Kazakhstan Publishes Trilingual Dictionary of Kazakh Idioms to Promote Language and Culture

Kazakhstan Publishes Trilingual Kazakh Idioms Dictionary

April 18, 2025 – Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan has published a trilingual dictionary of Kazakh idioms in Kazakh, Russian, and English. The release celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. It also supports the growing need for intercultural communication and multilingual education.

Dr. Kamal Alpeisova, a respected philologist and member of the Writers’ Union of Kazakhstan, compiled the dictionary. She personally wrote the Kazakh-Russian section. Her student, Merey Malikova, a graduate from the University of East Anglia, translated the idioms into English.

The dictionary includes 1,001 commonly used idioms, chosen for their cultural relevance and frequent use in daily speech. This collection makes it easier for learners to understand and use expressive Kazakh phrases.

So far, the publisher has printed 2,000 copies. An online version is also in development, which will make the content more accessible worldwide.

Dr. Alpeisova shared her inspiration:

“Everyone contributes to language in their own way. Some write songs, others study it scientifically. I wanted the world to explore our idioms and their deep meanings. The idea for this book came during a trip to the U.S. when I met young people eager to learn about Kazakhstan.”

This dictionary helps learners grow their vocabulary and improve fluency in three languages. It also strengthens public speaking skills and cross-cultural understanding.

The project reflects Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to promote language preservation and global communication. It marks a significant step toward making Kazakh language and culture more accessible to the international community while supporting multilingual education and cultural diplomacy.