Culture & Etiquette

1. Ҡурай

   Quray

   Qurai (Bashkir national flute)

   Usage

   The Bashkir national instrument, also an officially registered regional brand of the republic

   Grammar Note

   The initial "Ҡ" is far back in the throat. A player is a "ҡурайсы"; playing is "ҡурай тартыу" (literally "to pull the qurai").

2. Ҡумыҙ

   Qumydh

   Qumyz (mouth harp)

   Usage

   An old Bashkir instrument, a mouth harp made of wood, bone or iron

   Grammar Note

   Do not mix it up with "Ҡымыҙ" (koumiss), one letter apart. The initial "Ҡ" is far back in the throat; the final "ҙ" is voiced with the tongue between the teeth.

3. Урал батыр

   Ural batyr

   Ural Batyr (Bashkir epic)

   Usage

   The most important oral epic of the Bashkirs, about the hero Ural Batyr

   Grammar Note

   "Батыр" means "hero". The title can be followed by "эпос" (epic), as in "«Урал батыр» эпосы".

4. Таҡыя

   Taqyya

   Taqiya (traditional Bashkir cap)

   Usage

   An old half-round cap sitting on the crown. Said to be worn by girls at festivals and weddings, but men wore it too

   Grammar Note

   The medial "ҡ" is far back in the throat. It is one kind of "баш кейеме" (headwear).

5. Ҡалпаҡ

   Qalpaq

   Qalpaq (traditional Bashkir hat)

   Usage

   An old national hat worn by both men and women

   Grammar Note

   Both "ҡ" are far back in the throat. The Bashkir spelling is "ҡалпаҡ", not "калпак".

6. Түбәтәй

   Tübätäy

   Tubetey (small round cap)

   Usage

   A light round cap worn by men and women

   Grammar Note

   The word contains "түбә" (crown of the head) and is one source of Russian "тюбетейка".

7. Башҡорт теле

   Bashqort tele

   Bashkir language

   Usage

   One of the state languages of Bashkortostan, a Turkic language

   Grammar Note

   Теле is тел "language" with a possessive ending: "the Bashkir language". "Башҡортса" means "in Bashkir".

8. Башҡорт халыҡ йырҙары

   Bashqort khalyq yyrdhary

   Bashkir folk songs

   Usage

   Songs whose melodies and words were created by the people

   Grammar Note

   Йырҙары is йыр "song" in the plural with a possessive ending. The "ҡ" of "халыҡ" is far back in the throat.

9. Башҡорт аты

   Bashqort aty

   Bashkir horse (breed native to the Southern Urals)

   Usage

   A horse breed unique to the Southern Urals, used to living outdoors all year in a harsh climate

   Grammar Note

   Аты is ат "horse" with a possessive ending. "Ат" can also mean "name", so context decides.

10. Көрәш

    Köräsh

    Köräsh (traditional Bashkir belt wrestling)

    Usage

    A national sport in which two wrestlers grip each other's belt; held at festivals such as Habantuy

    Grammar Note

    "Көрәш" also means "struggle" in general. A wrestler is a "көрәшсе".

11. Салауат Юлаев

    Salawat Yulayev

    Salawat Yulayev (national hero and poet)

    Usage

    A national hero of the Bashkirs and a poet, one of the leaders of the uprising of 1773-1775

    Grammar Note

    The given name comes first, then the surname. In Russian it is written Салават Юлаев.

12. Мостай Кәрим

    Mostay Kärim

    Mustai Karim (poet and playwright)

    Usage

    The leading Bashkir poet and playwright (1919-2005); the Ufa airport bears his name

    Grammar Note

    This is a pen name; the full name is Мостафа Сафа улы Кәримов. In Russian it is written Мустай Карим.

13. Рәми Ғарипов

    Rämi Gharipov

    Rami Garipov (poet)

    Usage

    A poet (1932-1977) who holds the title People's Poet of Bashkortostan

    Grammar Note

    "Ғ" is a voiced sound made far back in the throat. In Russian it is written Рами Гарипов.

14. Был башҡорт милли баш кейеме.

    Byl bashqort milli bash keyeme.

    This is a Bashkir national hat.

    Usage

    Explaining a traditional hat you are looking at

    Grammar Note

    Баш кейеме is баш кейем "headwear" with a possessive ending, preceded by "башҡорт милли". Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

15. Ҡурай тарта беләһегеҙме?

    Quray tarta belähegedhme?

    Can you play the qurai?

    Usage

    Asking whether someone can play the instrument

    Grammar Note

    "Ҡурай тартыу" is "to play the qurai". "Verb + -а беләһегеҙме" asks "can you …?"; the question particle -ме is written joined. Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

16. Мин башҡорт мәҙәниәтен яратам.

    Min bashqort mädhäniäten yaratam.

    I love Bashkir culture.

    Usage

    Expressing interest in the local culture

    Grammar Note

    The object takes the accusative ending -ен (мәҙәниәт → мәҙәниәтен). Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

17. Мин башҡорт йырҙарын тыңларға яратам.

    Min bashqort yyrdharyn tyñlargha yaratam.

    I like listening to Bashkir songs.

    Usage

    Telling someone about your taste in music

    Grammar Note

    "Verb + infinitive + яратам" means "I like doing …". Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

18. Урал батыр — башҡорт халҡының эпосы.

    Ural batyr — bashqort khalqynyñ eposy.

    Ural Batyr is the epic of the Bashkir people.

    Usage

    Explaining what the epic is

    Grammar Note

    The pattern "A — B" means "A is B". Халҡының is халыҡ "people" in the genitive. Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

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