Greetings
Сәлеметсіз бе (Sälemetsiz be)
sa-le-met-SIZ be
Hello (formal, Kazakh). Kazakh is used more in Astana than in Almaty, and opening in it is noticed.
Рахмет (Rahmet)
rah-MET
Thank you (Kazakh) — universal, and used even in Russian-language conversation.
Social
Кешіріңіз (Keshiriñiz)
keh-shee-REE-ñiz
Excuse me / sorry (Kazakh). Russian 'izvinite' works too; Astana is comfortably bilingual.
Daily life
Суық (Suyq)
soo-UHK
Cold. You will use it. January averages around -14°C and cold snaps reach -40°C with wind on top.
Аяз (Ayaz)
ah-YAZ
Frost — specifically the hard, still, dangerous kind. When locals say 'ayaz' they mean stay indoors, not wear a hat.
Тұлпар (Tulpar)
tool-PAR
The city transport card, named for the winged horse of Turkic myth. Covers buses; the new LRT has its own payment options.
Work
ЖСН / ИИН (ZhSN / IIN)
ee-ee-EN
Individual Identification Number. Issued only in person at a Public Service Centre and required for banking, leases, SIMs and payroll.
AIFC / МФЦА
em-eff-tseh-AH
The Astana International Financial Centre — its own English-common-law jurisdiction, its own court, and a tax exemption running to 1 January 2066.
Food
Бесбармақ (Besbarmaq)
bes-bar-MAK
The national dish — boiled meat and wide noodles, eaten by hand at celebrations. Winter food in a city built for winter.
Culture
Есіл (Esil)
eh-SEEL
The Ishim river, which splits the city: the old Soviet town on the right bank, the purpose-built new capital on the left.
Emergency
Көмектесіңіз! (Kömektesiñiz!)
keu-mek-te-SI-ñiz
Help! The unified emergency number is 112; 101 fire, 102 police and 103 ambulance all still work and are free from any phone.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.