English has the all-purpose word Let's (Let's go, let's eat), and we often say "shall we" or "how about we." In Kyrgyz there is no standalone word for this — the entire call to action is built right into the verb using special endings.
This form is called Каалоо ыңгайы (the optative mood). It has two forms: one for the speaker alone ("Let me...") and one for the group ("Let's...").
💡 English analogy: The «мен» form ≈ Let me (Let me try), the «биз» form ≈ Let's (Let's go).
🧠 The Logic
The optative expresses a wish, suggestion, or intention to perform an action. This is not a command (like the imperative mood) — it's an initiative or an invitation.
When to use:
- Volunteering to do something: Мен барайын — Let me go
- Proposing a joint action: Баралы! — Let's go!
- Gently stating an intention: Көрөйүн — Let me have a look
When NOT to use:
- A command → use the imperative mood
- A statement of fact about the future → use the present-future tense
🧮 The Formula
Form for «мен»: Let me do it
After vowels — add -йын-йин-юн-йүн:
| Vowel group | Suffix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| а, я, ы | -йын | иште → иштейин |
| э, е, и | -йин | иште → иштейин |
| о, ё, у, ю | -юн | оку → окуюн |
| ө, ү | -йүн | — |
After consonants — add -айын-ейин-оюн-өйүн:
| Vowel group | Suffix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| а, я, ы | -айын | бар → барайын, кыл → кылайын |
| э, е, и | -ейин | кел → келейин, ич → ичейин |
| о, ё, у, ю | -оюн | кой → коёюн |
| ө, ү | -өйүн | көр → көрөйүн |
барайынбарrootайынoptative «мен»→ let me go
⚠️ Note: Voiceless п and к become voiced before a vowel: тап → табайын, төк → төгөйүн.
Form for «биз»: Let's do it
Formula: Stem + linking vowel + -лы-ли-лу-лү
| Condition | Vowel | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Consonant (а, ы group) | -а- | бар + а + лы = баралы |
| Consonant (э, и group) | -е- | кел + е + ли = келели |
| Consonant (о, у group) | -о- | — |
| Consonant (ө, ү group) | -ө- | көр + ө + лү = көрөлү |
| Vowel | -й- | иште + й + ли = иштейли, оку + й + лу = окуйлу |
баралыбарrootаlinking vowelлыoptative «биз»→ let's go
Negative form
Add the negative affix -ба-бе-бо-бө (after voiced consonants) or -па-пе-по-пө (after voiceless consonants), then the ending through -й-:
For «мен»:
| Form | Translation |
|---|---|
| Барбайын | Let me not go |
| Ичпейин | Let me not drink |
For «биз»:
| Form | Translation |
|---|---|
| Барбайлы | Let's not go |
| Урушпайлы | Let's not fight |
| Шашпайлы | Let's not rush |
| Унутпайлы | Let's not forget |
Question form
Add the question suffix -бы-би-бу-бү to the end:
| Form | Translation |
|---|---|
| Баралыбы? | Shall we go? |
| Эртең жолугалыбы? | Shall we meet tomorrow? |
| Барайынбы? | Should I go? |
⚠️ Important details
1. Optative vs Present-future
Don't confuse them — the difference is in tone and intent:
| Form | Mood | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Мен барам | Present-future | I will go (a statement of fact) |
| Мен барайын | Optative | Let me go (volunteering, an offer) |
| Биз барабыз | Present-future | We will go (a fact) |
| Биз баралы | Optative | Let's go! (a call to action) |
2. How to sound polite
The optative form on its own is fairly direct. Add a question suffix to soften it into a gentle suggestion:
- Тамакка баралыбы? — How about we go eat?
3. Кеттик! — "Let's go!" / "Let's do it!"
The word Кеттик (literally "we left," from кет-) is used colloquially to mean "Let's go!" or "Let's do it!":
- Кеттик, чай ичели! — Come on, let's have some tea!
- Кеттик, ойнойлу! — Let's go, let's play!
💡 Examples
Suggestions and calls to action
| Kyrgyz | Translation |
|---|---|
| Баралы! | Let's go! |
| Ичели! | Let's drink! |
| Баштайлы! | Let's start! |
| Сүйлөшөлү! | Let's talk! |
| Окуйлу! | Let's read! |
Taking initiative
| Kyrgyz | Translation |
|---|---|
| Мен барайын. | Let me go. |
| Жардам берейин. | Let me help. |
| Көрөйүн. | Let me have a look. |
| Табайын. | Let me find it. |
— Ким барат? — Who will go? — Мен барайын! — Let me go!
— Эмне кылабыз? — What shall we do? — Кеттик, кино көрөлү! — Come on, let's watch a film!
See also:
- Introduction to verbs — the foundation for understanding moods
- Imperative mood — a command, not a suggestion
- Present-future tense — a statement of fact, not an invitation
- Vowel harmony — choosing the right vowel in the suffix
- Sound assimilation — voicing п→б, к→г
- Question suffix — softening with -бы