Learn Uzbek — Lesson 27: Whose book is this?

← Study Uzbek · Review Lesson 26

Bu kimning kitobi? · Whose book is this?

Madina finds a book. Practise asking who it belongs to and handing it to its owner.

Today’s goal: Ask who owns an item, and talk about your own and a friend’s belongings.

Read the conversation

Madina asks whose book it is and hands it to Ali
Madina: Bu kimning kitobi?
Whose book is this?
Ali: Bu mening kitobim.
This is my book.
Madina: Mana, kitobingni ol.
Here, take your book.
Ali: Rahmat!
Thank you!

Useful expressions

  1. bu — this
  2. kimning? — whose?
  3. kitob — book
  4. kitobi — his / her book (depending on context)
  5. mening kitobim — my book
  6. sening kitobing — your book
  7. kitobingni — your book (as the object)
  8. ol — take it
  9. Rahmat! — thank you!

A small language tip

Bu kimning kitobi?
Kimning means “whose?” Use this question to ask who owns a book.

Mening kitobim. / Sening kitobing.
Mening kitobim means “my book”; sening kitobing means “your book”. The endings -im and -ing also show who owns the book.

kitob → kitobim / kitobing / kitobi
Book → my book / your book / his or her book. The form kitobi is also used with kimning in the question.

Mana, kitobingni ol.
Say this while handing the book over. Adding -ni to kitobing marks “your book” as the object of ol.

Try another item

Bu kimning qalami?
Whose pencil is this?

Bu mening qalamim.
This is my pencil.

Bu kimning daftari?
Whose notebook is this?

Bu mening daftarim.
This is my notebook.

Your turn!

  1. Choose a book, pencil, or notebook.
  2. Ask whose it is: Bu kimning kitobi?
  3. Reply: Bu mening kitobim.
  4. Hand it over with Mana, kitobingni ol. and reply Rahmat!. Swap roles.

Quick quiz

  1. What does kimning mean?
  2. How do you say “my book”?
  3. How do you say “your book”?
Check your answers
  1. Whose?
  2. Mening kitobim.
  3. Sening kitobing.

Family & Culture Note

Gather a few books or notebooks chosen by family members. Ask whose each one is and let the owner answer with the expression from this lesson. If there is a book everyone shares, discuss that in a language you all feel comfortable using.

Ask whether someone in your family has kept a book or object for a long time. Invite them to explain who gave it to them or why it matters. You do not need to tell the whole story in Uzbek; begin with the short question about ownership.

IMID Notes — Connecting Korea and Uzbekistan through language, family, culture, and everyday life.

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