Uzbek

From Russian узбек (uzbek), from Uzbek oʻzbek. Further etymology is uncertain; possibly from Turkic öz (“genuine”) + Sogdian [script needed] (βγ /⁠beġ⁠/, “master”); the latter from Proto-Indo-Aryan *bʰagás, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *bʰagás. The first element is often thought to be equivalent to English Oghuz.

• IPA^(key): /ˈʊzbɛk/, /ˈuːzbɛk/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Uzbek (plural Uzbeks)

1. A person from Uzbekistan or of Uzbek descent.
   • 2024 December 19, Amy Gunia, “Young Uzbeks are finding new markets for traditional handicrafts online”, in CNN Business‎^[1]:

     Fashionable Uzbeks wear clothing made from the fabric, and suzanis have become popular with interior designers from the UK to Singapore, who use them as wall décor, bedding, or as the fabric for throw pillows.

Uzbek (comparative more Uzbek, superlative most Uzbek)

1. Of, from, or pertaining to Uzbekistan, the Uzbek people or the Uzbek language.
   • 1994, World Link, volumes 1–4, page 182:

     Outside government, Uzbek and Islamic social mores – by no means always mutually compatible – have always exerted their own influences. One positive and very Uzbek influence are the Mahallas, mutual help communities of families, local businesses and committees which deal effectively with a wide range of local issues.

   • 1999, Andrew Dowling, “Uzbekistan”, in The Godless Pilgrim, London: Fusion Press, →ISBN, part two (Central), page 116:

     He is a gruff, white-bearded man, very Uzbek in his skull-cap and long grey coat.

   • 2007, Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns, BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING (2018), page 224:

     As for the unpredictable Uzbek commander Dostum, Rasheed said no one knew where he would stand.

   • 2008, Laurence Mitchell, Kyrgyzstan: The Bradt Travel Guide, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks: Bradt Travel Guides Ltd; Guilford, Conn.: The Globe Pequot Press Inc, →ISBN, page 260:

     Özgön has a university, a brewery and a distinctive bazaar that is very Uzbek in character.

   • 2024 December 19, Amy Gunia, “Young Uzbeks are finding new markets for traditional handicrafts online”, in CNN Business‎^[2]:

     Uzbekistan came under Russian control in the 19th century, and traditional Uzbek craftsmanship almost didn’t survive the Soviet era.

Uzbek

2. The language of Uzbekistan.

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Uzbek terms

• ISO 639-1 code uz, ISO 639-3 code uzb (SIL)
• Ethnologue entry for Uzbek, uzb ⁠, a macrolanguage including:

• Buzek

• IPA^(key): [ˈuzbɛk]

Uzbek m anim

1. Uzbek (person)

• “Uzbek”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “Uzbek”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ˈuz.bɛk/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uzbɛk
• Syllabification: Uz‧bek

Uzbek m pers

1. Uzbek (person from Uzbekistan)

   Synonym: Uzbekistańczyk

• Uzbek in Polish dictionaries at PWN

• IPA^(key): /ˈuz.bek/

Uzbek m pers (female equivalent Uzbečka)

1. Uzbek

• uzbecký

• “Uzbek”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2025