Introduction 7

Please Note:

This dictionary was intended to further understanding between English and Turkmen speakers. It may be freely distributed for educational purposes. It may not be sold for profit without the express written permission of its authors. Please direct all comments and inquiries regarding this dictionary to the following e-mail address: greglas@aya.yale.edu

Helpful feedback and suggestions are always appreciated.

Greg Lastowka

Charlottesville 1999

Turkmen - English Dictionary a spa project of Peace Corps Turkmenistan

Contributing Editors:

Jonathan Garrett

Greg Lastowka

Akgul Muhammetmuradova

Jahan Myradova

Kimberly Naahielua

Meena Pallipamu

Muhammed Rustamov

Meretgul Sharipova

Aynabat Yaylymova

© 1996 Garret, Lastowka, Naahielua, Pallipamu

Introduction

This dictionary is, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive Turkmen/English dictionary to be printed. It consists of over 10,000 words and definitions and is intended as a general-purpose dictionary.

This dictionary was conceptualized, researched, and written as a secondary project of Peace Corps volunteers living in Turkmenistan, aided by Peace Corps staff and local counterparts. Its first printing was funded by a Small Project Assistance grant from the United States Goverment through Peace Corps Turkmenistan. We hope that it will aid in communication and mutual understanding between the people of our two countries.

Please direct any comments, corrections, or ommissions to Turkmen Dictionary Project, c/o Peace Corps Turkmenistan, P.O. Box 258, Krugozor, Central Post Office, Ashgabat 744000.

Acknowledgements

This dictionary was a cooperative effort. We would like to extend our thanks to: Ainabat Yaylymova for her enthusiasm and dedication to the project; Muhamet Rustamov of Bairam Ali for his expertise and assistance in translating obscure phrases and usages; Mehri Karkulova and Zuhre of the Peace Corp Staff in Ashgabat for their proofreading and general assistance; Berdi and Gulya Orazahatov of Bairam Ali for their encouragement and support; Sofia Esenovna Bagirova of Buzmein for her encouragement; and special thanks to Atgul Muhammetmuradova for her assistance throughout the project.

The authors also wish to acknowledge the contribution of V. Mesgudov, whose Turkmen/Russian Student's Dictionary was an important resource.

Above all, the authors would like to thank our Turkmen friends, families, and co-workers, who taught us their language and made this book possible.

Jonathan Garrett

Greg Lastowka

Kimberly Naahielua

Meena Pallipamu

Ashgabat, September 1996

Abbreviations

adj. adjective

adv. adverb

anat. anatomical

bot. botanical

col. colloquial

fig. figurative use

geol. geological

geom. geometrical

gram. grammatical

i.e. for example

mat. mathematical

med. medical

mil. military

n. noun, or noun-adjective

poet. poetic language

r. denotes that the word in question is either exists in the Russian language, or is derived from a word that exists in the Russian language.

v. verb

zool. zoological

Notes on Method

Every attempt was made to find the most reasonable and accurate translation for all words. In cases where a single Turkmen word has no single equivalent in English, multiple possible translations are separated by a comma, i.e.:

çekisme discussion, debate

When a word has various meaning in Turkmen, the multiple meanings are separated by numbers, i.e.:

gujak 1. embrace 2. armfull

When a two completely different words are spelled alike, their different meanings are separated by Roman numerals, i.e.:

saz I. music, musical II. accurate, intact

Where two words are spelled alike, but differentiated by a long vowel (see Appendix), they are listed as above, with the long vowel indicated by the vowel letter in brackets, i.e.:

at I. horse II.[a:] 1. name 2. vowel

Occasional examples of usage are given to help readers understand the word in context, or understand how the word is used in an idiomatic way. In this case, the illustrated word is followed by a colon, which is followed by the example, i.e.:

dek like, as: Bu burç dek ajy = This is hot as a pepper

In most cases, part of speech is obvious and ommitted in the interest of conserving space. However, when the part of speech is would otherwise be ambiguous, it is indicated.

When single-word translations are impossible, or clarification of usage is necessary, editorial text is written in italics. For short one or two word comments, parentheses are used.