Imperative Mood

In Kyrgyz, the imperative mood (Буйрук ыңгай) is used for much more than commands. It's how you ask for a favour, invite guests, give advice, and even express wishes ("let him come").

🧠 Logic

The imperative is needed whenever the speaker wants to influence an action — to ask, command, advise, or wish. Kyrgyz has a whole system of politeness levels for this:

Choosing the right form isn't just grammar — it's a social signal. The wrong form can come across as rude or, conversely, overly formal.

🧮 Formula

Addressing one person informally (Сен)

The shortest form — simply the verb stem with nothing added:

Negative form: add the suffix -ба-бе-бо-бө or -па-пе-по-пө after voiceless consonants (following the rules of sound assimilation):

Formal address (Сиз)

For respectful address, add the suffix -ыңыз-иңиз-уңуз-үңүз (after a consonant) or -ңыз-ңиз-ңуз-ңүз (after a vowel):

Negative form:

Addressing a group of friends (Силер)

For a group of friends, children, or peers, use the suffix -гыла-гиле-гула-гүлө after vowels and voiced consonants, or -кыла-киле-кула-күлө after voiceless consonants:

Negative form: Барбагыла! (Don't go!), Унутпагыла! (Don't forget!)

Addressing a respected group (Сиздер)

Take the formal form (Сиз) and add the plural ending -дар-дер-дор-дөр:

Negative form: Барбаңыздар!, Келбеңиздер!

"Let him/her/them..." (Ал / Алар)

To prompt third parties, use the suffix -сын-син-сун-сүн:

Negative form:

Summary table

Using the verb бар (to go) as an example:

⚠️ Important notes

1. The suffix -чы softens any form

A bare command can sometimes sound too blunt. The suffix -чы-чи-чу-чү turns a command into a gentle request (selected by vowel harmony):

2. "Let's do it" — that's a different mood

The first-person form ("Let's go / Let's do it") is formed with the optative (-алы/-ели), not the imperative. More detail: Let's do it: -алы.

💡 Examples

Everyday situations

Mini-dialogues

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See also:

• Introduction to verbs — verb types, stems
• Vowel harmony — rules for choosing vowels
• Sound assimilation — when «б» becomes «п»
• Let's do it: -алы — the optative for 1st person