard, you will make progress"or it can indicate that the subject matter is spoken in opposition to another, as below: بارساقbar-saq,go-COND.1pl,ئۆيىدەöyi-dehome-LOCيوقyoqNEGئىكەنikenINDIR.3sgبارساق ئۆيىدە يوق ئىكەنbar-saq, öyi-de yoq ikengo-COND.1pl, home-LOC NEG INDIR.3sg"we went, but it seemed he wasn't at home"This is formed by attaching the -iken auxiliary to the verb's hypothesis-objection mood form.
It indicates that the subject matter of the sentence is spoken in the manner of a petition, desire, or polite request.
ماڭاmanga1sg-DATئىككىikkitwoكۈنلۈكkünlükdayرۇخسەتruxsetpermissionبېرىلسىكەنbëril-sikengive-HOPE.3sgماڭا ئىككى كۈنلۈك رۇخسەت بېرىلسىكەنmanga ikki künlük ruxset bëril-siken1sg-DAT two day permission give-HOPE.3sg"please could I be given two days' leave"This is formed by attaching the past tense direct judgement copula to the verb's hypothesis-objection mood form.
[1] Example:ئۇu3sgمېنىmëni1sg.ACCساقلىمايsaqli-maywait-CVB.NEGكەتتىket-tileave-PRES.PST-3sgئۇ مېنى ساقلىماي كەتتىu mëni saqli-may ket-ti3sg 1sg.ACC wait-CVB.NEG leave-PRES.PST-3sg"He left without waiting for me"-(I)p, as a converb suffix, can be used in many other ways, such as to link verbs or even entire clauses and sentences.
For example: مەنmen1sgبازارغاbazar-ghashop-DATبېرىپ،bër-ip,go-CVB,ئالماalmaappleئېلىپ،ël-ip,buy-CVB,تاماقtamaqmealيەپ،ye-p,eat-CVB,ئۆيگەöy-gehome-DATقايتتىم.qayt-timreturn-PRES.PST-1sgمەن بازارغا بېرىپ، ئالما ئېلىپ، تاماق يەپ، ئۆيگە قايتتىم.men bazar-gha bër-ip, alma ël-ip, tamaq ye-p, öy-ge qayt-tim1sg shop-DAT go-CVB, apple buy-CVB, meal eat-CVB, home-DAT return-PRES.PST-1sg"I went to the shops and bought some apples, I ate a meal, then went back home.
Some examples of root verbs include:ماڭmangماڭmang"to walk"كۈلkülكۈلkül"to laugh"They cannot be broken down into any further morphemes.