The unique land of Kazakhstan: 7 words and sayings that confuse Americans
Have you ever heard of a land where the East *literally* meets the West? The land where Asians speak fluent Russian, while their history takes roots in the Middle East? Well, welcome to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan probably has one of the most unique cultures because it takes inspiration from many nations like Russia, Turkey and Iran. No wonder people in the West get confused when they hear about this country — unless, of course, they’ve seen Borat. In that case, they’d probably be even more confused because the image of Kazakhstan portrayed in that movie is completely false.
Because of such a mish-mash of cultures, blended with a historically nomadic lifestyle, the language has adapted too. In this series of posts, I want to explore some of the most unusual Kazakh words and phrases that have a deep cultural meaning.
Basé — Бәсе
While this word is short, it has a much longer meaning. Say, when you get misheard something, and your buddy explains the situation, you can say “Basé” or “Oh, that’s what I was thinking/expecting”. It’s quite a handy word in daily conversations.
Buiyrsa — Бұйырса
It’s one of those words that are pretty hard to explain to non-Kazakh speakers. “If God orders”, “may it happen by the power of the Universe” — it’s something you would say if you want to wish something good to happen, but it’s out of your control. The word is often used when you’re waiting for big news or travels.
Suiynshi — Сүйінші
It’s such a beautiful word and carries so much happiness in it. Whenever you get some positive news and share it with others, you’d say “Suiynshi”. And if you hear that word from someone else, you must give them a gift. It’s a symbolic gesture and a way to bring the family together around the great news.
Shanyrak — Шаңырақ
Shanyrak is a circle piece of a yurt (portable house made of wood and wool) that makes up the ceiling. Ancient Kazakhs were nomads and travelled with their families and cattle. Shanyrak has a strong symbolic meaning in our culture: it represents a home, the unity of a family and peace. The Kazakhstani national emblem also features Shanyrak as a symbol of the nation’s future. If someone wishes you to have a high shanyrak, they want you to have a happy family.
Amanat — Аманат
Amanat has a strong holy meaning because it takes roots from Islam. Many ancient Kazakhs converted to Islam back in the 8th century, and it is now the largest religion practiced in Kazakhstan. In Islam, Amanat means “keeping something very precious safe”, it’s a treasure that is given to a faithful person. Whether it’s an item or a sacred idea, if someone gives you something valuable to look after, it means they trust you.
Zhurttyn balasy — Жұрттың баласы
Your mother scolds you for not working enough and says that her friend’s son is making lots of money while you’re lying on the sofa all day? Congrats, you’ve just been compared to a “zhurttyn balasy” — someone else’s child. That kid is always better than you — they’re better at school, they have better wives and houses. And if you’re one of those people that moms love — I envy you because you’re probably “zhurttyn balasy”.
Ainalayin — Айналайын
This word has had poems written about because it has such a deep and beautiful meaning. The direct translation is “to circle around” — it can be traced back to when shamans were circling around people to cure them and extract all evils. In the same way parents might circle around their children to take over their sicknesses and troubles. Ainalayin represents a mother’s warmth and a lover’s affection — it embodies pure tenderness and kindness.
