Kitob

Kitob is the Uzbek word for a book, used to refer to a bound volume of text intended for reading or study. It can denote printed works or manuscripts across genres, from literature and science to manuals and religious texts. In everyday Uzbek usage, kitob is a common singular noun; the plural form is kitoblar.

Kitob originates from the Arabic kitāb, meaning “book.” The term spread through Persian and Turkic languages, yielding cognates such as Turkish kitap and Persian ketab, while Uzbek preserved the form kitob.

Common expressions include kitob o'qish (to read a book), kitob do'koni (bookshop), and kitobxon (reader or bibliophile). The word also appears in compounds related to libraries and education.

Books have played a central role in Uzbek education and culture, with libraries in major cities and a tradition of publishing literature, textbooks, and translations. Literacy and access to printed material have shaped schooling and public life, while publishing houses contribute to cultural and intellectual life.

The digital era has introduced elektron kitoblar and onlayn kitoblar, expanding access beyond traditional paper volumes and complementing the ongoing role of print books in reading habits and education.

Overall, kitob serves as a basic term representing printed knowledge and culture in Uzbek, with historical roots and modern expressions spanning both print and digital forms.