-cha (tarz)
In a Language or Manner: -cha
-cha means in the language of or in the way of: oʻzbekcha (in Uzbek), bolalarcha (like a child).
How It Works
-cha answers the questions in what language? and in what way? It always has the same shape, after a vowel or a consonant, and it is written as part of the word.
Languages. On the name of a people or a country, -cha gives the language:
- oʻzbek + -cha → oʻzbekcha (in Uzbek)
- rus + -cha → ruscha (in Russian)
- ingliz + -cha → inglizcha (in English)
- nemis + -cha → nemischa (in German)
Use it with verbs of speaking, reading and understanding: Oʻzbekcha gapirasizmi? (Do you speak Uzbek?). A longer way to say the same thing is oʻzbek tilida (in the Uzbek language).
Style. Before a noun, the same word means in that style: oʻzbekcha palov (Uzbek-style pilaf), yaponcha taom (Japanese-style food).
Manner. On some other words, -cha means like or in the way of: bolalarcha (like a child), yangicha (in a new way), eskicha (the old way). For the general word like, Uzbek also has -dek.
Opinions. Learn these as whole words: menimcha (in my opinion, I think) and sizningcha (in your opinion). They usually open a sentence and are set off with a comma: Menimcha, bu kitob qiziq. See menimcha.
Not the little -cha. Another suffix with the same shape makes nouns for small things: kitobcha (booklet). That one is -cha for little things. The -cha on this page answers how?, not what?
Examples (6)
- Oʻzbekcha gapirasizmi?
Do you speak Uzbek?
Word by Word: Uzbek-ly you-speak?
oʻzbek + -cha → oʻzbekcha, in Uzbek.
- Men ruscha va inglizcha tushunaman.
I understand Russian and English.
Word by Word: I Russian-ly and English-ly understand.
Each language name takes -cha.
- Bu soʻz oʻzbekcha nima boʻladi?
What is this word in Uzbek?
Word by Word: This word Uzbek-ly what becomes?
Oʻzbekcha asks for the word in Uzbek.
- Bugun oʻzbekcha palov pishiramiz.
Today we will cook Uzbek-style pilaf.
Word by Word: Today Uzbek-style pilaf we-cook.
Before a noun, oʻzbekcha means in the Uzbek style.
- U bolalarcha kuldi.
He laughed like a child.
Word by Word: He children-like laughed.
Here -cha means in the way of.
- Menimcha, bu kitob juda qiziq.
I think this book is very interesting.
Word by Word: In-my-opinion, this book very interesting.
Menimcha is a fixed word followed by a comma.
Common Mistakes
Using the bare name of the people to mean in that language.
Men oʻzbek gapiraman.Men oʻzbekcha gapiraman.oʻzbek alone means Uzbek, the person or the adjective. To say in Uzbek, add -cha: oʻzbekcha.
Writing -cha as a separate word.
Oʻzbek cha gapiring.Oʻzbekcha gapiring.-cha is a suffix, so it is written as part of the word, with no space.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on How and What Kind.
Related Patterns
- menimchaIn My Opinion
Menimcha (in my opinion) is one of the most common words made with this -cha.
Level 3 - -cha (kichraytirish)Little Things with -cha
A different suffix with the same shape makes small things, such as kitobcha (booklet). Tell them apart by meaning.
Level 4 - -dek / -dayLike, As: -dek
-dek also means like, and it works on almost any word: bolalardek, like children.
Level 3 - -a/-y olmoqCan: -a Olmoq
Together they say which languages you can speak: Oʻzbekcha gapira olaman (I can speak Uzbek).
Level 2
Practice -cha (tarz) in Bubblegum
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