-an

Arabic Adverbs in -an

Level 5

Many Uzbek words that end in -an are adverbs borrowed from Arabic: masalan (for example), asosan (mainly), taxminan (about, roughly), tasodifan (by chance).

How It Works

1. Common -an adverbs

  • masalan (for example)
  • asosan (mainly), from asos (basis)
  • odatan (usually), from odat (habit)
  • taxminan (about, roughly), from taxmin (guess, estimate)
  • tasodifan (by chance), from tasodif (chance)
  • qisman (partly), from qism (part)
  • shaxsan (personally), from shaxs (person)
  • haqiqatan (really, truly), from haqiqat (truth)
  • umuman (in general; with a negative verb, at all)
  • aynan (exactly, precisely)

2. They never change
These adverbs take no case or plural endings. They usually stand before the verb or the number they describe: taxminan oʻn kishi (about ten people), tasodifan uchrashdik (we met by chance), umuman bilmayman (I don't know at all).

3. Adverb or adjective?
Several of these words have an adjective partner in -iy. Use the adjective before a noun and the -an adverb for how or how much:

  • asosiy masala (the main issue), but asosan toʻgʻri (mainly right)
  • odatiy kun (an ordinary day), but odatan erta turaman (I usually get up early)
  • rasmiy xat (an official letter), but rasman eʼlon qilindi (it was officially announced)
  • tasodifiy uchrashuv (a chance meeting), but tasodifan uchrashdik (we met by chance)

4. Commas with masalan
Masalan is often a parenthetical word, so it is set off with commas: Baʼzi mevalar, masalan, olma va nok, kuzda pishadi. (Some fruits, for example apples and pears, ripen in autumn.)

5. odatan and odatda
For usually, you will hear the Uzbek form odatda even more often. It means the same as odatan. For other words about how often, see how often.

Examples (6)

  1. Oʻzbekistonda, masalan, Samarqandda koʻp tarixiy binolar bor.

    In Uzbekistan, for example in Samarkand, there are many historic buildings.

    Word by Word: Uzbekistan-in, for-example, Samarkand-in many historic buildings there-are.

  2. Bu kitobni asosan talabalar oʻqiydi.

    This book is read mainly by students.

    Word by Word: This book-(object) mainly students read.

  3. Men odatan soat yettida uygʻonaman.

    I usually wake up at seven.

    Word by Word: I usually hour seven-at wake-up-I.

  4. Zalda taxminan yuz kishi bor edi.

    There were about a hundred people in the hall.

    Word by Word: Hall-in roughly hundred person there-was.

  5. Bozorda eski doʻstimni tasodifan uchratib qoldim.

    I ran into an old friend at the market by chance.

    Word by Word: Market-at old friend-my-(object) by-chance meeting stayed-I.

  6. Men shaxsan bu fikrga qoʻshilmayman.

    Personally, I don't agree with this idea.

    Word by Word: I personally this idea-to join-not-I.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the adverb before a noun (meant: The main idea of this book is simple).

    Bu kitobning asosan gʻoyasi oddiy.
    Bu kitobning asosiy gʻoyasi oddiy.

    Asosan means mainly and describes a verb or a whole phrase. Before a noun, use the adjective asosiy (main).

  • Using the adjective where an adverb is needed (meant: I usually get up at seven).

    Men odatiy soat yettida turaman.
    Men odatan soat yettida turaman.

    Odatiy (ordinary, usual) goes before a noun: odatiy kun. To say usually, use odatan or odatda.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-anLevel 5Arabic Adverbs in -an

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Builds on Parenthetical Words.