aka
[æˈkæ]
The English word "brother" can be translated into Uzbek as aka or uka.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Ways to say it
| Uzbek | IPA |
|---|---|
| aka | [æˈkæ] (narrow) [ɒˈkæ] (narrow) |
| uka |
aka is used for an older brother, while uka is used for a younger brother. Beyond biological siblings, aka is a polite way to address any man who is slightly older than you.
Which one should you use?
aka specifically refers to an older brother, whereas uka specifically refers to a younger brother.
When do people say it?
In Uzbek culture, it is common to use aka as a respectful way to address men who are slightly older than yourself, even if there is no biological relation.
Did you know?
- While aka is used for older brothers, the root is shared with the Kazakh word äke, which means 'father'.
- In traditional Uzbek social etiquette, a younger brother uka would rarely address an older brother aka by his first name alone, as it would be considered disrespectful.
- The difference between aka and uka is so fundamental that using the wrong one can mistakenly imply someone is much older or much younger than they actually are.
Examples in context
- Mening aka-ukam bor.I have an older brother and a younger brother.
- Akang qayerda?Where is your brother?
Example conversation
Temur and Laylo are talking about family.
- TemurMening akam universitetda o'qiydi.My older brother studies at the university.
- LayloRostmi? U nima o'rganyapti?Really? What is he studying?
- TemurAkam tibbiyotni o'rganyapti.My brother is studying medicine.
- LayloBu juda yaxshi kasb.That is a very good profession.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries aka, uka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
