☰ Contents · Uzbek language

Spelling of the vowels A, O, I, U, E, O‘

Lessons 32–35 · 4 lessons · N. Mahmudov, A. Sobirov, Sh. Sattorov, Sh. Toshmirzayeva, D. Mannopova. Ona tili (Uzbek language), Grade 5 (fully revised 5th edition). G‘afur G‘ulom Publishing House, Tashkent, 2020
34

Pronunciation and spelling of E and O‘

Textbook: pp. 65–66
GoalDistinguish the pronunciation and spelling of E and O‘.
New words
screen · ekrantelevision set · televizornarrower, closer · torroqwider, more open · kengroq
Explanation

The vowel E is said clearly and fully in words like erta (early), sekin (slowly), mehr (love). In words that came through Russian, such as televizor, metro, teleskop, e sounds close to i but is written with e. The vowel O‘ sounds narrower in ko‘z (eye), so‘z (word), to‘p (ball) and wider in o‘rdak (duck), qo‘rqmoq (to be afraid), to‘rt (four); however it sounds, the letter o‘ is always written. In Arabic loanwords like mo‘min (believer), mo‘jiza (miracle) there was originally a glottal stop, but in Uzbek spelling the glottal mark is not written.

Worked examples
Televizor, metro — pronounced close to i, written e.
Ko‘z and to‘rt — in one o‘ sounds narrower, in the other wider, but o‘ is written in both.
Class activity

Make a list of eight words with e and o‘ and mark which ones differ in pronunciation and writing.

Practice
1
How is e in «metro» pronounced and written?
2
Write two words with o‘ and mark where the vowel sounds narrower.
3
What is the difference in the sound of o‘ in «to‘rt» and «ko‘z»?
4
Check the spelling of «mo‘jiza» in the spelling dictionary.